Surface Cleaning Apparatus

• US 20140259478A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: CONRAD, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 10,159,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• 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 surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head including a cleaning pad mount that is configured to receive a cleaning pad and a water distribution system including a first heating unit in fluid communication with a water reservoir and having a water outlet in communication with the cleaning pad mount. The water distribution system may be configured to deliver water to the water outlet as liquid water.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a surface cleaning head including a cleaning pad mount that is configured to receive a cleaning pad; and

b) a water distribution system including a first heating unit in fluid communication with a water reservoir and having a water outlet in communication with the cleaning pad mount, wherein the water distribution system is configured to deliver water to the water outlet as liquid water;

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the water distribution system outputs water and cleaning agent comprising quaternary ammonium compounds, colloidal silver, thyme oil, cinnamon oil, rosemary oil, sage oil, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, or a combination thereof.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing outlet or an additional outlet is configured to provide the cleaning solution to a cleaning pad on the cleaning pad mount.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cleaning agent distribution system having a cleaning agent outlet directed at least in front of or behind the surface cleaning head.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a controller configured to dispense a cleaning agent from the cleaning agent outlet that is at a leading side of the surface cleaning head based on a direction of travel of the surface cleaning head.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the water distribution system further comprises an outlet directed at least in front of or behind the surface cleaning head and a controller configured to dispense a water from the outlet that is at a leading side of the surface cleaning head based on a direction of travel of the surface cleaning head.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the water distribution system is configured to deliver a predetermined amount of water for each stroke of the surface cleaning head.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a detector that receives a signal indicative of the usage of a cleaning pad provided on the cleaning pad mount and a controller configured to adjust the amount of water delivered based on a signal from the detector.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the detector comprises at least one of a detector to determine the inclination of a handle of the surface cleaning apparatus, the rate of change of the inclination of the handle, the velocity of the surface cleaning head, the rate of acceleration of the surface cleaning head and the conductivity of a cleaning pad.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a manually controllable actuator operatively connected to the water distribution system.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an automatic dispensing system operatively connected to the water distribution system and a manually controllable dispensing system operatively connected to the water distribution system.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a cleaning agent distribution system having a cleaning agent outlet and a manually controllable actuator.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning pad mount is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and the surface cleaning head further comprises a drive unit drivingly connected to the cleaning pad mount.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the drive unit is drivingly connected to the cleaning pad mount to move the cleaning pad mount in a plane that is essentially parallel to a surface to be cleaned.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the drive unit comprises at least one motor and at least one offset weight.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the drive unit comprises at least one of a solenoid, a sonic transducer, an ultrasonic transducer and a loudspeaker.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the water reservoir, and the heating unit is provided in the surface cleaning head.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the surface cleaning head has a height less than about 4 inches.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the water reservoir is transparent.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one light to illuminate the water reservoir or to illuminate an area in front of the surface cleaning head.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one light to illuminate the water reservoir and a control system to vary the illumination when the water reservoir reaches a low fluid level.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a low water level detection circuit, the low water level detection circuit comprising a detector monitoring the work performed by the heating unit and an signal member providing a signal when the level of work performed by the heating unit drops below a threshold limit.

23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 22 wherein the detector monitors the temperature of the heating unit.

24. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cleaning pad, wherein the cleaning pad comprises a hydrophobic material

25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 21 wherein the cleaning pad comprises a hydrophobic material and a hydrophilic material.

26. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second heating unit thermally connected to the cleaning pad mount.

27. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first heating unit is thermally connected to the cleaning pad mount.

28. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a surface cleaning head including a cleaning pad mount that is configured to receive a cleaning pad; and

,

b) a water distribution system including a water reservoir and having a water outlet in communication with the cleaning pad mount, wherein the water distribution system is configured to deliver water to the water outlet as liquid water; and

,

c) a heating unit thermally connected to the cleaning pad mount.

29. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 28 wherein the water distribution system includes the heating unit.

30. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 28 wherein the water distribution system comprises an additional heating unit.