U.S. patent application number 11/121548 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for wand for a carpet extractor.
Invention is credited to Sung K. Cho.
Application Number | 20060248677 11/121548 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37392745 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060248677 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho; Sung K. |
November 9, 2006 |
Wand for a carpet extractor
Abstract
A cleaning tool head for use with the wand of a carpet
extractor. The head includes a housing that engages a surface being
cleaned and forms an enclosed interior. A partition divides the
interior into a vacuum chamber located a front sidewall of the
housing and a cleaning chamber located behind the vacuum chamber.
The cleaning head is mounted on a pair of transport wheels which
extend along a wheel axis and is further supported by an upwardly
extending handle assembly. The cleaning head is pivotable in an
arcuate path about the wheel axis through movement of the handle
assembly between a cleaning position in which the housing lower
edge engages the surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is
pulled by a user and a transport position in which the lower edge
is out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned as the user
pushes the handle assembly.
Inventors: |
Cho; Sung K.; (Arlington,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles D. Gunter, Jr.;Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Sawyer, LLP
Suite 3500
301 Commerce Street
Fort Worth
TX
76102-4186
US
|
Family ID: |
37392745 |
Appl. No.: |
11/121548 |
Filed: |
May 4, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/4088 20130101;
A47L 11/4044 20130101; A47L 11/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/321 |
International
Class: |
A47L 11/30 20060101
A47L011/30 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for cleaning a covered planar surface, the
apparatus comprising: a cleaning head housing having a front
sidewall, a rear sidewall, a top wall and opposing sidewalls which
together define a closed interior, the cleaning housing having a
longitudinal axis and a substantially planar leading lower edge
arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and running along a
lower extent of the front sidewall, the housing interior also has
an internal partition which divides the interior into a vacuum
chamber located adjacent the front sidewall and a cleaning chamber
located adjacent the rear sidewall; a cleaning fluid line extending
into the cleaning chamber; a vacuum line extending from the vacuum
chamber; a transport wheel mounted on a wheel axis extending from
each of the respective opposing sidewalls of the housing, the wheel
axis being generally parallel to the housing longitudinal axis; a
normally upwardly extending handle assembly having a lower extent
connected to the cleaning head housing and an upper extent, the
leading lower edge of the cleaning head housing being pivotable in
an arcuate path about the wheel axis through movement of the handle
assembly between a cleaning position in which the housing lower
edge engages the surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is
pulled by a user and a transport position in which the lower edge
is out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned as the user
pushes the handle assembly.
2. A wand for a carpet extractor used to remove soil from a
carpeted surface, the wand comprising: a cleaning head housing
having a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a top wall and opposing
sidewalls which together define a closed interior, the cleaning
housing having a longitudinal axis and a substantially planar
leading lower edge arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and
running along a lower extent of the front sidewall, the housing
interior also having an internal partition which divides the
interior into a vacuum chamber located adjacent the front sidewall
and a cleaning chamber located adjacent the rear sidewall; a
cleaning fluid line extending into the cleaning chamber; a vacuum
line extending from the vacuum chamber; a transport wheel mounted
on a wheel axis extending from each of the respective opposing
sidewalls of the housing, the wheel axis being generally parallel
to the housing longitudinal axis; a normally upwardly extending
handle assembly having a lower extent connected to the cleaning
head housing and an upper extent, the leading lower edge of the
cleaning head housing being pivotable in an arcuate path about the
wheel axis through movement of the handle assembly between a
cleaning position in which the housing lower edge engages the
carpeted surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is pulled by
a user and a transport position in which the lower edge is out of
engagement with the carpeted surface as the user pushes the handle
assembly.
3. The wand of claim 2, further comprising: a vacuum source
connectable with the vacuum line for drawing a partial vacuum
within the housing interior when the cleaning head is in the
cleaning position and the cleaning head is being pulled by the
user.
4. The wand of claim 3, wherein at least one fluid jet is located
in the top wall of the cleaning head housing in communication with
the cleaning fluid line for spraying a fluid under pressure into
the cleaning chamber when the cleaning head is in the cleaning
position.
