WO1998034651A1

WO1998034651A1 - Distributor of silver ions for sterilizing liquids, especially water and objects

Info

Publication number: WO1998034651A1
Application number: PCT/IT1997/000039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Glisente Landrini
Original assignee: Glisente Landrini
Priority date: 1997-02-11
Filing date: 1997-02-26
Publication date: 1998-08-13
Also published as: IT1304957B1; AU2229897A; ITMI970272A1

Abstract

Device (15, 30) for sterilizing liquids, especially water, and objects, of a compact structure or comprising compact means, made of plastic material offering maximum extension of surface interface with the liquid, said surface being silver coated for distribution of silver ions to said liquid and to the objects immersed therein, one or more of such units being associated to a filtering cartridge (140) placed inside a water purifier (110) having an arm (113) comprising a nozzle (114-115) whose axis is parallel to the purifier to be applied to water taps, and an oblong valve (120) on which is an external knob (121) to permit water to flow through freely or through the filtering cartridge (140) as preferred.

Description

Distributor of silver ions for sterilizing liquids, especially water and objects

Innumerable systems and means are used for sterilizing liquids, especially water, and objects by placing them in contact with liquids treated for the purpose. The products concerned are nearly always suitably chosen chemicals used in the proportions and compounds most certain to secure maximum sterilization though obviously avoiding harm to objects or persons by reducing toxicity almost inevitably present when chemicals are employed. Further problems with sterilization concern the cost of such chemicals, the means of distribution or of placing them in contact with the liquids and objects to be treated.

Sterilization presents the greatest problems when it has to be done on a large scale without any possibility of limiting its effects to the quantities or objects used in daily life. Clearly therefore difficulties arise over costs and over the wide variety of objects to be sterilized bearing in mind that, especially in households, such problems concern family economy, health and the integrity of objects in common use.

The innovative process here described offers an almost complete solution to such problems and greatly adds to the comfort of users. This process is based on the well-known germicidal properties of silver. Numerous tests, recently repeated at the University of Milan and elsewhere using water charged with abnormal quantities of deadly bacteria such as cholera and salmonella, have once more produced surprising results as, with the above process, the infected water was found to become sterile within a few hours.

The invention concerns sterilization of liquids and of objects generally, especially those in frequent use. Subject of the invention is a device for sterilizing liquids especially water and objects placed in contact with such liquids.

The structure of the device is compact, or comprises compact means, offering maximum extension of interface surfaces with the liquids, and the coating of said surfaces with silver for maximum distribution of silver ions. According to requirements said compact means may be groups of spherical bodies, spherical bodies connected by one or more rings forming an annular structure or else a discoid structure with several grooves on both faces, or equivalent means.

The rings of the annular structure with spherical bodies may advantageously be concentric and coplanar. One or more units of the annular structure may be placed inside a water filtering cartridge while the discoid structure may be applied exter-nally to the base of said filtering cartridge.

In one advantageous structure the filtering cartridge comprises a cylindrical filtering body with very thick walls of felt closed at each end by flat caps, the upper one being closed and the lower one having in it a central tubular column free at both ends and ending at a short distance from the base of the upper cap to which a thick disk of felt is applied. The cylindrical body is filled with vetegable active carbon. After passing, under pressure, through the filtering sides of the cy- lindrical body, through the active carbon and the upper felt disk, the water is forced, after making a curve of about 180°, to pass inside the tubular column and emerge outside from the lower cap. In one advantageous execution, dimensions of the cylindrical felt filter of 10-50 microns are substantially as follows: external diameter 45 mm, internal diameter 37 mm, height 44 mm.

In another advantageous execution the filtering cartridge is fitted inside the hollow body of a substantially cylindrical purifier comprising a connection to fit onto an ordinary water tap and a central hole through which the cleaned water passes into a diffusing means. Internal dimensions of the hollow body are slightly greater than the external diameter of the filtering cartridge so as to create a lateral cavity for passage of the water coming in through the upper connection.

In the purifying hollow body there is an upper hole for free communication with the connection and a lower hole for communication with a dif- fuser through which the purified water comes out. Said holes are substantially aligned with the cartridge and with the hollow body.

