ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT GERMICIDAL IRRADIATION DEVICE

Abstract

An ultraviolet light germicidal irradiation device includes a base member having a mounting plate for detachably securing the base member to a selected surface; an extension member detachably and substantially vertically secured to the base member; an arm member rotationally secured to the extension member, whereby, a top portion of the arm member is disposed outside the periphery of either side of an object to be decontaminated; an ultraviolet light housing pivotally secured to the top portion of the arm member, whereby, a front portion of the ultraviolet light housing has a pivoting range from at least twenty degrees above a horizontal plane to forty degrees below the horizontal plane; and an ultraviolet light lamp disposed inside the ultraviolet light housing, the ultraviolet light lamp emitting an ultraviolet light at a preselected wave length that destroys a preselected virus without injuring humans.

Claims

1. An ultraviolet light germicidal irradiation device for a keypad comprising: a base member having a mounting plate for detachably securing said base member to a selected surface; an extension member detachably and substantially vertically secured to said base member; an arm member rotationally secured to said extension member, whereby, said arm member is initially substantially lineally aligned with said extension member, said arm member ultimately being rotated to a position that disposes a top portion of said arm member in a position that allows access to a keypad; an ultraviolet light housing pivotally secured to said top portion of said arm member, whereby, a front portion of said ultraviolet light housing has a pivoting range from at least twenty degrees above a horizontal plane to forty degrees below the horizontal plane; an ultraviolet light lamp disposed inside said ultraviolet light housing, said ultraviolet light lamp emitting an ultraviolet light at a preselected wave length; and an electronic control member for energizing and de-energizing said ultraviolet light lamp; whereby, said ultraviolet light is energized in a substantially vertical position when required to disinfect the keypad device, said ultraviolet light lamp being de-energized when disposed in a rotated position that promotes access to the keypad.

2. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 1 wherein said base member includes a recess for receiving a keypad, whereby, the keypad is disposed beneath the ultraviolet light housing when said housing is vertically disposed, thereby receiving ultraviolet light that decontaminates the keypad.

3. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 2 wherein said ultraviolet light housing includes a back portion pivotally secured to said top portion of said arm member, whereby, a front portion of said ultraviolet light housing has a pivoting range from at least twenty degrees above a horizontal plane to at least forty degrees below the horizontal plane.

4. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 3 wherein said extension member and arm members are substantially vertically aligned, whereby, said front portion of said ultraviolet light housing is disposed above the keypad to be irradiated with ultraviolet light.

5. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 4 wherein said ultraviolet light housing includes a configuration, when taking a top view of said ultraviolet light irradiation device, having a longitudinal dimension relatively larger than a lateral dimension of said housing, thereby distally disposing an ultraviolet light lamp from said arm member a predetermined distance.

6. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 5 wherein said extension member includes front and back covers detachably joined together and to a bracket plate assembly, whereby, said front and back covers encase said bracket plate assembly.

7. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 6 wherein said arm member includes front and back covers rotationally secured to respective front and back covers of said extension member, said arm member front and back covers being detachably joined together and to a cam plate, whereby, said front and back covers of said arm member encase said cam plate.

8. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 7 wherein said cam plate includes a lower portion configured to cooperatively engage a cam member of said bracket plate assembly; whereby, when said arm member is rotated substantially ninety degrees relative to said extension member, said configuration of said lower portion of said cam plate maintains the rotated position of said arm member via a protrusion portion extending from said lower portion of said cam plate that engages a tip portion of said cam member.

9. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 8 wherein said extension member and arm member include cooperating longitudinal dimensions, whereby, said ultraviolet light housing is disposed above the keypad a preselected distance, and said top portion of said arm member is disposed outside the periphery of either side of the keypad when the arm member is rotated substantially ninety-degrees from a vertical position, thereby promoting access to the keypad for initiating a financial transaction by inserting a debit/credit card into the keypad.

10. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet light lamp is automatically de-energized when said ultraviolet light housing is rotated from a vertical position, whereby, said de-energized lamp promotes the insertion of a credit/debit card into the keypad, thereby preventing exposure to ultraviolet light generated by said lamp.

11. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 10 wherein said ultraviolet light lamp is re-energized when said lamp is returned to a vertical position and a reset switch is pressed, thereby increasing the number of financial transactions in a given time period.

12. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 11 wherein said ultraviolet light housing is detachable secured to a top portion of said arm member via a constant torque hinge detachably secured to said housing and said arm member, thereby enabling said ultraviolet housing to be positioned to maintain upper and lower locations, whereby, a front portion of said housing has a pivot range up to twenty degrees above the horizontal plane and down to forty degrees below the horizontal plane, resulting in said constant torque hinge maintaining the position of said front part of said housing at any selected front position within the sixty-degree front position range, thereby promoting a distance of separation between said ultraviolet light lamp and the keypad within the range of three to seven inches for achieving maximum disinfection of the surface of the keypad in a minimum time period.

13. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 7 wherein said arm member includes a control board detachably secured to an inner wall of said back cover of said arm member, whereby, said control board is encased in said arm member and positioned adjacent to and electrically connected to colored lights behind a display lens secured to a back upper portion of said arm member, said colored lights being indicators of a status of an irradiation cycle for said ultraviolet light lamp.

14. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 13 wherein said colored lights include a first LED emitting a green light representing a power-on status for said device, a second LED emitting a purple light representing said UV lamp 38 is energized and irradiating, and a third LED emitting a red light representing said device has completed an irradiation cycle and is ready for another financial transaction, said third LED emitting a yellow light when said device experiences a fault condition.

15. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 14 wherein said second LED provides fading purple light pulses when said ultraviolet housing is left in a vertical position after an irradiation cycle is complete, said purple light pulsing and fading until said ultraviolet light lamp is rotated from a substantially vertical position and/or until a reset switch is electrically connected to said control board.

16. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 1 wherein the keypad receives ultraviolet light having substantially a 222 nm wave length.

17. An ultraviolet light germicidal irradiation device for an object comprising: a base member having a mounting plate for detachably securing said base member to a selected surface; an extension member detachably secured to said base member; an arm member rotationally secured to and substantially lineally aligned with said extension member, whereby, a top portion of said arm member is disposed in a position that promotes access to an object to be irradiated with ultraviolet light; an ultraviolet light housing pivotally secured to said top portion of said arm member, whereby, a front portion of said ultraviolet light housing has a preselected pivoting range; and an ultraviolet light lamp disposed inside said ultraviolet light housing, said ultraviolet light lamp emitting an ultraviolet light at a preselected wave length that destroys a preselected virus when said ultraviolet light housing is in a substantially vertical position, said ultraviolet light lamp automatically de-energized when said ultraviolet light housing is rotated from a vertical position, whereby, said de-energized lamp promotes access to the object to be irradiated with ultraviolet light, said ultraviolet light lamp being re-energized when said lamp is returned to a vertical position and a reset switch is pressed.

18. The ultraviolet light germicidal irradiation device of claim 17 wherein the de-energizing of said ultraviolet light lamp is controlled by a control board detachably secured in said arm member, said control board Including multiple gyros for de-energizing and re-energizing said lamp when said housing is respectively rotated from a vertical position and correspondingly rotated back to a vertical position.

19. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of claim 18 wherein said ultraviolet light housing is detachable secured to a top portion of said arm member via a constant torque hinge detachably secured to said housing and said arm member, thereby enabling said ultraviolet housing to be positioned to maintain upper and lower locations, whereby, a front portion of said housing has a pivot range up to twenty degrees above the horizontal plane and down to forty degrees below the horizontal plane, resulting in said constant torque hinge maintaining the position of said front part of said housing at any selected front position within the sixty-degree front position range, thereby promoting a distance of separation between said ultraviolet light lamp and the keypad within the range of three to seven inches for achieving maximum disinfection of the surface of the keypad in a minimum time period.

