BY MEANS OF UV RADIATION

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/194,245, filed on 28 May 2021 the content of the entirety of which is explicitly incorporated herein by reference and relied upon to define features for which protection may be sought hereby as it is believed that the entirety thereof contributes to solving the technical problem underlying the invention, some features that may be mentioned hereunder being of particular importance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disinfection is a hygiene measure that serves to kill or inactivate pathogens such as bacteria and vi ruses and thereby significantly reduces their number on or in an object or on a biological surface. The aim is to achieve a state in which infection is no longer likely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and apparatus is provided which comprises at least one UV radiation source 102, the system being suitable for installation and/ or placement in a washing machine or dryer drum 104 or on the inside of the door 106 of a washing machine or dryer, the system, when activated, radiat ing UV radiation by means of the UV radiation source 102 towards objects 110 placed inside the drum 104 in order to inactivate and/ or remove bacteria and/ or viruses from these objects 110.

An apparatus is provided which comprises at least one UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b, installed and/ or placed in a drum 104 or on the inside of the door 106 of a washing machine or dryer, the system, when activated, radiating UV radiation by means of the UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b towards objects 110 placed inside the drum 104, 104' in order to inactivate and/ or re move bacteria and/or viruses from these objects 110.

It is further provided a UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b for installation and/ or place ment in a washing machine or dryer drum 104 or on the inside of the door 106 of a washing ma chine or dryer, the UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b, when activated, radiating UV radiation by means of the UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b towards objects 110 placed inside the drum 104, 104' in order to inactivate and/ or remove bacteria and/ or viruses from these objects 110. It is further provided a retrofit kit for a washing machine or dryer, the retrofit kit comprising a UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b for installation and/or placement in a drum 104 or on the in side of the door 106 of the washing machine or dryer, the UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b, when activated, radiating UV radiation by means of the UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b to- wards objects 110 placed inside the drum 104, 104' in order to inactivate and/or remove bacteria and/or viruses from these objects 110.

According to another aspect, it is disclosed the use of a UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b for installation and/ or placement in a washing machine or dryer drum 104 or on the inside of the door 106 of a washing machine or dryer, the UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b, when activated, radiating UV radiation by means of the UV radiation source 102, 102a, 102b towards objects 110 placed inside the drum 104, 104' in order to inactivate and/ or remove bacteria and/ or viruses from these objects 110.

The invention provides a solution for inactivating and/ or removing bacteria and/ or viruses from objects such as garments. The invention can typically be used in combination with washing machines or tumble dryers.

The system can be installed in washing machines and/ or dryers, or can be installed in them as a retrofit kit and, when in operation, inactivates and/ or removes bacteria and/ or viruses from ob jects such as garments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The atached drawings represent, byway of example, different embodiments of the subject of the invention. The figures of the present application disclose features of particular embodiments of the present invention. The figures of the present application disclose features of particular em bodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a washing machine drum or a dryer drum in which exem plary embodiments of the invention are installed.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a washer or dryer and associated drum and door, wherein exemplary embodiments of the invention are installed on the door and on the bottom/ rear of the drum. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the inside of a washer or dryer drum in which UV radia tion sources are installed in the drum and in which a substantially flat surface, such as a board or ta ble, is removably installed in the drum, the flat surface providing the ability to place items on that surface so that they can be exposed to UV radiation emitted by the UV radiation sources.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a washing machine drum or a dryer drum in which exem plary embodiments of the invention are installed.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of exemplary embodiments of discrete UV radiation source units, wherein such UV radiation source units are adapted to be added to the laundry and typically remain in the laundry during a wash cycle and emit UV radiation during at least certain time intervals during the wash cycle, such UV radiation sources operating as a stand-alone device.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the Figures are illustrated for simplic ity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, dimensions may be exag gerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the invention and its embodiments. Furthermore, when the terms ‘first’, ‘second’, and the like are used herein, their use is intended for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. Moreover, relative terms like ‘front’, ‘back’, ‘top’ and ‘bottom’, and the like in the Description and/ or in the claims are not necessarily used for describing exclusive relative po sition. Those skilled in the art will therefore understand that such terms may be interchangeable with other terms, and that the embodiments described herein are capable of operating in other orienta tions than those explicitly illustrated or otherwise described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way as it is exemplary in nature, serving to describe the best mode of the invention known to the inventors as of the filing date hereof. Consequently, changes may be made in the arrangement and/ or function of any of the elements described in the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The system according to this invention provides washing machines and dryers equipped with UV lamps 102 as well as retrofit kits to equip washing machines and dryers with UV lamps 102 ac cording to the present invention.

