# US 10,441,671 B2 · Disinfecting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,671 B2 - Document ID: US10441671B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/362,034 - Filed: 2016-11-28 - Published: 2017-04-13 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-11 - Assignees: S and M Technology, LLC - Applicants: S and M Technology, LLC - Inventors: Shawki Sobhy; Horace Rodriguez; Gerald Vaagen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441671B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/22: Phase substances, e.g. smokes or aerosols - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - B01D 46/0036: {by adsorption or absorption} - B01D 46/0038: {with means for influencing the odor, e.g. deodorizing substances} - A61L 2/18: Liquid substances - A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation - B01D 2275/40: Porous blocks - B01D 2279/35: for venting arrangements - B01D 2279/55: for cleaning appliances, e.g. suction cleaners - 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) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A disinfecting apparatus for cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing a wide variety of devices used by medical personnel, law enforcement and correctional facilities, body art establishments, and the like, comprises a top portion, an upper portion that includes a main tank, and a lower portion that includes a water pump and reservoir tank. The water pump conveys the disinfectant solution from the main tank through a filter to the piping system that delivers the disinfectant solution to the plurality of jets that dispense the disinfectant solution to the devices held on a removable holding device within the interior chamber. The devices are then further sanitized and sterilized by a blower and UV-C light exposure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A disinfecting apparatus for cleaning at least one device, the disinfecting apparatus comprising: an upper portion comprising a compartment that defines an interior chamber, the upper portion having a top portion in moveable communication with the upper portion, the top portion configured to alternately open and close access to the interior chamber; an upper door in moveable communication with the compartment, the upper door configured to alternately open and close access to the interior chamber; a plurality of jets disposed in the upper portion, the plurality of jets configured to convey a disinfectant solution from a disinfectant chamber to the interior chamber; a lower portion subjacent the upper portion, the lower portion comprising a lower door, a lower chamber, a rotatable tray, and a water pump configured to convey the disinfectant solution from the disinfectant chamber to each jet of the plurality of jets with an equal pressure to each jet, the lower door in moveable communication with the lower portion, the lower door configured to alternately open and close access to the lower chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a top lid opposite a bottom lid that define a top chamber of the top portion, the top lid in moveable communication with the top portion and configured to alternately open and close access to the top chamber, and the bottom lid in moveable communication with the upper portion and configured to alternately open and close access to the interior chamber; at least one of a blower and at least one plenum disposed in the top chamber, the blower configured to provide air to the at least one device; a plurality of short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) lights disposed on the bottom lid; and a UV-C access panel in moveable communication with the bottom lid, the UV-C access panel comprising a gate sensor configured to prevent the UV-C access panel from opening until the upper portion has eliminated all the disinfectant solution from the disinfectant chamber, and the UV-C access panel configured to expose the plurality of UV-C lights to the at least one device in the interior chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a first sealing gasket disposed in the top portion, the first sealing gasket configured to form a seal between the top lid and the bottom lid; and a second sealing gasket disposed in the top portion, the second sealing gasket configured to form a seal between the bottom lid and the upper portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a piston and cylinder opening mechanism configured to open the top lid and provide access to the top chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a gear reduction mechanism disposed in the top chamber, the gear reduction mechanism configured to move, open, and close, using a motor activated by a motor encoder sensor switch, the UV-C access panel and expose the plurality of UV-C lights to the interior chamber; and the motor disposed in the top chamber, the motor configured to selectively operate the gear reduction mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gear reduction mechanism is configured to slidably move the UV-C access panel relative to the bottom lid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the UV-C access panel is slidably moveable to a plurality of locations along the bottom lid, the plurality of locations configured to expose at least one of the plurality of the UV-C lights. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: an outer top wall of the top lid, the outer top wall comprising an air vent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: at least one light indicator disposed on the outer top wall, the at least one light indicator comprising at least one of a ready light indicator and a low disinfectant solution indicator; at least one power switch disposed on the outer top wall; and a timer disposed on the outer top wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the timer is a liquid crystal display timer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a removable holding device disposed in the interior chamber, the removable holding device comprising a plurality of support structures configured to support the at least one device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a filter disposed on an outer wall of the upper portion; and an access panel enclosing the filter, the access panel comprising an access panel door in moveable communication with the access panel, the access panel door configured to alternately open and close access to the filter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the filter comprises an air filter and a charcoal filter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the air filter comprises a quadrafoam filter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of support feet disposed on an outer lower wall of the lower portion, the plurality of support feet configured to support the disinfecting apparatus on a planar surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compartment comprises a main tank configured to initially retain the disinfectant solution. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper door comprises a sealing gasket configured to form a seal between the upper door and the compartment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an electronics component disposed in the lower portion and connected to the top portion, the electronics component configured to operate the disinfecting apparatus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a sensor configured to detect when the upper door is opened; and wherein the electronics component is configured to shut off the disinfecting apparatus upon receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the upper door is opened. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a piping system disposed in the upper portion, the water pump configured to convey the disinfectant solution from the rotatable tray to a filter disposed in the lower portion and to convey the disinfectant solution from the filter to the piping system, the piping system configured to convey the disinfectant solution to the plurality of jets, and the plurality of jets configured to convey the disinfectant solution in at least one of a pulsed spray, an intermittent spray, and a continuous spray to the interior chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The disinfecting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid level sensor disposed in the rotatable tray, the fluid level sensor configured to detect the fluid level of the disinfectant solution in the rotatable tray and detect when the rotatable tray needs to be emptied; a motorized drain valve configured to empty the rotatable tray; a removable bucket disposed in the lower portion, the removable bucket configured to receive unusable disinfectant solution from the rotatable tray.