Abstract:
A portable sterilizer is disclosed. The portable sterilizer is composed of a housing for carrying and a sterilization device such as a UV light or an ozone generator inside the housing. A chamber with certain space is disposed inside the housing, connecting with the sterilization device for being disinfected. An opening is on the housing for putting tableware such as knives, forks, spoons or chopsticks inside the chamber to be sterilized by UV light or ozone gas. Thus users can carry the present invention with them and sterilize tableware or daily essentials easily.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a portable sterilizer, especially to an independent sterilizer that users can carry with them and convenient for use for providing sterilized tableware such as forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks. The tableware can be fully and partly mounted inside the sterilizer for disinfection. 
         [0002]    Conventional ways uses UV light or ozone gas for disinfection, sterilization, or air purification purposes. Such kind of technology has been applied to medical devices or articles for daily use such as disinfection of telephone receivers, computer mouse, or water faucets. The area we often contact is the most bacteria-infested positions. It is necessary to sterilize for reducing risk of bacteria spread and infection. Moreover, the ozone generator can get power from vehicles so as to purify air therein. The ozone or UV light sterilization will not generate bad smell such as chloride disinfection so that they are especially suitable for sterilization of tableware. Compared with conventional detergents, the sterilizing effect of UV light and ozone gas is far more better. Furthermore, some bacteria such as gram-negative bacteria may have resistance to detergent. UV light and ozone gas can kill such bacteria. However, conventional ultraviolet or ozone sterilization machines are fixed on some equipment such as dishwashers and are not portable. As to eating out people, there is a need to have some kind of portable sterilizer for cleaning and disinfection of the tableware used in some eateries or restaurants. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Therefore it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a portable sterilizer which includes a portable housing with a chamber and a sterilization device such as UV light or ozone generator, connecting with each other. An opening is mounted on the housing so that the whole or part of tableware can be disposed inside the chamber of the equipment for being sterilized by UV light or ozone. The present invention is portable and convenient for use. 
         [0004]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable sterilizer that gets power from internal batteries or from external power source. Also a timer is disposed on the sterilizer for presetting operation time of the UV light or the ozone generator. Thus the equipment is able to be turned off automatically. This enhances the convenience of operation. 
         [0005]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable sterilizer that includes a housing made from transparent plastic or glass so that users can see elements therein and the operation condition. Moreover, user can sight whether a lamp of the UV light need to be changed or not. This improves the convenience of operation. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a status of an embodiment according to the present invention in combination with tableware before used; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a status of an embodiment according to the present invention in combination with tableware after used; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    Refer from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , a sterilizer  1  according to the present invention consists of a housing  10 , a sterilization device  20  disposed inside the housing  10 , and a chamber  30  inside the housing  10 . The housing is compact and portable, easy to be put inside a bag or a packet of users. The sterilization device  20  can be UV light  21 , as shown in figure or an ozone generator (not shown in figure). A battery holder  22  containing batteries is mounted inside the housing  10  or the sterilizer  1  can also connect with external power sources for supplying power. The chamber  30  is designed according to the style of the housing  10  and the sterilization device  20  with certain space connecting with the sterilization device  20  such as UV light  21  or ozone generator so as to make the chamber  30  be sterilized by the sterilization device  20 . 
         [0012]    An opening  11  connecting with the chamber  30  is mounted on the housing  10 . Thus part  201  or whole of the tableware  2  such as knives, forks, spoons and chopsticks can be set inside the chamber  30  through the opening  11  to be exposed to UV light or ozone gas generated from the sterilization device  20  for sterilization and disinfection. After performing the sterilization process, the tableware  2  is taken out and used. 
         [0013]    There is no limitation on shape of the housing  10  of the sterilizer  1 . It can be a cuboid formed by an upper half  10   a  and a lower half  10   b  so as to make the chamber  30  have certain length. The length of the housing or the chamber  30  is preferably shorter than the length of the tableware  2  such as knives, forks, spoons or chopsticks. And the opening  11  is preferably arranged on one end of the housing  10 , as shown from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 . Thus the size of the sterilizer  1  is minimized and compact for the convenience of carrying while traveling or eating out. In usage, users only need to put part  201  of the tableware  2  such as knives, forks, spoons, or chopsticks inside the chamber  30  of the housing  10  through the opening  11 , as shown in  FIG. 3  &amp;  FIG. 4  to be sterilized for sanitary needs. 
