Abstract:
A sanitizer for bedding has an irradiation chamber with a light support mounted for reciprocation within the chamber. A light for radiating into the chamber is supported by said light support. A bedding support is mounted so as to be at least partially withdrawable from the chamber. The light support may be mounted medially within said chamber and the bedding support may extend on either side of the light support.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to a sanitizer for bedding. 
     After a guest of a hotel leaves, the linens (comprising the bed sheets and pillow slips) on the bed occupied by the guest are removed and replaced with freshly laundered linens in preparation for receiving the next guest. On the other hand, the heavier bedding—the pillows, blankets, and bedspreads—is normally cleaned only infrequently, typically by being sent out for drycleaning. 
     This same approach is used in hospitals, with linens of a bed being changed between patients, and heavier bedding being cleaned only infrequently, typically by drycleaning. 
     A drawback with this approach is that it compromises on the cleanliness of the bedding. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A user of a bed, particularly if ill, may impart germs not only to the linens, but also to the heavier bedding. In such a situation, if the heavier bedding is not cleaned between users, there is a risk that the next user of the bed may be exposed to these germs and possibly contract an illness. 
     Recognizing this problem, the present invention provides a sanitizer for bedding that has an irradiation chamber with a light support mounted for reciprocation within or adjacent the chamber and a light for radiating into the chamber supported by the light support. 
     In one aspect, a bedding support is mounted so as to be at least partially withdrawable from the chamber. In another aspect, the light is a narrow spectrum light. In a further aspect, there are a plurality of light supports mounted for reciprocation within or adjacent the chamber with each of the plurality of light supports supporting a light for radiating into the chamber. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a review of the following description in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the figures which illustrate example embodiments of the invention, 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sanitizer made in accordance with this invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a partially broken away perspective view of the sanitizer of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along the lines  4 — 4  of  FIG. 4 , 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along the lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective break out view of a portion of the sanitizer of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of a portion of the sanitizer of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of a portion of the sanitizer of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the sanitizer of  FIG. 1 , and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic top view of a portion of the sanitizer of FIG.  1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention contemplates a method of operating a facility having beds. Such a facility could be a hotel, a hospital, or even an airplane where the seats of the plane act as beds for travellers. The method involves removing used bedding from a bed of the facility after departure of a user. The used bedding, or other bedding, is sanitized by irradiating the bedding with narrow spectrum radiation, such as ultraviolet (“UV”) radiation. To provide more thorough sanitization, during the irradiation air may be circulated about the bedding. The bed is made up with the sanitized bedding. 
     This approach is particularly suited to heavier bedding, such as blankets, pillows, and bedspreads, which is not amenable to regular laundering. So that the method may best ensure a healthy environment, used bedding may be replaced with sanitized bedding every time a new user of the bed departs. 
     Where the bedding comprises a blanket or a bedspread, sanitization may be facilitated by moving a narrow band radiation source (for example an ultraviolet light) along opposite sides of the blanket or bedspread at a stand-off from the blanket or bedspread. This may be accomplished by draping the blanket or bedspread over a support prior to exposing the bedding to narrow band radiation. 
     Where the facility is a multi-floor building, such as a hotel or hospital, it may be more cost effective to implement the method with one or more portable sanitizers that may be deployed on each floor to receive and sanitize used bedding as it is removed from each bed. Bedding, once sanitized, may then be returned to the bed from which it was removed, or find its way onto another bed. 
     A suitable sanitizer to effect the described method for blankets and bedspreads, such as duvets, is shown in the figures. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a sanitizer  10  has a cabinet  12  with a pair of outwardly opening access doors  14   a ,  14   b . Each door may be provided with a UV opaque window  20   a ,  20   b  to allow viewing of irradiation chambers  22   a ,  22   b , respectively, inside cabinet  12 . The doors may have a latch (not shown) and opening handles  16 . The cabinet may be provided with a handle  17  ( FIG. 3 ) and wheels  18  to make the sanitizer  10  portable. A pair of butterfly valves  23   a ,  23   b  and a pair of vents  25   a ,  25   b  allow ambient air to be admitted into cabinet  12  when the ambient air pressure exceeds that inside the cabinet. 
     Referencing  FIGS. 2  to  5  along with  FIG. 1 , irradiation chamber  22   a  is defined by a pair of perforated walls  24   a  and  124   a  supported on the floor  28  of cabinet  12 . Irradiation chamber  22   b  is similarly configured with perforated walls  24   b  and  124   b.    
     The inner face of the walls  70  of cabinet  12  is high gloss and embossed. Walls  70  may be fabricated of aluminum. A first pair of fixed, vertically directed UV lights  74   a  extends between a side wall  70   a  of cabinet  12  and adjacent wall  24   a  of irradiation chamber  22   a . A further pair of UV lights  74   b  extends between a side wall  70   b  of cabinet  12  and adjacent wall  24   b  of chamber  22   b . The UV lights emit narrow spectrum radiation at a germicidal wavelength, e.g., 2,537 Angstroms. 
     A fan  78  extends through floor  28  of cabinet  12  and forces air into a chimney  80  and through a side opening  82  of the chimney into the gap between the cabinet wall  70   a  and wall  24   a . Air deflectors  84  in wall  24   a  deflect air flowing in the space between the cabinet wall  70   a  and wall  24   a  into the irradiation chamber  22   a . Irradiation chamber  22   b  is similarly configured. 
