Foam odor plug for urinals
First Claim
1. A method of constraining gas within an effluent discharge pipe of a urinal comprising discharging an allotment of collapsible foam comprising gas bubbles within a fluid inside the discharge pipe to form a replaceable, collapsible foam plug entirely across a passageway through the discharge pipe which foam plug is stable for a period of time, the method including providing a support for the foam in the discharge pipe,discharging the foam into the passageway of the discharge pipe above the support so that the foam engages the support, andproviding as the support a lower screen member disposed across the passageway and an upper screen member disposed across the passageway, the method including discharging the foam into the discharge pipe intermediate the lower screen member and the upper screen member in a manner that the foam entirely fills a cavity defined within the passageway through the discharge pipe between the upper screen member and the lower screen member, including discharging sufficient foam that the foam fills the cavity engaging each of the upper screen member and the lower screen member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A urinal discharge pipe assembly comprising a discharge pipe having a passageway therethrough from an inlet in communication with a urinal discharge outlet and an outlet in communication with a urine disposal system, a foam dispensing device having a foam outlet open into the passageway for discharge of an allotment of foam into the passageway between the inlet and the outlet adequate to form a temporary foam plug across the passageway blocking the passageway.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of constraining gas within an effluent discharge pipe of a urinal comprising discharging an allotment of collapsible foam comprising gas bubbles within a fluid inside the discharge pipe to form a replaceable, collapsible foam plug entirely across a passageway through the discharge pipe which foam plug is stable for a period of time, the method including providing a support for the foam in the discharge pipe,
discharging the foam into the passageway of the discharge pipe above the support so that the foam engages the support, and providing as the support a lower screen member disposed across the passageway and an upper screen member disposed across the passageway, the method including discharging the foam into the discharge pipe intermediate the lower screen member and the upper screen member in a manner that the foam entirely fills a cavity defined within the passageway through the discharge pipe between the upper screen member and the lower screen member, including discharging sufficient foam that the foam fills the cavity engaging each of the upper screen member and the lower screen member.
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14. A method of constraining gas within an effluent discharge pipe comprising discharging an allotment of collapsible foam comprising gas bubbles within a fluid inside the discharge pipe to form a replaceable, collapsible foam plug entirely across a passageway through the discharge pipe which foam plug is stable for a period of time,
including automatically sensing the presence of a foam plug in the passageway by providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation and a sensor of electromagnetic radiation located such that electromagnetic radiation from the emitter must pass through a cavity in the discharge pipe in which the foam plug is desired to be located, and determining whether the foam plug is adequately blocking the passageway to odor passage by the extent that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter reaches the sensor.
Specification