HYGIENATOR

APPAREIL DE DESINFECTION HYGIENATOR

English Abstract

A method and apparatus for disinfecting an enclosed area with the apparatus
comprising a housing having an ozone generator, an air inlet to the housing
and an air outlet
therefrom, a fan for moving air from the air inlet past the ozone generator to
the air outlet, a
reservoir preferably containing a fungicide or a bactericide, a compressor
mounted in the
housing to permit spraying of the reservoir.

French Abstract

Une méthode et un appareil de désinfection d'un espace confiné, cet appareil comprenant une enceinte logeant un ozonateur, une arrivée d'air pour l'enceinte et une sortie d'air, un ventilateur pour déplacer l'air depuis l'arrivée d'air jusqu'à la sortie en le faisant passer devant l'ozonateur, un réservoir contenant de préférence un fongicide ou un bactéricide, ainsi qu'un compresseur fixé à l'enceinte qui permet d'appliquer le contenu du réservoir par pulvérisation.

Claims

The embodiments of an invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is

claimed is defined as follows:

1. An apparatus for disinfecting an enclosed area, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;

an ozone generator within said housing;
an air inlet to said housing;

an air outlet from said housing;

a fan for moving air from said air inlet past said ozone generator to said air
outlet;
a reservoir;

a compressor mounted in said housing; and

an air line between said compressor and said reservoir to permit spraying of
the
contents of said reservoir exteriorly of said housing.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 further including a grill in said housing, said
grill
operatively associated with said reservoir to spray contents of said reservoir
therethrough.
3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said housing has an upper compartment and
a
lower compartment, said ozone generator being mounted in said upper
compartment.

4. The apparatus of Claim 3 further including a handle mounted on said
housing.

5. The apparatus of Claim 4 further including a plurality of pads on the
bottom of said
housing.

6. The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said housing is formed of a stainless
steel.
7. The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said reservoir contains a fungicide.

8. The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said reservoir contains a bactericide.

9. A method for disinfecting an enclosed area, the method comprising the steps
of:
placing the apparatus of Claim 1 in said enclosed area;


operating said ozone generator and said fan to allow the passage of ozone into
said
enclosed area;

stopping said ozone generator while continuing to operate said fan;

spraying a water containing agent from said reservoir to neutralize the ozone
in said
enclosed area.

Description

CA 02657890 2011-01-21

HYGIENATOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method, and more
particularly,
relates to an apparatus to sanitize an enclosed area and a method for so
doing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Often there is a requirement to sanitize or disinfect an enclosed area such an
enclosed
room or vehicle. While it is known to utilize cabinets or chests into which
equipment such
as sports equipment is placed in order to sanitize the equipment, there is
still a requirement
for an apparatus which is suitable for a closed room or vehicle. Such closed
rooms may, for
example, be locker rooms or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
apparatus for
disinfecting an enclosed area, the apparatus comprising a housing, an ozone
generator within
the housing, an air inlet to the housing, an air outlet from the housing, a
fan for moving air
from the air inlet past the ozone generator to the air outlet, a reservoir, a
compressor
mounted in the housing, and an air line between the compressor and the
container to permit
spraying of the contents of the container exteriorly of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of
the
present invention; and

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.
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CA 02657890 2011-01-21

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown, the apparatus consists of a stainless steel enclosure 8, a
separating wall 10,
a carrying handle 9, four pads 11, an ozone generator 1, a fan 2, a filter 3,
a compressor 4, a
reservoir 5, a spray nozzle 6, a grill 7, an air line 12 and a liquid line 13.

The apparatus is placed on a flat surface, and the machine named the
hygienator is
turned on. Once the machine is on, the fan 2 draws in the contaminated air of
the closed
area through the filter 3. The oxygen in this air is transformed into ozone by
the ozone
generator 1, and is expelled through the grill 7. After the ozone cycle, the
fan 2 continues to
run and the ozone generator 1 is automatically turned off. The compressor 4,
located under
the separating wall 10, turns on and pumps air through the air line 12 to the
spray nozzle 6 in
order to disburse an agent from the reservoir 5. The agent is extracted from
the reservoir 5
by the liquid line 13.

The fan 2 is constantly on throughout the ozone generating cycle, as well as,
throughout the liquid spraying cycle.

The filter 3 is there to protect the ozone generator 1 and to keep out any
solid
airborne impurities.

The agent extracted from the reservoir 5 can be any type of bactericide,
fungicide,
etc, and the spraying of this agent can be regulated for any length of time
after the ozone
cycle. These agents contain water, therefore when sprayed by the spray nozzle
6, the ozone
is neutralized, becoming a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide H2O, and
thus creates a
sterilized, disinfected environment.

The apparatus is designed in such a way that the length of the ozone cycle, as
well as
the agent spraying cycle can be adjusted to suit the application.

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Representative Drawing