Abstract:
An apparatus for alternatively disinfecting an object surface and a liquid comprising a hollow handle base graspable in a human hand, an electrical power source contained within a hollow interior space of the handle base housing for supplying electrical power to an ultraviolet lamp, a lid including a lamp support bulkhead, and an ultraviolet lamp mounted to the lamp support bulkhead. A tubular cover shell is releasably attachable to the lamp support bulkhead. The cover shell has an upper wall which is opaque to ultraviolet radiation and a lower wall which has therein an aperture which is transmissive to ultraviolet radiation. A hinge joint pivotably joins the lamp support bulkhead of the lid to the handle base housing, the hinge joint enabling the lid to be pivoted from a first, compact storage and transport orientation in which the lower wall of the lid cover shell overlies the handle base housing, and the upper wall of the lid cover shell overlies the ultraviolet lamp to a second, use orientation in which the lid is positionable above an object surface to thereby locate the aperture adjacent to the object surface. The cover is alternatively releasably removable to expose the ultraviolet lamp and enable it to be immersed in a liquid to disinfect the liquid. Sensor probes protrude from the bulkhead near the ultraviolet lamp prevent operation of the lamp unless the probes are in contact with a liquid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to portable devices for disinfecting surfaces of objects, or drinking water, of potentially harmful organisms. More particularly, the invention relates to a dual function ultraviolet water and object surface disinfection apparatus which is effective in killing harmful organisms on surfaces such as telephone handsets, and in drinking water contained in a cup, glass or other small drinking vessel. 
     B. Description of Background Art 
     According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be up to 70 times more polluted than the outside atmosphere. Moreover, it is reported that 90% of colds and flu germs are spread in enclosed environments, such as school rooms, office buildings, airplane cabins and the like. For example, virus-causing micro-organisms can be responsible for as many as ten colds per year for the school-age child. Some cold and flue viruses can survive on surfaces such as handrails, door knobs, telephone handsets, for up to 72 hours—giving plenty of time for classmates, family members or fellow travelers to be infected. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an efficient means for disinfecting surfaces which people may touch or contact. One such means consists of spraying a potentially infected surface with a germicidal spray, or wiping the surface with a cloth or paper towel moistened with a germicidal substance such as isopropyl alcohol. Thus, some grocery stores are now providing a cannister of alcohol-saturated towels or “wipes” at store entrances which shoppers may use to wipe down the handles of shopping carts. Although the use of germicidal wipes is an effective means for disinfecting surfaces, that method is impractical or impermissible in many situations. 
     Harmful microorganisms in the food preparation areas of restaurants or home kitchens also pose potential health risks. For example, food cutting boards are a prime source of potential transmission of harmful microorganisms to humans. When unwashed meat or salmonella can infect the board. The organisms can than be transmitted to other food items which are subsequently cut on the board. Although cutting boards could be disinfected with a germicidal agent such as alcohol applied from an aerosol spray can or an alcohol-moistened wipe, this technique would generally be impractical because residual traces of the germicidal substance, if not harmful to humans, could impact undesirable bad tastes to foods prepared on a cutting board after treatment. Accordingly, a need still exists for a disinfection apparatus which may be used on cutting boards and other articles used in the preparation of foods. 
     Another health problem which is frequently encountered by travelers to other countries, particularly underdeveloped and/or mis-managed countries, is contaminated drinking water. This problem is also encountered by hikers, hunters, campers and other outdoor persons. Thus, water sources such as streams and ponds, even those remote from human habitation and ensuing likelihood of human contamination, are frequently infected with harmful bacteria or other microorganisms. These include parasites such as Ghardaia, a paramecium found in the fecal matter of domestic as well as wild cattle. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a portable waster disinfection unit which could be used by an outdoorsman or traveler to disinfect a small quantity of water contained in a drinking cup or glass, prior to drinking the water. 
     In apparent recognition of the need for a portable water disinfection device, Maiden et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,900,212 and 6,110,424 disclosed a hand-held water purification system which includes a pen-light sized ultraviolet lamp that is enclosed in a water impervious quartz cover and powered by a battery and associated ballast circuitry. The battery and ballast circuitry are connected to the lamp by switches that are under the control of a liquid level sensor. The sensor connects the battery, the ballast circuitry and the lamp once the sensor determines that the ultraviolet lamp is fully immersed in the water, thus irradiating the water with short-wave ultraviolet radiation in the germicidal range, i.e., around 254 nanometers (nm), to kill organisms in the water. 
     Maiden, U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,495 disclosed a hand-held ultraviolet water purification system using solid-state light emitting diodes rather than the mercury vapor lamp disclosed in the aforementioned Maiden et al. patents. 
