Systems and methods for disinfecting plumbing fixtures and rooms with plumbing fixtures
OwnerRalph Birchard Lloydinventor
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Abstract
The invention is a system and method for the initial and on-going disinfection of pathogens from building surfaces and plumbing fixtures. The disclosed system and method can be particularly useful in bathrooms to disinfect the drains of sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and other standing water sources that act as persistent reservoirs of deadly pathogens. The disclosed system and method include a disinfecting chemical storage or disinfecting chemical generation unit, a control module, a conduit configured to pump or convey the disinfecting fluid to a surface of the plumbing fixture, an attachment configured to attach a portion of the distribution structure piping, and at least two separate openings in the piping or other conduit.
Claims20
A system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture, the system comprising:
- at least one plumbing fixture located in a room comprising a bathroom in a building;
- a disinfecting chemical storage or disinfecting chemical generation unit for storing, generating, or both storing and generating a disinfecting fluid;
- a programmable control module or manual controls for inputting, adjusting, or both inputting and adjusting system control parameters;
- a distribution structure comprising piping or other conduit fixedly mounted relative to the plumbing fixture and configured to pump or convey the disinfecting fluid to a surface of the plumbing fixture;
- an attachment configured to attach a portion of the distribution structure piping or other conduit on, in, or near the plumbing fixture;
- at least two separate openings integrally formed in the piping or other conduit, wherein each of the at least two separate openings is configured to distribute the disinfecting fluid onto a different area on a surface of the plumbing fixture surface relative to the remaining openings, the at least two separate openings being physically spaced apart along the piping or other conduit and positioned and oriented to direct disinfecting fluid toward different predetermined surface regions of the plumbing fixture.
A facility selected from a healthcare facility, nursing home, rehabilitation or long-term care facility, restaurant, office building, school, retail store, hotel, hospitality facility, auditorium, theater, recreational facility including a gymnasium, stadium, swimming pool, fitness center, food processing or preparation facility, research facility, manufacturing facility, private restroom, or public restroom, the facility comprising:
- at least one bathroom comprising at least one plumbing fixture;
- a disinfecting chemical storage or disinfecting chemical generation unit configured for storing, generating, or both storing and generating a disinfecting fluid;
- a programmable control module or manual controls for inputting, adjusting, or both inputting and adjusting system control parameters;
- a distribution structure comprising piping or other conduit fixedly mounted relative to the plumbing fixture and configured to pump or convey the disinfecting fluid to a surface of the at least one plumbing fixture;
- an attachment configured to attach a portion of the distribution structure piping or other conduit on, in, or near the at least one plumbing fixture;
- at least two separate openings integrally formed in the piping or other conduit configured to distribute the disinfecting fluid onto different areas of a surface of the at least one plumbing fixture, the at least two separate openings being physically spaced apart along the piping or other conduit and positioned and oriented to direct disinfecting fluid toward different predetermined surface regions of the plumbing fixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.