# US 10,369,239 B2 · Ultraviolet-based bathroom surface sanitization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,239 B2 - Document ID: US10369239B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/700,621 - Filed: 2017-09-11 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-06 - Assignees: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Alexander Dobrinsky; Michael Shur; Remigijus Gaska - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369239B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A47K 13/302: {Seats with cleaning devices} - A47K 17/003: {Dispensers or holders for protecting covers for toilet bowls, seats or covers (combined with seats A47K13/24)} - A61L 2/104: Ultraviolet C [UVC] - E03D 9/052: using incorporated fans - E03D 9/08: Devices in the bowl producing upwardly-directed sprays; Modifications of the bowl for use with such devices (showers A47K3/28; bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H33/00, for specific parts of the body A61H35/00 ){; Bidets; Combinations of bowls with urinals or bidets; Hot-air or other devices mounted in or on the bowl, urinal or bidet for cleaning or disinfecting} - E03D 9/005: {Devices adding disinfecting or deodorising agents to the bowl} - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES - E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR ## Abstract A solution for cleaning and/or sterilizing one or more surfaces in a bathroom. The sterilization can be performed using ultraviolet sources, which can emit ultraviolet radiation directed onto the surface(s). The cleaning can be performed using a fluid, such as water, that is flowed over the surface(s). The surface(s) can include at least a seat of a toilet and/or other surfaces associated with the toilet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a toilet including a seat; a visible light source configured to emit visible light directed at the seat; a visible light sensor for detecting visible light reflected from the seat; a sterilizing ultraviolet source configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed at the seat; and a computer system for correlating the reflected visible light with a presence of contamination on the seat and for operating the sterilizing ultraviolet source to sterilize the seat in response to the evaluating indicating the presence of contamination on the seat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the visible light sensor comprises a visible light camera. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the visible light sensor comprises a reflectometer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system further operates the visible light source and the visible light sensor to acquire feedback to determine an effectiveness of the sterilization. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the toilet further includes a cover for removably covering the seat, wherein the sterilizing ultraviolet source is located in the cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the cover includes a set of support elements for maintaining a target spacing between the cover and the seat and wherein the set of support elements comprise an ultraviolet transparent material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the toilet further includes a bowl, wherein the bowl includes a support surface for supporting the seat, and wherein the support surface extends beyond an outer edge of the seat to support a cover for removably covering the seat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the cover and the support surface of the bowl form a watertight connection, and wherein the system further includes a set of fluid sources for cleaning the seat using a fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising a fan for circulating air over the seat after the cleaning. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the toilet further includes: a cleaning chamber; means for moving the seat into the cleaning chamber; and a set of fluid sources for cleaning the seat using a fluid within the cleaning chamber, wherein the sterilizing ultraviolet source is located within the cleaning chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising an air source for delivering high pressure hot air over the seat within the cleaning chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the sterilizing ultraviolet source is isolated from an area for the seat by a removable ultraviolet transparent material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the removable ultraviolet transparent material comprises fluoropolymer. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a toilet, wherein the toilet includes: a cleaning chamber; means for moving the seat into the cleaning chamber; and a set of fluid sources for cleaning the seat using a fluid within the cleaning chamber; and a sterilizing ultraviolet source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed onto the seat, wherein the sterilizing ultraviolet source is located within the cleaning chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the toilet further includes an air source for delivering high pressure hot air over the seat within the cleaning chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one ultraviolet source mounted above the toilet, wherein the at least one ultraviolet source is configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed onto a set of surfaces associated with the toilet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the set of surfaces include at least one of: a rim of a bowl of the toilet, a flush mechanism, and a floor adjacent to the toilet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one ultraviolet source emits a focused beam of ultraviolet radiation capable of being directed to a plurality of surfaces of the toilet. ### Claim 19 A bathroom including: a set of fixtures; a visible light source configured to emit visible light directed at a surface of at least one of the set of fixtures; a visible light sensor for detecting visible light reflected from the surface of the at least one of the set of fixtures; a sterilizing ultraviolet source configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed at the surface of the at least one of the set of fixtures; and a computer system for correlating the reflected visible light with a presence of contamination on the surface and for operating the sterilizing ultraviolet source to sterilize the surface in response to the evaluating indicating the presence of contamination on the surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The bathroom of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the set of fixtures is one of: a toilet or a bidet.