Claims:I/We Claim:
1. A two stage walk through footwear sanitizing system with attached sanitizer dispenser for hands.
2. The two stage walk through footwear sanitizing system with attached sanitizer dispenser for hands as claimed in 1, will be based on liquid sanitizer and UV-C based disinfectant system.
3. The footwear sanitizing system as claimed in 1 and 2, is designed to disinfect the footwear’s in just two steps (Fig.1 and 2). The first step would be based on UV-C radiations (11 watt , input AC 220V) and second step will be based on ABHR (alcohol based hand rubs (sanitizer)). In step-1 when user stands in section-1keeping footwear on, UV radiation from 11-watt UV lamp will sanitize the footwear from all angles (Fig.6). In next step user has to take his step out and step up on Section-2 where a sprayer sprays the liquid disinfectant on shoes soles and finally the user must step down over section-3, clean footwear on Doormat.
4. The sanitizing system as claimed in 1-3, is design on 24" x 48” welded stainless steel/iron grill (basic platform of system) of 6-8mm rods which will give a screen size of 3". The above-mentioned grill is fitted on a steel/iron frame which has a height of 5" (height of legs). (Fig. 3 and 4)
5. The method and dimension of this system as claimed in 1-4 will also be fitted with a stainless steel grill arrangement to place a dirt collecting tray of 23.5" x 47.5" as shown in Fig.5.
6. The method, design and dimensions claimed in 1-5, wherein the sanitizing system can have different shapes and dimensions of basic platform and its screen.
7. The method and dimensions as claimed in 1-6, wherein this device will have a basic structure just like winner podium (Fig.1 and 2) on which a user should walk through.
8. The method, dimensions and applications as claimed in 1-7, wherein the plurality of parallel arrangement of more than one system as per requirement.
9. The method, dimensions and applications as claimed in 1-8, wherein the plurality of UV-C radiations have different wavelength and different liquid sanitizers can be used.
10. The method, dimensions and applications as claimed in 1-9, is also fitted with a timer preset function and buzzer.
11. The method, dimensions and applications as claimed in 1-10, is also fitted with a remote control device to switch on the Sprayer and UV-C lamp from a distance.
12. The method, dimensions and applications as claimed in 1-11, is also fitted with a Infrared Sensors which can automatically switch on the Sprayer and UV-C lamp when an object (footwear) moves into its path.
13. The method, dimensions and applications as claimed in 1-12, an automatic dispenser for liquid disinfectant at the height of around 3-4 feet in an adjustable rod can also be fitted to simultaneously sanitize the hands.
, Description:Coronavirus-19 has become an catastrophic respiratory disorder caused by a novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, called COVID-19 virus), it has significantly high fatality rate in people who are over the age of 60years and with previous health problems such as heart related disease, severe lung disease, diabetes and cancer etc1
According to the WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care 2009 now a days, Due to its intrinsic benefits based on evidence of fast-acting, broad-spectrum microbicidal activity with minimal risk of generating resistance to antimicrobial agents, ABHR (alcohol-based hand rubs) are the sole available means for fast and efficient way to deactivate a vast array of potentially harmful viruses/microorganisms on hands2.
Following are the Advantages of ABHR:
• Easily accessible at point of care;
• Excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative vegetative bacteria, M. tuberculosis and a wide range of fungi.
• Generally good antimicrobial activity against enveloped viruses such as SARS, MERS and Covid-19.
ABHR still has some disadvantages like:
• Minor and / or variable antimicrobial activity against non-enveloped viruses (such as noroviruses) and
• No activity against protozoan oocysts and bacterial spores (such as Clostridium diffi cile)

On the other hand UV-C (Ultra violet-C radiations) is capable to deactivate these microbes, non enveloped viruses, protozoan oocysts and bacteria spores. The germicidal effects of UV-C irradiation with peak intensity at around 254 nm results in cellular damage of the virus, thereby inhibiting cellular replication3. Unlike chemical approaches to disinfection, UV light provides rapid, effective inactivation of microorganisms through a physical process.
UV-C light can be effectively used to limit the activity of germs/viruses/micro-organisms. Some scientists reported the use of UV-C to inactivate viruses like SARS, H1N1 etc. (Do-Kyun Kim et.al. 2018; Xu Zet.al. 2011)4,5. Kurt Bedell et.al. (2016) described the Efficacy of an automated multi-emitter whole room UV-C disinfection system against Corona viruses MHV and MERS-CoV6. Wai Szeto et.al. (2020) also described the use of UV light (Vacuum-UV light) for disinfection of some common environmental pathogens7. In 2015 Wladyslaw J. Kowalski published a report describing the SARS Coronavirus UV Susceptibility which is of same family as novel coronavirus-198.
The WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in healthcare (2009)9 and National Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities10 suggest that hand hygiene is the single most important measure for prevention of infection.
Everyone everywhere is concentrating on hand hygiene but the contamination through footwear’s is neglected still after street shoes are always in contact with floor and roads where this deadly virus (covid-19) can rest and reach to our places. Although WHO has suggested closed footwear, which can be easily cleaned and disinfected, must be used; Personal footwear should be changed when entering clean areas such as OTs, labour rooms, ICU; Shoe covers may be used over street shoes to protect clean areas from soil and dirt brought in by shoes but these guidelines are for hospitals only. But whenever a person enters in houses/offices/classrooms/library/shops etc their shoes can transport this deadly COVID-19 and other viruses/germs/microbes/bacteria etc in to the room and spread the disease.