20. An ultraviolet light device for disinfecting an object comprising: a base member having securing members for detachably securing said base member to a selected surface; an extension member detachably and substantially perpendicularly secured to said base member; an arm member rotationally secured to said extension member, whereby, said arm member is displaced from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position; an ultraviolet light housing pivotally secured to said top portion of said arm member, whereby, a front portion of said ultraviolet light housing has a pivoting range from above a horizontal plane to below the horizontal plane; and an ultraviolet light lamp disposed inside said ultraviolet light housing, said ultraviolet light lamp emitting an ultraviolet light at a preselected wave length when initiated via an electronic control board and said ultraviolet light housing is in a substantially vertical position, said ultraviolet light lamp being de-energized via said electronic control board when said ultraviolet light housing is rotated from a vertical position, whereby, said de-energized lamp prevents exposure to ultraviolet light generated by said lamp, said ultraviolet light lamp being re-energized by said control board when said lamp is returned to a vertical position and a reset switch is pressed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The foregoing invention and its advantages may be readily appreciated from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an ultraviolet light (“UV”) germicidal irradiation device in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the UV device in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of rotatable portions of the extension and arm members depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2B is a front perspective view of the internal rotational components of FIG. 2A disposed in a rotated position.

[0025] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the control board depicted in FIG. 2 depicting electrical switches that sense the position of the arm member and energize or de-energize the UV lamp.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the UV device in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the UV device in FIG. 3.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the UV device in FIG. 3.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of the UV device in FIG. 3.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a left side elevation view of the UV device in FIG. 3.

[0031] FIG. 8 is the front perspective view of FIG. 3, but with a keypad device disposed proximate to and detached from a base portion of the device of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 9 is the front perspective view of FIG. 3, but with an ultraviolet light lamp housing disposed in a rotated position to the left side of the base member of the UV device.

[0033] FIG. 10 is the right side elevation view of the device of FIG. 6, but with the UV lamp housing disposed in a front position twenty degrees above horizontal.

[0034] FIG. 11 is the right side elevation view of the device of FIG. 6, but with the UV lamp housing disposed in a front position forty degrees below horizontal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0035] Referring to figures, an ultraviolet light (“UV) germicidal irradiation device in accordance with the present invention is denoted as numeral 10. The device 10 includes a base member 12 having a substantially perpendicular extension member 14 detachably secured to the base member 12; an arm member 16 rotationally secured to the extension member 14, whereby, a top portion 18 of the arm member 16 can be disposed outside the periphery of either side of an object to be decontaminated; and a UV housing 22 having a back portion 23 pivotally secured to the top portion 18 of the arm member 16, whereby, a front portion 24 of the UV housing 22 has a pivoting range from at least twenty degrees 25 (FIG. 10) above a horizontal plane 26 to at least forty degrees 27 (FIG. 11) below the horizontal plane 26. The extension member 14 and arm member 16 are substantially vertically aligned, whereby, the front portion 24 of the UV housing is disposed above an object to be irradiated with UV light. The UV housing 22 includes a configuration, when taking a top view of the device 10, having a longitudinal dimension relatively larger than a lateral dimension of the housing 22, thereby distally disposing a UV lamp 38 from the arm member 16 for promoting UV light emission upon the object to be decontaminated.

