U.S. patent application number 09/795786 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-29 for carpet steam cleaning apparatus with control for directing spray at front or back of wand vacuum head.
Invention is credited to Sumner, Gary.
Application Number | 20020116784 09/795786 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25166443 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020116784 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sumner, Gary |
August 29, 2002 |
CARPET STEAM CLEANING APPARATUS WITH CONTROL FOR DIRECTING SPRAY AT
FRONT OR BACK OF WAND VACUUM HEAD
Abstract
Carpet cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning wand having a
vacuum head and an elongated member forming a passageway for
transporting material removed from a carpet by the vacuum head. A
cleaning liquid spray nozzle is located at the front of the vacuum
head and another cleaning liquid spray nozzle is located at the
back of the vacuum head. Two control valves are attached to the
elongated member, each controlled by a separate moveable handle,
allowing the operator to selectively spray in front or in back of
the vacuum head as desired.
Inventors: |
Sumner, Gary; (Antioch,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS R. LAMPE
Bielen, Lampe & Thoeming
Suite 720
1990 N. California Blvd.
Walnut Creek
CA
94596
US
|
Family ID: |
25166443 |
Appl. No.: |
09/795786 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/322 ;
15/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/03 20130101;
A47L 11/4088 20130101; A47L 11/4075 20130101; A47L 11/34
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/322 ;
15/321 |
International
Class: |
A47L 011/34; A47L
011/30 |
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. Carpet cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination: a cleaning
wand including a vacuum head having a vacuum head front and a
vacuum head rear for applying a vacuum to a carpet and defining a
vacuum head interior and a vacuum head inlet communicating within
said vacuum head interior and an elongated member connected to said
vacuum head and defining a passageway in communication with said
vacuum head interior for applying a vacuum to said vacuum head
interior and transporting material removed from a carpet by said
vacuum head; a first manually graspable handle connected to said
elongated member at a first location on said elongated member; a
second manually graspable handle connected to said elongated member
at a second location on said elongated member; a front spray nozzle
located adjacent to the vacuum head at the vacuum head front and in
front of the vacuum head inlet; a rear spray nozzle located
adjacent to the vacuum head at the vacuum head rear and to the rear
of the vacuum head inlet; and valve means operatively associated
with said first and second manually graspable handles for
selectively controlling the flow of liquid cleaner to said front
and rear spray nozzles from a source of liquid cleaner.
2. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said
valve means includes a first fluid flow control valve operatively
associated with said first manually graspable handle for receiving
liquid cleaner from the source of liquid cleaner and a second fluid
flow control valve operatively associated with said second manually
graspable handle for receiving liquid cleaner from the source of
liquid cleaner, said first fluid flow control valve controlling the
flow of cleaner fluid to said front spray nozzle responsive to
manipulation of said first manually graspable handle and said
second fluid flow control valve controlling the flow of cleaner
fluid to said rear spray nozzle responsive to manipulation of said
second manually graspable handle.
3. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 additionally
comprising cleaner fluid supply conduit means extending to said
first and second fluid flow control valves for delivering cleaner
fluid from the source of liquid cleaner to each of said first and
second fluid flow control valves.
4. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said
cleaner fluid supply conduit means comprises a primary conduit and
first and second branch conduits in fluid flow communication within
said primary conduit, said first branch conduit leading to said
first fluid flow control valve and said second branch conduit
leading to said second fluid flow control valve, said carpet
cleaning apparatus additionally comprising a conduit connector
interconnecting said primary conduit and said first and second
branch conduits.
5. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one
of said first and second manually graspable handles includes a
fixed handle portion fixed against movement relative to said
elongated member and a slidable handle portion slidably moveable
relative to said fixed handle portion and relative to said
elongated member.
6. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 5 additionally
comprising a housing affixed to said elongated member, said housing
defining an opening and a recess communicating with said opening,
said fixed handle portion extending across said opening and fixedly
attached to said housing and said slidable handle portion mounted
for slidable movement in said recess and selectively moveable
toward or away from said fixed handle portion.
7. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said
valve means includes two fluid flow control valves, one of said
fluid flow control valves controlling flow of liquid cleaner to
said front spray nozzle head the other of said fluid flow control
valves controlling flow of liquid cleaner to said rear spray
nozzle, said carpet cleaner apparatus additionally comprising
mechanical linkage interconnecting said slidable handle portion to
one of said fluid flow control valves and responsive to sliding
movement to said slidable handle portion to selectively open or
close the fluid flow control valve to which the slidable handle
portion is interconnected by said linkage.
8. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said
fixed handle portion and said slidable handle portion are closely
adjacent to one another for joint manual grasping of said fixed
handle portion and such slidable handle portion.
9. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said
elongated member includes a primary elongated member segment and a
secondary elongated member segment, said primary elongated member
segment directly attached to said vacuum head and being longer than
said secondary elongated member segment, said primary elongated
member segment and said secondary elongated member segment being
angularly disposed, one of said first and second manually graspable
handles being attached to said primary elongated member segment and
the other of said first and second manually graspable handles being
attached to said secondary elongated member segment.
10. The carpet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one
of said first and second manually graspable handles is disposed
above said elongated member and wherein the other of said first and
second manually graspable handles is disposed below said elongated
member.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to apparatus utilized to clean
carpets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known to utilize portable steam cleaning
equipment to clean carpets. These devices work on the same
principle; they spray hot water on the carpet and the water is
removed from the carpeting as quickly as possible. Rather than just
employ hot water as the liquid cleaner, detergents and the like can
be combined therewith to increase effectiveness of the
operation.
[0003] The earlier steamers employed wands called drag wands which
were manually manipulated by an operator and applied the liquid
cleaner to the carpet. Immediately thereafter the liquid cleaner
was removed by a vacuum applied through the wand. The drag wand
only works on a backward stroke due to the fact that the water or
other liquid cleaner is sprayed on the carpet through spray jets
that sit on one side of the vacuum slit. The operator would adjust
the length of the handle on the drag wand to the height of his
waist, both hands being positioned side-by-side and a few inches
apart on the grip of the handle.
[0004] Spots on a carpet may need to be gone over more than once
while steam cleaning. With the drag wand, the operator would have
to stop the flow of water by letting go of the handle with his
right hand and lift the lever to the off position. He would then
drag the wand to pick up the excess water on the carpet. The wand
would then be rolled forward over the spot. In this latter step
there is no cleaning action taking place. After turning the water
back on, the operator grips the handle as he goes over the spot
again on the back stroke. Sometimes this would have to be repeated
several times to get the spot out, a very time consuming process to
say the least. Drag wands are quite heavy and very slow. Use and
transfer exert a toll on the operator's stamina. Cleaning area rugs
with a drag wand requires two people, one to stand on the end of
the rug so the rug would not move with the wand, and the other to
work the drag wand.
[0005] A more recent development in the field of steam cleaning
wands is the scrub wand characterized by its relatively light
weight and ease of handling. The scrub wand is designed to have one
hand placed at the top portion of the wand with that hand
controlling the valve for the water spray. The other hand is
positioned on the grip handle. This wand works by moving the wand
back and forth in a scrubbing motion, hence the name scrub wand. As
with the drag wand, a spray nozzle is located on only one side of
the vacuum head, behind the vacuum slit of the wand vacuum head.
The scrub wand works on the same principle as the drag wand and
when the operator pushes the scrub wand forward with the water on
all that is accomplished is wetting of the carpet, due to the fact
that the vacuum slit is in front of the water spray. A separate
rearward movement of the wand must be made to vacuum extract the
water from the carpet.
[0006] All carpet has a grain and on some carpets the grain can
make the wand bounce on the backward or forward stroke, losing the
vacuum seal on the carpet and thus reducing the effectiveness of
the extraction process. The operator would have to use another or
extra forward or backward stroke to extract the water that was left
behind, further slowing down the operator. Another drawback of the
scrub wand is that when cleaning area rugs it normally requires two
operators, one to hold down the rug while it is being cleaned and
the other operator to maneuver the wand.
[0007] As will be seen below, the drawbacks of the drag and scrub
wands are eliminated with the apparatus of this invention. The
apparatus allows the operator to place a water spray in front of as
well as in back of the vacuum slit of the wand vacuum head. These
water sprays are independently controlled by valves located at two
handles of the wand and operated by manipulation of the
handles.
[0008] A search directed to this invention located the following
patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,799, issued Sep. 18, 1979, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,347,678, issued Sep. 20, 1994, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,922,
issued Feb. 20, 1979.
[0009] Two of the patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,167,799 and 4,139,922,
show the general idea of employing a plurality of spray nozzles in
carpet cleaning machines. These devices are, however, relatively
specialized, complicated and heavy pieces of equipment, with the
arrangements disclosed not lending themselves to use with a
manually held and operated wand.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates to carpet cleaning apparatus
of the hand-held and manipulated wand type which effectively and
efficiently provides for the cleaning of carpets. The term carpets
as employed herein also encompasses rugs and other types of floor
coverings. The invention is characterized by its relative
simplicity and ease of use.
[0011] The carpet cleaning apparatus of the invention incorporates
a cleaning wand including a vacuum head having a vacuum head front
and a vacuum head rear for applying a vacuum to a carpet. The
vacuum head defines a vacuum head interior and a vacuum head inlet
communicating with the vacuum head interior.
