Ultraviolet light-sterilized and illuminating caster wheel sets

Abstract

A caster wheel assembly includes a swivel frame and a caster wheel rotatably coupled to the swivel frame via an axle. The swivel frame can include a rotatable shaft enabling rotation of the wheel and at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed on a surface of the swivel frame to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings. The LED may be an ultraviolet (UV) LED disposed on the surface of the swivel frame to interface a portion of the caster wheel thereby enabling UV light emitting from the LED to sterilize pathogens colonizing the caster wheel. The LED may be disposed on an external surface of the swivel frame to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings. Upon an adjustable predetermined time or distance of motion, the wheel may be braked for ultraviolet light to sterilize pathogens colonizing the caster wheel and released following an adjustable predetermined time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting assembly comprising:
 an enclosure supporting a caster wheel; and   at least one of:
 an ultraviolet light-emitting diode coupled directly to an inner surface of the enclosure and positioned to emit ultraviolet light (UV) to sterilize the caster wheel; or 
 a light-emitting diode (LED) disposed on an external surface of the enclosure to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical power supply in electrical communication with the LED.   
     
     
         3 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motion detector and timer switch;   an electrical braking component configured to enable braking of the caster wheel; and   an electrical power supply in electrical communication with the motion detector and timer switch and the electrical braking component.   
     
     
         4 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the motion detector and timer switch is configured to transmit a signal to the electrical braking component to enable motion of the caster wheel and to deactivate the ultraviolet light-emitting diode. 
     
     
         5 . A caster wheel assembly comprising:
 a frame configured to receive a caster wheel, the frame including, or is configured to couple to, a shaft enabling movement of the caster wheel;   a wheel coupled to the frame; and   a light emitting diode (LED) disposed on a surface of the frame to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings.   
     
     
         6 . The caster wheel assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the LED disposed on a surface of the frame is an ultraviolet light-emitting diode disposed on the surface of the frame to interface a portion of the caster wheel thereby enabling ultraviolet light (UV) emitting from the LED to illuminate the portion of the caster wheel to enable sterilization of pathogens colonizing on at least the portion of the caster wheel. 
     
     
         7 . The caster wheel assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the LED is disposed on an external surface of the frame to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings. 
     
     
         8 . The caster wheel assembly according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an electrical power supply in electrical communication with the LED.   
     
     
         9 . The caster wheel assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a motion detector and timer switch;   an electrical braking component configured to enable braking of the caster wheel; and   an electrical power supply in electrical communication with the motion detector and timer switch, the electrical braking component, and the ultraviolet light-emitting diode,   wherein, upon a predetermined time of motion or distance of motion of the caster wheel assembly, the motion detector and timer switch is configured to transmit a signal to the electrical braking component to brake motion of the caster wheel assembly and to electrically activate the ultraviolet light-emitting diode to illuminate the portion of the caster wheel to enable sterilization of pathogens colonizing on at least the portion of the caster wheel.   
     
     
         10 . The caster wheel assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein upon expiration of a predetermined activation time of the ultraviolet light-emitting diode, the motion detector and timer switch is configured to transmit a signal to the electrical braking component to enable motion of the caster wheel and to deactivate the ultraviolet light-emitting diode. 
     
     
         11 . A method of mounting a lighting assembly, comprising:
 positioning at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode onto at least one enclosure supporting at least one caster wheel, the at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode positioned to sterilize the at least one caster wheel and to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings; or   positioning the at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode onto the at least one enclosure supporting the at least one caster wheel, and positioning at least one LED on the external surface of the at least one enclosure to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings; or   positioning the at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode directly onto an inner surface of the at least one enclosure to at least partially sterilize the at least one caster wheel and selectively positioning the at least one LED on an external surface of the at least one enclosure to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 mounting a power supply in electrical communication with the at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode or with the at least one LED.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a motion detector and timer switch and an electrical braking component configured to enable braking of the at least one caster wheel.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the motion detector and timer switch is configured to transmit a signal to the electrical braking component to enable motion of the at least one caster wheel and to deactivate the at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode. 
     
     
         15 . A method of mounting a light emitting diode (LED) comprising:
 providing a caster wheel assembly having at least one enclosure; and   disposing on a surface of the at least one enclosure at least one LED to at least partially illuminate ambient surroundings.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein disposing on the surface of the at least one enclosure includes disposing at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode on the surface of the at least one enclosure to enable sterilization of pathogens colonizing on at least a portion of the at least one caster wheel. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the disposing on the surface of the at least one enclosure includes disposing the at least one LED on an external surface of the at least one enclosure. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 mounting a power supply to the caster wheel assembly such that the power supply is in electrical communication with the at least one LED.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 mounting an electrical braking component onto the at least one caster wheel, the electrical braking component configured to enable braking of the at least one caster wheel.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising disposing a motion detector and timer switch in electrical communication with the electrical braking component, the motion detector and timer switch configured to transmit a signal to the electrical braking component.