CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 1 of 20
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`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 1 of 20
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`
`Exhibit 17
`Exhibit 17
`
`Page 1
`
`OWTEx. 2146
`Tennant Company v. OWT
`IPR2021-00625
`
`

`

`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2009/0120460 A1
`May 14, 2009
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Hekman et al.
`
`US 20090120460A1
`
`(54) SOFT FLOOR PRE-SPRAY UNITUTILIZING
`ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVATED
`WATER AND METHOD OF CLEANING SOFT
`FLOORS
`
`(75) Inventors:
`
`Frederick A. Hekman, Holland,
`MI (US); Bruce F. Field, Golden
`Valley, MN (US); Peter A.
`Swenson, Minneapolis, MN (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`WESTMAN CHAMPLIN & KELLY, PA.
`SUITE 1400,900 SECONDAVENUE SOUTH
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee:
`
`Tennant Company, Minneapolis,
`MN (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.
`
`12/268,034
`
`(22)
`
`(60)
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 10, 2008
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/986,661, filed on Nov.
`9, 2007.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`Int. C.
`(2006.01)
`BOSB 3/08
`(2006.01)
`BOSB LM00
`U.S. Cl. ................... 134/6; 134/36; 134/18: 134/21;
`134/10
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A method is provided, which includes applying electrochemi
`cally activated acid and alkaline water to a Surface as a pre
`spray, allowing the electrochemically activated acid and alka
`line water to remain on the surface for a dwell time, and after
`the dwell time, performing a cleaning operation on an area of
`the Surface to which the pre-spray was applied.
`
`Cleaning Performance on Carpet
`Pre-spray as noted, Extraction at 50 ft/min
`
`16.0
`
`140
`
`8 O
`
`6.0
`
`40
`
`2.0
`
`
`
`ONo Pre-Spray, WATER ONLy for
`Extraction (100)
`DNo Pre-Spray, BETCO in-Tank
`Extraction Chemical ( 1 oz/gal (102)
`ONo Pre-Spray, ECA for
`Extraction (104)
`
`D Water Only Pre-Spray, Water
`only for Extraction (106)
`DReady Space Pre-Spray ( 8 oz/gal,
`Water Only for Extraction (108)
`DECA Pre-Spray, ECA for
`Extraction (110)
`
`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 2 of 20
`
`1061 1081 110
`104
`Average of (2) Delta Esamples
`
`

`

`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 3 of 20
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`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 3 of 20
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`May14, 2009 Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 2009/0120460 Al
`
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`Page 3
`
`OWTEx. 2146
`Tennant Company v. OWT
`IPR2021-00625
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 14, 2009 Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 2009/O120460 A1
`
`213
`
`214
`
`212
`
`215
`
`222
`
`N
`N
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`222
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`K
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`TANK FILLED
`WIT TAP
`WATER
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`204
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`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 4 of 20
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`O 218
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

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`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 5 of 20
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`Patent Application Publication May 14,2009 Sheet 3 of 6
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`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 5 of 20
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`US 2009/0120460 Al
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 5
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`OWTEx. 2146
`Tennant Company v. OWT
`IPR2021-00625
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 14, 2009 Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 2009/O120460 A1
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`
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`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 6 of 20
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`

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`Patent Application Publication May 14, 2009 Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 2009/O120460 A1
`
`GENERATE ECA WATER
`PRE-SPRAy
`
`APPLy TO SURFACE
`
`DWELL TIME
`
`CLEANING OPERATION
`
`O1
`5
`
`502
`
`503
`
`504
`
`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 7 of 20
`
`FIG. 5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 14, 2009 Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 2009/O120460 A1
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`
`
`624
`
`2
`
`DISPENSER
`
`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 8 of 20
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`

