UV-C Cap Sanitization for Refillable Water Bottles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The proliferation of disposable water bottles and the lack of effective cleaning methods for refillable bottles lead to bacterial contamination, as users often fail to clean their bottles due to difficulty in scrubbing the interior and a misconception that they are not susceptible to contamination.
Innovation Solution
A portable hand-held device with a UV light source integrated into the cap that automatically sanitizes the liquid storage region when the cap is sealed, using a light sensor to ensure UV light is only activated in the absence of ambient light, and optionally includes features like a processor, button, and identifiers for tracking and dispensing liquid characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a refillable water bottle is used to reduce waste, then environmental impact is reduced, but bacterial contamination occurs due to inability to clean the interior effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cleaning methods (brushes, scrubbing) with a UV-C light sanitization system. The UV-C LED module emits ultraviolet light that destroys bacterial DNA, providing effective sanitation without requiring physical contact or disassembly of the bottle interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UV-C light as an intermediary sanitization method. The UV-C radiation acts as a mediator that transfers energy to bacterial DNA, causing breakdown without requiring direct mechanical intervention. The system uses a photodetector as an intermediary safety mechanism to prevent UV activation when the cap is open.
2Ease of operation
If special brushes are used to clean bottle interiors, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle performs self-sanitization through an integrated UV-C light system controlled by a microcontroller. When the cap is closed, the system automatically activates the UV-C LEDs to sanitize the interior, eliminating the need for external cleaning tools or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cleaning function from external tools (brushes) and integrates it into the bottle itself through an embedded UV-C sanitization system. This eliminates the need for separate cleaning equipment while maintaining effective sanitation.
3Reliability
If UV light source is always activated for sanitization, then sanitation effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-C light activation is made dynamic and conditional rather than continuous. The system uses a photodetector to sense ambient light conditions and a microcontroller to determine cap position, activating UV-C only when appropriate (cap closed and ambient light absent), thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining sanitation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through a photodetector that monitors ambient light conditions and cap position. This feedback mechanism prevents UV-C activation when the cap is open or ambient light is present, optimizing energy usage while ensuring sanitation occurs under appropriate conditions.
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 device effectively sanitizes the interior of the bottle, reducing bacterial growth and providing a hygienic solution for storing liquids, while also offering features for tracking and modifying liquid characteristics, such as brand and temperature, to promote the use of refillable bottles and reduce plastic waste.
Implementation Method 1
a UV light source coupled to the power source and for selectively proving UV light, wherein the UV light source is disposed within the cap such that the UV light is directed to the water-tight region
Implementation Method 2
a liquid storage portion comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface... and a material configured to reflect ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 3
a light sensor coupled to the power source within the cap such that ambient light, if any, within the vicinity of the UV light source upon the cap can be sensed
Data Source
AI summary
A method for a water bottle comprising, coupling a cap to bottle housing such that an interior of the water bottle and the cap form a water-tight region, receiving a button push on the cap, determining with a light sensor whether visible light is present in a vicinity of a UV LED light source disposed within the cap, in response to the push of the button, initiating providing with a UV LED light source UV light to the interior in response to the push of the button and in response to absence of the visible light within the vicinity of the UV LED light source, and inhibiting providing with the UV light to the interior after a period of time after the initiating providing UV light to the interior or in response to determining the visible light being present in the vicinity of the UV LED light source.