CA2129026A1

CA2129026A1 - Restroom organizer and sterilizing apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA2129026A1
Application number: CA002129026A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Min Ki Choi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-02-01
Filing date: 1993-02-01
Publication date: 1993-08-05
Also published as: WO1993014668A1; JPH07503388A; EP0632700A4; EP0632700A1; AU3656493A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a restroom organizer and toothbrush sterilizing apparatus (1) which includes a toothbrush sterilizer (4), a toothpaste dispenser (2), a soap supplier (7a) and a control circuit (11). Various sanitizers (4) are disclosed for disinfecting and deodorizing various articles and the atmosphere.
The invention also discloses various compartments for storing items to be sanitized.

Description

` 93/14668 ~ O 2 I 2 9 ~ ~ ~ Pcr/us93/oc88s ~ESTROOM ORG~IZER AND S~ERILI~G APP~ATU~;

This in~e~tiorl pro~ndes a restroom or~er which combines toiletries9 valqous necessities and electric app~ratu~ together to be used in a re~troom in a more eompact fashîon.

There are mally items wl~ich can be used to c~ean and ~ke up an individual'~ body.
The~eitems areiErequently spread aroundthe reatroom. For e:cample,eachindi~idualtake~ or her toothbrush fronn the stornge ca~e, gets the to~hpa~te firoDn a separate tube, ~e~ns ~he~ teeth a~d retu~n~ the tube and brush to the~ stors~e case3. Or, anind~ndu~ may use a~ elecb~ toothb~ush m the restroom and setit o~ an elec~c cbarg~ng appar~tu3 out ofthe re~t~oom if~herei3 no faui~ty in the bathrocnL YYhen a~ md~du~uvaAhe~he~ ~u`rthey takethe properam olunt of~ha~npoo fi~om a bottle by t~ ~he bottle up~de-doum and then pUtt~lg the bottle b~u~k hl ~ phce. ~er ~/s3bing their hair ~he ~vidual ~rill go to the counter or ~ to put lotio~s and ~ther cream~ on ~heir body.
Thu~, the various toilet nec~}i~s are ~pread about the bathroom and ne~d to be ~ra~ged in a more eompact manner. The purpose of thi~ e~tion is to group these nec~ties anto one automated compound or or~er. Another purpo~e of the irven~ion i3 to build an o~er for electlqe device~
which include~ an AC-DC converter for an ele~ toothpa~te dispe~er, an electric tsothbrush aIld it~
s~ted ch~r~ng app~ us9 a ~terilizer, electric ra~or and ib chargi~Dg apparatu~ and a toiletry æet and soap ~upplier. The ~y~tem sl~o mcludes a~ electric ~t ~or control o~ the organizer.

There ~re two kiDd~ of ~erili$er~, slle ~or domesti~ u~e ~nd allother for profe3~ional u~e.

Irhe domestic ~terilizer consi~ts of a sterilizing ~ht and is operated by ~ ~witch when ~0 it is needed. The profe~ nal sSerilizer i~ ~tructu~ed and u3ed ~or a 9pe~1C purpose. It ~ limited to BteriliZ~ Ollly 8peCiflC item8. For i~taD~e, a ~thbru~h sterilizer cannot be used for any other item ea~cept îor a toothbrush, and th~ ~t~ ligh~ bulb ~vhich i~ the es~ential c~mponent 8t~1~ on f~r a unnece~ length of time. lllereîore, it waste more electricity and shortens the light bulbs life.

I'he sterilizer i8 designed to improve upon t~e above ~dhortcominga It t~ on andoff when the door i~ opened and closed ald the sterilizing light tumæ, on for a preset pe~od of thne.
For e~ple, the ~,6n be designed to turn on for two minutes while the ~,terilization proce~, i~, carried our with the mu~ic or a melody playing during thi~ process. The sterilizer ~an also be designed to then tum of ~ for example, for three minute~, und turn on, for e~ample, for two minutes ~th the music on, and so on.

Other improYements in thi~, mvention mcludes the stor~ge ca~e which 8toc~8 toothbru~,hes, razors, so~p~ and other necear,ities. ~e storage ~e can be rotated forward or ~U'3~'1T~JTE S~,EE~
, . .