5. The wand of claim 4, wherein the housing internal partition has
a lower linear edge which is disposed near the carpeted surface
when the cleaning head is pivoted about the wheel axis to the
cleaning position, the lower linear edge defining a narrow gap
extending across the chamber interior between the partition and the
surface, whereby the housing cleaning chamber comprises an intake
compartment for receiving fluids and the housing vacuum chamber
comprises an evacuation compartment for evacuation of fluids.
6. The wand of claim 5, wherein, in a wet mode of operation as the
user pulls the handle assembly, the fluid jet sprays fluid toward
the carpeted surface proximate the gap and the vacuum source
simultaneously draws a vacuum in the evacuation chamber to thereby
draw fluids from the intake compartment across the gap and into the
evacuation compartment.
7. A method of cleaning a carpeted surface, the method comprising
the steps of: providing a cleaning head housing having a front
sidewall, a rear sidewall, a top wall and opposing sidewalls which
together define a closed interior, the cleaning housing having a
longitudinal axis and a substantially planar leading lower edge
arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and running along a
lower extent of the front sidewall, the housing interior also
having an internal partition which divides the interior into a
vacuum chamber located adjacent the front sidewall and a cleaning
chamber located adjacent the rear sidewall; attaching a cleaning
fluid line which extends into the cleaning chamber; attaching a
vacuum line which extends from the vacuum chamber; mounting a pair
of transport wheels on a wheel axis which extends from each of the
respective opposing sidewalls of the housing, the wheel axis being
generally parallel to the housing longitudinal axis; mounting the
cleaning head onto a lower extent of a normally upwardly extending
handle assembly, whereby the leading lower edge of the cleaning
head housing is pivotable in an arcuate path about the wheel axis
through movement of the handle assembly between a cleaning position
in which the housing lower edge engages the surface to be cleaned
as the handle assembly is pulled by a user and a transport position
in which the lower edge is out of engagement with the surface to be
cleaned as the user pushes the handle assembly; dispensing cleaning
solution into the cleaning chamber in a fluid dispensing operation
while pulling the cleaning head in the direction of a user;
stopping the fluid dispensing operation, followed by pushing the
cleaning head in a direction away from the user while continuing to
apply a vacuum to the vacuum chamber of the cleaning head.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the housing internal partition
has a lower linear edge which is disposed near the carpeted surface
when the cleaning head is pivoted about the wheel axis to the
cleaning position, the lower linear edge defining a narrow gap
extending across the chamber interior between the partition and the
surface, whereby the housing cleaning chamber comprises an intake
compartment for receiving fluids and the housing vacuum chamber
comprises an evacuation compartment for evacuation of fluids.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cleaning fluid line is
connected to a tank of liquid cleaning solution supported on a
wheel mounted base, the base also supporting a motor and liquid
pump for circulating the cleaning solution and a vacuum motor and
blower for recovering the solution and returning the solution to
the tank.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user controls the fluid
dispensing operation by means of a hand operated valve assembly
mounted adjacent an upper extent of the upwardly extending handle
assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cleaning tool device and
method for cleaning planar surfaces, such as carpeted floors, and
more particularly to the wand and associated cleaning tool head
used in such devices.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Cleaning systems that circulate and spray liquids are widely
used for cleaning carpets, upholstery, fabric and wall coverings,
as well as for hard surfaces such as ceramics. Many of these
systems use a device in which a liquid cleaning solution is sprayed
toward the surface being cleaned, typically while the cleaning head
is being pushed across the floor. On the return stroke across the
floor, a vacuum source creates a high velocity airstream that draws
the dispensed liquid from the surface being cleaned upwardly into
an internal chamber of the cleaning head, thereby extracting soil,
debris and other foreign matter to clean the surface.
[0005] Cleaning systems of this type which circulate and spray
liquids often include a tank of liquid cleaning solution supported
on a wheel mounted base or framework. The framework also supports a
motor and liquid pump for circulating the cleaning solution. These
systems also include a vacuum motor and blower for recovering the
solution and returning solution to the tank. In many such systems,
the cleaning head is not integral with the framework, but rather is
coupled to the solution tank through pliable hosing and thus is
movable independently. Frequently the connection includes a wand
and a length of rigid tubing to enable the operator to orient the
cleaning tool head and to either push or pull the cleaning tool
head across the surface being cleaned by handling the wand. Patents
describing the cleaning heads used in these systems include, for
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,594 (Grave); U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,889
(Grave); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,598 (Grave and Cho).
