Spraying apparatus and method for cleaning holding tanks of recreational vehicles and other vehicles with a commode

A hand-held spraying apparatus for cleaning a holding tank in vehicles having a commode such as recreational vehicles. The spraying apparatus comprises a conduit having a valve for starting, stopping or regulating fluid flow through the apparatus; a viewport connected to the distal end of the conduit; an extended tube having first and second ends with the first end connected to the viewport and an elbow positioned near the second end; and a spray nozzle positioned at the second end of the extended tube and having openings positioned radially about the shaft portion of the spray nozzle so as to produce a circumferential spray pattern. A method for cleaning a holding tank is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning 
holding tanks in vehicles with a commode. More particularly, the present 
invention relates to a flexible hand-held sprayer for cleaning holding 
tanks in recreational vehicles. 
Recreational vehicles like campers, motorhomes, trailers and the like are 
typically outfitted with a holding tank in which waste materials from the 
self-containing commode are stored until released into a sewer or septic 
system. Emptying the holding tank, which usually has about a 40-50 gallon 
capacity, into sewer facilities at recreational vehicle parks is 
considered one of the least desirable chores associated with camping. 
Typically, a long and dirty water hose is connected from a water supply, 
brought inside the recreational vehicle, and then inserted down inside the 
commode. Through the commode, the holding tank is filled with water. The 
contents of the tank are then drained into a sewer system using a sewer 
hose, which is fitted to the outlet of the holding tank and the inlet for 
the sewer. Removal of the waste materials from the holding tank in this 
manner often leaves waste remaining on the walls of the holding tank. 
Trapped waste generates offensive odors, which can permeate the interior 
of the recreational vehicle. 
Several devices have been developed for removing waste materials from 
recreational vehicles. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,453 (Norman) 
discloses a compact and portable drain which facilitates sewage disposal 
and subsequent flushing and cleaning of a holding tank in a recreational 
vehicle. However, the drain is located exteriorly to the vehicle. U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,203,361 (Tickle) discloses an apparatus for cleaning and 
storing sewer hoses that are used to discharge the contents of holding 
tanks of recreational vehicles. 
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,149 (Nelson) discloses an apparatus for 
cleaning and storing a recreational vehicle sewer hose. U.S. Pat. No. 
Design 317,967 (Pelletier) illustrates a spray wand for disinfecting and 
deodorizing holding tanks in recreational vehicles. However, none of the 
prior art devices provides an efficient and effective means for thoroughly 
cleaning all surfaces of the holding tank in recreational vehicles. The 
water supplying hose, as is currently used, cannot be manipulated inside 
the holding tank to effectively clean the side walls and to eliminate all 
remaining waste materials. A more flexible cleaning device is needed to 
address this problem. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a hand-held spraying apparatus 
suitable for cleaning holding tanks in vehicles having a commode, in 
particular recreational vehicles. The sprayer comprises a conduit having a 
valve for starting, stopping or regulating fluid flowing through the 
apparatus; a viewport connected to the distal end of the conduit by an 
adapter; an extended tube having first and second ends with the first end 
connected to the viewport by a connector and at the second end, a spray 
nozzle is positioned. An elbow is also positioned near the second end of 
the extended tube. The spray nozzle comprises a nozzle member including a 
cylindrical shaft portion having one end open to receive a flow of fluid; 
openings positioned radially about the shaft portion so as to produce a 
circumferential spray pattern; and an end cap enclosing the other end 
opposite the open end to prevent axial flow. 
The present invention is also directed to a method for cleaning a holding 
tank in a vehicle having a commode. In this regard, the hand-held spraying 
apparatus as described in accordance with the present invention is 
inserted down through the commode and into the holding tank. A fluid is 
then supplied through the apparatus so as to clean the holding tank and 
related piping. 
The sprayer of the present invention has several advantages. First, the 
overall design of the sprayer significantly reduces the amount of time 
required to clean the holding tank of a recreational vehicle. With the 
sprayer, a water supply conduit such as a garden hose is connected to the 
fitting on the conduit of the sprayer. The sprayer is inserted down 
through the vehicle's commode and into the holding tank at which time the 
valve on the conduit is turned to the "on" position and the fluid begins 
to flow through the elongated tube and down into the holding tank. The 
viewport allows the user to see the flow of fluid through the tube, and 
provides a means by which adjustments can be made to regulate the fluid 
flow. 
