Baby feeding product sterilization device and methods

Abstract

A portable baby bottle sterilization device includes a housing having disposed therein an inner lining defining a bottle sterilization cavity, wherein the bottle sterilization cavity includes an opening, and wherein the inner lining is configured to receive one or more baby bottles therein through the opening, a power source, a plurality of UV LEDs coupled to the power source and to the inner lining, wherein the plurality of UV LED configured to provide UV-C light within the bottle sterilization cavity, and a processor coupled to the power source and to the plurality of UV LEDs, wherein the processor is configured to control intensity and duration of the UV-C light within the bottle sterilization cavity, and a cover coupled to the housing, wherein the cover is repositionable relative to the housing, wherein the cover can be positioned to removably cover the opening of the bottle sterilization cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable baby bottle sterilization device comprises:
 a housing having disposed therein:
 an inner lining defining a bottle sterilization cavity, wherein the bottle sterilization cavity includes an opening, and wherein the inner lining is configured to receive one or more baby bottles therein through the opening; 
 a power source; 
 a plurality of UV LEDs coupled to the power source and to the inner lining, wherein the plurality of UV LED configured to provide UV-C light within the bottle sterilization cavity; 
 a processor coupled to the power source and to the plurality of UV LEDs, wherein the processor is configured to control intensity and duration of the UV-C light within the bottle sterilization cavity; and 
   a cover coupled to the housing, wherein the cover is repositionable relative to the housing, wherein the cover can be positioned to removably cover the opening of the bottle sterilization cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1  wherein the inner lining comprises a relatively- UV-reflective material. 
     
     
         3 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 2  wherein the relatively UV reflective material is selected from a group consisting of: aluminum, stainless steel, metal-coated plastic, and Teflon. 
     
     
         4 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1  wherein the inner lining comprises a UV reactive material. 
     
     
         5 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 4  wherein the inner lining comprises TiO2. 
     
     
         6 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1   wherein the one or more baby bottles are characterized by a width a height, wherein the height exceeds the width; and   wherein the opening of the bottle sterilization cavity runs in a direction of the height or the width.   
     
     
         7 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 6   wherein the one or more baby bottles are characterized by a top and bottom; and   wherein the plurality of UV LEDs are configured to provide the UV-C light directed to the top and the bottom of the one or more baby bottles.   
     
     
         8 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 6   wherein the one or more baby bottles are characterized by a rear side; and   wherein the plurality of UV LEDs are configured to provide the UV-C light directed to the rear side of the one or more baby bottles.   
     
     
         9 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 8   wherein the one or more baby bottles are characterized by a front side; and   wherein the cover comprises an additional plurality of UV LEDs configured to provide UV-C light; and   wherein the additional plurality of UV LEDs are configured to provide the UV-C light directed to the front side of the one or more baby bottles.   
     
     
         10 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1   wherein the housing comprises a visible-light LED;   wherein the visible-light LED is configured to provide a visual indicator when the UV-C light is provided within the bottle sterilization cavity.   
     
     
         11 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1   wherein the housing comprises a visible-light LED;   wherein the visible-light LED is configured to provide a visual indicator after UV-C light has been provided to the bottle sterilization cavity for a pre-determined amount of time.   
     
     
         12 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1   wherein the housing further comprises a movable divider;   wherein the movable divider is configured to at least partially separate at least a portion of the bottle sterilization cavity into one or more configurations;   wherein the one or more configurations are selected from a group consisting of:   left and right configuration, and top and bottom configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 12  wherein the movable divider is comprises a material selected from a group consisting of: plastic, metal, UV-C reflective material, UV reactive material. 
     
     
         14 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 12  wherein the movable divider is pivotable with respect to the inner lining to change from the left and right configuration to enter the top and bottom configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises a shell having a material selected from a group consisting of: metal, plastic and cloth. 
     
     
         16 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1  wherein a height of the bottle sterilization cavity is within a range of about 7 inches to about 8 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1   wherein the housing comprises a fan coupled to the power source;   wherein the fan is configured to induce airflow within the bottle sterilization device.   
     
     
         18 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1  further comprising a wireless communication portion coupled to the processor, wherein the wireless communication portion is configured to wireless indicate to a remote device that the UV-C light has been provided to the bottle sterilization cavity for a pre-determined amount of time. 
     
     
         19 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 18   wherein a wireless protocol associated with the wireless communication portion is selected from a group consisting of: Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave, IR, cellular network, and 4G; and   wherein the remote device is selected from a group consisting of: smart device, smart phone, and remote computer.   
     
     
         20 . The portable baby bottle sterilization device of  claim 1   wherein the housing further comprises a charging port configured to provide power to recharge the power source;   wherein the charging port is selected from a group consisting of: a USB port, a USB 3.x port, a micro USB port, a USB 2.x port, and a mini USB port.