Abstract:
A sterilizing device is described, for sterilizing items through steam sterilization. The device has a base and a cover that couple to form an enclosed space, with an item mount provided within the enclosed space. A portion of water is provided in the base portion, which can be converted to steam in a microwave to sterilize any items placed on the mount. The device further employs several downward-facing valves to provide for the release of steam and the draining of excess or heated water.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for sterilising items, more particularly a device for sterilising pacifiers. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     In order to combat the spread of germs and prevent infection in infants, it is common to sterilise various items such as baby pacifiers and bottle teats prior to use. This is often accomplished by bathing the items to be sterilised in a disinfectant liquid for a period of time. This requires a certain degree of preparation and planning to ensure a steady supply of sterilised items. 
     It is known to provide steriliser assemblies for use in microwaves. In general, a steriliser assembly comprises a closed container to hold the items to be sterilised. A portion of water is deposited in the base. The steriliser assembly is then passed through a microwave, which converts the contained water to steam at high temperatures, resulting in steam sterilisation of the contained items. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,776 discloses such a steam steriliser for use in a microwave. However, space is limited in the disclosed configuration, and the steam valve used may result in harmful burns to a user of the device. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a steriliser device that overcomes the above problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, there is provided a device for sterilising items through steam sterilisation, the device comprising:
         a base portion having a receptacle to receive a quantity of water;   a removable cover portion to substantially cover said receptacle; and   a mounting portion to receive an item to be sterilised, the mounting portion projecting from said base portion and enclosed beneath said cover portion, wherein the device further comprises a plurality of valves located on said cover portion, the open face of said valves facing in the direction of said base portion, the valves operable to allow steam to exit the device, the valves further operable to allow any excess water to be drained from the device.       

     The use of the valves prevents serious injury to a user of the device, as they allow steam to escape from the device in a direction away from the user, and they also allow any heated water to be removed safely from the device. 
     Preferably, the mounting portion comprises a main body and a plurality of mounting arms projecting from the main body, the mounting arms curved in the direction away from said base portion. 
     Preferably, the device further comprises a plurality of engaging arms located on said base portion, and a plurality of engaging elements located on said cover portion, the position of the engaging elements on the cover portion corresponding to the location of the engaging arms on the base portion, the engaging arms operable to couple with the engaging elements to releasably secure the cover portion to the base portion. 
     Preferably, the device further comprises a portion of support material located on the underside of the base portion, wherein the support material is non-slip material. 
     Preferably, the vents are provided on the removable cover portion. 
     Preferably, a receiving channel is defined on each of said plurality of mounting arms, said receiving channel facing away from said base portion, said receiving channel being to receive a portion of said item to be sterilised. 
     The use of the receiving channel retains the items to be sterilised in position on the mounting arms, preventing slippages or falls. 
     Preferably, said plurality of mounting arms projecting from the main body comprises:
         a first plurality of mounting arms arranged about said main body, said first plurality located towards a first free end of said main body; and   a second plurality of mounting arms arranged about said main body, said second plurality located between said first plurality of mounting arms and said base portion.       

     Preferably, the orientation of said second plurality of mounting arms about said main body is offset from the orientation of said first plurality of mounting arms about said main body. 
     As the arms between successive groups are offset, this allows for more efficient mounting of items to be sterilised within the device. 
     Preferably, said plurality of mounting arms are provided in the form of separate modular components, said plurality of mounting arms releasably coupling to said main body. 
     Providing the arms as modular components allows for a user of the device to configure the internal arrangement of the mounting arms to their own satisfaction, e.g. more arms if they want to mount more items to be sterilised, or less arms if larger items are being used which require more internal space to be accommodated. 
     Preferably, said plurality of mounting arms extend from said main body to a free end adjacent an interior surface of said removable cover portion when said removable cover portion is releasably secured to said base portion. 
     As the arms extend closely to the internal surface of the cover, there is less of a gap presented that the items may fall through, thus reducing the likelihood of slippages and falls, and increasing the suitability of the device for the transportation of the items also. 
     Preferably, a recess is defined on said removable cover portion, a handle element provided within said recess. 
     Preferably, said handle is insulated from said removable cover portion. 
     As the handle is insulated, the relatively high temperatures produced during the steam sterilisation process will not affect a user as they move the device after sterilisation from the location of sterilisation (e.g. a microwave interior) to another location to cool down. 
     Preferably, said removable cover portion is substantially transparent. 
     Preferably, said device is formed of material suitable for use in a microwave. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a steriliser according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the cover portion of the steriliser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the tree portion of the steriliser of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the steriliser of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a steriliser is indicated generally at  10 . The steriliser  10  comprises a base portion  12  and a cover portion  14 . 
     Base portion  12  comprises a circular bowl-shaped body  12   a . The individual detail of the body  12   a  can be more easily seen in the cross-section shown in  FIG. 4 . A ring  16 , preferably of non-slip material, is provided on the base of the bowl-shaped body  12   a . This prevents the steriliser  10  from any unintentional movement during use. 
     Visual indicator means are provided in the form of a raised fill line  18  on the internal surface of the bowl-shaped body  12   a . The fill line  18  provides suggestion as to what level the steriliser  10  should be filled with water prior to use. 