[0006] Alternatively, a surface cleaning apparatus can be
self-contained, in the sense of providing a wheel supported housing
that incorporates the necessary motors and contains the cleaning
fluid, and further incorporates the cleaning tool head as a part of
the same housing, for example, through a pair of pivot arms. This
type of cleaning apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,975
(Hilmanowski), issued Jul. 18, 1995.
[0007] The cleaning tool head which is utilized with both of the
above types of devices will generally include an elongate housing
which is typically divided into a vacuum chamber and a cleaning
fluid chamber. One or more fluid spray nozzles are mounted to the
head, as in a single row lengthwise of the head. Liquid cleaning
solution is supplied to the nozzle or nozzles under pressure so
that cleaning fluid is dispensed into the cleaning fluid chamber.
Each nozzle sprays cleaning solution in a thin, sheet-like
fan-shaped spray pattern that diverges in the direction from the
nozzle toward the surface being cleaned. The fluid is drawn away
from the surface being cleaned by a vacuum applied to the vacuum
chamber portion of the cleaning head.
[0008] Despite the above noted similarities, the prior art devices
differ on how the cleaning tool head is arranged or divided to form
the respective cleaning fluid chamber and the vacuum chamber.
Because the chambers are configured differently, a user would also
perform a different sequence of motions in using the particular
device to clean a surface. For example, in the device shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,555,598, the cleaning fluid chamber is forward of the
vacuum chamber and a user would tend to push while spraying
cleaning fluid and pull while vacuuming.
[0009] The configuration of the above devices depends, to some
extent, upon the type of planar surface being cleaned. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,594 is used on smooth and napped surfaces; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,720,889 is used on hard and yielding surfaces; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,555,598 is used on carpeted floors; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,432,975 is also used on carpeted floors.
[0010] While the above described devices all represent advances in
the state of the floor cleaning arts, a need continues to exist for
a carpet extractor wand design which is more efficient in use than
the presently existing tools.
[0011] A need also exists for such a device which is easier for a
user to push and pull across a carpeted planar surface being
cleaned, thereby relieving some of the manual effort required in
the cleaning operation.
[0012] A need also exists for an improved cleaning head for a
carpet extractor which is relatively simple in design and
economical to manufacture, without requiring significant changes to
the overall existing wand configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The cleaning apparatus of the invention is used to clean a
planar covered surface, such as a carpeted surface, and includes a
cleaning head housing having a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a
top wall and opposing sidewalls which together define a closed
interior. The cleaning housing has a longitudinal axis and a
substantially planar leading lower edge arranged parallel to the
longitudinal axis and running along a lower extent of the front
sidewall. The housing interior also has an internal partition which
divides the interior into a vacuum chamber located adjacent the
front sidewall and a cleaning chamber located adjacent the rear
sidewall. A cleaning fluid line extends into the cleaning chamber
and a vacuum line extends from the vacuum chamber.
[0014] A transport wheel is mounted on a wheel axis extending from
each of the respective opposing sidewalls of the housing, the wheel
axis being generally parallel to the housing longitudinal axis. The
cleaning head is further supported by means of a normally upwardly
extending handle assembly having a lower extent connected to the
cleaning head housing and an upper extent. The leading lower edge
of the cleaning head housing is pivotable in an arcuate path about
the wheel axis through movement of the handle assembly between a
wet mode cleaning position in which the housing lower edge engages
the surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is pulled by a
user and a dry mode or transport position in which the lower edge
is out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned as the user
pushes the handle assembly.
[0015] A vacuum source is connectable with the vacuum line for
drawing a partial vacuum within the housing interior when the
cleaning head is in the cleaning position and the cleaning head is
being pulled by the user. At least one fluid jet is located in the
top wall of the cleaning head housing in communication with the
cleaning fluid line for spraying a fluid under pressure into the
cleaning chamber when the cleaning head is in the cleaning
position.