`

`US 2009/0120460 A1
`
`May 14, 2009
`
`SOFT FILOOR PRE-SPRAY UNITUTILIZING
`ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVATED
`WATER AND METHOD OF CLEANING SOFT
`FLOORS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`0001. The present application is based on and claims the
`benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/986,
`6611, filed Nov. 9, 2007, the content of which is hereby
`incorporated by reference in its entirety.
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH ORDEVELOPMENT
`
`0002. None.
`
`THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO AJOINT
`RESEARCH AGREEMENT
`
`0003. None.
`
`FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
`0004. The present disclosure relates to methods and appa
`ratus for cleaning soft Surfaces Such as soft floors (e.g., car
`pet).
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
`0005 Carpet offers many benefits as a floor covering but it
`is challenging to clean. Carpet acts as a filter and traps air
`borne and traffic-produced soil both on the surface of the
`carpet fibers as well as down in the base of the pile. Carpet has
`a very high effective Surface area per square foot and tremen
`dous dirt-holding potential. When carpet cleaning processes
`are compared to hard floor Scrubbing processes, the carpet
`cleaning processes are slower, more complicated, and not as
`effective at removing all of the soil from the surface. Even so,
`there is a great need for carpet cleaning.
`0006. There is a variety of equipment available from com
`panies. Such as Tennant Company of Minneapolis, Minn.,
`U.S.A., for vacuuming, Sweeping, and wet-cleaning carpet.
`For example, Tennant's wet-cleaning carpet equipment typi
`cally falls into two categories:
`
`1. Hot Water Extraction Equipment.
`0007. This equipment sprays water on the carpet, agitates
`the wetted carpet with a floor tool or brush, and recovers the
`dirty water from the carpet using a vacuumized floor tool.
`Examples from the Tennant product line include simple can
`ister extractors, such as the Tennant model 1000; canister
`units with heat, such as the Tennant model 1180, self-con
`tained extractors, such as the Tennant model 1240; and auto
`matic (self-propelled) extractors, such as the Tennant model
`151O.
`
`2. Soil Transfer Extraction Equipment.
`0008. This type of equipment uses one or more soil trans
`fer rollers for carpet cleaning. The rollers are wetted, rubbed
`against the carpet to pick up soil from the carpet and
`extracted. This soil is continuously removed by wetting and
`extraction of the roller, but no water is ever sprayed on the
`carpet. Examples from the Tennant product line include Ten
`
`nant the model 1610 in ReadySpaceTM mode and the Tennant
`model R14 RiderTM in ReadySpaceTM mode.
`0009. Both types of carpet cleaning processes use water as
`the primary soil solvent and both processes are more effective
`if a cleaning chemical (e.g. a detergent or Surfactant) is used
`in addition to water. Adding a small amount of Such a chemi
`cal to the cleaning process typically gives better wetting of the
`carpet, allows dissolution of oil-based soil, and increases
`overall soil removal. If the cleaning chemicals are mixed with
`the water in the clean-water tank it will give a limited amount
`of cleaning improvement, but for maximum benefit the
`chemical should somehow be applied to the carpet and
`allowed to work for 10-15 minutes before the final extraction
`or mechanical cleaning process is performed. So if the chemi
`cal is mixed in the tank and dispensed by the machine, it may
`require a second pass (after some dwell time) to get maximum
`cleaning effect.
`0010. Another way to give the chemical adequate dwell
`time is to apply a water/chemical mixture as a spray without
`any agitation or vacuum recovery. This is called pre-spraying
`and often a pump-up 2-gallon sprayer is used for this purpose.
`The sprayer includes a water reservoir, a means to pressurize
`it, and a spray nozzle attached to awand with a valve to allow
`the user to apply the spray wherever desired. Small areas are
`progressively pre-sprayed and then extracted 10-15 minutes
`later. With this approach, when the extraction is performed
`the process rinses the carpet and removes both soil and chemi
`cal from the carpet.
`0011 Whether the chemicals are used in-the-tank or as a
`pre-spray, Some amount of the chemical will always be left
`behind. Typical extraction processes recover 50% of the
`water applied to the carpet, so about 50% of the water is left
`behind. The water will evaporate over time, but most of the
`cleaning chemical will not. Thus an extraction process using
`an in-tank chemical will result in about 50% of the chemical
`being left behind in the carpet. If a pre-spraying approach is
`used, the amount of chemical left behind depends on how
`much was applied and how thoroughly it was rinsed. If the
`chemical is pre-sprayed lightly and rinsed repeatedly the
`amount of chemical left behind can be progressively reduced,
`but multiple rinsing steps usually lead to a very wet carpet and
`an excessively long dry time. It is difficult to predict exactly
`how much chemical will be left behind, but it is safe to say that
`even with appropriate rinsing a significant amount of chemi
`cal will remain in the carpet.
`0012 Any amount of cleaning chemical residue is a con
`cern because most of the detergent chemicals involved by
`their very nature act to attract and bind to soil. If they remain
`in the carpet and continue to attract and bind to Soil they can
`actually make the carpet get dirty faster. This phenomenon is
`known as “resoiling and it needs to be considered when
`selecting a carpet cleaning chemical. In addition to the resoil
`ing issue, carpet cleaning chemicals pose potential health
`risks and often have negative environmental impacts during
`use and disposal.
`
`SUMMARY
`0013 An aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method,
`which includes applying electrochemically activated acid and
`alkaline water to a Surface as a pre-spray, allowing the elec
`trochemically activated acid and alkaline water to remain on
`the surface for a dwell time, and after the dwell time, per
`forming a cleaning operation on an area of the Surface to
`which the pre-spray was applied.
`
`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 9 of 20
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`

