Patent ID: 7984567

Claim:
An apparatus for cleaning a simulated hair article, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a pair of ends, a wall extending therebetween, a panel, and a door, the housing further comprising a chamber that encloses the simulated hair article while being cleaned and having a compartment separate from the chamber, wherein the compartment is separated from the chamber by the panel, the panel extending across the housing so that the chamber is defined at least in part by the wall of the housing, at least in part by face of the panel, and at least in part by one end of the housing, and the compartment is defined at least in part by the wall of the housing, at least in part by face of the panel, and at least in part by one end of the housing, and wherein the door is opened to provide access to the chamber for placing the simulated hair article therein and wherein the door is closed while the apparatus is operating; and an electrically powered ozone generator that converts atmospheric oxygen to ozone gas, the ozone generator being located in the compartment and providing ozone gas inside the chamber via a conduit extending from an outlet of the ozone generator to an opening in the panel to help sterilize, disinfect, sanitize, deodorize, or any combination thereof, the simulated hair article by oxidation reactions with microorganisms and other odor-producing substances on the simulated hair article, wherein the apparatus cleans the simulated hair article without the use of water, shampoo, soap, or other liquid cleaning solutions that could substantially alter the shape of the simulated hair article with respect to the shape of the simulated hair article when the simulated hair article is initially placed in the apparatus, wherein the ozone gas converted by the ozone generator is at ambient temperature throughout use of the apparatus and is not otherwise heated above ambient temperature during use of the apparatus, and wherein the simulated hair article is cleaned by the ozone gas while the simulated hair article is in a dry state.