[0036] The base member 12 can be fabricated from plastic, metal or similar rigid materials and includes a recess 28 for receiving an object and in particular a keypad device 30 (FIG. 8) for decontamination, whereby, the keypad device 30 (not part of the present invention) is disposed beneath the UV housing 22 for receiving UV light that decontaminates and disinfects the keypad device 30 of anticipated contagious pathogens including the covid-19 virus. The base member 12 further includes a mounting plate 32 for detachably securing the UV germicidal irradiation device 10 to a counter top or similar surface for conducting financial transactions via a keypad device 30 or for engulfing packages with UV light before delivery to a predetermined destination. Although the base member 12 has been described as having a recess 28, which is the preferred configuration, the base can have a myriad of configurations and dimensions that can cooperate with the keypad device 30, whereby, the keypad device 30 is disposed beneath UV light for decontamination.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1-28, the UV housing 22 can be fabricated from plastic, metal or similar rigid materials and is formed from lower and upper hood portions 34 and 36. The UV housing 22 encloses a compression bracket 44 securing a UV lamp 38 below a reflector 40 and above a UV light filter 42 that covers an aperture 43 in a front portion 46 of the lower hood 34. The reflector 40 is a high reflective PTFE sheet of material manufactured by ThorLabs, item #PLMR10P1. The UV housing 22 further includes a ballast board 48 manufactured by Eden Park, model #EPI 10W Ballast V0.2a. The ballast board 48 is secured to a mid-portion of the lower hood portion 34. The ballast board 48 “steps-up” the voltage supplied by a typical 120 VAC power cord (not depicted) to a magnitude that results in the UV lamp 38 emitting a UV light having a wavelength between 201 and 222 nanometers (“nm”) after the emitted UV light is filtered via an Omega Optical, LLC filter (type MDM & Dielectric SP filter) 42.

[0038] An aperture 50 in a back portion 52 of the lower hood 34 removably receives a back upper portion 54 of the arm member 16 when the front portion 46 of UV housing 22 is disposed above (as much as twenty degrees) the horizontal plane 26 that intersects the top portion 18 of the arm member 16 (see FIG. 10). The upper hood portion 36 of the UV housing 22 includes an aperture 56 that removably receives a logo lens 58 illuminated and detachably secured to an inner surface of the upper hood 36 via a light emitting diode (“LED”) circuit board 60 detachably secured to an inner surface of the upper hood 36. The LED circuit board 60 includes first, second and third LEDs 91. The first LED manufactured by Vishay Lite-on having part number LTST-C191KGKT emits a green light viewable through the logo lens 58 and aperture 56 representing a power-on status for the device 10. The second LED manufactured by Lumex Opto/Components, Inc. having part number SSL-LX5093VC emits a purple light viewable through the logo lens 58 and aperture 56 representing that the UV lamp 38 is energized and irradiating. The third LED light manufactured by Kingbright having part number WP710A10ZGC/G emits a red light viewable through the logo lens 58 and aperture 56 representing that the device has completed an irradiation cycle and that the device is ready for another financial transaction. Alternatively, the third LED light emits a yellow light representing a “Fault” condition or that the device 10 is in a stow position and that the device 10 requires the attention of the user of the device 10 to correct the problem.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B, the extension member 14 can be fabricated from plastic, metal or similar rigid materials and includes front and back covers 62 and 64 detachably joined together, via fasteners well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, to encase a bracket plate 66 having a top protrusion portion 73 that extends through an aperture 59 in a spring retainer washer 67 and into a bottom portion of a spring 61 engaging and disposed between the spring retainer washer 67 and a cam member 68. The bracket plate 66 is captured inside the detachably joined front and back covers 62 and 64 via retaining trays 69 laterally and integrally joined to inner walls 71 of the back covers 62 and 64.

[0040] The cam member 68 includes a spring retainer portion 75 that extends into a top center portion of the spring 61 a distance that promotes engagement of a bottom portion of the cam member 68 with a top portion of the spring 61. The bottom of the cam member 68 and spring retainer portion 75 cooperate with the top protrusion portion 73 of the bracket plate 66 and the spring retainer washer 67 to capture and slightly compress the spring 61, thereby maintaining the spring 61 in a slightly biased condition, thereby removing any dead band from the spring 61 when compressed via rotation of the cam plate 74. When the arm member 16 is vertically disposed, a distance that captures the extension portion 75 but does not compress the spring 61. When the arm member 16 is rotated ultimately ninety degrees relative to the extension member 14, (see FIG. 9), the extension portion 75 and the bottom of the cam member 68 cooperate to compress the spring extends into the spring 61 and through an aperture 59 in the spring retainer 67 until ultimately a bottom wall 57 of the extension portion 75 engages a top wall 77 of the bracket plate 66.

