US 9,687,575 B2Granted

UV devices, systems and methods for UV sterilization

AssigneeBlueMorph, LLC

InventorAlexander Farren

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Abstract

Provided herein are ultraviolet (UV) devices, systems, and methods for UV disinfection and sterilization, more specifically, UV devices, systems, and methods for UV disinfection and sterilization of a container, room, space or defined environment. The systems, UV devices, and methods are particularly useful for the UV disinfection and sterilization of a container used in the food and dairy industry and for containers used in the process of fermentation for an alcoholic beverage. Provided are also UV devices, systems, and methods for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present in a container, room, space or defined environment, preferably for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present on an interior surface of a container, room, space or defined environment.

Claims64

Dependent claims

A method for ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of a surface within a room, a space or a defined environment, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a UV device comprising a germicidal UV light source to a floor, a wall, a ceiling, a structure, or an object within a room, a space or a defined environment;
(b) movably and inwardly positioning the germicidal UV light source of the UV device into the room, the space or the defined environment;
and
(c) activating the germicidal UV light source, whereby sterilization of the surface within the room, the space or the defined environment is initiated;
wherein the germicidal UV light source comprises at least one UV lamp;
wherein the UV device comprises a circuit board;
and
wherein the circuit board comprises a functionality selected from the group consisting of:
(A) comprising a radiofrequency identifier reader;
(B) communicating with a radiofrequency identifier;
(C) controlling the movement of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(D) controlling the rate of descent of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(E) controlling the positioning of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(F) controlling an on/off status of a motor, wherein the motor controls the positioning of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(G) controlling an on/off status of the germicidal UV light source based on measuring whether a pre-determined UV intensity has been attained;
(H) controlling extension of the germicidal UV light source from a housing;
(I) controlling retraction of the germicidal UV light source into the housing;
(J) responding to a jammed position status of the germicidal UV light source;
(K) controlling an optical sensor which initiates a timer upon inserting the germicidal UV light source into the room, the space or the defined environment;
(L) controlling a speaker emitting an audible signal at the beginning or completion of a sterilization cycle;
(M) controlling a plurality of LED lights indicting a status of a sterilization cycle;
(N) relaying UV light intensity via a sensor to the room, space or defined environment;
(O) uploading and relaying information from the radiofrequency identifier;
(P) generating a report on time of a sterilization cycle;
(Q) generating a report on duration of a sterilization cycle;
(R) generating a report on UV light intensity attained during a sterilization cycle;
(S) emailing, phoning or texting a report on time of a sterilization cycle;
(T) emailing, phoning or texting a report on duration of a sterilization cycle;
(U) emailing, phoning or texting a report on UV light intensity attained during a sterilization cycle;
and
(V) emailing, phoning or texting an alert to an individual that a sterilization cycle is complete.

28 more elements

A method for ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of a surface within a room, a space or a defined environment, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a UV device comprising a germicidal UV light source to a room, a space or a defined environment;
(b) movably and inwardly positioning the germicidal UV light source of the UV device into the room, the space or the defined environment;
and
(c) activating the germicidal UV light source, whereby sterilization of the surface within the room, the space or the defined environment is initiated;
wherein the germicidal UV light source comprises at least one UV lamp;
wherein the UV device comprises a circuit board;
wherein the circuit board comprises a functionality selected from the group consisting of:
(A) comprising a radiofrequency identifier reader;
(B) communicating with a radiofrequency identifier;
(C) controlling the movement of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(D) controlling the rate of descent of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(E) controlling the positioning of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(F) controlling an on/off status of a motor, wherein the motor controls the positioning of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(G) controlling an on/off status of the germicidal UV light source based on measuring whether a pre-determined UV intensity has been attained;
(H) controlling extension of the germicidal UV light source from a housing;
(I) controlling retraction of the germicidal UV light source into the housing;
(J) responding to a jammed position status of the germicidal UV light source;
(K) controlling an optical sensor which initiates a timer upon inserting the germicidal UV light source into the room, the space or the defined environment;
(L) controlling a speaker emitting an audible signal at the beginning or completion of a sterilization cycle;
(M) controlling a plurality of LED lights indicting a status of a sterilization cycle;
(N) relaying UV light intensity via a sensor to the room, space or defined environment;
(O) uploading and relaying information from the radiofrequency identifier;
(P) generating a report on time of a sterilization cycle;
(Q) generating a report on duration of a sterilization cycle;
(R) generating a report on UV light intensity attained during a sterilization cycle;
(S) emailing, phoning or texting a report on time of a sterilization cycle;
(T) emailing, phoning or texting a report on duration of a sterilization cycle;
(U) emailing, phoning or texting a report on UV light intensity attained during a sterilization cycle;
and
(V) emailing, phoning or texting an alert to an individual that a sterilization cycle is complete;
and
wherein the UV light source is attached to a robot having wheels.

