Autonomous Decontamination Device for the Dispersion of Disinfecting, Sanitizing and Barrier Agents for Enclosed Structures

Abstract

An autonomous device for the vaporization and dispersal of a sanitizing agent adapted for the use in closed structures such as rooms, vehicles, trash bins, dumpsters, and other containers.

Claims

1. A sanitizing agent vaporization and dispersal device comprising: a vaporizing unit comprising a case, a fluid tank structured to retain a liquid sanitizing agent, an air pump, a vapor diffuser comprising a venturi, a control board having a microprocessor, and batteries; wherein said vaporizing unit transitions the sanitizing agent from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, said air pump dispersing the sanitizing agent through said venturi.

2. The device of claim 1, said fluid tank comprising one or more wick members and a heating element.

3. The device of claim 2, said fluid tank further comprising an open-celled material to retain the sanitizing agent.

4. A sanitizing agent vaporization and dispersal device comprising: a vaporizing unit comprising a case, one or more fluid tanks structured to retain a liquid sanitizing agent, one or more vortex generators, a control board having a microprocessor, and batteries; wherein said vaporizing unit transitions the sanitizing agent from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, said one or more vortex generators dispersing the sanitizing agent.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said one or more fluid tanks comprises an air inlet and a refilling port.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said vaporizing unit further comprises visible and audible status indicators.

7. The device of claim 4 further including a communication technology chosen from the group of communication technologies consisting of RF, Bluetooth and Wifi.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a smart device in communication with said vaporizing unit through said communication technology.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein said case is structured with at least two sloped or angled edges.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a mounting bracket to affix said vaporizing unit to an interior wall of a closed structure.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the closed structure is a trash bin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0037] FIG. 3 is an exposed view of FIG. 2 showing the interior elements of the embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a rear exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fluid tank of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a view of a control board for the embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0042] FIG. 8A is a left side partial view of a schematic diagram for the control board for the embodiment of FIG. 4, to be viewed in conjunction with FIG. 8B.

[0043] FIG. 8B is a right side partial view of a schematic diagram for the control board for the embodiment of FIG. 4, to be viewed in conjunction with FIG. 8A.

[0044] FIG. 9 illustrates a representative smart device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0045] With reference to the drawings, embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail. As used herein, the term “vaporization” or related grammatical versions of the term shall be taken to mean that a sanitizing agent undergoes a phase transition, e.g., a change from the liquid phase to the vapor phase through evaporation, a surface phenomenon, or boiling, a bulk phenomenon. Thus, the invention is limited to dispersion of the agent by vaporization, as opposed to devices dispersing an agent via aerosol (use of a propellent gas), atomization (formation of droplets) or pressurization (use of compressed gas), all of which disperse liquid droplets of differing sizes, resulting in non-continuous surface coverage.

[0046] A basic embodiment of the device is shown in FIGS. 1-3 and an alternative embodiment of the device customized for use on trach bins is shown in FIGS. 4-8. The vaporizing unit 10 may be mounted to the interior of closed structures, such as rooms, vehicles, containers, receptacles, trash bins, dumpsters, shipping containers, portable decontamination boxes and any similar such structures, to be referred to herein collectively as “closed structures”. Preferably the vaporizing unit 10 is mounted to an interior surface of the closed structure, either permanently or removably, by adhesive, mechanical interlock or fasteners, and most preferably by providing a frame or mounting bracket to be affixed to the closed structure, with the vaporizing unit being then affixed to the frame or mounting unit.

[0047] The vaporizing unit 10 of FIGS. 1-3 comprises a housing, cover or case 11 which contains the operational components of the device. The case 11 is preferably configured and sized to occupy minimal space within the closed structure and to provide minimal obstruction when inserting or removing items from the closed structure. The vaporizing unit 10 comprises a removable fluid tank 12, which retains a liquid sanitizing agent, which as explained may consist of a disinfecting, sanitizing and/or barrier composition, to be referred to herein collectively as “sanitizing agents”, an air pump 13 to draw air into the case 11 through air intake ports 22 to deliver into the fluid tank 12, and a venturi port 14 for dispersing the vaporized sanitizing agent into the closed structure. The vaporizing unit 10 is controlled by a control board 40 and powered by batteries 18. Power is supplied to a heating element, such as a coil heater, retained within fluid tank 12, which heats the liquid sanitizing agent, which may be maintained within a cotton ballast or similar open-celled material, such that liquid on one or more cotton tubular members or wick members also disposed within the fluid tank 12 deliver the sanitizing agent to the heating element where it transitions to a vapor and is dispelled from the fluid tank 12 and case 11 through the venturi port 14, which acts a vapor diffuser to maximize distribution of the vaporized sanitation agent within the closed structure.

