Patent Issued for Hazard-Free Disinfectng Vanity Mirrors (USPTO 10,039,853)
By a
Patent number 10,039,853 is assigned to
The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: "This invention generally relates to vanity mirrors and, more specifically, to hazard-free vanity mirrors that disinfect and purify air by exposing pathogens to a source of ultraviolet (UV) light within the range of 200-280 nm for use in medical and other facilities.
"Health care-acquired infections (HAIs) in hospitals, assisted living facilities, etc., are serious health problems. It has been estimated that HAIs cause or contribute in excess of 99,000 deaths annually in
"One of the hurdles to success are multi drug resistant organisms (MDRO) that are resistance to standard disinfection products and practices. This has opened the door for new technologies such as UV-C (UV).
"Each year over one million patients contract diseases unrelated to their initial stay at a hospital. Approximately 100,000 Americans die each year for this reason. The cost, both emotionally and financially is staggering and difficult to calculate.
"The greatest concentration of pathogens within a hospital room occurs at the surface in the area surrounding the sink in the bathroom. Specifically, the faucet and the handles and the surface between these controls, and the back splash behind the sink, including the wall surface just above the sink is the most infected area in the typical hospital room.
"Various UV devices have been proposed to reduce infectious pathogens. For example, bathrooms in airplanes have started to use UV LED strips to reduce pathogens while in flight. Other facilities are being outfitted with various devices to expose pathogens to UV light sources. However, UV light sources have generally been independent or stand alone devices that are specifically designed for intermittent applications."
In addition to the background information obtained for this patent, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventor's summary information for this patent: "In order to address the above and other problems associated with sanitizing or sterilizing airborne pathogens it is an object of the invention to provide a disinfecting vanity mirror that serves the additional function of exposing airborne pathogens and those on surfaces such as countertops to ultraviolet (UV) light to destroy or neutralize such pathogens and makes them ineffective or less effective.
"It is another object of the invention to provide a disinfecting vanity mirror as in the previous object that meets infection control requirements and is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.
"It is still another object of the invention to provide a disinfecting vanity mirror as in the previous objects that is simple and convenient to install above sinks, countertops and other areas in medical and other facilities that require surface and air purification and disinfection.
"It is yet another object of the invention to provide disinfecting vanity mirror of the type under discussion that promotes and accelerates the flow of air to be sanitized or sterilized by heating the air and causing it to rise by convention past a UV source of light.
"It is an additional object to the invention to provide a disinfecting vanity mirror that incorporates a UV-C source of light that is safe to occupants, effective, non-obtrusive and aesthetically pleasing and provides continuous and reliable anti-bacterial sanitizing action both by being in proximity to a countertop and by re-cycling air to insure enhanced exposure of the bacteria to UV radiation.
"It is still an additional object of the invention to provide a method of sanitizing or disinfecting airborne bacteria and surfaces by incorporating a UV source of light along a bottom edge of a vanity mirror above a sink and/or countertop (e.g. 10'' above the surface) or in other areas that require sanitizing or disinfecting and heating the air as it rises through a plenum space behind the mirror to be exposed to the UV light source.
"To achieve the above objects and others that will become evident hereinafter, a disinfecting vanity mirror in accordance with the invention comprises a mirror panel having a top end and a bottom end when mounted on a wall. Mounting means is provided for mounting the mirror panel on a vertical surface above a counter top, sink etc. in spaced relation from the vertical surface to create a plenum space between the mirror panel and the vertical surface that is open at the top and bottom ends to provide a 'chimney-like' substantially vertical air passageway or column through the plenum space for rising air entering through the bottom end and existing through top end. A source of UV light is provided to expose the rising air to UV light, such as substantially along at least a portion of the bottom end to promote convection by locally heating air at the proximate said bottom end, whereby the UV light sanitizes air moving upwardly through the plenum space where it is exposed to the UV light. However, the UV light source can be arranged on the back of the mirror, on the wall facing the mirror or anywhere in the proximity of the plenum space.