     A coupling collar  20  extends entirely around the rim of the bowl-shaped body  12   a . The coupling collar  20  comprises a shoulder  22  that projects from the external surface of the bowl-shaped body  12   a  perpendicular to the external surface of the bowl-shaped body  12   a . The coupling collar  20  further comprises a plurality of locating projections  24  projecting from the exterior of the collar  20  above the shoulder  22 . The locating projections  24  are spaced from the shoulder  22 , and are located adjacent the rim of the bowl-shaped body  12   a.    
     A mounting stem  26  is provided on the internal surface of the bowl-shaped body  12   a , at the centre-point of the bowl-shaped body  12   a . The mounting stem  26  is adapted to receive a tree-shaped mounting portion  28 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , the tree-shaped mounting portion  28  can be seen in greater detail. The mounting portion  28  has a first base end  28   a  and a second free end  28   b , and comprises a central trunk  30 . A pairing portion  32  is located at the base end  28   a  of the central trunk  30 . The pairing portion  32  releasably couples with the locating projections  26  provided in the base portion  12 . 
     A plurality of mounting arms  34  project from the central trunk  30 , the arms  34  being located towards the free end  28   b  of the central trunk  30 . The arms  34  are slightly curved in the direction of the free end  28   b  of the mounting portion  28 . A semicircular channel  36  is defined on a portion of each arm  34 , at the distal end of each arm  34 . The channel  36  is defined on that side of the arm  34  facing in the direction of the free end  28   b  of the mounting portion  28 . The channel  36  can be used to receive the handle of an infant pacifier, to prevent the pacifier from falling off the mounting arms when in use. 
     In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, a total of six arms  34  are provided. The arms  34  are arranged in two groups  38   a , 38   b  of three arms  34  each, with the arms  34  in each row  38   a , 38   b  separated by 120° from each other. The corresponding arms  34  in the two rows are further staggered, so that the arms  34  in the lower row  38   b  are 60° out of phase with the arms  34  in the upper row  38   a . Use of this configuration results in a maximisation of the available space within the steriliser  10 . It will be understood that other configurations of arms may be employed to maximise the available space. 
     In a further embodiment, the mounting portion  28  may be provided as part of a modular construction that allows for the number of rows of mounting arms  34  to be varied according to the wishes of a user of the steriliser  10 . This could be used to accommodate various numbers of pacifiers of different sizes, and other items to be sterilised that would not fit into the steriliser  10  if the original number of mounting arms  34  were present. 
     The cover portion  14  is shown more clearly in  FIG. 2 . Cover portion  14  comprises a substantially hemispherical dome body  40  having a rim  42 . The dome body  40  can be made of a transparent material, as is shown in the accompanying figures, to allow a user of the steriliser  10  to view the interior of the device when in use. 
     A plurality of coupling elements  44  are located adjacent the rim  42 , projecting from the internal surface of the dome body  40 . The coupling elements  44  are located in positions adjacent the rim  42  corresponding to the locations of the locating projections  24  on the coupling collar  20  of the base portion  12 . 
     A hemispherical recess  46  is formed at the apex of the dome body  40 , with a handle  48  provided therein. 
     A plurality of downward-facing steam valves  50  are provided on the dome body  40 , located at the rim  42  of the dome body  40 . The valves  50  each provide an aperture that projects beyond the external surface of the dome body  40 , in a direction away from the apex of the dome body  40 . 
     It will be understood that the inverted dome body  40  may also be used to transfer water to the base portion  12 . Visual indicator means are provided in the form of a second raised fill line  19  on the internal surface of the dome body  40 . Fill line  19  provides suggestion as to what level of water in the dome body  40  is the appropriate quantity for transferring to the base portion  12 . One of the valves  50  can then be used as a pouring spout to easily transfer the water to the base portion  12 . 
     In use, a quantity of water is provided in the base portion  12 , preferably up to the fill line  18 . The items to be sterilised (e.g. infant pacifiers) are arranged on the mounting arms  34  of the mounting portion  28 . 
     The cover portion  14  is then coupled to the base portion  12  of the steriliser  10  by firstly resting the rim  42  of the dome body  40  on the shoulder  22  of the coupling collar  20  of the base portion  12 . The cover portion  14  is rotated in place on the shoulder  22  until the coupling elements  44  of the dome body  40  come into register with the locating projections  24  of the coupling collar  20 . The coupling elements  44  and the locating projections  24  interlock with each other, causing the base portion  12  and the cover portion  14  to be secured to one another. 
     The steriliser  10  can then be placed in a microwave oven and heated. The contained water is turned into steam, which then sterilises the contain items. In order to prevent a substantial steam build up of steam within the steriliser  10 , the valves  50  allow for controlled venting of the contained steam. As the valves  50  face towards the base, and therefore away from any potential users of the steriliser  10 , the potential for steam burns is reduced. 
     As the handle  48  is provided within a recess  46  of the steriliser  10 , and is not in contact with the internal surface of the steriliser  10 , the amount of heat transferred to the surface of the handle is reduced, preventing any burns that may be caused by manipulating the steriliser  10  by the handle  48 . 
     Also, the downward-facing valves enable a user to drain the steriliser  10  of any heated water that may remain in the unit after use, reducing the potential for injury by superheated water. 
     It will be understood that the length of the mounting arms  34  may be chosen so that the distal ends of the arms  34  are in close proximity to the internal surface of the dome body  40 . This configuration prevents any items that may be hanging from the mounting arms  34 , e.g. pacifiers, falling from the mounting arms  34 . This enables the device  10  to also be employed as a holding container for transport of enclosed items. 
     It will be understood that the steriliser  10  can be formed from any microwave-friendly, preferably heat-resistant material. 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.