[0016] The housing internal partition has a lower linear edge which
is disposed near the carpeted surface when the cleaning head is
pivoted about the wheel axis to the cleaning position, the lower
linear edge defining a narrow gap extending across the chamber
interior between the partition and the surface, whereby the housing
cleaning chamber comprises an intake compartment for receiving
fluids and the housing vacuum chamber comprises an evacuation
compartment for evacuation of fluids. The fluid jet sprays fluid
toward the carpeted surface proximate the gap while the vacuum
source simultaneously draws a vacuum in the evacuation chamber to
thereby draw fluids from the intake compartment across the gap and
into the evacuation compartment.
[0017] A user of the improved device of the invention thus
dispenses cleaning solution into the cleaning chamber in a fluid
dispensing operation while pulling the cleaning head in the
direction of the user and then stops the fluid dispensing
operation, followed by pushing the cleaning head in a direction
away from the user while continuing to apply a vacuum to the vacuum
chamber of the cleaning head. The cleaning fluid line is connected
to a tank of liquid cleaning solution supported on a wheel mounted
base, the base also supporting a motor and liquid pump for
circulating the cleaning solution and a vacuum motor and blower for
recovering the solution and returning the solution to the tank. The
user controls the fluid dispensing operation by means of a hand
operated valve assembly mounted adjacent an upper extent of the
upwardly extending handle assembly.
[0018] Additional objects, features and advantages will be apparent
in the written description which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved wand of the
invention showing the cleaning head and the associated wheel
supported base which houses the cleaning fluid solution and the
vacuum source.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a close-up side view of the improved wand of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an isolated view of the cleaning head of the wand
of FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a simplified, schematic view of the use of the
improved wand of the invention in the wet mode of the cleaning
operation.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the wand in
the dry mode of the cleaning operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Turning to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus for cleaning
a covered surface of the invention designated generally as 11. The
surface to be cleaned can be, for example, a planar, carpeted
surface 53. In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus 11 is a wand
for a carpet extractor of the type used to remove soil from the
carpeted surface and the invention will be explained with reference
to that preferred application. As shown in FIG. 1, the wand of the
invention includes a cleaning head 13 which is supported by a
handle assembly 15. As will be explained in greater detail, the
handle assembly 15 supports a cleaning fluid line and vacuum line
which fluidly connect the head 13 with a tank 17 of liquid cleaning
solution. The tank 17 is typically supported on a wheel mounted
base 19 which also supports a motor and liquid pump for circulating
the cleaning solution and a vacuum motor and blower (all
conventional) for recovering cleaning solution and returning
solution to the tank 19.
[0025] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate portions of the wand of the
invention in greater detail. As best seen in FIG. 3, the wand
cleaning head 13 includes a housing having a front sidewall 21, a
rear sidewall 23, a top wall 25 and opposing sidewalls 27, 29 which
together define a closed interior for the housing. The cleaning
housing also has a longitudinal axis 31 and a substantially planar
leading lower edge 34 which is arranged parallel to the
longitudinal axis 31 and which runs along a lower extent of the
front sidewall 21. The housing interior 33 also has an internal
partition 35 which divides the housing interior 33 into a vacuum
chamber 37 located adjacent the front sidewall 21 and a cleaning
chamber 39 located adjacent the rear sidewall 23. The vacuum
chamber 37 and cleaning chamber 39 communicate with the tank 17 by
means of a cleaning fluid line 41 and a vacuum line 43.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, a transport wheel 45 is mounted on a
wheel axis 47 which extends from each of the respective opposing
sidewalls 27, 29 of the housing 13. The wheel axis 47 is generally
parallel to the housing longitudinal axis 31.
[0027] The normally upwardly extending handling assembly 15 has a
lower extent 47 which is connected to the cleaning head housing 13.
