Cordless wet mop and vacuum assembly

• US 6,000,088 A
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• 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: Kalman, Jeffrey M., Cipolla, Mark, Saunders, Craig M., Zahuranec, Terry L., Farone, Richard C., Wright, Michael F., Shumaker, Laurie M., Specht, Glenn E., Lazarra, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/093,356
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 15/116.1, 15/116.2, 15/119.1, 15/119.2, 15/120.1, 15/120.2, 15/121, 15/320, 15/373, 401/137-139
• US Class Current: 15/119.2
• 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 comprising:

a cleaning device housing;

a one piece molded handle member having a first end connected to the housing, a threaded second end, and a pivot attachment point;

a grip member threaded onto the threaded second end of the handle;

a cleaning member mounted on the housing and movable between an extended position in which the cleaning member extends from the housing and is used to clean a surface and a retracted position in which the cleaning member is substantially retracted into the housing;

a bar connected to the cleaning member; and

a lever pivotally connected to the bar and to the pivot attachment point to move the cleaning member between the extended and retracted positions wherein the lever has a first position in which the cleaning member is in the retracted position, a second position in which the cleaning member is in the extended position, and a third position in which the cleaning member is ejected, and wherein the lever is closest to the grip member in the third position and furthest from the grip member in the first position.

2. The suction cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is an absorbent cleaning member.