# US 12,564,652 B1 · Elevator sterilization system and method of using same

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- Number: US 12,564,652 B1
- Document ID: US12564652B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/382,977
- Filed: 2021-07-22
- Granted: 2026-03-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-22
- Applicants: Philip Glen Miller
- Inventors: Philip Glen Miller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12564652B1

## CPC

- A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation
- A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
- B66B 1/3484: {using load cells}
- B66B 3/002: {Indicators}
- B66B 5/0012: {Devices monitoring the users of the elevator system}
- B66B 11/0226: {Constructional features, e.g. walls assembly, decorative panels, comfort equipment, thermal or sound insulation}
- A61L 2103/75: Room floors or walls
- A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
- A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
- A61L 2209/111: Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
- 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)
- B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00)

## Abstract

An ultraviolet anti-pathogen device for an elevator car is disclosed. The device includes occupant sensors, such as motion detectors to sense movement, weight sensors to sense the presence of occupants, or head sensors to sense the presence of occupants to assure that occupants have evacuated the car prior to sterilization or sanitization. Subsequently, UV-C generators, such as a bank of mercury bulbs, generate intense levels of UV-C. An array of multiple UV-C sensors scan the car, and determine the darkest area, or the area reflecting the lowest level of UV-C back to the sensors. A set of controllers contained in the device calculates the time required to obtain a bactericidal dose of UV-C reflected back from darkest area. Once a bactericidal dose has been reflected to all the sensors, the unit shuts down.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dual-mode anti-pathogenic elevator car comprising:
an elevator floor;
a set of elevator walls connected to the elevator floor;
an elevator ceiling connected to the set elevator walls;
a set of elevator doors connected to the set of elevator walls;
an anti-pathogen device connected to the elevator ceiling comprising:
a base connected to the elevator ceiling;
a post connected to the base;
a set of UV-C bulbs connected to the post and surrounding the post;
a set of controllers connected to the set of UV-C bulbs;
a sensor array connected to the set of controllers;
a set of occupant sensors connected to the set of controllers;
a set of alarms connected to the set of controllers; and,
a set of door contacts connected to the set of controllers and to the set of elevator doors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dual-mode anti-pathogen elevator car of claim 1, further comprising a set of rails connected to the set of elevator walls.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The dual-mode anti-pathogen elevator car of claim 1, wherein the set of UV-C bulbs has an exposure time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The dual-mode anti-pathogen elevator car of claim 3, wherein the exposure time is set to a sterilization time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The dual-mode anti-pathogen elevator car of claim 3, wherein the exposure time is set to a sanitization time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The dual-mode anti-pathogen elevator car of claim 1, wherein the set of elevator walls comprises UV-C reflective paint.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The dual-mode anti-pathogen elevator car of claim 1, wherein the set of occupant sensors is a set of motion sensors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The dual-mode anti-pathogen elevator car of claim 1, wherein the set of occupant sensors is a set of weight sensors.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The dual-mode anti-pathogen elevator car of claim 1, wherein the set of occupant sensors is a set of heat sensors.