DE102024131473A1 - Safety arrangements for a disinfection container and vehicle with a disinfection container - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety arrangement for a disinfection container is disclosed, comprising an opening closable by a lid, the lid being movable into an open or closed position, comprising at least one radiation source and at least two contact switches, the at least two contact switches being closable by the lid being movable into the closed position, and the at least one radiation source being electrically connectable to a power source via the at least two simultaneously closed contact switches. Furthermore, a disinfection container and a vehicle with a disinfection container are disclosed.

Description

The invention relates to a safety arrangement for a disinfection container, comprising an opening closable by a lid and at least one radiation source, wherein the lid can be moved into an open or a closed position. The invention further relates to a disinfection container and a vehicle with a disinfection container.

In various fields, light in the ultraviolet wavelength range, or so-called UV-C radiation, is used to sterilize or disinfect surfaces, ambient air, or water. UV-C radiation is also used for disinfection in vehicles. For example, built-in or portable units can be provided that allow personal belongings to be irradiated with UV-C radiation to sterilize them.

However, a problematic aspect of using UV-C radiation for disinfection is the risk to people's eyes and skin. For this reason, strict safety measures must be in place to use UV-C radiation in vehicles. If a container is opened, the radiation source must be switched off immediately and automatically. Current products use motion sensors, light sensors, or contact switches to ensure these safety measures. DE 10 2020 006 035 A1 For example, such a storage arrangement is described with a storage compartment of a vehicle, which has an integrated disinfection unit for disinfecting objects using UV-C radiation.

The use of motion or light sensors is typically expensive and requires additional installation space. While individual contact switches are cost-effective, they can be manipulated or misused. For example, children could open a disinfectant container and hold down the contact switch. In such a scenario, the radiation source could be activated while the disinfectant container is open.

DE 10 2022 131 207 A1 Disclosing a device for disinfection in a vehicle, comprising a housing that includes a UV-C radiation source and is closable by means of a lid. A contact switch interrupts the power supply to the UV-C radiation source when the lid is opened.

The object of the present invention is to provide a safety arrangement for a disinfection container and a vehicle that is cost-efficient and can ensure tamper-proof deactivation of a UV-C radiation source when the disinfection container is opened.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a safety arrangement with the features of claim 1, a disinfection container with the features of claim 8, and a vehicle with the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, a safety device for a disinfection container is provided. The safety device has an opening that can be closed by a lid and at least one radiation source. The at least one radiation source serves to generate radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum, preferably in a spectrum that extends into or covers exclusively the UV-C range.

The cover can be moved into an open or closed position. Furthermore, at least two contact switches are provided, which can be closed by moving the cover into the closed position. A closed contact switch can either conduct or block an electrical current. The contact switches can, for example, be designed as push buttons that conduct or block current when pressure is maintained.

The at least one radiation source can be electrically connected to an energy source via the at least two simultaneously closed contact switches.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a disinfection container is provided which has a safety arrangement according to the invention. Furthermore, the disinfection container has a receiving chamber that can be exposed to UV-C radiation and has an opening that can be closed by a lid.

The disinfection container thus has a compartment into which objects can be placed for sterilization or disinfection. The radiation source is deactivated as soon as the lid is opened. When the lid is closed, at least one radiation source can be activated for a predefined period of time.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a vehicle is provided which has at least one disinfection container according to the invention. The disinfection container can, for example, be designed as a container installed in the center armrest. Alternatively or additionally, the disinfection container can be designed as a glove compartment.

To prevent misuse or manipulation, multiple cost-effective contact switches are used to achieve a redundant safety measure. Such mechanical solutions are technically very simple and, for example, not susceptible to software errors. This allows the safety arrangement to be particularly robust and reliable.

In one embodiment, the at least two contact switches are designed as pushbuttons, electrical contact surfaces, proximity sensors, capacitive sensors, and/or resistive sensors. This allows the contact switches to be optimally selected for the desired application scenarios.

