Drain disinfecting device and method of installing the same

Abstract

A drain disinfecting device for disinfecting the internal surface of a drain pipe wall that is provided with a hole or aperture includes a UV LED module provided with a transparent lens through which UV-C light can be transmitted. The module is attached to the drain pipe to register the transparent lens with the hole in the drain pipe to transmit UV light through the transparent lens into the interior of the drain pipe to irradiate the drain pipe inner surface and any pathogens contained therein with UV light. A controller or power source is provided for energizing the module. A method of converting an existing drain pipe to disinfect the interior surface includes forming a hole or aperture in the wall of the drain pipe and registering the drain disinfecting device with the hole or aperture in the drain pipe.

1 . A disinfecting device for disinfecting the interior of a drain pipe leading from a sink drain inlet of a sink basin to a U-shaped trap beneath the sink basin, the device comprising a cylindrical drain pipe section having a predetermined diameter D positionable below or downstream of the sink drain inlet provided with a generally circular hole having a diameter d<0.63D between the sink drain inlet and the U-shaped trap; at least one UV-C LED module registered with the hole and in abutment with the drain pipe section arranged to transmit UV-C light into the interior of the drain pipe section to irradiate the interior surface of the drain pipe section and any airborne pathogens contained therein with UV-C light in proximity to said drain inlet; and energizing means for energizing said at least one UV-C LED module, whereby energizing said at least one UV-C LED module irradiates said interior surface of said drain pipe section and any airborne pathogens contained therein which pathogens are destroyed within said drain pipe section proximate to said drain inlet to inhibit pathogens from entry into the sink basin. 
     
     
         2 . A drain disinfecting device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one UV-C module includes a transparent medium formed of glass or other UV-C transmissive lens at the hole to protect said UV-C module. 
     
     
         3 . A drain disinfecting device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said transparent medium is formed of quartz. 
     
     
         4 . A drain disinfecting device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising sealing means for creating a waterproofing seal at an interface between the hole and said at least one UV-C module. 
     
     
         5 . A drain disinfecting device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of UV-C modules are provided for attachment to the drain pipe in spaced relationship from each other along the drain pipe for irradiating different inner surface portions of the drain pipe through associated holes or apertures in the drain pipe. 
     
     
         6 . A modified drain pipe for use between a sink basin and a trap comprising a section of a cylindrical drain pipe leading from a drain inlet of a sink basin to a U-shaped trap beneath the sink basin, said cylindrical section of drain pipe having a predetermined diameter D; a drain disinfecting device for disinfecting the interior of said drain pipe section and any airborne pathogens contained within said drain pipe section leading from a drain inlet of a sink basin to the U-shaped trap beneath the sink basin through a generally circular hole or aperture in the drain pipe section having a diameter d<0.63D, said disinfecting device comprising a UV-C LED module integrally formed with said drain pipe section; and energizing means for energizing said UV-C LED module and transmitting UV-C light through the hole into the interior of said drain pipe section to irradiate the interior of the drain pipe section and any airborne pathogens contained therein with UV-C light. 
     
     
         7 . A modified drain pipe as defined in  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of UV-C LED modules are provided on said drain pipe. 
     
     
         8 . A method of converting a drain pipe to disinfect the interior space of a section of the drain pipe having a predetermined diameter D leading from a drain inlet of a sink basin to a U-shaped trap beneath the sink basin comprising the steps of forming a generally circular hole or aperture in a wall of the drain pipe section, said hole having a diameter d<0.63D; registering a drain disinfecting device comprising a UV-C LED module with said hole or aperture in the drain pipe section; energizing said UV-C LED module to enable UV-C light to be transmitted into the drain pipe section through the hole or aperture proximate to the drain inlet to enable UV-SC light to irradiate the interior of the drain pipe section and any airborne pathogens contained therein, whereby pathogens are destroyed within said drain pipe section proximate to said drain inlet to inhibit pathogens from entry from said drain pipe section into the sink basin. 
     
     
         9 . A method of converting a drain pipe as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said hole or aperture is formed by drilling a hole in the wall of the drain pipe. 
     
     
         10 . A method of converting a drain pipe as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said module is secured to the drain pipe by applying an adhesive seal along an interface of said module and said hole or aperture 
     
     
         11 . A method of converting a drain pipe as defined in  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of spaced holes or apertures are formed in the drain pipe and a module is sealingly secured to an associated hole or aperture. 
     
     
         12 . A method of converting a drain pipe as defined in claim  14 , wherein said holes or apertures are linearly and/or angularly spaced from each other along length direction of the drain pipe. 
     
     
         13 . A drain disinfecting device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said hole or aperture is located proximate to the drain inlet.