     Wall  124   a  of irradiation chamber  22   a  and wall  124   b  of irradiation chamber  22   b  form a gap therebetween which accommodates horizontally directed UV lights  174  that are mounted to a carriage  33  which is supported between two screws  34 . Additionally, each irradiation chamber is bi-sected by a pair of perforated walls  224  and  324  forming a gap therebetween which receives horizontally directed UV lights  174  that are mounted to a carriage  33  supported between two screws  34 . 
     The perforated walls  24   a ,  24   b ,  124   a ,  124   b ,  224 , and  324  may be made of stainless steel. 
     Each irradiation chamber  22   a ,  22   b  has a slidable U-shaped bedding support  32   a ,  32   b  which may be slid outwardly when the doors  14   a ,  14   b  are open. When fully inserted into an irradiation chamber, each bedding support surrounds the pair of perforated walls  224 ,  324  bisecting the chamber. Each bedding support is formed as a mesh with large openings to pass air and light. (Note that  FIG. 1  is shown with the bedding supports removed and  FIG. 2  with one support removed.) 
     The screws  34  are threaded along their length and may be made of carbon steel alloy C-1045 which does not require lubrication. With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each screw  34  extends through floor  28  and terminates in a bevel gear  36 . Each bevel gear is driven by a motor  38  through a series of bevel gears  40  and shafts  42 . 
     Each of the six screws is threaded with a first spiral thread  62  and a second spiral thread  64  arranged to form a “figure-8” pattern along the screw. The first and second spiral threads  62 ,  64  meet at the top end of the screw  34  and at the base of the screw. 
     Turning to  FIG. 8 , An annulus  48  of a lifting assembly  44  surrounds each screw  34  and a tooth  50  fitted into a tube  52  extending from annulus  48  engages the threads of a screw  34 . A cap  54  threaded onto the tube  52  retains the tooth  50  in position. An inwardly directed flange  56  extends from annulus  48  and into a receptor in carriage  33 . With reference to  FIG. 9 , power may be transferred to lights  174  through a connector  90  which slides along a power bar  92 . 
     Sanitizer  10  is suited for use in sanitizing bedding, such as bedspreads and blankets. More specifically, doors  14   a ,  14   b  may be opened and each bedding support  32   a ,  32   b  slid outwardly. A bedspread or blanket  110  ( FIG. 2 ) may then be draped over each support, the supports re-inserted into the irradiation chambers, and the doors closed. Thereafter, UV lights  74   a ,  74   b ,  174  may be illuminated and motors  38  and fans  78  activated. With the motors activated, the shaft and bevel gear arrangement rotates bevel gears  36  and, therefore, each of screws  34  in the same rotational direction. This rotational direction is such that as a screw  34  rotates, its lifting assembly  44  moves upwardly along the first spiral screw thread  62 . Thus, the lifting assemblies of each of the six screws act to lift the UV lights  174 . 
     Once the lifting assemblies reach the upper end of the screws  34 , continued rotation of the motors causes the tooth of each lifting assembly to track the second spiral screw thread  64  of the screw  34 . In consequence, the lifting assemblies now move downwardly so that the lifting assemblies act to lower the UV lights  174  until the lights return to their lowermost position. At this point, the tooth of each lifting assembly begins again to track the first spiral screw thread  62  of the screw  34 . As a result, the UV lights  174  repeatedly reciprocate as the motors continue to rotate. The reciprocation of UV lights  174  exposes the entire adjacent face of the blanket/bedspread to the UV light while assisting in assuring that the bedding inside the sanitizer does not overheat. 
     It will be apparent that with this arrangement, the UV lights  174  may be reciprocated by simply rotating the motors in one rotational direction. Of course, a less elegant alternative would be to replace the screws with ball screws and control the motors to switch rotational direction at each end of the stroke of the bedding supports. 
     In contrast to UV lights  174 , UV lights  74   a ,  74   b  are fixed. However, the circulated air assists in ensuring the bedding inside the sanitizer does not overheat. 
     During sanitization, fans  78  circulate air in the irradiation chambers  22   a ,  22   b . The embossments of the inner surface of the walls  70  of cabinet  12  reflect the UV light in all directions and impart turbulence to the circulating air. This turbulent air acts to dislodge loose particles on or in the bedding. Throughout, the UV lights emit UV radiation into the irradiation chambers which acts to neutralize germs (e.g., bacteria) exposed to the light. 
     The sanitation of the bedding in the sanitizer  10  may continue for a period of time in order to sufficiently sanitize the bedding. Thereafter, the UV lights may be extinguished and the motors and fans de-activate so that the doors  14   a ,  14   b  may be opened and the sanitized bedding removed. 
     The sanitizer may have a control panel (not shown) used to control parameters of the sanitizer such as the period of sanitization. 
     As an alternative to using UV light, far-infrared radiation may be used to sanitize the bedding in the sanitizer. In such instance, the bedding should be first wetted with a small amount of water. This technique is further described in U.S. publication number 2002 00 95946 published Jul. 4, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. A drawback with this approach is that is may take considerable time to dry the bedding. 
     Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.