Apparatus and method for cleaning a surface

• US 20020170137A1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Inventors: Durbin, Michael A., Bauman, Robert W., Tondra, Aaron P., Gordon, Evan A., Bradshaw, David A., Sclafani, Adam C., Maurer, Edgar A., Kellum, Wilbur J., Theiss, William H. Jr., Hertrick, Timothy T., Coates, Donald A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A cleaner for cleaning a surface comprises a floor-engaging portion for moving along the surface. A source supplies a liquid to a distributor, which distributes the liquid from the source on the surface wherein an activating device is operatively connected to the source to activate the source to supply liquid to the distributor to distribute liquid on the surface in response to a force moving the floor engaging portion in a first direction.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:

a) a floor-engaging portion for moving along said surface;

b) a distributor;

c) a first source for supplying a first liquid to said distributor, said distributor being operatively connected to said floor-engaging portion for distributing said first liquid from said first source onto said surface; and

d) an activating device operatively connected to said first source to activate said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said floor-engaging portion being moved in a first direction.

2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 including a second source for supplying a second liquid to said distributor, said activating device activating said second source to supply said second liquid onto said distributor to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said floor-engaging portion being moved in a second direction opposite said first direction.

3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a) a handle pivotally connected to said floor-engaging portion;

b) said activating device including a hand grip reciprocally mounted on said handle; and

c) said hand grip being moved a distance along said handle in said first direction to activate said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor in response to said floor-engaging portion being moved in said first direction.

4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said activating device includes a grip rod connected to said hand grip and extending down from said hand grip, a valve assembly operatively connected to said grip rod, said first source, and said distributor, wherein said hand grip being moved said distance along said handle in said first direction thereby moving said grip rod to cause said valve assembly to open and activate said source to allow said first source to supply liquid to said distributor.

5. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 including a second source for supplying a second liquid to said distributor, said valve assembly being operatively connected to said second source, wherein said hand grip being moved a distance along said handle in said second direction opposite said first direction thereby moving said floor-engaging portion in said second direction, and moving said grip rod to cause said valve assembly to fluidly connect said second source to said distributor allowing said second source to supply said second liquid to said distributor to distribute said second liquid onto said surface.

6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 including a second source for supplying a second liquid to said distributor, wherein said hand grip being moved a distance along said handle in a second direction opposite said first direction to activate said second source to supply said second liquid to said distributor to distribute said second liquid on said surface in response to said floor-engaging portion being moved in said second direction.

7. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said hand grip includes a lockout device that can be selectively actuated to prevent said hand grip from being moved along said handle to one of said distance in said first direction to activate said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor and said distance in said second direction to activate said second source to supply said second liquid to said distributor.

8. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said hand grip includes a locking device, said hand grip selectively locking said hand grip to said handle such that said hand grip is prevented from moving along said handle said distance in said first direction and said distance in said second direction.

9. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said locking device includes a control lever pivotally mounted to said hand grip, said control lever having a protrusion, said protrusion engaging an aperture formed in said handle to lock said hand grip to said handle.

10. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said valve assembly comprises:

a) a valve body having a first bore and a second bore formed therein, said valve body having a first inlet fluidly connected to said first source and said first bore, said valve body having a second inlet fluidly connected to said second source and said second bore;

b) a first valve stem being operatively connected to said grip rod and being slidably received in said first bore, said first valve stem fluidly communicating with said distributor, said first valve stem having an inlet formed therein;

c) a second valve stem being operatively connected to said grip rod and being slidably received in said second bore, said second valve stem fluidly communicating with said distributor, said second valve stem having an inlet formed therein; and

d) wherein said hand grip being moved said distance along said handle in said first direction thereby moving said grip rod to move said first valve stem to align said inlet of said first valve stem with said first inlet of said valve body thereby activating and allowing said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor, said hand grip being moved said distance along said handle in said second direction thereby moving said grip rod to cause said valve assembly to fluidly connect said second source to said distributor allowing said second source to supply said second liquid to said distributor.

11. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said activating device includes an engaging member rotatably connected to said floor-engaging portion and extending to said surface, said engaging member bearing against said surface and causing said engaging member to rotate in one direction to activate said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor upon said floor-engaging portion being moved in said first direction.

12. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 including a second source for supplying a second liquid to said distributor, and said floor-engaging portion being moved in a second direction opposite said first direction thereby causing said engaging member to rotate in the other direction and activate said second source to supply said second liquid to said distributor.

13. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said activating device includes a detecting unit operatively connected to said hand grip, said detecting unit outputting a control signal for activating said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor in response to said hand grip moving said distance along said handle in said first direction.

14. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13 including a second source for supplying a second liquid to said distributor, said detecting unit outputting a second control signal for activating said second source to supply said second liquid to said distributor in response to said hand grip being moved a second distance along said handle in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said floor-engaging portion being moved in said second direction.

15. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said detecting unit comprises a hall effect sensor and a magnet, said magnet having north and south magnetic poles, said magnet being secured to said hand grip and positioned with respect to said hall sensor such that said hand grip reciprocally moves said magnet so that said hall sensor positions between said north and south magnetic poles during the movement of said magnet, said hall effect sensor outputs said first mentioned control signal upon being positioned at one of said north magnetic pole and said south magnetic pole, and said hall sensor outputs a second control signal upon being positioned away from said one of said north magnetic pole and said south magnetic pole.

16. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first mentioned liquid is detergent and clean water and said second liquid is clean water.

18. The method according to claim 17 including the step of applying a second force to move said cleaning apparatus in a second direction opposite said first direction to activate said cleaner to apply a second liquid on said surface.

19. The method according to claim 17 including the step of applying a second force to move said cleaning apparatus in a second direction opposite said first direction to only extract said first liquid along with the dirt on said surface.

