U.S. patent application number 10/703376 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for power scrubber.
Invention is credited to Alsruhe, Wallis, Covell, Kevin W., King, Wade.
Application Number | 20040237228 10/703376 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33457564 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040237228 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
King, Wade ; et al. |
December 2, 2004 |
Power scrubber
Abstract
A scrubbing device has a scrubbing head with a cleaning member
rotatably coupled to an electrical motor within the scrubbing head.
A support member is coupled with the scrubbing head and a handle.
The handle includes a switch for activating the electric motor. A
first fluid source is coupled with the scrubbing head for spraying
a first fluid on a surface to be cleaned. A second fluid source is
coupled with the scrubbing head to spray a second fluid on the
surface to be cleaned.
Inventors: |
King, Wade; (Columbia,
MD) ; Alsruhe, Wallis; (Manchester, MD) ;
Covell, Kevin W.; (Parkton, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Family ID: |
33457564 |
Appl. No.: |
10/703376 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60474191 |
May 29, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/50.1 ;
15/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 1/04 20130101; A47L
11/283 20130101; A47L 11/4088 20130101; A47L 11/03 20130101; A47L
11/40 20130101; A47L 11/4038 20130101; A47L 11/4075 20130101; A46B
13/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/050.1 ;
015/029 |
International
Class: |
A47L 011/283; A46B
013/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A scrubbing device comprising: a scrubbing head including a
cleaning member and an electrical motor driving said cleaning
member; a support member coupled with said scrubbing head; a handle
coupled with said support member; a switch for activating said
electric motor, a first fluid source coupled with said scrubbing
head for spraying a first fluid on a surface to be cleaned; a
second fluid source coupled with said scrubbing head for spraying a
second fluid on the surface to be cleaned.
2. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein said scrubbing
head is submersible into a liquid.
3. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein said handle
includes an aperture for receiving a battery.
4. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein a fluid
reservoir is coupled with said support member.
5. The scrubbing device according to claim 4 wherein a fluid line
couples said fluid reservoir in said second fluid source coupled
with said scrubbing head.
6. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein a hose is
coupled with said first fluid source.
7. The scrubbing device according to claim 6 wherein said first
fluid source includes a fluid line extending from said handle to
said scrubbing head.
8. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein said first and
second fluid sources each include a nozzle on said scrubbing
head.
9. The scrubbing device according to claim 6 wherein said handle
includes a hose receiving member and a hose retention member.
10. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein a pivot
locking mechanism couples said support with said scrubbing head,
said pivot locking mechanism enabling locking of the scrubbing head
with respect to the support in a first position and enabling free
motion of the scrubbing head with respect to the support in a
second position.
11. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein said support
is a telescoping support.
12. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein said cleaning
mechanism includes a retention member having a bore and a flange
projecting from a wall of said bore for coupling with a groove in a
motor shaft.
13. The scrubbing device according to claim 12 wherein said wall is
divided into sections forming at least one finger having said
flange for retaining said cleaning member.
14. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein said
scrubbing head including a housing for receiving a portion of said
first and second fluid sources.
15. The scrubbing device according to claim 1 wherein a pump and
switch are provided in said handle for delivering a fluid through
said second fluid source.
16. The scrubbing device according to claim 15 wherein said pump is
coupled with said reservoir for spraying said second fluid onto the
surface.
17. The scrubbing device according to claim 10 wherein said pivot
locking mechanism includes a stop for contacting said support for
limiting rotational movement of said support with respect to said
scrubbing head.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on provisional patent application
which has been assigned U.S. Ser. No. 60/474,191, filed May 29,
2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to cleaning devices and, more
particularly, to a battery operated scrubbing device.
[0003] In the cleaning field, it is desirous to have a scrubbing
device which includes a power source for rotating the cleaning
member such as a brush, sponge or the like. One such cleaning
device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,605. Here, the
scrubbing device includes a battery pack, which is mounted onto the
user. U.S. Pat. No. D451,288 illustrates a scrubbing device. This
device includes a telescoping handle. While these devices enable
the user to clean various surfaces, designers strive to improve the
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a scrubbing device that is
battery operated and has a separate source of water as well as
cleaning solution. The present invention provides a scrubber, which
includes a cleaning solution reservoir, which may be permanently or
removably attached to the scrubber. The scrubber includes a pivoted
head which may be locked in position or which may be in a free
motion position. The head of the scrubber is submersible into a
liquid.
