Patent Publication Number: US-6668842-B1

Title: Apparatus and method for sanitizing or washing footwear

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for sanitizing or washing footwear. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is generally known to provide an apparatus for sanitizing footwear of a worker in a work or industrial environment. Such known apparatus for disinfecting shoes require substantial intervention, effort, and interaction by the worker with the device. For example, certain types of such known apparatus include porous material that is partially immersed in the disinfection liquid to serve as a wick to impregnate the porous material with the disinfection liquid, such that the user steps onto the porous material and moves his or her feet to clean and disinfect their shoes. Other types of such known apparatus employ rotating brushes powered from an electrical power source. 
     However, given the limitations of such generally known apparatus, it would be advantageous to provide for an apparatus and a method for sanitizing footwear that is transportable and can be easily installed in or at a wide variety of locations, or moved to or from a wide variety of locations, in a work or industrial environment. It would also be advantageous to provide for an apparatus that is of a relatively simple and low-cost construction and that can deliver a spray of a fluid mixture including disinfectant solution. It would further be advantageous to provide for an apparatus that facilitates simple “walk-through” operation by the worker. It would be further advantageous to provide for an apparatus and method for sanitizing or washing foreign matter or debris from footwear that allows for convenient adjustment of flow rates and concentration of the disinfectant solution depending upon the needs of a particular application. 
     It would be desirable for an apparatus and method for sanitizing or washing foreign matter or debris from footwear of a worker in a work or industrial environment to provide one or more of these advantageous features. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a transportable apparatus for dispensing a fluid in a spray to footwear of a worker. The apparatus includes a housing including a base section, a platform installed within the base section, a fluid dispensing assembly coupled to the housing, and a fluid dispensing system including a first valve assembly configured to dispense fluid to the fluid dispensing assembly when a force is applied to the platform so that the spray of the fluid is dispensed onto the footwear. 
     The present invention also relates to a method of sanitizing the footwear of a worker with a fluid, including the steps of detecting when the worker has stepped onto a platform and dispensing the fluid onto the footwear for at least a predetermined period. 
     The present invention further relates to method of sanitizing the footwear of a worker entering or exiting a location in a work or industrial environment, including the steps of positioning an apparatus at the entrance or exit of the location, coupling the apparatus to a supply of a fluid and wherein the apparatus is actuated to provide a flow including the fluid when the worker steps into the apparatus so that the flow including the fluid is dispensed onto the footwear of the worker. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to a preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front section elevation view of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 2A is a fragmentary front section elevation view of the apparatus according to an alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary left side elevation view of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 5A is a fragmentary exploded view of the fluid dispensing system of the apparatus according to a preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 5B is a sectional elevation view of a flow control element of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 5C is a perspective view of a fluid mixing element of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 6A is a sectional view of the apparatus taken along line  6 A— 6 A in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary right side elevation view of the apparatus. 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B are exploded views of flow control elements of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the apparatus. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 are fragmentary side sectional elevation views of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary front section elevation view of the apparatus taken along line  13 — 13  in FIG.  11 . 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 are a fragmentary front section elevation view of the apparatus taken along line  14 — 14  in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary front elevation view of the electric activation device. 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the electric activation device. 