Keeping in mind that the footwear’s must be clean and disinfected before entering to house/offices etc. I have developed a two step footwear disinfecting system (Fig.1 and 2). Since, the ABHR (alcohol based hand rubs) has some limitations like Minor and / or variable antimicrobial activity against non-enveloped viruses (such as noroviruses) and no activity against protozoan oocysts and bacterial spores, it alone cannot deactivate all these therefore I have used both UV-C and ABHR (Alcohol based hand rubs) to disinfect the footwear’s.
This system is designed to disinfect the footwear’s in just two steps (Fig.2). The first step would be based on UV-C and second step will be based on ABHR. It is expected to work for SARS-COV-2 since SARS-COV-2 belongs to the same family of SARS-COV-1
The complete sanitizing system is design on 24" x 48" welded stainless steel/iron grill of 6-8mm rods which will give a screen of 3" squares (the pattern of screen can be different as per the requirement) the above-mentioned grill is fitted on a steel/iron frame which has a height of 5" (height of legs). A stainless steel grill arrangement is also made to place a dirt collecting tray of 23.5" x 47.5" as shown in Fig.3, 4 and 5.
This platform is divided into three sections:- (Fig. 1,2,5 and 6)
First section is covered with the box like structure as shown in drawing. The front of this section is open for the users to step in and stand with footwear on (Fig.2). The top of this box is covered with opaque sheet and is designed like letter E to provide the space for foot, the bottom and chamber of this section is fitted with 11 watt UV-C lamps to provide 360 degree of UV radiation coverage (Fig.6).
The top of second section is the stainless steel grills (Fig.4) over which the user has to stand. This chamber is fitted with, alcohol based hand rub (liquid sanitizer) sprayer to sanitize footwear sole. Particularly for this prototype a common desert cooler pump (input AC 220V) fitted with Spray nozzle (commonly used for spraying pesticides etc) is used. The sprayer would be replaced with other commercially available products.
The third section is the remaining area of platform on which the user has to step down to complete the sanitization process.
The dimensions and drawing: (Fig.3,4)
• Main frame 24" x 48" welded stainless steel/iron rods
• Main platform 24" x 48" welded stainless steel/iron grill of 6-8mm rods
• Length of section-1, 2 and 3 are 20",16" and 12"
• Width of section-1, 2 and 3 are 24"
• Height of section-1, 2 is 12" and Section-3 is flat
• Front of Section-1 and 2 are open
• Roof of section-1 is cut like alphabet “E” to properly insert the legs inside section one. The width of this area is 8" for each leg with a gap of 4" in middle and 2" at sides.
Working: (Fig.1, 2, 5 and 6)
Step-1:- users need to stand on section-1 keeping footwear inside the chamber and stand for 20 seconds. The UV-C radiation will disinfect the footwear from both top and bottom.
Step-2:- The user then has to take his foot out and step up on the top of section-2 which is above 12 inches from platform. The disinfectant will be sprayed on shoes soles through electronic sprayer for 5-10sec.
Step-3:- users than need to step down on Section-3, where a simple door mat is placed. Now the user can move ahead, his footwear’s are sanitized.
All the dirt and extra disinfectant will be collected in tray which is placed below the platform.

The detailed parts are listed below:
• Stainless steel/iron rods of 6-8mm
• 2 UV lamps of 11w with Electronic Choke (generic) for 11W UV Tube (input AC 220 V).
• A common desert cooler pump (input AC 220V) Particularly for this prototype
• Spray nozzle (commonly used for spraying pesticides etc )
• Remote control device to operate the pump and UV lamps
• Closed container for sanitizer
References:
1. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/training/online-training.
2. WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care 2009
3. https://dst.gov.in/uv-disinfection-trolley-can-effectively-clean-hospital-spaces-combat-covid-19
4. Do-Kyun Kim, Dong-Hyun Kang UVC LED Irradiation Effectively Inactivates Aerosolized Viruses,Bacteria, and Fungi in a Chamber-Type Air Disinfection System, September 2018, Volume 84 Issue 17 e00944-18 Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
5. Xu Z, Wu Y, Shen F, Chen Q, Tan M, Yao M. Bioaerosol science, technology, and engineering: past, present, and future. Aerosol Sci Technol,2011,45:1337-349.https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2011.593591.
6. Kurt Bedell, Adam Buchaklian and Stanley Perlman. Efficacy of an automated multi-emitter whole room UV-C disinfection system against Coronaviruses MHV and MERS-CoV, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2016 May ; 37(5): 598–599. doi:10.1017/ice.2015.348.
7. Wai Szeto, W. C. Yam, Haibao Huang and Dennis Y. C. Leung Szeto, The efficacy of vacuum-ultraviolet light disinfection of some common environmental pathogens, BMC Infectious Diseases (2020) 20:127; https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-4847-9
8. Wladyslaw J. Kowalski, SARS Coronavirus UV Susceptibility, Aerobiological Engineering Report , Technical Report • November 2015 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4332.1680.
9. https://www.who. int/gpsc/5may/tools/9789241597906/en/, accessed 2 July 2019.
10. National Centre for Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, January 2020.