# US 11,897,008 B2 · Composition, system, and method for automatic dosing of a urinal cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,008 B2 - Document ID: US11897008B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/202,779 - Filed: 2021-03-16 - Published: 2021-09-23 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-19 - Applicants: NCH Corporation - Inventors: Gabriel F. K. Everett; Mike Rushing; Charles J. Greenwald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897008B2 ## CPC - B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect - B08B 9/032: by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing (B08B9/04 takes precedence {; by fluid jets mounted on cleaning devices B08B9/0433}) - C11D 1/94: Mixtures with anionic, cationic or non-ionic compounds - C11D 3/222: {Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin} - C11D 3/323: {urea or derivatives thereof} - E03D 9/002: {Automatic cleaning devices} - E03D 9/005: {Devices adding disinfecting or deodorising agents to the bowl} - E03D 13/005: {Accessories specially adapted for urinals} - B08B 2209/032: by the mechanical action of a moving fluid - C11D 1/72: Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols - C11D 1/90: Betaines - C11D 2111/14: Hard surfaces - C11D 2111/20: Industrial or commercial equipment, e.g. reactors, tubes or engines - C11D 2111/24: Mineral surfaces, e.g. stones, frescoes, plasters, walls or concretes - E03D 5/105: {touchless, e.g. using sensors} - E03D 9/032: {Devices connected to or dispensing into the bowl} - E03F 9/00: Arrangements or fixed installations {methods or devices} for cleaning {or clearing} sewer pipes, e.g. by flushing (sediment traps, rakes, screens, or the like, arranged in sewer lines E03F5/14; cleaning pipes in general, devices for cleaning pipes B08B9/02 {; gullies provided with flushing means for cleaning or emptying E03F5/0402; devices to remove obstructions in waste-pipes or sinks E03C1/30}) - 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 - E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR - E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS ## Abstract A urinal and pipe cleaning composition and automated dispensing system and method. The composition preferably comprises urea hydrochloride, a thickener, optionally one or more surfactants, and optionally fragrance. Preferably, the surfactants comprise cocamidopropyl betaine and one or more ethoxylated alcohols. The composition preferably has a viscosity allowing it to be dispensed from an automated dispenser and to coat the surfaces to be cleaned to allow sufficient contact time to dissolve accumulated salts and remove stains. A predetermined dose of the composition is dispensed at predetermined time intervals. Different dose amounts and time intervals may be used depending on the level of usage of the urinal, the amount of salt scale, and level of staining. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for cleaning a urinal surface or a urinal pipe of a urinal, the method comprising: dispensing a first dose of a cleaning composition onto the urinal surface or into the urinal pipe; and repeating the dispensing the first dose step after a first event; wherein the cleaning composition comprises urea hydrochloride and one or more thickeners and wherein the cleaning composition has a viscosity of 200 to 600 centipoise when the cleaning composition is at a temperature of 65° F. to 72° F.; and wherein the first event is (1) a first time interval from one of a previous first dose dispensing steps; (2) motion detected at or near the urinal; (3) flushing of the urinal; (4) or a combination thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein each first dose is around 0.25 to 10 mL and the first time interval is around 60 minutes to 24 hours. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the cleaning composition further comprises 4% to 11% total of one or more surfactants; wherein the cleaning composition comprises 0.2% to 2% of the urea hydrochloride, wherein the percentages are by weight, and wherein the dispensing the first dose step comprises spraying or streaming the first dose onto an upper portion of the urinal surface to allow the first dose to run down at least a portion of the urinal surface by gravity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the one or more surfactants comprise 1% to 4% cocamidopropyl betaine and 3% to 7% total of one or more ethoxylated alcohols. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the one or more thickeners comprise, xanthan gum, agar, gelatin, alginate, pectin, or synthetic polymers or a combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the composition comprises 0.1 to 10% urea hydrochloride, 0.1 to 1% total of the one or more thickeners, and 1 to 15% total of the one or more surfactants by weight of the composition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising dispensing a second dose of the cleaning composition onto the urinal surface or into the pipe; and repeating the dispensing the second dose step after a second event; and wherein the second event is different from the first event and comprises: (1) a second time interval from one of a previous second dose dispensing steps or one of the previous first dose dispensing steps; (2) motion detected at or near the urinal; (3) flushing of the urinal, or (4) a combination thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the second dose is around 1 to 10 mL and is larger than the first dose. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising flushing the urinal after a predetermined contact time for the cleaning composition to contact the urinal surface or the urinal pipe after at least one of the first dose dispensing steps. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined contact time is 1 to 60 minutes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein a total amount of the one or more thickeners results in the viscosity of the cleaning composition being 20 to 60 times higher than a viscosity of a composition that is the same as the cleaning composition except that the composition does not comprise the one or more thickeners. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the total amount of the one or more thickeners results in the viscosity of the cleaning composition being 30 to 50 times higher than the viscosity of the composition that is the same as the cleaning composition except that the composition does not comprise the one or more thickeners. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the total amount of the one or more thickeners results in the viscosity of the cleaning composition being 35 to 45 times higher than the viscosity of the composition that is the same as the cleaning composition except that the composition does not comprise the one or more thickeners. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the cleaning composition comprises 0.1% to 10% of the urea hydrochloride and 0.1% to 1% total of the one or more thickeners; and wherein the cleaning composition further comprises 0.1% to 5% cocamidopropyl betaine and 1% to 10% total of one or more ethoxylated alcohols. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the cleaning composition comprises 0.2% to 2% of the urea hydrochloride and 0.2% to 0.8% total of the one or more thickeners; and wherein the cleaning composition further comprises 1% to 4% cocamidopropyl betaine and 3% to 7% total of one or more ethoxylated alcohols. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the cleaning composition comprises 0.3% to 0.5% of the urea hydrochloride and 0.3% to 0.5% total of the one or more thickeners; and wherein the cleaning composition further comprises 2% to 3% cocamidopropyl betaine and 4% to 6% total of one or more ethoxylated alcohols. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the cleaning composition consists essentially of the urea hydrochloride, the one or more thickeners, the cocamidopropyl betaine, the one or more ethoxylated alcohols, and water. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the one or more thickeners comprises xanthan gum. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the one or more thickeners comprises xanthan gum. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the cleaning composition comprises 0.2% to 2% of the urea hydrochloride and 0.2% to 0.8% total of the one or more thickeners; and wherein the cleaning composition further comprises 1% to 4% cocamidopropyl betaine and 3% to 7% total of one or more ethoxylated alcohols. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: placing an automatic dispenser near or on the urinal surface, wherein the automatic dispenser comprises: a container for holding an initial volume of the cleaning composition; a dispensing tube; a valve configured to allow the first dose of the cleaning composition to flow from the container through the dispensing tube to the urinal surface or into the urinal pipe; a first sensor configured to detect the first event and send a first signal; and a controller configured to receive the first signal and actuate the valve in response to the first signal; and wherein repeating the dispensing the first dose step is automatically carried out by the automatic dispenser. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the first sensor is a motion detector and the first event is the motion detected at or near the urinal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the first sensor is a vibration detector or a sound detector and the first event is the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the first sensor is a timer and the first event is the first time interval. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising dispensing a second dose of the cleaning composition onto the urinal surface or into the pipe; and automatically repeating the dispensing the second dose step with the automatic dispenser after a second event; and wherein the second event is different from the first event and comprises: (1) a second time interval from one of a previous second dose dispensing steps or one of the previous first dose dispensing steps; (2) motion detected at or near the urinal; (3) flushing of the urinal, or (4) a combination thereof; wherein the automatic dispenser further comprises a second sensor configured to detect the second event and send a second signal; and wherein the controller configured to receive the second signal and actuate the valve in response to the second signal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein one of the first sensor or the second sensor is a motion detector and a corresponding one of the first event or the second event is the motion detected at or near the urinal; and wherein the other of the first sensor or the second sensor is a vibration detector or a sound detector and a corresponding other of the first event or the second event is the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein one of the first sensor or the second sensor is a motion detector and a corresponding one of the first event or the second event is the motion detected at or near the urinal; and wherein the other of the first sensor or the second sensor is a timer and a corresponding other of the first event or the second event is the first time interval or the second time interval. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein one of the first sensor or the second sensor is a vibration detector or a sound detector and a corresponding one of the first event or the second event is the flushing of the urinal; and wherein the other of the first sensor or the second sensor is a timer and a corresponding other of the first event or the second event is the first time interval or the second time interval. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the first sensor is a vibration detector or a sound detector and the first event is the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the cleaning composition comprises 0.2% to 2% of the urea hydrochloride and 0.2% to 0.8% total of the one or more thickeners; and wherein the cleaning composition further comprises 1% to 4% cocamidopropyl betaine and 3% to 7% total of one or more ethoxylated alcohols. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30 wherein a total amount of the one or more thickeners results in the viscosity of the cleaning composition being 20 to 60 times higher than a viscosity of a composition that is the same as the cleaning composition except that the composition does not comprise the one or more thickeners. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein the viscosity of the cleaning composition 300 to 500 centipoise when the cleaning composition is at a temperature of 68° F. to 72° F. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein the viscosity of the cleaning composition 350 to 450 centipoise when the cleaning composition is at a temperature of 68° F. to 72° F. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein the first dose is at least around 0.25 mL and less than 10 mL; and the second dose is around 1 mL to 10 mL and is larger than the first dose. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 wherein a total of each of the first dose and the second dose in a day is around 1-50 mL. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 wherein a total of each of the first dose and the second dose in a day is around 5-20 mL. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 wherein a total of each of the first dose and the second dose in a day is around 7-13 mL. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 wherein a distal end of the dispensing tube is disposed near an upper wall portion of the urinal surface; wherein the dispensing the first dose step comprises spraying or streaming the first dose onto the upper wall portion of the urinal surface to allow the first dose to run down at least a first portion of the urinal surface by gravity; and wherein the dispensing the second dose step comprises spraying or streaming the second dose onto the upper wall portion of the urinal surface to allow the second dose to run down the first portion or at least a second portion of the urinal surface by gravity. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 wherein the dispensing tube is configured to dispense the first dose and the second dose into the urinal pipe and wherein the urinal pipe comprises a drainpipe. ### Claim 40 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the first event is not the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40 wherein the second event is not the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 42 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the second event is not the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 43 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first event is not the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 44 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the first event is not the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44 wherein the second event is not the flushing of the urinal. ### Claim 46 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the urinal is a waterless urinal. ### Claim 47 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the controller is further configured to automatically flush the urinal after period of contact time following the first dose or the second dose being dispensed.