     FIG. 17 is a fragmentary side section view taken along line  17 — 17  in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a fragmentary side section view taken along line  18 — 18  in FIG.  16 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, an apparatus for sanitizing or washing foreign matter or debris from footwear  10  is shown according to a preferred embodiment. According to any preferred embodiment, the apparatus is configured for use in a wide variety of work and industrial environments, such as food processing plants, chemical plants, greenhouses, construction sites, and any other facility where it is desirable for workers to remove or reduce foreign matter (e.g. chemicals, bacteria, by-products, dirt/mud, pollen, contaminants or cross-contaminants, other matter of some kind) from their footwear (e.g. boots such as rubber boots or the like) before entering a facility or when moving from one location to another (such as when exiting a location). According to a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus is configured for “walk-through” use and operation wherein a spray or rinse of fluid (such as water or a mixture of some type including a cleaning or disinfectant solution or the like) is delivered to the footwear of a worker when the worker steps onto the apparatus. Such “walk-through” use minimizes the involvement, effort and interaction with apparatus  10  by the workers, minimize the contact with the workers, and provides for a foreign matter removal or reduction that uses fresh cleaning and disinfectant solution. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, apparatus  10  is configured for convenient installation in a work or industrial environment by placement on a surface or floor  12  (which as shown in FIG. 2 provides a drain  14 ) and connection to a source of fluid (not shown in the FIGURES) such as a facility plumbing system supply water. According to any preferred embodiment, the apparatus is transportable insofar as it may be installed at or relocated to various locations within a work or industrial environment. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, apparatus  10  includes a housing  16  with a base section  18  and two side sections shown as a right shroud  20  and a left shroud  22 . A platform shown as a grate assembly  24  is installed within base section  18  of housing  16 . Grate assembly  24  includes a grate (shown as providing and open orthogonal framework)  26  and a frame  28 . Base section  18  of housing  16  includes a front ledge  30  and a rear ledge  32  onto which grate assembly  24  is installed (resting on front section and rear section of frame  28 ). Front ledge  30  of housing  16  includes a set of seats  34  for a set of biasing elements shown as coil springs  36  and a set of stops  38  (shown as brackets). Grate assembly  24  fits within front ledge  30  and rear ledge  32  (see FIG.  6 ); grate assembly  24  is supported on rear ledge  32  but is supported at front ledge  30  by coil springs  36  (i.e. biasing elements) so as to be maintained in an orientation generally parallel to floor  12  and above stops  38  (see FIGS. 6A,  11  and  13 ). It should be noted that the conventions “front” and “rear” and “right” and “left” are taken from the perspective of a worker who has stepped onto the grate assembly of the apparatus as it is used in a common application, see FIGS. 1 and 2, although it should be noted that the convention of “front” and “rear” and “right” and “left” may be varied according to alternative embodiments. 
     Right shroud  20  and left shroud  22  extend above base section  18  of housing  16  of apparatus  10 . A grab bar assembly  40  is mounted to an upper surface  42  of each shroud  20  and  22 . According to any preferred embodiment, for example as shown in FIG. 2, each grab bar assembly  40  provides a grab bar  44  at a height convenient or suitable for assisting or supporting a worker  46  as the worker steps into and exits from apparatus  10 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, as shown in the FIGURES, apparatus  10  includes a fluid dispensing system  48  (shown in FIGS. 4,  5 A,  5 B and  7 ) and two types of fluid dispensing assemblies: a spray head assembly  50  with a set of spray heads shown as spray ring assemblies  52  (see FIGS. 3,  6 ,  9  and  10 ) and a set of spray nozzle assemblies  54  with a set of spray nozzles  56  (see FIGS. 4,  7 ,  11  and  12 ). Spray head assembly  50  is installed within housing  16  beneath grate assembly  24 , and is intended to deliver a fluid spray  58  (see FIG. 2) upward from beneath grate assembly  24 . Spray nozzles  56  of spray nozzle assembly  54  are installed within each shroud  20  and  22  of housing  16  and are intended to deliver a fluid spray  60  (see FIGS. 1 and 2) directed inward and downward over footwear  62  of worker  46  who has stepped onto grate assembly  24 . According to