U.S. patent application number 10/728504 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-09 for portable ultrasonic cleaner.
Invention is credited to Mah, Pat Y..
Application Number | 20050120756 10/728504 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34633730 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050120756 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mah, Pat Y. |
June 9, 2005 |
Portable ultrasonic cleaner
Abstract
The portable cleaning device of the present invention utilizes a
forward housing which includes an ultrasonic radiator and an
ultraviolet radiator. A rearwardly located detergent spray
reservoir can be used to optionally apply what may preferably be a
dilute solution of soap material. Once solvent is added to the
soiled area, the ultrasonic front located area can be placed in
contact with the wetted garment area and energized to bring the
ultrasonic radiator into direct contact with the solution in
contact with the soiled area. This enables less energy to be
utilized due to the close proximity to a limited liquid volume in
the immediate area of the fabric and closely co-located with the
soiled mass. Actuation of a ultraviolet radiator is activated
simultaneously with the actuation of the ultrasonic radiator to
begin to help with the odor problem from the outset of the cleaning
activity. The combination of ultrasonic and ultraviolet energy
input also provides energy to the solvent within the fabric to both
increase the efficiency of cleaning and to assist the evaporation
of solvent. The portable cleaning device can also be utilized with
other solvents supplied by the user.
Inventors: |
Mah, Pat Y.; (Kowloon,
HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Curtis L. Harrington
Suite 250
6300 State University Drive
Long Beach
CA
90815
US
|
Family ID: |
34633730 |
Appl. No.: |
10/728504 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/3SS ; 134/184;
68/213; 68/5A |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 7/0057 20130101;
C11D 11/007 20130101; A47L 25/08 20130101; B08B 3/12 20130101; A47L
13/26 20130101; A47L 13/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/003.0SS ;
134/184; 068/005.00A; 068/213 |
International
Class: |
D06F 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A portable ultrasonic cleaner comprising: a housing having a
soiled fabric area engagement face; an ultrasonic radiating
structure carried at said engagement face; a piezoelectric
transducer in physical communication with said central ultrasonic
radiating structure; power driver circuitry in electrical contact
with said piezoelectric transducer to ultrasonically drive said
piezoelectric transducer; and ultraviolet light output structure
proximal to said ultrasonic radiating structure.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in convenience
devices designed to perform garment cleaning over concentrated
areas, and more specifically to a portable device utilizing
ultrasonic cleaning and ultraviolet radiation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Portable cleaning devices are known which attempt to
physically isolate areas of garment material to perform emergency
cleaning or removal of contaminants over a limited area of the
garment material. Larger area cleaning is prohibited usually by the
limited size of the devices provided, what is hoped to be a limited
area of contamination, but more from the prohibitive cost and time
associated from wide area cleaning.
[0003] Portable cleaning devices are valued for not only their area
specificity but for the ability to complete the cleaning process in
a short time and to return the soiled garment area to a pre-soiled
state and eliminate any indication of the cleaning process.
Conventional devices which apply a liquid phase solvent for removal
of the soiled material, even if successful, have the problem of
removal of the solvent. Light hydrocarbon solvents can be a health
or fire hazard, but water tends to absorb into the garment and can
take hours to naturally evaporate.
[0004] Another problems with conventional cleaning devices is the
use of mechanical scrubbing. Mechanical scrubbing can harm the
fabric and cause picks and unraveling. This is particularly true
where the soiling is deep and where it is difficult to cause enough
movement to enable the solvent to enter and adequately move the
soiled mass with respect to the fabric.
[0005] Conventional cleaners are almost always mechanical, and none
of the small cleaners are available to give even a few of the
advantages of larger cleaning systems. Larger cleaning systems, for
example include jeweler's ultrasonic bath systems for cleaning fine
jewelry in detergents and solvents. These systems utilize a
non-portable fixed volume bath which is inappropriate for cleaning
small areas of fabric.
[0006] Fixed bath type devices are relatively large, on the order
of a half to one third of a cubic foot and typically are arranged
to ultrasonically shake a stainless steel bath. Inappropriate for
travel, these devices would disenable user control of solvent
application as any fabric placed in the container would wick fluid
into the garment. Further, the energy consumption from having to
energize the metal bath container as well as the whole volume of
solution make conventional ultrasonic cleaning reservoirs
completely unworkable for cleaning small areas of a garment.
[0007] Another problem which can exist with soiled areas is one of
odor. In some cases where the soiled material is highly odor laden,
and even where virtually all (99.99%) of the soiled material is
removed, enough may remain to produce an unpleasant odor. This can
be particularly troubling, especially where the cleaning process
appears to have been successful. It is important that the cleaned
area pass the "smell test", but most portable cleaning devices have
no ability to deal with an odor laden residue. Addition of perfumes
to mask the odor is unacceptable.