During the washing process, or alternatively not during the washing process, the UV lamps 102 would be switched on automatically by means of a computer program or manually by interac tion through a user. Thereby, bacteria, viruses and the like on and/or in the laundry 110 are largely killed. Washing machines and tumble dryers are equipped with UV lamps 102.

During the washing process, but also in a separate program if necessary, the UV lamps 102 would be switched on automatically. Bacteria and viruses etc. are killed as far as possible.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic view of a washing machine drum 104 or a dryer drum 104, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are installed. The drum 104 of a washing machine or dryer has an inside back wall 105. The drum 104 is provided with standard laundry carri ers 103 without UV light. UV light lamps 102 are placed within the drum 104 of a washing machine or dryer between standard laundry carriers 103 as a permanently installed version or as a retrofit kit, i.e. by screw connection, by gluing, by a strong magnet, or as a loose lightball 102a which is put in the laundry (or more than one UV light ball if applicable). The UV light lamps 102 can also be put loosely in the laundry. For example, the loose UV lamps can be loose UV light balls 102a or UV light tubes 102b.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic view of a washing machine or a dryer and the associated drum 104 and door 106, wherein embodiments of the invention are exemplarily installed on the door 106 and on the bottom/back of the drum 104, 104'. The drum 104 of the washing machine or dryer is provided with UV light lamps 102, for example at the inside back wall 104’ or door 106. The UV light lamps 102 can either be installed permanently or they can be retrofitted as a UV-light- installation kit. The UV lamps 102 emit UV light. The UV light (emanating from the inside of the door and the inside of the back of the drum) can optionally be enhanced by mirrors.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view to the inside of a washing machine drum 104 or a dryer drum 104, in which UV radiation sources 102 are installed in the drum 104 and wherein a substantially flat surface 302' such as a board or table is removably installed inside the drum 104, the flat surface 302' providing the possibility to place objects 110 on that surface 302 allowing them to be exposed to the UV radiation radiated by the UV radiation sources 102. Different shapes are cho sen here. The idea here is to place different types of household objects 110 on a type of flat surface 302 (the flat surface 302 may be made out of metal, plastic etc.) and to make them free of bacteria or viruses. These different shapes 110 as show in FIG. 3 illustrate these (household) objects 110.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a schematic view of a washing machine drum 104 or a dryer drum 104, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are installed. The drum 104 of a washing machine or dryer comprises a back wall 104' inside the drum. The drum 104 is provided with laun dry carrier 304 with UV light lamps 102 at the laundry carriers that emit UV light/radiation. For ex ample, a laundry carrier 304a with UV light is a permanently installed version. Power supply may be without battery. A laundry carrier 304b with UV light may either be permanently installed or remov ably (e.g. removable installation) for changing the batteries. Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic view of exemplary shapes of discrete UV radiation source 102 units, such UV radiation source units 102 (UV lights) suitable to be added to the laundry 110 typically to remain with the laundry 110 during a washing procedure and to emit UV radiation, at least during certain time interval(s), during said washing procedure, such UV radiation sources 102 operating as a stand-alone device 102a, 102b. These stand-alone devices 102a, 102b are sourced with energy by, for example, batteries located inside the device, or a dynamo, generating the required en ergy to emit UV radiation thanks to the device's movement during a washing procedure. The UV radiation sources 102, 102a, 102b which are shown as pointed units, especially triangles, are only draw as examples. If the units were realized in this way and used in the washing process, they could damage clothing 110 due to their shape (edges and tips). Loose UV units 102a, 102b (also called UV lights) should therefore be more rounded (typically flat, a kind of disk, spherical, or cylindrical). Vul nerable edges should be strongly rounded, which may be a specific embodiment. The UV radiation source units 102 can be put into the laundry (directly into the drum). The UV radiation source units 102 can be switched on. They may optionally switch on time-delayed after activation and may switch off after i.e. 15 minutes. The UV radiation source units 102 may switch on automatically due to the centrifugal force. The UV radiation source units 102 may for example switch on automatically due to centrifugal force, i.e. they are switched on for example for 20 minutes and then switched off again automatically. The UV radiation source units 102 may also be switched on by motion contact or, re spectively, shaking movement.