`

`US 2009/0120460 A1
`
`May 14, 2009
`
`0014. In one example, the dwell time is at least one minute.
`In another example, the dwell time is at least five minutes. In
`another example, the dwell time is in a range of one minute to
`one-half an hour.
`0015. In a non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the sur
`face includes any soft floor Surface, such as carpet.
`0016. In an aspect of the disclosure:
`0017 the step of applying is performed by a pre-spray
`device; and
`0018 the cleaning operation is performed by a cleaning
`device that is disconnected from the pre-spray device
`and separately movable relative to the surface.
`0019 Inafurther aspect of the disclosure the step of apply
`ing is performed by a pre-spray device that is a member of the
`group including:
`0020 a hand-held spray bottle comprising an electroly
`sis cell,
`0021 a humanly portable, non-wheeled canister com
`prising an electrolysis cell and a spray wand;
`0022 a wheeled device carrying an electrolysis cell and
`a ECA water dispenser.
`0023. Inafurther aspect of the disclosure the step of apply
`ing includes generating the electrochemically activated acid
`and alkaline water with an electrolysis cell carried by a pre
`spray device, blending the electrochemically activated acid
`and alkaline water within the pre-spray device and applying
`the blended electrochemically activated acid and alkaline
`water to the Surface as the pre-spray with the pre-spray
`device.
`0024. In a further aspect of the disclosure, the step of
`performing a cleaning operation is performed by a cleaning
`device that is a member of the group including:
`0.025 a hot water extractor; and
`0026 a soil transfer device comprising a soil transfer
`roller.
`0027. In a further aspect of the disclosure, the step of
`applying is performed in a first pass over the Surface with a
`wheeled device and the step of performing a cleaning opera
`tion is performed in a second, Subsequent pass over the Sur
`face with the same wheeled device.
`0028. In a further aspect of the disclosure, the step of
`performing a cleaning operation comprises applying further
`electrochemically activated water to the surface with a
`wheeled, mobile cleaning device and then recovering, with
`the mobile cleaning device, at least portions of the electro
`chemically activated water that was applied as the pre-spray
`and at least portions of the further electrochemically activated
`water applied by the mobile cleaning device.
`0029. Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a
`method, which includes: applying electrochemically acti
`vated acid and alkaline water to carpet as a combined pre
`spray with a pre-spray device; allowing the electrochemically
`activated water to remain on the carpet for a dwell time; and
`after the dwell time, recovering the electrochemically acti
`vated water from the carpet during a cleaning operation per
`formed with a cleaning device, which is unconnected to the
`pre-spray device and separately movable relative to the car
`pet.
`0030. In one example of this further aspect of the disclo
`Sure, the dwell time is at least one minute. In another example,
`the dwell time is at least five minutes. In another example, the
`dwell time is in a range of one minute to one-half an hour.
`0031. In an example of this further aspect of the disclo
`Sure, the pre-spray device is a member of the group including:
`
`0.032 a hand-held spray bottle comprising an electroly
`sis cell,
`0033 a humanly portable, non-wheeled canister com
`prising an electrolysis cell and a spray wand;
`0034 a wheeled device carrying an electrolysis cell and
`a ECA water dispenser.
`0035. In another example of this further aspect, the step of
`applying includes generating the electrochemically activated
`acid and alkaline water with an electrolysis cell carried by the
`pre-spray device, blending the electrochemically activated
`acid and alkaline water within the pre-spray device and apply
`ing the blended electrochemically activated acid and alkaline
`water to the surface as the combined pre-spray with the pre
`spray device.
`0036. In another example of this further aspect, the step of
`applying includes generating the electrochemically activated
`acid and alkaline water with an electrolysis cell carried by the
`pre-spray device, combining separate flows of the acid and
`alkaline water into a combined flow applying the combined
`flow to the Surface through a spray nozzle.
`0037. In another example of this further aspect, the clean
`ing device is a member of the group including:
`0038 a hot water extractor; and
`0.039 a soil transfer device comprising a soil transfer
`roller.
`0040. In yet another example of this further aspect:
`0041 the cleaning device comprises a wheeled mobile
`cleaning device;
`0042 the step of performing a cleaning operation com
`prises applying further electrochemically activated
`water to the surface with the wheeled mobile cleaning
`device; and
`0.043
`the method includes recovering, with the wheeled
`mobile cleaning device, at least portions of the electro
`chemically activated water that was applied as the pre
`spray and at least portions of the further electrochemi
`cally activated water applied by the wheeled mobile
`cleaning device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0044 FIG. 1 is a chart illustrating test results according to
`an example pre-spray process according to an aspect of the
`disclosure as compared to other processes of the prior art.
`0045 FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a
`pre-spray device according to an example of the disclosure.
`0046 FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a pre-spray device
`according to another example of the disclosure.
`0047 FIG. 4 illustrates a pre-spray device, which is con
`figured as a canister for being carried by the user, such as by
`hand, over the user's shoulder or back.
`0048 FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of clean
`ing a soft Surface. Such as carpet according to an example of
`the present disclosure.
`0049 FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an
`example of an electrolysis cell that can be used in the pre
`spray and cleaning devices disclosed herein, for example.
`0050 FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an electrolysis cell
`having a tubular shape according to one illustrative example.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE
`EMBODIMENTS
`0051. This disclosure relates primarily to soft floor, such
`as carpet cleaning methods and equipment. However, the
`
`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 10 of 20
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`

