Self-contained portable cleaning machine & in situ method of cleaning public restroom surfaces

Abstract

A method of more effectively disinfecting a surfaces by application of a disinfectant foam that remains in contact with the surface. The invention also includes a portable cleaning machine that provides on-the-go generation of a disinfectant foam that can be applied to a surface so that the foam clings to the surface for an extended period of time sufficient to disinfect the surface. Once the surface is disinfected the machine includes equipment for rinsing the surfaces and vacuuming away any remaining residue.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A self contained restroom cleaning machine for on-the-go foam generation comprising: 
 a cart;    a pump mounted on said cart;    a water tank;    a source of pressurized air;    a liquid disinfectant;    a source of pressurized air for directing a portion of the pressurized air through the liquid disinfectant to thereby generate a disinfectant foam; and    an applicator for applying a layer of the disinfectant foam to a surface of a restroom.    
     
     
         2 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 1  including a vacuum source for collecting a residue remaining after application of the layer of disinfectant foam.  
     
     
         3 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 1  including a liquid disinfectant tank.  
     
     
         4 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 1  wherein the applicator comprises a flow-through brush.  
     
     
         5 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 1  including a flexible hose for connecting to a vacuum source on said machine.  
     
     
         6 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 1  including a foam holding tank and a flexible hose connecting the foam holding tank to the applicator.  
     
     
         7 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 1  including a multi-port valve having at least four valves therein.  
     
     
         8 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 8  wherein the multi-port valve has two ports for clean water.  
     
     
         8 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 1  including a flexible vacuum hose connected to a vacuum motor discharge to provide a source of drying air.  
     
     
         9 . The self contained restroom cleaning machine of  claim 1  wherein the cart includes a tool box.  
     
     
         10 . A self-contained portable, cleaning machine comprising: 
 a source of pressurized air;    a source of liquid disinfectant, a portion of the pressurized air mixable with the liquid disinfectant to thereby generate a disinfectant foam; and    an applicator for low impact application of the disinfectant foam to a surface to thereby provide in situ disinfecting.    
     
     
         11 . A method of disinfecting comprising the steps of: 
 directing a mixture of water and a liquid disinfectant in a foam condition onto a surface;    allowing the water and the liquid disinfectant in the foam condition to cling to the surface for sufficient time to disinfect the surface; and    removing the water and the liquid disinfectant in the foam condition from the surface after the surface has been disinfected.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  including the step of vacuuming the surfaces to remove any residue on the surfaces.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  including the step of air drying the surfaces with a stream of air.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the foam is applied through a flow-through brush having a plurality of bristles projecting therefrom.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the foam is mixed on-the-go in a foam mixing tank.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mixture of water to disinfectant is varied to control the disinfectant content of a foam generated from the water and disinfectant.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  including the step of allowing the disinfectant foam solution to remain on the surface for at least a minute.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  including on-the-go mixing of the pressurized air with the liquid disinfectant.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  including the step of applying the disinfectant foam comprises applying the disinfectant foam with a flow-through brush.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  including the step of mixing a stream of water with a stream of liquid disinfectant before directing a combined stream of water and liquid disinfectant into a foam mixing tank and then directing a portion of a source of pressurized foam mixing tank to convert the combined stream of water and liquid into the disinfectant foam.