Waste Suctioning And Surface Disinfecting Device And Method Of Use

Abstract

A waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device for cleaning up after pets includes a vacuum module and a disinfectant module, which are attached to and positioned in a housing. A suction hose and a fluid hose are attached to the vacuum module and the disinfectant module, respectively, and extend from the housing. First and second switches are attached to the suction hose and the fluid hose, respectively, and are operationally engaged to the vacuum module and to the disinfectant module, respectively. The disinfectant module can selectively dispense a disinfectant solution. The suction hose can be grasped in a hand of a user and the first switch selectively switched to actuate the vacuum module to suction up waste on a surface. Similarly, the fluid hose is used to disinfect the surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space;   a vacuum module attached to the housing and positioned in the interior space;   a suction hose attached by a first end to the vacuum module and extending from the housing;   a first switch attached to the suction hose and operationally engaged to the vacuum module, wherein the suction hose is configured for grasping in a hand of the user and wherein the first switch is configured for being selectively switched by a digit of the hand for actuating the vacuum module, positioning the user for directing a second end of the suction hose proximate to waste on a surface for suctioning up the waste;   a disinfectant module attached to the housing, positioned in the interior space, and being configured for selectively dispensing a disinfectant solution;   a fluid hose attached by a first terminus to the disinfectant module and extending from the housing; and   a second switch attached to the suction hose and operationally engaged to the disinfectant module, wherein the fluid hose is configured for grasping in the hand of the user and wherein the second switch is configured for being selectively switched by a digit of the hand for actuating the disinfectant module, positioning the user for directing a second terminus of the fluid hose to dispense the disinfectant solution onto the surface for disinfecting the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 1 , further including a pair of straps attached to a back of the housing, such that the housing is configured for carrying upon shoulders of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 1 , further including:
 the vacuum module comprising:
 a vacuum pump, and 
 a bag selectively positionable in the housing and selectively attachable to an output port of the vacuum pump, such that the bag is in fluidic communication with the vacuum pump; and 
   the suction hose being attached to an input port of the vacuum pump, such that the suction hose is in fluidic communication with the bag.   
     
     
         4 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 3 , further including an aroma compound impregnated in the bag. 
     
     
         5 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 3 , further including:
 the disinfectant module comprising:
 a fluid pump, 
 a reservoir selectively positionable in the housing and selectively attachable an inlet port of the fluid pump, such that the reservoir is in fluidic communication with the fluid pump, the reservoir being configured for containing the disinfectant solution, and 
 a straw extending from the inlet port to proximate to a bottom of the reservoir; 
   the first terminus of the fluid hose being attached to an outlet port of the fluid pump, such that the fluid hose is in fluidic communication with the reservoir;   a wand attached to the second terminus of the fluid hose, wherein the wand is configured to facilitate directing of the disinfectant solution onto the surface, the second switch being attached to the wand; and   a pair of clips attached to the housing and selectively attachable to the wand to stow the wand when it is not in use.   
     
     
         6 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 1 , wherein the suction hose comprises:
 a first segment, the first segment being resiliently bendable;   a second segment, the second segment being substantially rigid; and   a connector attached to and extending between the first segment and the second segment.   
     
     
         7 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 6 , further including a handle attached to the second segment and being configured for grasping in a hand of a user for positioning the second segment. 
     
     
         8 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 6 , wherein the first switch is attached to the connector. 
     
     
         9 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a battery selectively positionable in the interior space, the battery being rechargeable;   a power switch attached to the housing;   a microprocessor attached to the housing, positioned in the interior space, and operationally engaged to the battery, the power switch, the vacuum pump, the fluid pump, the first switch, and the second switch, such that the microprocessor is enabled for actuating the vacuum pump and the fluid pump upon switching of the first switch and the second switch, respectively; and   a charging port attached to the housing and operationally engaged to the microprocessor, such that the charging port is configured for insertion of a plug of a charging cord extending from a source of electrical current for charging the battery.   
     
     
         10 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 9 , further including a plurality of walls attached to the housing and defining a plurality of compartments within the interior space, the fluid pump being positioned in a respective compartment proximate to an upper end of the housing, the vacuum pump and the battery being positioned in a respective compartment proximate to a lower end of the housing, the bag and the reservoir being positioned singly in respective compartments positioned adjacent to opposed sides of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device of  claim 10 , further including:
 a pair of cutouts positioned in a front of the housing, one of the cutouts opening to a respective compartment in which the bag and the reservoir are selectively positionable, the other of the cutouts opening to a respective compartment in which the battery is selectively positionable;   a pair of panels, each panel being hingedly attached to the housing proximate to a respective cutout, the panel being selectively attachable to the housing for closing the respective cutout; and   a pair of grips, each grip being attached to a respective panel, wherein the grip is configured for grasping in digits of the hand of the user for hinging the respective panel between an open configuration and a closed configuration.   
     
