Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Process disinfecting – preserving – deodorizing – or sterilizing – Deodorizing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-20
2001-01-16
Thornton, Krisanne (Department: 1744)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Process disinfecting, preserving, deodorizing, or sterilizing
Deodorizing
C222S001000, C422S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174496
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to methods and devices for delivering liquids to a closed area and more particularly to a method and apparatus for delivering an aerosol cloud of disinfectant to the interior of air conditioning and other ducts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A common problem with duct work used for ventilation is the accumulation of mold, mildew, and bacteria on the interior surfaces of the duct work. This problem is particularly acute in automotive air conditioning systems because, unlike home air conditioning systems, automotive air conditioning systems are subject to the warm moist conditions of the outdoors. As a result, the interior walls of automotive air conditioning ducts commonly become a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria and can even support certain viruses that are harmful to human health. This problem usually manifests itself in the form of stale dank-smelling air issuing from the registers of the air conditioning system. In addition, the mold and mildew that can accumulate in the ducts can irritate the lungs and sinuses of passengers and can even bring on allergic reactions among those susceptible to such contaminants.
In the past, it has been difficult and expensive to remove built-up mold, mildew, and bacteria from the interior duct work of automobile air conditioning systems. This is because the duct work tends to be small, convolutely-shaped, substantially closed, and usually located between the dash and firewall of the vehicle. In extreme cases, it has been necessary to remove the dashboard and the duct work, disassemble the duct work, clean it with appropriate disinfectants, reassemble it, and reinstall the duct work and dashboard. Clearly, this is a time-consuming and very expensive procedure.
It has been possible simply to spray aerosol disinfectants into the intake vents or recirculation vents of automotive air conditioning systems in an attempt to disinfect the interiors of the duct work. While this approach can be somewhat successful, it nevertheless is plagued with numerous problems and shortcomings. In particular, the aerosol that is sprayed into the intake vents generally does not deposit itself on the interior walls of the duct work. This is because the aerosol simply follows the air stream through the system and is ejected from the registers into the car. In the process, most of the interior surface area of the ducts and particularly convolutely-shaped portions thereof remain untouched by the disinfectant.
The use of flexible tubular extensions for aerosol dispensers can improve the effectiveness of common aerosol disinfectants by inserting the tube into the intake vents of the vehicle. However, the liquid disinfectant that issues from the free end of the tube is very directional. Since the interior of the duct work remains unseen by the user, it is virtually impossible to ensure thorough coverage of the disinfectant on the interior surfaces of the duct work. As a result, this type of blind application of disinfectant through a tubular extension has not proven successful in eliminating built-up contaminants.
Thus, there exists a need for a method and apparatus that assures effective and thorough distribution of a disinfectant on the interior surfaces of air conditioning ducts to kill accumulated mold, mildew, and bacteria. The method and apparatus should be reliable, inexpensive, quick, effective, and should require no or minimal disassembly of the automotive air conditioning system. Such a method and apparatus should provide all of these benefits, even in a situation where one cannot see the interior of the air conditioning duct work being treated. It is to the provision of such a method and apparatus that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the present invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, comprises an apparatus for delivering a liquid aerosol disinfectant to the interior duct work of an automotive air conditioning system to treat the air conditioning system for accumulated mold, mildew, and bacteria. The apparatus comprises a dispenser containing liquid disinfectant to be delivered to the air conditioning duct work. A selectively actuatable nozzle is coupled to the dispenser for expelling liquid from the dispenser and propellant means, such as compressed air, is provided in the dispenser for forcing the liquid disinfectant therein from the dispenser to the nozzle under pressure. An elongated flexible tube having a interior passageway, and open end, and a closed end, is coupled at its open end to the nozzle for receiving liquid under pressure therefrom.
A plurality of small holes or outlet ports are formed along the length of the flexible tube from its closed end to a position intermediate its ends. The holes are arrayed about the circumference of the tube. With this configuration, liquid disinfectant expelled through the nozzle travels through the tube and is issued through the plurality of small holes as a fine aerosol mist or cloud that sprays outwardly in all directions around the tube. A visual indicator is provided on the tube at a position beyond the extent of the array of small holes. The visual indicator provides a gauge for determining when the tube has been inserted the proper amount into a duct to be treated.
In using the apparatus of this invention to perform the method of the invention, the perforated flexible tube is inserted into the interior portion of an air conditioning duct to be treated. For this purpose, the tube can be inserted through an existing vent, such as the recirculation vent under the glove box, or, alternatively, a small hole can be drilled in the wall of a duct and the tube can be inserted through the hole. The tube is inserted into the duct up to the position of the visual indicator. This ensures that the end of the tube bearing the array of small holes is properly positioned within the duct. The nozzle is then activated, which causes an aerosol cloud to issue from the array of holes within the duct. This cloud sprays out in all directions from the tube so that the entire interior surface of the duct becomes covered with the disinfectant. After an appropriate time, the disinfectant acts to kill the mold, mildew, and bacteria within the duct work, thus eliminating the musty smell within the automobile and reducing greatly sources of allergic reaction.
Thus, it is an object of this invention to prove a simple and efficient method of disinfecting the interior surfaces of automotive air conditioning duct work.
It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for delivering a liquid aerosol disinfectant to the interior duct work of an automotive air conditioning system that is inexpensive, simple to manufacture, yet effective and repeatable.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a method of disinfecting the interior duct work of automobile air conditioning systems that does not require any disassembly of the automobile or of its air conditioning duct work.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for disinfecting the interior duct work of automotive air conditioning systems that is as effective as disassembling the system and cleaning it but that requires much less time, expense, and effort.
These and other objects, features, and advantages will become more apparent upon review of the detailed description set forth below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described as follows.
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patent
Thornton Krisanne
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice
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