Device for removing stains from fabric

• US 5,402,657 A
• Filed: 08/02/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Technical Advantage
• Inventors: Henry, Richard A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/100,286
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 68/222, 68/6, 68/5 R, 68/5 A, 68/200, 68/205 R, 68/240, 68/20, 210/409, 210/412, 210/413, 210/415, 239/103, 239/120, 239/122, 8/148, 118/323, 118/326, 134/155, 134/88, 134/167 R, 134/168 R, 134/180, 134/181, 134/176, 134/179, 134/183, 134/192, 134/200, 134/195, 134/196, 134/197, 134/191, 134/173
• US Class Current: 68/5.00A
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/002 Spotting apparatus

Abstract

A device for removing stains from fabric is a household laundry appliance that mechanically removes stains or spots from fabric. A piston/nozzle assembly lowers from a piston housing in the device until it contacts the non-stain side of the fabric. Multiple nozzles force cleaning solution through the stained fabric at a high pressure, thereby exculpating the particles causing the stain. The cleaning solution flows through the fabric, through a screen below and into a reservoir in the hollow base of the device. The cleaning solution may be recycled for later use.

Claims

1. A device for removing stains from fabric using cleaning solution, comprising:

a hollow base member having upper and lower surfaces, said base member including an opening in the upper surface thereof;

a screen superimposed over the opening in the upper surface of the base member;

a support member integrally mounted to the base member, said support member extending upwardly from the upper surface of said base member and having a first opening therein for receiving cleaning solution and a second opening therein for delivering cleaning solution to the stained fabric;

a piston/nozzle assembly disposed within said support member, comprising;

a cylinder disposed within the support member, said cylinder capable of projecting from and retracting into the second opening of the support member and including a closed end and an open end;

a piston disposed within the cylinder capable of projecting from and retracting into the open end of the cylinder;

multiple nozzles for delivering cleaning solution to the stained fabric; and

attachment means connecting the nozzles to the piston;

a lever fixably mounted to the support member; and

means for transporting cleaning solution from the base member to the piston/nozzle assembly.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the base member includes a viewing window.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising attachment means for attaching the device to a flat surface.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of suction cups.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a handle mounted to the support member.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a cap overlying the first opening in the support member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the support member terminates in a piston housing.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for transporting cleaning solution from the base member to the piston/nozzle assembly comprises a flexible tube detachably mounted to the piston.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for sealing the piston/nozzle assembly and the cylinder.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the multiple nozzles rotatably deliver cleaning solution to the stained fabric.

11. A device for removing stains from fabric using cleaning solution, comprising:

a substantially rectangular, hollow base member having upper and lower surfaces, and side and end panels, said base member having a substantially circular opening in the upper surface therein and a viewing window in one of the side panels thereof;

multiple suction cups secured to the lower surface of the base member;

a substantially circular screen superimposed over the opening in the upper surface of the base member;

a support member integrally mounted to the hollow base member, said support member extending upwardly from the upper surface of said base member and terminating in a piston housing having an opening therein, and including an opening in the upper surface therein for receiving cleaning solution;

a cap overlying the opening in the upper surface of the support member;

a piston/nozzle assembly disposed within the piston housing, comprising;

a cylinder disposed within the piston housing capable of projecting from and retracting into the opening of the piston housing and having a closed end and an open end;

a threaded piston disposed within the cylinder capable of projecting from and retracting into the open end of the cylinder, said piston including inlet check valves and a tube nipple for receiving cleaning solution from the hollow base member;

O-rings for sealing the piston and the cylinder;

a threaded nozzle stem having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to the piston;

a nozzle assembly disposed at the second end of the nozzle stem, comprising;

multiple nozzles capable of delivering pressurized cleaning solution to the stained fabric; and

outlet check valves for receiving cleaning solution from the cylinder;

sealing means for sealing the nozzle assembly and the cylinder; and

a spring disposed between the piston and the nozzle assembly;

a lever fixably mounted to the piston housing; and

a flexible tube having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the tube nipple on the piston and the second end terminating in the hollow base member, the second end including a screen thereover.

12. A piston/nozzle assembly mounted in a support member for applying pressurized cleaning solution to stained fabric, comprising:

a cylinder disposed within the support member;

a threaded piston disposed within the cylinder, said piston including means for receiving cleaning solution and means for delivering cleaning solution to the cylinder;

a threaded nozzle stem having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the piston;

a nozzle assembly disposed at the second end of the nozzle stem, comprising;

multiple nozzles capable of delivering cleaning solution to the stained fabric; and

means for receiving cleaning solution from the cylinder; and

a spring disposed between the piston and the nozzle assembly.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the means for receiving cleaning solution includes a tube nipple.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the means for delivering cleaning solution to the cylinder includes inlet check valves.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein the means for receiving cleaning solution from the cylinder includes outlet check valves.

16. The device of claim 12 further comprising means for sealing the piston and cylinder.

17. The device of claim 12 further comprising means for sealing the nozzle assembly and the cylinder.

18. A piston/nozzle assembly mounted in a fixed piston housing for applying pressurized cleaning solution to stained fabric, comprising:

a cylinder disposed within the piston housing capable of projecting therefrom and retracting thereinto and having a closed and an open end;

a threaded piston disposed within the cylinder capable of projecting from and retracting into the open end of the cylinder, said piston including inlet check valves and a tube nipple;

sealing means for sealing the piston and the cylinder;

a threaded nozzle stem having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the piston;

a nozzle assembly disposed at the second end of the nozzle stem, comprising;

multiple nozzles capable of delivering cleaning solution to the stained fabric; and

outlet check valves for receiving cleaning solution from the cylinder; and

O-rings for sealing the nozzle assembly and the cylinder; and

a spring disposed between the piston and the nozzle assembly.