Ultraviolet sanitations system and method

A ultraviolet sanitation system including a towel assembly, a body configured to be an upward facing hollow-half-sphere and to contain a sanitizing liquid, a plate including two grooves, each of the grooves configured to accept a t-handle and a roller-ball of the towel assembly with the plate affixable to the body, and a plurality of wringing-rollers within the body beneath the plate configured to remove excess moisture from the towel assembly during use. Also include is an arm-assembly affixable to the base configured to restrain the plate, a sanitizing ultraviolet-light-source contained with the body below the plate, a base affixable to a bottom of the body, and a power-source electrically coupled to said ultraviolet-light-source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of drying and gas or vapor contact with solids of existing art and more specifically relates to a washer using ultraviolet energy.

RELATED ART

Generally speaking, a towel is a piece of absorbent fabric and/or paper used for drying or cleaning a surface or body, by wicking moisture through direct contact. In homes, hospitals, or other settings, several types of towels may be used, including hand towels, bath towels and/or kitchen towels. In warmer or sunny climates, individuals may also use beach towels. Paper towels are often provided in a commercial or office bathrooms for users to dry their hands. Paper towels are also used in households for a range of wiping, cleaning and drying tasks. Paper towels are disposable, providing significant waste, whereas cloth towels are generally reusable. One such limitation with cloth towels is that such towels must be washed and sanitized after each use.

Once such method of sanitization of cloth towels includes laundering. Laundering is the washing of cloth materials with water and a soapy solution. The laundry process is often done in a room reserved for that purpose; in an individual home this is referred to as a laundry room or utility room. An apartment building, hospital, or student hall of residence may have a shared laundry facility. A stand-alone business which launders may referred to as a laundromat. Such establishments can take up valuable space. Still, laundering cloth materials may not fully disinfect/sanitize cloth materials. Another method of sterilization includes ultraviolet irradiation as a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate microorganisms such as bacteria.

The application of ultraviolet light to disinfect has been an accepted practice since the mid 20th century. Such methods have been used primarily in medical settings and sterile work facilities (e.g., clean-rooms, white-rooms, etc.). More recently such methods have been employed to sterilize drinking and wastewater. Still, there exists a need to fully disinfect cloths using a combination of available technology. Therefore a suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0056102 to Kenneth A. Stanley et al. relates to an ultraviolet light sanitizing method and apparatus. The described ultraviolet light sanitizing method and apparatus includes a unit, system, and method for disinfecting or sterilizing the entire surface area of an item. The system includes at least one ultraviolet light source producing ultraviolet light for disinfecting the item. In addition, the system includes a cavity housing the ultraviolet light source, the cavity having a reflective interior for redirecting light produced by the at least one ultraviolet light source. Furthermore, the system includes a shelf positioned above a bottom portion of the cavity to support the item, with the shelf capable of passing light produced by the at least one ultraviolet light source to disinfect a surface area of the item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known washer art, the present disclosure provides a novel ultraviolet sanitation system and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an ultraviolet sanitation system and method for efficient use with towels, textiles, and/or garments.

An ultraviolet sanitation system is disclosed herein. The ultraviolet sanitation system includes a towel assembly, a body, a plate, a plurality of wringing-rollers, an arm-assembly affixable to the base configured to restrain the plate, an ultraviolet-light-source contained with the body below the plate, with the ultraviolet-light source configured to provide sanitation to the towel assembly during use, a base affixable to a bottom of the body, and a power-source. Also included are agitating bristles.

The towel assembly includes a fabric, a front-side, and a back-side, a t-handle affixed to one edge of the perimeter, and a roller-ball affixed to an edge-opposite (opposing) the t-handle. The fabric of the towel assembly includes a micro-fiber material. The body is configured to be an upward facing hollow-half-sphere and to contain a sanitizing liquid, and the plate includes a; the groove configured to accept the t-handle and the roller-ball with where the plate is affixable to the body.

The plurality of wringing-rollers are affixable and contained within the body beneath the plate configured to remove excess moisture from the towel assembly during use. Also, the arm-assembly is affixable to the base configured to restrain the plate.

The base is affixable to a bottom of the body, with the base including a plurality of wheels such that the system is readily movable by a user, and the base is also configured to be placeable upon a horizontal surface. The power-source is electrically coupled to the ultraviolet-light-source, with the power source including a 110/120 volt (i.e. household) electrical connection or the like.

According to another embodiment, a method of using an ultraviolet sanitation system is also disclosed herein. The method of use includes a first step, providing an ultraviolet sanitation system (the system including a towel assembly, a body, a plate, a plurality of wringing-rollers), an ultraviolet-light-source, a base, and power-source; a second step, providing a sanitizing liquid; a third step, placing the sanitizing liquid within the body of the system; a fourth step, inserting the towel-assembly into the system; a fifth step, sanitizing the towel-assembly via the ultraviolet-light-source and the sanitizing liquid; a sixth step, removing the towel-assembly from the system; and a seventh step, hanging the towel-assembly to dry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to washing means and more particularly to an ultraviolet sanitation system and method as used to improve the cleaning and sterilization of fabric cloths.