[0005] According to the aspects of the present invention, a
scrubbing device comprises a scrubbing head with a cleaning member
and an electric motor driving the cleaning member. A support member
is coupled with the scrubbing head. A handle is coupled with the
support member and includes a switch to activate the electric
motor. A first fluid source is coupled with the scrubbing head for
spraying the first fluid on a surface to be cleaned. Also, a second
fluid source is coupled with the scrubbing head to spray a second
fluid on the surface to be cleaned. The scrubbing head is
submersible into a liquid. The fluid reservoir is coupled with the
support member. Also a fluid line couples the fluid reservoir with
the second fluid source coupled with the scrubbing head. A hose is
coupled with the first fluid source. The first fluid source
includes a fluid conduit extending from the handle to the scrubbing
head. The handle includes a hose receiving member and a hose
retention member. The handle includes an aperture for receiving the
battery. The first and second fluid sources each include a nozzle
on the scrubbing head to enable spraying of the fluids onto the
surface. A pivot locking mechanism couples the support with the
scrubbing head. The pivot locking mechanism enables locking of the
scrubbing head with respect to the support in a first position.
Also, the pivot lock enables free motion of the scrubbing head with
respect to the support in the second position. The support is
telescopic. The cleaning mechanism includes a retention member with
a circumferential wall defining a bore. A flange projects from the
inner surface of the wall into the bore to couple the cleaning
member with a motor shaft. The wall is divided into sections
forming at least one finger with the flange to retain the cleaning
member. The scrubbing head includes a housing to receive a portion
of the first and second fluid sources. A pump is provided in the
handle to deliver a fluid to the second fluid source. The pump and
switch is coupled with the reservoir to spray the second fluid onto
the cleaning surface.
[0006] From the following detailed descriptions taken in
conjunction with the preferred embodiments, other objects and
advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of a scrubbing device in accordance
with the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a section view of the device of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial cross section view of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the scrubbing
head.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the pivot-locking device
of FIG. 4.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the locking
mechanism.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the stop mechanism along
line 7-7 of FIG. 8.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-section view along line 8-8 of FIG. 5.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-section view along line 9-9 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Turning to the figures, a scrubbing device is illustrated
and designated with the reference numeral 10. The scrubbing device
includes a head 12, a support member 14 and a handle 16. The handle
16 includes a coupling member 18 to connect the scrubbing device 10
with a hose 20.
[0018] The handle 16 includes a clamshell housing 22 with a grip
portion 24, as well as an aperture 26 to enable the users hand to
pass through the aperture and secure on the grip portion 24. A
battery 28 is inserted through an aperture 30 at one end of the
housing 22. The handle 16 includes a hose retention member 32. The
hose retention member includes a latch 34 and an arcuate groove 36
which receives the hose 20. The latch 34 extends over the hose 20
locking the hose in the groove 36 so that the hose does not place a
large bending moment on the hose connecting element 18.
[0019] The hose connecting element 18 is connected to a conduit 40.
The conduit 40 passes water from the hose to the scrubbing head 12.
A switch 42 on the handle 16 controls the power to the motor. Thus,
the motor may be turned on and off by switch 42. Also, a valve 41
integrated with element 18, associated with the conduit 40, enables
variable volumes of the water to pass to the scrubbing head so that
the amount of water can be controlled to the surface to be
cleaned.
[0020] An air pump 44 is positioned within the handle 16. See FIG.
9. The air pump 44 can be controlled by switch 46. The air pump is
electrically coupled with the battery pack 28. The air pump 44
controls the amount of fluid sprayed out of the second fluid
source.
[0021] The support 14 includes a number of sections 50 to enable
telescoping of the support 14. Further, a gripping member 52 may be
positioned on the outside of the support member. The conduit 40 is
positioned between the gripping member 52 and the support 14 until
it reaches a spacer 54. The conduit 40 includes a spiral conduit
portion 56 which elongates to enable telescoping of the support 14.
The spiral conduit portion 56 connects with a lower conduit portion
of the first fluid source. A spiraled wire 60, as well as air hose
62, are inside of the sections 50 of the support 14. The wire 60 is
electrically connected with switch 42 and, in turn, battery 28 to
drive the electric motor 64 and in turn the scrubbing device on the
scrubber head 12. The air hose 62 extends from one of the support
sections 50 and passes into the reservoir 66 of the lower portion
58.
[0022] The lower portion 58 includes the cleaning solution
reservoir 66, as well as a fork portion 68 which couples with the
head 12. The cleaning solution reservoir 66 may be removable from
the lower portion 58. The air hose 62 couples with an inlet to the
cleaning solution reservoir 66. The cleaning solution reservoir 66
includes an outlet 70 which includes another conduit 72 which
passes into the scrubber head 12 and connects with the nozzle 74.
Thus, fluid cleaning solution is moved from the reservoir 66, via
the pump 44, and sprays out the nozzle 74.
[0023] The fork 68 of the lower portion pivotally secures with the
head 12. The fork portion 68 includes a pivot locking mechanism 80
which enables the head 12 to be locked in at least one position and
also enables free motion of the head about the fork 68.
[0024] Moving to FIGS. 5 through 8, a better explanation of the
locking mechanism may be obtained.
