Non-contact spray toilet bowl cleaning device

Abstract

A device for spraying an inner surface of a toilet bowl with a cleaning fluid is disclosed. The device includes a container for the fluid, a fluid spray bar through which the fluid can be sprayed on the wall of the enclosure, a pumping apparatus for delivering fluid from the container to the fluid spray bar, and a controller. The fluid spray bar includes spray nozzles with different configurations and nozzle bodies to effectively spray the inner surface of the enclosure.

1 . A device for spraying an inner surface of a wall of an enclosure with a fluid, the device comprising:
 a fluid spray bar having an interior space for receiving fluid from a source of the fluid and for spraying the inner surface of the wall of the enclosure; and   a plurality of spray nozzles through which the fluid can be sprayed, the spray nozzles being in fluid communication with the interior space of the spray bar, at least one of the spray nozzles having a nozzle body defining a fluid path in fluid communication with the interior space, the nozzle body extending away from an outer surface of the spray bar.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 each of the spray nozzles has a nozzle body defining a fluid path in fluid communication with the interior space, each of the nozzle bodies extending away from an outer surface of the spray bar. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one spray nozzle has a first spray hole having a first axis, the first spray hole being in fluid communication with the fluid path and a second spray hole having a second axis, the second spray hole being in fluid communication with the fluid path wherein the first axis faces in a different direction than the second axis. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein:
 the at least one spray nozzle has a third spray hole having a third axis, the third spray hole being in fluid communication with the fluid path wherein the third is axis substantially opposite the direction of the first axis. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein:
 a least one of the first spray hole and the second spray hole is configured to produce a conical spray. 
 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 a first spray nozzle having a nozzle body defining a fluid path in fluid communication with the interior space is arranged substantially on a first end of the fluid spray bar and a second spray nozzle having a nozzle body defining a fluid path in fluid communication with the interior space is arranged substantially on a second end of the fluid spray bar wherein the first spray nozzle has a first spray hole having a first axis, the first spray hole being in fluid communication with the fluid path and the second spray nozzle has a second spray hole having a second axis, the second spray hole being in fluid communication with the fluid path wherein the first and second axes face substantially opposite the fluid spray bar. 
 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one spray nozzle body extends laterally and upwardly away from the outer surface of the spray bar. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pumping apparatus for delivering fluid from the source of the fluid through a fluid conduit and to the interior space of the fluid spray bar when the pumping apparatus is activated. 
 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a controller in electrical communication with the pumping apparatus wherein the controller executes a stored program to activate the pumping apparatus at an end of a predetermined time interval stored in the controller. 
 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the enclosure is a toilet. 
 
     
     
         11 . A device for spraying an inner surface of a wall enclosure with a fluid, the device comprising:
 a fluid spray bar having an interior space for receiving fluid from a source of the fluid and for spraying the inner surface of the wall of the enclosure;   a first spray nozzle through which the fluid can be sprayed, the first spray nozzle being in fluid communication with the interior space of the spray bar, arranged on the fluid spray bar and located between the source of the fluid and a first end of the spray bar, the first spray nozzle having a nozzle body defining a fluid path in connection with the interior space, the nozzle body of the first spray nozzle extending away from the outer surface of the spray bar wherein the first spray nozzle has a first spray hole having a first axis, the first spray hole being in fluid communication with the fluid path, wherein the first axis faces substantially away from the source of the fluid; and   a second spray nozzle through which fluid can be sprayed, the second spray nozzle being in fluid communication with the interior space of the spray bar, arranged on the fluid spray bar having a nozzle body defining a fluid path in fluid communication with the interior space, the nozzle body of the second spray nozzle extending away from the outer surface of the spray bar wherein the second spray nozzle has a second spray hole having a second axis, the second spray hole being in fluid communication with the fluid path, wherein the second axis faces in a different direction than the first axis.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein:
 the fluid is delivered to the fluid spray bar through a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the source of the fluid and the interior space of the spray bar wherein the fluid conduit is located substantially next to the first end of the spray bar. 
 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a pumping apparatus for delivering fluid from the source of the fluid through the fluid conduit and to the fluid spray bar when the pumping apparatus is activated. 
 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a controller in electrical communication with the pumping apparatus wherein the controller executes a stored program to activate the pumping apparatus at an end of a predetermined time interval stored in the controller. 
 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11  wherein:
 a least one of the first spray hole and the second spray hole is configured to produce a conical spray. 
 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11  wherein:
 the enclosure is a toilet. 
 
     
     
         17 . A device for spraying an inner surface of a wall enclosure with a fluid, the device comprising:
 a fluid spray bar having an interior space for receiving fluid from a source of the fluid and for spraying the inner surface of the wall of the enclosure; and   a clip for attaching the spray bar to the enclosure, the clip including a hook and a base wherein the base includes an opening for receiving an inner rim segment of the hook.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein:
 the enclosure is a toilet. 
 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17  wherein:
 the base is movable along the inner rim segment of the hook such that the distance between the base and the top of the hook is adjustable. 
 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a tab extending away from the base, the tab engaging an inner surface of the toilet when the clip is installed on the toilet. 
 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  further comprising:
 a channel in the tab for engaging the spray bar wherein the channel opens away from the base. 
 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a pumping apparatus for delivering fluid from the source of the fluid through a fluid conduit and to the fluid spray bar when the pumping apparatus is activated. 
 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22  further comprising:
 a controller in electrical communication with the pumping apparatus wherein the controller executes a stored program to activate the pumping apparatus at a the end of a predetermined time interval stored in the controller.