a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, each shroud  20  and  22  includes a set of two openings  64  (shown as circular apertures) for spray nozzles  56  of spray nozzle assembly  54 . According to any preferred embodiment, the fluid spray from the fluid dispensing assemblies of fluid dispensing system  48  of apparatus  10  is a mixture of supply water and a chemical or disinfectant solution in a predetermined concentration suitable for the particular application. According to alternative embodiments, the fluid dispensing assemblies may be any number of a variety of fluid dispensing systems. According to alternative embodiments, fluid spray  58  delivered from spray head assembly  50  may be any number of a variety of spray patterns and intensities configured to the work or industrial environment, the foreign matter to be reduced or removed, or the footwear worn by the workers. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4,  7  and  8 A, each spray nozzle  56  of spray nozzle assembly  54  includes a base  66  mounted onto a slot  68  on a bracket  70  attached to right shroud  20  or left shroud  22  of housing  16  (e.g. by welding or the like) with a threaded fastener shown as nut  71  which “clamps” base  66  of nozzle assembly  54  onto bracket  70 . As shown in FIGS. 6,  9  and  10 , spray head assembly  50  is installed in base section  18  of housing  16  of apparatus  10 . Spray head assembly  50  includes an inlet conduit (shown as a threaded pipe section  72 ) secured within an aperture  74  in wall  76  of housing  16  (e.g. right shroud  20 ) by two threaded fasteners shown as nuts  78  and  80  on each side of wall  76  separated by a grommet  82  fitted within aperture  74  (see also FIG.  8 B); spray head assembly  50  and a terminal conduit (shown as pipe section  83  with an end cap  84 ) secured within an aperture  86  in wall  88  of housing  16  (e.g. left shroud  22 ) with a grommet  90  fitted within aperture  86  (see also FIG.  7 ). According to alternative embodiments, the apparatus may include other types of fluid dispensing assemblies with other types or arrangements of fluid dispensing assemblies (for example, a nozzle that atomizes the fluid) or other arrangements for mounting or installing the fluid dispensing assemblies. According to alternative embodiments, fluid spray  60  delivered from spray nozzle assembly  54  may be any number of a variety of spray patterns and intensities configured to the work or industrial environment, the foreign matter to be reduced or removed, or the footwear worn by the workers. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8A, a primary fluid (such as supply water) is supplied to fluid dispensing system  48  of apparatus  10  at a supply inlet  92  with an inlet conduit (shown as hose  94 ). According to a preferred embodiment (shown in FIG.  2 ), apparatus  10  has an open bottom that will allow fluid dispensed from the fluid dispensing assemblies to flow (e.g. by force of gravity) into drain  14  in floor  12 . According to an alternative embodiment (shown in FIG.  2 A), a drain tray  96  providing a drain outlet  98  with an outlet conduit (shown as a tube  100 ) can be installed beneath apparatus  10  on floor  12  so that fluid dispensed from the fluid dispensing assemblies is collected and directed to a drain or other outlet (not shown) at a remote or more suitable location. 
     According to any preferred embodiment, the fluid dispensing system of the apparatus is operated by a mechanism or device that is actuated when a worker steps into the apparatus, for example, onto the grate assembly. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 6, apparatus  10  includes a control valve assembly shown as a “foot valve” assembly  102  associated with grate assembly  24 . Foot valve assembly  102  includes an operating lever  104  (see FIG. 5B) that is engaged by grate assembly  24  to operate the fluid dispensing system (see FIGS.  11  through  14 ). Operating lever  104  of foot valve assembly  102  extends through an aperture  106  in right shroud  20  at front ledge  30  of base section  18  of housing  16  and when grate assembly  24  is installed fits between frame  28  of grate assembly  24  and stops  38  of front ledge  30  (see FIGS. 6,  6 A,  13  and  14 ). A wear plate  108  is installed (by fasteners shown as screws) on the underside of the corresponding corner of frame  28  of grate-assembly  24  to provide an engagement surface for actuating operating lever  104  of foot valve assembly  102  when a downward force is applied to grate assembly  24 , for example when a worker  46  steps onto grate assembly  24 . According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the wear plate is made from a high density polyethylene (HDPE) material. According to an alternative embodiment, the fluid dispensing system of the apparatus is operated by a manual operation by the worker. 
