Patent Publication Number: US-2013245808-A1

Title: Germicidal tie rack

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to clothing accessories and more particularly, to a rotating motorized tie rack with an ultraviolet germicidal light. 
     Neckties are potential sources of infections, as they are rarely washed and can harbor disease-causing viruses and bacteria. 
     A conventional closet having an ultraviolet light included this light at the bottom and/or on hangers. Such a light system would not satisfactorily clean a necktie that was placed in the closet. While a portable disinfecting light could certainly be used, it would be inconvenient to have to hold the light on both sides of the tie for a sufficient amount of time for true disinfections. In addition, it would be difficult to hold the light at the correct distance to adequately disinfect the ties without being too close to damage the ties. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved system for holding and disinfecting ties hung on a tie rack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a tie rack comprises a plurality of conveyor hooks adapted to hold neckties; a motor adapted to move the conveyor hooks into an ultraviolet light chamber; and one or more ultraviolet lights adapted to emit ultraviolet light within the ultraviolet light chamber. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a tie rack comprises a plurality of conveyor hooks adapted to hold neckties; a motor adapted to move the conveyor hooks into a ultraviolet light chamber; one or more ultraviolet lights adapted to emit ultraviolet light within the ultraviolet light chamber; a processor adapted to control the speed of the motor and the duration of the applied ultraviolet light; and one or more control buttons, the control buttons adapted to turn the one or more ultraviolet lamps on and off and to cause the motor to move the conveyor hooks. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a germicidal tie rack according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the tie rack of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the tie rack of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a motorized tie rack that, while providing convenient storage for one&#39;s necktie collection, will sanitize the neckties with an ultraviolet light. The rack includes a “clean” button which, when pressed, will rotate the necktie to the rear of the device. There, a shielded ultraviolet light will be activated for several minutes, disinfecting both sides of the necktie. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a tie rack may include a plurality of conveyor hooks  18  for holding ties  10 . The tie rack may be motorized via a motor  26  that may be powered by one or more rechargeable batteries  30  or via standard household current via an AC power connection  32 . The motor  26  may move conveyor hooks  18  to move ties from an exposed area to an area encased by the tie rack. There may be from about  10  to about  50  or more conveyor hooks  18 , each designed to typically hold a single tie. The motor  26 , or a second motor (not shown), may be used to turn ties  10  on their longitudinal axis when being treated with ultraviolet light. In some embodiments of the present invention, the tie rack may include the ability to use one or both types of power. In some embodiments, the batteries  30  may be a removable battery pack that may be charged via the AC power connection  32  or via a separate battery charger (not shown). 
     A front portion of the tie rack may include an illumination light  12  to provide light for a user in a dark closet, for example. The light  12  may be activated by a switch (not shown), may automatically come on when the conveyor hooks  18  are moved by the motor  26 , may be motion activated, or the like. 
     A plurality of buttons may be disposed on the tie rack. For example, a disinfecting control button  14  may control one or more ultraviolet lamps  20  disposed within a ultraviolet light chamber  22 . The light chamber  22  may be heat resistant and may house the one or more lamps  20  such that light may be retained inside a light chamber shield  24  so that ultraviolet light does not affect a user of the tie rack. Forward and reverse conveyor rack  18  control buttons  16  may be disposed on the tie rack. The control buttons  18  may move the conveyor rack  18  either forward or backwards. In some embodiments, only a single control button  18  may be used, allowing movement only in a single direction. 
     The tie rack may include a mechanism to mount the tie rack. For example, one or more closet bar bolts  36  maybe adapted to clamp onto a closet bar  34  inside a closet. In some embodiments, the tie rack may be designed to mount to a wall. In other embodiments, the tie rack may be adapted to hook from the closet bar  34  without any bolts  36 . The tie rack may further be adapted to mount not only in a closet, but also in an office or any other place where a user may store their ties. 
     A processor  28  may be disposed inside the tie rack to provide various controls. For example, the processor  28  may be used to control the duration of the light, the speed of the rotation of the rack, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, a user may select to disinfect only a single tie by, for example, moving the conveyor rack  18  until the tie is within the light chamber shield  24 . Then, the user may press the disinfect button  14 . In other embodiments, the user may select to disinfect their entire collection, where the ties  10  will move through the light chamber shield  24  and the entire collection may be disinfected. 
     The tie rack of the present invention may be useful for anyone that uses ties. The tie rack of the present invention may be particularly useful for persons that may carry germs or viruses while wearing a tie, such as a physician, dentist or the like. 
     Unlike conventional systems, which may require a user to hold a light next to their tie, the tie rack of the present invention allows a user to quickly, easily and precisely disinfect their ties, often with just the push or one or two buttons. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.