Urinal cleaning and deodorizing apparatus and method

Abstract

A urinal cleaning unit for cleaning a urinal having periodic water flow therethrough comprises: (a) a mounting device for attaching the urinal clean unit to a urinal; (b) a disposable unit adapted for releasably attaching to the mounting device; and (c) a chamber in the disposable unit for containing a cleaning agent adapted to intercept a portion of the water flow. A method of cleaning a urinal having periodic water flow therethrough comprises: (a) mounting a disposable unit to a urinal; (b) enabling a portion of the water flow to flow through the disposable unit; and (c) mixing the portion of the water flow with a cleaning agent in the disposable unit to form a mixture of water and cleaning agent; and (d) releasing the mixture of water and cleaning agent to the urinal.

1 . A urinal cleaning unit for cleaning a urinal having periodic water flow therethrough comprising:
 (a) a mounting device for attaching the urinal clean unit to a urinal;   (b) a disposable unit adapted for releasably attaching to the mounting device;   (c) a chamber in the disposable unit for containing a cleaning agent adapted to intercept a portion of the water flow.   
     
     
         2 . The urinal cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting device comprises connecting apparatus to connect to a water outlet to the urinal. 
     
     
         3 . The urinal cleaning unit of  claim 2 , wherein the connecting apparatus comprises a barbed arm connected to the urinal cleaning unit to attach to the water outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The urinal cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the disposable unit comprises a chamber housing having the chamber therein and having openings in the chamber to intercept the portion of the water flow. 
     
     
         5 . The urinal cleaning unit of  claim 4 , wherein the openings comprise a first opening near one end of the chamber is receive the portion of the water flow and a second opening near another end of the chamber to emit some of the portion of the water flow after it has flowed through the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The urinal cleaning unit of  claim 1  further comprising a porous container disposed in the chamber for containing the cleaning agent. 
     
     
         7 . The urinal cleaning unit of  claim 5 , wherein the porous container is configured to enable the portion of the water flow to seep into and out of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The urinal cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein chamber is adapted to mix the portion of the water flow with the cleaning agent and release a mixture of water and cleaning agent into the urinal. 
     
     
         9 . The urinal cleaning unit of  claim 1  further comprising a second housing attached to the chamber housing for releasing a fragrance in air surrounding the urinal. 
     
     
         10 . The urinal cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent is sulfamic acid. 
     
     
         11 . A method of cleaning a urinal having periodic water flow therethrough comprising:
 (a) mounting a disposable unit to a urinal;   (b) enabling a portion of the water flow to flow through the disposable unit;   (c) mixing the portion of the water flow with a cleaning agent in the disposable unit to form a mixture of water and cleaning agent; and   (d) releasing the mixture of water and cleaning agent to the urinal.   
     
     
         12 . The urinal cleaning method of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting step comprises connecting the disposable unit to the periodic water flow to enable water to flow therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The urinal cleaning method of  claim 11 , wherein the enabling step comprises connecting the portion of water flow to a chamber in the disposable unit, the chamber having openings therein to intercept the portion of the water flow. 
     
     
         14 . The urinal cleaning method of  claim 13 , wherein the connecting step comprises running water into a first opening near one end of the chamber is receive the portion of the water flow and out of a second opening near another end of the chamber to emit some of the portion of the water flow after it has flowed through the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The urinal cleaning method of  claim 11  further comprising running the portion of water through a porous container disposed in the chamber for containing the cleaning agent. 
     
     
         16 . The urinal cleaning method of  claim 11 , further comprising running the portion of water through a chamber adapted to mix the portion of the water flow with the cleaning agent. 
     
     
         17 . The urinal cleaning method of  claim 16 , further comprising releasing the mixture of water and cleaning agent into the urinal. 
     
     
         18 . The urinal cleaning method of  claim 11  further comprising releasing a fragrance from the disposable unit in air surrounding the urinal. 
     
     
         19 . The urinal cleaning method of claim  22  further comprising causing the mixture of cleaning agent and water to flow from the urinal into associated urinal drain pipes to remove unpleasant smelling buildup and prevent clogging of the urinal drain pipes. 
     
     
         20 . The urinal cleaning method of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning agent is sulfamic acid.