Second, the sprayer provides a further advantage in its flexibility. In 
this regard, the sprayer can be moved up and down in the holding tank, and 
the radially positioned openings in the spray nozzle allow the fluid to be 
sprayed in all directions, thereby covering all of the surfaces within the 
holding tank. When the user is finished cleaning the holding tank, the 
valve is set in the "off" position and the sprayer is easily removed, 
eliminating the residual waster material that typically remains with 
conventional hose-type cleaning devices. 
In a preferred embodiment, the viewport comprises transparent plastic 
tubing. 
In another embodiment, the extended tube is opaque. 
In yet another embodiment, at the second end of the extended tube, a spray 
nozzle is positioned. 
In one embodiment, the number of openings in the spray nozzle ranges 
between about 4 to about 8. 
In another embodiment, the size of the openings of the spray nozzle ranges 
between about 1/8 inch to about 1/4 inch. Preferably, the opening size is 
3/16 inch. 
In a further embodiment, the openings of the spray nozzle are radially 
spaced between about 45.degree. and 90.degree.. 
Additional features and advantages are described in and will be apparent 
from the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and 
from the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the spraying apparatus 10 of the present 
invention comprises an assembly of components: a conduit 12 having a valve 
14, a viewport 16, an extended tube 18, and a spray nozzle 20. The conduit 
12 is provided with an attaching means 22 so that the conduit is capable 
of being removably connected to a fluid supply conduit 24, for example, a 
garden hose. Typically, water is used to clean the holding tank of a 
vehicle having a commode. 
The valve 14 of the conduit 12 starts, stops or regulates the flow of fluid 
through the spraying apparatus 10 and into the holding tank. The viewport 
16 is connected to the distal end of the conduit 12 by adapter 26, and 
allows the user of the spraying apparatus 10 to see the flow of water or 
fluid entering the holding tank as well as to gauge the pressure of the 
fluid. The viewport 16 comprises transparent material, preferably plastic 
tubing, and thus, provides flexibility to the overall apparatus of the 
invention. The length of the viewport 16 is not critical, but may be 
approximately 4 to about 8 inches in length with a preferred length of 
about 5 inches. The viewport 16 may be a separate component of the 
spraying apparatus or, alternatively, may be an integral part of the 
extended tube 18. 
The extended tube 18 is opaque in its composition. The length of tube 18 
may vary, but in one embodiment, the length ranges between approximately 
17 inches to about 21 inches with a preferred length of approximately 
191/2 inches. Like the viewport 16, the diameter of the extended tube 18 
is not critical, however, a diameter of approximately 5/8 inches has been 
found to provide adequate flow through the spraying apparatus 10. Extended 
tube 18 has first and second ends with the first end connected to the 
viewport 16 by a cormector 27. An elbow 32 is positioned near the second 
end of extended tube 18. The elbow 32 is preferably 90.degree., but can be 
any angle capable of allowing the fluid from the sprayer to effectively 
clean the holding tank and related piping. 
As shown in FIG. 1, at the second end of extended tube 18, a spray nozzle 
20 is positioned. The spray nozzle 20 is designed for use in cleaning the 
interior of a holding tank in a recreational vehicle, and comprises a 
nozzle member 34 including a cylindrical shaft portion 36 having one end 
open to receive the fluid flow; openings 38 which are positioned radially 
about the shaft portion 36 of the spray nozzle 20 so as to produce a 
circumferential spray pattern; and an end cap 40 which encloses the other 
end opposite the open end to prevent axial flow. The number of openings 
can vary, but the preferred number ranges between about 4 to about 8. With 
respect to the shape of the openings 38, although the openings illustrated 
in FIGS. 1-4 are round, the shape can vary. The size of the openings range 
between about 1/8 inch to about 1/4 inch with a preferred size of 3/16 
inch. The openings are spaced circumferentially about the shaft 36 with 
approximate radial spacing of between about 45.degree. and about 
90.degree.. The spray nozzle 20 is permanently attached to the extended 
tube 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively, the spray nozzle 20' may 
be removably connected to the extended tube 18 as shown in FIG. 4 by an 
attaching means. 
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the 
presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those 
skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without 
diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such 
changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.