In the base of the hollow body of the purifier is a central hole, for passage of purified water, surrounded by a circular truncated-cone-shaped seat provided with an annular washer and matching with a truncated-cone- shaped expansion of the same taper fixed to the base of the filtering cartridge.

In the diffuser there is preferably a small transversal shaft with a cam placed in contact with the lower side of the truncated-cone-shaped expansion on the base of the cartridge, there being a small lever at the end of the shaft that emerges from the diffuser. On rotating the lever, therefore, the truncated-cone-shaped expansion in the filtering cartridge can be kept in contact with the washer so that the water, penetrating inside the hollow body of the purifier has to pass through the filtering cartridge or, conversely, by pressing the cam against said truncated-cone-shaped expansion, the filtering cartridge becomes detached from the washer and therefore allows the water to flow straight from the upper connection to the lower diffuser without passing through the filtering cartridge. The silver-coated annular structure placed inside the vegetable carbon and the silver-coated disk placed on the bottom of the cartridge purify the water whether it is passing through the filter or whether it lies in the cavity between the base of the cartridge and the base of said purifying hollow body.

In another advantageous type of execution the filtering cartridge is inserted inside a purifying hollow body connected by a lower transversal arm to an entry nozzle with a ring nut to fix it to a water tap. The axis of said body is parallel to the axis of the nozzle. Through said transversal arm two holes communicate with the outside, one hole aligned with said nozzle and the other aligned with the purifier containing the filtering cartridge.

Inside, and aligned with said transversal arm, is an oblong valve, with an external knob, having in it a duct that connects the water entry mouth with the inner chamber of said hollow body, there being a branch that connects said mouth with the transversal hole aligned to it. By turning the knob water from the tap can freely pass through said transversal hole or else through the filtering cartridge from where it emerges purified from the hole aligned with the hollow body. The cylindrical body of the hollow purifying body is preferably transparent so that the colour of the first cylindrical filter in the cartridge can be seen. The material used for the hollow body of the container is preferably Kostil. In one type of execution the invented device is inserted in a cup-shaped container with a lid in which there are one or more holes large enough to receive at least the operative part of an instrument for cleaning teeth such as a toothbrush, a gum stimulating or cleaning tool and the like. From the liquid in the cup silver ions spread onto said tools. The device may be the annular or disk structure or the group of spheres already described or some equivalent means. The device may be put into a cup-like container, for cleaning and protecting a denture, said container comprising a moveable strainer, on which to lay the denture, with the device placed on the bottom of the container under the strainer. Both the denture and the device are immersed in the liquid from which silver ions pass onto the denture.

In another type of execution the device is placed inside a container for sterilizing contact lenses and there too silver ions reach the lenses im- mersed in the ion-distributing liquid.

In another type of execution the device is placed inside a container large enough to receive one or more baby's feeding bottles, the liquid in the container conveying silver ions onto the bottles. The invention offers evident advantages. The invention may be used to provide devices of different shapes and adaptability, a common feature being their compactness in relation to the large interface exchange surfaces with a liquid. In this way maximum exploitation is obtained of the germicidal and sterilizing properties generally of silver confirmed by the experiments carried out by public bodies, pro- perties manifested by release and diffusion of particles - silver ions - throughout a liquid into which a body, especially of silver coated plastic material-, is placed.

The base of these devices is preferably of plastic material or equivalent as this eliminates the effect of molecular, magnetic ^"or other types of attraction specific to metal, facilitating detachment of the silver coating, dispersal and diffusion of the active silver particles in the sterilizing liquid and their distribuution onto the objects put into it. By means of suitable containers, conveyors, means that facilitate physico-chemical connection between the devices that give off the silver ions and the objects to be sterilized, said particles rapidly sterilize objects of everyday use and therefore those most liable to infection, such as toothbrushes, dental tools, dentures, baby's feed bottles, contact lenses and many others, and especially the water from ordinary taps. Compared with the numerous disinfectants on the market whose action is substantially chemical and therefore to some extent toxic - products that must be chosen with the greatest care according to the use made of them, both to reduce toxicity as far as possible and to keep costs within acceptable limits - the above invention represents a new departure in ste- rilization especially in the home, not only by supplying already sterilized water but, as already mentioned, rapidly sterilizing objects of everyday use in family life, those that are most likely to harbour germs. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures.

