U.S. patent application number 10/218879 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-19 for disposable dust collectors for use with cleaning machines.
Invention is credited to Martin, Frederick H., Porchia, Jose, Wosewick, Robert T..
Application Number | 20040031121 10/218879 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31714629 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040031121 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Martin, Frederick H. ; et
al. |
February 19, 2004 |
Disposable dust collectors for use with cleaning machines
Abstract
A dust collecting device is disclosed for use with cleaning
equipment such as a vacuum cleaner. The device is a disposable dust
ruffle made of an electet material. The ruffle prevents the
equipment from spreading dust and itself acts as a dust magnet,
both with respect to dust agitated by the machine and with respect
to dust present in confined areas such as corners.
Inventors: |
Martin, Frederick H.;
(Racine, WI) ; Wosewick, Robert T.; (Shorewood,
WI) ; Porchia, Jose; (Greenfield, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC.
1525 HOWE STREET
RACINE
WI
53403-2236
US
|
Family ID: |
31714629 |
Appl. No.: |
10/218879 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/246.2 ;
15/363; 15/403; 15/49.1; 15/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/40 20130101;
A47L 2201/00 20130101; A47L 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/246.2 ;
15/363; 15/403; 15/49.1; 15/98 |
International
Class: |
A47L 011/02; A47L
009/04; A47L 009/06 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A dust collector for use in conjunction with a cleaning machine,
the cleaning machine being of the type having a lower head, the
dust collector comprising: a readily removable skirt portion of
cleaning material suitable to essentially circumscribe the
perimeter of the head, the skirt having means along an upper area
of the skirt for mounting the skirt on the head.
2. The dust collector of claim 1, wherein the skirt has a central
through hole for receiving a portion of the head.
3. The dust collector of claim 1, wherein the skirt has a central
cover region for covering a majority of the bottom of the head.
4. The dust collector of claim 1, wherein the cover has an aperture
sized for permitting a wheel of the cleaning machine to project
there through and another aperture sized for permitting a brush of
the cleaning machine to project there through.
5. The dust collector of claim 1, wherein the electet material is
impregnated with at least one of a cleaning fluid, a polishing
fluid, an insecticide, or a fragrance.
6. The dust collector of claim 1, wherein the skirt is outwardly
flared.
7. The dust collector of claim 1, wherein the skirt comprises a
ruffle.
8. The dust collector of claim 1, wherein the dust collector is
disposable.
9. The dust collector of claim 1, wherein the dust collector is
reusable.
10. A cleaning machine, comprising: an upper handle; a head linked
to the handle at a lower portion thereof; and a dust collector
mounted to the head; wherein the dust collector is a readily
removable skirt portion of cleaning material that essentially
circumscribes the perimeter of the head, the skirt having means
along an upper area of the skirt for mounting the skirt on the
head.
11. The cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the cleaning material
is ruffled along its lower edge.
12. The cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a
vacuum cleaner.
13. An automated cleaning robot, comprising: a robot body; and a
dust collector mounted to the robot body; wherein the dust
collector is a readily removable skirt portion of cleaning material
that essentially circumscribes the perimeter of the body, the skirt
having means along an upper area of the skirt for mounting the
skirt on the body.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to disposable dust collecting
ruffles designed for use with floor care equipment such as vacuum
cleaners or the like.
[0004] Mechanical and electrical cleaning machines such as vacuum
cleaners, rotary polishing machines, brush-driven carpet cleaners
and sweepers are well known in the art. These devices range from
hand-operated upright and canister vacuum and sweeper devices to
motorized robotic cleaning devices. The latter may include an
internal control system and associated sensors for permitting the
device to follow a selected path in a room area.
[0005] A number of problems are associated with these devices. For
example, certain vacuum and sweeping devices do not easily provide
adequate cleaning in narrow gaps, such as around the feet of
furniture or in room corners. Therefore, individual attention and a
variety of cleaning tools, attachments, and fixtures are often
required to treat these areas. Even when the device is
robotically-driven, the device may miss certain areas (e.g. if a
chair is moved and not replaced to its exact expected
position).