     The foregoing devices may be assumed to be effective in killing harmful organisms contained in drinking water and contained in a small vessel such as a water glass or cup. However, there remained a need for a portable surface disinfection unit. In response to that need, the present applicant began marketing in 2006 a surface disinfection device under the name Nano-UV Disinfection Light Scanner. That device has generally the form-factor of a small portable hand-held cellular phone. When the lid of the device is flipped up into longitudinal alignment with the base of the device, an aperture in the lid is exposed. An ultraviolet lamp within the lid and aligned with the aperture is energized by an electronic ballast circuit and batteries contained within the device, when a switch on the device is operated. With the ultraviolet lamp and aperture facing downwards, the device is held and moved in a scanning motion over the surface of an object such as a telephone handset or the like, to thus kill the germs and other harmful microorganisms on the surfaces of the object. The present invention was conceived of to provide a dual function water and object surface disinfection apparatus which provide a highly effective means for killing bacteria and other harmful microorganisms, both on the surfaces of objects and within water contained in a drinking vessel. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for killing microorganisms harmful to humans which are present on object surfaces or in water which is to be drunk. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a portable dual function water/object surface disinfection apparatus which uses ultraviolet radiation to kill microorganisms in contaminated water contained in a small drinking vessel to thereby render the water safe for human consumption, and alternatively to kill microorganisms on surfaces of objects to be contacted by a person, such as a telephone handset. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hand-held portable dual function water/object surface disinfection apparatus which utilizes a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp which has a tubular body that is unjacketed to thereby enable ultraviolet radiation emitted over a wide spectral bandwidth by the lamp discharge to be transmitted directly to water or onto an object surface and thereby efficiently kill microorganisms present in the water or on the object surface. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dual function portable water/object surface disinfection apparatus which includes a handle base housing that contains batteries and electronic ballast circuitry, and a lid pivotable from a closed, inoperative position conformally overlying and latched to the base, enabling the apparatus to be conveniently stowed in a pocket or purse, to an operating position in which the lid is longitudinally aligned with the handle base to thus expose an ultraviolet lamp within the lid, the handle base and the apparatus being rotatable around a common longitudinal axis to position the lamp above and irradiate an object surface. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dual function portable water/object surface disinfection apparatus which includes a handle base, a “flip-top” lid pivotably attached to the handle base, the lid including a longitudinally elongated tubular ultraviolet lamp protruding from a lamp support bulkhead, and a tubular cover shell including a reflector cover and base plate which is slidably removable from the bulkhead from a first configuration in which a reflector adjacent to the upper inner surface of the cover lid is effective in reflecting ultraviolet light emitted by the lamp tube downwards through a rectangular aperture through the base plate and onto a surface of an object to be disinfected, the apparatus having a second configuration in which the cover shell is slidably removable from the bulkhead to fully expose the lamp for immersion into water in a drinking vessel to thereby disinfect the water. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a portable, pocket-carryable dual function water/object surface germicidal disinfection apparatus which includes a hollow handle base containing batteries and a lamp power supply ballast, a flip-top lid having a rear hinge block pivotably attached to the handle base, the lid having an ultraviolet lamp tube which protrudes from a lamp support bulkhead on the front of the hinge block, and a tubular cover shell including an upper cover wall protruding upwards from a base plate, the cover shell being slidably removable from the lamp support bulkhead to fully expose the ultraviolet lamp, and a pair of sensor probes protruding from the bulkhead which are interconnected with control circuitry that enables the power supply to energize the lamp when the protruding lamp tube is inserted into water in a container sufficiently far for the sensor probes to contact the water. 
     Various other objects and advantages of the present invention, and its most novel features, will become apparent to those skilled in the art by perusing the accompanying specification, drawings, claims, and abstract. 
     It is to be understood that although the invention disclosed herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages described, the characteristics of the invention described herein are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, I do not intend that the scope, of my exclusive rights and privileges in the invention be limited to details of the embodiments described. I do intend that equivalents, adaptations and modifications of the invention reasonably inferable from the description contained herein be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly states, the present invention comprehends a portable, hand-held, pocket carryable, self-contained, battery-powered apparatus which emits ultraviolet light effective in disinfecting object surfaces as well as water contained within a small vessel. 
     An ultraviolet water and object surface disinfection apparatus according to the present invention includes a longitudinally elongated, hollow rectangular box-shaped base housing which serves as a handle. The apparatus has a lid which has a similar outline shape to that of the handle base. The lid is pivotably attached to the base in a conformally overlying, closed inoperative position by a cylindrical hinge-joint disposed transversely along short vertically aligned edges of the handle base housing and lid. 
     The disinfection apparatus according to the present invention includes a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp contained within the lid. The lamp has an elongated straight, slender cylindrically-shaped body which contains therein a hermetically sealed hair-pin curve shaped capillary bore having parallel side-by-side legs. A rear base end of the lamp, opposite the front outer end where the hair-pin curve is located, has protruding rearwardly therefrom a pair of electrical lamp connector pins which penetrate sealed end walls of the capillary bore legs. The lamp emits ultraviolet radiation when high voltage current is supplied to the lamp electrodes. The high-voltage current is provided by a power supply which is located in the handle base housing, and supplied with low-voltage current from batteries contained in a battery compartment located within the housing. The power supply for powering the ultraviolet lamp by batteries is a DC-AC inverter which includes a transistor oscillator and step-up transformer. Such power supplies are well known in the art and commonly referred to as “electronic ballasts.” 
