U.S. patent application number 11/707850 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-21 for carpet and floor vacuuming device with improved suction head.
This patent application is currently assigned to MYTEE PRODUCTS, INC.. Invention is credited to John F. Labarbera, Hai Le.
Application Number | 20080196198 11/707850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39705380 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080196198 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Labarbera; John F. ; et
al. |
August 21, 2008 |
Carpet and floor vacuuming device with improved suction head
Abstract
A carpet and floor vacuum device with an improved suction head
is provided comprising a curved, fluorinated molding mounted on a
vacuum cleaner head. The suction head is designed to move along the
surface of the carpet, rather than penetrating into the carpet
itself. The polymer molding defines a plurality of inlet
perforations laterally-spaced along the curved surface, and the
perforations are connected to an air-fed manifold. Following
application of cleaning fluid to the carpet or floor, air is fed
from the manifold into the carpet or onto the floor. Material
including Ingested air, debris and spent liquid, are then removed
from the carpet or from the floor and then returned to the
perforations from the manifold. This material is then removed to a
conventional vacuum collector, thereby drying out the carpet or
floor. Use of a curved, fluorinated surface provides a smooth
movement along the carpet surface without severely abrading the
carpet fibers. When used either on a carpet or floor surface, an
air buffer is formed between the suction head, thereby assisting in
movement of the vacuuming device. In addition, use of a curved
fluorinated surface further reduces abrasion.
Inventors: |
Labarbera; John F.; (Poway,
CA) ; Le; Hai; (Fullerton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIE KRAWITZ
3001 CHAPEL HILL ROAD
ORANGE
CA
92867-1927
US
|
Assignee: |
MYTEE PRODUCTS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
39705380 |
Appl. No.: |
11/707850 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/415.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/415.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20060101
A47L009/02 |
Claims
1. A light weight suction head for a carpet and floor cleaning
device, comprising: a curved, fluorinated molded component defining
a lower, central manifold defined on the molded component adjacent
a carpet or floor and designed and constructed to apply suction
force to remove ingested air, spent cleaning fluid and debris from
the carpet and floor surface during a cleaning operation, the
curved portion and manifold of the suction head being adapted for
air buffering movement along the surface of the carpet or floor
without significant penetration into the carpet, and with a minimum
of fabric or fabric thread abrasion or floor scratching, the
manifold defining a plurality of suction orifices laterally-spaced
along the manifold, including raised perforations and slots which
are connected to the carpet or floor cleaning device through which
ingested air, spent cleaning fluid and debris are removed.
2. The suction head of claim 1, in which the molded component
includes machining and extrusion molding.
3. The suction head of claim 1, in which the fluorinated component
is selected from the class consisting of: polytetrafluoroethylene,
fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-tetrafluoro
copolymers, tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ethers,
polychlorotrifluoroethylene, and poly (fluoro) silicones.
4. The suction head of claim 1, in which the molded fluorinated
component is mounted or coated on a metal substrate
5. The suction head of claim 1, in which the length of the suction
head varies from about 4.4''-14''.
6. The suction head of claim 5, in which a combined area of
perforations and slots is about 0.25''-1.25''.
7. The suction head of claim 5, in which the suction force on the
suction head is equivalent to about 2'' Hg-2.5'' Hg.
8. The suction head of claim 1, in which the interior of the
suction head is square-shaped, and the exterior profile is
round-shaped.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a new and improved liquid
vacuuming device suitable for use on both carpets and floors. More
specifically, this invention relates to a new and improved suction
head having the capability of removing ingested air, debris and
spent liquid from a carpet without penetration into the carpet
itself. Also, the suction head is enabled to ride along and clean a
floor surface without significant abrasion of the floor surface.
The vacuuming device of this invention significantly reduces
streaking frequently associated with present commercially available
devices.
[0002] Typical devices used as carpet cleaners are described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,624,668; 3,964,925; 3,708,824; 4,905,309;
4,161,802; 5,548,905; 5,655,255; 5,992,051; 6,266,892; and,
6,981,338. In addition, Applicant's U.S. patent application Ser.
Nos. 29/263,511; and, 29/266,082 may be considered.
[0003] However by and large, the U.S. Patents in question describe
devices which penetrate into the carpet or fabric, and this
penetration eventually results in a deterioration of individual
carpet threads. Quite apart from anything else, the above U.S.
Patents lack the capability of traversing and cleaning both a
carpet and a floor.
[0004] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a
carpet and floor cleaning device with reduced cleaning streaks and
reduced floor scratching.
[0005] It is a further object of this invention to provide a carpet
and floor cleaning device which is lighter in weight and hence more
easily to manipulate than conventional carpet and floor cleaning
devices.