[0006] Another problem is that small particulate matter
(collectively referred to as dust) is often propelled into the
surrounding air by such devices, rather than being sucked into the
vacuum storage bag. This is particularly of concern with respect to
devices that use rotating brushes. This not only can result in a
requirement for more frequent dusting of room furniture, it can
cause respiratory problems for those who have asthma or another
respiratory condition.
[0007] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,626 there is disclosed plastic shield
coupled to a flexible skirt that surrounds the perimeter of a
polishing machine that is used to reduce dust problems. Similarly,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,047 discloses a floor grinding machine
including a rubber skirt surrounding vacuum heads. Also, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,454,129 discloses a vacuum cleaning device including a brush
surrounding the perimeter of the machine.
[0008] These devices use the surrounding structures primarily to
prevent dust and particulate matter from escaping laterally from
the area that the machine passes over. However, these surrounding
structures are not well designed to themselves capture dust, and
thus leave considerable amounts of dust able to settle back onto
the carpet (e.g. permitting the dust to be kicked up again when a
human walks over the carpet). Moreover, these devices are of little
assistance in picking up dust in areas where the device cannot
reach directly over.
[0009] Also, these devices are designed to be typically permanent,
or at least semi-permanent, additions to the machine. They cannot
be easily cleaned, and thus create their own problems for
asthmatics and the like. Furthermore, some of these devices are
unduly expensive.
[0010] In separate developments, the art has created disposable
cloths for use in dusting. Some of these are made of fabric that
attracts dust, and thus holds dust once attracted. These cloths are
intended to be disposed of when sufficiently dirty. See e.g. U.S.
Pat. No. 3,877,103 and PCT application WO 02/00819. These
disposable cloths can be used above, or in conjunction with a
cleaning utensil such as a sweeper or mop.
[0011] Accordingly, there is still a need for a dust collecting
device which can be easily added and removed from a cleaning
machine, which also improves the performance of the cleaning
machine around corners, gaps, and uneven or angled surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention provides a dust and particulate matter
collecting device which can be easily attached to and removed from
a mechanical, electrical, robotic, or other cleaning machine or
apparatus to prevent the spread of dust while a cleaning operation
is performed, and to improve the ability of such devices to clean
in corners, angled surfaces, gaps, and around the feet and legs of
tables and chairs.
[0013] According to one aspect the present invention provides a
dust collector (e.g. a dust ruffle) for use in conjunction with a
cleaning apparatus of the type having a lower head. The dust
collector has a skirt portion of electet material suitable to
essentially circumscribe the perimeter of the head, the skirt
having means along an upper area of the skirt for mounting the
skirt on the head.
[0014] For purposes of this patent the term "electet" shall mean a
dust attractant material, such as one that attracts by
electrostatic charge. This is to be distinguished from merely an
adhesive material which may bind dust or other materials once in
contact, but does not attract dust which is not in contact.
[0015] In preferred forms the skirt may have a central through hole
for receiving a portion of the head, and in an especially preferred
form a central cover region for covering at least a portion (e.g. a
majority or almost all or all) of the bottom of the head. The cover
can have an aperture sized for permitting a wheel of the cleaning
apparatus to project there through and another aperture sized for
permitting a brush of the cleaning apparatus to project there
through. Alternatively, the electet material can be impregnated
with at least one of a cleaning fluid, a polishing fluid, an
insecticide, or a fragrance (so as to act as a dispenser as
well).
[0016] In another form of the invention there is a cleaning
apparatus (e.g. a vacuum cleaner) that has an upper handle, a head
linked to the handle at a lower portion thereof, and a dust
collector mounted to the head. The collector is a skirt portion of
electet material that essentially circumscribes the perimeter of
the head, the skirt having means along an upper area of the skirt
for mounting the skirt on the head. Preferably the electet material
is ruffled along its lower edge.
[0017] In yet another form the invention provides an automated
cleaning robot. It has a robot body, and a dust collector mounted
to the robot body. The dust collector is an outwardly flared skirt
portion of electet material that essentially circumscribes the
perimeter of the body, the skirt having means along an upper area
of the skirt for mounting the skirt on the body. See e.g. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,454,129 for a teaching of a self-powered vacuum.