     The disinfection apparatus according to the present invention includes a lamp support bulkhead which forms part of the lid and protrudes outwardly away from a hinge block which comprises part of the hinge joint that joins the lid to the handle base housing. With this construction, when the lid is pivoted away from the handle base into longitudinal alignment with the handle base, the lamp support bulkhead and lamp tube protrude outwardly from the hinge joint, in parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the handle base. 
     According to the present invention, the lid includes a tubular cover shell which encloses the ultraviolet lamp. The lid cover shell has an arcuately curved, convex upper wall that comprises the upper surface of the apparatus when the lid is pivoted downwards into contact with handle base housing to thus place the apparatus in a closed, inoperative carrying and storage configuration. The lid cover shell also has a lower flat base plate which overlies the upper surface of the handle base housing in the closed configuration of the apparatus. 
     The base plate of the lid cover shell has through its thickness dimension a longitudinally elongated, rectangularly-shaped exit aperture which is generally concentric with the outline shape of the base part. The aperture is vertically aligned with the ultraviolet lamp tube, which as stated above, has the shape of a long, thin transparent cylinder that contains therewithin a tubular hair-pin shaped, twin-legged capillary bore. The base plate aperture provides an un-obstructed path for ultraviolet radiation emitted from the ultraviolet lamp to the surface of an object over which the lid is positioned in an inverted, face-down orientation. 
     A preferred embodiment of the disinfection apparatus includes a reflector box contained within the cover shell, which has an outline shape similar to that of the aperture through the base plate of the lid. The reflector box has an upper reflective wall and reflective side walls which enclose the ultraviolet lamp tube, and an open bottom adjacent to the lid aperture. The upper wall of the reflector box, which preferably has a concave inner surface located, above the ultraviolet lamp tube and the side walls, redirect ultraviolet radiation emitted upwardly and laterally from the tube to a downward direction and thence through the base plate aperture, thus increasing the radiation intensity on an object surface. 
     As thus far described, the apparatus according to the present invention provides a highly efficient means for disinfecting object surfaces. Disinfection is accomplished by opening the lid into longitudinal alignment with the handle base housing, turning the apparatus over so that the lid base plate aperture faces downwardly towards the surface of an object to be disinfected, operating an electrical switch on the handle base housing to provide electrical power to the ultraviolet lamp, grasping the handle base housing in the hand, and moving the apparatus in a sweeping, overlapping scanning motion a short distance above an object surface to be disinfected. Importantly, however, the disinfection apparatus according to the present invention includes novel structural and functional characteristics in addition to those described above, which enable the apparatus to be used alternatively to disinfect drinking water contained in a small container such as a drinking glass or cup. Those additional structural and functional characteristics will now be described. 
     According to the invention, the lid cover shell described above includes a relatively long, thin upper arched wall which protrudes upwardly from a thin, longitudinally elongated, rectangular base plate. The upper wall of the lid cover shell has a generally uniform, inverted U-shaped transverse cross sectional shape. Thus, the lid cover shell has the shape of an elongated tubular body which has disposed longitudinally through its length a semi-oval shaped bore, which penetrates the rear transverse end wall of the body. The cover shell is closed at a front end thereof by a convex, arcuately curved, front transverse end wall which is disposed between the upper wall and base plate. 
     The lid includes a short hinge block located above the upper surface of the base plate, near the rear transverse edge of the base plate, and a lamp support bulkhead which protrudes forward from the hinge block. The bulkhead structure protrudes outwardly from the hinge block, which joins the lid to the handle base housing. 
     The lid hinge block has in lower plan view the shape of a rectangular T-shaped block which has a rear reduced width end portion that forms a transversely disposed hinge cylinder. The hinge cylinder fits between and in coaxial alignment with a pair of laterally spaced apart shorter cylindrical hinge support bosses which protrude forward from a front transverse edge wall of the handle base housing. A hinge pin disposed laterally through coaxially bores through the two hinge support bosses of the handle base housing, and the centrally located lid hinge cylinder, facilitates pivotable movement of the lid from a closed position overlying the base housing, to an outwardly pivoted use position in longitudinal alignment with the base housing. 
     According to the invention, the lid hinge block has protruding from a front transversely disposed, vertical end wall thereof a laterally centrally located, reduced width lamp tube support bulkhead. The bulkhead has in plan view a transversely elongated rectangular shape. In front elevation view, the bulkhead has a flat base which is recessed upwardly to receive a rear transverse edge wall of the base plate, which abuts a vertically disposed shoulder of the bulkhead. The upper surface of the bulkhead has a convex, arcuately curved surface. Thus, the lamp tube support bulkhead has a uniform, semi-oval transverse cross-sectional shape that is adapted to be inserted into and conformally received within the rear entrance opening to the bore longitudinally disposed through the lid cover shell. 
