Patent Publication Number: US-2011049391-A1

Title: Storage Container Having Sterilizing Function by Using Ultraviolet Rays

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a container and, more particularly, to a storage container to receive and store articles, such as forks, spoons, chopsticks and the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional storage container comprises a container body having an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber and a top cover removably mounted on the container body. In use, when articles, such as forks, spoons, chopsticks and the like, are placed in the receiving chamber of the container body, the top cover is mounted on the container body to close the receiving chamber of the container body and to cover the articles. However, the receiving chamber of the container body is sealed by the top cover so that the articles are disposed at a wet and closed condition, so that bacteria are deposited on the articles, thereby easily incurring a sanitary problem. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a storage container, comprising a container body having an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber, a top cover removably mounted on the container body to close the receiving chamber of the container body, a circuit board mounted in the top cover, an ultraviolet light mounted on the circuit board and directed toward the receiving chamber of the container body, a control switch mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected with the ultraviolet light to turn on or off the ultraviolet light, at least one battery mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected with the control switch and the ultraviolet light, and a push button mounted on the top cover and contacting with the control switch to control operation of the control switch. 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a storage container having a sterilizing function by using ultraviolet rays. 
     According to another objective of the present invention, the ultraviolet light provides a sterilizing function to the articles placed in the receiving chamber of the container body so as to achieve a sanitary purpose. 
     According to a further objective of the present invention, the volume of the circuit board is reduced to the minimum by provision of the mercury battery and the ultraviolet LED light so that the storage container has a smaller volume and lighter weight to facilitate packaging, storage and transportation of the storage container. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage container in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the storage container as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front cross-sectional view of the storage container as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic operational view of the storage container as shown in  FIG. 3  in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , a storage container in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a container body  10  having an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber  11 , a top cover  20  removably mounted on the container body  10  to close the receiving chamber  11  of the container body  10 , a circuit board  30  mounted in the top cover  20 , an ultraviolet light  31  mounted on the circuit board  30  and directed toward the receiving chamber  11  of the container body  10 , a control switch  32  mounted on the circuit board  30  and electrically connected with the ultraviolet light  31  to turn on or off the ultraviolet light  31 , at least one battery  33  mounted on the circuit board  30  and electrically connected with the control switch  32  and the ultraviolet light  31 , and a push button  21  mounted on the top cover  20  and contacting with the control switch  32  to control operation of the control switch  32 . 
     The container body  10  has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The container body  10  has an open upper end provided with a stepped mounting portion  12  and has a closed bottom portion provided with at least one draining hole  13  connected to the receiving chamber  11 . 
     The circuit board  30  is located at a mediate portion of the top cover  20 . The circuit board  30  is fixed in the top cover  20  by a retaining member  40 . The circuit board  30  is located above the retaining member  40 . The top cover  20  has an inner wall provided with a retaining groove  22  to retain the retaining member  40 . The retaining member  40  is made of a waterproof rubber and has a ring shape. The retaining groove  22  of the top cover  20  has an annular shape. The inner wall of the top cover  20  is further provided with a stepped fixing recess  24  to receive the circuit board  30 . The fixing recess  24  of the top cover  20  is located above and connected to the retaining groove  22 . 
     The top cover  20  has an inverted U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The top cover  20  has a closed top portion  23  abutting an upper end of the control switch  32  and an open lower end provided with a stepped mounting hole  25  mounted on the mounting portion  12  of the container body. The push button  21  is made of soft pad and is mounted on the top portion  23  of the top cover  20 . Preferably, the push button  21  is located at a central portion of the top portion  23  of the top cover  20 . 
     The control switch  32  has an upper end abutting the top portion  23  of the top cover  20  and the push button  21  and has a lower end mounted on a top of the circuit board  30 . The control switch  32  is electrically connected with the circuit board  30 . 
     The ultraviolet light  31  is a light emitting diode (LED) and protrudes downward from a bottom of the circuit board  30 . The ultraviolet light  31  is electrically connected with the circuit board  30 . The ultraviolet light  31  and the control switch  32  are located at two opposite sides of the circuit board  30 . The battery  33  is preferably a mercury battery. 
     In operation, referring to  FIG. 4  with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , when articles  50 , such as forks, spoons, chopsticks and the like, are placed in the receiving chamber  11  of the container body  10 , the top cover  20  is mounted on the container body  10  to close the receiving chamber  11  of the container body  10  and to cover the articles  50 . Then, the push button  21  is pressed by a user to control operation of the control switch  32  so as to turn on or off the ultraviolet light  31 . In such a manner, after the ultraviolet light  31  is turned on, the ultraviolet light  31  emits ultraviolet rays  310  toward the receiving chamber  11  of the container body  10  so as to provide a sterilizing function to the articles  50  placed in the receiving chamber  11  of the container body  10 . At this time, the water on the articles  50  can flow through the draining hole  13  of the container body  10  and is drained outwardly from the draining hole  13  of the container body  10 . 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage container further comprises a timer mounted on and electrically connected with the circuit board  30  to control the operation time of the ultraviolet light  31 . 
     Accordingly, the ultraviolet light  31  provides a sterilizing function to the articles  50  placed in the receiving chamber  11  of the container body  10  so as to achieve a sanitary purpose. In addition, the volume of the circuit board  30  is reduced to the minimum by provision of the mercury battery  33  and the ultraviolet LED light  31  so that the storage container has a smaller volume and lighter weight to facilitate packaging, storage and transportation of the storage container. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.