Method for cleaning drain pipe of sink and cleaning container therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol spray for cleaning a drain with an excellent foam cleaning effect by spraying a drain cleaning composition to a drain hole and a drain of a sink, and the foamed cleaner can remain for a long time by spraying the drain cleaning composition in an aerosol or foam form to a sink filter, a drain hole and a drain, to maximize the cleaning effect. In addition, the present invention discloses a method for cleaning a drain of a sink comprising; (a) preparing a cleaner container comprising a first receiving part and a second receiving part in which a first agent and a second agent are received respectively; (b) mixing the first agent and the second agent each other; and (c) arranging the cleaner container in a drain inlet of a sink to inject a mixed foam cleansing agent released through an outlet of the cleaner container.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a drain of a sink comprising: (a) preparing a cleaner container, the cleaner container including: a container body including a first receiving part and a second receiving part in which a first agent and a second agent are received respectively, wherein the first receiving part and the second receiving part are provided separated from each other and the second receiving part includes: screw threads on an outer surface of the second receiving part; and an outlet formed between at least one of the screw threads; an isolating part between the first receiving part and the second receiving part for isolating the first receiving part from the second receiving part; and a cap including a rupturing part extending along an axial direction of the container body towards the isolating part, the cap threadingly engaging the container body to seal the container body; (b) rotating the cap in a first direction with respect to the container body, causing the cap to engage more threads of the second receiving part to cause the rupturing part to rupture the isolating part to mix the first agent with the second agent, forming a foam cleansing agent; then (c) rotating the cap in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to loosen the cap; and then (d) arranging the cleaner container having the cap threadingly engaged with the container body in a drain inlet of the sink such that the foam cleansing agent is released through the outlet of the second receiving part into the sink to clean the drain of the sink.

2. The method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to claim 1, wherein any one of the first agent and the second agent is made of powder and the other is made of liquid.

3. The method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to claim 1, wherein the rotation the cap in the second direction creates a space between the threads of the second receiving part and the cap, and wherein the foaming agent is released through the outlet of the second receiving part and through the space between the threads of the second receiving part and the cap.

4. The method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to claim 2, wherein in the step (d), the cleaner container is arranged upside down to inject the mixed foam cleaner to the drain.

5. A method for cleaning a drain of a sink comprising: (a) preparing a cleaner container, the cleaner container including: a container body including a first receiving part and a second receiving part in which a first agent and a second agent are received respectively, wherein the first receiving part and the second receiving part are provided separated from each other and the first receiving part includes: screw threads on an outer surface of the first receiving part; and an outlet formed between at least one of the screw threads; an isolating part between the first receiving part and the second receiving part for isolating the first receiving part from the second receiving part; a cap, the cap threadingly engaging the container body to seal the container body; and a rupturing part extending along an axial direction of the container body towards the isolating part; (b) rotating the cap with respect to the container body to remove the cap from the container body; (c) applying an external force to a top surface of the rupturing part to cause the rupturing part to rupture the isolating part to mix the first agent with the second agent, forming a foam cleansing agent; (d) rotating the first receiving part relative to the second receiving part to loosen the first receiving part; and then (e) arranging the cleaner container in a drain inlet of the sink such that the foam cleansing agent is released through the outlet of the first receiving part into the sink to clean the drain of the sink.

6. The method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to claim 5, wherein any one of the first agent and the second agent is made of powder and the other is made of liquid.

7. The method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to claim 5, wherein the rotation of the first receiving part relative to the second receiving part exposes the outlet of the first receiving part to the outside.

8. The method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to claim 6, wherein in the step (e), the cleaner container is arranged upside down to inject the mixed foam cleaner to the drain.

9. A method for cleaning a drain of a sink comprising: (a) preparing a cleaner container, the cleaner container including: a container body including a first receiving part and a second receiving part in which a first agent and a second agent are received respectively, wherein the first receiving part and the second receiving part are provided separated from each other and the second receiving part includes: screw threads on an outer surface of the second receiving part; and an outlet formed on a side of the second receiving part, between at least one of the screw threads, or above the screw threads; an isolating part between the first receiving part and the second receiving part for isolating the first receiving part from the second receiving part; and a cap including a rupturing part extending along an axial direction of the container body towards the isolating part, the cap threadingly engaging the container body; (b) rotating the cap with respect to the container body, causing the rupturing part to rupture the isolating part to mix the first agent with the second agent, forming a foam cleansing agent; and then (c) arranging the cleaner container upside down in a drain inlet of the sink such that the foam cleansing agent is released through the outlet of the second receiving part into the sink to clean the drain of the sink.