     A front, outer transversely disposed front vertical end wall of the bulkhead has protruding perpendicularly forwardly therefrom a generally cylindrically-shaped lamp tube support boss. A pair of laterally spaced apart lamp pin sockets extend into the front face of the lamp support boss. The lamp pin sockets, which are made of a conductive metal such as copper, receive in an interference fit a pair of laterally opposed cylindrical lamp terminal pins which protrude rearwardly from the base of the ultraviolet lamp, which has the shape of a narrow, hairpin-shaped U-tube. A pair of flexible wires disposed through the hinge joint connect the lamp pin sockets to output terminals of the high-voltage power supply within the base housing. 
     According to the invention, the lid cover shell is releasably connected to the bulkhead by a fastener assembly that enables the cover shell and base plate to be grasped and pulled longitudinally forward from the lamp support bulkhead to thus fully expose the ultraviolet lamp tube, which may then be inserted into water contained in a vessel to thereby irradiate and disinfect the water. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the releasable fastener assembly which joins the bulkhead to the cover shell and base plate of the lid includes a pair of cylindrical fastener pins which protrude forward from the bulkhead. The releasable fastener assembly includes an elastically deformable member fixed to the base plate and cover shell of the lid, which resiliently receives the fastener pins. The fastener pins have a cylindrical shape and arcuately curved, convex outer transverse ends. 
     Preferably, there are two fastener pins, one each protruding perpendicularly forwards from the front transverse end wall of an individual one of a pair of cylindrical fastener pin bosses located on opposite sides of the lamp tube support boss. The fastener pins are laterally aligned, and receivable in an interference fit within an inverted C-shaped metal spring strip which protrudes upwardly from the base plate of the lid. With this construction, the lid cover shell remains securely fastened to the lamp support bulkhead by spring tension exerted by the spring strap against the outer sides of the two fastener pins and by a conformal interference fit between the outer longitudinally disposed peripheral surface of the lamp support bulkhead and the inner longitudinally disposed surface of the lid cover shell bore. This construction also enables the lid cover shell to be longitudinally slidably removed from and reattached to the bulkhead. 
     According to the invention, the apparatus includes electronic sensor control circuitry which is connected to the power supply. With the lid cover shell removed from the lamp support bulkhead, the sensor circuitry prevents the ultraviolet lamp from being energized unless the lamp is fully immersed in water. A pair of water sensor probes which are electrically connected to the sensor control circuitry disables the power supply unless both probes are immersed in water. 
     In a preferred embodiment, electrical connections are made by flexible wires between the sensor control circuitry, which is located in the handle base housing, and the two fastener pins. This novel construction enables the fastener pins to function as liquid sensing probes, in addition to performing fastening functions. Moreover, using a conductive metal fastener spring strap in the lid cover establishes electrical continuity between the fastener pins, thus enabling the power supply to function when the lid cover shell and base plate are re-fastened to the bulkhead after the apparatus has been used to disinfect water. 
     The dual function apparatus according to the present invention is used to disinfect water by slidably removing the lid cover shell from the lid bulkhead, immersing the bare, unjacketed ultraviolet lamp bulb into water contained in a small vessel such as a drinking glass or cup, grasping and moving the handle base to thus move the protruding lamp bulb in a stirring motion through the water, for a period of about 10 seconds. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a lower, left-side perspective view of an ultraviolet disinfection apparatus for object surfaces and drinking water according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a lower plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partly broken-away lower, right-side perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a lower plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing a lid thereof pivoted upwards from a handle base thereof in an inoperative, closed configuration to an operative configuration in longitudinal alignment with the handle base. 
         FIG. 5A  is a lower perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing a cover shell of the lid partially slidably disengaged from a lamp support bulkhead of the lid. 
         FIG. 5B  is a side perspective view of the structure of  FIG. 5A , showing the lid cover shell more fully disengaged from the hinge block. 
         FIG. 5C  is a fragmentary view of the apparatus of  FIG. 5A , on an enlarged scale. 
         FIG. 6  is a lower plan view similar to that of  FIG. 5A  showing the lid cover shell fully removed. 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of a handle base housing portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 6 , taken in the direction of line  7 - 7 . 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevation view of a lid portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 6 , taken in the direction of line  8 - 8 . 
         FIG. 9  is an upper plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 9 , showing a battery compartment cover removed from a handle base housing portion of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary, partly broken-away upper view of a handle base housing portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 8 , showing electronic components thereof. 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective right-hand view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing how a lid portion thereof is pivoted upwards from a handle base housing portion thereof, to reconfigure the unit from an inoperative configuration to an operative configuration. 
         FIG. 14  is a lower perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 6  showing the lid thereof pivoted into fully operational longitudinal alignment with the handle base housing thereof, and showing the apparatus being used to disinfect the microphone of a telephone handset. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing the apparatus of  FIG. 6  being used to disinfect water in a container. 
         FIG. 16  is an electrical schematic diagram of the apparatus shown in block diagram form in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1-16  illustrate various aspects of an ultraviolet water and object surface disinfection apparatus according to the present invention. 
