Patent AU-2020100391-A4 (AU)
Title: Appliance for sterilization of Holy Water Stoups and Fonts with UVC-LED
Inventor: HSIAO JUI CHIH
IPC: C02F1/32
Filed: 2020-03-16
Granted: 2020-05-14
Abstract: Abstract Numerous versions of holy water stoups and fonts are known by several religions (such as Roman Catholic, Lutherians, Anglicans and Eastern Christians), which are intended for the cleansing prior to a baptism and spiritual cleansing. However, the holy water could be seriously contaminated with harmful microorganisms due to dunking of unpurified fingers in the holy water by believers. Holy water spoups and fonts have been identified as a potential source of bacterial and viral infection. Bacteriologists found in holy water samples - taken from a church in Italy - staphylococci, streptococci, coli bacilli, Loeffler's bacillus and other bacteria. In a study, which was accomplished in the year 1995, 13 samples were taken from a patient, who got a bacterial infection after exposure to holy water. The study showed, that the samples contained a wide range of bacterial species, which could cause serious infections to humans. Moreover, during the swine flu epidemic of the year 2009, holy water should not be filled in the fonts due to the danger of infections. In recent years, with rising concerns over influenza, "holy water machines", that work like an auto-matic soap dispenser with infrared light for activation, have been introduced by a few churches. In order to remedy this inadequate situation of providing non-sterile, germ-infested holy water during usage and also to respect the historic style of holy water stoups and fonts, the - in the following described invention was developed - in order to improve the continuous safety of believers, whose health could be endangered due to self-propagating, hazardous/harmful microorganisms and to avoid concurrently shears in style concerning historic stoups and fonts as far as possible: An appliance for sterilization of holy water stoups and fonts, which is installed in the basin for holy water and which may be also retrofitted to existing holy water stoups and fonts and which is equipped with mercury-free UVC LED, which can be installed as a single UVC-LED chip and/or an unit of several, combined UVC LED chips. The at least one UVC radiation source with a wavelength in the germ-killing range of 100 nm to 280 nm is preferably applied/integrated on and/or at and/or in at least one side wall of the body and/or casing of the appliance and which is/are emitting UVC radiation towards the water being in the holy water stoups and fonts to enable an effective cleansing and sterilization. It is mandatory to ensure, that the at least one UVC-LED radiation source is installed in such a way, that it can only irradiate the water being in holy water stoups and fonts. The at least one UVC radiation source may be also prevented from emitting uncontrolled germ-killing UV radiation to the surrounding by means of appropriate measures. For that purpose, the body and/or casing of the appliance for steri lization with UVC-LED may be formed as a decorative object and/or figure (i.a. fish etc.) - avoiding that uncontrolled UVC radiation strike the body of believers and/or the immediate vicinity and by providing a decorative form - i.a. as a Christian symbol -, which is not deemed as a shear in style. Therefore, the appliance for sterilization may be also used for retrofitting of - mostly historic - holy water stoups and fonts by installing it in the basin for holy water. To obtain optimal cleansing and sterilization results, the appliance for sterilization may be equipped with an integrated recirculation pump, which is integrated in the body and/or casing of the appliance for sterilization - providing a continuous flow of water in the holy water stoups and fonts. The -2- additional recirculation of the water enables an effetive elimination of propagating microorganisms by germ-killing UV radiation. At least one, additional reflector on the sides of the body and/or casing of the appliance for sterilization may reflect UVC radiation emitted by the at least one and/or more UVC-LED. With the combination of UVC radiation and at least one reflector, the cleansing and sterilization procedure of water being in holy water stoups and fonts can be improved and microorganisms can be mostly eliminated. Thus, holy water stoups and fonts - in particular, the water - are most widely kept pathogen-free during operation. The power supply - required by the at least one UVC-LED - for stationary usage is ensured by a connection cable with power plug and voltage transformer and may additionally provided with an electronic timer. An additional power button may be installed in the casing and/or body of the device or integrated in the connection cable. Portable devices may be equipped with at least one, separate, rechargeable accumulator and/or by a separate battery and, may be, with an optional, electronic timer. For this purpose the power source is connected with the at least one UVC-LED by means of a connection cable with connection socket as well as a connecting plug - in order to be switched on/switched off by a power button integrated in the connection cable and/or in the body and/or casing of the device. The body and/or casing of the appliance for sterilization of holy water stoups and fonts may be equipped with a visible light emitting diode -, connected to the at least one and/or more UVC-LED-, which is switched on or off together with the UVC light emitting diode to indicate the operational status of the device. With the invention of the appliance for sterilization of holy water stoups and fonts with mercury-free UVC LED it is achieved, that water being in holy water stoups and fonts is effectively sterilized and/or that believers are protected against proliferating, hazardous/harmful microorganisms. Due to the small size of the appliance for sterilization and to the decorative form, existing holy water stoups and fonts can be easily retrofitted without shear in style. The distribution of and/or infection of people with hazardous/harmful microorganisms is largely excluded. In addition, the use of germicidal and relatively inexpensive UVC LED represents a high benefit for the environment, because mercury-free UVC LED have a lifespan of about 5,000 hours and a low energy consumption. co CJ r- 9r