US 12,071,109 B2
Retractable sanitizing apparatuses for traversing and sanitizing surfaces of a vehicle
David M. Goemer, Frisco, TX (US); Evan Vijithakumara, Frisco, TX (US); Imad Zahid, Carrollton, TX (US); Lou Pope, Flower Mound, TX (US); Yuho Kozu, Dallas, TX (US); and Lizbeth Jurado, El Paso, TX (US)
Assigned to Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed by Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/235,249.
Prior Publication US 2022/0332291 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B60S 1/64 (2006.01); A47L 7/00 (2006.01); A47L 9/28 (2006.01); A61L 2/04 (2006.01); A61L 2/10 (2006.01); A61L 2/20 (2006.01); A61L 2/22 (2006.01); A61L 2/26 (2006.01)
CPC B60S 1/64 (2013.01) [A47L 7/0061 (2013.01); A47L 7/0076 (2013.01); A47L 9/2821 (2013.01); A61L 2/04 (2013.01); A61L 2/10 (2013.01); A61L 2/202 (2013.01); A61L 2/22 (2013.01); A61L 2/26 (2013.01); A61L 2202/11 (2013.01); A61L 2202/14 (2013.01); A61L 2202/15 (2013.01); A61L 2202/17 (2013.01); A61L 2202/25 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retractable sanitizing apparatus for a vehicle comprising:
a return station mounted at one of an upper end of a seat back of the vehicle and an upper end of a door of the vehicle;
a sanitizing mechanism positionable between a first sanitizing position, a second sanitizing position, and a stowed position, the sanitizing mechanism positioned at the return station when in the stowed position; and
a linkage member connecting the sanitizing mechanism to the return station and positioning the sanitizing mechanism between the first sanitizing position and the second sanitizing position,
wherein the sanitizing mechanism sanitizes a surface of the vehicle as the sanitizing mechanism moves from the first sanitizing position to the second sanitizing position and across the surface of the vehicle.