[0041] A first retaining pin 79 inserts through the cam member 68 via an aperture 49 and into a receiving recess 85 in the back cover 64, thereby substantially maintaining the position of the cam member 68 relative to the lower portion 76 of the cam plate 74 as the cam plate 74 is rotated from vertical to rotated positions and back to a vertical position. Further, the first retaining pin 79 inserts into a receiving recess (not depicted) in the front cover 62 when the front and back covers are detachably joined, thereby maintaining the axis of the pin 79 in a substantially horizontal position, irrespective of the force generated upon the pin 79 by the rotational motion of the lower portion 76 upon the tip portion 81. The first retaining pin 79 and the spring 61 cooperate to substantially maintain the position of the cam member 68 throughout the rotational movement of the lower portion 76 with the exception of a relatively slight angular position determined by the axial location of the first retaining pin 79 and axial location of a second retaining pin 83 engaging a corresponding bottom portion of the cam member 68. The second retaining pin 83 is inserted into and maintained in a receiving recess 85 in the back cover 64. The second retaining pin 83 stops the rotation of the cam member 68 via the first retaining pin 79, thereby limiting the rotational movement of the lower portion 76 of the cam plate 74 upon the tip portion 81 of the cam member 68, resulting in the positioning of the arm member 16 at substantially ninety degrees relative to the extension member 14 (see FIGS. 1 and 9).

[0042] The arm member 16 includes front and back covers 70 and 72 having respective lower end portions 87 and 89 rotationally and detachably secured to respective upper end portions 63 and 65 of front and back covers 62 and 64 of the extension member 14. The Joined front and back covers 70 and 72 of the arm member 16 encase a cam plate 74 having a lower portion configured to cooperatively engage the cam member 68 of the bracket plate assembly 66 with the spring 61 not compressed between the spring retainer 67 and cam member 68. When the arm member 16 is forcibly rotated to a de-energized position (substantially ninety degrees relative to the extension member 14) via a first bushing 51 rotatably inserted into a first bushing retainer (not depicted) in the front cover 62 and a second bushing 53 inserted in a second bushing retainer 55 in the back cover 64. The configuration of the lower portion 76 of the cam plate 74 urges the cam member 68 downward, thereby compressing the spring 61 and maintaining the rotated position of the arm member 16 via a relatively “pointed” protrusion portion 78 on the lower portion 76 engaging a “tip” portion 81 of the cam member 68. When the rotated arm member 16 is to be returned to an energized or vertical position, the compressed spring 61 imparts a force that assists the user when manually rotating the arm member 16 to substantially vertical position to disinfect a keypad device 30.

[0043] Although FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B depict the configuration of the lower portion 76 of the cam plate 74 with only the left side of the cam plate 74 promoting rotation of the arm member 16, the bracket plate 66 and cam plate 74 can be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees, whereby, the lower and protrusion portions 76 and 78 of the cam plate 74 are disposed to promote rotation of the arm member 16 on the right side of the extension member 14. The vertical/longitudinal dimensions of the extension member 14 and arm member 16 cooperate, whereby, the UV housing 22 is disposed above the keypad device 30 a preselected distance and the top portion 18 of the arm member 16 is disposed outside the periphery of either side 31 of the keypad device 30 when the arm member 16 is rotated substantially ninety-degrees from a vertical position.

