Abstract:
Improved, portable apparatus for ozone deodorizing and sanitizing of clothing items such as shoes is provided having a housing sized to receive an item to be treated, together with an ozone generator and a ventilation assembly operable to deliver ozone-laden air currents into the housing. In preferred forms, the ozone generator is located within a compartment separate from the housing, and a fan assembly is used to draw ambient air currents adjacent the generator for ozone supplementation, followed by delivery of the ozone-laden air currents into the housing.

Description:
CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/715,132 filed Oct. 17, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is broadly concerned with a deodorizing and sanitizing apparatus using ozone-laden air currents. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such apparatus, and corresponding methods, wherein ambient air is drawn into proximity with an ozone generator for creating the ozone-laden air currents prior to passage thereof into a housing adapted to hold a item of clothing (e.g., shoes) to be treated. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Ozone is a triatomic form of oxygen (O3), and is known to be the strongest oxidant of common disinfecting agents. Ozone has been used at least since 1893 for treatment of drinking water, and today is the most commonly used disinfection process in Europe. A wide spectrum of organisms is destroyed by ozone, and the ability of ozone to remove taste and odors is excellent. Generally, ozone is used in the same manner as chlorine, but it does not present many of the handling problems of chlorine. However, ozone is unstable so it cannot effectively be produced and transported to the point of use. Rather, it must be generated at or close to the point of use. Ozone may be generated using known equipment, especially corona discharge tubes and UV radiation devices. 
     Ozone generators have been used by dry cleaning establishments in order to clean and restore clothing and fabrics harmed by fire and smoke. These generators are designed to be placed within a room and include a small fan for circulating ozone-supplemented air. Generally, these units must be operated for hours or even days to be effective, and such are not suitable for use in homes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides improved apparatus and methods for treating clothing items using ozone. Broadly speaking, the invention includes structure defining an enclosed treatment zone operable to hold an item of clothing for treatment, an ozone generator, and a ventilation assembly operable to create currents of air containing ozone from the generator, and to pass such ozone-laden air currents in proximity to the item for a period of time sufficient to deodorize and sanitize the item. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a deodorizing and sanitizing apparatus includes structure defining an enclosed treatment zone operable to hold an item of clothing for treatment, an ozone generator, and a ventilation assembly. The ventilation assembly is operable to create currents of air containing ozone from the generator, and to pass such ozone-laden air currents in proximity to the item for a period of time sufficient to deodorize and sanitize the item. 
     In preferred forms, the zone-defining structure comprises an upright housing having an openable cover allowing access to the interior of the housing, and the ventilation assembly comprises a fan operable to induce ambient air currents past the generator in order to create the ozone-laden air currents, where the ozone generator is located proximal to the fan. Advantageously, the fan and ozone generator are located within a compartment separate from the treatment zone, and a passageway is provided for delivery of the ozone-laden air from the compartment and into the treatment zone. In order to most effectively and efficiently create the ozone-laden currents, it is preferred that the ozone generator be located outside of the treatment zone. Optionally, a heater may be provided for heating the air currents before or after the ozone supplementation thereof. It has also been found to be helpful to have a vent opening in the housing, which is correlated with the ventilation assembly so as to create positive pressure conditions within the zone during treating operations. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for deodorizing and sanitizing shoes. The apparatus comprises a base including a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, with a housing defining a shoe treatment zone secured to the base and extending upwardly therefrom, the housing having a lower wall, upright outer walls, and an openable cover. A pair of upright shoe trees are located within the housing and secured to the housing lower wall. Each tree extends upwardly from the lower wall and comprises a tubular, imperforate shank and a perforate ozone-delivery head extending laterally from the shank The shoe trees are thus operable to support a pair of shoes to be treated, with the tree heads being configured for placement within the confines of the shoes. An ozone generator is positioned within the base and below the housing lower wall. The shoe treatment apparatus further has a ventilation assembly operable to create currents of air containing ozone from the generator, and to pass such ozone-laden air currents through the shoe tree shanks and the heads in order to deodorize and sanitize the shoes. The ventilation assembly includes a fan and a conduit operably coupled with each of the shanks and communicating the interiors of the shanks with the fan. 
     In preferred forms, the ozone generator and fans located within a segregated compartment of the base. If desired, the apparatus includes a pair of conduits, each associated with a respective one of the trees, and a heater within each of the air conduits for heating of the air currents. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention concerns a method of treating clothing items such as shoes. These methods involve the steps of locating the item to be treated within an enclosed treatment zone, and passing ozone-laden air currents into the treatment zone for a time sufficient to deodorize and sanitize the item; the ozone-laden air currents are generated by passing ambient-derived air currents into proximity with an ozone generator. 
