Self-disinfecting water trap

Abstract

A self-disinfecting water trap for use in a washbasin having a drain including a housing having a top part and a bottom part defining an interior space adapted for maintaining trapped water. The top part has a first opening configured to engage in a liquid tight manner with the drain of the washbasin, optionally via a hollow inlet pipe, and a second opening configured to engage in a liquid tight manner with a hollow outlet pipe for discharging waste water. The bottom part is adapted to receive and maintain an UVC light source in a liquid tight manner, wherein the UVC light source when in operation radiate the trapped water and the total interior space.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A self-disinfecting water trap for use in a washbasin having a drain comprising a housing having a top part and a bottom part defining an interior space adapted for maintaining trapped water, wherein
 (i) the top part has a first opening configured to engage in a liquid tight manner with the drain of the washbasin, optionally via a hollow inlet pipe, and a second opening configured to engage in a liquid tight manner with a hollow outlet pipe for discharging waste water;   (ii) the bottom part is adapted to receive and maintain an UVC light source in a liquid tight manner, wherein the UVC light source when in operation radiate the trapped water and the total interior space.   
     
     
         24 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , wherein the UVC light source is adapted to radiate all the trapped water and all of the interior space. 
     
     
         25 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , comprising the hollow inlet pipe having a first end and an opposite second end both of which are open, wherein the first end extends into the interior space of the housing and is adapted to extend below the second opening of the top part, and the second end is configured to engage in a liquid tight manner with the drain of the washbasin. 
     
     
         26 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , comprising the hollow outlet pipe having a first end and an opposite second end both of which are open, wherein the first end extends into the second opening of the top part and the second end is adapted to discharge waste water. 
     
     
         27 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , comprising the UVC light source. 
     
     
         28 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 27 , wherein the UVC light source is adapted to provide UVC light at 254 nm. 
     
     
         29 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 28 , wherein the UVC light source is one UVC lamp providing UVC light at 254 nm. 
     
     
         30 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 29 , wherein the UVC lamp is located centrally in the bottom part of the housing. 
     
     
         31 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom part is adapted to receive the UVC light source through one opening configured to receive the UVC light source and maintain it in a liquid tight manner. 
     
     
         32 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom part is adapted to receive the UVC light source through two opposite openings both configured to receive the UVC light source and maintain it in a liquid tight manner. 
     
     
         33 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 27 , wherein the UVC light source is coated with a nanocover not absorbed by the UVC light. 
     
     
         34 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , wherein all parts of the water trap are made of metal, such as an alloy, e.g. brass, optionally chrome plated. 
     
     
         35 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , wherein all inner parts of the water trap are smooth to reduce formation of biofilms. 
     
     
         36 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 27 , wherein all inner parts of the water trap are radiated by the UVC light source. 
     
     
         37 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , wherein the top and bottom parts are detachable and connectable in a liquid tight manner. 
     
     
         38 . The self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom part comprises a detachable lid or plug connected in a liquid tight manner adapted to remove the trapped water. 
     
     
         39 . A method of disinfecting water from a washbasin having a drain comprising providing the self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23  and connecting the water trap to the drain of the washbasin and adapting the outlet pipe for discharging waste water. 
     
     
         40 . A washbasin system having a washbasin and a drain comprising (a) a self-disinfecting water trap of  claim 23 , and (b) the drain is adapted to be in liquid tight connection with the hollow inlet pipe, wherein the inlet pipe is made of a metal and has an inner surface which is smooth and which is adapted to be exposed to the UVC light from the water trap. 
     
     
         41 . The washbasin system of  claim 40 , wherein the drain comprises a strainer element integrated in the washbasin and adapted to receive a plug for containing water in the washbasin, wherein the strainer element has multiple openings for water to get through. 
     
     
         42 . The washbasin system of  claim 41 , wherein the multiple openings of the strainer are adapted to remove water efficiently from the washbasin and to reduce light from the UVC light source with at least 30%, such as at least 50%.