[0048] As mentioned previously, with respect to disclosing the invention in an embodiment for use wherein the closed structure is a trash bin, the case 11 is preferably configured with at least two sloped or angled edges, as shown best in the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 4-5. Furthermore, the design, geometry and dimensions of the frame or mounting bracket would be customized to enable attachment to all three major brands and sizes of curbside trash roller bins (Toter, Schaefer and Uline) as well as to any commercially available trash bin or dumpster. All these trash bins have a different design regarding the interior surface configuration requiring a mounting bracket with a very specific design to be able to attach to all of them without specialize mounting brackets for each type. The vaporizing unit 10 is inserted into the frame and the device is ready for operation. The design, geometry and dimensions of the vaporizing unit frame and cover 11 are of critical nature to vaporizing unit's 10 efficacy as well. The compact design allows for installation in any size trash container of any interior wall design or configuration. The design of the sloping sides of the cover 11 and the design of the vapor diffusors are critical to efficacy. These designs allow for the unit 10 to be affixed to the back inside upper wall of the trash bin, i.e, the door hinge side. It is crucial that the unit 10 be able to affix to this area on the trash bin for two reasons. First, the unit 10 should be affixed high enough so that agent vapor settles over and circulates around all materials in the container during fogging, and second, the unit 10 should be designed to allow bin contents to slide or fall out of the trash bin when emptied by management service trucks without damage to or catching on the unit 10. Trash bins are uniquely designed to allow autonomous or semi-autonomous dumping. All current truck systems pick up the trash bin by the front side attachment so when turned upside down to evacuate the contents the contents slide along the inside front wall of the trash bin. Additionally, the unique design of the unit's cover incorporates sloped edges on all sides. This allows contents while being dumped to slide over unit and not catch creating an issue in evacuating all the contents and or damaging the unit when the trash bin is full. Specialized seals have also been designed so that trash, debris, or fluids cannot infiltrate between the vaporizer unit and the wall of the trash bin as well as seals which render the vaporizer unit watertight.

[0049] Upon activating the vaporizing unit 10, the heating element instantly heats up and the fluid on the wick starts to vaporize. Once the liquid is vaporized an in-line vortex generator 17 creates vapor velocity and trajectory by diffusors for optimal dispersion and fog vortex. This vortex is highly important for full engulfment of all surfaces such as boxes, envelopes, trash, and trash bags surfaces. The unit 10 then automatically goes into sleep mode after the end of cycle. Temperature of the heating element is constantly monitored and kept at the desired temperature range for the entire duration of cycle. The fluid tank 12, cotton ballast, wick, volume sensors, and heating element are designed as a one-part replaceable unit. The above-mentioned functionalities possess several advantages over conventional vaporizing devices. Firstly, this allows the unit 10 to operate in any position. The tank 12/wick/heating element operational efficacy and sealing is not contingent on position or gravity. Since the logic is preferably based on feedback rather than a timer, it affords control over the circuit and eliminates the risk of over-heating or underheating of the heating element which could either burn up both wick and the heating element or cause dry hit, rendering the device useless, as is common in other vaporizer units. This in turn also ensures optimum power consumption which enhances the life of battery 18.

[0050] The device includes an on-off switch 21 and is self-sufficient as it is equipped with visual and audible status indicators 19 and notifies the user if the device needs any attention, like refill or replacement of tank units 12 or replacement of batteries 18. Furthermore, once paired with a smart device 90, the user can receive notifications directly to their smart device(s) 90 and can even configure and control the vaporizing unit 10 directly from their smart device 90. Each fluid tank unit 12 comprises an air inlet 31 and a refill port 32, as well as access means to supply power to the heating element, and is capable of being refilled multiple times. The novel approach of incorporating the fluid tank 12, with its ballast, wick, sensors, and heater element, into a compact replaceable unit 12 allows the user to easily remove the old unit 12 and snap in a new unit 12 with ease when it reaches the end of design life. This may be from six months to six years depending on usage frequency. The tank 12, ballast, wick, and heater inclusive design also significantly increases the ease of customer support as if a problem arises in the vaporizing unit's 10 operation and which requires a replacement tank 12 to be sent, and allows the user to have as a back-up a completely filled tank unit 12 to simply plug and play. Refill bottles of all sanitizing agents may be provided. This will be a refill bottle with a specially designed plunger to allow it to mate with the vaporizer unit tank refill port 32 or a no spill filling. This design also prohibits unit owners from filling tanks 12 with generic agents and or agents that could be hazardous or toxic if vaporized in the unit 10.

[0051] The intent and design of the unit 10 also provides for sale of pre-filled tank units 12 complete with the agent of choice as well as being inclusive of ballast, wick, heater, and sensors as described above. This design will significantly decrease the need for the sale of individual parts and extensive repair manuals. The design of this vaporizer unit 10 is so that it is completely compartmentalized with the benefit and safety of the user in mind.

