Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sanitizing microbe-laden objects, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for sanitizing household goods using ozone generated within a sealed cavity.

Background of the Invention Microbes such as germs, bacteria, and viruses account for millions of illnesses each year. Such microbes are found throughout a household, oftentimes unbeknownst to the occupant. Studies have shown that microbe levels are particularly high in the kitchen and bathrooms. A recent study conducted in 500 homes throughout the United States found that one-quarter of the kitchen sponges tested positive for salmonella or staphylococci-two leading causes of foodbourne illness in the United States.

Current recommendations of removing microbes from household items such as a kitchen sponge or a toothbrush include washing the item in the dishwasher or clothes washer, microwaving or cleaning the item in boiling water, or soaking the item in alcohol. However, such

methods are time consuming for the user and household products such as kitchen sponges are not durable enough to withstand constant cleaning.

As an alternative, ozone (03), or"Activated Oxygen," can be used as a sterilizer. Ozone is used in over 200 cities and over 3,000 state-of-the-art municipal water- treatment systems around the world. In fact, in 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency designated activated oxygen as the most effective primary disinfectant available for drinking water.

Ozone is also frequently used in sterilizing medical and dental instruments. In such applications time is of the essence, and thus large amounts of ozone must be quickly produced. To accomplish this, prior art systems require large, complicated machinery that converts pure oxygen gas into ozone. Due to the exothermic nature of the transformation of oxygen gas to ozone, such sterilization devices must deal with the production of large amounts of heat, requiring the machine either to be well insulated or to utilize cool water or gas to reduce the surrounding temperature. Furthermore, large quantities of ozone can be considered a health hazard, and thus cannot be released in the confined space of a hospital or office. Since prior art systems produce large amounts of ozone, such devices often include ozone degenerators or destruction chambers to destroy any ozone remaining after sterilization.

Due to the size of the prior art systems, the amount of ozone produced by these systems, and the dangers associated with storing a flammable gas such as oxygen, such systems are not practical for use within the home.

Thus, there has been a long felt need for an apparatus for sterilizing household goods using ozone.

Summary of The Invention The preferred embodiments of the present invention address these needs and other concerns.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a compact housing that easily fits on a countertop or vanity. The housing includes a door that, when open, provides access to an interior chamber. A household good, such as a sponge, can be placed in the sanitizing tray within the chamber. The door is then latched shut prior to beginning the sanitizing process.

Also within the interior chamber is an ozone generator that provides a steady stream of ozone gas for sterilizing the object. Once the door is shut, the interior chamber is closed off from the outside environment. This forces the ozone generator to utilize the air within the chamber, rather than pure oxygen gas, when producing ozone. Although this diminishes the amount of ozone that is produced, large amounts of ozone are not needed because 1) large amounts of ozone may create a health risk; and 2) time is not of the essence in sanitizing household objects.

As ozone is produced, the ozone molecules circulate and come into contact with the object being sanitized.

Seeking equilibrium, the extra oxygen atom breaks through the bacteria wall, leaving behind oxygen gas. This destroys the bacteria, thereby sanitizing the object.

These and other features of the present invention are discussed in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Brief Description Of The Drawings FIG. 1 is an assembled view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a disassembled parts view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. 4 illustrates the production of ozone through the use of a corona discharge apparatus; and FIG. 5 and 6 illustrate alternate embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description Of Preferred Embodiment (s) FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a household sanitizing apparatus according to the present invention. The sanitizing apparatus 10 includes a housing 12 that defines an interior chamber 14 for receiving a household good (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, within the housing 12 is an ozone generator 16 for producing ozone. This ozone circulates within the interior chamber 14 and upon coming into contact with the household good, kills any microbes present on or within the household good.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing 12 is made of injection molded plastic and includes a lid 18 which allows the user to access the interior chamber 14. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the interior chamber 14 is divided into two separate cavities, the lower cavity 20 and the upper cavity 22.

In an alternate embodiment, the cavities may be side-by- side rather than on top of each other.

The lower cavity 20 houses a transformer 24, which is attached to a circuit board 26. The transformer 24 converts electrical energy from an outside source, such as a household electrical outlet (not shown), and then passes the electricity to the circuit board 26. The circuit board 26 then distributes the electricity to the needed components within the housing 12, such as the ozone generator 16, via electrical wires 28 and 30.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lower cavity 20 is separated from upper cavity 22 by a divider 32, allowing only the wires 28 and 30 to pass through. The divider protects against the ozone produced by the ozone generator 16 from entering the lower cavity 20 and corroding the electrical components in the lower cavity 20.

The upper cavity 22 houses both the ozone generator 16 and a sanitizing tray 34 for receiving the household good to be sanitized. Ozone may be produced in several different ways, the most common of which are by using either an ultraviolet or corona discharge generator. The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a corona discharge in the presence of oxygen, which is outlined in FIG. 4. In such a process, a corona discharge is generated between two electrodes 36 and 38 that are electronically attached to the transformer 24 and separated by a dielectric 40. Oxygen-containing gas, such as air or 02, is passed through the corona discharge zone, whereby the corona discharge splits the natural oxygen molecules (°2) into separate, highly active oxygen atoms. Seeking equilibrium, each atom immediately combines with the nearest oxygen molecule, thereby forming ozone.

Since this reaction is extremely fast and exothermic, the ozone generator 16 may become hot to the touch. One embodiment of the present invention forms a slotted wall 42 in between the ozone generator 16 and the sanitizing tray 34. This configuration provides protection from the heated ozone generator 16 while allowing the ozone generated to circulate through the slotted wall 42 and to the household good.

The upper cavity 22 also houses a sanitizing tray 34 for receiving the household good. The sanitizing tray 34 may be contoured to fit a variety of household goods, such as a sponge, as shown in FIG. 1, or a toothbrush, as shown in FIG. 5. As seen in FIG. 6, the sanitizing tray

34 may also be formed to handle numerous household goods at one time. Since the sanitizing tray 34 receives goods after they have been used, it is preferred that the sanitizing tray 34 be removable form the upper cavity 22 so that it can be easily cleaned.

The user accesses the sanitizing tray 34 by simply opening the lid 18. When the user is ready to begin the sanitizing process, the lid 18 must be in the closed position to prevent any leakage of ozone into the surrounding environment outside the housing 12. The shape of the lid 18 will depend on the contour of the housing 12. As seen in FIG. 1, the lid 18 may be hinged, or as seen in FIG. 5, the lid 18 may be rotatable. The lid 18 may also contains a latch 44 to insure that the lid 18 remains closed. Since the lid 18 remains closed throughout the sanitizing cycle, the ozone generator 16 must utilize the air within the interior chamber 14 to produce ozone. Alternatively, the housing 12 could have vents to allow for the input of an oxygen-containing gas.

Once the sanitizing process is commenced, the ozone generator 16 produces ozone, which circulates throughout the upper cavity 22. Given the compact size of the housing, and therefore the ozone generator as well, the amount of ozone produced is only between 700 and 1200 parts per million (ppm). At that rate, a complete sanitizing cycle lasts approximately 4 hours. In this time frame, the present invention is able to remove 99.9% of all microbes on or within a household good.

An embodiment of the present invention may also include a display, such as a light to notify the user that the sanitizing is in process, thereby warning the user that opening the lid 18 will cause the discharge of ozone. Furthermore, the present invention may also include an ozone sensor, such as Otres'Oxy Blue Test Kit paper, which tests for the presence of ozone within the upper cavity 22.

While particular elements, embodiments and

applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited. thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover such modifications that incorporate those features coming within the scope of the invention.