Automated cleansing sprayer

• US 7,775,458 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Fahy, Cathal L., Shiesley, Craig F., Aberegg, Dale, Gausmann, Keith H., Linstedt, Brian K., Zach, Steven A., Stonis, Luke C., Varanasi, Padma Prabodh, Kovara, Terry M., Neumann, Peter M., Fryan, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US10/950,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 239/222.11, 239/345, 239/379, 239 67- 72, 239/95, 239/93, 239/225.1, 239/242, 239/240, 239/538, 239/569, 239/302, 239/371
• US Class Current: 239/70
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/08 of pulsating nature, e.g. delivering liquid in successive separate quantities ; Fluidic oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/14 with multiple outlet openings B05B1/02, B05B1/26 take precedence; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/02 with rotating elements electric spraying discharge apparatus characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements B05B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/06 by jet reaction , i.e. creating a spinning torque due to a tangential component of the jet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/10 discharging over substantially the whole periphery of the rotating member , i.e. the spraying being effected by centrifugal forces B05B3/082 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/1014 with a spraying edge, e.g. like a cup or a bell
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/1021 with individual passages at its periphery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/1035 Driving means; Parts thereof, e.g. turbine, shaft, bearings

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a bath and shower enclosure with a cleanser. The sprayer has a housing that can be mounted inside the shower enclosure and that defines a tray in which an inverted bottle of cleanser is stored. The bottom of the tray has a tube extending downwardly along a longitudinal axis through which the cleanser can pass. A motorized head disposed beneath the tube can be rotated about the axis for metering cleanser from the bottle and spraying cleanser outward. The sprayer includes timer circuitry that delays commencement of a spray for a set time and automatically stops spraying after a predetermined period. The sprayer also includes a system for signaling the beginning of a spray cycle including audio and visual alarms. The invention focuses on methods of using such equipment, as well as a container for supplying such equipment.

Claims

1. A method of automatically cleaning all internal side walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser, comprising:

positioning an automated sprayer having a hanger at a selected location in the enclosure by hanging the hanger from a shower head that extends into the enclosure, wherein the sprayer has a container of liquid cleanser and a liquid pumping system capable of delivering liquid cleanser from the selected location to all of said internal side walls;

activating a timer on the sprayer to initiate a first countdown;

at the expiration of the first countdown, automatically spraying liquid cleanser in drops of a size larger than an atomized drop size so as to form a stream to contact all of said side walls with the cleanser in a manner which assists in cleaning all of said side walls; and

automatically terminating the spray cycle at the expiration of a second countdown following the first countdown;

wherein the sprayer has a motorized spray head which is mounted within the enclosure to rotate during the spraying to impart centrifugal force to the liquid cleanser;

whereby all of said side walls are at least to some extent cleaned by said spraying; and

wherein said automated sprayer is non-integrally mounted within said enclosure without damaging a wall of the enclosure but also in contact with one of the side walls;

wherein the sprayer has a tray sized to receive the container in an inverted fashion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sprayer further comprises:

a metering system for controlling flow of the cleanser;

a spray head for spraying cleanser during a spray cycle; and

a control for initiating the spray cycle; and

automatically terminating it.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tray includes an integral tube extending downwardly and through which cleanser can be metered by the metering system to the spray head.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

wherein the sprayer comprises a user notification system including a light or sound alarm that is used during the method to warn a user of impending, delayed, automatic operation of the sprayer after activation of the timer and before spraying begins so that the user has time to cancel spraying before it begins after the alarm has gone off.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sprayer, when so mounted, can spray the cleanser even when the sprayer does not receive water from a water supply of a building in which the enclosure is located.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises an opening and said opening is positioned downwards when the container is loaded in said sprayer.

7. A method of automatically cleaning all internal side walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser, comprising:

positioning an automated sprayer having a hanger at a selected location in the enclosure by hanging the hanger from a shower head that extends into the enclosure, wherein the sprayer has a container of liquid cleanser and a liquid pumping system capable of delivering liquid cleanser from the selected location to all of said internal side walls;

activating a timer on the sprayer to initiate a first countdown;

at the expiration of the first countdown, automatically spraying liquid cleanser in drops of a size larger than an atomized drop size so as to form a stream to contact all of said side walls with the cleanser in a manner which assists in cleaning all of said side walls; and

automatically terminating the spray cycle at the expiration of a second countdown following the first countdown;

wherein the sprayer has a motorized spray head which is mounted within the enclosure to rotate during the spraying to impart centrifugal force to the liquid cleanser;

whereby all of said side walls are at least to some extent cleaned by said spraying; and

wherein said automated sprayer is non-integrally mounted within said enclosure without damaging a wall of the enclosure but also in contact with one of the side walls;

wherein the sprayer further comprises a timer coupled to the metering system for delaying activation thereof after the spray cycle is initiated; and

a tray sized to receive the container in an inverted fashion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the timer is an electronic timing circuit.