     
         12 . A waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space;   a pair of straps attached to a back of the housing, such that the housing is configured for carrying upon shoulders of a user, the straps being padded;   a vacuum module attached to the housing and positioned in the interior space, the vacuum module comprising:
 a vacuum pump, 
 a bag selectively positionable in the housing and selectively attachable to an output port of the vacuum pump, such that the bag is in fluidic communication with the vacuum pump, and 
 an aroma compound impregnated in the bag; 
   a suction hose attached by a first end to the vacuum module and extending from the housing, the suction hose being attached to an input port of the vacuum pump, such that the suction hose is in fluidic communication with the bag, the suction hose comprising:
 a first segment, the first segment being resiliently bendable, 
 a second segment, the second segment being substantially rigid, and 
 a connector attached to and extending between the first segment and the second segment; 
   a handle attached to the second segment and being configured for grasping in a hand of a user for positioning the second segment;   a first switch attached to the connector and operationally engaged to the vacuum module, wherein the suction hose is configured for grasping in a hand of the user and wherein the first switch is configured for being selectively switched by a digit of the hand for actuating the vacuum module, positioning the user for directing a second end of the suction hose proximate to waste on a surface for suctioning up the waste;   a disinfectant module attached to the housing, positioned in the interior space, and being configured for selectively dispensing a disinfectant solution, the disinfectant module comprising:
 a fluid pump, 
 a reservoir selectively positionable in the housing and selectively attachable an inlet port of the fluid pump, such that the reservoir is in fluidic communication with the fluid pump, the reservoir being configured for containing the disinfectant solution, and 
 a straw extending from the inlet port to proximate to a bottom of the reservoir; 
   a fluid hose attached by a first terminus to the disinfectant module and extending from the housing, the first terminus of the fluid hose being attached to an outlet port of the fluid pump, such that the fluid hose is in fluidic communication with the reservoir;   a second switch attached to the fluid hose and operationally engaged to the disinfectant module, wherein the fluid hose is configured for grasping in the hand of the user and wherein the second switch is configured for being selectively switched by a digit of the hand for actuating the disinfectant module, positioning a second terminus of the fluid hose to dispense the disinfectant solution onto the surface for disinfecting the surface;   a wand attached to the second terminus of the fluid hose, wherein the wand is configured to facilitate directing of the disinfectant solution onto the surface, the second switch being attached to the wand;   a pair of clips attached to the housing and selectively attachable to the wand to stow the wand when it is not in use;   a battery selectively positionable in the interior space, the battery being rechargeable;   a power switch attached to the housing;   a microprocessor attached to the housing, positioned in the interior space, and operationally engaged to the battery, the power switch, the vacuum pump, the fluid pump, the first switch, and the second switch, such that the microprocessor is enabled for actuating the vacuum pump and the fluid pump upon switching of the first switch and the second switch, respectively;   a charging port attached to the housing and operationally engaged to the microprocessor, such that the charging port is configured for insertion of a plug of a charging cord extending from a source of electrical current for charging the battery;   a plurality of walls attached to the housing and defining a plurality of compartments within the interior space, the fluid pump being positioned in a respective compartment proximate to an upper end of the housing, the vacuum pump and the battery being positioned in a respective compartment proximate to a lower end of the housing, the bag and the reservoir being positioned singly in respective compartments positioned adjacent to opposed sides of the housing;   a pair of cutouts positioned in a front of the housing, one of the cutouts opening to a respective compartment in which the bag is selectively positionable and to a respective compartment in which the reservoir is selectively positionable, the other of the cutouts opening to a respective compartment in which the battery is selectively positionable;   a pair of panels, each panel being hingedly attached to the housing proximate to a respective cutout, the panel being selectively attachable to the housing for closing the respective cutout; and   a pair of grips, each grip being attached to a respective panel, wherein the grip is configured for grasping in digits of the hand of the user for hinging the respective panel between an open configuration and a closed configuration.   
     
     
         13 . A method for removing waste from a surface and disinfecting the surface, the method comprising providing a waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device according to  claim 1 , and:
 grasping the suction hose in a hand;   directing the second end of the suction hose proximate to waste on a surface;   switching the first switch to actuate the vacuum module to suction up the waste;   directing the second terminus of the fluid hose toward the surface; and   switching the second switch to actuate the disinfectant module to dispense a disinfectant solution onto the surface to disinfect the surface.