Foot/footwear sterilization system

A method of killing pathogens on a shoe, the method comprising:

• providing a foot/shoe sanitizing system comprising:
• a housing having at least one opening;
• at least one ultraviolet emitting device supported within the housing, the at least one ultraviolet emitting device directing ultraviolet light on a foot/shoe placed in the at least one opening;
• a source of power interfaced to each of the at least one ultraviolet emitting device, the source of power operatively powering each of the at least one ultraviolet emitting device, thereby the at least one ultraviolet emitting device emits ultraviolet light;
• means for detecting an identification of a user of the foot/shoe sanitizing system;
• and
• a activated carbon material located at the bottom of the housing;
• placing the shoe into one of the at least one opening;
• obtaining an identification of the user from the means for detecting;
• emitting ultraviolet light from the at least one ultraviolet emitting device, the ultraviolet light radiating at least one of the pathogens on the shoe, the ultraviolet light forming breaking oxygen molecules into singlet oxygen (O1), some of the singlet oxygen combining with dioxygen (O2) forming ozone (O3);
• the ultraviolet light and the ozone killing at least one of the pathogens;
• removing the shoe from the at least one opening;
• and
• the ozone settling to the bottom of the housing and oxidizing the activated carbon material to form carbon monoxide (CO) and/or carbon dioxide (CO2).

A foot/shoe sanitizing device comprising:

• a housing having two openings, each of the openings sized to allow entry of a shoe;
• a processor, the processor located within the housing;
• at least one ultraviolet emitting device supported within the housing, the at least one ultraviolet emitting device for directing ultraviolet light onto shoes placed within the openings;
• a source of power, power to each of the at least one ultraviolet emitting device controlled by the processor,
• one or more shoe sensors, the shoe sensor(s) for detecting the presence of at least one of the shoes within one of the openings, the shoe sensor(s) are operatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• an activated carbon material within the housing.