Abstract: A temperature-controlled container for preparation or storage of food products comprising: a temperature-controlled cavity for storing or preparing food products, a thermally insulated door configured to seal the temperature-controlled cavity in a closed configuration, and a UV light source mounted to the temperature-controlled container outside the temperature-controlled cavity and insulated from the temperature-controlled cavity by the thermally insulated door when in the closed configuration, wherein the UV light source is arranged to emit a UV light beam into the temperature-controlled cavity when the thermally insulated door is an open configuration. There is also provided an aircraft galley comprising one or more of said temperature-controlled containers.

Abstract: Camera phone accessories for using the camera phone to collect scientific data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fragrance dispenser assembly in the inside of an outer shell. The dispenser includes a bracket, a shelf and a fragrance dispensing unit located within an outer shell. The shelf may have a releasable attachment mechanism for the fragrance dispenser unit. The invention also includes the fragrance dispenser unit and a fragrance source.

Abstract: A household cleaning tool enabled with UV light unit. A conventional cleaning tool head is attached with a UV light unit through an industrial strength sticky tape or other means of attachment. The UV light unit has a safety cover. The UV light unit is detachable after using.

Abstract: A cleaner spotter tool for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner having a fluid containing tank, an extractor nozzle housing coupled to the tank, a fluid delivery pump mounted in the nozzle housing, a tubing fluidly coupled to both the tank and the pump for delivering fluid from the tank to the pump, and a spray nozzle on the nozzle housing coupled to the pump for spraying fluid out of the pump.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner attachment and a method of control of the vacuum cleaner attachment are described. The vacuum cleaner attachment comprises an ultraviolet light source to irradiate and disinfect various cleaning surfaces. Various embodiments of the attachment include one or more safety features concerning activation, enabling, and disabling of the ultraviolet light source based on various parameters such as distance between the attachment and a cleaning surface, time that such a distance is greater than a predetermined time period, and temperature of the ultraviolet light source in order to enable safe and effective operation of the attachment.

Abstract: A cleaning attachment, especially for a vacuum cleaner, includes a housing, a connection for a vacuum tube, an intake opening for ambient air, a plasma generator arranged in the housing to generate plasma, and at least one cleaning opening or a channel, along which a mixture of plasma and air passes over at the surface to be cleaned before the mixture is drawn back into the housing and through the connection. As a result, the cleaning attachment can also treat the air and the dirt with a sterilizing and odor-neutralizing action.

Abstract: A combination vacuum cleaner and ultraviolet disinfecting device is presented having a vacuum for cleaning a cleaning medium, such as a carpet, and a UV light source for radiation of the cleaning medium to eradicate the medium of infestation agents such as molds, viruses, bacteria and dust mites. The device provides a multiple of safety switches to prevent power supply to the UV light source under certain conditions. Safety switches are provided requiring a constant activation of a switch by the user on the device handle, activation of contact switches indicating the device is in contact with the cleaning medium, activation of a switch indicating the device is in an in-use position, and a tilt sensor to prevent power supply to the UV light if the device, or a portion thereof, is tilted beyond a preselected degree.

Abstract: Sponge sanitizing enclosure with a front cover, a rear cover, an inner back plate, a base housing, a push plate, a push button, a UV lamp, electronics to support the UV lamp, a battery power supply, a translucent sponge, and a hinge member. The front and rear cover each being dish shaped and forming a hollow housing and being joined at their base by the hinge member. The inner back plate forms a bisection of the front cover and the rear cover. The UV light is located between the rear cover and the inner back plate. The front cover includes a centrally located aperture that accepts the push button which is fixedly attached to the push plate. The space between the push plate and the inner back plate accommodates the translucent sponge. The base housing encloses the electronics and the battery power supply that support the UV lamp.

Abstract: A perforated packet made of paper or other suitable material in which a scented fragrant material, such as potpourri, is disposed, the packet being placed into a disposable paper vacuum cleaner collection bag prior to its connection to the vacuum cleaner, the sheath and scented fragrant contents providing a scented fragrance to the air during the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the scented fragrance being released to the room or area where the vacuum operation is taking place, the packet also releasing a scent or fragrance masking any odor emanating from collected dirt and debris when not in use. Alternatively, the perforated packet and scented material may be inserted into a container mounted to a wall socket having motor and fan means to circulate ambient air through the packet.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a dust chamber, a dust bag provided in the dust chamber, and an electric blower for generating suction air flow for drawing and collecting dust and dirt in the dust bag. A deodorant is supplied into the dust bag by the suction air flow and directly attached to the dust and dirt. The deodorant has a granule or powder shape.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly having a UV generation unit and a vacuum cleaner having the same are provided. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle main body that moves over a cleaning surface, a drum brush unit that is formed on the nozzle main body and includes an extension unit, an ultraviolet (UV) generation unit that is formed on the drum brush unit to be folded or unfolded so that the UV generation unit selectively faces the cleaning surface, and a switch that turns the UV generation unit on or off according to whether the UV generation unit is folded or unfolded.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner for simultaneously cleaning and sterilizing a surface includes a vacuum cleaner housing, a plurality of wheels for supporting the vacuum cleaner housing on the surface, a main power switch for electrically connecting the vacuum cleaner to an external source of power, a motor coupled to the main power switch and a rotary brush coupled to the motor. The motor includes a suction fan. A UV lamp housing assembly is mounted inside the vacuum cleaner housing and urged downward toward the surface. The UV lamp assembly includes a UV lamp for sterilizing the surface at the same time as it is being cleaned. A UV light gasket assembly is fixedly mounted underneath the UV lamp assembly and includes a track of conductive material having a plurality of gaps and a plurality of interlock switches for closing the gaps, one interlock switch being associated with each gap. Each interlock switch includes a cap and an interlock contact of conductive material which is fixed to the cap.