[0052] The intent of the unit is to only vaporize ‘green’ ‘organic’ and ‘environmentally friendly’ ‘non-hazardous’ agents including but not limited to natural essential oils such as food grade Thymol, Peppermint, Cedarwood as well as low but effective concentrations of citric acid, acetic acid vinegar, or silver ions. These oils and extracts are constituted/diluted and suspended in food grade vegetable glycerin and or propylene glycol. The concentration/ratio of these agents to the suspension fluid varies for each component based on tested effectiveness. The agents are suspended in the glycol or glycerin to provide a dense vapor that will not only fully engulf all shapes and surface textures/profiles but to ‘cling’ to these surfaces. This provides both the creation of time without evaporation of agent on the surface to assure eradication of the contaminant but also allows for a barrier of the agent to remain on the surface to arrest the containments' ability to transmit. The invention is not intended to use toxic or harmful components as used in many of the other disinfectants.

[0053] The agents designed for use in this invention are proven in laboratory testing to naturally sanitize and kills 99.99% of all disease-causing bacteria, and destroy viruses created from household waste or viruses and infectious disease found and transmitted by other means. Representative sanitizing agents are Thymol and anhydrous citric acid. Both agents are currently listed on the EPA “N” list for disinfectants/pesticides approved for the eradication of the COVID 19 virus.

[0054] In addition, beyond the eradication of diseases, the sanitizing agent may be chosen to control all odors caused by household waste while naturally repelling flies, fruit flies, bees, maggots and other insects attracted to odor. Furthermore, the agent may be one chosen to naturally kills these insects and their larvae as well as providing a lasting barrier to repel them. Larger nuisance animals such as raccoons, opossums, bears etc. may also repelled by a specific agent in the vapor's lingering odor and barrier.

[0055] The invention incorporates novel control of component functionality, safety, and management of the electronic components with a microprocessor or micro-controller 15 mounted on the control board 40, the processor 15 running a custom program. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the control board 40 may be constructed to retain in communicating manner a communication port 41, an RF module 42, a wakeup button 43, an RGB LED 44, a buzzer 45, a blue LED 46 and power jack 47.

[0056] The program and processor 15 provide multiple safety features include the use of a photocell. By taking feedback from the photocell the processor 15 can determine if the lid of the containment unit is closed. This ensures the device to work more efficiently as it prevents useless dispersion of the vapor into the ambient atmosphere. Furthermore, it also prevents the situation of vaporizing liquids and dispersing them potentially towards the user. Although the vapor is completely non-hazardous to humans and animals most all-natural agents are not recommended for long term inhalation. The device has distinguishable audible alarms 19 to let the operator/owner know prior to, during and after the fogging process is in operation. This affords just one more safety benefit to the consumer. A second safety and convenience feature are the prevention of no ‘dry firing’ of wick—hence damaging wick and or heater which is a common failure event for current vaporizer technologies. This is achieved by using a moisture sensor. In the situation of lack of moisture not only will the unit not energize the heating element, but it also energizes a low decibel alarm to alert the user. If paired with the smart device 90, all these alert notifications will be directed to user's smart device 90. In this event the user would attempt to repair the unit 10 per provided directions or simply remove the tank unit 12 and replace with a new one. The device 10 may also be equipped with an on-board charging circuit and provided with a wall charger. This add-on circuit helps in charging the batteries 18 without having the need to remove the batteries 18 and also protects the batteries 18 from overcharge/over discharge. The microcontroller 15 is integrated with the batteries 18 and constantly checks for battery level and lights different color LEDs to indicate the level of charge. The device 10 preferably automatically enters the safe mode when it detects low charge, while in this mode, the device 10 does not accept any command until the batteries 18 are charged to a minimum of mid-level. Moreover, upon detecting low charge, the device 10 continuously flashes red light for up to 30 seconds and enters the deep sleep mode to save power. Once fully charged, the device 10 is ready to accept any command sent using the remote or smart device 90. The battery level can also be monitored using a Bluetooth app and the user can get notifications directly on their smart devices 90 about the battery health.

[0057] The device 10 has multiple modes of operation for the user's convenience. The first method of triggering the vaporizer unit 10 is via an integrated remote-control and RF sensor for manual operation only. The unit 10 preferably includes an integrated real time clock allowing the user to set a schedule and duration of activation. This timer can also be set based on the size of the closed structure being used assuring the closed structure is fully engulfed and assuring that the unit 10 does not operate longer than is required to eradicate the virus or other intended target. The user can set the device 10 to vaporize at specific times and intervals. Other modes of control utilize an integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip. To control via Bluetooth the user installs an application on their smart device 90. Once within range of the unit 10 the user can manually activate the device 10, set the activation schedule, and ensure there are no fluid level alarms. If a Wi-Fi network is available the device 10 can be connected to internet. With this connectivity the user can utilize a custom application on their internet connected mobile device 90 to remotely monitor and control the device 10. The device 10 is also preferred to be accessible through any internet connected device via web browser. With Wi-Fi the user can also set up email alerts so that fluid level alerts are sent directly to their email of choice.

[0058] It is understood that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements set forth above may be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims. The embodiments and illustrations are meant to be of a representative, non-limiting nature, as are the descriptions set forth above.