# US 10,766,051 B1 · Apparatuses for wetting mildew-removal strips and related methods

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- Number: US 10,766,051 B1
- Document ID: US10766051B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/532,609
- Filed: 2019-08-06
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-06
- Applicants: Max Lee Horton
- Inventors: Max Lee Horton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766051B1

## CPC

- B05C 5/0208: {for applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles (B05C5/0204 takes precedence)}
- B08B 3/04: Cleaning involving contact with liquid
- B05C 5/0229: {the valve being a gate valve or a sliding valve}
- B05C 5/0241: {for applying liquid or other fluent material to elongated work, e.g. wires, cables, tubes}
- C11D 3/48: Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions
- C11D 17/049: {Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes}
- B05C 5/002: {the work consisting of separate articles (B05C5/0208 takes precedence)}
- B05C 11/1044: {Apparatus or installations for supplying liquid or other fluent material to several applying apparatus or several dispensing outlets, e.g. to several extrusion nozzles}
- B05D 1/26: performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface
- B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
- B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02)

## Abstract

An apparatus for wetting one or more absorbent strips with a solution can comprise a solution tray and a dispenser tray, each comprising a base that defines opposing upper and lower surfaces and one or more openings and a sidewall extending away from the upper surface and disposed along a periphery of the base. One or more dispensers can each include a tube extending between first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the dispenser tray's base such that the tube is configured to receive solution from a respective one of the opening(s) of the dispenser tray. An applicator tray can be configured to receive the strip(s). The solution, dispenser, and applicator trays are positionable to permit solution to flow through the solution tray's opening(s) onto the dispenser tray's base, through the dispenser tray's opening(s) into the dispenser(s), and through the dispenser(s) onto the applicator tray.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for wetting at least one absorbent strip with a solution, the apparatus comprising:
a dispenser tray comprising:
a base that defines opposing upper and lower surfaces and at least one dispenser tray opening;
a sidewall that extends away from the upper surface and is disposed along a periphery of the base; and
at least one dispenser, including:
a tube extending between first and second ends, the first end coupled to the base of the dispenser tray such that the tube is configured to receive solution from a respective one of the at least one dispenser tray opening; and
a flow restrictor coupled in fixed relation to the second end of the tube and defining an outlet of the dispenser such that solution from the tube is permitted to pass through the flow restrictor to the outlet, the flow restrictor having a maximum internal transverse dimension that is less than or equal to 90% of a maximum internal transverse dimension of the tube;
an applicator tray configured to receive the at least one absorbent strip;
first and second support frames, wherein:
the dispenser tray and the applicator tray are configured to extend between and be removably coupled to the support frames such that the at least one dispenser overlies the applicator tray; and
at least one dispenser rail that is slidable between:
an open position in which solution is permitted to flow from the at least one dispenser onto the applicator tray; and
a closed position in which solution is not permitted to flow from the at least one dispenser onto the applicator tray;
wherein the applicator tray is configured to be pivotably coupled to the second support frame such that the applicator tray is pivotable between:
a first position in which at least a majority of the at least one dispenser does not overlie the applicator tray; and
a second position in which the at least one dispenser overlies the applicator tray;
wherein the dispenser tray and applicator tray are positionable such that when the dispenser tray receives the solution, the solution is permitted to flow:
through the at least one dispenser tray opening into the at least one dispenser; and
through the at least one dispenser onto the applicator tray to wet the at least one absorbent strip with the solution when the at least one absorbent strip is on the applicator tray.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a solution tray comprising:
a base that defines opposing upper and lower surfaces and at least one solution tray opening; and
a sidewall that extends away from the upper surface and is disposed along a periphery of the base;
wherein the solution tray and dispenser tray are positionable such that when the solution tray receives the solution, the solution is permitted to flow through the at least one solution tray opening onto the base of the dispenser tray.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the solution tray comprises a lid that:
is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the lid overlies at least a majority of the base of the solution tray; and
comprises at least one spike configured to puncture a packet that is disposed on the solution tray when the lid is moved to the closed position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one dispenser rail comprises:
at least one plug positioned such that, when the at least one dispenser rail is in the closed position, each of the at least one plug engages the outlet of a respective one of the at least one dispenser to seal the outlet; and
at least one dispenser rail opening positioned such that, when the at least one dispenser rail is in the open position, for each of the at least one dispenser rail opening solution from a respective one of the at least one dispenser is permitted to pass through the dispenser rail opening.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein for each of the at least one dispenser a maximum internal transverse dimension of the flow restrictor is less than or equal to 40% of a maximum internal transverse dimension of the tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein for each of the at least one dispenser a maximum internal transverse dimension of the flow restrictor is less than or equal to 0.10 inches.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:
each of the solution tray, the dispenser tray, and the applicator tray has:
a length measured in a first direction; and
a width measured in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction;
for each of the dispenser tray and the applicator tray, the width of the tray is less than or equal to 30% of the length of the tray; and
the length of the solution tray is less than or equal to 50% of each of the lengths of the dispenser tray and the applicator tray.

### Claim 8

An apparatus for wetting at least one absorbent strip with a solution, the apparatus comprising:
a dispenser tray comprising:
a base that defines opposing upper and lower surfaces and at least one dispenser tray opening;
a sidewall that extends away from the upper surface and is disposed along a periphery of the base; and
at least four dispensers, including:
a tube extending between first and second ends, the first end coupled to the base of the dispenser tray such that the tube is configured to receive solution from a respective one of the at least one dispenser tray opening; and
a flow restrictor coupled in fixed relation to the second end of the tube and defining an outlet of the dispenser such that solution from the tube is permitted to pass through the flow restrictor to the outlet, the flow restrictor having a maximum internal transverse dimension that is less than or equal to 90% of a maximum internal transverse dimension of the tube;
an applicator tray configured to receive the at least one absorbent strip, wherein the applicator tray comprises at least two platforms; the dispensers are positioned in two or more sets of two or more dispensers, each of the sets configured to overlie a respective one of the platforms;
first and second support frames, wherein:
the dispenser tray and the applicator tray are configured to extend between and be removably coupled to the support frames such that the at least one dispenser overlies the applicator tray; and
comprising at least one dispenser rail that is slidable between:
an open position in which solution is permitted to flow from the at least one dispenser onto the applicator tray; and
a closed position in which solution is not permitted to flow from the at least one dispenser onto the applicator tray;
wherein the dispenser tray and applicator tray are positionable such that when the dispenser tray receives the solution, the solution is permitted to flow:
through the at least one dispenser tray opening into the at least one dispenser; and
through the at least one dispenser onto the applicator tray to wet the at least one absorbent strip with the solution when the at least one absorbent strip is on the applicator tray.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least two platforms include at least one upper platform and at least one lower platform, the at least one lower platform being positioned lower than each of the at least one upper platform.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:
the dispenser tray has a length measured in a first direction and a width measured in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction that is less than or equal to 30% of the length; and
for each of the sets of dispensers, at least two of the dispensers are separated by a distance, measured in the first direction, that is greater than or equal to 50% of the length of the dispenser tray.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, comprising for each of the sets of dispensers, a rail support that:
is coupled to dispensers of the set; and
defines a guide that is disposed below the flow restrictors of the set and is configured to receive a respective one of the dispenser rails.