WO 93/14668 ~ 9 ~ ~ !;j 2 . Pcr/usg3/oo8r~

backward and ~ replaceable with a ~econd storage ~3e de~igned to contain baby nipples and a baby bottle for an infant when they req~re ~terilization.

Another ~mprovel:nent of thi~ imreIltion ~ that the sterilizer c~n be combined with other apparatuses. In other words, the ~terilizer can be ~uilt as one compartment in the or~er, 5 negt to the toothpaste dispen~er or it can built inside the Soothp~te di~pen~er for combined use.

Another embodiment of the sterili~g in~re~io~ generally comp~e~ sn impro~red toothb~h sterilizing apparatus havmg a~ ozone ~ystem built mto a toothbrush storaKe compartment which sterilize~ the toothbrush and get~ ~dl of fo~l odora SeYeral prior ~ terilizers generllly c~D~ist of an ultra~iolet ~ay ligbt or a~ frared 10 ray li~ht sterilizatioll ~tem located at the upper part of the ~ block. These de~rice8 sterilize the objects t~ro~h rays of lig~t. Although, this ~ an e~ective me~s ~ sterili~ation, the~e ~re shortco~ ~uch a~ the wastiIlg of electIicity by lea~ li~hta o~ for long periodsof time and the need to replace bulbs when a fihment h~3 burned out. The ozo~e ~terili~ing apparatus ~8 designed to impro~e upon the shortco~.

16 Fig. 1 is a firorlt ele~ational ~iew of tbe restroo~ organizeP 1nveIltion.

Fig. 2 i~ a froIIt ele~ation~l view of the soap supplier eompart~n~t.

Fig. 3 is a partial seetion view of the ultraviolet stcrilizer compartme~.

Fig. 41 is an electrical circlait dia~ for the restroo~ orgaDizer.

Fig 6 is a partial section ~Jiew of a second embodiment of the sterilizer.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the storage case.

Fig. 7 is a right ~ide view of the stor~ge case.

Fig. 8 i9 a aectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a partial section ~riew of the st~ræge cas~ in use.

Fig. 10 is a partial ~ection ~new of another embodiment of the storage case.

~!~BST'iT~lrE ~,E~ i . .

~''' 93/14668 212 3 a ~?, PCT/USg3~00885 Fig. lOA is a side view of another storage ca~e embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a sectionsl ~iew taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is n f~ont ~ew of another embodime~t of the inve~tion combini~ the ~terilizer ~lR a built in feature on the fro~t door of a toothpaste dispenser.

6 ~ig. 13 is a ~ectioDal view ~en aloDg line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 ~ an ~nlar~ed partial section view of ~nother tray mou~t option to that shown in Fig. 13.

Fie. 1~ a p~iv~ view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is the electri~l circuit dia~ of the ste~ilizi~g light alld the musi~ b~x of the 10 sterilizer.

F~. 17 i~ a ~ide cross 8eCtil~Ilal of another sterilizer embodimeDt, the ozone ~t~g apparatus.

Fig. 18 is a c~ ectio~ riew of ~not}ler em~e~ ~f the toothbru~h ozone EltBriliZiDg apparatu~.

Fig. 19. is an ea~oded ~,rie~ of the ozone app~ratus .

- ReferrinE~ to Fig. 1 the automated bathroom organizer or compound 1 is showll. This org~nizer 1 irlclud~ an AGDC con~erter 21 (Fig. 3), an electric toothpa~te di~pen~er 2, an electric toothb~sh 3a and its ele~ric ~argiIIg ~ppar~tus 3b, a toothbrush sterilizer 4, arl elect~ic razor 6a and it~ electric chargmg apparatl3s 6b, a 11~/22OV concentre 6, a toiletrg set and 81JElp ~upplier compar~ment 7a through 711, ~d a central electric circuit 11 to control the ~pparatu~. The or~er 1 has one or more ~ hoo~ 8 for h~ng a hair d~er or other utensil.

Referring to IFig. 3 o~ embodiment of the toothbrush ~terilizer 4 is ~hown. The ~terilizer 4 include~ brusll holder~ 20, and ul~a~iolet æterilizing light 12, a perceive ~witch 14 whic~
operates the sterili~ng light 12 when a ban~ng tootbbru~h 22 is perceived to b~ ng in the sterilizer 4 by a cover 13 which i~ built under the perceive switch 14 to turn on the ~terilizer 4.