[0008] What is needed is a portable cleaning device which (1)
enables control of the applied liquid solvent or detergent, (2) can
apply direct energy to a soiled area to loosen and removed the
soiled material without damage to fabric, (3) include some
mechanism to eliminate odors, and (4) supply energy to the
remaining solvent in the cleaned area to facilitate its
evaporation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The portable cleaning device of the present invention
utilizes a forward housing which includes an ultrasonic radiator
and an ultraviolet radiator. A rearwardly located detergent spray
reservoir can be used to optionally apply what may preferably be a
dilute solution of soap material. Once solvent is added to the
soiled area, the ultrasonic front located area can be placed in
contact with the wetted garment area and energized to bring the
ultrasonic radiator into direct contact with the solution in
contact with the soiled area. This enables less energy to be
utilized due to the close proximity to a limited liquid volume in
the immediate area of the fabric and closely co-located with the
soiled mass. Actuation of a ultraviolet radiator is activated
simultaneously with the actuation of the ultrasonic radiator to
begin to help with the odor problem from the outset of the cleaning
activity. The combination of ultrasonic and ultraviolet energy
input also provides energy to the solvent within the fabric to both
increase the efficiency of cleaning and to assist the evaporation
of solvent. The portable cleaning device can also be utilized with
other solvents supplied by the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention, its configuration, construction, and
operation will be best further described in the following detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the housing of the portable
ultrasonic cleaner illustrating a forward balanced radiator section
and rear handle with control panel;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view, taken along line 2-2 of
FIG. 1 and illustrating the arrangement of the ultrasonic
transmission member and a pair of flanking ultraviolet light
pipes;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the structures of the detachable
cap seen in FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is an overall block diagram of the circuitry of the
portable ultrasonic cleaner;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of the transducer driver
circuit and transducer; and
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates the portable ultrasonic cleaner of FIGS.
1-5 used with a small reservoir of fluid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] The description and operation of the invention will be best
initiated with reference to FIG. 1 and which illustrates a portable
ultrasonic cleaner 11 as an integrated unit having a rear housing
section 13 and a front housing section 15. The rear housing section
13 is shaped for comfortable one-hand utilization, and includes a
control panel 17 and may have an on/off switch 19 and power
indicator 21.
[0018] The lower area of the rear housing section 13 may have an
optional solvent/detergent spray nozzle 23 actuated by a pump
handle 25. Other methods of delivery of fluid media may be
utilized, and the overall area of the portable ultrasonic cleaner
housing may be reduced with the optional elimination of the lower
solvent/detergent reservoir and delivery mechanism.
[0019] The front housing section 15 includes a detachable cap 27 to
facilitate cleaning and service of the working face components
should these components be contaminated by solvent, detergent, or
other materials. At the front of the detachable cap 27 is seen a
central ultrasonic radiator 31, flanked by a pair of light pipe
structures 33 and 35 which are in optical alignment with
ultraviolet light generators within the front housing section
15.
[0020] The proximity of the pair of light pipe structures 33 and 35
with respect to the central ultrasonic radiator 31 enables
simultaneity of action by bringing a front face 37 of cap 27 into
contact with a portion of the fabric to be cleaned. Front face 37
is typically the engagement face which will be in contact with the
area of soiled fabric to be cleaned, but the shape of the portion
of the portable ultrasonic cleaner 11 placed in fluid contact with
a soiled fabric area may differ drastically from the flat frontal
profile of the front face 37. The central ultrasonic radiator 31
protrudes slightly forward of the pair of light pipe structures 33
and 35 to facilitate contact with a section of cloth or a section
of a garment which has been soiled.
[0021] It should be kept in mind that fluid contact with the
central ultrasonic radiator 31 is generally necessary to insure
transmission of the ultrasonic energy into the area of the garment
which is soiled. Fabrics sections which are not wetted will tend to
absorb or insulate the ultrasonic energy from cleaning action on
the debris and will generally insulate the interior of the cloth
material from ultrasonic shaking action.
[0022] The use of the portable ultrasonic cleaner 11 in accord with
the configuration shown in FIG. 1 involves first removing any
soiling or debris which can be physically lifted off of the
contaminated fabric area to minimize the cleaning an blotting
action which will be needed. Once the excess physically removable
debris has been cleared, the debris or soiling area is wetted with
an appropriate fluid.
