Sanitization and cleaning system for objects

Abstract

An apparatus may include one or more light components that are configured to emit light to sanitize and disinfect one or more objects included within the apparatus. The apparatus may have an interior cavity at which the light components are located, where the interior cavity is accessible via one or more doors, an opening, a lid, etc. The apparatus may have a conveyor that transports objects from a first end of the apparatus to a second end of the apparatus, where the objects are sanitized during transport. The apparatus may be transitioned from an expanded configuration to an unexpanded/collapsed configuration, and vice versa. The apparatus may be stationary or include wheels or other mechanisms that allow the apparatus to be moved between different locations. Objects that are sanitized by the light components of the apparatus will be free of pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria, etc.) that are potentially harmful to humans.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device configured to sanitize an object, comprising:
 a housing including one or more doors that, when in an open configuration, provide access to an interior cavity of the device;   one or more structural components, disposed within the interior cavity, that are associated with the object;   one or more lighting components, disposed within the interior cavity, that emit light toward the object to sanitize the object;   a reflective surface disposed on one or more interior walls within the interior cavity, the reflective surface reflecting the light emitted by the one or more lighting components; and   a power source configured to supply electric power to the one or more lighting components.   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a control panel, disposed on an exterior surface of the one or more doors, that is used to control one or more operations associated with the device. 
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the one or more operations relate to activating and deactivating the one or more lighting components and specifying a duration of time in which the one or more lighting components emit the light. 
     
     
         4 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more structural components include (1) a bar, rail, or hook in which the object is hung, or (2) a platform or rack in which the object is placed upon. 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited  claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of a rigid material. 
     
     
         6 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lighting components include multiple ultraviolet (UV) lamps that emit UV light or multiple ultraviolet-C (UVC) lamps that emit UVC light, and wherein the multiple UV lamps or the multiple UVC lamps are affixed to side surfaces within the interior cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface is disposed on each side surface within the interior cavity. 
     
     
         8 . A device configured to sanitize an object, comprising:
 a housing including one or more doors that, when in an open configuration, provide access to an interior cavity of the device;   one or more structural components, disposed within the interior cavity, that support the object;   a plurality of lighting components, disposed at different locations within the interior cavity, that emit light toward the object to sanitize the object when the one or more doors are in a closed configuration;   a reflective surface disposed on interior walls within the interior cavity, the reflective surface reflecting the light emitted by the plurality of lighting components; and   a power source configured to supply electric power to the plurality of lighting components.   
     
     
         9 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a control panel, disposed on an exterior surface of the housing, that is used to control one or more operations associated with the device. 
     
     
         10 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the one or more operations relate to activating and deactivating the plurality of lighting components and specifying a duration of time in which the plurality of lighting components emit the light. 
     
     
         11 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the one or more structural components include (1) a bar, rail, or hook in which the object is hung, or (2) a platform or rack in which the object is placed upon. 
     
     
         12 . The device as recited  claim 8 , wherein the housing is made of a rigid material. 
     
     
         13 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the housing is made of a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of lighting components include multiple ultraviolet (UV) lamps that emit UV light or multiple ultraviolet-C (UVC) lamps that emit UVC light, and wherein the multiple UV lamps or the multiple UVC lamps are affixed to side surfaces and a top interior surface within the interior cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the reflective surface is disposed on each side surface within the interior cavity, an interior surface of the one or more doors, and a top surface within the interior cavity. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 causing an object to be placed into an interior cavity of a device via one or more doors associated with a housing of the device when the one or more doors are in an open configuration, the object being associated with one or more structural components disposed within the interior cavity; and   when the one or more doors are in a closed configuration, causing one or more lighting components disposed within the interior cavity to emit light directed towards the object for a duration of time, the one or more lighting components being affixed to one or more interior walls within the interior cavity, and at least one interior wall of the one or more interior walls being a reflective surface that reflects the light emitted by the one or more lighting components.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the housing is made of a rigid material or a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising receiving, via a control panel disposed on an exterior surface of the housing and while the one or more doors are in the closed configuration, input to activate the one or more lighting components for the duration of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the one or more lighting components are UV lamps that emit UV light or UVC lamps that emit UVC light. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the one or more structural components include (1) a bar, rail, or hook in which the object is hung, or (2) a platform or rack in which the object is placed upon.