Automatic shower and bathtub cleaner

• US 6,463,600 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shower B Clean LLC
• Original Assignee: Daniel P. Conway, Jude Nicholas Kaiser
• Inventors: Conway, Daniel P., Kaiser, Jude Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/848,154
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 454/6, 459/7, 466/2, 222/63, 222/325, 222/333, 222/643
• US Class Current: 4/662
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/001 Accessories for baths, not provided for in other subgroups of group A47K3/00 bath lifting devices for sick persons and invalids A61G7/10; Insertions, e.g. for babies; Tubs suspended or inserted in baths; Security or alarm devices; Protecting linings or coverings; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting baths; Bath insulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/281 Accessories for showers or bathing douches, e.g. cleaning devices for walls or floors of showers A47K3/30, A47K3/38, A47K3/40 take precedence

Abstract

An automatic shower and bathtub cleaning device, with no connection to the water supply piping, that directs cleaning fluid through nozzles that are positioned or adjusted to allow coverage of the entire inside surface of the shower or bathtub enclosure. The device consists of a main body, cleaning fluid reservoir, electric pump, nozzles, and a control circuit that allows either local or remote initiation of the device'"'"'s cleaning cycle operation.

Claims

1. An automatic cleaning device for cleaning a shower or bathtub enclosure comprising:

a means for securing the cleaning device within the shower or bathtub enclosure,

a main body consisting of a watertight housing supported by a frame wherein said housing has a single side that is hinged such that said single side that is hinged can be opened thereby allowing access to the interior of said housing,

a removable reservoir wherein said reservoir contains a liquid cleaning solution,

a nozzle assembly wherein said nozzle assembly directs said liquid cleaning solution towards the interior surfaces of said shower or bathtub enclosure,

an electric powered pump,

a fluid conduit means transporting the liquid cleaning solution from the reservoir to the pump, and

a second fluid conduit means transporting the liquid cleaning solution from the pump to the nozzle assembly.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an operating panel located on one outside surface of the main body,

a clock,

means located on the exterior of said operating panel whereby a person can communicate with the device to activate or deactivate operation of the device,

means located on the exterior of said operating panel whereby the clock can be adjusted,

a timing circuit wherein said timing circuit will delay the device spraying liquid cleaning solution for a pre-programmed period of time and said timing circuit will allow the duration of the device spraying liquid cleaning solution to be adjusted,

a buzzer wherein said buzzer will sound during the pre-programmed period of time before the device initiates spraying, and

a removable and rechargeable battery system wherein said battery system provides direct current voltage to said pump.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said nozzle assembly can be adjusted to discharge said liquid cleaning solution to provide maximum surface coverage depending on shower or bathtub dimensions.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said frame is constructed not only to support the main body of the device, but also to provide means for storing toiletries adjacent to the exterior of the main body.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for securing the cleaning device includes a mounting arm attached to the top of the main body wherein said mounting arm is adjustable in length and possesses means to securely fasten said mounting arm to a shower spigot.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein the mounting arm is constructed of flexible material thereby allowing the main body to rest immediately adjacent to and in contact with the one exterior surface of the shower or bathtub enclosure through which the shower spigot or shower head piping travels.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a second nozzle assembly wherein said second nozzle assembly sprays the liquid cleaning solution on the one exterior surface of the shower or bathtub enclosure through which the shower spigot or shower head piping travels.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein the reservoir is constructed of translucent plastic thereby allowing a person to view an amount of said liquid cleaning solution remaining in said reservoir.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a spring loaded valve assembly located immediately underneath the reservoir wherein said spring loaded valve assembly automatically shuts when said reservoir is removed from the main body thereby preventing leakage of liquid cleaning solution from said reservoir.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 9, wherein the interior of said housing is constructed to align, store, and support said reservoir, said battery system, said nozzle assembly, said second nozzle assembly, said pump, said fluid conduit means and said second fluid conduit means.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a means for remote activation or deactivation of said device.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11, further comprising means to detect the presence of a person within the shower or bathtub enclosure and if such presence is detected while the device is spraying liquid cleaning solution or during a pre-programned period of time before the device initiates spraying the device is deactivated.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said nozzle assembly is comprised of a plurality of nozzles located along the perimeter of the exterior surfaces of said shower or bathtub enclosure.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 13 wherein the reservoir is constructed of translucent plastic thereby allowing a person to view an amount of said liquid cleaning solution remaining in said reservoir and further comprising a spring loaded valve assembly located immediately underneath the reservoir wherein said spring loaded valve assembly automatically shuts when said reservoir is removed from the main body thereby preventing leakage of liquid cleaning solution from said reservoir.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a means for remote activation of deactivation of said device and a means to detect the presence of a person within the shower or bathtub enclosure and if such presence is detected while the device is spraying liquid cleaning solution or during a pre-programmed period of time before the device initiates spraying the device is deactivated.