Abstract: An surface cleaning implement comprises a recovery tank and a suction nozzle in fluid communication with a recovery tank, a fan/turbine assembly including a turbine-driven suction fan for generating suction at the suction nozzle, which draws liquid and air into and through the accessory tool. A fluid dispensing assembly is disclosed for storing and distributing fluid to the surface to the cleaned. An agitator assembly can be moved from a use to a non-use orientation to alternately scrub the surface to the cleaned and to extract fluid from the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaning or sterilizing apparatus combined with an UV lamp consisting of an upright compact vacuum cleaner (26) comprising a dust container (27) with a transparent bottom (28) and a suction nozzle (34) incorporated in the bottom (28) and a protective housing (31) which covers the dust container (27) and which incorporates a fan (53) with a centrifugal dust filter (54) and an UV germicidal lamp fixture (14) for destroying micro-organisms on a surface to be cleaned and inside the dust container (27). The dust filter (54), which consists of a cylindrical grating (62) with or without a cylindrical paper filter (63), is mounted to the cylindrical opening (59) of the fan's impeller (53a) and located partly outside of the fan's casing (60) but inside the dust container (27).

Abstract: A suction brush of a vacuum cleaner for both vacuum cleaning and steam cleaning is provided. The suction brush includes a brush main body connected to a cleaner main body; a steam generating unit for heating water being supplied from a water storage tank mounted on the brush main body and spraying steam generated by heating the water on the surface to be cleaned; a turbine fan, installed in the brush main body, for generating a rotating force by the drawn-in air that flows into the brush main body; a power transfer unit for being driven by the rotating force of the turbine fan; and at least one pair of duster rotating plates, arranged on a lower part of the suction brush, for being rotated by power being transferred through the power transfer unit.

Abstract: An accessory tool according to the present invention comprises a recovery tank assembly for removing fluid and dirt from a surface to the cleaned and storing the recovered fluid and dirt. The recovery tank assembly comprises a suction nozzle in fluid communication with a recovery tank. The accessory tool further comprises a fan/turbine assembly including a turbine-driven suction fan for generating suction at the suction nozzle, which draws liquid and air into and through the accessory tool. The turbine-driven suction fan can be magnetically coupled with the turbine. The accessory tool can further comprise a fluid dispensing assembly for storing and distributing fluid to the surface to the cleaned. The fluid dispensing assembly can comprise a turbine-driven fluid pump.

Abstract: A doubled sided suction nozzle having both a brush function and a duster function is disclosed. The doubled sided suction nozzle includes a nozzle body having an air inlet to draw in air, at least one brush unit rotatably disposed on a first surface of the nozzle body to come in surface contact with a surface to be cleaned thus to brush away dirt from the surface to be cleaned, at least one duster unit rotatably disposed on the second surface of the nozzle body to come in surface contact with the surface to be cleaned thus to wipe off the dust or dirt from the surface to be cleaned, and a rotating unit disposed in the nozzle body to rotate the brush unit and the duster unit.

Abstract: The present invention is for a spore collection apparatus and its method of use. The portable spore collection apparatus includes a suction source, a nebulizer, an ionization chamber and a filter canister. The suction source collects the spores from a surface. The spores are activated by heating whereby spore dormancy is broken. Moisture is then applied to the spores to begin germination. The spores are then exposed to alpha particles causing extinction.

Abstract: An improved fragrance dispenser, domestic appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, including such a fragrance dispenser, and cartridge for such a fragrance dispenser is provided in which the dispenser includes a housing portion through which an air discharge passage interconnecting an upstream side of the housing portion and a downstream side of the housing portion extends, and a cartridge carrying a fragrant substance and having vents for allowing air to pass for entraining fragrance from said cartridge, wherein the cartridge is removably mounted and rotatably adjustable about an axis of rotation between at least a first position and a second position, at least a portion of at least one of the vents being obstructed by a housing portion if the cartridge is in the first position and being open if the cartridge is in the second position.

Abstract: Fragrance delivery apparatus and methods for use in combination with a floor care device are shown and described. In one embodiment, the fragrance delivery apparatus incorporates a mass that can be impregnated with a heat sensitive, fragrant substance. The fragrant substance is substantially stable at ambient temperature, but is freely released from the mass at an elevated temperature. The mass is coupled to a housing on a floor care device at a location that becomes warm during operation. As a result, when the floor care device is operated, the fragrance delivery apparatus becomes warm, and the fragrant substance is released into the nearby environment. When the floor care device is stored, however, the fragrant substance is not released from the mass in significant amounts.