       FIGS. 1 and 3  are lower perspective views showing an inverted ultraviolet water and object surface disinfection apparatus  20  according to the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , apparatus  20  includes a handle base housing  21  which has the shape of a longitudinally elongated rectangular box  22  having a flat rectangular upper base wall  23 . Upper base wall  23  has longitudinally elongated, rectangularly-shaped left and right flange walls  24 ,  25  which protrude downwardly from left and right edges of the base wall, and shorter front and rear transverse edge flange walls  26 ,  27  which protrude downwardly from front and rear edges of the base wall. The lower edges of the four downwardly depending flange walls  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27  of base housing  21  are coplanar, and terminate in a lower cover wall  28  which has a shape similar to, and is vertically aligned with, base wall  23 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , handle base housing  21  has a hollow interior space  29  located between base wall  23  and cover wall  28 . Hollow interior space  29  has an inner compartment  30  containing electronic circuitry  31  of apparatus  20 , and an outer, battery compartment  32 . The latter is accessible via a rectangularly shaped access door  33  which fits in a recess  34  provided in an aperture  35  through upper base wall  23 , and releasably retained therein by a latch mechanism  36 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , it may be seen that disinfection apparatus  20  includes a lid  37  that has a flat lower wall surface  38  which in a closed configuration of the apparatus overlies and contacts the lower surface  39  of lower cover wall  28  of handle base housing  21 . As shown in the figures, lid  37  has a longitudinally elongated rectangular plan-view shape similar in size to that of handle base housing  21 , and is congruently aligned with the handle base housing when apparatus  20  is in a closed, inoperative position. As is also shown in the figures, lid  37  is thinner than base housing  21  and preferably has a convex, arcuately curved upper wall surface  40  which has a generally uniform transverse cross-sectional shape. 
     As may be seen best by referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , lid  37  is pivotably attached at a rear transverse edge  41  thereof to the lower edge  42  of front transverse flange wall  26  of handle base housing  21  by a tubular pin hinge joint  43 . Hinge joint  43  includes a pair of laterally spaced apart, coaxially aligned left and right hinge support bosses  44 ,  45  which protrude forward from the front transverse edge wall  26  of handle  21 . Handle hinge support bosses  44 ,  45  form between inner facing vertically disposed circular faces  46 ,  47  thereof a transversely disposed space  48 . 
     Space  48  receives therein a relatively long, transversely disposed hinge cylinder  49  which protrudes rearwards from the rear transverse edge wall  41  of lid  37 . Hinge joint  43  includes a hinge pin  51  which is disposed through coaxial aligned bores  52 ,  53  of left and right handle hinge support bosses  44 ,  45 , and a bore  54  through hinge cylinder,  49  of lid  37 . This construction enables lid  37  to be pivoted vertically about the longitudinal axis of hinge  43  from a closed, inoperative configuration as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to an open, operating position in which the lid is longitudinally aligned with the handle base housing  21 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  14  and  15 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , it may be seen that hinge cylinder  49  of lid  37  has protruding forward therefrom a symmetrically wider rectangular block-shaped portion  55 A which has the same width as handle base housing  21 . Rear hinge cylinder  49  and front block-shaped portion  55 A together comprise a hinge block  55 . As will be described in detail below, lid  37  includes a cover shell portion  57  which is releasably fastenable to lid hinge block  55 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , hinge block  55  has in lower plan view a rectangular T-shape which has a flat bottom surface. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , hinge block  55  has an upper convexly curved shell  74  which extends rearwardly over rear hinge cylinder  49 . As shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6  and  7 , front block-shaped portion  55 A of hinge block  55  has protruding from a transverse vertical front face thereof a lamp tube support bulkhead  56 . 
     Lamp tube support bulkhead  56  has in front elevation view a semi-oval, or semi-elliptical shape, including a flat lower wall  76  and a semi-oval convex arcuately curved upper wall  77 . Block-shaped portion  55 A of hinge block  55  also has a semi-oval transverse cross-sectional shape, concentrically arranged with respect to lamp support bulkhead  56 , but of larger perimeter, thus forming a semi-oval transversely disposed ring-shaped shoulder  78  at a transverse vertical junction plane between the lamp support bulkhead and front hinge block portion  55 A. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 B and  6 , lamp support bulkhead  56  has a front vertically disposed transverse face  60 . Hinge block  56  has protruding perpendicularly forward from front, vertical face  60  thereof a generally cylindrically-shaped lamp tube support boss  61 . The lamp tube support boss  61  has extending rearwardly and inwardly into a front vertical transverse face  62  thereof a pair of left and right laterally spaced apart, tapered, resiliently deformable lamp terminal pin sockets  63 ,  64 . The latter receive in a tight interference fit cylindrical lamp terminal pins  65 ,  66  which protrude rearwardly from left and right legs  67 ,  68  of the bulb  69  of a low-pressure ultraviolet mercury vapor discharge lamp  70 . Terminal pins  65 ,  66  are disposed through rear end walls of the lamp  70  in hermetic vacuum-tight seals. Front portions of lamp terminal pins  65 ,  66  within the interior of lamp  70  comprise electrodes which are in contact with argon gas and mercury vapor within the lamp. 