3UaS~I I UT~ 5H,-tT

WV 93/14668 ~ 9 ~s~J `~ PCI`/US93/0~)8~' A user can pull out the toothb~h 22 which has been sterilized by ultraviolet rays and rot~te cover 13 upward ~nthout touching She perceive ~witch 14. When She user pushes the cover 13 unSh the toothbrush 22 to hang it af~er use, thell the ~pout l~a of the cover touches the percei~e switch 14 to tum the ul~ ~iolet ~ht 12 on for a pre~et period of time. r~e light 12 turn~ of ~ a~er 6 the preset period of time has pa~8ed at which time the Soothbrush 22 will be ~terilized throu~ the electric ~t 11.

~ shown in Fig. 1 the electric con~entre 6 include~ a 110V concentre ~a n ~nd a 220V
concentre 10a-n for selec~ve u~e dependent upon the electric ~a~ty of the item to be plug~ed i~ to olle of the outlets.

Re~e~n~ to Fig. 3 or~le of the toilet~ ~et/so~p supplier~ of th~ ventio~ ~ showrl. The ~upp~ier 7a conai~ of a c~nt~iner holder 17 which is fi~ced b3r a ~ge 18 to the ~upplier 7a Con~ner holder 17 can thus be rotated for ea~e of loading, unloading or filliDg a coI~ ner 23. A push button or clamp 16 i~ resilie~ly fi~ed by a ~p~ 16 or fi~ed by ~ tbreaded ha~dle, etc. in the upper part of the con~er holder 17, and a soleD.oid v~lve 24 i~ located below the c~ aer 23 for dispensin~ a 16 pre~et and de~red aznount of 80ap or toiletry contai~ed within the coIltainer ~3.

The central ele~ric con~rol circuit 11 of lthe automnted or~er 1 is structured as follow~ re~errmg to l?ig. 4: a main switch MSW which cDntrolE the el~tricity of the or~er l; a l~np PL di~lEly~ whether the circuit 11 i8 on or oi~ A~])C converter 21~ built ~to the control cir~ut 11; an ele~ric toothpa~te dispeI~ser 2 which dispen3e~ a de~ed ~mount of toothp~te ~utomatically by in~erting the toothbru~h into the dispen~er (~s expl~ ed in U.S. Patent No. 6,060,77S and U.S.
application No. 07/6~8,71gl incorporated herein ~y reference). The toothbrush ~teri3izer 4 turn~ of~
automatical~r after the sterilizing light 12 ~ been tuYned on for a pref~ed period of time to sterilize the toothbrush 22 a~ter the toothbru~h 22 ~a8 bee~ erted as explained aboYe; electric cl~r~g ~pparaha~ 3b and 5b ~or the electric toothbru~h and electric tazor can also be used as known to one of ordinary 8kill m the art; 7a is an e~ample of a toiletry set or soap supplier and 7n es~presses that multiple ~et~ ~ the ~me ~tru~ture may be added on to the or~er 1.

The solelloid ~valve circuit SD-SDn of the toilet set and BOap ~upplier 7a-7n is a kind ~timer circuit to set-~the period of opening and clo8ing time o~th~ 801elll)id vahre S-~n, and con~i8ts of a tran~istor I rl, time pulse circuit Q1 switch SW1 and ea~pressing Lamp L1.

V~he~ the ~er t~ns on one of the switches SW1-SWn of the circuit 11 the ~electedtran~istor of l~ q~ turn~ on for the pul~e period of the selected time pulse c~it of Q1-Qn. Then ~"~93/14668 5 21 ~ J ~ PClr/US93/00885 the selected solenoid valve of S1-Sn opers~tes for that period to dispense the desired amount o~ toiletly or 80ap.

In thi~ mve~ion the diqpen~ g of the toilet~ and/or soap are controlled by the electrical circL~t 11, but the di8pen~ing co~d al~ be controlled by a me~cal mearL~ (push/pull, etc).

