Support Structures, Cabinets and Methods For Disinfecting Objects

Abstract

Methods are provided which include placing one or more objects into a cabinet, subsequently closing the cabinet and remotely starting a disinfection device disposed therein to disperse a germicide within the closed cabinet. Embodiments of cabinets include a moveable germicidal blocking partition for separating portions of the cabinet, a door for accessing one of the portions and a sensor for detecting when the partition is in position to separate the portions. Other embodiments of cabinets include one or more germicidal dose sensors and program instructions for terminating operation of a particular disinfection apparatus placed in the cabinet when a signal is received indicating that a predetermined dose of a germicide is detected in the cabinet. Embodiments of moveable enclosures are provided having a loading port and a support structure configured to allow access to the support structure without providing access to affect movement of a germicidal lamp in the enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A moveable enclosure, comprising:
 a germicidal lamp, wherein the germicidal lamp is arranged within an interior cavity of the moveable enclosure;   a support structure arranged along an interior sidewall of the interior cavity, wherein the support structure is configured for holding one or more objects; and   a loading port arranged along an exterior sidewall of the moveable enclosure, wherein dimensional configurations and arrangements of the loading port and the support structure in the moveable enclosure allow access to load one or more objects on the support structure via the loading port without providing access to affect movement of the germicidal lamp via the loading port.   
     
     
         2 . The moveable enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is arranged a distance between approximately 3 inches and approximately 12 inches from the germicidal lamp. 
     
     
         3 . The moveable enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is a shelf, a basket, or a tray. 
     
     
         4 . The moveable enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising a door to close the loading port. 
     
     
         5 . The moveable enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the germicidal lamp is configured to emit ultraviolet light and/or visible violet-blue light. 
     
     
         6 . The moveable enclosure of  claim 5 , wherein the germicidal lamp is configured to emit ultraviolet light along the entire spectrum between approximately 200 nm and approximately 320 nm. 
     
     
         7 . A cabinet, comprising:
 a moveable partition for separating first and second portions of the cabinet, wherein the moveable partition is configured to block transmission of a germicide;   at least one door for access to at least the second portion of the cabinet; and   a sensor for detecting when the moveable partition is in position to separate the first and second portions of the cabinet.   
     
     
         8 . The cabinet of  claim 7 , wherein the moveable partition is configured to block transmission of germicidal light. 
     
     
         9 . The cabinet of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 one or more additional moveable partitions for respectively separating one or more additional portions of the cabinet from the first portion of the cabinet, wherein the one or more additional moveable partitions are configured to block transmission of a germicide;   one or more additional doors for allowing separate access to the one or more additional portions of the cabinet; and   one or more additional sensors for respectively detecting when the one or more additional moveable partitions are in position to separate the one or more additional portions of the cabinet from the first portion of the cabinet.   
     
     
         10 . The cabinet of  claim 7 , further comprising a germicidal dose sensor within at least the second portion of the cabinet. 
     
     
         11 . The cabinet of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more support structures arranged within an interior of at least the second portion of the cabinet, wherein at least portions of the support structures facing the first portion of the cabinet are transparent to germicidal light and/or comprise through-holes, and wherein the support structures comprise shelving, one or more baskets and/or one or more trays. 
     
     
         12 . The cabinet of  claim 7 , wherein one or more interior surfaces of the cabinet comprise a material exhibiting greater than 85% reflectance to at least ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         13 . A cabinet, comprising:
 an interior void dimensionally configured to accommodate a particular disinfection device, wherein the cabinet does not include an electrical outlet or a battery for supplying power to the particular disinfection device;   a door to enclose the cabinet;   one or more germicide dose sensors arranged in the interior of the cabinet;   a processor; and   a storage medium comprising program instructions which are executable by the processor for terminating operation of the particular disinfection apparatus when a signal is received from at least one of the one or more germicide dose sensors indicating that a predetermined dose of germicide is detected within the cabinet.   
     
     
         14 . The cabinet of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more support structures arranged within one or more areas of the cabinet adjacent the interior void, wherein at least portions of the one or more support structures facing the interior void are transparent to germicidal light and/or comprise through-holes. 
     
     
         15 . The cabinet of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more support structures comprise shelving, one or more baskets and/or one or more trays. 
     
     
         16 . The cabinet of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more interior surfaces comprising a material exhibiting greater than 85% reflectance to ultraviolet light and/or visible violet-blue light. 
     
     
         17 . A method for disinfecting objects, wherein the method comprises:
 placing a first set of one or more objects into a cabinet;   placing a first disinfection device into the cabinet, wherein the first disinfection device is configured to project a germicide into an ambient of the first disinfection device;   closing the cabinet with the first disinfection device and the first set of one or more objects inside the cabinet;   remotely starting the first disinfection device to disperse the germicide within the closed cabinet;   opening the cabinet subsequent to the first disinfection device terminating dispersal of the germicide;   removing the first disinfection device and the first set of one or more objects from the cabinet;   dismantling the cabinet subsequent to said removing the first disinfection device and the first set of one or more objects from the cabinet;   reconstructing the cabinet;   placing a second set of one or more objects into the reconstructed cabinet;   placing a second disinfection device into the reconstructed cabinet;   closing the reconstructed cabinet with the second disinfection device and the second set of one or more objects inside the reconstructed cabinet; and   remotely starting the second disinfection device to disperse the germicide within the closed cabinet.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first disinfection device and the second disinfection device are the same disinfection device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first and second disinfection devices is configured to be independently operational from the cabinet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of placing the one or more objects into the cabinet comprises placing the one or more objects on one or more shelves arranged in the cabinet, placing the one or more object on one or more trays arranged in the cabinet and/or placing the one or more objects in one or more baskets arranged within a cabinet, wherein the one or more shelves, the one or more trays and/or the one or more baskets are transparent to germicidal light and/or comprise through holes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of placing the one or more objects into the cabinet comprises:
 placing the one or more objects on one or more trays, on one or more shelves and/or in one or more baskets, wherein the one or more trays, one or more shelves and/or one or more baskets are transparent to germicidal light and/or comprise through holes; and   subsequently placing the one or more trays, the one or more shelves and/or the one or more baskets in the cabinet.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of placing the one or more objects into the cabinet comprises wheeling at least one of the one or more objects into the cabinet. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the one or more objects comprises wheels. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the one or more objects is supported on a free-standing rack comprising wheels.