CLEANING APPARATUS FOR FLOOR COVERINGS
First Claim
1. A cleaning apparatus for floor coverings of the kind described, comprising a casing, a suction creating means supported by the casing, a downwardly facing intake orifice in communication with the suction means, a brushing means located in the intake orifice and adapted to contact the floor covering to be cleaned, a housing transversely disposed within the casing, means defining a chamber for receiving cleaning fluid within the housing, said chamber leading to an egress orifice, a reservoir for containing cleaning fluid supported by the casing, a hollow member disposed lengthwise of the chamber and in the upper interior of the chamber, a pipe for the reservoir leading to a central portion of the hollow member and having access thereto, the hollow member along its length being provided with apertures spaced at intervals such that cleaning fluid may be distributed for substantially the full length of the chamber, means whereby air under pressure can be delivered to the chamber, barriers of gauze material situated both above and below the hollow member in the chamber, and means whereby the casing can be moved over the floor covering, the arrangement being such that when the apparatus is moved over the floor covering, the suction creating means and the brushing means can be operated to remove unwanted matter froM the floor covering, both said cleaning fluid and said air under pressure can be delivered to the chamber and foam produced, the foamed cleaning fluid delivered to and deposited on the floor covering, and the brushing means moved over the covering to brush the covering and simultaneously the suction creating means remove loosened dirt from said covering.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cleaning apparatus for floor coverings such as carpets in which a suction creating means such as a fan or fans is supported by a casing and adapted to draw air through an intake orifice. A brush is provided in or within the vicinity of the orifice and is capable of contacting and brushing a floor covering. There is also a chamber adapted to receive cleaning fluid and a large volume of air under pressure, with the cleaning fluid and air forming foam within the chamber. The foam produced in the chamber is delivered through an outlet to the floor covering for cleaning purposes. The arrangement is such that when the apparatus is moved over the floor covering, the brush can be operated to remove unwanted matter from the floor covering, both cleaning fluid and air can be delivered to the chamber and a comparatively dry foam produced, with the foamed cleaning fluid delivered to and deposited on the floor covering, and the brush moved over the covering to brush the covering and simultaneously the suction means remove loosened dirt from the covering.
23 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A cleaning apparatus for floor coverings of the kind described, comprising a casing, a suction creating means supported by the casing, a downwardly facing intake orifice in communication with the suction means, a brushing means located in the intake orifice and adapted to contact the floor covering to be cleaned, a housing transversely disposed within the casing, means defining a chamber for receiving cleaning fluid within the housing, said chamber leading to an egress orifice, a reservoir for containing cleaning fluid supported by the casing, a hollow member disposed lengthwise of the chamber and in the upper interior of the chamber, a pipe for the reservoir leading to a central portion of the hollow member and having access thereto, the hollow member along its length being provided with apertures spaced at intervals such that cleaning fluid may be distributed for substantially the full length of the chamber, means whereby air under pressure can be delivered to the chamber, barriers of gauze material situated both above and below the hollow member in the chamber, and means whereby the casing can be moved over the floor covering, the arrangement being such that when the apparatus is moved over the floor covering, the suction creating means and the brushing means can be operated to remove unwanted matter froM the floor covering, both said cleaning fluid and said air under pressure can be delivered to the chamber and foam produced, the foamed cleaning fluid delivered to and deposited on the floor covering, and the brushing means moved over the covering to brush the covering and simultaneously the suction creating means remove loosened dirt from said covering.
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2. A cleaning apparatus for floor covering of the kind described, comprising a casing, a suction means in the form of at least one fan supported by the casing, said at least one fan being adapted to draw in air through an air intake orifice, a rotatable brush mounted inwardly of the orifice and capable of contacting a floor covering to be cleaned, means for driving the brush, a reservoir for cleaning fluid supported by the casing, a housing transversely disposed within the casing, means defining a chamber for receiving cleaning fluid and air when exhausted from said at least one fan such that air is suspended in the liquid within the housing, a pipe leading from the reservoir to said chamber, a hollow member disposed lengthwise of the chamber and in the upper interior of the chamber, said pipe terminating in and having access to a central portion of the hollow member, the hollow member along its length being provided with apertures spaced at intervals such that cleaning fluid may be distributed for substantially the full length of the chamber, barriers of gauze material situated both above and below the hollow member, means for controlling the delivery of said liquid and said air to the chamber, and an egress orifice through which a foam comprising the liquid and air can forcibly be egressed from the chamber onto a floor covering to be cleaned when the apparatus is being used.
