CA3090118A1

CA3090118A1 - An apparatus for sanitizing objects

Info

Publication number: CA3090118A1
Application number: CA3090118A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Mohaned Sukkarieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-08-14
Filing date: 2020-08-14
Publication date: 2022-02-14

Abstract

An apparatus for sanitizing objects has a container that has a hollow interior and a top entrance.
A bottom panel and at least one peripheral side panel create the container. A
fluid conduit is attached to the at least one peripheral side panel. At least one aperture on the at least one peripheral side panel is provided. The at least one aperture is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. A fluid container is provided in fluid communication with the fluid conduit such that fluid from the fluid container flows from the fluid container through the fluid conduit and the at least one aperture into the hollow interior of the container. A pump is provided for pumping fluid from the fluid container. An activator activates the pump and a power source powers the pump.

Description

TITLE
[0001] An Apparatus for Sanitizing Objects FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present application relates generally to an apparatus for sanitizing objects.
BACKGROUND

[0003] This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0004] Everyday items such as cell phones, pens, keys and wallets are commonly covered in germs.
These items are often carried from location to location and are rarely sanitized which makes them ideal sources of contamination or disease carriers. While sanitizing wipes may be used to clean these items, this creates garbage and over time the cost of sanitizing wipes can be significant. Other methods of sanitizing could be beneficial.
BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] There is provided an apparatus for sanitizing objects. A bottom panel and at least one peripheral side panel create a container that has a hollow interior and a top entrance. A
fluid conduit is attached to the at least one peripheral side panel. At least one aperture is positioned on the at least one peripheral side panel. The at least one aperture is provided in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. A fluid container is provided in fluid communication with the fluid conduit such that fluid from the fluid container flows from the fluid container through the fluid conduit and the at least one aperture into the hollow interior of the container. A pump is provided for pumping fluid from the fluid container. An activator is connected to the pump for activating the pump. A power source provides power to the pump.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14

[0006] In one embodiment, the container is shaped like a cube and has four peripheral side panels.

[0007] In one embodiment, the fluid conduit wraps around the container at least twice.

[0008] In one embodiment, the activator in a motion sensor.

[0009] In another embodiment, the activator is a button positioned on the apparatus.

[0010] In one embodiment, a timer is connected to the pump. The timer is set to maintain the pump in an activated state for a predetermined amount of time.

[0011] In one embodiment, a side compartment is provided. The fluid container, the pump and/or the power source may be positioned with the side compartment.

[0012] In one embodiment, a nozzle is positioned in fluid communication with the at least one aperture. The nozzle is movable to direct the flow of fluid into the hollow interior.

[0013] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the fluid conduit is positioned within the at least one peripheral side panel. At least a portion of the fluid conduit may be positioned within the at least one peripheral side panel.

[0014] In one embodiment, the fluid conduit is the at least one side panel.

[0015] In one embodiment, the fluid conduit is integrally formed within the at least one peripheral panel.

[0016] In one embodiment, the fluid conduit is positioned within the bottom panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which references are made to the following drawings, in which numerical references denote like parts. The drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments shown.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of an apparatus for sanitizing objects.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the apparatus for sanitizing objects.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the apparatus for sanitizing objects.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the apparatus for sanitizing objects.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the apparatus for sanitizing objects.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a front elevation view, partially in section, of the apparatus for sanitizing objects.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the apparatus for sanitizing objects.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the apparatus for sanitizing objects.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a variation of the peripheral side panels of the apparatus for sanitizing objects.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] An apparatus for sanitizing an object, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be .. described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 9.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus for sanitizing objects 10 has a bottom panel 12 and at least one peripheral side panel 14. Bottom panel 12 and peripheral side panels 14 create a container 16 that has a hollow interior 18 and a top entrance 20. While not shown, it will be understood that a top panel acting as a lid may be included. In the embodiment shown, container 16 has a cubic shape with four peripheral side panels 14. It will, however, be understood by a person skilled in the art that container 16 may be any suitable shape with any number of peripheral side panels 14. A fluid conduit 22 is attached to the peripheral side panel 14. At least one aperture 24 is positioned on the peripheral side panels 14 to allow fluid to flow into hollow interior 18 from fluid conduit 22. Apertures 24 are in fluid communication with fluid conduit 22. Apertures 24 are orientated to create a mist that provides coverage to the entirety of hollow interior 18 with minimal to no fluid exiting through top entrance 20.
Mist is created by having apertures 24 that are smaller in diameter than fluid conduit 22 which causes fluid exiting through apertures 24 to be under pressure. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, apertures 24 are positioned on a central axis 25 on peripheral side panel 14. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that apertures 24 may be positioned anywhere on peripheral side panel 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, apertures 24 are positioned on peripheral side panels 14 at corners 27. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, apertures 24 are positioned at several locations along fluid conduit 22.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14