[0012] The cleaning wand also includes an elongated member
connected to the vacuum head and defining a passageway in
communication with the vacuum head interior for applying a vacuum
to the vacuum head interior and transporting material removed from
a carpet by the vacuum head.
[0013] A first manually graspable handle is connected to the
elongated member at a first location on the elongated member.
[0014] A second manually graspable handle is connected to the
elongated member at a second location on the elongated member.
[0015] A front spray nozzle is located adjacent to the vacuum head
at the vacuum end front and in front of the vacuum head inlet.
[0016] A rear spray nozzle is located adjacent to the vacuum head
at the vacuum head rear and to the rear of the vacuum head
inlet.
[0017] Valve means is operatively associated with the first and
second manually graspable handles for selectively controlling the
flow of liquid cleaner to the front and rear spray nozzles from a
source of liquid cleaner.
[0018] Other features, advantages and objects of the present
invention will become apparent with reference to the following
description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an individual cleaning a
carpet with apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings
of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a selected portion of the
apparatus, including structure relating to the handles employed
therein;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the portion of the
invention generally corresponding to that shown in FIG. 2;
[0022] FIG. 4A is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view
illustrating a portion of the apparatus incorporating the vacuum
head and spray nozzles when cleaning the carpet, spray exiting the
rear spray nozzle;
[0023] FIG. 4B is a side elevational view showing the cooperative
relationship between one of the handles and an associated control
valve to effect the spray shown in FIG. 4A;
[0024] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view, partially broken away,
illustrating operational details of the other handle and valve
employed in the apparatus along with associated structure including
a mechanical linkage interconnecting the handle and valve and a
housing or saddle employed therewith;
[0025] FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 4A, but showing spray
exiting the front spray nozzle rather than the rear spray
nozzle;
[0026] FIG. 6B is similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the relative
positions assumed by structural components of the apparatus to
effect spray from the front spray nozzle as shown in FIG. 6A;
[0027] FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view of the handle and
related structure as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6B;
[0028] FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating
selected structure relating to cleaning fluid delivery to the two
valves employed in the apparatus; and
[0029] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the vacuum head and an
alternative approach for attaching a front spray nozzle
thereto.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, carpet cleaning apparatus
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention includes a cleaning wand 10 incorporating a vacuum head
12 and an elongated member 14.
[0031] Vacuum head 12 has a vacuum head front 16 and a vacuum head
rear 18. As is conventional, the vacuum head is for applying a
vacuum to a carpet, such as carpet 20, and defines a vacuum head
interior 22 and a vacuum head inlet 24 communicating with the
vacuum head interior.
[0032] Elongated member 14 is attached to the vacuum head and
defines a passageway 26 in communication with the vacuum head
interior for applying a vacuum to the vacuum head interior and
transporting material removed from the carpet by the vacuum head. A
hose 28 leads from passageway 26 to a suitable vacuum source, such
as a tank, not shown. Elongated member 14 includes a primary
elongated member segment 30 and a secondary elongated member
segment 32. The elongated member segments are angularly disposed
relative to one another and the primary elongated member segment is
longer than the secondary elongated member segment.
[0033] A front spray nozzle 34 is located adjacent to the vacuum
head at the vacuum head front 16. Nozzle 34 is in front of the
vacuum head inlet 24. Rear spray nozzle 36 is located adjacent to
the vacuum head at the vacuum head rear 18 and is positioned to the
rear of the vacuum head inlet.
[0034] Front spray nozzle 34 is attached to the vacuum head by a
bracket 38 accommodating conduit 40. A coupling secures the top end
of conduit 40 to the exit of a fluid flow control valve 42. The
nozzle 34 is attached to the lower end of conduit 40 by a
coupling.
[0035] Rear spray nozzle 36 is attached by a coupling to conduit
44, the nozzle 36 being secured to a bracket 46 projecting from the
vacuum head. The conduit 44 extends along elongated member 14 and
is connected by a coupling to the outlet of a fluid flow control
valve 48. Fluid flow control valve 48 is secured to the underside
of elongated member 14, more specifically to secondary elongated
member segment 32, by a bracket 50.
[0036] A handle or trigger 52 is pivotally attached to the bracket
50, the handle 52 being used to open valve 48 when pivoted by the
operator's hand. One end of the handle 52 engages a spring biased
actuator of valve 48, the valve normally being closed. When the
handle 52 is moved as shown in FIG. 4B, the spring biased actuator
of the valve is depressed as indicated by the arrows and the valve
is opened.