"A method in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of disinfecting or sterilizing countertop surfaces and air of medical and assisted living facilities, workspaces and other enclosures having vanity mirrors with a predetermined spacing from a wall to create a plenum space behind the mirror; providing UV light to expose air within the plenum space, such as along the lower end of the mirror to heat the air and cause it to rise through said plenum space to expose pathogens in the air to the UV-C light in the range of 100-280 nm. The air at the lower end of the plenum space may advantageously be heated by an auxiliary heating element to promote and accelerate movement of air through the plenum space to recycle the air and enhance air purification and elimination of pathogens."
The claims supplied by the inventors are:
"The invention claimed is:
"1. Disinfecting vanity mirror comprising a mirror panel having a top end, a bottom end and lateral edges when mounted on a wall; mounting means for mounting said mirror panel along one lateral edge on the wall in spaced relation to the wall to create a plenum space between said mirror panel and the wall that is open at said top and bottom ends to provide a substantially vertical air passageway through said plenum space for rising air entering through said bottom end and exiting through said top end; and a source of UV light substantially along at least said one lateral edge to promote UV light disinfection of air moving upwardly through said plenum space and said mounting means exposed to the UV light.
"2. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a hinge at said one vertical edge to movably mount said mirror panel between a normally closed position substantially parallel to the wall to create said plenum space and an open position to provide access to said plenum space.
"3. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of UV light comprises a plurality of UV-generating LEDs.
"4. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of UV light comprises at least one of mercury and xenon UV tubes.
"5. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 2, wherein said hinge is a plastic hinge.
"6. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for heating air proximate to said bottom end to promote upward movement of air by convection through said plenum space and said source of UV light.
"7. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for heating comprises a thermal strip.
"8. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of UV light generates ultraviolet radiation within the range of 100-280 nm.
"9. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 8, wherein the UV radiation is in the range of 240-280 nm.
"10. A method of disinfecting or sterilizing air in medical facilities, workspaces and other chambers having vanity mirrors comprising the steps of mounting a vanity mirror a predetermined spacing from a wall to create a plenum space behind the vanity mirror; providing UV light in the range of 100-280 nm in proximity to the plenum space to promote heating the air and cause it to rise through said plenum space and expose pathogens in the air and on nearby surfaces to the UVC light; and interrupting the generation of UV light in response to at least one of detection of motion in the proximity of the mirror and a timer that is programmed to activate and deactivate the UV light in accordance with a predetermined sequence of time intervals.
"11. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 10, further providing supplemental heating of air to promote movement of air through said plenum space and accelerate exposure of air to be disinfected or sterilized by the UV light.
"12. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 11, wherein supplemental heating is provided by a thermal strip at the lower end of the mirror.
"13. Disinfecting vanity mirror comprising a mirror panel having a top end, a bottom end and lateral edges when mounted on a wall; mounting means for mounting said mirror panel along one lateral edge on a vertical surface in spaced relation to the vertical surface to create a plenum space between said mirror panel and the vertical surface that is open at said top and bottom ends to provide a substantially vertical air passageway through said plenum space for rising air entering through said bottom end and exiting through said top end; a source of UV light within or in proximity to the plenum space to expose air and surfaces in proximity to the plenum space to UV light whereby the UV light sanitizes air moving upwardly through the plenum space and proximate surfaces exposed to the UV light; and control means for controlling and intermittently discontinuing the generation of UV light to limit the extent to which people in proximity to the mirror may be exposed to UV light.
"14. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 13, wherein said control means includes a motion detector.
"15. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 13, wherein said control means includes a programmable controller.
"16. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 13, wherein said control means includes a timer.
"17. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 13, wherein UV light is selected to be in the range of 240-280 nm.
"18. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 13, wherein the UV light is provided by a strip of LEDs in proximity of said lower end of said mirror.
"19. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 13, further comprising a hinge along one lateral edge, and wherein said source of UV light extends at least along said bottom end and along said hinge.
"20. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 13, further comprising a heat sink to prevent said source of UV light from reaching excessive temperatures."
URL and more information on this patent, see: Munn, Max. Hazard-Free Disinfectng Vanity Mirrors.
Keywords for this news article include: Business,
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