Cordless wet mop and vacuum assembly

• US 5,924,167 A
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lazarra, Joseph, Kalman, Jeffrey M., Cipolla, Mark, Saunders, Craig M., Zahuranec, Terry L., Farone, Richard C., Wright, Michael F., Shumaker, Laurie M., Specht, Glenn E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/093,206
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 15/339, 15/373, 15/328, 15/332
• US Class Current: 15/339
• 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 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/144 having squeezing rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/26 Other cleaning devices with liquid supply arrangements such arrangements on floor-polishing machines A47L11/00, on scrapers A47L13/03, on mops A47L13/22; cloths, pads, or the like containing cleaning agents A47L13/17, A47L13/19
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0028 Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a suction cleaning device which provides liquid dispensing, scrubbing, squeegeeing, and suction drying in a single, compact, self contained device. The suction cleaning device includes a cleaning device housing, a handle connected to the housing, an absorbent cleaning member mounted on the housing and movable between an extended and a retracted position, and a pair of squeegee blades. The device includes a suction system which draws the water from the floor surface which has been cleaned into a tank mounted on the housing which collects the liquid from the floor surface. A clean water bottle is provided on the housing for delivering cleaning liquid to the floor and a rechargeable battery power source provides power to the suction motor. The cleaning device is compact and lightweight and leaves the floor in a substantially dry state.

Claims

1. A suction cleaning device for cleaning surfaces comprising:

a cleaning device housing;

a retractable cleaning member mounted on the housing and movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a retracting mechanism for moving the cleaning member between the extended and retracted positions;

a suction system for removing and collecting contaminated liquid from a surface to be cleaned; and

a switch for activating the suction system in response to the retraction mechanism, wherein the suction system is turned on when the cleaning member is in the retracted position, and the suction system is turned off when the cleaning member is in the extended position.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a rod connected on a first end to the cleaning member and on a second end to an actuating member, the rod having a projection formed thereon which actuates the switch.

3. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is an absorbent sponge.