The automated organizer 1 described above doe~ not need an electria~l conttol ~tem ~or each apparatu~ ~nd 80me of the iteD~ such as the e~ectric ra~or 6a ~Ivill have tlheir ~wl~ control E y8t~1L

A user ~an 8have with the electric razor 5a, take the ~terilized koothbl~h 22 out firom th~ too thb~ush gteri1izer 4 to obtain a deE~ired amourlt of toothpaste from the autwn~tic toothpff~te dispenæer 2 to clea~ or her teetb, bathe them~ehre~ with soap i~om the ao~p ~uppliler 7a by pu~hing h~dle 16, then put on lotio~ or cream fir~Dm the toiletr~ supplier 7a-7n ~nd then make up their hair w~th the ~ai~r d~er h~g on lla~r hook 8. Therefore, olle ean ~e up t:heir body more nveniel~tly and aimply whil~ the bathroom space is utiliz~ more ef~e~r~ely.

~ther embodime~t of tlhe ~terilizer eomp~tment is 8how~ ig. 6~ The ~terilizer 31 ~ used to sterilize neoe~sitie~ req~g daily sanit~io~ (i.e. toothbrushes, shaving razors, deaners, ear swabs, baby bottles and Dipp~e~ for infaIIts).

~Fig. 6 sh~ws one e~ample of the ~terilizer mventiQn in operati~n whiclh c~n be bou~ht ~ a ~eparate' component, together wi~ the toothp~te diE penser 32 or together with the Qr~er.
l~e ~terilizer 31 ~hown ~8 b~lt a8 a e~m~rtment nest to the toothpaste ~nser 32 o~ the stand 33. The ~ter:i3izer 31 is electricslly connected to the toothpaste dispenser 32 ~y the electri~ wire 34 o~ the ~tand 5~3 ~o th~t sterilization of the l;oothbrush and ~ng of toothpsste c~ both be camed ou1; eonveniently. The stand 33 i~ opti~al since the sterilizer 31 and/or the tooth~rush di3pe~er 82 ca~ be wall mounted as wel2. The ~I;e~er 31 mcludes a ~terilizing light 3~, a reflectiol~ mQrror 37 and ~ upper mam bloclk 359 a ~witch 38 locQted on ~he main block 36 and the door 39 which regulates the 26 sterilization ~ht 3~ and the mlL~ic eircuit 41. A stor~ge case 40 i~ placed below the ~teriLization light 36 m the main block ~6 ~nd can be rotat~d forward and ba~kward. An electric ~t ~hown in Fig.
16 tD tl~e ste~i~o~ light 36 and ~ m~c ~ystem 41 orl and o~ pe~iodi~ally. The reflectiorl ~or 37 e~end~ or connect~ to an ul~ olet ray blocking plate 43. Ventilation hole~ 42 are loc~ted il~ the main block 35 behind the ultraviolet ray blocl~ing plate 43 to prevene the ultra~Jiolet ray8 o~ ht firom ref~ out of the main blos~k 35 w~ile mo~ture conta3~ed within the ~ blsck can ~rent throu~h th~ ventilatio~ holea 42.

TITI '~F .~HFF:T

Wo93/146~8 ~Q~ 6 P~r/usg3/oo8Pr A srnall switch 3~ such a~ a micro 8witch 19 equipped in the main bloc~k 35 and can be tripped by a prong 44 located on the door 39. The elect~c ~t will be off when the door 3g is open a3 shown in Fig. 5. The switch ~ystem a~30 act~ as a safety feature to preveI~t the user from beLng exposed to }~Irmful ultraviolet rays which would occur if the Bterilization 3igbt 36 remained on while 5 the door 39 is open.

Referring to Figure~ the storage ~e 40 C0118i8tB of a main bod~ 5:L and a ho~
52 which c~n be f~ed to snap to the lower part of the main bod~ ~1. The hou~ng 62 is de~ed to hold water dripping firom storage compartments ~5. Hou3ing or ~,vater tray 62 can be ea~b removed from main b~dy 51 and both p~ may be r~ed or de~ed.