     Bulb  69  of ultraviolet lamp  70  has the shape of a long, thin cylindrical body which has disposed through its length a hair-pin curve-shaped capillary bore having closely spaced, straight parallel legs  70 L,  70 R. Bulb  69  has an outer diameter of about 6 mm, ane a length of about 100 mm. Bulb  69  is made of a fused silica glass which has a high transmissibility for ultraviolet radiation in the range of 185 nm to 365 nm. Ultraviolet lamp  70  is a low-pressure gas discharge-type which contains therein about 5 milligrams of mercury, and argon gas. This mass of 5 milligrams of mercury contained in the internal volume of bulb  69  becomes partially vaporized and ionized when subjected to an applied voltage of 800 volts and a current of 2.5-3.5 milliamperes. The foregoing lamp characteristics and operating parameters result in ultraviolet radiation emission from ionized mercury vapor within the lamp which has a spectral emission range of about 185 nm to about 365 nm, and a peak emission at 253.7 nm, and a radiant power of about 2000 micro watts per square centimeter, at a distance of about 5 mm from lamp bulb  69 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , cover shell  57  of lid  37  includes an upper longitudinally elongated convex upper wall portion  71 . Upper wall portion  71  has the form of a thin, uniform thickness shell, which has an arcuately curved, convex generally uniform transverse cross-sectional outer shape, that protrudes upwardly from a rectangular base plate  58 . Upper wall portion  71  of cover shell  57  has a longitudinally elongated rectangular plan view shape which is similar to the shape of base plate  58 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 ,  5 B and  8 , upper wall portion  71  of cover shell  57  has a vertically disposed rear transverse end wall  73 , that has the shape of a semi-oval annular ring. Rear transverse end wall  73  of lid cover  57  and upper surface  59  of base plates  58  circumscribe a semi-oval shaped longitudinally disposed bore  80  which is adapted to receive in a conformal, sliding fit front semi-oval shaped lamp support bulkhead  56 . With cover  57  of lid  37  attached to lamp support bulkhead  56 , the rear transverse end wall  73  of upper wall  71  conformally abuts the front transverse edge wall  75  of short rear cover shell  74  which overlies rear portion  55 A of hinge block  55 . With this arrangement, lower surface  81  of base plate  58  and lower surface  82  of hinge block  55  are in flush parallel alignment when lamp support bulkhead  56  is fully inserted into bore  80  of lid cover  57 . Rear cover shell  74  also has a rear arcuately curved convex end wall  76 . 
       FIGS. 3-6  and  12 - 13  illustrate features of apparatus  20  which facilitate slidable removal of cover shell  57  of lid  37  from handle base housing  21 , to configure the apparatus for disinfecting water, and slidable re-attachment of the lid to the handle base housing to configure the apparatus for disinfecting object surfaces. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 , lid  37  of apparatus  20  includes a pair of left and right fastener pin bosses  83 ,  84  which are located on opposite sides of lamp tube support boss  61 . Bosses  83 ,  84  which have a smaller diameter than lamp support boss  61 , are symmetrically arranged with respect to the lamp support boss, and also protrude perpendicularly forward from front face  60  of lamp support bulkhead  56 . 
     Bosses  83 ,  84  have protruding forward from front faces  85 ,  86  thereof left and right cylindrically-[shaped metal fastener pins  87 ,  88 . The fastener pins are laterally aligned, and receivable in a resilient interference fit within an inverted C-shaped metal spring strip  89 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , spring strip  89  is formed from a flat, longitudinally elongated rectangular metal strip which is disposed laterally over the upper surface  90  of lid base plate  58 . Spring strip  89  has a pair of short laterally opposed outer end legs  91 ,  92  which are secured to the upper surface  90  of base plate  58 , and an inverted C-shaped center section  94  which protrudes upwardly from the outer legs. 
     As may be seen best by referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , upper wall  71  of cover shell  57  of lid  37  has protruding downwards from a lower inner surface  95  thereof a longitudinally elongated, lamp reflector box  96 . As shown in the figures, lamp reflector box  96  has in lower plan view a longitudinally elongated rectangular shape which is laterally centered with respect to lower rectangular wall surface  97  of lid  37 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , reflector box  96  has a longitudinally elongated, rectangular plan view upper wall  98 , left and right longitudinally elongated downwardly depending side walls  99 ,  100 , and front and rear short vertically disposed transverse walls  101 ,  102 , which protrude downwards from the upper wall. The side walls  99 ,  100  and transverse walls  101 ,  102  of reflector box  96  fit conformally within an elongated rectangularly-shaped aperture  103  through the thickness dimension of lid base plate  58 , with the lower edges of the transverse and longitudinal side walls coplanar with lower surface  104  of the base plate. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , front and rear transverse walls  101 ,  102  of reflector box  96 , which preferably angle obliquely inwardly from the base plate towards the upper wall  98  of the reflector box, have through their thickness dimension front and rear circular clearance holes  105 ,  106 , for insertably receiving ultraviolet lamp bulb  69 . The inner wall surfaces of the reflector box walls which face lamp bulb  69  have formed thereon reflective metallic surfaces which are effective in reflecting ultraviolet radiation emitted from lamp bulb towards base plate aperture  103 . 
