SELF-CLEANING RESTROOM, AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A RESTROOM

• US 3,837,011 A
• Filed: 05/04/1971
• Issued: 09/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbert T. Mctighe, Sture A. Johansson
• Original Assignee: Gilbert T. Mctighe, Sture A. Johansson
• Inventors: McTighe, Gilbert T., Johansson, Sture A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Artis, Henry K.
• Application Number:
  US05/140,227
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 4/1,145,146,173,233 134/167R,168R,169R 137/625,47
• US Class Current: 4/662
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/002 Automatic cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34869 Elements for special technical purposes, e.g. with a sanitary equipment

Abstract

A restroom including an enclosure, and bathroom fixtures mounted centrally within said enclosure on a pedestal. The restroom is automatically cleaned by moving a vertical spray boom around the inner periphery of the enclosure to spray both the sidewall of the enclosure and the fixtures mounted therewithin with cleansing fluid, the fluid then being drained from the enclosure, after which any accumulated vapors are exhausted. Heated drying air is then passed through the enclosure to complete the cleaning cycle.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning restroom, comprising;

an upright enclosure, including a sidewall having an entrance door therein, and a bottom wall;

a pedestal mounted on said bottom wall centrally of said enclosure and having at least one bathroom fixture thereon, said pedestal and said fixture being spaced from said sidewall;

a vertically disposed spray boom;

means for mounting said vertically disposed spray boom within said enclosure for movement substantially completely around the inner periphery of said sidewall on a fixed path, said vertically disposed spray boom extending for a substantial height within said enclosure and having nozzle means spaced vertically therealong;

means for supplying cleansing liquid to said spray boom; and

control means connected with said spray boom mounting means and said cleansing liquid supply means for selectively operating the same to effect a cleaning cycle for said restroom.

2. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 1, wherein said sidewall is cylindrical.

3. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 1, wherein said enclosure further includes a top wall, the periphery of said top wall being spaced from said sidewall to provide an annular space for the flow of air;

vent air means on one side of said annular space arranged to admit outside air to the interior of said enclosure; and

an exhaust fan mounted on the other side of said annular space, said exhaust fan being connected with said control means to be operable thereby after operation of said spray boom for exhausting steam from said enclosure.

4. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 3, further including means for supplying heated drying air to said enclosure, said heated air supply means being connected with said control means to be operable thereby after operation of said spray boom for effecting drying of the interior of said restroom.

5. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 4, including additionally lock means for said door, said lock means being connected with said control means and being operable thereby to lock said door closed during a cleaning cycle.

6. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 1, wherein said spray boom includes both noZzles directed toward said sidewall, and nozzles directed toward said pedestal.

7. A self-cleaning restroom, comprising:

an upright enclosure, including a sidewall having an entrance door therein, and a bottom wall;

a pedestal mounted on said bottom wall centrally of said enclosure and having at least one bathroom fixture thereon, said pedestal and said fixture being spaced from said sidewall;

a vertically disposed spray boom, including both nozzles directed toward said sidewall and nozzles directed toward said pedestal;

means for mounting said spray boom within said enclosure for movement around the inner periphery of said sidewall, said spray boom mounting means including;

a lower track mounted to extend around the periphery of the lower end of said sidewall;

an upper track mounted to extend around the periphery of the upper end of said sidewall;

upper and lower carriage means on said spray boom, adapted to ride on said upper and lower tracks, respectively; and

motor means associated with one of said carriage means for propelling said spray boom;

means for supplying cleansing liquid to said spray boom; and

control means connected with said spray boom mounting means and said cleansing liquid supply means for selectively operating the same to effect a cleaning cycle for said restroom.

8. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 1, wherein said pedestal has mounted thereon:

a water closet;

a lavatory;

illumination means;

a bracket for holding tissue paper, and including a waterproof closure; and

means for drying the hands after washing.

9. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 1, wherein said enclosure includes a vent means, and an exhaust fan spaced from said vent means.

10. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 9, including additionally means for supplying heated drying air to said enclosure.

11. A self-cleaning restroom, comprising:

an upright enclosure, including a sidewall having an entrance door therein, a bottom wall having a drain therein, and a top wall mounted with the periphery thereof spaced from said sidewall to provide an annular flow space therebetween;

a pedestal mounted on said bottom wall centrally of said enclosure and having at least one bathroom fixture thereon, said pedestal and said fixture being spaced from said sidewall;

a vertically disposed spray boom, including nozzles directed toward said sidewall, and nozzles directed toward said pedestal;

means for mounting said spray boom within said enclosure for movement around the inner periphery of said sidewall;

means for supplying cleansing liquid to said spray boom;

vent means on one side of said annular flow space;

an exhaust fan mounted on the other side of said annular flow space;

means for supplying heated drying air to said enclosure; and

control means connected with said spray boom mounting means, said liquid supply means, said exhaust fan, and said heated drying air supply means for operating the same to effect a cleaning cycle for said restroom, said cycle including the steps of;

operating said spray boom and said cleansing liquid supply means to spray cleansing liquids on said sidewall, and on said pedestal and all fixtures mounted thereon;

operating said exhaust fan to remove from said enclosure vapors created by said spraying operation; and

operating said heated air supply means to pass drying air through said enclosure.

12. A self-cleaning restroom, comprising:

an upright enclosure, including a sidewall having an entrance door therein, and a bottom wall;

bathroom fixture means mounted within said enclosure;

a vertically disposed spray boom;

means for mounting said vertically disposed spray boom within said enclosure for movement substantially completely around the inner periphery of said sidewall on a fixed path, said vertically disposed spray boom extending for a substantial height within said enclosure and having nozzle means spaced vertically therealong, and said bathroom fixture means being arranged whereby to provide an unobstructed path for the periphEral movement of said spray boom;

means for supplying cleansing liquid to said spray boom; and

control means connected with said spray boom mounting means and said cleansing liquid supply means for selectively operating the same to effect a cleaning cycle for said restroom.

13. A self-cleaning restroom as recited in claim 12, wherein said nozzle means on said spray boom are arranged to direct spray both inwardly and outwardly, from substantially the level of said bottom wall to at least above the height of said fixture means.