[0018] The skirt can be slid over and retained on such cleaning
machines. The skirt surrounds the outer perimeter of these machines
and extends downward to contact the surface being cleaned. The
skirt is preferably highly ruffled, and is wider at the bottom
along the cleaning surface than the top. This provides additional
material which can be extended into and crammed against gaps or
other oddly-shaped areas being cleaned. When used in a corner, the
electet material of the skirt attracts and holds dust and small
particulate matter, thereby providing a fast and efficient way to
clean the area. When not pressed against an obstacle, the skirt is
free flowing.
[0019] Such a ruffle also has the advantage of being a bumper. It
can therefore minimize damage to the legs or feet of furniture, or
room walls, caused by contacting such a machine with them.
[0020] The dust collecting device can comprise a dust cover, sized
and dimensioned to enclose the bottom of the cleaning device with
the exception of functional elements such as wheels and brushes.
Therefore, dust and particulate matter which is forced into the air
by the rotation of the brush and wheels of a cleaning device is
inhibited from entering the air.
[0021] According to still another aspect of the invention, the dust
and particulate matter limiting device is used in conjunction with
a cleaning device which includes a floating plate mechanism for
providing pressure on the dust cover as it moves along a surface
being cleaned and for picking up dust particles.
[0022] This brief summary of the invention has been provided so
that the nature of the invention may be generally understood.
However, this summary should not be construed to limit the
invention. The foregoing and other advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a dust collector device of
the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a second embodiment
thereof;
[0025] FIG. 3 is bottom perspective view of an autonomous cleaning
machine on which has been mounted the FIG. 2 dust collector;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of the cleaning
device of FIG. 3; and
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view take along line 5-5 of FIG.
4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 1, a dust collecting device 10 is
shown in the form of a ring of electet material 12 comprising a
woven or non-woven cleaning material. The preferred materials are
those described in WO 02/00819 (PCT/US00/20074, filed Jun. 22,
2001), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The
cleaning material can be electrostatic, electret, treated with
dust-attractants, cleaning fluids, insecticides, etc., and provide
a function of removing dust, dirt, or other particulate matter and
depositing a layer of surfactant as described more fully below.
[0029] The material 12 is preferably formed into a skirt 18 that
has an elasticized top edge 14 which is sized and dimensioned to be
slid over a selected cleaning machine. When this is done bottom
edge 16 hangs freely downward to a position wherein it contacts the
surface being cleaned, typically a carpet or a hard floor surface.
The bottom edge 16 of the skirt 18 is formed to be larger than the
elasticized top edge 14, and the skirt 18 is preferably gathered or
ruffled around the top edge, such that the skirt material extends
horizontally outward from the cleaning machine.
[0030] It therefore has sufficient give to be able to be compressed
to conform to a gap existing between the cleaning machine and an
obstacle such as a corner, chair or table leg, or other irregular
or angled surface. Thus, the skirt 18 can attract and capture dust
and particulate matter during the cleaning process, even over floor
areas that the main machine cannot reach. The elasticized top edge
14 comprises a length of elastic material 19 formed in a generally
circular configuration and enclosed in the sheet of electet
material. See generally U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,582 for the description
of suitable elastics. Although an elasticized material is preferred
as a means of connecting the skirt to the machine, other methods
may be used such as ties, strips, snaps, or other mechanical
devices apparent to those of advancing skill in the art.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, a second dust collecting device 20
has a similar outer skirt section, but also has a dust cover 22
essentially closing the central hole. It has the electet material
sized and dimensioned to enclose the cleaning face 24 (FIG. 4) of a
cleaning machine. As will be appreciated from FIGS. 2-5, there is
an elasticized top edge 14 of the skirt 18. There are also
apertures 40, 42, 43 through which functional elements of the
selected cleaning machine 26 can extend. Functional elements can
include, for example, wheels 30 fitting through apertures 40, a
brush fitting through aperture 42, and a sensor (not shown) fitting
through aperture 43.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 4, the dust collecting device 20 is
shown attached to a robotic cleaning device 26. The robotic
cleaning device 26 comprises a housing 28 in which a control and
drive system is stored, a plurality of drive wheels 30, and a
rotary brush 32. The dust collecting device 20 is positioned over
the perimeter of the cleaning machine 26 and is held in place by
the elastic 14, with the skirt 12 extending from the elastic 14 to
a surface below, and with the dust cover 22 also extending downward
and across to largely cover a bottom surface of the cleaning
machine 26.