     Optionally, at least a part  107  of upper wall  98  of reflector box  96  is made of an ultraviolet absorbing, visible-light transmissive material. This arrangement enables the small amount of visible light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp  70  to be viewed through the light transmissive portion  107  of the upper reflector wall, thereby confirming energization of the lamp to irradiate a surface beneath lid  37 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 A- 5 C, lid  37  is provided with a pair of hooks laterally opposed, left and right latch hooks  108 ,  109 , located a short distance rearward of front transverse edge  110  of lid base plate  58 . Latch hooks  108 ,  109  are urged resiliently rearwards by springs  111 ,  112 , respectively. The latch hooks  108 ,  109  have laterally outwardly protruding grooved finger buttons  113 ,  114  which protrude laterally outwardly through apertures  115 ,  116  provided in sides  117 ,  118  of cover shell  57 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5C , latch hooks  108 ,  109  have at lower ends thereof rearwardly and upwardly angled tangs  119 ,  120 . When latch hooks  108 ,  109  are moved forwards by finger pressure on both finger buttons  113 ,  114 , tangs  119 ,  120  at the lower ends of the hooks are vertically alignable with and insertable into individual ones of a pair of laterally opposed, rectangular left and right slots  121 ,  122  through the thickness dimension of lower cover wall  28  of handle base housing  21 . Releasing finger pressure on the latch buttons enables the latch hook tangs to be urged resiliently rearward by the latch springs, causing the upper surfaces of the tangs to lodge against the inner surface  123  of the handle base housing cover wall. This arrangement maintains the lid  37  in a closed, inoperative position until the finger buttons are simultaneously moved by an adult hand. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , apparatus  20  includes a normally open push button switch  124  which has a finger button  125  that protrudes through left side wall  24  of handle base housing  21 . Also, as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  11  and  12 , apparatus  20  has a interlock switch  126  which has a button  127  that protrudes downwardly through a circular hole  128  through lower cover wall  28  of handle base housing. Switch  126  is a normally closed switch, which interrupts electrical continuity through the switch contacts when lower surface  128  forces button  127  upwardly when contacted by lower surface  128  of lid base plate  58 , when the lid is closed. Switches  124  and  126  are electrically interconnected with control circuitry  140  of apparatus  20 , which will now be described. 
       FIG. 12  is an electrical block diagram of disinfection apparatus  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , apparatus  20  includes electronic circuitry  140  for converting low voltage electrical power supplied by batteries  131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134  located in battery compartment  32  (see  FIG. 8 ) into high-voltage low current electrical power for energizing ultraviolet discharge lamp  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , electronic circuitry  140  of apparatus  20  includes a DC-to-AC inverter  141 , commonly referred to as an electronic ballast. Electronic ballast  141  includes a transistor oscillator  142  which converts direct current power supplied by batteries  132 - 134  to alternating current which is conducted through the primary coil  143  of a step-up transformer  144 . Step-up transformer  144  has a secondary coil  145  which has a turns ratio relative to the primary coil of about 140:1. Thus, for a battery supply voltage of about 6 volts, the voltage of output terminals  146 ,  147  of secondary coil is about 840 volts. That voltage, when applied to terminals  148 ,  149  of ultraviolet lamp  70 , is sufficient to ionize argon gas with the envelope of the lamp bulb, which in turn causes mercury within the envelope to vaporize. Electrical current flowing through the mercury vapor produces ultraviolet radiation emissions. Although the operating frequency of oscillator  142  is a matter of design choice, a suitable operating frequency is about 30-40 KHz. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , electronic circuitry  140  includes control circuitry  150  and a timer circuit  151  for controlling the duration of d.c. battery power input to electronic ballast  141 , and thus controlling the duration of UV radiation emitted by lamp  70 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 12 , it may be seen that d.c. electrical current from batteries  131 - 134  is conducted to control circuitry  150  through normally closed lid closure interlock switch  126 . Switch  126  is closed to enable current flow when lid  37  is pivoted away from handle base housing  21 , and opened to interrupt current flow to control circuitry  150  when the lid is closed and latched to the handle base housing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , control circuitry  150  has input sensor terminals  152 ,  153  which are electrically conductively connected to fastener pin/sensor probes  87 ,  88 , respectively. Control circuitry  150  includes transistor sensor circuitry which supplies a low sampling voltage of about 6 volts to terminals  152 ,  153  and fastener pin/sensor probes  87 , 88 . The sensor circuitry includes a transistor switch which is turned from an OFF state to an ON state when a current as small as about 0.3 micro amperes flows between sensor pins  87  and  88  as a result of being immersed in water having a conductivity as low as about 18 megohm-cm. Thus, when lid  37  is removed from apparatus  20 , and lamp  77  and sensor probes  87 , 88  immersed in water, control circuitry  150  is switched to an operative state. Similarly, when lid  37  is reattached to handle base housing  21 , electrically conductive contact between sensor probes  87 , 88  established by lid jumper strap  89  enables operation of control circuitry  150 . 
