Laundry system for smart garments

Abstract

Laundry apparatus ( 100 ) and methods for cleaning garments are provided, whereby the laundry apparatus ( 100 ) can provide one or more of: ultraviolet light, ultra-sound, ozone, carbon dioxide, and a surfactant source to clean the garments and includes an electronic control system ( 130 ) configured to transmit data corresponding to the laundry apparatus cleaning conditions and cleanliness of the garments wirelessly to an external computing device ( 132 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry apparatus comprising:
 a cleaning chamber configured to receive one or more garments;   an ultrasound generator configured to provide ultrasonic energy to the one or more garments in the cleaning chamber;   a surfactant source configured to provide a surfactant to the one or more garments in the cleaning chamber;   a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) source configured to provide carbon dioxide to the one or more garments in the cleaning chamber; and   an ultra violet (UV) light source configured to provide UV radiation to the one or more garments in the cleaning chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more fans configured to move air within the cleaning chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an ozone generator configured to provide ozone to the one or more garments. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater configured to heat the cleaning chamber and the one or more garments. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide source is adapted to provide carbon dioxide as an aerosol or cryogenic aerosol. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a CO 2  nebulizer in fluid communication with the CO 2  source configured to provide carbon dioxide as an aerosol or cryogenic aerosol. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  source is a removable cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a perfume source. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the perfume source includes a cartridge of perfume. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant source is adapted to provide surfactant as an aerosol. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a surfactant nebulizer in fluid communication with the surfactant source configured to provide the surfactant as an aerosol. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant source is a removable cartridge. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises one or more of fatty alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, and cetostearyl alcohol. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the UV light source is a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic control system configured to control the ultrasound generator, surfactant source, carbon dioxide source, and UV light source. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic control system is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive data with a computer device external to the cleaning chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic control system is configured to determine when the one or more garments are clean. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more sensors within the cleaning chamber configured to analyze the cleanliness of the one or more garments. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a clamp, clip, hook, pin, friction fit, mesh or expandable surface configured to engage with and hang the one or more garments within the cleaning chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mesh hanging structure configured to contact a surface of the one or more garments, wherein a plurality of openings in the mesh are adapted to pass a gaseous fluid into contact with the surface of the one or more garments contacting the mesh hanging structure. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable garment hanger configured to removably engage with the cleaning system. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the removable garment hanger includes a plurality of UV sources. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the removable garment hanger includes a plurality of vents. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the removable garment hanger is configured to removably engage with a manifold system of the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the removable garment hanger includes an air vent system configured to removably engage with the manifold system and form a fluid communication pathway with the manifold system. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the removable garment hanger is configured to provide the carbon dioxide source and surfactant source to the garment through the air vent system. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a filtered air vent. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to contact the one or more garments with surfactant and carbon dioxide in a gaseous and/or aerosol state. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to clean the one or more garments without contacting the one or more garments with water. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to clean the one or more garments without submerging the one or more garments in a liquid material. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , configured for cleaning one or more garments comprising electronics, wiring, and/or conductive materials. 
     
     
         32 . A method for cleaning a garment placed within a cleaning chamber, the method comprising:
 contacting one or more garments within the cleaning chamber with a surfactant;   contacting the one or more garments with carbon dioxide (CO 2 );   contacting the one or more garments with ultra violet (UV) radiation;   contacting the one or more garments with ozone; and   contacting the one or more garments with ultrasonic energy.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein contacting with the surfactant comprises contacting the one or more garments with a surfactant as an aerosol or in a gaseous state. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein contacting with the surfactant comprises contacting with a surfactant comprising one or more of fatty alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, and cetostearyl alcohol. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein contacting with the carbon dioxide comprises contacting the one or more garments with an aerosol and/or cryogenic aerosol comprising carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising nebulizing the carbon dioxide prior to contacting the one or more garments. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising nebulizing the surfactant prior to contacting the one or more garments. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising blowing air through the one or more garments. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the garment includes electronics, electronic sensors, chips, wires, connectors, and/or conductive materials. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising generating ozone. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising hanging the one or more garments within the chamber prior to contacting. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising sensing the conditions of the one or more garments and providing data corresponding to the sensed condition of the one or more garments wirelessly to a computer device. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising transmitting data representing cleaning process conditions to a component external to the laundry apparatus. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising receiving data from sensors on the one or more garments relating to the cleaning conditions and/or cleaning state of the garment. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising sending the data from the sensors on the one or more garments to a computer device external to the laundry apparatus. 
     
     
         46 . A laundry apparatus comprising:
 a cleaning chamber configured to receive one or more garments;   an ultrasound generator configured to provide ultrasonic energy to the cleaning chamber;   a surfactant source configured to provide a surfactant to the cleaning chamber;   an ultra violet (UV) light source configured to provide UV radiation to the one or more garments in the cleaning chamber;   an ozone generator configured to provide ozone to the cleaning chamber;   a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) source configured to provide carbon dioxide to the cleaning chamber; and   an air circulation mechanism configured to provide the carbon dioxide and surfactant to the cleaning chamber.   
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the air circulation mechanism comprises a swiveling nozzle. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the air circulation mechanism includes one or more fans configured to move air within the cleaning chamber. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a heater configured to heat the cleaning chamber and the one or more garments. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the carbon dioxide source is adapted to provide carbon dioxide as an aerosol or cryogenic aerosol. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the CO 2  source is a removable cartridge. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a perfume source. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the perfume source includes a cartridge of perfume. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the surfactant source is adapted to provide surfactant as an aerosol. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a surfactant nebulizer in fluid communication with the surfactant source configured to provide the surfactant as an aerosol. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the surfactant source is a removable cartridge. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the surfactant comprises one or more of fatty alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, and cetostearyl alcohol. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the UV light source is a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising an electronic control system configured to control the ultrasound generator, surfactant source, carbon dioxide source, and UV light source. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the electronic control system is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive data with a computer device external to the cleaning chamber. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the electronic control system is configured to determine when the one or more garments are clean. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , further comprising one or more sensors within the cleaning chamber configured to analyze the cleanliness of the one or more garments. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a clamp, clip, hook, pin, friction fit, mesh or expandable surface configured to engage with and hang the one or more garments within the cleaning chamber. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a mesh hanging structure configured to contact a surface of the one or more garments, wherein a plurality of openings in the mesh are adapted to pass a gaseous fluid into contact with the surface of the one or more garments contacting the mesh hanging structure. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a removable garment hanger configured to removably engage with the cleaning system. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein the removable garment hanger includes a plurality of UV sources. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein the removable garment hanger includes a plurality of vents. 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein the removable garment hanger is configured to removably engage with a manifold system of the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein the removable garment hanger includes an air vent system configured to removably engage with the manifold system and form a fluid communication pathway with the manifold system. 
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the removable garment hanger is configured to provide the carbon dioxide source and surfactant source to the garment through the air vent system. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a filtered air vent. 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the apparatus is configured to contact the one or more garments with surfactant and carbon dioxide in a gaseous and/or aerosol state. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the apparatus is configured to clean the one or more garments without contacting the one or more garments with water. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the apparatus is configured to clean the one or more garments without submerging the one or more garments in a liquid material. 
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , configured for cleaning one or more garments comprising electronics, wiring, and/or conductive materials.