Stor ge compartments 63a ~d ~5b are deaigned to store toothbrushels, r~or~, tooth t~rter cleaners, ear ~wabs, etc., m the mai~ r 6L

With the housing 52 ~pped to the main body 61 with a holding phte 66 and a ret~iner ~4 formed at both sides of the main body 61, the ~torage ca~e 40 can be set up m the ~
block 36 on the hinge a:l~les 46, 47 (Pag. 5). The notch 57 of the retainer ~6 on bol;h ~des of the hou~ing 52 fits o~rer the hinge a~les 46, 47 of t~ m~ 6.

The storage case 40 ean be ~et ofl~firom the ~ ertic~ m t~e ~ blo~ 3~i ~nce the~of hinge ~cles 4~, 47 and the mam block 3~ allows the stor~ge case 40 to rotate forward and bac~ward as showz~ in Fig. 9.

The retainers 64 on both sidles of the storage c~se 40 preYen~ the sto~e case 40 fi om 20. overt~ along the a~ of the hinge a~ 46, 47 on the notches 6~.

A user should pull the ~torage ~e 4C for tilti~g ff the notche~ 57 fitting hingeB 40, 47 at both sides o:f the 3tor~ge ~se 40 are formed in the firont part of the ca~e 40. The 51;0~ge case 40 can also be de~igned to fall forwhrd aut~matically if the notc~e~ 27 ~nd fitting hinge~ 4~, 47 are formed in the b~k part of the case 40.

~5 Fig. 1~8~0w8 another ~torage ca~e ~o embodiment in use. If necess~ the ~torage ca~e 40 ~hown in F~es ~3 can be removed ~om the main blocl~ 35 and the other storage case 50 for holding a ni~ple and a mil~ bottle for a~ iDfant can be inserted for sterilization of l;he~e article~.
A holding b~ 58 ~n the middle o the reflectio~ plate 69 holds a ~ipple to be ste~ ed both on the in~ide and the outside of the I~ipple andl a rece~sed sea~ 60 holds a milk bottle at a lo~er part of the case 50.

SiJB~TITl~T~ SHE~T

V 93/14668 7 21 2 ~ PCI/US93/00$85 Fig. lOa shows another embodiment of a storage ~se 50a which caII be mounted on prong~ (not shDwn) within the main block 35. The ~torage ca~e 60a functions a3 a shelf UpOIl which a bottle or other article can be placed. A reflection plate 59a can also be placed on the ~torage case ~Oa RRflection plate ~9a ~cludes holding bars 58a for the mounting of nipples or other articles.
5 Reflection plateB 59 and 59a may be made of chrome or some other material which promotes the re~lectior~ of light ~or sterilizing on the inside and outside o~ articles ~uch ~8 nipples.

Figures 12-13 ~how ~nother embodiment of the ~terilizer in operation. The sterilizer 70 i8 built in combination with the electric toothp~ste di~penser BO whi~h i~ de~ed ~ U.S. Patent No. 6,0~0,773 and U.S. application no. 07/698,714, both incorporated herein by refere~ce. I'his toothpaste di~penser 70 includes a motor as~embly 71, ~n elevator a~sembl~T 72, a roller a3~embly 7~, w~i~h is ascended and descended ~r the eleYator a~embly 72, a tube gras3pmg ~embly 74 ~or holding the nozzle oî the toothp~ste tube 76 and a toothpaste di~ellsing as~emb~y 7~ (a mor~ detsiled e~p~nation of the operatio~ of the dis~enser and the ~ ture of the di~enser are described in the above listed IJ.S. Patent and App1ication). Door assembly 81 i~ hinged to rotate st sxle 83 of the toothpaste dispenser 70.

In the embodime~t of She inventio~ ~OWIl in Fig. 14, the ~terilizer 80 is b~t in the door assembly 81 or firont portion of the toothpaste dispeIIser 7û. An upper storage compartment 82 i~ attached or clipped to the ba~ide of the toothp~te repl~cement door assembly 81a of the toot~pa~te dispe~er 70 for e~e~i~e ut~ization of Epace ~uch that the dispe~ser 70 and the ste.riiizer 80 can be harmoI~ized together. The door assembly 81 i9 hinged to ro~te on hinge axle 83a of the toothpaste dispe~ser 70. I)oor assembly 81 includes a ledge 8~a which can be used for a cup or other article. Upper storage comp~ent 82 and lower storage compartment 84 can be hullg on prong~i or ledges molded in to the door a~sembly 81a or ~t the toothpaste dispen~er 70. The storage compartments 82 and 84 can be designed in a ~ariety of fashioDs. For in~tance storage compartmerlt 26 ~2 Lncludes a drip cup 8& which can be di~connected from the comp~rtment 82 for cleaI~ing.