         [0014]    The housing is made by hard material that the UV light can&#39;t penetrate. For example, plastic or glass is suitable material. The material can also be transparent such as clear plastic or glass, as shown from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 . Thus users can look inside the housing. Or a transparent window (not shown in figure) is arranged on the opaque housing  10  so that uses can see internal parts of the sterilizer  1  anytime. Also they can check whether the light bulb of the UV light  21  on the sterilization device  20  needs to be changed or not. Thus the convenience of operation is improved. If the sterilization device  20  is the UV light  21 , mirrors  13  or other material able to reflect or diffuse light are disposed on inner surface of the housing  10  so as to make the UV light emitted from the UV light  21  fill the space of the chamber  30  through reflection of diffuse reflection of the mirrors. Thus the tableware  2  inside the chamber  30  is fully and effectively disinfected. There is at least one UV light bulb  21 . In the embodiment shown in figure, there are two UV light bulbs  21 . Moreover, a connecting wire  23  between the two UV light bulbs  21  is properly arranged inside the housing, separating with the chamber  30  without influence on input or output of the objects to be sterilized. 
         [0015]    The sterilized  1  according to the present invention further includes a timer so as to preset operating time of the sterilization device  20  and turn off the sterilization device  20  automatically. Furthermore, an indicator lamp or a control switch can be disposed on outer surface of the housing  10  so as to control or show on/off status of the sterilization device  20  inside for the convenience of users. 
         [0016]    There is no limit on shape of the opening  11 , depending on objects to be sterilized. For users, it should be easy and convenient to put the tableware  2  inside the chamber  30  through the opening  11 . As shown in  FIG. 1  &amp;  FIG. 2 , the opening  11  can be an I-shaped slot, or a cross-shaped opening in  FIG. 3 . The opening  11  is preferably elastically sealed. Thus after setting the objects to be sterilized inside the chamber  3   o  through the opening  11 , the opening  11  is elastically sealed automatically so as to prevent leakage of UV light or ozone gas. Furthermore, the elastic-sealed opening  11  is designed with various structure and material. For example, the material such as foam, rubber, silicon is used to form an elastic washer  12  with certain thickness and the elastic washer  12  is. fixed on the location of the opening  11  by mounting, glued, or threaded. Then a hole/slot is located on the elastic washer  12 , as shown from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 . When the object to be sterilized is put into the chamber  30  through the opening  11 , the opening  11  is enlarged by the object while the elastic washer  12  elastically attached on the object so as to seal the opening. Moreover, the object with part thereof extended outside the opening  11  is also clipped by elasticity of the opening  11  so as to prevent shaking or falling off. Moreover, a bearing  31  is arranged on an end of the chamber  30  opposite to the end with the opening  11  so that the object inside the chamber  30  can lean against the bearing  31 . 
         [0017]    In addition, besides the opening  11  disposed on one end of the cuboid housing  10 , the opening  11  can be designed with a lifted cover, as embodiment in  FIG. 5  for sterilization of small objects such as pacifiers, pipes, or mail clippers. The housing  10  consists of the upper half  10   a  and the lower half  10   b . A pivot  14  is disposed on one lateral side of the housing  10  while a locking member  15  is set on the other side. In usage, the locking member  15  is pressed for being out of the locking status. The upper half  10   a  is pivoted upwards (as shown in arrow A) so that the while object to be sterilized can be put into the chamber  30 . Then lock the upper half  10   a  to form a close space for sterilization. After sterilization process, lift up the upper half  10   a  and take out the object. As to the sterilization device  20  including the UV light  21 , ozone generator, or connecting wires  23 , it is connected with the end with the pivot  14 . Thus no matter it&#39;s on the upper half  10   a  or the lower half  10   b , there is no influence on the electrically connection or the operation. 
         [0018]    Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.