`

`US 2009/0120460 A1
`
`May 14, 2009
`
`disclosure can be applied to pre-spraying other types of floor
`and non-floor surfaces, both hard and soft.
`0.052 U.S. Publ. No. 2007/0186368A1, published Aug.
`16, 2007, which is incorporated herein in its entirety, dis
`closes methods and apparatus for cleaning floor and other
`surfaces with electrochemically activated water.
`0053. The application of Electro-Chemically Activated
`water (“ECA water) for cleaning carpet is attractive for
`several reasons. Usingen electrolysis cell, separate streams of
`high-pH (“Alkaline water) and low-pH (Acid water) can
`be produced by the electrolysis cell, and these streams can
`either be used separately or they can be combined and used as
`a mixed product. As described in the above-mentioned pub
`lication, mixed ECA water has temporal cleaning properties
`and can clean with properties similar to a water/surfactant
`mixture if it is applied to the surface quickly. It has been
`shown that ECA water can clean better than water alone. It
`does not require any additional chemicals and thus avoids the
`expense of chemicals and the health hazards of chemicals.
`Over a relatively short time, mixed ECA water self-neutral
`izes so that any residual cleaning fluid left behind will be
`indistinguishable from ordinary water. Thus resoiling issues,
`residual health concerns, and environmental issues from dis
`posal are all eliminated. For all these reasons the use of ECA
`water in carpet cleaning is an attractive proposition.
`0054 The inventors of the present application have found
`that through testing on carpet that ECA water does in fact
`clean better than water alone. In one non-limiting example, it
`was been found that the optimum cleaning properties were
`achieved when the solution was applied as a pre-spray with
`dwell time rather than applied and extracted in a single step
`with a single machine.
`
`1. Example Pre-Spray Devices
`0055 FIG. 1 is a chart illustrating test results according to
`the above-mentioned example. For the test, a Tennant model
`1610 Soil Transfer Extraction carpet cleaner was used at an
`extraction rate of 50 feet perminute. The cleaner had a carper
`roller scrub head and a vacuum extraction device. The cleaner
`was modified to deliver either, water only, water combined
`with an in-tank detergent, or a mixed ECA water to the roller.
`The cleaning efficacy was tested with and without a pre-spray
`operation.
`0056. The Y-axis illustrates cleaning efficacy, Delta E, in
`spectral units. Each bar on the X-axis represents an average of
`two Delta E samples. Delta E represents the amount of dirt
`recovered from the carpet by the cleaner, as measured by
`reflection of light transmitted to a sample of the recovered
`water. The greater the value of Delta E, the better the cleaning
`efficacy.
`0057 Bar 100 represents the use of water only by the
`cleaner as the cleaning liquid, with no prior pre-spray opera
`tion. Bar 102 represents the use of water and a BETCO
`In-Tank Extraction Chemical at 1 oz/gal. by the cleaner as the
`cleaning liquid, with no prior pre-spray operation. Bar 104
`represents the use of mixed ECA water (Alkaline and Acid)
`only by the cleaner as the cleaning liquid, with no prior
`pre-spray operation.
`0058 Bar 106 represents the use of water only as a pre
`spray and then water only by the cleaner as the cleaning
`liquid. Bar 108 represents the use of a ReadySpaceTM Pre
`Spray (a) 8 oz/gal. and then water only by the cleaner as the
`cleaning liquid. Bar 110 represents the use of a mixed ECA
`
`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 11 of 20
`
`water (Alkaline and Acid) as a pre-spray and then a mixed
`ECA water by the cleaner as the cleaning liquid.
`0059. As shown in FIG. 1, mixed ECA water (Alkaline
`and Acid) used as a pre-spray (bar 110) achieved cleaning
`results somewhere between the use of water only and a con
`ventional ReadySpaceTM Pre-spray chemical. Additional
`testing with Alkaline ECA water and Acid ECA water has
`shown some promise for these products as well in specific
`applications.
`0060. In one example, to take full advantage of ECA water
`as a pre-spray, the Solution is applied and allowed to dwell on
`the carpet for some time prior to extraction. Examples of
`suitable dwell times include at least 30 seconds, at least one
`minute, at least five minutes, at least ten minutes, a range of
`one minute to one-half an hour, and a range often minutes to
`fifteen minutes. Other ranges can also be used.
`0061 Although the same cleaning machine was used as
`the ECA pre-spray device and the Extractor for this testing,
`this arrangement is not ideal. The machine (a modified Ten
`nant model 1610) is large, heavy and not very maneuverable.
`In addition, the amount of water dispensed is significantly
`higher than the ideal amount for this type of pre-spraying. For
`these reasons an alternate configuration is desired.
`0062 One aspect of the present disclosure relates to appa
`ratus and methods for applying mixed ECA water as a pre
`spray, wherein the apparatus is unconnected from the device
`that performs the cleaning operation (e.g., an extractor, soil
`transfer roller, etc.) and is separately movable relative to the
`carpet.
`0063. In one example, the ECA water pre-spray device is
`simpler and smaller than a walk-behind extractor. FIG. 2
`illustrates a schematic representation of a pre-spray device
`200 according to an example of the disclosure. Pre-spray
`device 200 includes a reservoir 12 (or tank) 202 for containing
`a liquid to be treated and then dispensed as a pre-spray. In an
`example, the liquid to be treated includes an aqueous compo
`sition, Such as regular tap water. In an embodiment, the aque
`ous composition contains no more than 1.0 moles per liter
`salt. In another embodiment, the aqueous composition con
`tains no more than 0.1 moles per liter salt. An aqueous com
`position containing more than 1.0 moles per liter salt can be
`used in further embodiments.
`0064 Reservoir 202 can be replaced with any other source
`of a cleaning liquid, Such as a liquid input, spigot and/or valve
`for coupling to a hose or other source of water.
`0065 Device 200 further includes a pump 204 to draw
`water out of the liquid source (tank) 202 and pressurize it for
`effective spraying. Pump 202 can be eliminated in some
`examples. For example, a pump would not be needed when
`the liquid source itself is pressurized. Such as through a hose.
`Pump 204 can be configured to operate by electricity, such as
`from battery 206 or manually by the operator, such as with a
`hand pump. For example, a hand pump can be used to pres
`surize the interior of tank 202.
`0.066
`Electrolysis cell 208 electrochemically activates the
`feed water provided by tank 202. Electrolysis cell 208 and/or
`pump 204 are controlled by a control circuit 206 and powered
`by battery 206.
`0067. A spray nozzle 210 is attached to a wand 212 of
`Some sort for directing and applying the electrochemically
`activated water onto the floor or other surface being cleaned.
`Wand 212 is attached to pre-spray device 200 through flexible
`tubing 213, for example. In one example, spray wand 212
`includes a trigger or switch 214, which controls delivery of
`
`

`

`US 2009/0120460 A1
`
`May 14, 2009
`
`the ECA water to nozzle 210 through a valve. In a further
`example, trigger 214 electrically controls the operating mode
`of control circuit 207. When trigger 214 is actuated, control
`circuit 207 energizes pump 204 to pump water from tank 202
`through electrolysis cell 208 to nozzle 210; and control circuit
`207 energizes electrolysis cell 208 to electrochemically acti
`vate the water as it passes through the cell. When trigger 214
`is deactuated, control circuit 207 de-energizes pump 204 and
`electrolysis cell 208. Trigger 214 can also close a valve, such
`as a solenoid valve in wand 212 to terminate residual water
`flow from nozzle 210. In a further example, control circuit
`207 energizes and de-energizes pump 204 and electrolysis
`cell 208 separately from the operation of wand trigger 214.
`For example, device 200 can include an on/off switch and/or
`mode Switches.
`0068 Pump 204 and/or electrolysis cell 208 can belocated
`on a platform of device 200 (represented by dashed line 215)
`or on wand 212. Locating electrolysis cell 208 on wand 212
`can reduce the length of the flow path from the cell to nozzle
`210 and thus the time between ECA water generation and
`delivery of the activated water to the surface being cleaned.
`Pump 204 can be located upstream or downstream of cell 208.
`0069. In one example, the diameters of the tubes in device
`200 and wand 212 are kept small so that once pump 204 and
`electrolysis cell 208 are energized, the tubing at the output of
`cell 208 and in wand 212 are quickly primed with electro
`chemically-activated liquid. Any non-activated liquid con
`tained in the tubes and pump are kept to a small Volume. Thus,
`in the embodiment in which the control circuit 207 activates
`the pump and electrolysis cell in response to actuation of
`trigger 214, pre-spray device 200 produces the mixed ECA
`water at nozzle 210 in an “on demand fashion and dispenses
`substantially all of the combined anolyte and catholyte ECA
`liquid (except that retained in tubing 213) without an inter
`mediate step of storing the acid and/or alkaline ECA water.
`0070. Other activation sequences can also be used. For
`example, control circuit 207 can be configured to energize
`electrolysis cell 208 for a period of time before energizing
`pump 204 in order to allow the feed water to become more
`electrochemically activated before dispensing.
`(0071. The travel time from cell 208 to nozzle 210 can be
`made very short. In one example, pre-spray device 200 dis
`penses the blended acid and alkaline ECA water within a very
`small period of time from which the water is activated by
`electrolysis cell 208. For example, the mixed ECA water
`liquid can be dispensed within time periods such as within 5
`seconds, within 3 seconds, and within 1 Second of the time at
`which the water is activated.
`0072 Depending on the sprayer, nozzle 210 may or may
`not be adjustable, so as to select between squirting a stream,
`aerosolizing a mist, or dispensing a spray, for example.
`0073. In an alternative embodiment, pump 204 is replaced
`with a mechanical pump. Such as a hand-triggered positive
`displacement pump implemented within wand 212, wherein
`the wand's trigger acts directly on the pump by mechanical
`action.
`0074. In a simple form, pre-spray device could be imple
`mented in a platform only slightly larger and heavier than a
`2-gallon pump-up type sprayer, for example, and could be
`hand-carried or configured as a backpack to be carried on the
`user's back, for example.
`0075 Enhancements that could be added to the simple
`form of the device in various combinations include, but are
`not limited to:
`
`0076 a handle 216 to make it easier to move about.
`0.077 wheels 218 to avoid the need to lift and carry the
`weight of the unit (any suitable number of wheels can be
`used).
`0078 increased water capacity.
`0079 a quick-change rechargeable battery pack (e.g.,
`an 18.8 or 24-volt battery pack from a power tool).
`0080 an on-board battery charger that could be plugged
`into an AC outlet.
`0081 an electrical plug for connecting to an external
`power source. Such as through a power cord.
`0082 a fixed spray nozzle or nozzles 222 (such as those
`shown in FIGS. 12-15 of U.S. Patent Application Publ.
`No. 2007/0186368A1, in addition to the trigger-acti
`vated spray nozzle, to allow broadcast spraying of large
`areas by pulling (and/or pushing) the unit over the area to
`be pre-sprayed.
`0.083 an On-Off Switch 224 for broadcast spray mode.
`0084 additional controls, valves and plumbing to allow
`use of the system to deliver either mixed ECA water,
`Acid ECA water, or Alkaline ECA water (such as shown
`and described with reference to FIG. 11 of U.S. Patent
`Application Publ. No. 2007/0186368A1).
`I0085. If only one stream (e.g., alkaline ECA water) were
`being used the other stream could be collected in a separate
`reservoir for use or disposal later or it could be dumped back
`into the main water supply tank 202.
`I0086 For delivering mixed ECA water through spray
`nozzle 210, the Acid ECA water and the Alkaline ECA water
`can be combined into blended flow at the output of electroly
`sis cell 208, at the output of spray nozzle 210 and/or at any
`point there between, for example. If the Acid ECA water and
`the Alkaline ECA water are combined at nozzle 310, device
`200 can include a separate flow path for each water output
`from electrolysis cell 208 to nozzle 210. Accordingly, the
`pre-spray device can be configured in one or more embodi
`ments to dispense acid ECA water and alkaline ECA water as
`a combined mixture or as separate spray outputs, such as
`through separate tubes and/or nozzles. In the embodiment
`shown in FIG. 1, the acid and alkaline ECA liquids are dis
`pensed as a combined mixture.
`I0087. In the example shown in FIG. 2, pre-spray device
`200 lacks a recovery tool for recovering the sprayed ECA
`water from the Surface being cleaned and lacks a cleaning tool
`or head, Such as an extractor head or scrub head. In this
`embodiment, the unit is intended for use as a pre-spray
`device, not as a device for implementing the cleaning process.
`However, these elements could be added in alternative
`examples.
`I0088 Although one exemplary application for this type of
`unit is envisioned as a pre-spray unit for carpet cleaning,
`almost any application where ECA water is desired for clean
`ing could benefit from the use of this unit to apply an ECA
`water Solution prior to the application of a conventional clean
`ing process.
`I0089
`Additional applications such as upholstery, wall
`panels, or draperies could be addressed with little or no modi
`fication to the pre-spray unit. The unit could even be used in
`conjunction with (and/or incorporated on) an all-surface
`cleaner (e.g., Tennant model 750 such as that shown in FIG.
`17 of U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2007/0186368A1)
`for restroom cleaning.
`(0090 FIG.3 illustrates an example of a pre-spray unit 300
`according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
`
`CASE 0:20-cv-00358-ECT-HB Doc. 80-15 Filed 06/10/21 Page 12 of 20
`
`

`

`US 2009/0120460 A1
`
`May 14, 2009
`
`This unit can be used to apply an ECA water pre-spray to the
`carpet instead of using a pump-up sprayer to apply a conven
`tional chemical pre-spray. After a suitable dwell time, the
`actual carpet extraction would then be done with a conven
`tional walk-behind (e.g., a Tennant model 1610), pull-back
`extractor (Tennant 1240) or rider (Tennant R-14), for
`example. These carpet extractors could also be modified to
`include similar ECA water activation equipment such as
`described in U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2007/
`O186368A1
`0091. In one example, pre-spray unit 300 is built on a
`FIMCO model LG-5-P sprayer platform as shown in FIG. 3,
`which is available from FIMCO Industries of Dakota Dunes,
`S.Dak. U.S.A. The FIMCO platform includes:
`0092 a 5 gallon tank 302
`0093. 10" wheels 304 and a metal frame 306
`0094) a spray wand 308
`0.095 a 12V DC pump 309
`0096) a 7 amp-hour 12V battery 310.
`To this platform, the following elements can be added, for
`example:
`0097 a 2' 12V battery
`0098 a different spray tip—as modified to achieve a
`desired spray pattern and flow rate
`0099 an electrolysis cell and control circuit (as described
`in FIG. 2)
`0100 wiring to set up the 24V supply
`0101 pressure switches to interrupt power in a no-flow
`situation
`0102 The electrolysis cell can include a functional gen
`erator and related controller as shown and described with
`reference to FIGS. 1-6, 10-11, and 19-21 (for example) of
`U.S. P