10. The method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to claim 9, wherein any one of the first agent and the second agent is made of powder and the other is made of liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a combined cross-sectional diagram showing the configuration of the cleaner container for performing the method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to a preferable example of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the ruptured isolating part in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the example of the formed passage for release of a mixed foam cleaner in FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the example of installing the cleaner container of FIG. 3 in a drain of a sink.

(5) FIG. 5 is a disassembled perspective view showing the configuration of the cleaner container for performing the method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to another example of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a combined cross-sectional diagram of FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the ruptured isolating part in FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the example of the formed passage for release of a mixed foam cleaner in FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the example of installing the cleaner container of FIG. 8 in a drain of a sink.

(10) FIG. 10 is side view before and after combining of the cleaner container for performing the method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to other example of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 11 shows the method for using the aerosol spray for cleaning a drain of the present invention by spraying it to a drain hole and a drain of a sink, which is the method for spraying a cleaner after the aerosol spray container is reversed and fixed to the inlet of the drain.

BEST MODE

(12) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by examples to help understanding of the present invention. However, the examples according to the present invention can be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by the following examples. The examples of the present invention are provided to more fully describe the present invention to those skilled in the art.

EXAMPLE

Preparation of a Drain Cleaner Composition Used in an Aerosol Spray

(13) A drain cleaner composition used in an aerosol spray was prepared by mixing components of raw materials in the composition ratio shown in the following Table 1.

(14) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Raw material name Weight ratio 1 Purified water To 100 2 Sodium hypochlorite (12%) 20%  3 SLES (3 mol, 27%) 5% 4 Lauramine oxide 1% 5 Flavoring agent 0.1%.sup. 

(15) The drain cleaner composition was filled in a container with a pressure of 5 bar together with a compressed gas to prepare an aerosol spray. In the following experimental example, the comparative example had the same components as the example, but it was used as a liquid composition not an aerosol formulation.

Experimental Example

Drain Sterilizing Power and Cleaning Power Evaluation

(16) 10 households were visited and the sink drain was cleaned using the aerosol spray for cleaning a drain of the present invention. Specifically, the aerosol spray can of the present invention was placed upside down and combined to a drain, and the cleaner composition was sprayed for about 2˜5 minutes, and then it was left for about 1.5 hours for the cleaning effect. After the cleaning treatment, the number of microorganisms in the filter and drain hole was evaluated. The number of microorganisms was measured 15 cm below the drain from the inlet of the drain.

(17) The example that was the aerosol formulation was slowly discharged in a foam form, thereby exhibiting an excellent sterilizing power of 99.9% or higher in both filter and drain. On the other hand, the comparative example that was the liquid formulation could not stay in the filter and drain for a long time, and flowed down shortly, thereby exhibiting the insufficient sterilizing power.

(18) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Filter sterilizing Drain sterilizing Formulation power (%) power (%) Example 1 Aerosol 99.95 99.97 Example 2 Aerosol 99.91 99.96 Example 3 Aerosol 99.93 99.99 Example 4 Aerosol 99.98 99.99 Example 5 Aerosol 99.95 99.98 Comparative Liquid 58.65 78.45 example 1 Comparative Liquid 66.14 75.14 example 2 Comparative Liquid 67.54 76.54 example 3 Comparative Liquid 61.99 76.32 example 4 Comparative Liquid 60.24 75.22 example 5

(19) In addition, FIG. 1 is a combined cross-sectional diagram showing the configuration of the cleaner container for performing the method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to a preferable example of the present invention.

(20) Referring to FIG. 1, the cleaner container provided according to the preferable example of the present invention comprises a container body (100) in which a first receiving part (101) and a second receiving part (102) are combined each other, and an isolating part (103) positioned between the first receiving part (101) and the second receiving part (102), and a cap (105) capping an opening by screw coupling on the top of the container body (100), and a rupturing part (104) rupturing the isolating part (103) by a physical force according to screw coupling of the cap (105).

(21) In the container body (100), the first receiving part (101) and the second receiving part (102) which receive a first agent (10) and a second agent (20) respectively are combined each other to form one body as a whole. It is obvious that the shape of the container body (100) is not limited to the example shown in the drawing, and it can be variously modified.

(22) The first receiving part (101) receiving the first agent (10) is positioned relatively closer to the top of the container body (100) compared to the second receiving part (102) receiving the second agent (20). The first receiving part (101) is preferable to be inserted inside the second receiving part (102) and fixed. In this arrangement, it is preferable that the first agent (10) is made of powder, and the second agent (20) is made of liquid, but it is obvious that it is not limited to this example. In other words, the first agent (10) and the second agent (20) may be provided in various forms selected from liquid, powder, tablets, and the like. The first agent (10) and the second agent (20) form a foam cleaner capable of cleaning and sterilizing a drain of a sink when mixed. As the composition of the first agent (10) and the second agent (20), a conventional product can be adopted, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(23) On the side of the point (preferably, part in which screw is formed) close to the top of the second receiving part (102), a hole shape of outlet (102a) for release of a foam cleaner is formed. This outlet (102a) is communicated with a gap (106) which can release a mixed foam cleaner as the cap (105) is released from the second receiving part (102) and is exposed when it rises by a certain distance.

(24) The isolating part (103) is positioned between the first receiving part (101) and the second receiving part (102) to isolate the first agent (10) and the second agent (20) each other. The isolating part (103) may be made of other member from the first receiving part (101) or second receiving part (102) (for example, thin film), and it is possible to be provided by the bottom part of the first receiving part (101).

(25) The rupturing part (104) is to be communicated by being integrated with the certain form of cap (105). As shown in FIG. 2, the rupturing part (104) ruptures the isolating part (103) while rotating by a physical force as the cap (105) moves forward to the bottom by screw coupling to the container body (100), and accordingly, the first agent (10) and the second agent (20) are mixed each other. The end of the rupturing part (104) is configured in a substantially pointed or sharp shape to rupture the isolating part (103). It is preferable that the rupturing part (104) is configured in a cylinder shape to rupture the isolating part (103) over a large area as much as possible, and one side is formed relatively longer to form a sharp structure. As an alternative, it is possible that the rupturing part (104) is configured in a bar form with a pointed end.

(26) As shown in FIG. 3, the gap (106) communicated with the outside may be formed between the cap (105) and the second receiving part (102), in the state that the cap (105) is reversed in a certain distance on the contrary. Accordingly, the mixed foam cleaner according to mixing of the first agent (10) and the second agent (20) may be slowly released outside the container body (100) through the gap (106).

(27) The cleaner container having the above configuration, releases isolation between the first agent (10) and the second agent (20), as the rupturing part (104) moves forward as a user intentionally turns the cap (105) in the direction of locking to rupture the isolating part (103). When the isolating part (103) is ruptured, the powdered first agent (10) in the first receiving part (101) and the liquid second first agent (20) in the second receiving part (102) are mixed each other to form a foam cleaner.

(28) After the foam cleaner is made by mixing of the first agent (10) and the second agent (20), when the cap (105) is slightly rotated in the opening direction, the mixed foam cleaner is converted into a state in which external release is possible through the outlet (102a) and the gap (106) between the container body (100) and the cap (105) communicated thereto.

(29) In a state in which external release of the mixed foam cleaner is possible, when the cleaner container is arranged upside down to the drain inlet (200) of the sink as shown in FIG. 4, the mixed foam cleaner is slowly injected through an inlet hole (201) of the drain over a long time to perform cleaning and sterilizing treatments.

(30) FIG. 5 a disassembled perspective view showing the configuration of the cleaner container for cleaning a drain of a sink according to another example of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a combined cross-sectional diagram of FIG. 5.

(31) Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the cleaner container provided according to another example of the present invention comprises a container body (100′) in which a first receiving part (101′) and a second receiving part (102′) are combined each other, and an isolating part (103′) positioned between the first receiving part (101′) and the second receiving part (102′), and a cap (105′) capping an opening by screw coupling on the top of the container body (100′), and a rupturing part (104′) rupturing the isolating part (103′) by a physical force according to push operation of a user.

(32) The first receiving part (101′) is positioned relatively closer to the top of the container body (100′) compared to the second receiving part (102′). For this, it is preferable that the first receiving part (101′) is inserted to the top of the second receiving part (102′) by screw coupling. It is preferable that a hole shape of outlet (101′a) for release of a mixed foam cleaner is formed on the side of the first receiving part (101′). This outlet (101′a) is communicated with the outside when the first receiving part (101′) is released from the second receiving part (102′) and rises by a certain distance.

(33) It is preferable that the first agent (10) received in the first receiving part (101′) is made of powder, and the second agent (20) received in the second receiving part (102′) is made of liquid, but it is obvious that it is not limited to this example. In other words, the first agent (10) and the second agent (20) may be provided in various forms selected from liquid, powder, tablets, and the like. The first agent (10) and the second agent (20) form a foam cleaner capable of cleaning and sterilizing a drain of a sink when mixed. As the composition of the first agent (10) and the second agent (20), a conventional product can be adopted, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(34) The isolating part (103′) is positioned between the first receiving part (101′) and the second receiving part (102′) to isolate the first agent (10) and the second agent (20) each other. The isolating part (103′) may be made of other member from the first receiving part (101′) or second receiving part (102′) (for example, thin film), and it is possible to be provided by the bottom part of the first receiving part (101′).