29 more elements

A method for ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of a surface within a room, a space or a defined environment, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a UV device comprising a germicidal UV light source to a room, a space or a defined environment;
(b) movably and inwardly positioning the germicidal UV light source of the UV device into the room, the space or the defined environment;
and
(c) activating the germicidal UV light source, whereby sterilization of the surface within the room, the space or the defined environment is initiated;
wherein the germicidal UV light source comprises at least one UV lamp;
wherein the UV device comprises a circuit board;
wherein the circuit board comprises a functionality selected from the group consisting of:
(A) comprising a radiofrequency identifier reader;
(B) communicating with a radiofrequency identifier;
(C) controlling the movement of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(D) controlling the rate of descent of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(E) controlling the positioning of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(F) controlling an on/off status of a motor, wherein the motor controls the positioning of the germicidal UV light source within the room, the space or the defined environment;
(G) controlling an on/off status of the germicidal UV light source based on measuring whether a pre-determined UV intensity has been attained;
(H) controlling extension of the germicidal UV light source from a housing;
(I) controlling retraction of the germicidal UV light source into the housing;
(J) responding to a jammed position status of the germicidal UV light source;
(K) controlling an optical sensor which initiates a timer upon inserting the germicidal UV light source into the room, the space or the defined environment;
(L) controlling a speaker emitting an audible signal at the beginning or completion of a sterilization cycle;
(M) controlling a plurality of LED lights indicting a status of a sterilization cycle;
(N) relaying UV light intensity via a sensor to the room, space or defined environment;
(O) uploading and relaying information from the radiofrequency identifier;
(P) generating a report on time of a sterilization cycle;
(Q) generating a report on duration of a sterilization cycle;
(R) generating a report on UV light intensity attained during a sterilization cycle;
(S) emailing, phoning or texting a report on time of a sterilization cycle;
(T) emailing, phoning or texting a report on duration of a sterilization cycle;
(U) emailing, phoning or texting a report on UV light intensity attained during a sterilization cycle;
and
(V) emailing, phoning or texting an alert to an individual that a sterilization cycle is complete;
and
wherein the UV light source is attached to a robot crawler having a plurality of suctions permitting it to crawl either vertically on the wall within the room, the space, or the defined environment or horizontally on the ceiling within the room, the space, or the defined environment.

29 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/302,375Filed 11 Jun 2014 · continuation in part
Priority: 1 Jun 2010
Published: US 2014/0161663 A14 Dec 2014
Granted: 27 Jun 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

A61L 2/10
Radiation: ultraviolet [UV] radiation
A23B 2/53
By irradiation without heating: with ultraviolet light
A61L 9/20
Radiation: ultraviolet radiation
H01J 37/244
Details: detectors; Associated components or circuits therefor

Family

Application61/350,414Us provisional application · filed 1 Jun 2010
Application13/151,196Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Jun 2011
PCT/US2011/038826Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Jun 2011
Application13/308,383Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Nov 2011
Application13/314,007Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 Dec 2011
PCT/US2011/063827Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Dec 2011
Application13/650,028Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 Oct 2012
Application14/091,311Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Nov 2013
PCT/US2014/042013Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Jun 2014
US 2014/0356229 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Dec 2014
US 9,387,268 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 9,044,521 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application13/151,196Parent of this continuation
PCT/US2011/063827Parent of this continuation-in-part
PCT/US2011/038826Parent of this continuation
PCT/US2014/042013Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2011/0305597 A1Published application
US 2012/0121457 A1Published application
US 2013/0175460 A1Published application
US 2014/0161663 A1Published application
US 9,682,161 B2Related patent
US 9,707,306 B2Related patent
US 9,687,575 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.