Fig. 1 Device consisting of a set of silver-coated spheres, perspective. Fig. 2 Annular device comprising spheres joined by a ring, perspective. Fig. 3 Annular device of spheres joined by concentric rings, perspective. Fig. 4 Device consisting of a perforated disk with concentric undulations on both faces, plan view and cross section. Fig. 5 Annular device in a glass of water holding a denture, perspective. Fig. 6 Device with a set of spheres in a glass of water containing a denture, perspective. Fig. 7 Annular device in a glass of water in which toothbrush bristles are immersed in the liquid, perspective. Fig. 8 Device with several spheres in a glass of water, in which the head of a toothbrush is immersed, perspective. Fig. 9 Discoid device resting on the bottom of a container full of liquid for protecting and sterilizing contact lensesm perspective.

Fig.10 Discoid device resting on the bottom of a container full of liquid for sterilizing baby's bottles, perspective. Fig.11 Discoid device resting on the bottom of a glass with perforated cap through which dental tools can pass for sterilization in the liquid. Fig.12 Device with several spheres on the bottom of a glass of water with a perforated cap through which dental tools can be inserted. Fig.13 Discoid device on the bottom of a denture sterilizer, an exploded perspective. Fig.14 As in Fig. 13 in perspective and in a longitudinal section. Fig.15 Annular and discoid devices placed inside the filtering cartridge of a water purifier, with lateral nozzle for application to a water tap, in the filtering position, a longitudinal section. Fig.16 The same as Fig.15 with the filter excluded. Fig.17 Annular and discoid devices placed inside a water filter, with axial nozzle for application to a water tap, in the filtering position, a longitudinal section. The Figure 1 shows a distributing device 10 of silver ions consisting of a number of spheres 11 of plastic material 12, coated 13 with silver.

Figure 2 illustrates a distributing device 15 of silver ions formed by connecting spheres, like the above spheres 1 1 , on an axial circular ring 17. Figure 3 shows a distributor device 20 of silver ions made by joining spheres 21 , 22, like spheres 1 1 , on concentric and coplanar rings 23, 24. The above rings 17, 23, 24 are of plastic material coated with silver.

Figure 4 shows a disk 30 with central hole 31 and concentric undulations forming grooves 32, 33 on both faces, coated with layers of silver 34, 35. Spacer teeth 36 are set at equal angular distances on the outer edge. When all these devices 10, 15, 20,30 are immersed in liquid, especially water, particles if silver become detached from the coating and form silver ions that sterilize the liquid.

The ions disperse and their solution spreads throughout the liquid transmitting their sterilizing action to the bodies immersed in it. Figures 5 to 17 show various ways of using the devices described or similar to those described, to explain their effect.

Figues 5 and 6 illustrate sterilization of a denture 40 immersed in the liquid 41 that fills the glass 42.

The device 15, already described, formed of a crown of spheres, can be put into the liquid, or alternatively the set of spheres 10 that settle on the bottom 43 of the glass.

The silver coating on said devices 10 and 15 produces silver ions 44 that sterilize the liquid 41 , which may be plain water, and consequently the denture put into it. Fiigures 7 and 8 illustrate sterilization of a toothbrush 50 with the bristles 51 of the head immersed in the liquid 52 that fills the glass 53.

Device 15 already described and consisting of crown of spheres, or else the set 10 of spheres, can be put into the liquid and these lie at the bottom 54 of the glass. The silver coating of said devices 10 and 15 produces silver ions 55 that sterilize the liquid 52, especially water, and therefore the toothbrush immersed in it.

Fig. 9 illustrates an ordinary container 60 with a lid 61 for sterilizing con- tact lenses 65, 66 by immersion in the prepared liquid 62.

Lying on the bottom 63 of said container is the already described disk 30 coated with silver, providing an extensive interface between the liquid in the container and the silver surface, an interface that is increased by the undulations and by the spacers on the outer ring. The contact lenses will thus be quickly safely and thoroughly sterilized. Figure 10 shows a cup-shaped container 70, with a lid 71 , filled with a liquid 72, especially water.

