Oh, patents ! Moonlight sanitizing device for wind instruments

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Do you play the flute? The clarinet? The trombone? The saxophone, or the French horn? Do you clean your instrument using 90% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle or equivalent, letting the alcohol evaporate, and/or using a pull-through swab for specific parts? 

Begone the prior art of cleaning wind instruments! In comes the Moonlight system, with add-ons each designed for your particular instrument. The micro-controlled 10-minute cleaning/sanitizing cycle of the Moonlight system might be programmed to extract humidity and dry the inside of the instrument, generating UV-radiation capable of eliminating micro-organisms, together with ventilated UV-sanitized air to sanitize the instrument.  An invention filed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, whose significance was no doubt amplified, due to the increased awareness of the importance of sanitation.

A US utility patent application, US2020230662A1, titled Methods of cleaning musical wind instruments, was filed on July 23, 2020, and abandoned. A European patent application EP3915103A1 was otherwise falso iled on July 30, 2020, as well as a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent application, WO2020152533, on July 23, 2020, both still active with the same title.  The three inventors on record, Jean Pierre Acquadro, Benoit Bertet, and Vincent Charlon, are all French. 

The invention essentially comprises a light-emitting source with a wavelength capable of killing microrganisms. The light emitting source is mounted on a fan, able both to pull and push air, through the mouthpiece, for quick drying and sanitizing. Thus, the air is pulled from the instrument through the mouthpiece, using a topside device, and pushed from the barrel of the instrument, through the mouthpiece, using a standon device. Bacteria are known to accumulate around the mouthpiece, at the top of the instrument. 

The light-emitting devices emit in the UV-C light band with a preferred 275 nm wavelength, preferably positioned at various locations, depending on the instrument. The fan is preferably a microfan, with a preferred airflow of approximately 5 cubic feet per minute (CFM).  Together, the fan and light-emitting devices are designed to operate for preferably 10-minute cycles of drying and sanitizing. 

Sanitizing is measured in terms of a 4 log 10 reduction in the bacterial count for both the mouthpiece and the instrument. The various instrument-specific pieces of the Moonlight sanitizing device come with adapters to fit the specific sizes of the various wind instruments.

Below, the Figures 4 and 6 of the patent, respectively show topside Moonlight sanitizing devices (10) for a saxophone, and a standon Moonlight sanitizing device (30) for the clarinet. An image of a marketed Moonlight device for a saxophone soprano is also included.

                                                

Below the abstract of the European patent EP3915103A1, is also included. 

New methods and devices for cleaning, drying and sanitizing musical wind instruments are disclosed. According to one embodiment the devices of the invention contain at least the body of the device, inside which are included at least a fan and one or more light emitting sources capable of killing microorganisms. The devices are provided with an internal or external power supply method and are specifically fitted for multiple wind musical instruments either by their shape and design or using various sizes of adaptors to fit multiple musical instruments. The devices are able to dry and sanitize wind instruments in less than 30 minutes of use, before or after playing the instrument. [Abstract EP3915103A1]

References

Benoît Bertet (inventor) - Le Moonlight, c'est quoi?
https://www.bertet-musique.com/moonlight

  

Moonlight woodwinds drier and sanitizer

https://youtu.be/So99YbqlANc 

How to sanitize your wind instrument. (Prior art)
https://www.amromusic.com/amro-blog/posts/how-to-sanitize-your-wind-instrument 

Oh, patents! The CrazyCap®

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The CrazyCap® is an elegant USB charged, UV-C water-purifying device that screws onto a portable water bottle, immediately providing a disinfection treatment to 750 ml (approx. 3 cups) of water. Beyond the primary purpose of killing 99.9996% of the germs in your water in 90 seconds, without thermal or chemical treatment, the CrazyCap®, together with its water bottle, also contribute to reducing plastic waste pollution, estimated to generate more than 8 million tons of waste in the ocean, each year (e.g. Ritchie, R. & M. Poser, Sept. 2018; Meyer, K., 2018).

