| 摘要 |
A new and useful in-line internal plumbing line sanitizers for appliances apparatus that sanitizes the internal plumbing lines of appliances such as refrigerators with integrated ice makers and drinking water dispensers, is easily adaptable, can be made in different sizes for use with various appliances, and can house a variety of sanitizing agents. The apparatus can also be used by an ordinary consumer, increases the safety and efficiency of internal plumbing line sanitation procedures, and eliminates the need for expensive replacement of internal appliance plumbing lines. This device is believed to be useful in the domestic and commercial settings. A device according to the invention is also believed to be favorable for use by appliance service technicians, as well as lay people who want to sanitize an appliance periodically. |
| 主权项 |
1. An in-line internal plumbing line sanitizer for appliances apparatus which comprises
a. a cartridge having a proximal end, a distal end and formed by a rigid hull which is substantially cylinder shaped and having a first end and a second end, as well as an outer surface and inner surface, thereby defining a cylindrical void within; b. an in-flow end attached to the first end of the hull, said in-flow end having a substantially conical shape with an in-flow nipple extending from the in-flow end,said in-flow end and attached in-flow nipple and having an outer surface and an inner surface, thereby defining a conical void within,said in-flow nipple having a proximal opening at the proximal end of the apparatus;
c. an out-flow end attached to the second end of the hull, said out-flow end having a substantially conical shape with an out-flow nipple extending from the out-flow end,said out-flow end and attached out-flow nipple having an second outer surface and a second inner surface thereby defining a second conical void within,said out-flow nipple having a distal opening at the distal end of the apparatus;
d. an in-flow boot, which is generally cylindrical, over and covering the proximal opening of the in-flow nipple,said in-flow boot is a flexible material such as rubber, and having a first pinhole aperture located in the end of the in-flow boot for receipt of an inserted water line from the environment into the in-flow nipple of the apparatus;
e. an out-flow boot, which is generally cylindrical, over an covering the distal opening of the out-flow nipple,said out-flow boot is a flexible material such as rubber, and having a pinhole aperture located in the end of the out-flow boot for receipt of an inserted appliance plumbing line from the environment into the out-flow nipple of the apparatus;
f. a first sieve which is generally planar and having a circular perimeter located at the first end of and within the interior cylindrical void of the hull,said circular perimeter of the first sieve being affixed and forming a tight seam with the hull,said first sieve is a semi-permeable mesh having a plurality of perforations which allows the passage of fluid there through;
g. a second sieve which is generally planar and having a second circular perimeter located between the first sieve and the second end of the hull and within the interior cylindrical void of the hull,said second circular perimeter of the second sieve being affixed and forming a tight seam with the hull,said second sieve is a semi-permeable mesh having a plurality of perforations which allows the passage of fluid there through;
h. a sanitizing agent holding chamber in the interior cylindrical void of the hull near to the proximal end of the apparatus and defined by the void created by nexus of the interior surface of the hull, the first sieve and second sieve; i. a mixing chamber in the interior void of the hull near to the distal end of the apparatus and defined by the void created by the nexus of the inner surface of the hull, the second sieve and the out-flow end of the apparatus; and j. a sanitizing agent in the sanitizing agent holding chamber,said sanitizing agent is a plurality of water soluble crystals or beads. |