Two baby's bottles 73 and 74 with rubber teats 75 and 76 are immersed in this liquid while a disk 30, like the one described, lies on the bottom 77. The silver ions 78 do their sterilizing work quickly and thoroughly.

Figures 1 1 and 12 illustrate a cylindrical container 80 closed by a lid 81 in which there are four holes 82 for inserting dental material such as the toothbrush 83, the gum activator 84 and the cleaning tool 85. On the bottom of said container a disk 15, as in Fig. 11 , or a set of silver coated spheres 10 can be placed as preferred.

In either case silver ions 87 develop in the water 86 that fills the container and sterlize these tools while not in use.

Figs 13 and 14 show in perspective a longitudinal section and exploded view of an apparatus 90 for disinfecting dentures. This cylindricaly shaped apparatus comprises a cup 91 , a cylindrical strainer 92 and a lid 93.

Externally on the base 94 of the drainer there is a raised ring 95 with teeth 96 set at an equal angular distance surrounded by a geometrical circle slightly greater than the hole 31 in the disk 30 described in Fig. 4. This disk can therefore be fixed to the outside of the drainer's base.

When the apparatus is closed, as seen in Fig. 14 and the denture 98 is placed inside the drainer, the disk 30 will lie between the bottom 97 of the cylindrical cup and the outer base 94 of the drainer, while the denture will rest on the inner side of the base of the strainer.

The water 99 that fills the container and passes freely through the holes 100 in the bottom of the strainer, is charged with the silver ions distrib- uted by the disk 30, and sterilizes the denture.

Figs 15 and 16 illustrate application of the described devices to a water purifier that can be mounted on an ordinary tap.

The water purifier 110 substantially comprises an overturned cylindrical cup 1 1 1 whose lower end matches with a base 112 connected to a lower transversal arm 1 13 at whose end is a mouth 114 fitted with a ring nut 115 for connection to an ordinary kind of tap.

Inside said arm 112 is an oblong valve 120, with an external knob 121 , having in it an internal duct 122 and a branch 130 that joins said mouth 114 to a duct 131 aligned with the mouth 114. The geometrical axis common to said duct 131 and mouth 114 is substantially parallel to the geometrical axis of the cup 1 11 of the purifier. Below, said purifier is completed by its casing 116 in which the lower mouth 131 is aligned with the tap for outflow of unfiltered water, and the mouth 132 for outflow of filtered water through the purifier. Inside it is the filtering cartridge 140 having a cylindrical body 141 with thick felt sides closed at each end by a flat cap, an upper closed one 150 and a lower one 151 with a central tubular column 153 ending just short of the base 154 of the upper cap, which base has a disk 142 of thick felt. The cylindrical body 141 is filled with vegetable active carbon 143. The water, as shown in Fig. 15, from the tap, passes through the mouth 114 and duct 122 and flows inside the cavity 145 between the filtering cartridge 140 and the sides of the cup 111.

Water under pressure penetrates the first filter 141 , then passes through the active carbon 143 and upper felt disk 142, makes a curve of about 180° into the tubular column 154 emerging from the lower cap 151.

On leaving said cap filtered water runs through the axial hole 154 in the arm 113, in line with column 153, then through the hole 132 for use. As will be seen in Fig. 15, a sterilized ring 15, like that described in Fig. 2, is placed in the body 143 created by the vegetable carbon, while the sterilizing disk 30, like that described in Fig. 4, is placed between the base of lower cap 151 of filtering cartridge 140 and the lower base 112. The water arriving from the tap is therefore cleaned by the first felt filter 141 , by the second vegetable carbon filter 143, by the distributor of silver ions 15 and by the third discoid felt filter 142.

