초록 ▼

A hand-held germicidal UV lamp includes housing for a UV light source and an aperture for allowing the transmission of UV light. A safety switch is provided on the housing which can be moved by an activation tool. A cover is provided over the switch having an opening for accessing the switch. The op

A hand-held germicidal UV lamp includes housing for a UV light source and an aperture for allowing the transmission of UV light. A safety switch is provided on the housing which can be moved by an activation tool. A cover is provided over the switch having an opening for accessing the switch. The opening is sized so that a human finger cannot pass through the opening and move the switch. A light shield may be provided which surrounds the aperture and limits transmission of UV light.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A germicidal UV lamp, comprising:a. a housing, the housing having a UV light source therein and having at least one aperture allowing the passage of UV light out of the housing; b. a safety switch on the housing for activating the light source, the safety switch having a tool engaging portion ada

1. A germicidal UV lamp, comprising:a. a housing, the housing having a UV light source therein and having at least one aperture allowing the passage of UV light out of the housing; b. a safety switch on the housing for activating the light source, the safety switch having a tool engaging portion adapted to engage an activation tool; c. a means for physically obstructing finger access to the safety switch; and, d. an activation tool adapted to engage the tool engaging portion of the safety switch in order to selectively non-rotatably translate the safety switch between an on and an off position. 2. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 1, wherein the means far physically obstructing finger access to the safety switch comprises a switch cover formed on the housing, the switch cover having an opening therein adapted to allow passage of the activation tool, the opening being sufficiently small to prevent a human finger from being inserted in the opening.3. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 1, wherein the activation tool has a protrusion and the tool engaging portion is an opening adapted to receive the protrusion.4. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a light shield extending from the housing, the light shield surrounding the aperture.5. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 4, wherein the light shield has side walls with an upper edge, the upper edge of the side walls defining the aperture.6. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 4, wherein the light shield is formed from a tinted translucent plastic material which absorbs UV light.7. A germicidal UV lamp and degermination chamber comprising:a. a lamp housing, the housing having a UV light source therein and having at least one aperture allowing the passage of UV light out of the housing; and b. a degermination chamber having an opening, the opening being sized and shaped to allow the degermination chamber to be connected to an exterior of the lamp housing adjacent the aperture and comprising a wall with a slot therein for receiving objects to be sterilized by UV light from the aperture. 8. The germicidal UV lamp and chamber according to claim 7, wherein the chamber includes means for opening the chamber to place therein an object to be sterilized.9. The germicidal UV lamp and chamber according to claim 7, wherein the degermination chamber is formed from material which blocks the transmission of UV light.10. The germicidal UV lamp and chamber according to claim 7, wherein the degermination chamber is formed from a translucent material that absorbs UV light.11. A germicidal UV lamp, comprising:a. a housing, the housing having a UV light source therein and at least one aperture allowing the passage of UV light; b. a switch formed on the housing, the switch in electrical communication with a power source; and, c. a cover mounted to the housing for sliding movement relative to the housing and selectively moveable in relation to the switch and the housing for preventing finger access to the switch when the cover is moved to a first position to cover the switch and allowing finger access to the switch when the cover is moved to a second position to uncover the switch. 12. A germicidal UV lamp, comprising:a. a housing having a UV light source therein and having, at least one aperture allowing the passage of UV light; b. opposing electrical terminals located on the housing, separated by a gap, and in electrical communication with a power source; c. a cover over the terminals, the cover preventing finger access to the terminals, the cover having an opening therein adapted to allow passage of an activation tool; and d. an activation tool, the activation tool formed from an electrically conductive material, the activation tool adapted to pass through the opening in the cover, and being sized and shaped to bridge the gap to bring the opposing terminals into electrical communication, wherein upon insertion into the gap, the activation tool contacts each terminal thereby completing a circuit and allowing current to flow through the terminals and the activation tool. 13. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 12, further comprising a light shield extending from the housing and surrounding the aperture.14. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 12, further comprising a degermination chamber for receiving objects to be sterilized by the UV lamp, a portion of the chamber being adapted to conform to the shape of the housing.15. A germicidal UV lamp, comprising:a. a housing having a UV light source therein and at least one aperture allowing the passage of UV light from the housing; b. a switch on the housing, the switch in electrical communication with a power source; c. a plate having an opening forming a switch engaging portion, the switch engaging portion operatively engaging the switch to non-rotatably translate the switch between an on position and an off position, and the plate having a tool engaging portion shaped to engage an activation tool; d. a switch cover, the switch cover covering the switch and plate, the switch cover having an opening therein adapted to allow the passage of an activation tool; and, e. an activation tool adapted to pass through the opening in the switch cover, the activation tool adapted to engage the tool engaging portion of the plate to selectively move the plate to in turn non-rotatably translate the switch between the on and off positions. 16. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 15, further comprising a back plate connected to the housing, the back plate surrounding the plate and the switch, the back plate forming a channel which constrains motion of the plate.17. The germicidal UV lamp according to claim 15, wherein the switch cover has an inner surface adjacent the plate and the switch, the switch cover having a channel formed on its inner surface which constrains movement of the plate.18. A germicidal UV lamp comprising:a housing having a UV light source therein and at least one aperture allowing the passage of UV light; and a degermination chamber having an opening, the opening being sized and shaped to allow the degermination chamber to be connected to an exterior of the housing adjacent the aperture and comprising UV absorbing translucent material, the chamber being open to the aperture for receiving UV light. 19. The germicidal UV lamp of claim 18 further comprising a light shield extending from the housing, the light shield having a window permitting the transmission of UV light from the housing into the degermination chamber, the degermination chamber being adapted to conform to the shape of the light shield.20. The germicidal UV lamp of claim 18 wherein the UV absorbing translucent material is tinted.21. The germicidal UV lamp of claim 1, further comprising blocking means moveably attached to the housing for selectively blocking the transmission of UV light from the housing, the blocking means comprising an opening, the opening having a filter therein, the filter adapted to block the transmission of UV light while allowing passage of visible light, the opening being alignable with the window.22. The germicidal UV lamp and chamber of claim 7, further comprising blocking means moveably attached to the housing for selectively blocking the transmission of UV light from the lamp housing, the blocking means comprising an opening, the opening having a filter therein, the filter adapted to block the transmission of UV light while allowing passage of visible light, the opening being alignable with the window.23. The germicidal UV lamp of claim 11, further comprising blocking means movably attached to the housing for selectively blocking the transmission of UV light from the housing, the blocking means comprising an opening, the opening having a filter therein, the filter adapted to block the transmission of UV light while allowing passage of visible light, the opening being alignable with the window.24. The germicidal UV lamp of claim 12, further comprising blocking means movably attached to the housing for selectively blocking the transmission of UV light from the housing, the blocking means comprising an opening, the opening having a filter therein, the filter adapted to block the transmission of UV light while allowing passage of visible light, the opening being alignable with the window.