     Fluid dispensing system  48  is shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 in relation to right shroud  20  and left shroud  22  of housing  16  of apparatus  10 . Referring to FIGS.  4  and SA, right shroud  20  of housing  16  of apparatus  10  is shown according to a preferred embodiment with associated elements of fluid dispensing system  48  and the fluid dispensing assemblies. A container for chemical or disinfectant solution (e.g. in concentrated form) shown as disinfectant bottle  110  is located within right shroud  20 . Supply water is provided to fluid dispensing system  48  at supply inlet  92  and to a control valve  112  (e.g. water volume control valve providing an adjustment control  114 ). From control valve  112 , supply water travels to a check valve  116  (shown as a stop-strainer check valve) and then to an elbow fitting  118  and into foot valve assembly  102 . When foot valve assembly  102  is actuated (e.g. by operating lever  104 ) supply water will flow to elbow fitting  118  and into an injection valve  120  (shown as a disinfectant mixing valve). Injection valve  120  provides a primary fluid (e.g. supply water) inlet  122  and a secondary fluid (e.g. disinfectant solution) inlet  124  as well as an internal flow control element  126 , a mixing chamber  128  and an outlet  130  (see also FIG.  5 C). Disinfectant solution inlet  124  is connected by a conduit (shown as tubing  132 ) to cap  134  of bottle  110 . According to a preferred embodiment (as shown in the FIGURES), flow of supply water into supply water inlet  122  draws disinfectant solution from bottle  110  through disinfectant solution inlet  124  and into mixing chamber  128  of injection valve  120  (e.g. by a “venturi effect”); mixing of supply water and disinfectant solution takes place within mixing chamber  128  of injection valve  120  to create a mixture of disinfectant solution and supply water (i.e. mixture fluid) that can be dispensed through fluid dispensing assemblies  50  and  52 . Outlet  130  of injection valve  120  from which mixture fluid is discharged is in communication with mixing chamber  128 . Mixture fluid flows into a primary tee fitting  136  where it is then redirected into two secondary tee fittings (shown as upper tee fitting  138  and lower tee fitting  140 ). Mixture fluid also flows from outlets  142  of upper tee fitting  138  to each spray nozzle  56  of spray nozzle assembly  54  (and each spray nozzle  56 ) of right shroud  20 . Mixture fluid also flows from one outlet  144  of lower tee fitting  140  by a conduit (shown as tubing  146 ) routed beneath base section  18  of housing  16  to spray nozzle assembly  54  of left shroud  22 . Mixture fluid flows from the other outlet  148  of lower tee fitting  140  by a conduit (shown as tubing  150 ) to a check valve  152  and into an elbow fitting  154  coupled to spray head assembly  50  (see also FIG.  8 B). The elements of the fluid dispensing system associated with the right shroud of the apparatus are shown in exploded view in FIG.  5 A. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, left shroud  22  and associated elements of fluid dispensing system  48  are shown (with spray head assembly  50  and grate assembly  24  in phantom lines). Mounting brackets  70  with spray nozzles  56  are shown along with inlet conduit (shown as tubing  158 ) routed from outlet  144  of lower tee fitting  140  of right shroud  20 . Mixture fluid flows from inlet conduit  158  into tee fitting  136  where it is directed to each spray nozzle  56  of spray nozzle assembly  54 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, spray head assembly  50  is shown. Spray head assembly  50  includes a first spray ring assembly  160  and a second spray ring assembly  162 . Mixture fluid is provided from check valve  152  (shown in FIG. 8A) through elbow fitting  118  into conduit (including threaded pipe section  72 ) secured within wall  76  of housing  16 . Mixture fluid flows from conduit (shown as pipe section  164 ) into a tee fitting  166  which redirects mixture fluid both into first spray ring assembly  160  and to a conduit (shown as a pipe section  170 ) coupled to a tee fitting  172  which redirects mixture fluid both into second spray ring assembly  162  and to a terminal conduit (shown