Depending on the design, Hall sensors or reed contacts can also be used in conjunction with magnets or permanent magnets as contact switches. In this configuration, one or more permanent magnets are separated from the Hall sensors or reed contacts by opening the cover and brought closer to them by closing the cover.

In another embodiment, the energy source, the at least one radiation source, and the at least two contact switches are electrically connected in series. This electrical circuit enables a technically simple and robust implementation of the safety arrangement, which can reliably prevent activation of the radiation source when the lid is open.

According to another embodiment, the at least two contact switches are spatially spaced apart. This prevents or at least makes it more difficult for the contact switches to be activated simultaneously when the lid is open, thus preventing unintentional activation of the radiation source when the lid is open. The safety level of the safety arrangement can be increased if at least two contact switches are arranged on opposite sides of the lid.

According to a further embodiment, at least one of the at least two contact switches is arranged on the lid side or in the lid, or on the container side or in the area of the opening. This allows the contact switches to be statically arranged in the area of the receiving chamber and actuated by the lid. Alternatively, the contact switches, or some of the contact switches, can be arranged in the lid, for example, to compactly integrate all the electronics of the disinfection container (contact switches, radiation source, and interface to the power source) within the lid. Depending on the design, the disinfection container can include further electronic or electrical components to enable, for example, time-controlled deactivation and/or external activation of the radiation source.

According to another embodiment, the lid can be moved into the open or closed position around a pivot axis of a hinge using a handle. Advantageously, at least one contact switch is arranged on the lid side or container side in the area of the lid handle, and at least one further contact switch is arranged on the lid side or container side in the area of the hinge. This maximizes the distance between the contact switches and further increases the safety level of the safety arrangement.

According to a further embodiment, at least one contact switch is arranged in a recess on the lid or container side and can be actuated by a corresponding pressure section. This allows, for example, a disinfection container located in the center console to have at least one concealed contact switch, which can be placed, for instance, in a recess in the hinge or in the area of the hinge. When the lid, which can form a center armrest, is rotated or pivoted, the contact switch can move out of the recess, thereby interrupting the current flow.

• 1 einen Fahrzeuginnenraum eines Fahrzeugs mit einem Desinfektionsbehälter gemäß einem erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiel.
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Sicherheitsanordnung, welche in dem Desinfektionsbehälter aus 1 verbaut ist.

The invention is schematically illustrated with reference to embodiments in the drawings and is further described with reference to the drawings. It shows:

• 1 a vehicle interior of a vehicle with a disinfection container according to an embodiment of the invention.
• 2 a schematic representation of a safety arrangement which is located in the disinfection container made of 1 is installed.

Elements and components with identical or similar constructive or functional characteristics are provided with the same reference symbols across all figures.

1 Figure 1 shows the interior of a vehicle 100 with a disinfection container 20 according to an embodiment of the invention. The disinfection container 20 is designed as a disinfection container 20 arranged in a center console 120 of the vehicle 100.

The disinfection container 20 has a 2 The depicted receiving chamber 21 is accessed via an opening 22, which can be filled or is accessible through this opening. Items can be placed in receiving chamber 21, in particular for sterilization or disinfection.

Furthermore, the disinfection container 20 has a lid 23. The lid 23 can be moved into an open or closed position about a pivot axis D of a hinge 25 on a handle 24. In the open position, the opening 22 is released, and in the closed position of the lid 23, the opening 22 is closed. In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 23 forms a hand resting surface of the center console 120, which can be opened as needed. 1 The lid 23 is shown in a closed position.

The disinfection container 20 also has several radiation sources 11 (see 2 ) which are designed to irradiate recording room 21 with radiation in the ultraviolet wavelength range. In particular, the radiation sources can generate UV-C radiation S to disinfect objects particularly efficiently.

The radiation sources 11 are deactivated as soon as the cover 23 is moved to the open position. When the cover 23 is closed, the radiation sources 11 can be activated for a predefined period of time.