Preferably, the design is not angular, so as not to damage the laundry 110 or fibers during operation (including during the spinning process, etc.).

ADVANTAGES OVER KNOWN PRIOR ART:

The system and method according to the present invention allows to disinfect laundry 110 without the need of further additives such as germicide, disinfectant, detergent or washing agent.

Not every piece of laundry 110 may be washed at a high temperature, for example above 85°C, which would be required to inactivate or partially inactivate viruses or bacteria. Further, the usual additives to disinfect laundry 110 (such as baby clothes and underwear) strongly pollute the environ ment.

UV radiation can be used not only for example to disinfect underwear 110, but also to specifically disactivate for example Corona viruses.

When using the UV radiation system according to the present invention, also bacteria or vi ruses in drain water of the washing machine could be disactivated or partially disactivated through application of the UV radiation on the drain water. Thus, this leads to a reduction of pollution of the environment and the sewage water.

When using the UV radiation system according to the present invention, germs in the eco- cycle are reduced.

ADVANTAGE OVER KNOWN STATE OF THE ART:

No additives and unnecessary costs to disinfect laundry 110. Not every piece of laundry 110 may be washed too hot. The usual additives to disinfect laundry 110 (such as baby clothes and underwear) are very harmful to the environment. UV irradiation is not only useful for underwear, but also effec tive against Corona viruses.

In addition, the dirty water in the washing machine would automatically be free of bacteria and viruses. Thus, less load of the environment and the purification plants.

Fewer pathogens in the entire eco-cycle.

FURTHER POSSIBILITIES OF USE:

By inserting a sheet 302', sheet metal grid 302' or other structure, which can be transparent, semi transparent or non-transparent, into the washing machine or dryer drum 104, a substantially flat sur face 302, a kind of table, is created. This substantially flat surface 302 serves not only to place laun dry 110 on it, but also to place any kind of items/ objects 110 for the purpose to disinfect with UV radiation according to the present invention.

The rotation of the washing machine drum 104 or the dryer drum 104 is not activated during this kind of use, only the UV radiation is activated. The above substantially flat surface 302 is in serted into the drum 104 and the items/objects 110 to be disinfected are placed on it. The UV radia tion is typically activated for about 10 minutes.

OTHER POSSIBLE USES:

By inserting a "sheet" 302' into the washing machine or dryer drum 104, a flat surface 302 is created, a kind of table 302', which can additionally be used for disinfection of any object 110 to be disinfected.

The rotation of the washing machine or dryer is not activated in this use, only the UV irradi ation. The "tray" is inserted and all objects 110 to be disinfected are placed on it. The UV irradiation is activated and after approx. 10 minutes all objects are disinfected.

POSSIBILITY TO RETROFIT WASHING MACHINES AND DRYERS: In every washing machine or dryer, there are so-called laundry carriers 304 on the drum 104. These laundry carriers 304 could be replaced by transparent carriers in which a UV lamp 102 is in stalled, or even supplementary carriers in which a UV lamp is installed may be installed.

There is also the possibility of retrofitting the UV lamps on the inside of the door 106.

RETROFIT OPTION OF NORMAL WASHING MACHINES AND DRYERS:

In every washing machine or dryer, there are so-called laundry carriers 304 (Waschemit- nehmer) on the drum 104. If necessary, these can be replaced by transparent carriers in which a UV lamp 102 has been installed or supplemented by others.

There are also other possibilities, e.g. on the inside of the door 106, for retrofitting a lamp

102.

COLOR LOSS DUE TO UV RADIATION:

Any Color loss due to UV radiation of the laundry will be minimal, as we assume a radiation time of about 10 minutes.

White laundry would become lighter in the reverse case, i.e., when the UV radiation is ap plied for a certain time, preferably for more than 10 minutes.

Any color loss due to UV irradiation of garments will be minimal, as we assume an irradia tion time of approximately 10 minutes.

White laundry would become lighter in color in the reverse case.