as a pipe section  83  closed by end cap  84 ) (see also FIG.  7 ). Each spray ring assembly  160  and  162  includes a center tee fitting  176  and a center cap  178  (shown as an acorn nut) along with a circular conduit formed by two semi-circular conduit sections shown as spray rings  180  and two tee fittings  182 ; mixture fluid flows from center tee fitting  176  to each circular conduit  180  through a lateral conduit (shown as tube  184 ) coupled to each of tee fittings  182  so that flow of mixture fluid is provided around each spray ring  180 . Spray rings  180  and lateral conduits  184  each have outlet holes  186  which provide for a spray of mixture fluid (e.g. vertically/upward through grate  26  of grate assembly  24 ). 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11 through  14 , in operation of the fluid dispensing system of apparatus  10 , ordinarily there will be no flow from the fluid dispensing assemblies. However, when worker  46  wearing footwear  62  (e.g. boots or the like, or possibly without any footwear) steps onto grate assembly  24 , coil springs  36  are compressed and grate assembly  24  is forced downward (i.e. by weight of worker  46 ) to stops  38  at front ledge  30  of base section  18  of housing  16  which depresses operating lever  104  of foot valve assembly  102 . Fluid dispensing system  48  is actuated by foot valve assembly  102  so that a flow of fluid is dispensed from the fluid dispensing assemblies in the form of spray  60  from each spray nozzle  56  of spray nozzle assemblies  54  (e.g. downward/laterally/inwardly onto footwear  62 ) and spray  58  from each spray ring assembly  52  (i.e. through outlet holes  188 ) of spray head assembly  50  (e.g. upward through grate  26 ). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, as shown in the FIGURES, spray  60  from each spray nozzle  56  is in a generally conical shape and spray  58  from each spray ring  180  is in a generally domed shape. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, worker  46  is guided visually by the shape of spray ring assemblies  52  to step onto grate assembly  24  so that footwear  62  of worker  46  is approximately centered over corresponding spray ring  180  of spray head assembly  52  and so that (when operating lever  104  is engaged) spray  60  from spray nozzles  56  of spray nozzle assemblies  54  and spray  58  from spray ring  180  of spray head assembly  50  is directed suitably to rinse foreign matter from footwear  62 . According to any preferred embodiment, the fluid dispensing system (which may include one or more spray nozzle assembly and/or one or more spray head assembly), will provide a suitable coverage (i.e. spray pattern and flow rate) of fluid to rinse and/or disinfect the footwear in the particular application. It should be noted that according to any alternative embodiment, the quantity, position, size, shape, spray pattern, orientation, etc. of the fluid dispensing assemblies, and the rate or direction of flow of the fluid, may be customized as required or desired to suit particular parameters for a particular application. 
     According to any preferred embodiment, the apparatus and method is employed to sanitize (e.g. wash/rinse/disinfect) the footwear (e.g. boots) worn by workers involved in certain industries (such as food processing) where footwear may be covered with foreign matter or contamination or otherwise may need to be washed. 
     A method of operation of the apparatus according to a particularly preferred embodiment is as follows: (a) the worker steps onto the grate assembly to activate the foot valve assembly and fluid dispensing assemblies that deliver a continuous spray of mixture fluid; (b) the mixture fluid is mixed from a supply of fresh water and chemical or disinfectant solution by the injection valve; (c) the spray of mixture fluid shuts off when the worker steps off the grate assembly; (d) residual mixture fluid and debris or matter from the footwear of worker drips downwardly through the grate and is discharged through a drain. According to alternative embodiments, the fluid dispensing assemblies may be configured to dispense fresh water only (i.e. without any chemical or disinfectant solution) or discharge residual mixture fluid and debris or matter into a drain tray. 
