US 12,274,806 B2
Methods and systems for indicating a sanitation status of a surface
Gwen Marie Lanphere Gross, Redmond, WA (US); Xiaoxi Wang, Mukilteo, WA (US); and Kjersta L. Larson-Smith, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/468,744.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/115,642, filed on Nov. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0152258 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. A61L 2/28 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 2/28 (2013.01) [A61L 2202/11 (2013.01); A61L 2202/25 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for indicating a sanitation status of a surface, the method comprising:
contacting a coating on a surface with a cleaning composition, wherein the coating comprises a chromic material and exhibits a baseline optical state under illumination with light having a first wavelength prior to contact with the cleaning composition and an altered optical state under illumination with light having a second wavelength after contact with the cleaning composition, the cleaning composition configured to induce a switch from the baseline optical state to the altered optical state; and
illuminating the coating with the first wavelength of light, the second wavelength of light, or both, to reveal a sanitation status of the surface; and
wherein the baseline optical state is clear under illumination with ambient light and the altered optical state is photoemissive under illumination with UV light or IR light.