Laundry system for smart garments

Abstract

Laundry apparatus and methods for cleaning garments are provided. The laundry apparatus can provide one or more of: ultraviolet light, ultrasound, ozone, carbon dioxide, and a surfactant source to clean the garments. The laundry apparatus can be used to clean smart garments including one or more of electronics, electronic sensors, chips, wires, connectors, and/or conductive materials. The laundry apparatus can include an electronic control apparatus configured to transmit data corresponding to the laundry apparatus cleaning conditions and cleanliness of the garments wirelessly to an external computing device.

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 .- 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide source is adapted to provide carbon dioxide as an aerosol or cryogenic aerosol. 
     
     
         5 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant source is adapted to provide surfactant as an aerosol. 
     
     
         11 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , 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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 .- 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 .- 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 12698-704.300 NOMP by 7-7 wirelessly transmit and receive data with a computer device external to the cleaning chamber. 
     
     
         61 .- 75 . (canceled)