[0023] In general, a weak, water based detergent should be used for
most types of cloth, especially where the soiling or debris is
organic and non polar, and where the fabric will not be dissolved
or discolored by the detergent. A weak soap solution will work best
with most fabrics and because it will not be present in the
cleaning fluid in a concentration so high that it leave a residue
after blotting or after evaporation of the base solvent.
[0024] Other solvents may be used, especially in the case where a
well known contaminant is known to be dissolved or loosened by a
known solvent, but where the solvent will not negatively affect the
material. Care should also be taken not to use solvents which might
harm the front face 37 of cap 27. Where other solvents are used,
the user should take care to use the portable ultrasonic cleaner 11
in well ventilated areas and in a safe manner.
[0025] After the debris laden area of the fabric is wetted, the
portable ultrasonic cleaner 11 is turned on and the front face 37
of cap 27 is placed against the debris area so that central
ultrasonic radiator 31 is brought into intimate contact with the
central wet area of the applied solvent or detergent to cause the
ultrasonic energy to permeate through the wetted volume. Inasmuch
as the wetted material area is likely to assume a circular shape
and whereas the central ultrasonic radiator 31 has a rectangular
shaped face, the user will want to turn and manipulate the portable
ultrasonic cleaner 11 to make sure that all surface areas of the
wetted solvent or detergent are contacted by the face of the
central ultrasonic radiator 31.
[0026] Next, the solvent or detergent with suspended debris may be
blotted to attempt to draw off both. The soiled area can then be
re-wetted with solvent or detergent, and the above the steps
repeated until the debris or soiled material is completely removed.
After removal to an acceptable level or until it is visually
imperceptible, the portable ultrasonic cleaner 11 is left on and
the front face 37 of cap 27 is continued to be placed against the
debris area so that (1) ultrasonic energy continues to enter the
just-blotted area of fabric, and so that (2) ultraviolet energy
from the pair of light pipe structures 33 and 35 can continue to
enter even more deeply into the previously soiled, but now drying
area of fabric. The continuation of both ultrasonic and ultraviolet
energy will quicken the drying time for the area of fabric just
cleaned. The effectiveness of the ultraviolet energy will increase
with increased drying of the fabric area due to reduced attenuation
of the ultraviolet energy through solvent, detergent, and possibly
suspended debris, along with the ability for ultraviolet light to
directly impinge on any debris residue remaining in trace
amounts.
[0027] The ultrasonic energy input also "shakes" the fabric
material to insure that any remaining debris residue is more
completely exposed to the ultraviolet light for reaction,
destruction and accompanying odor elimination. Thus, continued
treatment enables a safe and odor fighting energy input which will
contribute to odor free drying and hasten the completion of the
cleaning operation.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, a side sectional view of the front
housing section 15 shows one possible configuration of the central
ultrasonic radiator 31 and its relationship to a pair of light pipe
structures 33 and 35. An ultraviolet light emitting diode 39 is
adjacent to and oriented to direct ultraviolet light into light
pipe structure 33 and ultraviolet light emitting diode 41 is
adjacent to and oriented to direct ultraviolet light into light
pipe structure 35. It is contemplated that light pipe structures 33
and 35 will each accommodate a pair or more of ultraviolet emitting
diodes like diodes 39 and 41. Electrical lines 43 are shown
electrically connected to the diodes 39 and 41.
[0029] The central ultrasonic radiator 31 is shown as a large
monolithic structure, but need not be. The size and orientation of
the central ultrasonic radiator 31 will depend upon how it connects
to a piezoelectric member. The mass of the central ultrasonic
radiator 31 and the support mass of any other member supporting a
piezoelectric member, as well as the frequency of operation will
determine these members, their orientation and mass.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, a front view of the detachable cap 27
and its structures seen in FIG. 2 are illustrated. Also seen is an
upper key projection 43 is seen which fits into a complementary
slot in the front housing section 15.
[0031] The internal electrical structure of the portable ultrasonic
cleaner 11 will more effectively explored with reference to FIG. 4
which illustrates an electrical block diagram. A DC INPUT block 51
can be represented by an internally located alternating current
transformer and direct current conversion circuitry, or by an
external direct current power cord, or by batteries internally
located with respect to the portable ultrasonic cleaner 11. The
extent to which the portable ultrasonic cleaner 11 accommodates
either batteries within or outside its housing or an AC to DC power
supply in a connector system or inside the housing will largely be
driven by the need to miniaturize the portable ultrasonic cleaner
11, and the need to supply more or less power. The central
ultrasonic radiator 31 and pair of light pipe structures 33 and 35
can be provided in multiple numbers and of higher or lower power,
and of larger or smaller area, as an example.
