Systems and methods for simulating coughs and sneezes

Abstract

The present invention relates to pathogen cleaning and simulation of pathogen spreading. More particularly, some implementations of the described invention relate to systems and methods for spraying materials in a manner that mimics the spreading of pathogens from coughing or sneezing. Some implementations further relate to using a non-aerosol sprayer that produces both a mist and droplets of a mixture containing water, a fluorescent marker, a surfactant, and an antifoaming agent. In some cases, the pump sprayer defines an internal compartment that includes the mixture. In some cases, the sprayer further includes a pump mechanism that is configured to be pumped to compress a gas within the compartment and a release valve that is configured to release pressure within the compartment through a spray nozzle of the sprayer such that droplets and mist of the mixture are sprayed from the nozzle. Other implementations are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mister comprising:
 a pump sprayer comprising a manual pump that is configured to be actuated to increase a pressure within the sprayer such that when a valve of the sprayer is opened, contents of the sprayer are sprayed out of the sprayer; and   a mixture disposed in the sprayer, the mixture comprising:
 a fluorescent marker; 
 a surfactant; and 
 an antifoaming agent. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mister of  claim 1 , wherein the pump sprayer is configured to spray both droplets and a mist of the mixture simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The mister of  claim 2 , wherein the fluorescent marker comprises melamine powder. 
     
     
         4 . The mister of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture further comprises water, and wherein water accounts for between about 70% and about 95%, by weight, of the mixture. 
     
     
         5 . The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent marker comprises between about 6% and about 12%, by weight, of the mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The mister of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises between about 0.001% and about 4%, by weight, of the mixture. 
     
     
         7 . The mister of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-foaming agent comprises between about 0.001% and about 6%, by weight, of the mixture. 
     
     
         8 . The mister of  claim 1 , wherein the marker is more readily visible under ultraviolet light than under white light. 
     
     
         9 . A mister comprising:
 a non-aerosol, pump sprayer configured to provide a spray comprising a both droplets and a mist of a mixture within the pump sprayer, the pump sprayer comprising
 an internal compartment that includes the mixture; 
 a pump mechanism that is configured to be pumped to compress a gas within the compartment; 
 a spray nozzle; and 
 a release valve that is configured to release pressure within the compartment through the spray nozzle such that the droplets and the mist of the mixture are sprayed from the nozzle. 
   wherein the mixture includes:
 water; 
 a fluorescent marker; 
 a surfactant; and 
 an antifoaming agent. 
   
     
     
         10 . The mister of  claim 9 , wherein the anti-foaming agent comprises between about 0.001% and about 6%, by weight, of the mixture. 
     
     
         11 . The mister of  claim 10 , wherein the surfactant comprises between about 0.001% and about 4%, by weight, of the mixture. 
     
     
         12 . The mister of  claim 9 , wherein the fluorescent marker comprises between about 6% and about 12%, by weight, of the mixture. 
     
     
         13 . The mister of  claim 12 , wherein the water accounts for between about 70% and about 95%, by weight, of the mixture. 
     
     
         14 . The mister of  claim 9 , wherein the fluorescent marker comprises a melamine resin. 
     
     
         15 . A mister comprising:
 a non-aerosol, pump sprayer configured to provide a spray comprising a both droplets and a mist of a mixture within the pump sprayer, the pump sprayer comprising
 an internal compartment that includes the mixture; 
 a pump mechanism that is configured to be manually pumped to compress a gas within the compartment; 
 a spray nozzle; and 
 a release valve that is configured to release pressure within the compartment through the spray nozzle such that the droplets and the mist of the mixture are sprayed from the nozzle. 
   wherein the mixture includes:
 water, which comprises between about 85% and about 95% of the mixture, by weight; 
 a fluorescent marker, which comprises between about 3% and about 15% of the mixture, by weight; 
 a surfactant, which comprises between about 0.002% and about 2% of the mixture, by weight; and 
 an antifoaming agent, which comprises between about 0.01% and about 2% of the mixture, by weight. 
   
     
     
         16 . The mister of  claim 15 , wherein the fluorescent marker comprises a melamine resin. 
     
     
         17 . The mister of  claim 15 , wherein the pump sprayer is configured to spray the droplets and the mist of the mixture more than 8 feet. 
     
     
         18 . The mister of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the water comprises between 89% and about 91.5% of the mixture, by weight,   the fluorescent maker comprises between about 8.75% and about 10.45% of the mixture, by weight,   the anti-foaming agent comprises between about 0.03% and about 0.06% of the mixture, by weight, and   the surfactant comprises between about 0.007% and about 0.3% of the mixture, by weight.   
     
     
         19 . The mister of  claim 15 , wherein:
 water comprises between about 90 and about 95% of the mixture, by weight,   the fluorescent maker comprises between about 9% and about 10% of the mixture, by weight,   the anti-foaming agent comprises between about 0.035% and about 0.045% of the mixture, by weight, and   the surfactant comprises between about 0.009% and about 0.02% of the mixture, by weight.   
     
     
         20 . The mister of  claim 15 , wherein the surfactant comprises a soap.