     Preferably, the method involves operating a fan to draw the ambient air currents into the zone after the ambient air currents are supplemented with ozone, particularly where the ozone generator is located within a compartment separate from the treatment zone. If desired, the air currents may be heated prior to passage thereof into the zone. Where shoes are being treated, it is preferred that the ozone-laden air currents be directed into the interiors of the shoes. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. These concepts are further described below in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Various other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the deodorizing and sanitizing apparatus of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the apparatus, illustrating the opposite side of the apparatus as compared with  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view with parts broken away of the apparatus, shown with a pair of athletic shoes being treated therein; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating the internal construction of the apparatus including the shoe supports; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view with parts broken away illustrating components of the apparatus; and 
         FIG. 6  is another exploded view of the apparatus. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the preferred embodiments. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate, and the specification describes, certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments. 
     Turning now to the drawings, and particularly  FIGS. 1-2 , a deodorizing and sanitizing apparatus  10  is illustrated. The apparatus  10  broadly includes a base  12  and an upstanding container or housing  14  supported on the base  12 . The container  14  is adapted to receive items to be deodorized and sanitized, as will be explained. 
     The base  12  includes a bottom wall  16  and a continuous, upwardly extending sidewall  18 , with a series of internal, upstanding, integral gussets  20  providing additional support for the sidewall  18 . The bottom wall  16  is equipped with an upstanding transformer housing  22  and a recessed passageway  24  extending from sidewall  18  and communicating with the interior of transformer housing  22 . The housing  22  holds a conventional electric transformer (not shown), whereas the passageway  24  serves as a wireway for a standard electric cord (also not shown). The bottom wall  16  is also equipped with two sets of vent openings  26  and  28 , and corner-mounted feet  30  ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Internally, the base  12  has a series of upstanding, tubular coupling fixtures  32  and two sets of elongated connector bar members  34  and  36 , which are astride the vent openings  26  and  28  and are designed to support electronic control boards (not shown). Finally, an internal, substantially rectangular compartment  38  is provided within base  12 , defined by a pair of sidewalls  40  and end walls  42 . It will be observed that one of the sidewalls  40  is relieved as at  44  to provide an airway into the confines of compartment  38 . 
     The housing  14  is designed to be mounted on base  12  and broadly includes obliquely oriented front and rear walls  46  and  48 , upstanding sidewalls  50 ,  52  and a lower wall  54 , thereby defining a deodorizing and sanitizing zone  56 . The front wall  46  supports a controller  58  (including a visible control panel), as well as a latching mechanism  60 . The latching mechanism includes an operating button  62 . An upright, internal channel housing  63  is provided for the wiring associated with controller  58 . An uppermost lid or cover  64  is secured to rear wall  48  by means of hinges  66 , and has a forward handle  68  as well as a pair of forward, spaced apart, spring-loaded couplers  70  and a latching tongue  72 , the latter being designed to mate with mechanism  60  when the lid  64  is closed. Rear wall  48  has an aperture  74  between the hinges  66 , which is important for purposes to be described. 
     The underside of lower wall  54  has a series of depending tubular couplers  76  designed to rest upon and mate with the tubular coupling fixtures  32  of base  12  (see  FIG. 3 ). Screws (not shown) extend upwardly through the fixtures  32  and into the couplers  76  to secure the housing  14  to base  12 . In addition, the lower wall  54  has a rectangular wireway opening  78 , which communicates with the interior of channel housing  63 , and a pair of primary, side-by-side airflow conduits  80 . Each conduit  80  includes upwardly extending and converging walls  82  defining a passageway opening  84 . Two series of vent openings  86  and  88  are respectively located adjacent each conduit  80 . 
     A pair of tubular, juxtaposed, generally L-shaped shoe trees  90  are provided within housing  14 , with one tree mounted on each conduit  80 . Each tree  90  includes an upright, tubular shank  92  having a lowermost flange  94 , as well as an obliquely extending head  96 . The shanks  92  are each preferably imperforate so as to ensure maximum air delivery to the heads  96 . A series of connecters  98  are used to secure the flange  94  to the associated conduit  80 . The head  96  has an upper wall or face  100  equipped with a series of openings  102  therein, as well as a bottom wall or face  104  also equipped with openings  106 . Sidewalls  108  each extend between the upper and bottom faces  100 ,  104  and also have vent openings  110 . 
     A pair of tubular mounts  112  extend from the underside of lower wall  54  and are in registry with the conduits  80 . Each mount  112  supports an electrical resistance heater  114 . A powered fan  116  is provided. The fan  116  is preferably in the form of a pair of blowers  117 , each positioned on a respective mount  112 . Threaded connectors (not shown) are employed to secure each blower  117  and mount  112  to the underside of lower wall  54 , so that the bottom surface of each blower  117  is spaced above the lower wall  54  of housing  14 . 
     An ozone generator  118  is secured to the underside of lower wall  54  generally between the mounts  112 . The generator  118  may be any type of unit, such as a corona discharge or UV generator. 