[0032] The DC INPUT block 51 may be supplied directly to a UV LEDS
block 53 or via an independently switched control. The a UV LEDS
block 53 can represent a bank of ultraviolet light generating
diodes. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the pair of light pipe
structures 33 and 35 are used to isolate the actual electronic
light producing members from the wetted fabric. The number and
intensity of the actual electronic light producing members will
need to be matched to the actual electronic light producing members
from the wetted fabric.
[0033] The DC INPUT block 51 also supplies power to a POWER CONTROL
CIRCUIT block 55 which controls the pulsing or timing of power to a
TRANSDUCER DRIVER block 57. The TRANSDUCER DRIVER block 57 includes
circuitry to convert the instructional master signal from the POWER
CONTROL CIRCUIT block 55 into the raw impulse power necessary to
drive TRANSDUCER block 59. TRANSDUCER block 59 typically includes
the analog piezoelectric elements which are physically connected to
the central ultrasonic radiator 31.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic view of the circuitry of
POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT block 55, TRANSDUCER DRIVER block 57 and
TRANSDUCER block 59 are shown. From a 12 volt direct current input,
the circuitry extends down to an integrated circuit U1, and is
connected directly to the terminals 4 (R input) and 8 (Vcc input)
of integrated circuit U1 and through a Resistor R9 to terminal 7
(DIS) of integrated circuit U1. Terminal 7 (DIS) of integrated
circuit U1 is connected to terminal 6 (THR) of integrated circuit
U1 through a current input of a diode D6. Terminal 8 of integrated
circuit U1 is connected to terminal 7 (DIS) of integrated circuit
U1 through a series combination of resistor R8 and a current input
of a diode D7.
[0035] Terminals 6 (THR) and 2 (TRIG) of integrated circuit U1 are
connected together and to ground through a capacitor C8. Terminal 5
(Cvolt) of integrated circuit U1 is left free floating, and the
ground terminal GND is grounded. A timing signal is output through
terminal 3 (Q output) through a resistor R7 and into the base of a
transistor Q3. The collector of transistor Q3 is connected to the
12 volt input and to ground through a parallel combination of
capacitors C3 and C2. The emitter of transistor Q3 is connected
through a resistor R1 to a coil 3-2 of a transformer T1 and to the
base of a transistor Q2. The other end of coil 3-2 is connected to
the base of a transistor Q1.
[0036] The collector of transistor Q2 is connected to one end of
coil 5-6 of transformer T1, the other end of coil 5-6 is connected
to the collector of transistor Q3. The emitter of transistor Q2 is
connected to the collector of transistor Q1 and to ground through
an inductor L1. The emitter of transistor Q1 is connected to a coil
7-6 of transistor T1 and to the collector of transistor Q2 through
a capacitor C5. The other side of transistor T1 is shown as having
a coil 1-4 which has a first end connected through a parallel
combination of capacitor C1 and piezoelectric element Y1 to a
second end of coil 1-4. Second end of coil 1-4 is grounded.
[0037] The 12 volt DC input is also shown as connected through an
optional switch S1, a resistor R10 and a series connected set of
ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4, to
ground. The switch S1 may be used to independently control the
ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4, or
the 12 DC power may be independently controlled upstream without
switch S1 so that the ultrasonic circuitry is energized at the same
time as the ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED1, LED2, LED3, and
LED4. The values for the foregoing electronic components are shown
in Table I.
1 TABLE I Q1 ?? Q2 ?? Q3 ?? C1 0.0 microfarad C2 0.0 microfarad C3
0.0 microfarad C5 0.0 microfarad C8 0.0 microfarad R7 0.0 ohms R8
0.0 ohms R9 0.0 ohms R10 0.0 ohms Y1 area?size?part NO.? Q1 part
no. Q2 part no. Q3 part no. L1 0.0 Henrys LED1, 2, 3, 4 Part
No.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 6, a further use possibility for the
portable ultrasonic cleaner 11 is the placement of the detachable
cap 27 portion of the portable ultrasonic cleaner 11 into a small
reservoir 61 having a fluid level 63 to enable users to clean
objects placed in the reservoir 61. This enables the portable
ultrasonic cleaner 11 to also be used to clean small objects such
as rings and the like. The portable ultrasonic cleaner 11 need only
be placed below the fluid level 63 sufficiently to enable the
central ultrasonic radiator 31 to make contact with the fluid in
the reservoir. Over-submersion should be avoided, and a flexible
barrier against the front face 37 of cap 27 may be used.
[0039] Although the invention has been derived with reference to
particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and
modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled
in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon
are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and
properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the
art.
* * * * *