Abstract:
A sanitizer for an article comprises an enclosure defining an internal space. A cage is mounted to the enclosure and extends into the internal space. A sanitizer bulb is disposed within the cage. At least one hanging element is fixed to the cage, the hanging element adapted to hang an article therefrom. A sanitizer for a bag including at least two handles comprises an enclosure defining an internal space and including a floor and a ceiling. A cage is mounted to the ceiling of the enclosure and extends into the internal space. A sanitizer bulb is disposed within the cage. A pair of handle hooks is fixed to the cage and each adapted to engage one handle of the bag for securing the bag around the cage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/431,587, filed on Mar. 27, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/512,766, filed on Jul. 30, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,143,596, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/268,365, filed on Jun. 11, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to sanitizing, and more particularly to a sanitizer for articles that utilizes ultraviolet light. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Sports bags, reusable grocery bags, sporting equipment such as cleats, helmets, and unsanitary as a result of such contact. Over time, such articles that are not sanitized can promote the growth of bacteria, mold and fungus, and result in further spread of disease. Sanitizing devices are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,367 to Grossman et al. on Aug. 2, 2005, teaches a mailbox enclosure for sanitizing mail articles with UV light and other means. Such a device is not well suited, however, for other types of articles, particularly articles having an interior space such as reusable grocery bags, sporting helmets, and the like. Further, such a device is not easily moved from one location to another. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,260 to Busted on Aug. 12, 2003, teaches a surgical tool sterilizing enclosure that utilizes UV light as well as chemical and other sanitizing agents. Such a device is also not well-suited for the sanitation of articles having an interior space, but rather for articles having an outer surface that needs decontamination. Such a device is also not well-suited for portable use. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is a need for a device that substantially sanitizes an article, and particularly an article having an interior space such as a reusable grocery bag, sporting equipment such as helmets, shoes, or the like. Such a needed device would be extremely simple to use, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and operate. The needed invention would be easily moved from location to location as needed, such as within a grocery store, for example. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A sanitizer for an article is provided, the sanitizer comprising an enclosure defining an internal space. A cage is mounted to the enclosure and extends into the internal space. A sanitizer bulb is disposed within the cage. At least one hanging element is fixed to the cage, the hanging element adapted to hang an article therefrom. 
         [0007]    A sanitizer for a bag including at least two handles is also provided. The sanitizer comprises an enclosure defining an internal space and including a floor and a ceiling. A cage is mounted to the ceiling of the enclosure and extends into the internal space. A sanitizer bulb is disposed within the cage. A pair of handle hooks is fixed to the cage and each adapted to engage one handle of the bag for securing the bag around the cage. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a right-side elevational view of the invention, partially cut-away to show an internal space within an enclosure thereof; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view thereof, illustrating an article as attached to a bulb-protective cage thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0010]    Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
         [0011]    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. Any use of the word “means” herein is intended to invoke means-plus-function limitation in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, even if the word “means” follows words describing the function. 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a sanitizer  10  for an article  20 , such as a bag  20  having at least one handle  25 , or athletic equipment (not shown) such as shoes, helmets, or the like. A rigid opaque enclosure  30  is open at a door side  32  and includes at least one bulb attachment means  40 , such as a fluorescent bulb socket  41 , an incandescent lamp socket (not shown), or the like, fixed internally thereto at one end  34  thereof, such as a top end  38 . The enclosure  30  includes an open internal space  39  therein, and is preferably made from an opaque acrylic material, or the like. As such, each side of the enclosure  30  may be adhered with a methylene chloride and diacetone alcohol adhesive, for example. Sides of the enclosure may include advertising support means (not shown), such as J-shaped channels, so that advertising or other printed materials may be displayed on the sides of the enclosure  30 . 
         [0013]    An enclosure door  50 , preferably hinged to the enclosure, is adapted to selectively close the door side  32  of the enclosure  30 , substantially sealing the open space  39  therein and substantially preventing light from escaping from the internal space  39 . Optionally, interior surfaces of the enclosure  30  may be coated with an ultraviolet light-reflective coating, such as a mirror, reflective paint, or the like. A spring (not shown) may be included for urging the door  50  into its closed position unless pulled open. 
