Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Hollow work – internal surface treatment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-26
2004-03-30
Gulakowski, Randy (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Hollow work, internal surface treatment
C134S022160, C134S022170, C134S022190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06712079
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a process of cleaning the inner surfaces of a liquid-containing vessel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process of cleaning the inner surfaces of a liquid-containing vessel with an automatic cleaning device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid-containing vessels, preferably water-containing vessels, such as swimming pools and bathtubs, are prone to soiling. Indeed, soap-scum, limescale and other residues, such as hair and body grease, are deposited on the inner surfaces of a bathtub after use. Furthermore, the inner surfaces of swimming pools can be covered with algae, fungi and other deposits. Thus, there is a need to clean such surfaces on a frequent basis. In particular, the inner surface of a bathtub should preferably be cleaned after each use of said bathtub to avoid the build-up and/or encrustation of soap-scum, limescale, mineral deposit, mildew and other residues, such as hair and body grease, on the bathtub surface. Although, swimming pool surfaces have to be cleaned on a less frequent basis, there is nevertheless a need to clean such swimming pool surfaces at least once a month to prevent the build-up of an algae- and/or fungi-cover.
Cleaning compositions used to clean bathtubs and/or swimming pools are well known in the art. Such compositions can be either liquids, such as sprays, foams or gels, or solid, such as scouring powders. For example, WO 92/21772 describes acidic liquid detergent compositions for bathrooms. Even though, some of these cleaning compositions provide cleaning performance upon contact with the surface to be cleaned, without employing manual action, it is in most cases required that the cleaning of the inner surface of a bathtub, swimming-pool or any other vessel for liquid, requires, to at least some extent, manual action by a person cleaning said vessel.
It is well known from consumer research that the cleaning of liquid-containing vessels is a laborious and unpleasant task for the person cleaning said vessel. Indeed, to clean a bathtub, the person cleaning said bathtub has to bend over the rim of the bathtub, go on his/her knees and/or reach far into the tub to reach all parts of the bathtub with a suitable cleaning implement, as for example a sponge, cloth or brush. Furthermore, in order to clean the inner surfaces of a swimming pool, it is necessary to climb into the pool and brush the surfaces of the pool once it has been emptied. Therefore, there is a constant need for improvement in the field of cleaning the inner surfaces of a liquid-containing vessel, such as bathtubs and swimming pools.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a process for cleaning the inner surfaces of a liquid-containing vessel, such as bathtubs and swimming pools, which is more convenient for the person that has to clean said surfaces. Indeed, it is the objective of the present invention to provide an easy way of cleaning such surfaces.
It has now been found that the above objective can be met by process of cleaning the inner surfaces of a liquid-containing vessel with an automatic cleaning device, according to the present invention.
An advantage of the process as described herein is that said process provides an effective way of cleaning the inner surfaces of a liquid-containing vessel, such as bathtubs and swimming pools.
Another advantage of the process as described herein is that said process can easily be used by persons of a wide range of age. Indeed, said process can be used by children or persons that usually would not clean the inner surfaces of a liquid-containing vessel, such as bathtubs and swimming pools.
A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the liquid-containing vessel is a bathtub, is that the process herein enables the person taking a bath to clean the bathtub instantly after taking the bath. By contrast, in most households a person taking a bath would otherwise simply walk away from the bathtub and leave it to the individual that is usually doing the household work to clean the bathtub. By this time the dirt and soil, as for instance soap-scum, limescale and other residues, such as hair and body grease, remaining in the bathtub after being drained may already have built-up or be encrustated, which in turn makes cleaning of the bathtub even more laborious.
BACKGROUND ART
DE 297 09 738 U describes a self-propelled, solar cell powered water-surface cleaning device. The device is equipped with a pump, a filter and a water-jet.
WO 94/23159 describes a device and method for cleaning surfaces in a pool. The device is battery powered and equipped with either a propeller or a turbine and spray nozzles to apply water and/or a cleaning solution onto the pool surfaces. Furthermore, the device is equipped with brushes.
AU-A-715978 describes a swimming pool cleaning device equipped with a water-jet, spray nozzles and a filter.
JP 9-187388 describes a floating bathtub cleaning robot that is mains-powered and sprays a cleaning composition onto the bathtub surfaces. Furthermore, the robot is equipped with brushes and a propeller.
JP 2-143199 describes a floating wall surface cleaning robot equipped with two propulsion means and a sponge. In addition, the robot sprays a cleaning composition onto surfaces to be cleaned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention encompasses a process of cleaning the inner surfaces of a liquid-containing vessel with an automatic cleaning device, wherein said process is performed by said device and comprises the steps of applying a cleaning composition onto at least portions of the inner surface of said liquid-containing vessel and rinsing at least portions of the inner surface of said liquid-containing vessel and wherein said automatic cleaning device is a floating device (
1
) actively moving in said vessel or is a non-floating device (
8
) placed on the bottom of said vessel.
In a preferred embodiment the process according to the present invention is a process of cleaning a bathtub or a swimming pool, preferably a bathtub.
In another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the liquid in the liquid-containing vessel comprises water.
In yet another preferred embodiment herein, said automatic cleaning device additionally comprises a feature selected from the group consisting of: an energy storage means, a filter, a reservoir for a cleaning composition, a means to move in said vessel, a spray nozzle (
2
), a rudder (
7
), a motor and a pump, and combinations thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5108514 (1992-04-01), Kisner
patent: 5682628 (1997-11-01), Oleson
patent: 6294084 (2001-09-01), Henkin et al.
patent: A-715978 (2000-02-01), None
patent: 297 09 738 (1997-09-01), None
patent: 2-143199 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 9-187388 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 2000093338 (2000-04-01), None
patent: WO 94/23159 (1994-10-01), None
Bredo Katia
Cedeno Alejandro
Pochart Nicolas Rémy Denis
Ratti Michela
Tack Joris Jozef Gustaaf
Chaudhry Saeed
Fayette Thibault
Gulakowski Randy
Miller Steven W.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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