IP Library Granted Patent US 11,033,646
Granted Patent B1
US 11,033,646 · App. 17/074,025 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

Ultraviolet shielding devices, systems, and methods

Inventor: Robert F. McKeon (Tequesta, FL)
Assignee: NITTANY SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC
A61L2/10A61L2/24A61L2/26A61L2202/11A61L2202/12A61L2202/14
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,033,646
App. No.
17/074,025
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A UV shielding device including a sanitizing interface having a top surface arranged to support footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface. The sanitizing interface including a translucent material arranged to allow UV light to pass through. The UV shielding device including a sensor arranged to detect a presence of the footwear and a UV emitter arranged to emit the UV light toward the footwear and through the sanitizing interface. The device also including an adjustable UV shield positioned adjacent to the sanitizing interface and arranged to conform substantially to a shape of the footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface, where the UV shield includes a first perimeter positioned in close proximity laterally to a perimeter of a sole of the footwear.

Claims (43)

1. A UV shielding device comprising:

a sanitizing interface including a top surface arranged to support first footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface, the sanitizing interface including a translucent material arranged to allow UV light to pass through;

a sensor arranged to detect a presence of the first footwear;

a UV emitter arranged to emit the UV light toward the first footwear and through the sanitizing interface; and

an adjustable UV shield, positioned adjacent to the sanitizing interface, arranged to adjustably conform to a shape of the first footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface, the UV shield including a first perimeter being positioned in close proximity laterally to a perimeter of a sole of the first footwear;

wherein the adjustable UV shield includes a plurality of cutouts corresponding to a plurality of different footwear sizes, the plurality of cutouts being stacked vertically between the UV emitter and the sanitizing interface.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sanitizing interface includes at least one of glass, plexiglass, plastic, a grate, and a material configured to allow UV light to pass through.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable UV shield is positioned one of vertically above the sanitizing interface and vertically below the sanitizing interface.

4. A UV shielding device comprising:

a sanitizing interface including a top surface arranged to support first footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface, the sanitizing interface including a translucent material arranged to allow UV light to pass through;

a sensor arranged to detect a presence of the first footwear;

a UV emitter arranged to emit the UV light toward the first footwear and through the sanitizing interface; and

an adjustable UV shield, positioned adjacent to the sanitizing interface, arranged to adjustably conform to a shape of the first footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface, the UV shield including a first perimeter being positioned in close proximity laterally to a perimeter of a sole of the first footwear;

wherein the adjustable UV shield includes an aperture wall arranged to expand and contract in response to a size of the first footwear.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the aperture wall includes one or more link bearings arranged to allow the aperture wall position to form the first perimeter positioned in close proximity to the perimeter of the sole of the first footwear.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the UV shield includes one or more film layers arranged to selectively block or allow UV light to pass through from the UV emitter toward the first footwear.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the sensor is arranged to determine the shape of the first footwear and generate first footwear shape data.

8. The device of claim 7 comprising a controller arranged to receive the first footwear shape data and adjust the UV shield to adjustably conform to the shape of the first footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein:

the sensor is arranged to determine the shape of a second footwear and generate second footwear shape data; and

the controller is arranged to receive the second footwear shape data and adjust the UV shield to conform substantially to a shape of the second footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface.

10. A method of providing UV shielding comprising:

supporting first footwear positioned above a sanitizing interface;

detecting a presence of the first footwear;

in response to detecting the presence of the first footwear, emitting UV light toward the first footwear;

passing the UV light through a translucent material of the sanitizing interface;

positioning an adjustable UV shield adjacent to the sanitizing interface; and

conforming the adjustable UV shield adjustably to a shape of the first footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface including positioning a first perimeter of the adjustable UV shield in close proximity laterally to a perimeter of a sole of the first footwear;

wherein the adjustable UV shield includes a plurality of cutouts corresponding to a plurality of different footwear sizes, the plurality of cutouts being stacked vertically between the UV emitter and the sanitizing interface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sanitizing interface includes at least one of glass, plexiglass, plastic, a grate, and a material configured to allow UV light to pass through.

12. The method of claim 10 comprising positioning the adjustable UV shield one of vertically above the sanitizing interface and vertically below the sanitizing interface.

13. A method of providing UV shielding comprising:

supporting first footwear positioned above a sanitizing interface;

detecting a presence of the first footwear;

in response to detecting the presence of the first footwear, emitting UV light toward the first footwear;

passing the UV light through a translucent material of the sanitizing interface;

positioning an adjustable UV shield adjacent to the sanitizing interface; and

conforming the adjustable UV shield adjustably to a shape of the first footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface including positioning a first perimeter of the adjustable UV shield in close proximity laterally to a perimeter of a sole of the first footwear;

wherein the adjustable UV shield includes an aperture wall arranged to expand and contract in response to a size of the first footwear.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the aperture wall includes one or more link bearings arranged to allow the aperture wall position to form the first perimeter positioned in close proximity to the perimeter of the sole of the first footwear.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the UV shield includes one or more film layers arranged to selectively block or allow UV light to pass through from the UV emitter toward the first footwear.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising determining, via a sensor, the shape of the first footwear and generating first footwear shape data.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising receiving, by a controller, the first footwear shape data and adjusting the UV shield to conform substantially to the shape of the first footwear positioned above the sanitizing interface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2020
From: MCKEON, ROBERT F.
To: NITTANY SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 054150/0106 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,496,366