An ultraviolet li~t 87 with a reflection m~Tor 89 and an optional heating lamp 88 for ele~ating temperatures or d~irlg are built into the upper pos tion of the sterilizer 80. A lower storage c~se 84 and a cup 85 are mounted in the lower portion of the sterilizer 80.

- The bottom 90 of storage case 84 is formed with a s~nted or declined surface 90 as shown in l~ig. 14 so that one end of the stored item (such ~s a toothbrush) will be sl~nted from the versicle Pg~in.st the ~rall ~or m~imum e~ ure of the item to direct ultr~iolet rays. l~e ~up 86 can be snapped intl~ the cup holder prong~ 86 as shown in Fig. 11.

SUBST~TUT~ S~E~

WO 93/1~668 ~ P~/US93/~08~' The sterilizer 31 or 80 of this embodiment of the invention can be mounted next to the toothpaste dispenser 70 or built in combination wi~ the di9penser 70.

A user can take out the sanitized and dried object~ by opening the door 39 or o~g the door assembly 81 and can dispense toothpaste ~rom the electric di~ er 32, 70 automatically and 5 conve~ently. Milk bottle~ or other mi~ellaDeou3 iten~ can be saniti~ed more readily by chan~g storage cases.

~ efemng to Fig. 16 the electlic circl3it of the sterilization light 36 and music ~ystem 41 of the sterilizer i3 shoYm. PS i3 a switch at ~e electri~ source; PL i9 a lamp sho~ whether the electri~ connection B on or of ~; T is a tran~ormer converting AC to DC; BD is a bridge diode, 3~ i~ a 10 sterilization light; R1 is a relay 8witch w]liCh tur~s o~whe~ fhe doo~ is opened and t~ ol~ when the door i~ cl~ed; 41 i3 a music eircuit M with a 3IlUSiC phone P; Q is a pul3e counter and pulse circuit counting pulse~ repeatingalld ~reating per~dic p~s ~u~h as th~ periodic pul~e cwuit ~rhich creates a pulse for two minutes to the ~terilizer every 30 minutes; ~d Q2, Q3 are swit~ trans~stors to convert the relay ~tch 38 on and o~.

1~ The opera~ian of the elec~i~ ~t i~ ~ fiollows:

When the ~terilizer of thi~ invention is opePated"n other w~rds, when the door i~ cloRed, and the relay ~it as at "On" position and She ~ elec~ric ~ource is at "On" po~ition, the la~p PL ~howing the electric connectioll turns on, then the electricq~y L~9 supplied through the tran~ormer T to the ~erili~ing light 3~ and melody circuit 41 to l;um on. ~eam~vhile, DC 12 volt electricity i~ supplied 20 through the DC 13V rectifier bridge circuit BD. Elect~city i~ ~upplied to the pul~e counter, pulse ~it Q and pr~et periodie pul~e for e~csmplQ ~or two ~utes, a~d the tr~ tor Q1, Q~ tu~ns of~
a~er they ~re at "On" position ~or the two minute perind. A1809 the relay 38 i~ tumed of~ and ele~tricity i~ discom~ected to t~n off the light 36 and the melodb 41.

The ~terilizing light ~6 snd music 41 turn on ~ for the pul~e period (2 mmutes) 25 af~er counting the preset period ~for e~nple 30 minutcs), and the above described acti~rity i8 repeated Meanwhile, when the user ope~ the door 39 while the ~terilization light 36 and music 41 are being operated, the re3ay or 9~Qtch 38 turns of ~ and the ~terilization light 36 and music 41 tum of~. When the door 39 is clo~ed th~ sterilization light 3B and the music 41 are operated peAodically, 30 for e~ample, repeatedly for two minute3 every 30 minuteY.

