# US 8,770,881 B2 · Sanitization apparatuses, kits, and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,881 B2 - Document ID: US8770881B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/820,876 - Filed: 2010-06-22 - Published: 2010-12-23 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-23 - Assignees: Cleanint LLC - Applicants: Tuan Dam - Inventors: Tuan Dam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770881B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/18: Liquid substances - A61L 2202/16: Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles - 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) ## Abstract Sanitization apparatuses, kits, and methods, such as, for example, for pens, styluses, handles, remote controls, and pagers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pen-sanitization apparatus comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing defining a first opening through the first end, a second opening through the second end, and a chamber in fluid communication with the first and second openings, the housing configured to open to permit a user to access the chamber; and a fluid-permeable sponge applicator having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends, the sponge applicator defining a passage extending through the sponge applicator and through the first and second ends of the sponge applicator, the passage having a substantially circular cross-section; and a stand having a first end configured to be pivotally coupled to the housing and a second end configured to be coupled to a surface such that the stand supports the apparatus; where the housing is configured to removably receive the sponge applicator in the chamber such that the passage is substantially aligned with the first and second openings of the housing so that a pen can be passed sequentially through the first opening, the passage, and the second opening such that when passed through the passage the sponge applicator contacts more than half of the cross-sectional perimeter of the pen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sanitization apparatus of claim 1, where the sponge applicator encircles the entire length of the passage, and where the apparatus is configured such that pens having various diameters within a functional range can be passed sequentially through the first opening, passage, and second opening such that when passed through the passage the sponge applicator contacts more than half of the cross-sectional perimeter of the pen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sanitization apparatus of claim 1, where the first and second ends of the sponge applicator are configured to be fluid-impermeable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sanitization apparatus of claim 3, where an outer surface of the sponge applicator between the first and second ends of the sponge applicator are coated with a fluid impermeable material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sanitization apparatus of claim 1, where the housing is configured to be removably coupled to a mount. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sanitization apparatus of claim 5, where the housing comprise a first housing member and a second housing member, and is configured to be opened by separating a portion of the first housing member from a portion of the second housing member, and is configured to be removably coupled to a mount by disposing a portion of the mount between the first and second housing members and closing the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The sanitization apparatus of claim 5, where the mount includes at least one of: a stand configured to support the apparatus relative to a surface, a stand configured to be coupled to a point-of-sale device, or a lanyard. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sanitization apparatus of claim 1, where the housing comprises a first housing member and a second housing member, and is configured to open by separating a portion of the first housing member from a portion of the second housing member along a longitudinal boundary intersecting the first opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sanitization apparatus of claim 8, where the first housing member is configured to be coupled to the second housing member to define the chamber and configured to be separated from the second housing member to permit a user to access the chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sanitization apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sanitization apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sanitization fluid absorbed in the sponge applicator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sanitization apparatus of claim 11, where the sanitization fluid comprises one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of: alcohols, ethanol, isopropanol, aldehydes, oxidizing agents, acids, phenolics, ammoniums, and chlorine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sanitization apparatus of claim 11, where the apparatus is configured such that if the sponge applicator is disposed in the chamber and a pen is passed sequentially through the first opening, the passage, and the second opening, the sanitization fluid is applied to the pen by the sponge applicator without any external pumping mechanism. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sanitization apparatus of claim 1, where the first and second openings of the housing are each circular and have a diameter that is larger than a relaxed inner diameter of the passage through the sponge applicator. ### Claim 15 A sanitization kit comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing defining a first opening through the first end, a second opening through the second end, and a chamber in fluid communication with the first and second openings, the housing configured to open to permit a user to access the chamber; a stand having a first end configured to be pivotally coupled to the housing and a second end configured to be coupled to a surface such that the stand supports the apparatus; and two or more fluid-permeable sponge applicators each having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends, the sponge applicator defining a passage extending through the sponge applicator and through the first and second ends of the sponge applicator; where the housing is configured to removably receive the sponge applicator in the chamber such that the passage is substantially aligned with the first and second openings of the housing so that a pen can be passed sequentially through the first opening, the passage, and the second opening such that when passed through the passage the sponge applicator contacts more than half of the cross-sectional perimeter of the pen; and where the housing is configured to removably and interchangeably receive each of the two or more sponge applicators individually.