Ultra-violet C (UVC) sanitizing technology was proven effective more than 40 years ago for the removal of pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and algae from drinking water, wastewater, air, food products, and various surfaces (Rammelsberg, 1998). For example, UVC sanitizing robots are commonly used in hospitals, including surgery rooms (Diab-El Schahawi, M. et. al., 2021). Succinctly, UVC technology is an effective sanitizing technology because exposure to a source of generated UVC radiation damages both the DNA and RNA of micro-organisms, preventing them from replicating.  Specifically, UVC exposure creates new double bonds, called dimers, particularly Thymine dimers, which then prevent the micro-organisms (e.g., bacteria or viruses) from replicating, and thus from infecting other cells. Thus, many applications relying on the generation of UVC radiation exist (e.g. UVC-emitting lightbulbs), while more recently, a renewed interest in this sanitizing technology has surged, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Thus, the CrazyCap® draws on UVC technology to sanitize water in three easy steps: 1. fill (the water bottle), 2. tap (the CrazyCap® to operate), and 3. Enjoy safe water! The CrazyCap® is also marketed with lab reports that have tested the technology.

The CrazyCap® invention is disclosed in the active US design patent USD906805, titled  Bottle cap with UV light.  As a reminder :  

“a utility patent protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a design patent protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171).” [USPTO]

Below, a figure of the cap extracted from the design patent, together with images of the marketed  CrazyCap®, and of the marketed CrazyCap® water bottle with cap.

  

 

Just one caveat, the CrazyCap®, which might also be used as a small, surface-sanitizer,  does not require being screwed onto the water bottle to operate. Since no childproof mechanism has been designed within The CrazyCap®, it thus appears possible to inadvertently operate the little cap on surfaces that include fingers or other body parts. Consequently, considering that UVC radiation is known harmful to humans, the device should be kept out of children’s hands, and extra care should be taken to follow instructions for safe adult use.

References

Diab-El Schahawi, M. et. al. (Feb.12, 2021) Ultraviolet disinfection robots to improve hospital cleaning: Real promise or just a gimmick?   https://aricjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13756-020-00878-4

Meyer, K. (Sept 11, 2018) UN Environment: Meet the UN agency protecting the only planet we got.   https://betterworldcampaign.org/blog/un-family-un-environment

Rammelsberg, A. (Aug. 17, 1998) How does ultraviolet light kill cells? Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-does-ultraviolet-ligh/

Ritchie, R. & M. Poser (Sept. 2018) Plastic Pollution  https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution

The CrazyCap® (website) https://thecrazycap.com/

The CrazyCap® (How it works) https://thecrazycap.com/pages/how-it-works-1

The CrazyCap® (Lab Reports) https://thecrazycap.com/pages/lab-reports 

The CrazyCap® (Accolades) https://thecrazycap.com/blogs/media-mentions

USPTO - MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.   https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Oh, patents! UV light sole-sanitizing technology (3)

Copyright © Francoise Herrmann

According to a University of Arizona-Rockport Shoes study cited in the patent US9272058B1, titled Sanitizing device, system and methods of use thereof, the transfer rate of pathogens, from footwear to uncontaminated surfaces, ranges between 90 and 99% (CIRI, 2001). This means that such pathogens as Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), Klebisiella Pneumonia,  and Serratia Ficaria, respectively responsible for extensive gastrointestinal, lung, and kidney damage, might easily be transferred into homes and workplaces simply when people are walking in (Barker et al. 2001). To resolve this problematic situation, the invention recited in US9272058B1 offers a UV light sanitizing solution. A solution requiring that a user stand on a UV light-emitting platform, for approximately 8 seconds, during which time the UVC radiation emitted will damage the DNA/RNA of pathogens, in turn making it impossible for any bacteria and/or viruses transported on the soles of the wearer’s shoes to replicate, and thus contaminate ambulatory surfaces.

