Ultraviolet Disinfection for a Water Bottle

Abstract

Disinfection of a surface, such as a mouthpiece of a water bottle, using ultraviolet radiation is disclosed. A cover assembly can include a cover configured to selectively enclose the surface to be disinfected, such as the mouthpiece. The cover assembly can be configured such that ultraviolet radiation can be emitted into an interior volume at least partially formed by the cover and including the surface. The cover assembly can further include a power source which provides power to one or more ultraviolet light sources that emit the ultraviolet radiation. The cover assembly can be a mouthpiece cover assembly physically separate from a container and top cover or integrated in the top cover. A container and a top cover including one or more features for improved cleanliness are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structure comprising:
 a mouthpiece cover assembly including:
 a mouthpiece cover; 
 a set of ultraviolet light sources mounted to the mouthpiece cover assembly, wherein the set of ultraviolet light sources are configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed into an interior volume at least partially formed by the mouthpiece cover; and 
 a power source mounted to the mouthpiece cover assembly, wherein the power source provides power to the set of ultraviolet light sources. 
   
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece cover assembly further includes a control unit configured to manage operation of the set of ultraviolet light sources. 
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a top cover;   a mouthpiece mounted to the top cover; and   at least one sensor located on at least one of: the top cover or the mouthpiece cover, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to provide data to the control unit indicating a status corresponding to whether the mouthpiece is covered by the mouthpiece cover.   
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 3 , wherein the control unit automatically turns on the set of ultraviolet light sources in response to the status changing to the mouthpiece being covered by the mouthpiece cover. 
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece cover assembly further includes a visual indicator that at least one of the set of ultraviolet light sources is on. 
     
     
         6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one interior surface of the mouthpiece cover includes an ultraviolet reflective material. 
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a container; and   a top cover for selectively enclosing the container, wherein the mouthpiece cover assembly further includes a securing mechanism for securing the mouthpiece cover to at least one of: the container or the top cover.   
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the container or the top cover includes:
 a set of ultraviolet light sources mounted to the at least one of the container or the top cover, wherein the set of ultraviolet light sources are configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed into an interior volume formed by the container and the top cover; and   a power source mounted to the at least one of the container or the top cover, wherein the power source provides power to the set of ultraviolet light sources.   
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein a bottom of the container is removable. 
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein the container includes:
 a first storage region;   a second storage region selectively enclosed by the top cover; and   a one way valve allowing fluid to flow only in a direction from the first storage region to the second storage region.   
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 10 , wherein the top cover includes:
 a set of ultraviolet light sources mounted to the top cover, wherein the set of ultraviolet light sources are configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed into the first storage region; and   a power source mounted to the top cover, wherein the power source provides power to the set of ultraviolet light sources.   
     
     
         12 . A structure comprising:
 a top cover configured to selectively enclose an opening of a container;   a mouthpiece mounted to the top cover; and   a mouthpiece cover assembly including:
 a mouthpiece cover for removably covering the mouthpiece; 
 a set of ultraviolet light sources, wherein the set of ultraviolet light sources are configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed into an interior volume at least partially formed by the top cover and the mouthpiece cover when the mouthpiece cover is covering the mouthpiece; 
 a control unit configured to manage operation of the set of ultraviolet light sources; and 
 a power source, wherein the power source provides power to the control unit. 
   
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein the mouthpiece cover assembly is integrated into the top cover. 
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 12 , further comprising the container. 
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the container or the top cover includes:
 a set of ultraviolet light sources mounted to the at least one of the container or the top cover, wherein the set of ultraviolet light sources are configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed into an interior volume formed by the container and the top cover; and   a power source mounted to the at least one of the container or the top cover, wherein the power source provides power to the set of ultraviolet light sources.   
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein a bottom of the container is removable. 
     
     
         17 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the container includes:
 a first storage region;   a second storage region selectively enclosed by the top cover; and   a one way valve allowing fluid to flow only in a direction from the first storage region to the second storage region.   
     
     
         18 . A water bottle assembly comprising:
 a container;   a top cover configured to selectively enclose an opening of the container;   a mouthpiece mounted to the top cover; and   a mouthpiece cover assembly including:
 a mouthpiece cover for removably covering the mouthpiece; 
 a set of ultraviolet light sources, wherein the set of ultraviolet light sources are configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed into an interior volume at least partially formed by the top cover and the mouthpiece cover when the mouthpiece cover is covering the mouthpiece; 
 a control unit configured to manage operation of the set of ultraviolet light sources; 
 at least one sensor located on at least one of: the top cover or the mouthpiece cover, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to provide data to the control unit indicating a status corresponding to whether the mouthpiece is covered by the mouthpiece cover; and 
 a power source, wherein the power source provides power to the control unit. 
   
     
     
         19 . The water bottle assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the mouthpiece cover assembly further includes a control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism enables a user to interface with the control unit. 
     
     
         20 . The water bottle assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the container includes:
 a first storage region;   a second storage region selectively enclosed by the top cover; and   a one way valve allowing fluid to flow only in a direction from the first storage region to the second storage region.