     When control circuitry  150  is enabled as described above, momentarily depressing start cycle push-button switch  124  latches the control circuitry into an active conductive state in which battery current is applied to oscillator  142  of electronic ballast  141 , for a period determined by timer circuit  151 . That time period is determined by the intensity of UV radiation emitted by lamp  70 , and the amount of energy required to kill organisms at a particular distance from the lamp  70 . In an example embodiment of apparatus  20 , timer  151  was set to deliver UV radiation from lamp  70  for a duration of about 12 seconds. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate how disinfecting apparatus  20  may be used to disinfect an object surface, such as the microphone of a telephone handset. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 13 , apparatus  20  is re-configured from a first, closed inoperative storage and transport configuration to an open, operative configuration by pushing forward on left and right latch hook finger buttons  113 ,  114 , on opposite sides of lid  37 . This may be conveniently done by using the thumb and forefinger of a person&#39;s hand. Simultaneously pushing latch buttons  113 ,  113 , causes latch hooks  108 ,  109  attached to the hooks to disengage from slots  121 ,  122  through lower cover wall  28  of base housing  21 . Releasing hooks  108 ,  109  from slots  121 ,  122  enables lid  37  to be pivoted upwardly from base housing  21  to an orientation in which the lid is longitudinally aligned with the base housing, and the apparatus inverted as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     Pivoting lid  37  upwards from lower cover wall  28  enables push button of interlock switch  126  to extend outwardly through upper cover wall  128  of handle base housing  21  in response to pressure of a spring within the mechanism of the interlock switch  126 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , closure of contacts of a switch  126  completes a path for current from batteries  121 - 124  to control circuitry  150  of electronic circuitry  140 . With power applied to control circuitry  150 , momentarily depressing push button  125  of start cycle switch  124  causes timer circuit  151  to enable battery current to be supplied to electronic ballast  141  for a predetermined time periods, e.g., 12 seconds. Lamp  70  is thus energized for about 12 seconds, and may be used to disinfect microphone B of a telephone handset A by positioning aperture  103  through lid  57  in close proximity to the microphone, and manipulating handle base housing  21  to cause ultraviolet radiation emitted through aperture  103  to irradiate the surface of the microphone in an overlapping, scanning motion.  FIGS. 4-6  and  15  illustrate how apparatus  20  may be used to disinfect drinking water contained in a drinking glass or other small drinking vessel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , lid  37  of apparatus  20  is unlatched from handle base housing  21 , and pivoted into longitudinal alignment with the base housing, in the manner described above. Then, as shown in  FIG. 5 , cover shell portion  57  of lid  37  of apparatus  20  is grasped and pulled away from lamp support bulkhead  56  protruding from hinge block  55  attached to handle base housing  21 , until the lid cover is completely removed, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     With apparatus  20  configured for disinfecting water by removing lid cover  57  from handle base housing  21  as described above, lamp bulb  69  is inserted into water D in a container C such as a drinking glass, as shown in  FIG. 15 . The lamp bulb  69  is immersed sufficiently deeply within water D until fastener pin/sensor probes  87 ,  88  are also immersed in the water. Referring to  FIG. 12 , the electrical conductivity of the water enables control circuitry  150  to respond to actuation of push button start cycle switch  124 , thus energizing lamp  70  for a predetermined time interval, as described above. Lamp bulb  69  is then moved in a stirring motion in water during the time that ultraviolet lamp  70  is energized thus emitting ultraviolet radiation into the water and disinfecting the water. 
     As described above, a primary function of cover  57  of apparatus  20  is to prevent ultraviolet radiation emitted from lamp  70  from being directed towards the eyes of a user of the apparatus, because of possible undesirable effects on human vision. 
     Cover  57  also provides a safety interlock feature, which prevents energization of lamp  70  when cover  57  is removed, unless the lamp and consequently sensor probes  87 ,  88  are fully immersed in a liquid, such as water in a container. Since water is an efficient absorber of shortwave ultraviolet radiation in a wavelength range which could have adverse effects on the eyes, such radiation is prevented from being transmitted from a vessel such as a drinking glass in which lamp  70  is immersed. 
     The foregoing functions of cover  57  could optionally be performed by a simpler construction, in which the cover consisted simply of an elongated thin plate which overlay the upper surface of the lamp  70 , and had protruding from the lower surface of the plate a receptacle such as a spring metal strap for resiliently and electrically conductively receiving sensor probes  87 , 88 . In such a variation of the present invention, the metal plate would preferably have a concave, e.g., parabolic, reflective lower surface adjacent to the lamp  70 . 
       FIG. 16  is an electrical schematic diagram of apparatus  20 , shown in block diagram form in  FIG. 12 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , apparatus  20  optionally may be provided with an LED indicator lamp  307  mounted in lid  37 , in which case window  107  may be eliminated.