[0025] The head housing 100 includes a boss 120 having a cam
retention area 122 and a pivot pin 124. The cam retention area 122
includes a plurality of recesses 126 and projections 128 which
receive a head locking gear 130.
[0026] The head locking gear 130 is a metal gear including a
plurality of projections 132 and recesses 134. The projections 132
and recesses 134 mate with the boss recesses and projections 126
and 128 so that the head locking gear 130 is secured in position in
the boss 120. One of the recesses 134 includes a wedge 136, which
projects through a slot 138 in the boss 120. The wedge 136 acts as
a stop to halt the rotation of the fork 68 on the head 12, which
will be explained herein.
[0027] The pivot locking mechanism 80 includes a rotatable knob 142
and a sliding cam plate 144. The rotatable knob 142 includes an
offset receiving portion 143 to retain the knob 142 onto the pivot
124. The knob 142 includes an eccentric cam surface 146. The cam
surface 146 abuts against a tab 148 of the sliding cam plate 144.
The cam plate 144 includes a tab 145 which retains a plurality of
pins 150 which mate in the recesses 134 of the head locking gear
130. The pins 150 are loaded by springs 152, which are retained in
a housing portion 154 of the fork 68. A plate 155 secures the
sliding cam plate 144 in the housing portion 154.
[0028] The housing portion 154 includes an arcuate portion 156 and
a rectangular portion 158. The arcuate portion 156 fits around the
cylindrical boss 120 enabling the fork 68 to rotate about the boss
120. The arcuate portion 156 has ends 160 and 161 which act as
stops and abut the wedge 136 stopping rotation of the fork 68.
Thus, the wedge 136 acts as a stop to limit the rotation in both
directions of the fork 68 (see FIG. 7). The sliding cam plate 144,
with pins 150 biased by springs 152, are positioned in the
rectangular portion 158 of the housing 154. As the knob 142 is
rotated, with eccentric cam surface 146 abutting against tab 148,
the sliding cam plate 144, as well as pins 150, is moved in the
housing portion 158. This movement removes the pins 150 from the
recesses 134 of the head locking gear 130. This enables the fork to
be rotated into a different position. As the user finds the desired
position, the knob 142 is rotated in a reverse direction to enable
the pins 150 to engage different recesses 134 in the head locking
gear 130 to lock the fork 68 in a different position with respect
to the head 12. In the free motion position, the knob 142 is
rotated, which, in turn, moves the sliding cam plate 144, as well
as pins 150, away from the head locking gear 130 out of engagement
with recesses 134. In this position, the pins 150 do not extend
into the recesses 134. Thus, the fork 68 can rotate until the stops
160 and 161 contact wedge 136 halting the rotation of the fork
68.
[0029] The head 12 is submersible into a liquid such as water and
has a water tight seal. Thus, the head 12 may be placed into a
bucket of water or the like when in use. The head 12 includes
housing 100 surrounding the motor 64 positioned within the housing
100. A cleaning device, such as a brush 102, is secured to a motor
shaft 104 of the motor 64. The housing 100 includes passageways 106
to enable the soap and water conduits to pass to the nozzles 74 and
108. The nozzle 108 is coupled with the water conduit 40.
[0030] The cleaning member 102 includes a retention member 110
which has a circumferential wall 112. The wall 112 defines a bore
114. A circumferential flange 116 is positioned on the interior
surface of the bore 114. The circumferential wall includes slots
forming sections which, in turn, form fingers 118 to retain the
cleaning member 102 onto the motor shaft 104. The wall 112 is
placed on the shaft and is expanded due to the flange. Once the
flange intercepts the groove, the wall is secured on the shaft.
[0031] The scrubbing device 10 includes a first fluid source which
includes the hose connection 18, conduit 40 and nozzle 108. A
second fluid source which is operable by the pump 44 via hose 62,
includes reservoir 66, hose 72 and nozzle 74. In operation, the
valve 41 connected with the conduit 40 is open to enable fluid from
the hose to pass into the conduit 40. This fluid passes through the
conduit 40 through the spiral section and out of nozzle 108. The
switch 46 activates the pump 44. This forces air into the hose 62
which, in turn, pressurizes the reservoir 66. As the reservoir 66
pressurizes, cleaning solution in the reservoir is passed through
hose 72 and out of nozzle 74. The switch 42 can activate the
cleaning device at any time during these operations. Thus, cleaning
solution and water are separately ejected from the scrubber and are
not mixed with one another prior to ejection onto the surface to be
cleaned.
[0032] Thus, a cleaning device is provided which may be extended to
reach vertical heights above the user. Also, the device may be
positioned in a free motion pivoting position so that the head may
continue to follow the surface as it is scrubbed. Further, the
invention provides a lightweight battery operated scrubbing device,
which is easily manipulated by the user.
[0033] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in
nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of
the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *