Patent Publication Number: US-2023147747-A1

Title: RV Septic Cleaner

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a cleaning attachment that facilitates cleaning-in-place (CIP) of a blackwater tank in a recreational vehicle (RV). More specifically, the present invention is a T-head coupler, designed to mix water with a cleaning agent in a pressurized container. The combined mixture fills and cleans the blackwater tank. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recreational vehicles (RVs) are a cost effective, fun and efficient way to live and travel. Approximately a million Americans live in RVs full-time, however the total number of Americans who own and use an RV is closer to forty million. For the average RV user who does not live full-time in their RV, the time spent in their RV is anywhere between three to four weeks. 
     The various needs, adjustments and arrangement of the RV may vary with respect to the amount of use it experiences. For instance, an RV has a blackwater tank and a grey water tank. The blackwater tank holds human-waste and toilet paper from the RV toilet. The blackwater tank holds the waste until it is dumped into a RV dumping station. 
     As one could imagine, the more use the RV gets, the more use the blackwater tank gets. Thus, it is important to perform a cleaning-in-place (CIP) of the blackwater tank. This is performed by filling the blackwater tank with a mixture of water and a cleaning agent. The blackwater tank is then drained and one can repeat the process as many times as needed. The current way to clean a black holding tank is by hooking up a garden hose to the black tank clean out. Thus, cleaning the inside of the tank with only water. Although this approach is an okay solution, there is room for improvement. Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a better and more efficient way of performing a CIP of the blackwater tank inside an RV. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an aim of the present invention to perform a cleaning-in-place of a blackwater tank inside an RV, using a mixture of water and a cleaning agent. The present invention comprises a T-head coupler with an integrated grab ring located on the inlet port. The grab ring swivels in place and is used to connect a water supply. Specifically, the user attaches a free end of a water hose to the inlet port of the T-head coupler and tightens the grab ring to the water hose. On the opposite end, the user attaches a free end of an RV hose to the outlet port of the T-head coupler. The other end of the RV hose is connected to the blackwater tank. Finally, the user attaches a bottle containing a cleaning agent to the bottom port of the T-head coupler. 
     Once all ports are connected, the user opens the faucet valve, thereby allowing water to flow into a series of channels within the T-head coupler. Specifically, the water enters from the inlet port and exits out through an aperture located at the bottom port. Inside the bottle, water mixes with the cleaning agent, forming a cleaning solution. During this time, water continues to fill the bottle until it is full and pressurized. This, in turn, forces the cleaning solution out through a second aperture located at the bottom port. The cleaning solution flows through a second series of channels, which directs the cleaning solution from the bottom port to the outlet port and finally, into the blackwater tank. Once inside the blackwater tank, the cleaning solution performs a CIP. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a top-front perspective view of the present invention, showing a mixing bottle attached. 
         FIG.  2    is a front cross-sectional view of the present invention, showing a mixing bottle attached. 
         FIG.  3    is a front elevational view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a front cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a is a top plan view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a is a bottom plan view of the present invention 
         FIG.  7    is a left-side elevational view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a right-side elevational view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     In reference to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the present invention is a T-head coupler designed to perform a CIP of a blackwater tank inside an RV. The present invention comprises a main body  1  and a grab ring  20 . The grab ring  20  is centrally located along an inlet port  7  of the main body  1 . A free end of a water hose is connected to the inlet port  7 , via the grab ring  20 . The other end of the water hose is connected to a faucet. The grab ring  20  engages with corresponding threads on the free end of the water hose, allowing the user to tighten the grab ring  20  by hand until the free end of the water hose is properly secured to the inlet port  7 . On the opposite end of the main body  1 , a free end of an RV hose is connected to an outlet port  8 . The other end of the RV hose is connected to the blackwater tank of the RV. For proper cleaning of the blackwater tank, the water from the water hose must be mixed with a cleaning agent (e.g., soap). To perform this function, a mixing bottle  30  is attached to a central port  3 , via a bottom connector  6 . The mixing bottle  30  can be of any type and size suitable for connecting to the corresponding threads on the bottom connector  6 . Additionally, the mixing bottle  30  can be pre-filled with any type of cleaning agent suitable for cleaning the blackwater tank. 
     The main body  1  further comprises a central axis  2 , a central port  3 , a top surface  4 , a bottom head  5 , a bottom connector  6 , an inlet port  7 , an outlet port  8 , and a plurality of distribution channels  9 . As best seen in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the main body  1  functions as the primary structural component of the present invention, as the remaining components of the present invention are configured upon the main body  1 . The plurality of distribution channels  9  comprises a first channel  9   a , a second channel  9   b , a third channel  9   c , a fourth channel  9   d , and a spacing  9   e . When all external attachments are fully connected to their corresponding ports (e.g., water hose to inlet port  7 ), the plurality of distribution channels  9  direct the flow of water and cleaning solution throughout the main body  1 . In particular, incoming water flows from the inlet port  7  to the central port  3 , via the first channel  9   a  and the second channel  9   b . The water then enters the mixing bottle  30 , wherein the water and cleaning agent are mixed to form a cleaning solution. Water continues to fill the mixing bottle  30  until the mixing bottle  30  is full and pressurized with the cleaning solution. The cleaning solution then flows back into the central port  3 , via the third channel  9   c  and the fourth channel  9   d , and into the outlet port  8 . The cleaning solution then exits the outlet port  8  and enters the free end of an RV hose, where it is distributed throughout the blackwater tank. 
