FR2702377A1 - Method and apparatus for disinfecting articles of clothing, such as shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

The method consists in diffusing, over the articles such as shoes (1), a disinfecting mist obtained by atomising a disinfecting solution or emulsion (10). The mist may in particular be created by an ultrasonic atomiser (12) and ducts (17, 18) direct it towards the articles to be disinfected. The invention is more particularly applicable to disinfecting ski boots (1) placed flat on shelves (5), in combination with a process for drying these shoes, the shelves (5) constituting distribution pipes for the drying air and for the disinfecting mist.

Description

"Method and apparatus for disinfecting articles
clothing, such as shoes "
The present invention relates to a method for disinfecting articles of clothing, such as shoes. It also relates to an apparatus intended for the implementation of this process. The invention applies more particularly, but not exclusively, to the disinfection of ski boots, even more especially those offered for hire.

 Used shoes contain a microbial and fungal flora, responsible for odors and / or transmission of diseases. Sports shoes, especially ski boots, which combine heat and a humid environment, are more exposed to these risks than others.

The need for shoe disinfection exists more particularly among ski boot hire companies, where it combines with the storage and drying needs of these boots. To meet these various needs, we have already proposed combined devices for storage, disinfection and storage for sports shoes, in particular for ski boots, generally produced according to the following principle
The device is presented as a "rack", receiving several horizontal rows of superimposed shoes, and comprising a drying air distribution circuit, possibly heated, to each shoe placed on the device. The shoes of the same row are each placed on a vertical or inclined support and distribution air tube. All the support and air distribution tubes are provided with outlet openings. air, and are connected to the same horizontal duct or box, receiving the drying air.

 These devices provide a solution to the drying problem, however, imposing a constraint since the shoes must be placed in an inverted position, on the support and hot air distribution tubes, which requires users to carry out specific handling operations.

 With regard to disinfection, existing devices usually use at least one ozone generator (ozone lamp), ozone being known for its germicidal properties. However, the choice of ozone as a disinfecting agent proves to be harmful for the environment, and ozone also constitutes an aggressive product for the interior linings in textile material of the shoes. In addition, the amount of ozone is not necessarily dosed appropriately in relation to the requirements, which can further aggravate the drawbacks mentioned above.

 The present invention aims to eliminate these drawbacks, by providing a disinfection process particularly suited to the field of application considered here, the proposed process proving to be effective but not harmful to the environment and non-aggressive for shoes or other articles to be disinfected. . In addition, the implementation of this process can be carried out by simple and economical means, as regards both the distribution of the disinfectant and the arrangement of the articles to be disinfected, in particular ski boots, the invention having also with the aim of providing a particularly rational combined device for the disinfection and drying of such shoes.

 To this end, the present invention has, as a first object, a process for the disinfection of articles of clothing, such as shoes, and more particularly ski boots, which consists in diffusing on and / or in these articles a disinfectant mist obtained by nebulizing a disinfectant solution or emulsion. It is, more particularly, a disinfectant mist obtained by an ultrasonic nebulization. A disinfectant mist, the droplets of which have a diameter of between 2 y and 50 cl, for example a diameter of the order of 20 CL, is here recommended.

 Such a mist based on an appropriate active product, suitably chosen and dosed (see below), can be easily conveyed in the direction of the shoes to be treated, and diffused on and in them, by a low-power ventilation combining with the effect of gravity. Thus, the method according to the invention is easily applicable to the disinfection of shoes simply laid flat, the disinfectant mist being diffused over the shoes and "falling", by gravity, inside these shoes to the bottom of these.

 Bacteriological, chemical and physical studies, also taking into account environmental and personal protection problems, have shown that the process according to the invention could advantageously use a mist based on essential oils and / or salts thereof. 'quaternary ammonium which in solution or in emulsion are very fluid, wetting products, well accepting nebulization by ultrasound, and having suitable bactericidal and fungicidal properties.

 As regards essential oils, it is possible in particular to use Melaleuca Leucodendron oil (or Cajaput oil), the antibiotic effects of which are known, this oil being rich in terpenes, in particular in eucalyptol, and thus having the advantage additional to diffuse a discreet and pleasant odor.

 Among the quaternary ammonium salts, one can retain a mixture of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides commercially called benzalkonium clhoride, which is active on a large number of bacteria and fungi.

 A particular, non-limiting formulation may contain a combination of the two aforementioned active ingredients (Melaleuca oil and benzalkonium chloride), one or more surfactants to stabilize the emulsion of oil in water, and water present in the proportion of at least 80% in this mixture. To optimize the nebulization operation, it may be recommended to start with a disinfectant solution diluted to approximately lOOl.

 Although the formulation proposed here is particularly suitable for distribution on an automatic device, with simultaneous distribution on a set of shoes, the product can also be used manually with a diffuser (spray gun).