[0044] The ninety-degree rotation of the UV housing 22 from a position above a keypad device 30 to a maintained position outside the periphery of the base member 12 allows relatively easy access to the keyboard device 30 by a person initiating a financial transaction by inserting a debit or credit card into the keyboard device 30. Further, after rotating the UV housing 22, the entire surface of the keypad device 30 is viewable by a user of the keypad device 30, and the UV lamp 38 is automatically de-energized by an electrical limit switch (not depicted but well known to those of ordinary skill in the art) in the electrical circuit supplying 120 V.A.C. power to the ballast board 48. The UV housing 22 is manually urged from the rotated position at a selected side of the keypad device 30 to a position directly above the keypad device 30, whereupon, the UV lamp 38 is enabled to be re-energized via an electrical gyro switch 94 in series with a reset pushbutton switch 92, thereby minimizing “down time” for the keypad device 30 and increasing the number of financial transactions in a given time period. The de-energizing of the UV lamp 38 enables a user to insert credit/debit card into the keypad device 30 without exposure to UV light generated by the UV lap 38, resulting in a user of the keypad device 30 not being concerned about possible harmful effects from an energized UV lamp 38, irrespective of the UV lamp 38 generating UV light at 222 nm, which is not harmful to humans or test animals.

[0045] A constant torque hinge 82 manufactured by Southco External Hinges having part #E6-10-430-50 includes a lower vertical portion 84 detachably secured inside a top portion 18 of the arm member 16, and further includes an upper horizontal portion 86 detachably secured to the lower hood 34 of the UV housing 22 adjacent to the aperture 50. The constant torque hinge 82 and aperture 50 enable the UV housing 22 to be manually positioned to maintained upper and lower locations, whereby, the front portion 46 of the UV housing 22 is pivoted up to twenty degrees above the horizontal plane 26 and pivoted down to forty degrees below the horizontal plane 26, resulting in the constant torque hinge 82 maintaining the position of the UV housing 22 at any front position within the sixty-degree front position range. The front position range of the UV housing 22 promotes a distance of separation between the UV lamp 38 and the keypad device 30 within the range of three to seven inches, thereby achieving maximum disinfection of the surface of the keypad device 30 in a minimum time period.

[0046] Referring FIGS. 2 and 2C, a control board 88 or control member having components and functions well known to those of ordinary skill in the art is detachably secured to an inner wall of the back cover 72 of the arm member 16, whereby, the control board 88 is encased in the arm member 16 and positioned adjacent to and electrically connected to the UV lamp 38 and the colored lights 91 on the LED circuit board 60 behind the display lens 90 and secured to the back upper portion 54 of the arm member 16. The control board 88 electrically energizes and de-energizes the ultraviolet light lamp when the arm member 16 and/or housing 22 are rotated a predetermined distance. The control board 88 includes two redundant electrical switches 94 that sense the vertical and rotated positions of the arm member 16 and are electrically connected to a myriad of electronic components on the control board 88 that cooperate to de-energize and re-energize the UV lamp 38 when the arm member 16 and/or lamp housing 22 is rotated from a vertical position and correspondingly rotated back to a vertical position. The switches 94 are manufactured by ITT C&K and identified via part number R8231X2.

[0047] If the UV housing 22 is left in a vertical position after the irradiation cycle is complete, the purple light pulses and fades until the UV lamp housing 22 is rotated to a side position relative to the keypad device 30, and/or until a cycle reset switch 92 (see FIG. 5) electrically connected to the control board 88 is pressed. The colored lights provide an estimate as to the remaining irradiation time, thereby avoiding the user from losing focus on the UV device 10. The pulsating purple light informs the user of the keypad device 30 that the UV lamp 38 is energized and irradiating. After the purple light de-energizes and the decontamination process for the keypad device 30 after the purchaser has removed their credit/debit card, another user can Immediately insert their credit/debit card into the keypad device 30, thereby reducing the time that a purchaser delays using the device 10 for another financial transaction, resulting in more financial transactions in a respective time period.