Furthermore, the disinfection container 20 is equipped with a safety device 10. 2 shows a schematic representation of the safety arrangement 10, which is located in the disinfection container 20. 1 is installed.

The cover 23 and the opening 22 to the receiving chamber 21 can be designed as part of the safety arrangement 10. The safety arrangement 10 can further comprise at least one radiation source 11, which serves to generate radiation S in the ultraviolet spectrum or wavelength range. The radiation sources 11 are installed in the cover 23 and can generate radiation S directed away from the support surface of the center console 120 towards the floor.

The illustrated safety arrangement 10 includes, by way of example, two contact switches 12, which are positioned on the lid side in the area of the handle 24 of the lid 23. Furthermore, the safety arrangement 10 includes a third contact switch 13, which is located on the lid side in the area of the hinge 25.

The third contact switch 13 is designed as a concealed contact switch 13, which is positioned in a recess 26 in the area of the hinge 25. When the cover 23 is rotated or pivoted, the third contact switch 13 is moved out of the recess 26. In the closed position of the cover 23, all three contact switches 12, 13 are simultaneously pressed against an edge section of the receiving chamber 21, thereby switching the contact switches 12, 13 on and off.

All three contact switches 12, 13 and the three radiation sources 11 are connected in series with each other and with a power source 130 of the vehicle 100. Thus, current can only flow through the radiation sources 11 when all three contact switches 12, 13 are actuated or conductive. This configuration exists when the cover 23 is in the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact switches 12, 13 are designed as pushbuttons.

REFERENCE MARK LIST:

100

vehicle

110

Vehicle interior

120

center console

130

Energy source

10

Safety arrangement

11

Radiation sources

12

Contact switch in the area of a handle

13

Contact switch in the area of a hinge

20

Disinfection container

21

Recording room

22

opening

23

Lid

24

Handle

25

hinge

26

dent / depression

D

axis of rotation of the lid

S

UV-C rays

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10 2020 006 035 A1 [0003]
• DE 10 2022 131 207 A1 [0005]

Claims (9)

Safety arrangement (10) for a disinfection container (20), comprising an opening (22) that can be closed by a lid (23), wherein the lid (23) can be moved into an open position or into a closed position, comprising at least one radiation source (11) and at least two contact switches (12), wherein the at least two contact switches (12) can be closed by the lid (23) which can be moved into a closed position, wherein the at least one radiation source (11) can be electrically connected to a power source (130) via the at least two simultaneously closed contact switches (12). Security order according to Claim 1 , wherein the at least two contact switches (12, 13) are designed as push buttons, as electrical contact surfaces, as proximity sensors, as capacitive sensors and/or as resistive sensors. Security order according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the energy source (130), the at least one radiation source (11) and the at least two contact switches (12, 13) are electrically connected in series. Security order according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the at least two contact switches (12, 13) are spatially spaced apart from each other. Security order according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein at least one contact switch (12, 13) of the at least two contact switches (12, 13) is arranged on the lid side or in the lid (23) or on the container side or in the area of the opening (22) of the receiving space (21). Security order according to Claim 5 , wherein the lid (23) can be moved into the open or closed position on a handle (24) about a pivot axis (D) of a hinge (25), wherein at least one contact switch (12, 13) is arranged on the lid side or container side in the area of the handle (24) of the lid (23) and at least one further contact switch (12, 13) is arranged on the lid side or container side in the area of the hinge (25). Security order according to Claim 5 or 6 , wherein at least one contact switch (12, 13) is arranged in a recess (26) on the lid side or on the container side and can be actuated by a corresponding pressure section. Disinfection container (20) comprising a safety arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, and comprising a receiving chamber (21) which can be exposed to UV-C radiation (S) and which has an opening (22) which can be closed by the lid (23). Vehicle (100) comprising at least one disinfection container (20) according to Claim 8 .