         [0014]    At least one sanitizer bulb  60 , such as a UV fluorescent bulb, is fixed to the bulb attachment means  40  and extends at least partially into the open internal space  39  of the enclosure  30 . A rigid, at least partially non-opaque cage  70  is fixed around each sanitizer bulb  60 . Such a cage  70  may be made from a metallic mesh  71 , or a non-opaque plastic material (not shown), or the like, or a combination thereof. 
         [0015]    An article fastening means  80  is fixed to the cage  70  and is adapted to be selectively fastened to the article  20  for securing the article  20  to the cage  70 . In the embodiment wherein the article  20  is the bag  20  having handles  25 , the bag fastening means  80  may be a pair of handle hooks  81 , for example. Other embodiments designed for alternate articles  20  may be used, such as wherein the articles  20  are shoes, helmets, or other sporting equipment, or the like (not shown). In such an embodiment the article fastening means  80  may be spring clips (not shown), hooks, clamps, or the like. In one embodiment, the one end  34  of the enclosure  30  is a bottom end  31 , such that each is sanitizer bulb  60  extends upwardly from the bottom end  34  of the enclosure  30  and the articles is supported on the cage  70  by gravity (not shown). In such an embodiment, the bag  20  may be inverted and secured around the cage  70  and held thereon by gravity. 
         [0016]    An electronic circuit means  90  is electrically connected to each sanitizer bulb  60  and is adapted to power each bulb  60  for a present period of time. A switch  130  is preferably included proximate the door  50  and adapted to electrically close when the door  50  is closed, such that each sanitizer bulb  60  cannot be illuminated unless the door  50  is closed and the switch  130  is closed. The electronic circuit means  90  may include a mechanically or electronically-driven timer means  91  for timing the duration of sanitizer bulb  60  activation. A start button  92  may be included as an interface between a user and the electronic circuit means  90 , the start button  92  when depressed activating each sanitizer bulb  60  and initiating the timer means  91 . 
         [0017]    A support stand  100  may be fixed with the bottom end  31  of the enclosure  30  and adapted for holding the enclosure  30  above a ground surface  15  for convenient loading and unloading of the article  20 . Such a support stand  100  may further include a pair of wheels  110  at a lower end  102  thereof, such that the enclosure  30  and support stand  100  may be tilted backward until each wheel  110  engages the ground surface  15  for rolling the sanitizer  10  therealong. A power cord  140  may be fixed with the stand  100  and electrically connected to the electronic circuit means  90 . Article supports  160  may be fixed with the support stand  100  for storing and dispensing a plurality of the articles  20 . 
         [0018]    Preferably the stand  100  is made from 1″×2″ aluminum tubing, all joints being welded (not shown). The stand  100  may be wider at the bottom end  102  thereof for additional stability of the stand  100 . Each wheel  110  may be a 4″ diameter coaster, for example. The stand  100  may further include a handle  170  at a top end  108  thereof, such that the stand  100  and enclosure  30  may be tilted back on the wheels  110  while gripping the handle  170 , such as with a conventional hand truck. 
         [0019]    Further, a non-UV light bulb  120 , such as an incandescent bulb  121  or at least one white- colored LED (not shown), may be included within the enclosure  30  for illuminating the internal space  39  thereof when the switch  130  detects that the door  50  is not closed. Such a non-UV light bulb  120  is preferably electrically connected to the electronic circuit means  90 . 
         [0020]    As such, with the article fixed to or around the cage  70 , and with the door  50  closed and the electronic circuit  90  activated, such as by the user pressing the “start” button  92 , each sanitizer bulb  60  is illuminated for the preset period of time to sanitize the article  20 . After the preset time has elapsed, each sanitizer bulb  60  is deactivated and, optionally, an indicator  150 , such as an LED lamp or the like, is activated to indicate that the article  20  is substantially sanitized. Upon opening of the door  50 , the non-UV bulb  120  is activated and the indicator  150  is deactivated. 
         [0021]    While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the specific type of cage  70  and article fastening means  80  may vary according to the type of article  20  to be sanitized. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims. 
         [0022]    The teachings provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
         [0023]    These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. 
         [0024]    Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention. 
         [0025]    The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
         [0026]    All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
         [0027]    Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “Detailed Description.” While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. 
         [0028]    In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims. 
         [0029]    While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.