     It should be noted that according to any preferred embodiment, each of the elements of the fluid dispensing system of the apparatus may be of a type that is conventional and/or commercially available. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the foot valve assembly is commercially available (part no. S07-105) from Bradley Corporation of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, the injection valve is commercially available (part no. 118-289) from Bradley Corporation, the stop-strainer valve is commercially available (part no. S60-003) from Bradley Corporation, the input check valve is commercially available (part no. 269-1573) from Bradley Corporation. and the volume control valve is commercially available (part no. S02-045) from Bradley Corporation. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, foot valve assembly  102  (as shown in FIG. 5B) includes a plunger  190  (coupled to a spring  192 ) that engages a seat  194 ; operating lever  104  is coupled to plunger  190  and operates to regulate the flow of fluid through foot valve assembly  102 ; foot valve assembly  102  is “open” when plunger  190  has been disengaged from seat  194  (i.e. when a force is applied to depress operating lever  104 ), and is “closed” when plunger  190  is engaged with seat  194  (i.e. when no force is applied to operating lever  104 ). Foot valve assembly  102  also includes an adjusting needle valve  196  within a needle valve orifice  198  that allows adjustment of the “sensitivity” of operating lever  104  by adjusting the orifice  198  (to prevent water hammer) and therefore the opening and closing rate of foot valve assembly  102 . As shown in FIG. 5A, stop-strainer check valve  116  includes a check assembly and a stop assembly, as well as a screen to prevent the introduction of foreign matter from the inlet of the supply water into the fluid dispensing assemblies of the apparatus. Volume control valve  112  includes a handle  200  (shown as a “t-handle) for flow volume adjustment. As shown in FIG. 5C, injection valve  120  includes a water nozzle bushing  202  and an adjustment screw  204  for increasing or decreasing the “injection rate” of disinfectant solution into the supply water. The tube between the disinfectant bottle and the injection valve includes a screen at the inlet to prevent foreign matter from entering the tube and the injection valve. According to a preferred embodiment, the injection rate of the disinfectant solution can be adjusted by the adjustment screw in response operating parameters, such as the total fluid flow rate, spray nozzle pressure and viscosity of the disinfectant solution. (Exemplary operating parameters and information for the apparatus according to a particularly preferred embodiment are published in the Installation and Maintenance Instructions for the Bradley Bootwash BW 2100, No. 215-1321, Rev. B, EN 99-048A, incorporated by reference herein.) 
     According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the apparatus is made from 14-gauge stainless steel with a bead-blasted finish (and weighs approximately 150 pounds). According to alternative embodiments, the housing may be made of other materials (such as metal or plastic) in various combinations. The apparatus has a width of approximately 41 inches and a length of approximately 33 inches; the grab bars are approximately 29 inches in length, spaced approximately 28 inches apart (on centers) and at a height of 39.75 inches; the optional drain tray is approximately 43 inches in width and approximately 35 inches in length; the grate assembly is located approximately 6 inches above the floor (e.g. the height of the step for the worker onto the apparatus). 
     According to an alternative embodiment, the fluid dispensing system of the apparatus is operated by an electric activation mechanism or device that actuates a solenoid valve when a worker steps into the apparatus, for example, onto the grate assembly. As shown in FIGS. 14-17, apparatus  10  includes a electric activation device  206  and a solenoid valve module  208 . Solenoid valve module  208  is coupled to a sensor assembly  210  that sends a signal to the fluid dispensing system. Sensor assembly  210  includes a spray head  211 , a sensor having a sender  212  and a receiver  214  having a detection area above grate assembly  24 . Sensor assembly  210  is fitted to an aperture  216  in right shroud  20  and/or left shroud  22  of housing  16 . According to the preferred embodiment, a solenoid valve  218  disposed in solenoid valve module  208  receives a signal from the sensor and actuates fluid flow. According to an alternative embodiment, solenoid valve module  208  may shut water flow off after a pre-determined time. According to a particular preferred embodiment, the sensor is an infrared sensor that electronically activates a twenty-four volt solenoid valve using a 24-volt AC, 50/60 Hz power supply. According to alternative embodiments, the sensor may be any number of a variety of commercially sensors (for example, a battery operated infrared sensor). According to alternative embodiments, the electric activation device can be manually operated by actuation of a switch. 
     According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the apparatus operates with optimum flow rates in a range of from 3 to 5 gallons per minute and provides a spray from the spray head assembly (beneath the grate assembly) at a height of between 2 to 10 inches above the grate assembly (with a preferred inlet water pressure of between 25 and 80 pounds per square inch (psi)); an approximately fifty-pound center load on the grate assembly will activate the apparatus. To protect plastic elements and the worker, water temperature should not exceed 120 degrees F. According to alternative embodiments, by varying the fluid dispensing assemblies, the apparatus can be configured to operate with flow rates as low as one-half gallon per minute or even other ranges of flow rates. 
     Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments (such as variations in sizes, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, other valve types or use of materials) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.