DEDICATED DETERGENT, FABRIC SOFTENERS, POST-PURGE AGENTS, PRE-PURGE

AGENTS RESPECTIVELY:

In addition, a special detergent can be produced to counteract any fading caused by UV radi ation. UV radiation can also increase the cleaning power of the detergent (e.g. oxygen release). Like wise, fabric softeners, post-purge agents, or pre -purge agents can have these properties as well.

By adding such detergents, fabric softeners, pre-purge, ad/ or post-purge to the washing pro cedure, the laundry or fibers are protected from the negative effects of UV light. If UV light should stress the fibers, one could counteract with the addition of detergent, fabric softener, pre- purge agents and/ or post-purge agents. The effect of detergent, fabric softener, pre -purge agents and/ or post-purge agents can extend over the duration of the washing procedure so that, for example, when garments washed in this way are worn, they are also protected from the negative effects of sunlight.

SPECIAL DETERGENTS, FABRIC SOFTENERS, RINSE AIDS, OR PRE-RINSE AGENTS: In addition, a special detergent can be made to counteract possible fading caused by UV ra diation. UV radiation can also increase the cleaning power of the detergent (e.g. oxygen release). Likewise, fabric softeners, rinse aids, or pre -rinse agents can have these properties.

By adding such detergents, fabric softeners, rinse aids, and/ or pre-rinse aids, the laundry or fibers are protected from the negative effects of UV light. If UV light should stress the fibers, one could counteract with the addition of detergent, fabric softener, rinse aid and/or pre-rinse aid. The effect of detergent, fabric softener, rinse aids and/or pre -rinse agent can extend over the duration of the washing process so that, for example, when garments washed in this way are worn, they are also protected from the negative effects of sunlight.

CUSTOMARY DISINFECTANTS FOR THE LAUNDRY:

Such disinfectant mainly consists of alcohols, etc., which can damage the fibers in the long term.

COMMON DISINFECTANTS FOR THE LAUNDRY:

These disinfectants mainly consist of alcohols, etc., which can damage the fibers in the long run.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING FEATURES:

— Amplification of the UV radiation or also better distribution of the UV light/radiation if necessary by mirrors or reflection (polished sheet metal etc.).

— Also the mobile as well as the static UV lamps 102 can switch on automatically if necessary by vibration or by centrifugal force.

— In the case of the insertion plate 302', of course, the drum 104 does NOT rotate.

— The UV-lights 102 which may be attached to the drum 104 or to the rear wall BUT espe cially also the UV-lights 102 as twill (Koper) (e.g. in the form of a ball etc.) which are put di rectly into the washing machine may charge themselves (e.g. by kinetic energy).

— A battery which is, e.g., in a UV-ball 102, generates current by the movement and gives this current to its accumulator or directly as UV-light 102.

— The same is true for all UV-lights 102 that are attached to moving parts (e.g., laundry carriers 304, etc.).

— The glass or metal as a reflection of the UV radiation can also be a coated sticker that has the reflective property. — The advantage of UV irradiation is also that odors etc. are removed. Wool etc., or garments that are not allowed to be washed often or sometimes not at all in the washing machine, can be freed from odors with the UV light. In this case, you would put the dryer on cold air and activate the UV radiation or put the ball 102 etc. in the drums 104.

It should be appreciated hat the particular implementations shown and herein described are rep resentative of the invention and its best mode and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

It should be appreciated that many applications of the present invention may be formulated.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the network may include any system for exchanging data, such as, for example, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, WAN, LAN, wireless network, satellite communications, and/ or the like. It is noted that the network may be implemented as other types of networks, such as an interactive television network. The users may interact with the system via any input device such as a keyboard, mouse, personal digital assistant, handheld computer, cellular phone and/ or the like. Moreover, the system contemplates the use, sale and/ or distribution of any goods, services or information having similar functionality described herein.

The computing units mentioned herein may be connected with each other via a data communi cation network. The network may be a public network and assumed to be insecure and open to eavesdroppers, or may also be secure. In one exemplary implementation, the network may be em bodied as the Internet. In this context, the computers may or may not be connected to the Internet at all times.

As will be appreciated by skilled artisans, the present invention may be embodied as a system, a device, or a method.