The water that passes or lies between the base 1 12 of the purifier and the filtering cartridge 140 is sterilized by the aforesaid disk 30. Fig. 16 illustrates the same purifier as in Fig. 15 but with the knob 121 turned at 90° to allow free passage of the water from the tap between the mouth 1 14 and the lower mouth 131 of the purifier through the branch 130 of the oblong valve 120, while the passage towards the body of the purifier containing the filtering cartridge 140 remains closed. Fig. 17 illustrates a purifier 160 that uses the same filtering cartridge 140 described earlier, except that the connection 161 for a water tap and outflow nozzle 170 for the water to be used, lie along the same axis. The connection 161 is fixed to the upper lid 162 of a cup-shaped body 163 at whose lower end presents the connection 164 for the nozzle 170. On passing through connection 161 , water from the tap has to flow into cavity 165 between cup 163 and filtering cartridge 140, and to penetrate inside the filtering cartridge 140 in the body 141 as previously described, after which it passes out, through the duct 166, from the nozzle 170. The washer 180 prevents direct passage of unfiltered water into the nozzle 170 while the water that settles between the base of the cartridge 140 and the bottom of the cup-shaped body 163 of the purifier is sterilized by the disk 30.

By rotating the transversal lever 185 the filtering cartridge 140 can be raised, by means of the cam 186, detaching it from the washer 180, so that the water passes through the cavities 165 and out through the nozzle 170.

Claims

1. Device (10, 15, 20, 30) for sterilizing liquids (41 , 52, 62, 72), especially water (86, 99) and objects, characterized in that it presents a structure that is compact or comprises compact means, offering maximum extension of interface surface with the liquids and with the silver coating (13, 34, 35) of said surface for distribution of silver ions (44, 55, 78, 87).

2. Device (10, 15, 20, 30) as in claim 1 , characterized in that it is made of plastic material (12) to facilitate detach- ment of silver ions (44, 55, 78, 87) and their dispersal and diffusion in the liquids (41 , 52, 62, 72, 86, 99).

3. Device (10) as in claim 1 , characterized in that the compact means are spherical bodies (11).

4. Device (15) as in claim 3, characterized in that the spherical bodies (16, 21 , 22) in the structure are joined by one (17) or more rings (23, 24) to form an annular structure (15, 20)

5. Device (20) as in claim 4, characterized in that the rings (23, 24) of the structure with spherical bodies (21 , 22) are concentric and coplanar.

6. Device (30) as in claim 1 , characterized in that the compact structure is formed of a disk (30) having in it a number of grooves (32, 33) on both faces.

7. Device (15) as in claim 4, characterized in that one or more units of the device are inserted inside a cartridge (140) for filtering water.

8. Device (30) as in claim 6, characterized in that it is applied externally to the base of a filtering cartridge (140).

9. Device (15, 30) as in claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the filtering cartridge (140) comprises a cylindrical filtering body (141) with thick walls of felt closed at each end by two cylindrical caps, an upper closed one (150) and a lower one (151) having in it a central tubular column (153) free at both ends, that terminates at a short distance from the base (154) of the upper cap (150) to which base a thick disk (142) of felt is applied, the cylindrical body (141) being filled with vegetable active carbon (143) so that the water, passing under pressure through the filtering sides of the cylindrical body (141), through the active carbon (143) and the upper felt disk (142), and having made a curve of about 180┬░, is obliged to pass inside the tubular column (153) emerging outside from the lower cap (151).

10. Device as in claim 9, characterized in that dimensions of the cylindrical felt filtering body (141) are substantially as follows: external diameter 45 mm, internal diameter 37 mm, height 44 mm.

1 1. Device as in claim 9, characterized in that the felt of the cylindrical filter is 10-50 microns.

12. Device (15, 30) as in claims 7 and 8. characterized in that the filtering cartridge (140) is placed inside a substantially cylindrical hollow-bodied purifier (1 10, 160) comprising an upper connection (114-1 15, 161) to fit onto an ordinary water tap and a central diffuser nozzle (132, 170) for outflow of purified water, internal dimensions of the hollow body (1 1 1 , 163) being slightly greater than the external diameter of the filtering cartridge (140) so as to create a lateral cavity (145, 165) for passage of water entering through the upper connection (114-115,161 ).