THE INVENTION
[0006] According to the invention, there is provided a carpet and
floor cleaning device providing a suction head for removing
cleaning solution from a carpet or floor. The suction head
comprises a molded, fluorinated polymer defining an array of
perforations fed from a suction manifold. This construction and
arrangement enables the manifold to provide a uniform and
sufficient suction force across the perforation array so that the
suction head can be moved across the surface of the carpet or floor
without penetration into the fabric itself. Consequently, there is
a significantly reduced contact with Individual carpet threads and
hence much less thread wear. Furthermore, use of a fluorinated
polymer provides a smoother movement across a carpet or floor
surface without significant streaking or scratching. Also, since
the exterior profile of the suction head is curved, rather than
elongate, the possibility of abrasive contact with fabric threads
or a floor is significantly reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the suction head of this
invention mounted on a conventional carpet cleaning head;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an external end elevation view taken along lines
2-2 of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an upper, perspective view of the suction head of
this invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a view though a perforation of the suction head
taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing suction flow movement;
and,
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the suction head along lines
5-5 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The suction head 10 of this invention is shown in FIG. 1
fixed or rotatably mounted at the end 11 of a typical commercial
carpet and floor cleaning device 12 by means of a snap-on
attachment ledge 10a (FIG. 3). FIG. 2 shows the interior 13 as
square-shaped to provide uniform flow characteristics for applied
suction forces. An exterior view 14 of the suction head is shown
defining a curved profile 15 which imparts a smooth contact with a
carpet surface or floor with a minimum contact with individual
fabric threads or a floor surface. The profile 15 is shown as being
rounded, however other curved types may be utilized such as
elliptical, parabolic, hyperbolic, etc. FIG. 5. shows suction
forces applied to a manifold 16 which is fed from dual slots 17, 18
at each end of the suction head, the manifold contacting the
surface of a carpet or surface of a floor; use of dual slots
equalizes suction pressure within the manifold. A plurality of
raised exhaust perforations 20 are formed on the molded suction
head, and as shown in FIG. 4, the perforations are connected 21
with the end 11 of the carpet cleaning device. A space 22 is
defined at each end of the manifold to seal off the interior of the
suction head 10.
[0013] The preferred material of construction is a fluorinated
polymer, and the preferred embodiment is polytetrafluorethylene
(PTFE). Other fluorinated polymers may be utilized, and many are
disclosed in the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY by
Kirk-Othmer, Volume 11, Third Edition (1980) published by John
Wiley & Sons, and incorporated by reference, herein. Other
typical fluorinated polymers mentioned include fluorinated
ethylene-propylene copolymers; ethylene-tetrafluoro copolymers;
TEFLON PFA (combined PTFE with a perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) side chain)
I.e., tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ethers;
polychlorotrifluoroethylene; and, poly (fluoro silicones).
Possibly, polyvinylidene fluoride (KYNAR) may become available. The
PTFE may be unfilled, or filled to impart increased resistance to
corrosive cleaning liquids; also, the PTFE may be molded, or it can
be machined. While the preferred material of construction is a
solid, fluorinated molded polymer, it might be possible to
construct the suction head of a fluorinated molded polymer mounted
on a metal substrate, or by coating a metal substrate; however,
this would appear to constitute an added expense.
[0014] Typical suction head lengths vary from about 4.40''-14'',
although lengths outside this range may be used. A 9.00'' length of
suction head, using fifteen perforations (FIG. 5) would have a
diameter of about 0.188'', and each perforation is spaced apart by
0.244''. A set of three perforations is spaced by slots 23 having a
length of 0.327''. The total perforation and slot area is 0.685
square inches.
[0015] For a suction head 4.40'' long with 12 perforations in sets
of three (3) perforations, each perforation has a diameter of
0.125'', and they are spaced apart by 0.176''; each set of
perforations are spaced apart by slots 0.352' long. The total area
of slots and perforations is 0.279 square inches.
[0016] Obviously, different lengths of suction heads would employ
different diameters of perforations, different lengths between
perforations and different spacing lengths between each set of
perforations. As another example, a suction head 10.00'' in length
could employ fifteen (15) perforations, each perforation having a
diameter of about 0.188'', and each perforation being spaced apart
0.295''; the slots have a length of 0.590'' spacing between each
set of three perforations similar to FIG. 5. The total area of
perforations and slots is 1.083 square inches.
[0017] Furthermore, there is no specific requirement that three
sets of perforations be used, and for example, two to five sets of
perforations 20 might be utilized. A combined perforation and slot
areas would total about 0.25''-1.25'' square inches.
[0018] During operation, the manifold 16 functions to apply suction
forces into the carpet or onto a floor causing the removal of
material such as ingested air commingled with debris and spent
cleaning liquid. This material is then passed through the
perforations 20 and returned to the vacuum head 11 to which they
are connected 21 (FIG. 4) for forwarding to a conventional disposal
collector (not shown) connected to the floor cleaning device
12.
[0019] Typically, the suction forces applied to the suction head 10
of this invention are about 30''-220'' of water lift, which is
equivalent to 2'' Hg-2.5'' Hg.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the exhaust
perforations 20 are spaced from the carpet or floor surface, and
hence the possibilities of the perforations penetrating into the
carpet itself, or becoming entangled with the carpet fibers, are
greatly reduced.
[0021] The suction head of this invention provides a durable
construction which is highly resistant to corrosive cleaning
liquids and enables a low friction movement across the surface of a
carpet or floor, without significant streaking or scratching due to
its construction of a fluorinated polymer. Equally important, since
the suction head moves across the carpet surface (either as a fixed
head or rotatably mounted), rather than penetrating into the
carpet, abrasion with the carpet or Individual fabric threads are
significantly reduced.
* * * * *