51JE~STITIJTE SHrET

~' `g3/14668 9 ' ~ PCI'/US~3/0~885 , ~ ~
Referring to Fig. 17 an e~ample of an o~one device 1~ built into the stora~e compartment 110 of an electric toothpaste di~penser 120 is ~hown. Details of the electric toothpaste disperLser are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,050,773 and U.S. Application No. 079~98,71~, both incorporated herein by reference and details of the storage compartment 110 are described above with the nzone apparatu~ 100 replacing ultraviolet lighting.

Refemng to Fig. 1~ the ozone apparatus 100 consist~ of a pair of c~talyst filters 102, 103, a cerRmic electrode 104 pl~ced between the filter~ 102, 103 and a fan 105. l~e ozone atmosphere i~ created by the electric dis~rge between the cer~c electrodes lQ4. The fan lQ5 then pull~ the ozone atmosphere through the E ystem to sterilize ~e toothbrushe~ and other articles, includ;ng the 10nozzle o~ the toothpaste tube. The ozone apparatus sucks polluted air in the toothb~sh storage room 110 or in the t~thp~ste di~penser 120 by the î~n 105. O~idation is creAted by high volt~ge electric di~charge between the ce~c electrodes 104. The ozolle destroy~ foul odar~, germs, etc. O~one, 03, is produced when an electric spark i~ passed throug~ air or wygen. Ozone is a powerful o~ndizing sgent which can be used for sterilization to disinfect and deodo~ze air, water, and ~urface~ requiring 15disinfection and deodorization. D~ d;~sinfection and deodorizatiorl the ozone is comrerted to o~gen containing polluted a~ which circlllates back to the ozone apparatus 100 fior re-o~dation. Therefore, the ozone apparatus 100 keep~ the entire ~tem dean.

F~. 18. 3hows another embodiment of the ozone steriliz~ apparatu~ with the ozoneapparatw 100 buil~ inside the toothbru~h ~torage room 112. The toothbrush storage room 112 consi~ts 20of an outside cani~ter 107, a rotatable inner canister 108, and a cover 109. The ozone apparatus 100 built and a~tached ~ide the inner cani~ter 108. The inner ~nister 108 has ~olded toothbru~h ~torage comparments 113, drainage ducts 114, and end wall 116 with atmo~phere retum openings 116 ~nd ~n ozone feed tube 117 for circulation within the toothbrush storage room 112 and the inner cani~ter 108. In this m~ner the ozone app~ratu3 sterilizes harmful mi~obes on toothbrushe3 118 26~tored in the stoa age room 112 w~ile disinfecting and deodDriz~ ~e atmo~phere inside of the storage room 112 and inner ca~ ter 108. The outside ~ster 107 includes passag0s 119 80 that the molded toothbru~h s~o~age compartments 113 can drain through ducts 114 and passages 119.

The preferred embodiment of thi3 iIlYention ha3 bee~l ~howII and described above. It is to be understood t~ 'minor change~ in the details, con~truction and ~Tangement oi the parts may - 30me made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed.

SUBSTlTllTE ~E~,

Claims

PCT/US93/00885

1. A sterilization apparatus, comprising:
a main block;
a means for sterilization attached within the main block;
a means for controlling said sterilization means;
a removable storage case mounted within said main block and having a means for draining said storage case built in to a lower end of said storage case.

2. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sterilization means comprises an ozone apparatus.

3. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sterilization means comprises an ultraviolet light.

4. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said sterilization apparatus further includes a heat lamp mounted within the main block.

5. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said sterilization apparatus further includes a reflection surface connected to the main block.

6. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said ozone apparatus includes a pair of catalyst filters, a ceramic electrode placed between said catalyst filters and a fan located on one end of one of said catalyst filters.

7. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 further including an electric toothpaste dispenser mounted proximate said sterilization apparatus, a soap supplied mounted proximate said sterilization apparatus and a central electric control circuit for controlling said sterilization apparatus, said electric toothpaste dispenser and said soap supplier.

8. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 further including an electric toothpaste dispenser mounted proximate said sterilization apparatus.

9. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 when said sterilizations means includes a means for periodically turning on said sterilization means.

10. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said removable storage case includes a plurality of compartments for storing a variety of different articles.

11. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said removable storage case includes a bottom having a surface slanted from the vertical.

12. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said removable storage case includes a main body and wherein said draining means comprises a housing which fits over said main body.