[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, a fluid container 26 is provided in fluid communication with fluid conduit 22.
Fluid from fluid container 26 flows through fluid conduit 22 and apertures 24 into hollow interior 18 of container 16. A pump 28 is provided for pumping fluid from the fluid container through fluid conduit 22 and into hollow interior 18 through apertures 24. An activator 30 is connected to pump 28 to activate pump 28 under specific circumstances. In the embodiment shown, activator 30 is a button 34 positioned on container 16. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that button 34 may be positioned in any suitable location on apparatus 10 but should be easily activatable by the user. Activation of button 34 may be from direct contact by user or may be from indirect contact such as through a flexible lid contacting button 34. Button 34 is provided in electronic communication with pump 28. Activator 30 may also be a motion sensor 36. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that activator 30 may be any suitable device known to a person skilled in the art. As can be seen in the embodiment shown, button 34 and motion sensor 36 may both be used and allow for redundancy in the apparatus. A power source 32 provides power to pump 28.

[0030] In the embodiment show in FIG. 2, fluid conduit 22 wraps around container 16 three times. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that fluid conduit 22 may be wrapped around container 16 only once or many times. A greater number of wraps around container 16 may result in greater spraying coverage when combined with additional apertures 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, fluid conduit 22 wraps around fifteen times. Apertures 24 may be positioned in every wrap of fluid conduit 22 or may be placed in some but not all of wraps. Fluid conduit 22 may also be attached to container 16 in different orientations. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, fluid conduit 22 is positioned within peripheral side panels 14 and bottom panel 12. Apertures 24 in bottom panel 12 causes fluid to be sprayed upwards.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a timer 40 is electronically connected to pump 28. Timer 40 may be set to maintain pump 28 in an activated state for a predetermined amount of time. The predetermined amount of time may be standardized across all apparatus 10 or may be programmable by a user. Timer 40 may be a part of an electronic circuit board that contains a code that links inputs and outputs between button 30, sensor 34, pump 28 and power source 32 to activate pump 28 at appropriate times.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14

[0032] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, fluid container 26, pump 28 and power source 32 are positioned within side compartment 42. Side compartment 42 is positioned adjacent container 16. In the embodiment shown, side compartment 42 and container 16 share a common peripheral side panel 14. It will be understood that side compartment 42 and container 16 may be separated from each other.
.. In the embodiment shown, motion sensor 36 is positioned within side compartment 42. Line of sight to hollow interior 18 is provided through window 44. In the alternative, motion sensor 36 may be positioned within window 44. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that motion sensor 36 may be positioned in any other suitable location such as adjacent top entrance 20 of container 16 such that movement of an object through top entrance 20 causes activation of pump 28.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3, a nozzle 46 may be positioned in fluid communication with apertures 24.
Nozzles 46 may be movable to direct the flow of fluid into the hollow interior in a specific direction.
Nozzle 46 may also create greater pressure which in turn causes increased misting and range of fluid exiting nozzle 46.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, fluid conduit 22 is positioned within peripheral side panels 14. Fluid conduit 22 may be integrally formed within peripheral side panels 14 by creating void pockets 48. Void pockets 48 are enclosed within peripheral side panels 14 to provide a path for fluid. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, fluid conduit 22 acts as peripheral side panel 14.
Fluid conduit 22 is coiled around and sealed against itself to prevent leakage between coiled loops.

[0035] While not shown, a drain may be positioned within bottom panel 12 to allow for drainage of excess fluid from container 16. When a drain is not provided, excess fluid may be dumped out, allowed to evaporate or container 16 may be dried out with a cloth, sponge or other suitable material.

[0036] Any use herein of any terms describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the subject elements, and may also include indirect interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary structure unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0037] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A
reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14 of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0038] It will be apparent that changes may be made to the illustrative embodiments, while falling within the scope of the invention. As such, the scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples and drawings described above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for sanitizing objects, comprising:
a bottom panel and at least one peripheral side panel, the bottom panel and the at least one peripheral side panel creating a container having a hollow interior and a top entrance;
a fluid conduit being attached to the at least one peripheral side panel;
at least one aperture on the at least one peripheral side panel, the at least one aperture being in fluid communication with the fluid conduit;
a fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid conduit such that fluid from the fluid container flows from the fluid container through the fluid conduit and the at least one aperture into the hollow interior of the container;
a pump for pumping fluid from the fluid container;
an activator for activating the pump;
a power source for powering the pump.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is shaped like a cube having four peripheral side panels.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit wraps around the container at least twice.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the activator is button positioned on the container for activating the pump.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the activator is a motion sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a timer is connected to the pump, the timer being set to maintain the pump on for a predetermined amount of time.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a side compartment.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fluid container is positioned within the side compartment.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the pump is positioned within the side compartment.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the power source is positioned within the side compartment.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a nozzle is positioned in fluid communication with the at least one aperture, the nozzle being movable to direct the flow of fluid into the hollow interior.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the fluid conduit is positioned within the at least one peripheral side panel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fluid conduit wraps around the container at least twice within the at least one peripheral side panel.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit is the at least one peripheral side panel.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit is integrally formed within the at least one peripheral panel.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit is positioned within the bottom panel.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-14