[0048] The UV housing 22 includes the cycle reset switch 92 manufactured by E-Switch (part number TL1105KF160Q) for restating a cycle duration time, an on-off rocker power switch 93 manufactured by E-Switch (part number RA131C1121) (FIG. 5), and a three-position cycle duration switch 96 manufactured by ITTC&K (part number S52328GSNSSW1) (FIG. 5) for selecting one of three cycle duration times for the UV lamp 38 to emit UV light for irradiating the keypad device 30. The switches 92, 93 and 96 are all well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. When the UV housing 22 is vertically adjusted within the three to seven-inch front position range, the cycle duration time for the UV lamp 38 can be correspondingly adjusted from a minimum exposure time for three inches of separation to a maximum exposure time for seven inches of separation.

[0049] The UV lamp 38 can be selected from a myriad of light manufacturers, however, for purposes of the present invention, a UV lamp 38 is required that reduces and/or eliminates microbial viruses and pathogens to levels not harmful to humans. Further, the selected UV light member should not be harmful to human skin and eyes. A preferred UV lamp 38 that decontaminates without injuring persons exposed to the UV lamp 38 is a “Far UVC light” having a krypton-chlorine Excimer Lamp that emits monoenergetic UV light at substantially a wavelength of 222 nanometers (“nm”). The preferred UV lamp 38 effectively inactivates a contagious virus but is not cytotoxic or mutagenic to mammalian cells. The preferred UV light member 12 is manufactured by Eden Park and is depicted on the company's website at: https://edenpark.com. The preferred UV lamp 38 decontaminates surfaces engaged by humans, previously engaged by humans or within a predetermined space occupied by humans, whereby, a person or persons exposed to the ultra violet light is not harmed.

[0050] The UV Excimer Lamp with a UV wavelength of 222 nanometers includes power ratings of twelve, twenty and three hundred watts. The power rating is determined based upon the distance between the UV lamp 38 and the surface to be decontaminated, the surface area and the time allowed for the surface area to be decontaminated. The preferred use of the present invention is to decontaminate the cover and keys of a credit/debit card keypad 30 terminal on a constant basis ensuring that before, during and after each use the buttons and panel are decontaminated. As an alternative, the UV lamp 38 can be de-energized when a person engages the keypad 30 terminal via a laser break beam sensor (not depicted, but well known to those of ordinary skill in the art), and re-energized after the person's hand disengages the keypad and is removed from the laser beam of the laser break beam sensor, thereby ensuring that the UV light does not engage the person's hand and disinfecting the keypad prior to the next use. The preferred power rating of the UV lamp 38 for decontaminating the keypad 30 is twelve watts with a twelve-volt input to the ballast board 48.

[0051] A UV lamp 38 must ultimately be selected to irradiate and destroy a virus of concern. Estimated dosages for destroying Coronavirus' range from 7 mJ/cm2-241 mJ/cm2. UV dosage is calculated by: (dosage=UV light intensity (lamp power and UV frequency)×time) or mJ/(sec)(cm2)×time=mJ/cm2.

[0052] The UV germicidal irradiation device 10 of the present invention is can be programmed to have a time value setting (lamp on) based on the distance from the surface to be irradiated (light intensity). The greater the distance between the UV lamp 38 and the surface to be irradiated, the less intense the UV light engulfing the surface.

[0053] At 100 cm, the Eden Park UV lamp 38 provides UV light having 5 mj/com2 of UV fluency.

[0054] Examples of dosages for time periods follow: [0055] 1. 15 seconds, provides dosage of:

[0056] 75 mj/cm2 total dosage @ 100 mm (4″) [0057] 2. 30 seconds, provides dosage of: [0058] a. 150 mj/cm2 total dosage @100 mm (4″) [0059] b. 90 mj/cm2 total dosage @125 mm (5″) [0060] c. 66 mj/cm2 total dosage @150 mm (6″) [0061] 3. 60 seconds, provides dosage of: [0062] a. 250 mj/cm2 total dosage @100 mm (4″) [0063] b. 70 mj/cm2 total dosage @ 175 mm (7′)

[0064] The foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.