Generally, the ultraviolet sanitation system includes a wall mount or self-standing device which allows reusable micro-fiber cloths to be cleaned and disinfected with ultraviolet light as well as a liquid solution by pulling the cloths through the device in one end and out of the other via a t-handle affixed to the cloth, therefore producing an outcome of a sanitized and ‘wrung-out’ cloth.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown inFIGS. 1-4, various views of an ultraviolet sanitation system100.

FIGS. 1-4show an ultraviolet sanitation system100during an ‘in-use’ condition150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, ultraviolet sanitation system100may be beneficial for use by a user to provide a device to clean and sanitize reusable cloths with minimal waste and effort. As illustrated, ultraviolet sanitation system100may include towel assembly110, body124, plate128, plurality of wringing-rollers168, arm-assembly138, base146, and power-source148. Embodiments may also include bristles166to provide agitation during sanitation. Bristles166may include manual operation, in some embodiments. Embodiments may include bristles166that are mechanically operated (e.g., powered to rotate, shift, vibrate, etc.). Towel assembly110may include fabric112; wherein fabric112may have perimeter114, front-side116, and back-side118. Also included in towel assembly110may be t-handle120affixed to one edge of perimeter114, and roller-ball122affixed to an edge-opposite t-handle120. Fabric of towel assembly110may include a micro-fiber material. Also, t-handle120may be removable from towel assembly110. Similarly, roller-ball122may be removable from towel assembly110. Towel assembly110may comprise a wide variety of shapes (e.g., round, square, rectangular, triangular, etc.) and/or sizes (e.g., bath towels, hand-towels, dish towels, gym towels, etc.) depending upon the specific application and user preferences.

Body124may be configured to be an upward facing hollow-half-sphere, to contain a sanitizing liquid. Body124may further include drain-plug158configured to provide removal of the sanitizing liquid from body124, in some embodiments.

Plate128of ultraviolet sanitizing system100may include a groove130, where the groove130may be configured to accept t-handle120and roller-ball122of towel assembly110, where plate128may be affixable to body124. Embodiments may include plate128constructed from a transparent material. Also, plurality of wringing-rollers may be affixable, and contained within, body124beneath plate128and be configured to remove excess moisture from towel assembly110during use. Also included may be arm-assembly138affixable to base146configured to restrain plate128.

Base146may be removably affixable to a bottom of body124. Also, base146may be affixable to a vertical surface, in certain embodiments. Other embodiments may include base configured to be placeable upon horizontal surface15. Embodiments may also include base146further including a plurality of wheels152such that system100is readily movable by a user.

Ultraviolet-light-source142may be contained within body124below plate128, configured to provide sanitation to towel assembly110during use, operated by power-source148. Power-source may148be electrically coupled to ultraviolet-light-source142and may include a 110/120 volt electrical connection. Embodiments may include power-source148including a battery. The battery may removable and replaceable, battery may also be rechargeable. Also, battery may be rechargeable via a 110/120 volt electrical connection where the battery need not be removed from the system for (re)charging.

In embodiments, system100may further include storage-compartment160to store a plurality of towel assemblies110. Also, system100may further, or alternately, include drying-rack162configured to hang at least one towel assembly110.

According to one embodiment, ultraviolet sanitation system100may be arranged as kit105. In particular, ultraviolet sanitation system100may further include set of instructions155. Instructions155may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of ultraviolet sanitation system100such that the ultraviolet sanitation system100can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.

Embodiments of ultraviolet sanitation system100may be hard-wired to a municipal or localized electrical system, in embodiments. Further embodiments may include ultraviolet sanitation system100that is plumbed to a municipal water source and/or sanitation system, and may include a filtration system.

FIG. 5is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use500for an ultraviolet sanitation system100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method of use500may include one or more components or features of ultraviolet sanitation system100as described above. As illustrated, the method of using500an ultraviolet sanitation system100may include the steps of: step one501, providing an ultraviolet sanitation system100(system100including towel assembly110, body124, plate128, and plurality of wringing-rollers134), ultraviolet-light-source142, base146, and power-source148; step two502, providing a sanitizing liquid; step three503, placing the sanitizing liquid within body124of system100; step four504, inserting towel-assembly110into system100; step five505, sanitizing towel-assembly110via ultraviolet-light-source142, the sanitizing liquid, and/or mechanical or manual agitation as towel-assembly110is pulled through ultraviolet sanitation system100; step six506, removing towel-assembly110from system100; and step seven507, hanging towel-assembly110to dry.