Ionic oxidation refreshing system and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning and maintaining sports gear and clothing are time-consuming and resource-intensive, often failing to effectively eliminate germs and odors, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, leading to premature degradation and unpleasant smells.
Innovation Solution
An ionic oxidation refreshing system that uses a catalyzed corona discharge device to generate ionized ozone, combined with a quick cleaning filter cartridge, to kill germs and eliminate odors on clothing and gear, ensuring all surfaces are treated and leaving a fresh scent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical sprays and wipes are used to sanitize sports gear, then germs can be killed on accessible surfaces, but hard-to-reach areas remain contaminated and odors persist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ozone gas, a gaseous oxidizing agent, to penetrate and sanitize hard-to-reach areas within sports gear such as shoe interiors, glove palms, and equipment crevices. The gas phase allows uniform distribution and contact with all surfaces, including those inaccessible to liquid sprays or wipes, thereby resolving the contradiction between germ killing effectiveness and coverage of difficult areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs ozone (O3), a strong oxidizing agent, to kill germs and eliminate odors through oxidation reactions. This chemical mechanism provides reliable germ destruction while the gaseous state enables penetration into confined spaces, simultaneously addressing both effectiveness and accessibility requirements.
2Reliability
If frequent laundering is performed to eliminate odors and germs, then hygiene is maintained, but time and resources are wasted and clothing degrades prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ozone gas, which has a short half-life and decomposes naturally into oxygen after use. This allows for frequent, quick sanitizing treatments without the time-consuming and resource-intensive processes of traditional laundering, while maintaining hygiene through effective germ and odor elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
Ozone's powerful oxidizing capability rapidly kills germs and breaks down odor-causing compounds in a short treatment time, providing hygiene maintenance without requiring prolonged washing cycles or multiple cleaning steps, thus reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If professional facility cleaning is used to ensure consistent sanitization results, then germ elimination is effective, but costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables consumers to perform sanitization at home using an ozone generator device, eliminating the need for expensive professional facility services. The system is self-contained and can be operated by the user themselves, providing consistent sanitization results without incurring professional service fees.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of ozone as the active sanitizing agent provides reliable and consistent germ elimination comparable to professional facilities, but through a cost-effective home-based system that uses electricity to generate ozone rather than requiring expensive professional equipment and services.
4Ease of manufacture
If scented sprays are used to mask odors, then a fresh smell is achieved temporarily, but the underlying bacteria and odors remain untreated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of merely masking odors with fragrance, the patent uses ozone to oxidize and eliminate the source of odors—bacteria and organic compounds—through chemical reaction. This provides reliable and lasting odor elimination rather than temporary masking, while the fresh scent comes from the byproduct of oxidation rather than added fragrance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful ozone gas into beneficial effects: as ozone oxidizes odor-causing substances, it decomposes into oxygen, transforming a potentially harmful substance into a beneficial outcome. The process eliminates odors at their source rather than masking them, providing genuine freshness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides quick, consistent, and effective germ killing and odor elimination, extending the life of items and providing a fresh, clean aroma, thus addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
an ionizing stage mechanism that produces an ionized ozone gas mixture inside of the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
a catalyzed corona discharge device to ionize air inside the enclosure and generate a partially ionized cold plasma region
Implementation Method 3
a supercharged gas mixture containing ionized ozone. The gaseous mixture is circulated inside by means of a fan and airflow system. This supercharged airflow kills microorganisms it encounters on the surface of any items
Implementation Method 4
a quick cleaning filter cartridge (e.g., gel polymer catalyst formula) that neutralizes and filters out any toxic by-products from the process
Data Source
AI summary
An ionic oxidation refreshing system for refreshing odorized items, comprising an enclosure to contact the odorized items; an ionizing stage mechanism that produces an ionized ozone gas mixture inside of the enclosure, killing germs, including odor-causing bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungus; and a filtering stage mechanism that neutralizes and filters out any toxic by-products including one or more of ozone, nitric acid, aldehydes, and VOCs resulting from surface oxidation of the odorized items by the ionized ozone gas mixture.