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3. A cleaning apparatus for floor coverings of the kind described comprising a casing, a suction means in the form of at least one electrically driven fan housed in said casing, said at least one fan being adapted to draw air through an air intake located at the lower side of the casing, a rotatable brush mounted within the air intake and capable of contacting a floor covering to be cleaned, means for rotating the brush such that said contact with the floor covering is a beating contact, a reservoir for cleaning fluid, a housing transversely disposed within the casing, means defining a mixing chamber within said housing, said reservoir being in controlled communication with said mixing chamber, said chamber being capable of both receiving said liquid and receiving air exhausting from said at least one fan such that a foam cam be produced within the chamber, said controlled communication being defined by a pipe leading from the reservoir to a central portion of a hollow member disposed lengthwise of the chamber, said hollow member having along its length apertures spaced at intervals such that cleaning fluid may be distributed for substantially the full length of the chamber, barriers of gauze material situated both above and below the hollow member, an outlet from the chamber through which foam when produced can forcibly be egressed onto a floor covering to be cleaned, and means whereby exhaust air from said at least one fan can be caused to blow onto the floor covering when the apparatus is being used.
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4. A cleaning apparatus for floor coverings of the kind described, comprising a casing, a suction creating means supported by the casing, a downwardly facing intake orifice in communication with the suction means, a brushing means located in the intake orifice and adapted to contact the floor covering to be cleaned, a housing transversely disposed within the casing, the housing being formed in upper and lower parts, with the lower part being capable of movement upwardly or downwardly in relation to the upper part, means defining a chamber for receiving cleaning fluid within the housing, said chamber leading to an egress orifice, a reservoir for containing cleaning fluid supported by the casing, a hollow member disposed lengthwise of the chamber and in the upper paRt of the chamber, a pipe for the reservoir leading to a central portion of the hollow member and having access thereto, the hollow member along its length being provided with apertures spaced at intervals such that cleaning fluid may be distributed for substantially the full length of the chamber, means whereby air under pressure can be delivered to the chamber and means whereby the casing can be moved over the floor covering, the arrangement being such that when the apparatus is moved over the floor covering, the suction creating means and the brushing means can be operated to remove unwanted matter from the floor covering, both said cleaning fluid and said air under pressure can be delivered to the chamber and foam produced, the foamed cleaning fluid delivered to and deposited on the floor covering, and the brushing means moved over the covering to brush the covering and simultaneously the suction means remove loosened dirt from said covering.
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5. A cleaning apparatus for floor coverings of the kind described, comprising a casing, a suction means in the form of at least one fan supported by the casing, said at least one fan being adapted to draw in air through an air intake orifice, a rotatable brush mounted inwardly of the orifice and capable of contacting a floor covering to be cleaned, means for driving the brush, a reservoir for cleaning fluid supported by the casing, a housing transversely disposed within the casing, the housing being formed in upper and lower parts, with the lower part being capable of movement upwardly or downwardly in relation to the upper part, means defining a chamber for receiving fluid within the housing, a hollow member disposed lengthwise of the chamber and in the upper part of the chamber, a pipe for the reservoir leading to a central portion of the hollow member along its length being provided with apertures spaced at intervals such that cleaning fluid may be distributed for substantially the full length of the chamber, means for controlling the delivery of said liquid and said air to the chamber and an egress orifice through which a foam comprising the liquid and air can forcibly be egressed from the chamber onto a floor covering to be cleaned when the apparatus is being used.
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6. A cleaning apparatus for floor coverings of the kind described comprising a casing, a suction means in the form of at least one electrically driven fan housed in said casing, said at least one fan being adapted to draw air through an air intake located at the lower side of the casing, a rotatable brush mounted within the air intake and capable of contacting a floor covering to be cleaned, means for rotating the brush such that said contact with the floor covering is a beating contact, a reservoir for cleaning fluid, a housing transversely disposed within the casing, said housing being formed in upper and lower parts, with the lower part being capable of movement upwardly or downwardly in relation to the upper part, means defining a mixing chamber within said housing, said reservoir being in controlled communication with the mixing chamber, said chamber being capable of both receiving the liquid and receiving air exhausting from said at least one fan so that a foam can be produced within the chamber, said controlled communication being defined by a pipe leading from the reservoir to a central portion of a hollow member disposed lengthwise of the chamber and having along its length apertures spaced at intervals such that cleaning fluid may be distributed for substantially the full length of the chamber, an outlet from the chamber through which foam when produced can forcibly be egressed onto a floor covering to be cleaned, and means whereby exhaust air from the fan can be caused to blow onto the floor covering when the apparatus is being used.
Specification