[0033] The skirt of the dust collecting device 20 extends around a
lower edge of the robotic cleaning device 26, and from this edge to
the cleaning surface 34 below. Because, as noted above, the skirt
18 is larger at the bottom edge than the top, the lower perimeter
of the skirt is larger than that of robotic device 26. Material
from the skirt 18 can therefore be compressed into gaps, angled
surfaces, and corners as the robotic device 26 approaches otherwise
hard-to-clean obstacles.
[0034] The robotic cleaning device 26 can also include two plates
or pads 31, 33 located on opposing sides of the brush 32 to provide
a downward pressure on the electet dust cover 22, forcing the cover
22 against the surface 34 being cleaned. The dust cover 22
therefore can attract dust and small particulate matter from the
surface 34 by direct contact. Although the brush 32 is shown as a
rotary brush, various types of brushes including stationary
brushes, counter-rotating brushes, beater brushes, and other
devices for use with both brush-driven and vacuum cleaning devices
can be used.
[0035] Furthermore, as the brush 32 rotates and causes particles to
be lifted from the surface 34, these particles are forced upward
and beneath the dust cover 22. Whatever is not vacuumed up may then
attach to the dust cover 22.
[0036] In operation the dust collectors of the present invention
provide a number of functions. First, the skirt 18 provides a
cleaning surface that is automatically configured for cleaning
otherwise inaccessible surfaces. Furthermore, the skirt 18
surrounds the area of the cleaning machine in which the rotary
brush 32 is located, improving the efficiency of the device by
preventing dust from being sprayed outward. Moreover, dust which
isn't sucked or brushed up will tend to stick on the dust
collector. The dust cover 22 provides both a cleaning ana
depository function, cleaning dust from the surface and/or
depositing a fragrance, insecticide, insect repellant, cleaning
fluid, or other material.
[0037] After a particular period of use, one such dust collector
can be pulled off of the cleaning machine, disposed of, and
replaced with a new, clean dust collecting device 20. This prevents
the dust collector from being used after its "saturation" point. In
some applications the dust collecting device can also be cleaned
and re-used.
[0038] In some applications, the dust collector can have another
function. For example, it can be treated with a volatile such as an
insecticide, insect repellant, deodorizer, fragrance, or fragrance
beads which can be deposited on the surface and/or dispersed
throughout the room being cleaned as the air passing into the
machine and out helps dispense the volatile. In other applications,
the material 12 can be pre-treated with polishing and cleaning
fluids such as floor polishes and waxes. In this version the skirt
will both act as a dust collector and a dispenser of floor treating
materials. In a bathroom application, the skirt could contain
antibacterial cleaning fluids useful, particularly, in cleaning
tile surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms can also be used.
[0039] The dust collector can also have different sections in which
the cleaning cloth is treated to provide different functions. For
example, a loading section can be treated to provide a dust
attracting function, while a trailing portion deposits a layer of
fragrance. Furthermore, sections of the dust collector can be
provided to attract different links or sizes of dust and
particulate matter.
[0040] A wide variety of cleaning machines can advantageously be
provided with the present invention. These include without
limitation, electrical and mechanical cleaning devices including
vacuum cleaners, carpet sweepers and mopping devices.
[0041] It should therefore be appreciated that the invention may
appear in other embodiments from just those disclosed above. Hence,
the claims should be looked to in order to judge the full scope of
the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0042] The invention provides disposable skirts mountable on
cleaning machines that can be used for dust collecting and
dispensing desired actives.
* * * * *