BACTERICIDE DIFFUSION APPARATUS AND BACTERICIDE DIFFUSION METHOD

Abstract

There are provided a bactericide diffusion apparatus and a bactericide diffusion method that have excellent design and make it possible to stably diffuse a bactericide. A bactericide diffusion apparatus includes: a bactericide containing chlorine dioxide; a first container housing the bactericide and having a first opening; and a second container housing the first container, having a second opening and being made of a ceramic. The first container includes a first portion defining the first opening, a second portion located below the first portion and having a diameter larger than that of the first opening, and a third portion located below the second portion and having a diameter larger than that of the second portion. The second container includes a main body portion housing the first container and having the second opening, and a lid portion fitted to the second opening. The lid portion has a hole for diffusing chlorine dioxide.

Claims

1. A bactericide diffusion apparatus comprising: a bactericide containing chlorine dioxide; a first container housing the bactericide and having a first opening; and a second container housing the first container, having a second opening and being made of a ceramic, wherein the first container includes a first portion defining the first opening, a second portion located below the first portion and having a diameter larger than that of the first opening, and a third portion located below the second portion and having a diameter larger than that of the second portion, the second container includes a main body portion housing the first container and having the second opening, and a lid portion fitted to the second opening, and the lid portion has a hole for diffusing chlorine dioxide.

2. A bactericide diffusion apparatus comprising: a bactericide containing chlorine dioxide; a first container housing the bactericide and having a first opening; and a second container housing the first container, having a second opening and being made of a ceramic, wherein the first container includes a first portion defining the first opening, a second portion located below the first portion and having a diameter larger than that of the first opening, and a third portion located below the second portion and having a diameter larger than that of the second portion, the second container includes a main body portion housing the first container and having the second opening, and chlorine dioxide diffuses from the second opening to the outside.

3. The bactericide diffusion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first container includes: a first reduced-diameter portion located above the second portion and having an inner diameter that becomes smaller toward the first opening; a first increased-diameter portion located below the second portion and having an inner diameter that becomes larger toward the first opening; a first cylindrical portion located between the first reduced-diameter portion and the first increased-diameter portion and having a cylindrical shape; a second reduced-diameter portion located above the third portion and having an inner diameter that becomes smaller toward the first opening; a second increased-diameter portion located below the third portion and having an inner diameter that becomes larger toward the first opening; and a second cylindrical portion located between the second reduced-diameter portion and the second increased-diameter portion and having a cylindrical shape.

4. A bactericide diffusion method using the bactericide diffusion apparatus as recited in claim 1, the method comprising: adjusting an amount of diffusion of the bactericide from the first opening by adjusting a degree of opening of the first opening; and housing the first container in the second container.

5. The bactericide diffusion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first container includes: a first reduced-diameter portion located above the second portion and having an inner diameter that becomes smaller toward the first opening; a first increased-diameter portion located below the second portion and having an inner diameter that becomes larger toward the first opening; a first cylindrical portion located between the first reduced-diameter portion and the first increased-diameter portion and having a cylindrical shape; a second reduced-diameter portion located above the third portion and having an inner diameter that becomes smaller toward the first opening; a second increased-diameter portion located below the third portion and having an inner diameter that becomes larger toward the first opening; and a second cylindrical portion located between the second reduced-diameter portion and the second increased-diameter portion and having a cylindrical shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bactericide diffusion apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second container 100 taken along line II-II in FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows an internal structure of bactericide diffusion apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first container 130 used in the first embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of first container 130 taken along line V-V in FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of first container 130 used in a second embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of first container 130 taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of first container 130 used in the first embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of first container 130 taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bactericide diffusion apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second container 100 taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows an internal structure of bactericide diffusion apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first container 130 used in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of first container 130 taken along line V-V in FIG. 4.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, bactericide diffusion apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment includes a bactericide 134 containing chlorine dioxide, a first container 130 housing bactericide 134 and having a first opening 130h, and a second container 100 housing first container 130, having a second opening 100h and being made of a ceramic.

[0029] First container 130 includes a first portion 131 defining first opening 130h, a second portion 132 located below first portion 131 and having a diameter larger than that of first opening 130h, and a third portion 133 located below second portion 132 and having a diameter larger than that of second portion 132. Second container 100 includes a main body portion 120 housing first container 130 and having second opening 100h, and a lid portion 110 fitted to second opening 100h. Lid portion 110 has a hole 111 for diffusing chlorine dioxide.