Within the context of the COVID 19 pandemic and phased re-opening of the economy, this invention has generated renewed interest at hospitals, restaurants and other community and residential facilities (ABC News, 2020).  

The abstract of this invention is included below, together with the patent Figure 1, showing the UVC radiation-emitting platform, on which the wearer stands for shoe sole decontamination. This invention is otherwise versatile, in that the UV light-emitting source also functions as a wand, that might be removed from the platform box for sanitizing additional objects.  

A device that eliminates contaminants before they can be transmitted throughout a structure. The device may include a platform housing a disinfection source for selectively emitting UV-C light. The platform has a top. The top has two areas that pass the UV-C light with the remaining area of the top unable to pass the UV-C light. The two areas of the top are capable of supporting a person standing on the areas with a foot respectively on each area. The disinfection source is configured to emit the UV-C light when a person stands on the two areas, but not when there is no person standing on the two areas. The disinfection source may be removable from the platform for use in disinfecting objects.

 [Abstract US9272058B1] 

In particular, the patent Figure 1 depicts the device 10 comprising a substantially square box housing 12, with four sides 22a, 22b, 24a and 24b, built together to support the weight of a standing adult. The platform 20, on top of the housing 12, has two transparent shoe-print openings 26a and 26b, on which the user stands, and through which UV light is emitted, via a tubular UVC light source 14, for the purposes of sanitizing the user’s soles. The tubular UVC light source 14 may turn on and off automatically, as the user steps on and off the platform 20, so that no UVC light is emitted when noone is standing on the platform 20. 

The shoe-print openings 26a and 26b may be of any shape and size, without departing from the scope of the invention. For users with shoe sizes larger than the shoe print, repeat exposures to UVC light are recommended. For users with shoe sizes smaller than the shoe print, the unobstructed effects of any surrounding UVC light radiation are specified insignificant, in terms of potential harm, to the user standing on the device, or to additional people in close proximity.

Otherwise, the housing 12 is substantially hollow, with an opening 28, through which the tubular UVC light source 14 may be removed for use as a portable UVC sanitizing wand 40 (not depicted on Figure 1). The device 10 is powered by regular household current via a power cord 30. The device also has a switch 32, which may include a delay timer for the purposes of giving the user time to step onto the platform 20, prior to activation of the sanitizing UVC light.

Several marketed embodiments of this invention already exist. The YouTube video below demonstrates use of the Healthy Sole Plus System., a system that was laboratory-tested for effectiveness, in March 2020, against both SARS CoV1 and SARS-CoV2 (Sattar, 2020). The Healthy Sole Plus System includes a UV light shield in the toe portion of the platform, as well as onscreen means to assist with correct sole positioning on the platform. 

References

Barker, J. Stevens, D. and S.F Bloomfield (2001) Spread and prevention of some common viral infections in community facilites and domestic homes. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2001 (91) pp. 2-21. DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01364.x   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11442709/  

CIRI Staff (May 3, 2008) Study reveals high levels of bacteria on footwear. The Cleaning Industry Research Institute. https://www.ciriscience.org/a_96-Study-Reveals-High-Bacteria-Levels-on-Footwear

Healthy Sole Plus - https://www.healthysoleplus.com/

Holmes, H. (March 31, 2020) A sanitizer station promises to sanitize the soles of your shoes to kill viruses – ABC News. https://wjla.com/features/7-on-your-side/a-sanitizer-station-promises-to-sanitize-the-soles-of-your-shoes  

Sattar, S. (2020) Assessment of HealthySole UV Shoe Sanitizer Device for Decontaminating Hard, Non-Porous Environmental Surfaces: Testing against Human Respiratory Coronavirus 229E (ATCC VR-740) as a representative Healthcare-Associated Pathogen. CREM Co. Labs, Ontario, Canada.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c8d3c8f8dfc8c140ce20014/t/5e90d20060774a716d3d1c2a/1586549249068/CREM+CO+Final+Report+for+HealthySole+PLUS.pdf