 As already indicated above, the disinfection method according to the invention is more particularly intended to be associated with a process for drying the shoes or other articles concerned. In this context, according to another aspect of the invention, it has proven to be particularly advantageous to carry out successively a pre-drying phase of said articles, a phase of diffusion of the disinfectant mist on these articles, a neutral phase allowing the action of the product released for disinfection, and in a final drying phase, this in order to bring maximum efficiency to disinfection. In fact, it is preferable to disinfect an already dried shoe, to prevent the disinfectant product, brought in the form of a mist, from being diluted in water. A relatively simple programming system allows the conduct of such a combined drying and disinfection cycle, in the case of an implementation of the method on an automatic device.

 More specifically, the apparatus according to the invention, for disinfecting and drying boots, more particularly ski boots, implementing the method defined above, comprises, in combination, means for supporting the boots on several superimposed horizontal rows, drying air distribution means, taken outside, to the rows of shoes placed on said support means, a reserve of disinfectant solution or emulsion, a nebulizer for the creation of a disinfectant mist, and a circuit for distributing the disinfectant mist to the rows of shoes placed on the aforementioned support means. The nebulizer is preferably an ultrasonic nebulizer.

 As already indicated above, the method according to the invention makes it possible to effectively disinfect shoes simply placed flat, and not turned over as in the previous methods. In practice, in the apparatus according to the invention for the implementation of this method, the means for supporting the rows of shoes consist of substantially horizontal spokes, superimposed, in the form of boxes constituting distribution ramps of the drying air and disinfecting mist, each shelf having on its underside outlet openings for drying air and disinfecting mist, allowing their diffusion in shoes laid flat on another immediately lower ray.

 According to a preferred embodiment of this device for disinfecting and drying shoes, the disinfectant mist distribution circuit comprises at least one conduit, starting from the nebulizer and opening, at each horizontal row of shoes, into the circuit of drying air distribution. Thus, the disinfectant mist is taken up by the usual fans of the drying air distribution circuit, and it is conveyed by this means towards the shoes while avoiding having two entirely separate circuits, which would extend separately to the shoes for the distribution of disinfection mist and drying air. The additional circuits required by the disinfection function are thus reduced to a minimum, and all injectors or the like are eliminated for the diffusion of the disinfectant product. The disinfection and drying apparatus according to the invention is therefore simple, compact and economical.

In addition, the ultrasonic nebulizer, which can be easily accommodated in the upper part of this device, does not require any maintenance, and the reserve of disinfectant solution or emulsion, placed in a tank placed near the nebulizer, can offer an autonomy of seven to ten days, without filling. Furthermore, the device may comprise, on each face open towards the outside for bringing and removing the shoes on the shelves, a rolling shutter making it possible to limit the diffusion of the disinfectant mist into the environment, this for comply with the regulations in force.

Anyway, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of this device for disinfection and drying. shoes
Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus according to the present invention
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of this apparatus, taken along line II-II of Figure 1.

 The device shown in the drawing, intended for disinfecting and drying ski boots 1, comprises a frame formed by two end columns 2 and 3, connected at their top by a hollow upper cross member 4. The two columns 2 and 3 are still connected to each other by a series of horizontal spokes 5, superimposed, on which the shoes 1 to be disinfected and dried are laid flat. The spokes 5 advantageously have a staggered arrangement, so as to store a maximum number of shoes 1 in the size of the device, these shoes being nested from one row to another (see Figure 2).

 The two columns 2 and 3 have a hollow configuration. At each shelf 5, or a pair of shelves 5 there is provided on each column 2 or 3 an outside air inlet 6, on which is placed a fan 7, possibly associated with means for heating the outside air drawn in. This air, set in motion by each fan 7, is directed into the corresponding spoke (s) 5, shaped in boxes and communicating, by their ends with the hollow part of columns 2 and 3. Thus, each ray 5 itself constitutes a duct capable of conveying the drying air. The underside of each shelf 5 has a series of outlet orifices 8, regularly distributed over its length, which make it possible to distribute the drying air over the row of shoes 1 being placed on the shelf 5 located below.

 As shown in FIG. 1, the hollow upper cross-member 4 of the apparatus houses a tank 9 capable of containing a reserve of disinfection solution or emulsion 10. The tank 9 is connected, by a short conduit 11, to an ultrasonic nebulizer 12 also housed in the upper crossmember 4. The nebulizer 12, known per se, comprises a piezoelectric cell 13, with low power fan, supplied and controlled by an electronic assembly 14 and located in the lower part of a tank 15, filled partially of disinfectant solution or emulsion 10 reaching a constant level 16. This nebulizer 12 is naturally adapted, by its power and its flow rate, to the use sought here.