The present invention is described herein with reference to block diagrams, devices, compo nents, and modules, according to various aspects of the invention. It will be understood that each functional block of the blocks diagrams, and combinations of functional blocks in the block dia grams, can be implemented by computer program instructions which may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programma ble data processing apparatus enable the functionality specified in the block diagrams.

Accordingly, the block diagram illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, and program in struction means for performing the specified functions. Each functional block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams, may be im plemented by either special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or suitable combinations thereof.

Moreover, the system contemplates the use, sale and/ or distribution of any goods, services or information having similar functionality described herein.

The specification and figures should be considered in an illustrative manner, rather than a re strictive one and all modifications described herein are intended to be included within the scope of the invention claimed. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the ap pended claims (as they currently exist or as later amended or added, and their legal equivalents) ra ther than by merely the examples described above. Steps recited in any method or process claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in any claim. Further, the elements and/or components recited in apparatus claims may be assembled or otherwise functionally configured in a variety of permutations to produce sub stantially the same result as the present invention. Consequently, the invention should not be inter preted as being limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.

Benefits, other advantages and solutions mentioned herein are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.

As used herein, the terms "comprises", "comprising", or variations thereof, are intended to refer to a non-exclusive listing of elements, such that any apparatus, process, method, article, or composi tion of the invention that comprises a list of elements, that does not include only those elements re cited, but may also include other elements such as those described in the instant specification.

Unless otherwise explicitly stated, the use of the term "consisting" or "consisting of' or "consisting essentially of' is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the enumerated elements named thereafter, unless otherwise indicated. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-de scribed elements, materials or structures used in the practice of the present invention may be varied or adapted by the skilled artisan to other designs without departing from the general principles of the invention.

The patents and articles mentioned above are hereby incorporated by reference herein, un less otherwise noted, to the extent that the same are not inconsistent with this disclosure.

Other characteristics and modes of execution of the invention are described in the appended claims. Further, the invention should be considered as comprising all possible combinations of every feature described in the instant specification, appended claims, and/ or drawing figures which may be considered new, inventive and industrially applicable.

Additional features and functionality of the invention are described in the claims appended hereto and/ or in the abstract. Such claims and/ or abstract are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto in this specification and should be considered as part of the application as filed.

Multiple variations and modifications are possible in the embodiments of the invention de scribed here. Although certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and de scribed here, a wide range of changes, modifications, and substitutions is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. While the above description contains many specific details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather exemplify one or another pre ferred embodiment thereof. In some instances, some features of the present invention may be em ployed without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the foregoing description be construed broadly and understood as being illustrative only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the claims which ultimately issue in this application.

List or References Fig. l

Drum of washing machine or dryer 102 UV light lamps which are placed between standard laundry carriers. As a permanently in stalled version or as a retrofit kit, i.e. by screw connection, by gluing, by a strong magnet, or as a loose lightball which is put in the laundry (or more than one UV light ball if applicable)

102a UV light ball 102b UV light tube 103 standard laundry carriers without UV light

104 drum of washing machine or dryer

104’ inside back wall of drum

Fig. 2

Drum of washing machine or dryer with “UV lamps”, for example at the inside back wall or door. As permanently installed version or as retrofitted UV light installation kit.

100 Washing machine or dryer

102 UV light lamp (at the inside back wall, respectively at the door)

104 drum

104’ inside back wall of drum

106 door

UV radiation inside of drum

Optional UV light enhancement through mirrors Fig. 3

Washing machine and dryer; UV light removing/inactivation of bacteria and viruses etc. for various objects

102, 304 UV light at the laundry carrier 102 UV light at the inside back wall of the drum

104 drum

104 inside back wall of drum

110 objects to be exposed to UV radiation (i.e. laundry)

302, 302’ insertion board/ sheet of metal

Fig. 4

Drum of washing machine or dryer with “UV lamps” at the laundry carriers

102 UV light lamp

104 drum of washing machine or dryer

104’ back wall inside the drum

304 laundry carrier with UV light

304a laundry carrier with UV light, for example as permanently installed version; power supply without battery; UV light / radiation.

304b laundry carrier with UV light, either permanently installed or removably (e.g. removable in stallation) for changing the batteries

UV UV radiation

Fig. 5 Loose UV light objects for washing machine and dryer 102, 102a, 102b UV light lamps examples