Shopping cart sanitizing, disinfecting and cleaning system and method of use

Abstract

A system and method for substantially disinfecting a cart against one or more contaminants. The system includes an enclosure, adapted to receive a cart; and a UV light source, coupled to the enclosure. The enclosure can be a free-standing enclosure, or it can be integrated into a housing structure. In one embodiment the UV light source is a cold cathode lamp. The light source can be powered through a conventional power source, such as an electrical outlet, or it could be hard-wired into the housing structure, or could even be powered by a battery. In other embodiments, the UV light source further includes a reflector and a switch coupled between the power source and the UV light source. The method includes providing an enclosure, adapted to receive the cart, and having a UV light source, coupled thereto. The cart is then inserted into the enclosure, and irradiated with light emitted from the UV light source until the desired germicidal/fungicidal effect is obtained. The cart can then be removed from the enclosure substantially disinfected against the one or more contaminants.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.