The handle assembly also has an upper extent (49 in FIG. 2). As can
be see from FIGS. 3-5, the leading lower edge 34 of the housing 13
is pivotable in an arcuate path about the wheel axis 47 through
movement of the handle assembly between a cleaning position (shown
in FIG. 4) in which the housing lower edge 34 engages the surface
to be cleaned as the handle assembly is pulled by a user and a
transport position (shown in FIG. 5) in which the lower edge 34 is
out of engagement of the surface to be cleaned as the user pushes
the handle assembly.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at least one fluid jet 49 is
located in the top wall section 25 of the cleaning head housing and
communicates with the cleaning fluid line 41 for spraying a fluid
under pressure into the cleaning chamber 39 when the cleaning head
is in the wet (spraying) mode or cleaning position. There are
preferably a plurality, i.e., 3-7 fluid jets 49 arranged co-linear
in the top wall section 25 of the housing. When the device is in
the cleaning position, the lower linear edge 51 of the partition 35
(FIG. 3) is disposed near the carpeted surface with the cleaning
head being pivoted about the wheel axis 47 in a counter clockwise
direction as viewed in FIG. 3. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the lower
linear edge 51 defines a narrow gap extending across the chamber
interior 33 between the partition 35 and surface to be cleaned (53
in FIG. 1), whereby the housing cleaning chamber 39 comprises an
intake compartment for receiving fluids and the housing vacuum
chamber 37 comprises an evacuation compartment for the evacuation
of fluid. In the particular embodiment of the wand illustrated in
FIG. 2, the fluid jet 49 is mounted to a male connector 55 which
has an associated quick connect fitting 57 which is used to connect
a filter assembly 59. The filter assembly 59 communicates with the
fluid line 41 by means of a quick connect fitting 61 and elbow 63.
A check valve 65 is typically present in the cleaning fluid line 41
to prevent the backup of fluid from the cleaning chamber in
use.
[0029] The cleaning fluid line 41 connects to a valve assembly 67
by means of a quick connect coupling 69. The valve assembly 67
includes a user operated hand lever 71 whereby the user controls
the fluid dispensing operation by moving the hand operated valve
assembly 67 between open and closed positions. The overall wand
assembly also has a handle grip 73 which allows a user to
manipulate the cleaning head over the surface to be cleaned.
[0030] In use, the device is first placed in the cleaning positing
by rotating the housing about the wheel axis (47 in FIG. 3) so that
the lower edge 34 of the housing is in contact with the carpeted
surface. As illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, the user then
pulls the cleaning head by applying a retracting force to the
handle grip 73 while depressing the hand lever 71. Thus, in the wet
or spraying mode of operation, the fluid jet 49 sprays fluid toward
the carpeted surface 53 proximate the gap in the housing interior
while the vacuum source (19 in FIG. 1) simultaneously draws a
vacuum in the evacuation chamber 37 to thereby draw fluids from the
intake compartment 39 across the gap and into the evacuation
compartment. It is significant to note that, in the wet mode of
operation, cleaning solution is being dispensed into the cleaning
chamber 39 while the user is pulling the cleaning head 13 in the
direction of the user. The user then releases the hand lever 71 and
rotates the housing 13 about the wheel access (47 in FIG. 3) in a
clockwise direction to place the device into the dry mode of
operation. By releasing the hand lever 71, the user stops the fluid
dispensing operation and begins pushing the cleaning head 13 in a
direction away from the users body while a vacuum continues to be
applied to the vacuum chamber 37 of the cleaning head 13.
[0031] An invention has been provided with several advantages.
Because the cleaning head of the invention is mounted on rollers,
the head can be pivoted between a wet mode in which the housing
leading lower edge contacts surface to be cleaned and a dry mode in
which the housing leading lower edge is out of contact with the
carpeted surface. The contact between the housing leading edge and
the surface temporarily closes off the internal housing to
facilitate the dispensing of the cleaning solution, contact with
the surface to be cleaned and vacuuming off the cleaning solution.
Pulling the cleaning head during the wet mode of operation has been
found to enhance the ultimate effectiveness of the solution
dispensing and cleaning operation. Because the housing can be
rotated on the wheel axis, the leading edge of the housing can be
rotated out of contact with the surface to be cleaned as the user
pushes the handle assembly and cleaning head away from the user's
body during the dry mode step. This relative sequence of operating
steps has been found to enhance the cleaning operation and
facilitate the user's range of motions necessary to accomplish the
cleaning job.
[0032] While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms,
it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and
modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
* * * * *