[0037] The inlet of the fluid flow control valve 48 is connected to
a tee connector 54 by a branch conduit 56. Another leg of the tee
54 is connected to another branch conduit 58. Branch conduit 58
leads to the inlet of fluid flow control valve 42. The inlet of tee
54 is attached by a suitable coupling to a primary conduit 60 which
leads to a source of water or other liquid cleaner. This may be,
for example, a tank holding hot or cold water which is pumped and
pressurized. From the above description, it may be seen that the
liquid from primary conduit 60 is divided into two streams fed to
the inlets of control valves 42, 48.
[0038] Attached to primary elongated member segment 30 and disposed
above the top of the elongated member is a housing or saddle 62.
Housing 62 is concave at the bottom thereof to conform to the shape
of the elongated member and a bracket 64 and threaded fasteners are
employed to hold the housing securely in place.
[0039] Housing 62 defines an opening which accommodates a fixed
handle portion 66. The handle portion 66 is secured in place by
bolts 68 passing through the sides of the housing, the ends of the
fixed handle portion 66 and threadedly secured to an elongated
threaded nut 70 within the interior of the handle portion.
[0040] The interior of housing 62 includes a recess accommodating a
slidable handle or trigger portion 72 which is normally in the
position shown in FIG. 5. Handle portions 66, 72 are close enough
to allow an operator to wrap his or her hand thereabout, as shown
in FIG. 1, for example; they are also far enough away to allow an
operator to wrap his or her hand around portion 66 without touching
portion 72.
[0041] Pivotally connected to housing 62 are two link arms 74 of a
mechanical linkage. These link arms 74 are pivotally attached at
the outer ends thereof to slidable handle portion 72. The inner
ends of the link arms are disposed over the actuator of fluid flow
control valve 42, such actuator normally being in the extended
position and maintained thereby by a spring within the control
valve. FIG. 5 shows the normal at rest positions of the link arms
and the control valve actuator (designated by reference numeral 76)
in the absence of upward pressure being exerted on slidable handle
or trigger portion 72.
[0042] When, however, the operator manually grasps slidable handle
or trigger portion 72 and moves it upwardly, as shown in FIG. 6B,
the link arms will be caused to pivot about pivot members 78
affixed to the housing, resulting in engagement of the actuator 76,
depression thereof and opening of control valve 42. When manual
upwardly directed pressure is released from handle or trigger
portion 72, the structural elements will return to the positions
shown in FIG. 5.
[0043] The fluid flow control valve 42 is disposed within the
interior of the housing 62 and is secured to the housing by
threaded fasteners.
[0044] It will be seen from the above that the operator employing
the apparatus can selectively open or close the fluid flow control
valves at will. The nozzles spray the water or other liquid cleaner
in front of or behind the vacuum head as desired. This greatly
improves the efficiency of the cleaning operation. The efficiency
of the wand is essentially doubled since each hand of the operator
can control the water spray whenever the operator wishes.
[0045] This selective ability of the operator has numerous
applications. For example, when an area rug is being cleaned the
operator can hold down the rug with his or her foot while cleaning
the carpet in a forward motion. By cleaning in the forward motion
and holding the rug in place with his foot movement of the carpet
is prevented, eliminating the need for a second operator. Still
another operating advantage is that the apparatus can be used to
start cleaning at the closest location of a building. Use of
conventional drag and scrub wands requires that cleaning normally
start at the furthest location of a building because the cleaning
is only on the backward stroke. With the present invention an
operator can start at the front door of a building and work to the
farthest point. For a carpet cleaner who likes to apply a
neutralizing rinse to the carpet, this is a real time saver,
because it saves the operator from having to drag hoses back to the
far end of the building. By starting carpet cleaning at the front
of the building and cleaning forward to the end of the building,
the operator can start applying the neutralizing rinse at the far
end of the building, working back to the front, with the advantage
of not having to re-stretch hoses a second time.
[0046] The teachings of this invention are applicable for
incorporation in cleaners during their manufacture but also may be
incorporated in retrofits to existing cleaners. FIG. 9 shows use of
a ring clamp 80, rather than a permanent bracket, to install
conduit 40 and spray nozzle 34 at the front of a vacuum head to
retrofit the wand.
[0047] Another advantage of the carpet cleaning apparatus is that
it can clean the edges of a carpet against the wall without having
to lift the wand up to spray the edge of the carpet. This is a
great advantage especially if the carpet has dark filtration stains
that appear on the edges of the carpet because the solution jet is
closer to the wall.
[0048] This method is faster than the old system because you don't
have to break the vacuum seal by lifting up the wand to spray the
cleaning solution against the edge of the carpet. The old system
requires you to lift the wand up to spray your cleaning solution
onto the carpet and there is always an unavoidable overspray that
occurs on the wall. With the carpet cleaning apparatus of this
invention the overspray is avoided because you don't have to raise
the wand to inject the cleaning solution into the carpet.
* * * * *