13. Device (15, 30) as in claim 12, characterized in that, in the hollow purifying body (160), there is an upper hole for free communication with the connection (161 ) and a lower hole (166) for free communication with a diffuser (170) for outflow of purified water, said holes being substantially in line with the cartridge (140) and with the hollow body (163), the lower central hole (166) being surrounded by a truncated-cone-shaped circular seat, fitted with an annular washer, (180) matching with a truncated-cone-shaped expansion fixed to the bottom of the filtering cartridge, there being in the diffuser (170) a small transversal shaft with a cam (186) placed in contact with the lower side of the truncated-cone-shaped expansion on the bottom of the cartridge, one end emerging from the diffuser (160) being fitted with a lever (185) which, when rotated, leaves the truncated-cone-shaped expansion on the cartridge in contact with the washer (180) thereby forcing the water in the hollow body to pass through the filtering cartridge, or else, by moving the cam towards said expansion, so detaching it from the washer and allowing free passage of water from the upper connection (161) to the lower diffuser (170) without passing through the filtering cartridge (140), the silver-coated annular structure (15) placed inside the vegetable carbon (143) and the silver-coated disk (30) placed in the bottom of the cartridge (140) purifying the water that passes through the filter or that lies in the cavity between the base of the cartridge (140) and the base of said hollow-bodied purifier (160).

14. Device (15, 30) as in claim 12, characterized in that the hollow-bodied purifier (110) is connected, by a lower transversal arm to a mouth (1 14) fitted with a ring nut (115) for fixing it to a water tap, the axis of said hollow body being parallel to the axis of the mouth, said arm (1 13) having in it two lower mouths (131 , 132) communicating freely with the outside, one mouth (131) being in line with said upper entry mouth (1 14) and the other lower mouth (132) being in line with the hollow body (1 1 1) containing the filtering cartridge (140), there being inside said transversal arm (113) an oblong valve (120), with an external knob (121), inside it a duct (122), that connects the mouth (114) with the internal chamber (145) of said hollow body, and a branch (130) that connects said upper mouth (1 14) with the lower mouth (131) in line with said upper mouth (1 14), it being thus possible,by moving the knob (121), to allow the water from the tap to pass straight through said lower mouth (131) or else force it to pass through the filtering cartridge (141) and emerge, once purified, from the mouth(132) in line with the hollow body (111).

15. Device (15, 30) as in claim 12, characterized in that the cylindrical wall of the hollow-bodied purifier (111 , 153) is transparent to show the colour of the cylindrical filter (141) of the cartridge (140).

16. Device (15, 30) as in claim 12, characterized in that the material used for the hollow body (11 1 , 163) of the purifier is Kostil.

17. Device (15, 30) as in claim 12, characterized in that the hollow body (1 11) is shaped substantially like an overturned cup and screws onto a base (112) fixed to the transversal arm (1 13).

18. Device (15) as in claim 6, characterized in that it is placed inside a cup-shaped container (80) with a cover (81) on it containing one or more holes (82), dimensions of the container being such that it can receive at least the operative part of tools for cleaning the teeth such as a toothbrush (83), a gum stimulator, a cleaning tool (85) and others, dimensions of said holes permitting easy passage of said operative parts so that they can be reached by the silver ions (87) present in the fluid (86) in the container (80).

19. Device (10) as in claim 3, characterized in that it is placed inside a cup-shaped container (80) on which is a cover (81) containing one or more holes (82), dimensions of the container being such that it can receive at least the operative part of tools for cleaning the teeth such as a toothbrush (83) a gun stimulator (84), a cleaning tool (85) and others, dimensions of said holes permitting easy passage of said operative parts so that they can be reached by the silver ions (87) present in the fluid (86) in the container (80).

20. Device (30) as in claim 6, characterized in that it is placed in a container (90) shaped like a cup (91) for cleaning and protecting a denture (98), comprising a moveable strainer (92) supporting the denture (98), placed between the base (97) and said strainer (92), said container (90) containing water (99) or some other liquid in which both the denture (98) and the device (30) are immersed for distribution of silver ions through said liquid to said denture.

21. Device (30) as in claim 6, characterized in that it is placed inside a container (60) for sterilization of contact lenses (65, 66) for disribution of silver ions through the liquid (62) in the container (60) to said contact lenses (65, 66).

22. Device (30) as in claim 6, characterized in that it is placed inside a container (70) suitable for receiving one or more baby's feeding bottles (73, 74) for distribution of silver ions (78) through water or some other liquid (82) inside said container (70).