(35) The rupturing part (104′) is separated from the cap (105′), and is combined to the first receiving part (101′) as to be a little bit tightly fitted. As shown in FIG. 7, when an external force is applied to the top of the rupturing part (104′) while the cap (105′) is removed, the rupturing part (104′) slides downward of the first receiving part (101′) to moves forward. By the physical force according to this, the rupturing part (104′) ruptures the isolating part (103′) and as the isolation is released, the first agent (10) and the second agent (20) are mixed each other. The end of the rupturing part (104′) is configured in a substantially pointed or sharp shape to rupture the isolating part (103′). It is preferable that the rupturing part (104′) is configured in a cylinder shape to rupture the isolating part (103′) over a large area as much as possible, and one side is formed relatively longer to form a sharp structure. As an alternative, it is possible that the rupturing part (104′) is configured in a bar form with a pointed end.

(36) As shown in FIG. 8, the outlet (101′a) is exposed to the outside when the screw of the first receiving part (101′) is loosened, and it escapes from the second receiving part (102′) by a certain distance. Accordingly, the container body (100′) may be communicated with the outside. Thus, the mixed foam cleaner according to mixing of the first agent (10) and the second agent (20) may be slowly released outside the container body (100′) through the outlet (101′a).

(37) The cleaner container having the above configuration, releases isolation between the first agent (10) and the second agent (20), as the rupturing part (104′) moves forward as a user conducts push operation for the top of the rupturing part (104′) in the state in which the cap (105′) is removed, to rupture the isolating part (103′). When the isolating part (103′) is ruptured, the powdered first agent (10) in the first receiving part (101) and the liquid second first agent (20) in the second receiving part (102) are mixed each other to form a foam cleaner.

(38) After the foam cleaner is made by mixing of the first agent (10) and the second agent (20), the mixed foam cleaner is converted into a state in which external release is possible as the mixed foam cleaner escapes from the container body (100′) by turning the first receiving part (101′) in the opening direction and slightly exposing the outlet (102′) to the outside.

(39) In a state in which external release of the mixed foam cleaner is possible, when the cleaner container is arranged upside down to the drain inlet (200) of the sink as shown in FIG. 9, the mixed foam cleaner is slowly injected through an inlet hole (201) of the drain over a long time to perform cleaning and sterilizing treatments.

(40) FIG. 10 shows the combined structure of the cleaner container for performing the method for cleaning a drain of a sink according to other example of the present invention.

(41) In the (a) of FIG. 10, a first receiving part (110) and a second receiving part (120) receive the first agent and the second agent separately as same as the aforementioned example, and they are provided as separated each other.

(42) When using, as shown in the (b) of FIG. 10, when the second receiving part (120) is combined to the first receiving part (110) and the combination is completed, an isolating part (111) of the first receiving part (110) is ruptured by a rupturing part (125) equipped in the second receiving part (120), and thereby the first receiving part (110) and the second receiving part (120) are communicated each other to mix the first agent and the second agent each other, and thereby a foam cleaner is formed. Then, the isolating part (111) of the first receiving part (110) may be ruptured as the rupturing part (125) of the second receiving part (120) is inserted to the first receiving part (110) by a physical force by screw coupling or push operation. As an alternative, a certain isolating part (isolation film) is prepared at the end of the second receiving part (120) and is ruptured by being damaged during the insertion process, so that the second agent is released inside of that, and thereby it may be mixed with the first agent received in the first receiving part (110).

(43) In a state in which the first receiving part (110) and the second receiving part (120) are combined, when the cleaner container is placed in the drain inlet (200) of the sink, the mixed foam cleaner is slowly discharged through a gap between the first receiving part (110) and the second receiving part (120) over a long time and is injected through an inlet hole (201) of the drain to perform cleaning and sterilizing treatments.

(44) In the above, although the present invention is described with limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited by them, and it is obvious that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical idea and claims to be described below by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(45) TABLE-US-00003 10: First agent 20: Second agent 100, 100′: Container body 101, 101′, 110: First receiving part 102, 102′, 120: Second receiving part 101′a, 102a: Outlet 103, 103′, 111: Isolating part 104, 104′, 125: Rupturing part 105, 105′: Cap 106: Gap 200: Drain inlet