     As best seen in  FIG.  3   , the central port  3  is circular in shape and extends longitudinally along the central axis  2 , from the top surface  4  to the bottom head  5 . The bottom connector  6  is terminally connected to the bottom head  5 . This arrangement allows the mixing bottle  30  to removably attach to the bottom connector  6 . Both the inlet port  7  and the outlet port  8  are terminally connected to the central port  3 , near the top surface  4 . More specifically, the inlet port  7  is perpendicular to the central port  3  and adjacent to the top surface  4 . The outlet port  8  is positioned opposite to the inlet port  7 . 
     As best seen in  FIG.  4   , the first channel  9   a  and the second channel  9   b  are in communication with each other. In particular, the first channel  9   a  traverses axially inward from the inlet port  7  into the central port  3 . The second channel  9   b  is positioned perpendicular to the first channel  9   a , and traverses from the first channel  9   a  to the bottom head  5 . This arrangement directs water from the inlet port  7  to the bottom head  5 . The third channel  9   c  and the fourth channel  9   d  are in communication with each other. Specifically, the third channel  9   c  traverses axially inward from the outlet port  8  into the central port  3 . The fourth channel  9   d  is positioned perpendicular to the third channel  9   c , and traverses from the third channel  9   c  to the bottom head  5 . This arrangement directs cleaning solution from the bottom head  5  to the outlet port  8 . As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the spacing  9   e  between the second channel  9   b  and the fourth channel  9   d  at the bottom head  5  is delineated by a predefined length. 
     In order to facilitate transporting water to the mixing bottle  30 , the inlet port  7  comprises an inlet body  71 , an inlet opening  72 , an annular flange  73 , and a plurality of retainers  74 . As best seen in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  7   , The inlet body  71  extends outward from the central port  3  to the inlet opening  72 . The inlet opening  72  is conically shaped and in communication with the first channel  9   a . The annular flange  73  is adjacently connected to the inlet opening  72 . This arrangement allows the free end of a water hose to press up against the annular flange  73 . The grab ring  20  removably attaches to the free end of the water hose, thereby creating a secured connection between the inlet port  7  and the water hose. Once connected, water flows through the inlet opening  72  and into the central port  3 , via the first channel  9   a . The plurality of retainers  74  are perimetrically distributed about the inlet body  71 . Specifically, each of the plurality of retainers  74  extends radially outward, positioned adjacent to the annular flange  73 . This arrangement conveniently holds the grab ring  20  into position, preventing the grab ring  20  from sliding inward toward the central port  3 . 
     In order to facilitate transporting cleaning solution to a blackwater tank of an RV, the outlet port  8  comprises an outlet body  81 , an outlet connector  82 , external threads  83 , and an outlet opening  84 . As best seen in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  8   , the outlet body  81  extends outward from the central port  3 . The outlet connector  82  is terminally connected to the outlet body  81 . The external threads  83  are perimetrically disposed about the outlet connector  82 . This arrangement allows the threads of the free end of an RV hose to engage with the external threads  83  of the outlet connector  82 , thereby securing the outlet port  8  to the RV hose. The outlet opening  84  traverses axially inward from the outlet connector  82 . The outlet opening  84  is in communication with the third channel  9   c . The outlet opening  84  further comprises a first opening  85 , a first diameter  86 , a second opening  87 , and a second diameter  88 . The first opening  85  is conically shaped and in communication with the second opening  87 . The second opening  87  is conically shaped and in communication with the third channel  9   c . The first diameter  86  of the first opening  85  is larger than the second diameter  88  of the second opening  87 . This arrangement of smaller to larger openings within the outlet port  8  allows for smooth, uninterrupted flow of the cleaning solution as it exits the main body  1 . 
     In order to effectively connect the free end of a water hose to the inlet port  7 , the grab ring  20  comprises an outer surface  201 , a front side  202 , a rear side  203 , an inner opening  204 , and a plurality of ridges  205 . As best seen in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  7   , the outer surface  201  is circular in shape and extends from the front side  202  to the rear side  203 . The plurality of ridges  205  are perimetrically disposed along the outer surface  201 . The outer surface  201  and the plurality of ridges  205  improve the ergonomic function of the grab ring  20 , allowing the user to properly connect the water hose to the inlet port  7 , without the need for hand tools (e.g., wrench). The inner opening  204  is axially aligned with the outer surface  201 , and extends from the front side  202  to the rear side  203 . The inner opening  204  further comprises a threaded portion  204   a  and an unthreaded portion  204   b . The threaded portion  204   a  is disposed on the front side  202 , and is defined by the thread profile on the free end of a water hose. The unthreaded portion  204   b  is disposed on the rear side  203 , and is defined by the annular flange  73  and the inlet body  71 . This arrangement allows the grab ring  20  to slide freely along the inlet port  7 , but restricted in movement by the annular flange  73  and the plurality of retainers  74 . 
     In order to effectively connect the mixing bottle  30  to the central port  3 , the bottom connector  6  comprises a connector body  61  and internal threads  62 . As best seen in  FIG.  4   , The internal threads  62  are perimetrically disposed within the connector body  61 . The internal threads  62  are defined by the corresponding threads of the mixing bottle  30 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.