 The upper part of the tank 15 of the nebulizer 12 constitutes the starting point of a disinfectant mist circuit, comprising a first mist conduit 17 directed first horizontally towards the top of the first column 2 then extending vertically to the inside this column 2, and a second mist duct 18 directed first horizontally towards the top of the second column 3 and then extending vertically inside this column 3. Ports 19 for outlet of the disinfectant mist are drilled in the vertical parts of the conduits 17 and 18, at each radius 5. The lower ends of the two disinfectant mist conduits 17 and 18 open into respective tanks 20 and 21 for recovering pressure drops (water recovery) .

 Thus, the disinfecting mist which is produced by the nebulizer 12 is distributed at the ends of the various spokes 5, where it is set in motion by the fans 7, which send it inside the spokes 5 shaped into boxes d 'where it escapes through the outlet orifices 8. The disinfectant mist is thus distributed over the rows of shoes 1 surmounted by said spokes 5 constituting distribution ramps, and the droplets of this mist "fall" inside shoes 1, to the bottom of them, to ensure their disinfection.

The drying and disinfection functions are controlled by a programmer, not shown here, allowing them to be used according to a specific cycle, in particular according to the sequence
- shoe drying 1 by outside air distribution;
- Activation of the nebulizer 12 and distribution of the disinfectant mist on the shoes 1;
- passive phase during which the disinfection product acts on the shoes 1;
- final drying of these shoes 1.

 The previously described device can be fixed, or mounted mobile on wheels. I1 may also include, on its front and rear faces, roller blinds with blackout screen, or roller shutters not shown allowing its closure, during the disinfection phase, to avoid the spread of disinfectant mist in the environment.

 As is obvious, and as follows from the above, the invention is not limited to the only embodiment of this device for the disinfection and drying of shoes which has been described above, by way of example. It embraces, on the contrary, all the variants of implementation and application respecting the same principle. Thus, in particular, that one would not depart from the scope of the invention by the choice of a disinfectant solution of another nature, or by a different location of the nebulizer on the device.

The method and the apparatus are also applicable, without modification, to the disinfection and drying of articles other than shoes, in particular helmets and gloves.

Claims (14)

RBVENDICATIONS  1. Method for the disinfection of articles of clothing, such as boots, and more particularly ski boots, characterized in that it consists in diffusing on and / or in these articles (1) a disinfectant mist obtained by a nebulization of a disinfectant solution or emulsion (10).  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the disinfecting mist is obtained by ultrasonic nebulization.  3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the disinfectant mist comprises droplets whose diameter is between 2 and SOIL.  4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the disinfectant mist is based on essential oils and / or ammonium quater salts.  5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the disinfectant mist contains, as essential oil, Melaleuca Leucodendron oil (Cajaput oil).  6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the disinfecting mist contains, as quaternary ammonium salts, a mixture of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides (benzalkonium chloride).  7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the disinfectant solution or emulsion (10) used for obtaining the disinfectant mist by nebulization, contains water in the proportion of at least 80 %, and is preferably a solution diluted to about 1 / 100th.  8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is applied to the disinfection of shoes (1) laid flat, the disinfectant mist being diffused over the shoes and "falling", by gravity, inside these shoes (1) to the bottom of these.  9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is associated with a process of drying the shoes (1) or other articles concerned, and in that one proceeds successively to a phase of pre-drying of said articles, to a phase of distribution of disinfectant mist on these articles, to a neutral phase allowing the action of the product released for disinfection, and to a final drying phase.  10. Apparatus for the disinfection and drying of boots, more particularly ski boots, intended for implementing the method according to claim 8 or according to claim 9 attached to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises combination of the support means (5) of the shoes (1) on several superimposed horizontal rows, distribution means (7,8) of drying air, taken outside (at 6), towards the rows of shoes ( 1) placed on said support means (5), a reserve (9) of disinfectant solution or emulsion (10), a nebulizer (12) for the creation of a disinfectant mist, and a circuit (17, 18, 5, 8) distributing the disinfectant mist to the rows of shoes (1) placed on the aforementioned support means (5).  11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the nebulizer is an ultrasonic nebulizer (12).  12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the means for supporting the rows of shoes (1) are constituted by spokes (5) substantially horizontal, superimposed, in the form of boxes constituting distribution ramps of the drying air and disinfecting mist, each shelf (5) having on its underside outlet orifices (8) for drying air and disinfecting mist, allowing their diffusion on the shoes (1) placed flat on a another radius (5) immediately below.  13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the disinfectant mist distribution circuit comprises at least one duct (17,18), starting from the nebulizer (12) and opening (at 19), at each horizontal row of shoes (1), in the drying air distribution circuit, so that the disinfectant mist is taken up by the fans (7) of the drying air distribution circuit to be conveyed to the shoes.  14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the nebulizer (12), as well as the reserve (9) of disinfectant solution or emulsion (10), are housed in the upper part (4) of the apparatus, in particular in an upper cross connecting the tops of extreme columns (2,3).