[0030] First container 130 includes a first reduced-diameter portion 132c located above second portion 132 and having an inner diameter that becomes smaller toward first opening 130h, a first increased-diameter portion 132a located below second portion 132 and having an inner diameter that becomes larger toward first opening 130h, a first cylindrical portion 132b located between first reduced-diameter portion 132c and first increased-diameter portion 132a and having a cylindrical shape, a second reduced-diameter portion 133c located above third portion 133 and having an inner diameter that becomes smaller toward first opening 130h, a second increased-diameter portion 133a located below third portion 133 and having an inner diameter that becomes larger toward first opening 130h, and a second cylindrical portion 133b located between second reduced-diameter portion 133c and second increased-diameter portion 133a and having a cylindrical shape.

[0031] First container 130 is made of plastic. First container 130 is made of, for example, plastic that does not react with chlorine dioxide contained in bactericide 134. A thread ridge is formed on an outer circumference of first portion 131 of first container 130. The thread ridge and a thread groove in an inner circumferential surface of a lid 140 are fitted to each other.

[0032] By changing an opening area of lid 140, an amount of diffusion of chlorine dioxide from first container 130 can be adjusted. By making the opening area of lid 140 variable, the opening area can be changed. In order to diffuse a maximum amount of bactericide 134 from first container 130, bactericide diffusion apparatus 10 can be used with lid 140 removed. Lid 140 does not need to be provided from the beginning.

[0033] Chlorine dioxide as bactericide 134 may be in various forms such as solid, liquid, gel, and sol. Since chlorine dioxide kills a virus because of the oxidizing power thereof, chlorine dioxide functions as bactericide 134. Bactericide 134 may contain a substance other than chlorine dioxide, e.g., a substance for making chlorine dioxide exist stably.

[0034] Since first container 130 includes second increased-diameter portion 133a, an area of contact between bactericide 134 and the air can be increased even when only a small amount of bactericide 134 is present in first container 130. Therefore, diffusion of bactericide 134 can be promoted.

[0035] The presence of second reduced-diameter portion 133c and first increased-diameter portion 132a makes it easier for a person to hold a recessed portion provided between second reduced-diameter portion 133c and first increased-diameter portion 132a. Furthermore, the presence of the recessed portion increases the strength of first container 130.

[0036] Second container 100 is made of a ceramic. Since second container 100 is made of a ceramic, a pattern can be formed on an outer surface of second container 100. As a result, the design of bactericide diffusion apparatus 10 can be improved. Since second container 100 is made of a ceramic, second container 100 can prevent oxidation of chlorine dioxide. Even if bactericide 134 spills in second container 100, bactericide 134 does not corrode second container 100. It is preferable that an inner circumferential surface of second container 100 be covered with a coating that is not corroded by chlorine dioxide. Furthermore, it is preferable that the inner circumferential surface of second container 100 have no hole in order to prevent chlorine dioxide from permeating second container 100.

[0037] An upper end of main body portion 120 of second container 100 has a flange shape that protrudes inward. An inner circumferential surface of the flange defines second opening 100h. By forming the flange, the strength of second opening 100h can be improved.

[0038] Lid portion 110 is placed on the flange. Lid portion 110 has five holes 111 radially extending in the direction of the radius. The number of holes 111 is not limited to five, and more or less holes 111 may be provided.

[0039] Main body portion 120 has such a shape that an inner diameter thereof becomes larger gradually from the bottom upward, and becomes smaller gradually from a certain portion. This makes it easier for a person to hold first container 130 and place first container 130 in main body portion 120.

Second Embodiment

[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of first container 130 used in a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of first container 130 taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, first container 130 according to the second embodiment has a greater breadth than that of first container 130 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, a larger amount of bactericide 134 is stored in first container 130.

Third Embodiment

[0041] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of first container 130 used in a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of first container 130 taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, first container 130 according to the third embodiment is smaller than first container 130 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, it is preferable to house first container 130 according to the third embodiment in small second container 100.

[0042] In a diffusion method for bactericide 134, bactericide 134 is housed in first container 130. A diffusion speed of bactericide 134 from first container 130 is determined by an opening area of first opening 130h and a concentration of bactericide 134 outside first container 130 and inside second container 100. Since the concentration of bactericide 134 inside second container 100 is set substantially constant, the diffusion speed of bactericide 134 from first container 130 can be determined by adjusting the opening area of first opening 130h.

[0043] A bactericide diffusion method using diffusion apparatus 10 for bactericide 134 according to an embodiment includes adjusting an amount of diffusion of bactericide 134 from first opening 130h by adjusting a degree of opening of first opening 130h, and housing first container 130 in second container 100.

[0044] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0045] The present invention can be used in the field of a bactericide diffusion apparatus and a bactericide diffusion method.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0046] 10 diffusion apparatus; 100 second container; 100h second opening; 110 lid portion; 111 hole; 120 main body portion; 130 first container; 130h first opening; 131 first portion; 132 second portion; 132a first increased-diameter portion; 132b first cylindrical portion; 132c first reduced-diameter portion; 133 third portion; 133a second increased-diameter portion; 133b second cylindrical portion; 133c second reduced-diameter portion; 134 bactericide; 140 lid.