Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic material treatment – Organic
Reexamination Certificate
1997-02-18
2001-11-20
Phasge, Arun S. (Department: 1741)
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic material treatment
Organic
C205S742000, C205S743000, C205S744000, C204S228200, C204S229400, C204S275100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319390
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method of and a system for cleansing a toilet or urinal. It should be noted that the term “toilet” includes both “toilet” and “urinal” hereinafter, if not specified.
BACKGROUND ART
One of the main causes of the stain of a toilet is the deposition of uric stone. The process by which the uric stone deposits is considered to be as follows: when urea contained in urine is decomposed by urease, an enzyme carried by bacteria, ammonia is generated, whereby the pH of a mixed drain consisting of urea and flush water increases; as the pH increases, the solubility of calcium phosphate which is produced by the reaction of calcium ions and phosphate ions contained in the urine decreases, and calcium phosphate together with organic components precipitates on such a place as the inner surface of the toilet. This is the “uric stone”.
Accordingly, some methods are conventionally used wherein the pH of the mixed drain is kept low enough to impede the precipitation of calcium phosphate.
For example, the Japanese Published Examined Patent Application No. H5-57312 discloses a method wherein the pH of the urine, or a mixed drain composed of urine and flush water, is kept between 5 and 7.5 by adding acid substances.
The conventional method using acid substances, however, is not a satisfactory countermeasure to a stench since it cannot suppress the generation of ammonia adequately.
Besides, the method is accompanied by the problem that the downstream pipe of the toilet may corrode.
Furthermore, the maintenance work for supplying an acid substance is necessary and the supplying work may be sometimes dangerous.
The present invention is accomplished in view of the above problems, the main object of which is to provide a method of cleansing a toilet by which the formation of the stain of the toilet is effectively prevented and the generation of ammonia is suppressed adequately so that the stench can be prevented sufficiently.
Further, the present invention provides a system for cleansing a toilet which requires less maintenance work and is safer to users than the conventional method using acid substances.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides, as a first invention, a method of cleansing a toilet comprising a process of killing urease-carrying bacteria and a process of removing urease from the toilet.
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides, as a second invention, a method of cleansing a toilet comprising a process of inhibiting the enzymatic activity of urease.
In a preferable form of the second invention, the method comprises a process of inhibiting the enzymatic activity of urease and a process of removing urease from the toilet.
In a preferable form of the present invention, the method comprises a process of killing urease-carrying bacteria and a process of inhibiting the enzymatic activity of urease.
In a preferable form of the present invention, the method comprises a process of killing urease-carrying bacteria together with inhibiting the enzymatic activity of urease.
In another preferable form of the present invention, the method comprises a process of killing urease-carrying bacteria, a process of inhibiting the enzymatic activity of urease and a process of removing urease from the toilet.
In another preferable form of the present invention, the method comprises a process of killing urease-carrying bacteria together with inhibiting the enzymatic activity of urease and a process of removing urease from the toilet.
In a preferable form of the first invention, the process of killing urease-carrying bacteria is a process wherein a sterilizing substance or ions are contacted with the toilet.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the process of killing urease-carrying bacteria is a process wherein a liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is contacted with the toilet.
In a preferable form of the first invention, the process of removing urease from the toilet is a process wherein bacteria are removed from the toilet together with flush water.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the process of removing urease from the toilet is a process wherein bacteria are removed from the toilet together with a liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions contains a substance that inhibits the enzymatic activity of urease.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the pH of the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is 5.5 or below.
In a preferable form of the present invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is a liquid containing free chlorine.
In another preferable form of the present invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is a liquid containing bound chlorine.
In another preferable form of the present invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is ozone-water.
In another preferable form of the present invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is a liquid containing antibacterial metal ions.
In a more preferable form, the concentration of free chlorine is 0.1 mg/l or above.
In a more preferable form, the concentration of free chlorine is 0.5 mg/l or above.
In another preferable form of the present invention, the free chlorine is obtained by electrolyzing a water containing chlorine ions.
In another preferable form of the present invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is an acid solution containing free chlorine.
In a preferable form of the first invention, the ozone concentration of the ozone-water is 0.01 mg/l or above.
In a more preferable form, the ozone concentration of the ozone-water is 0.05 mg/l or above.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the ozone-water is obtained by dissolving ozone produced by a silent discharge in a water, or by producing ozone in a water by electrolyzing the water.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing antibacterial metal ions is a liquid containing silver ions whose concentration is 1 &mgr;g/l or above.
In a more preferable form, the liquid containing antibacterial metal ions is a liquid containing silver ions whose concentration is 10 &mgr;g/l or above.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing antibacterial metal ions is a liquid containing the antibacterial metal ions released from an antibacterial metal ion holder.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the antibacterial metal ion holder is placed in the trap of the toilet where a standing water is retained.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is supplied to the toilet at predetermined time intervals.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is supplied to the toilet only at night.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is supplied to the toilet only at night and at predetermined time intervals.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is supplied to the toilet in case that the toilet is not used for a predetermined period of time after the last use thereof.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is supplied to the toilet at predetermined time intervals in case that the toilet is not used for a predetermined period of time after the last use thereof.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is supplied to the toilet at every flush after use.
In another preferable form of the first invention, the liquid containing a sterilizing substance or ions is supplied to the toilet just before or just after the end of a flush after use.
In anot
Hayakawa Makoto
Kanekuni Nobuhiko
Kanno Mitsuyoshi
Kiyohara Masakatsu
Kono Shuhei
Jones Day Reavis & Pogue
Phasge Arun S,.
Toto Ltd.
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