     As indicated previously, the operation of apparatus  10  is controlled through the controller  58 . The controller wiring extends downwardly through channel housing  63  and wireway opening  78 , where it is operatively connected with electronic control boards (not shown) mounted on the connector bars  34 ,  36 . Additional wiring is provided to the fan  116 , heaters  114 , and ozone generator  118  so as to govern the operation of the apparatus  10 . It will be appreciated that the control circuitry for the apparatus  10  is itself conventional and typically would include a programmable microprocessor, such as a digital programmable logic controller (PLC). Moreover, programming of such a device is within the skill of the art. 
     When it is desired to utilize apparatus  10  for deodorizing and sanitizing items such athletic shoes  120  ( FIG. 3 ), the cover  64  is opened and the shoes  120  are mounted on the respective trees  90 , so that the heads  96  thereof are inserted fully into the shoes  120 . The lid  64  is then closed, and the controller  58  is activated to initiate the deodorizing/sanitizing operation. The controller  58  is preferably configured to initially actuate both the fan  116  and heater  114  so as to first dry the shoes  120 . This causes ambient air to be drawn through the bottom vent openings  26 ,  28  and then through the relieved area  44  of sidewall  40 . The air is then pulled upwardly through each blower  117 , across the heater  114 , and into the conduit  80  for ultimate passage through the respective tree  90 . Such air then passes into the shoes  120  in order to dry them. Additional heated air also passes upwardly through the vents  86 ,  88  to dry the exterior surfaces of the shoes. The air currents developed in this fashion exit the zone  56  through the rear wall aperture  74 . In one aspect of the invention, the aperture  74  is sized relative to the output of the fan  116  so as to maintain within the zone  56  a small positive pressure. This pressure facilitates rapid and effective drying of the shoes  120 . 
     The heating step may be manually eliminated by pressing a “no heat” button (not shown) on the control panel, if desired. (The controller may also be configured to automatically eliminate the heating step, e.g., if the shoes are already dry. This may be sensed by a suitable humidity sensor within the zone  56 .) Once any heating step is completed, the fan  116  remains on and the ozone generator  118  is actuated by the controller  58 . This causes ambient air to be drawn through the bottom vent openings  26 ,  28  and then through the relieved area  44  of sidewall  40 . This air swirls within the compartment  38  and ozone emitted by the generator  118  mixes with the air. The ozone-laden air is then pulled upwardly through each blower  117  and conduit  80  for ultimate passage through the respective tree  90 . Such air then passes into the shoes  120  in order to deodorize and sanitize them. Additional ozone-laden air also passes upwardly through the vents  86 ,  88  to deodorize and sanitize the exterior surfaces of the shoes. The air currents developed in this fashion exit the zone  56  through the rear wall aperture  74 . In one aspect of the invention, the aperture  74  is sized relative to the output of the fan  116  so as to maintain within the zone  56  a small positive pressure. This pressure facilitates the rapid and effective deodorizing and sanitizing of the shoes  120 . 
     If desired, the heaters  114  may be energized again, during ozone treatment, or alternatively after ozone treatment. 
     In normal circumstances, the duty cycle for the apparatus  10  is on the order of one (1) to two (2) hours, but this of course depends upon the size and nature of the shoes  120 . Normally, when a treatment cycle has terminated, the fan  116  is powered for an additional period, e.g., five (5) minutes, in order to clear the zone  56  of any contaminants and to assure that the apparatus  10  returns to ambient temperature. 
     Although the invention has been illustrated in the context of a purpose-built apparatus, it will be appreciated that the principles of the invention may be applicable to other types of containers, such as lockers or chests. Likewise, the specific configuration of the object holding structures within the apparatus can readily be modified to support different types of shoes, clothing, or equipment which require periodic deodorizing and sanitizing. 
     It has been found that placing the ozone generator  118  in a relatively small compartment, such as the compartment  38 , augments the operability of the apparatus  10 . That is, if the generator were placed within the large zone  56 , it would take considerably longer to generate an effective concentration of ozone within the zone, than is the case with the invention. Placing the generator within the compartment allows a rapid buildup of ozone, which is delivered to the zone  56  without premature dissipation thereof. By the same token, passage of the ozone-laden air upwardly through the imperforate tubular shanks  92  assures that the relatively high ozone concentration in such air is only released through the perforate heads  96 , which are within the athletic shoes  120 . Furthermore, the combination of heating and ozone treatment and, more particularly, the preferred sequence of heating followed by ozone treatment, provides highly effective deodorizing and sanitizing of the shoes  120 . 
     It will thus be seen that the apparatus of the invention provides a means for rapid and complete deodorizing and sanitizing of items such as shoes or other clothing. This treatment removes odors, kills odor-producing microorganisms, and, when the heaters  114  are employed, effectively dries the items being treated. 
     Although the above description presents features of preferred embodiments of the present invention, other preferred embodiments may also be created in keeping with the principles of the invention. Furthermore, these other preferred embodiments may in some instances be realized through a combination of features compatible for use together despite having been presented independently as part of separate embodiments in the above description. 
     The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The inventors hereby states their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.