20. The method according to claim 18 including the step of applying said first force to move said cleaning apparatus in said first direction to only extract said first and second liquids along with the dirt on said carpet.

21. The method according to claim 18 wherein said cleaner includes a handle, said handle having a hand grip reciprocally mounted on said handle, wherein movement of said hand grip in said first direction activates said cleaner to apply said first liquid on said surface and movement of said hand grip in said second direction activates said cleaner to apply said second liquid on said surface.

22. The method according to claim 21 including squeezing a trigger on said hand grip to allow said hand grip to move in said first and second directions.

23. The method according to claim 18 wherein said first liquid is detergent and clean water and said second liquid is clean water.

24. The method according to claim 18 wherein the concentration of detergent in said first mentioned liquid is at least twice as much that of water.

26. The method according to claim 25 including the step after step c of moving said carpet extractor in said first direction and only extracting said first cleaning solution along with the dirt on the carpeted surface.

27. The method according to claim 25 wherein said first liquid is detergent and clean water and said second liquid is clean water.

28. The method according to claim 26 wherein the concentration of detergent in said first liquid is at least twice as much as that of clean water.

29. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cleaning apparatus is a carpet extractor and said surface is carpeted.

17. A method of cleaning a surface with a cleaning apparatus in which cleaning solution is dispensed to a surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising the step of applying a force to move said cleaner along said surface in a first direction to activate said cleaner to apply a liquid on said surface.

25. The method according to cleaning a carpet using a carpet extractor in which cleaning solution is dispensed to a carpeted surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the carpeted surface in a continuous operation, said method comprising the steps of:

a) moving said carpet extractor in a first direction and applying a first cleaning solution to said carpeted surface to wash said carpet; and

b) moving said carpet in a second direction opposite said first direction and applying a second cleaning solution to rinse said carpeted surface.

30. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:

a) a first source for distributing a first liquid onto said surface;

b) an activating device operatively connected to said first source to activate said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in a first direction;

c) a wheel rotatably connected to said cleaning apparatus; and

d) wherein said activating device includes a wheel rotation activating assembly operatively connected to said wheel, said activating device activating said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said wheel rotation activating assembly detecting said wheel being rotated in a first direction caused by said cleaning apparatus being moved in said first direction.

31. The cleaning apparatus of claim 30 including a second source for distributing a second liquid onto said surface, said activating device activating said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in a second direction.

32. The cleaning apparatus of claim 31 wherein said activating device activates said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said wheel rotation activating assembly detecting said wheel being rotated in a second direction caused by said cleaning apparatus being moved in said second direction.

33. The cleaning apparatus of claim 32 including a trigger switch operatively connected to said first liquid source and said second liquid source.

34. The cleaning apparatus of claim 31 wherein said first liquid is detergent mixed with water and said second liquid is clean water.

35. The cleaning apparatus of claim 30 including a solenoid valve connected to said first liquid source, said activating device being operatively connected to said solenoid valve to actuate said solenoid which causes said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in said first direction.

36. The cleaning apparatus of claim 35 including a second solenoid valve connected to said second liquid source, said activating device being operatively connected to said second solenoid valve to actuate said solenoid which causes said second source to to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in said second direction.

38. The cleaning apparatus of claim 37 including a second device operatively connected to said wheel rotation activating assembly, said wheel rotation activating assembly activating said second device upon said wheel being rotated in a second direction.

39. The cleaning apparatus of claim 37 wherein said wheel rotation activating assembly deactivates said first device upon said wheel being rotated in a second direction.

40. The cleaning apparatus of claim 37 wherein said wheel rotation activating assembly includes a lever rotatably connected to said cleaning apparatus and a switch mounted to said cleaning apparatus, whereby rotation of said wheel in said first direction causes said lever to rotate in said first direction and activate said switch.

41. The cleaning apparatus of claim 40 wherein rotation of said wheel in a second direction causes said lever to rotate in said second direction and deactivate said switch.

42. The cleaning apparatus of claim 40 including a metal portion secured to said wheel, said lever including a magnet attached thereto and located opposite said metal portion, wherein rotation of said wheel in said first direction causes said lever to rotate in said first direction due to the magnetic force between said magnet and said metal portion.

43. The cleaning apparatus of claim 40 including a paddle wheel connected to said wheel, said paddle wheel having a plurality of paddles, said paddles engaging said lever to rotate said lever in said first direction upon rotation of said wheel in said first direction.

37. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a) at least one wheel rotatably connected to floor-engaging portion; and

b) a wheel rotation activating assembly operatively connected to said wheel and a first device, said wheel rotation activating assembly activating a first device upon said wheel being rotated in a first direction.

44. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:

a) a first source for distributing a first liquid onto said surface;

b) a pump operatively connected to said first source to draw under pressure said first liquid to said surface

c) an activating device operatively connected to said first source to activate said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in a first direction;

d) a wheel rotatably connected to said cleaning apparatus; and

e) wherein said activating device includes a wheel rotation activating assembly operatively connected to said wheel, said activating device activating said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said wheel rotation activating assembly detecting said wheel being rotated in a first direction caused by said cleaning apparatus being moved in said first direction,

45. The cleaning apparatus of claim 44 including a second source for distributing a second liquid onto said surface, wherein said second liquid from said second source is drawn to said cleaning surface by gravity alone.

46. The cleaning apparatus of claim 45 wherein said second liquid is clean water and said first liquid is detergent.

47. The cleaning apparatus of claim 45 wherein said activating device activates said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said wheel rotation activating assembly detecting said wheel being rotated in a second direction caused by said cleaning apparatus being moved in said second direction.

48. The cleaning apparatus of claim 45 including a trigger switch operatively connected to said first liquid source and said second liquid source.