Cleaner/rinse dispensing device for carpet cleaning mechanism

• US 6,016,973 A
• Filed: 06/03/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carpet Co-Op of America Association
• Original Assignee: Carpet Co-Op of America Association
• Inventors: Jacobson, Eric K., Brandt, Steven R., Thompson, Frederick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEAL, DAVID R
• Application Number:
  US09/090,297
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 239/304, 239/305, 134/21, 134/36, 134/94.1, 15/320
• US Class Current: 239/304
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/024 Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned

Abstract

A system for dispensing an alkaline liquid cleaner solution and an acidic liquid rinse solution via a rotating head on a carpet cleaning machine, wherein the flow of the liquid cleaner solution and the liquid rinse solution are metered such that the rinse solution neutralizes the alkaline cleaner solution and leaves the carpet chemically neutral and residue-free.

Claims

1. A system for use with a carpet cleaning machine for dispensing an alkaline liquid cleaning solution and an acidic liquid rinsing solution comprising:

a water source;

a first metering device in fluid communication with the water source;

a second metering device in fluid communication with the water source;

a switching apparatus in fluid communication with the first metering device for selectively enabling or disabling the first metering device by permitting or prohibiting flow of water to the first metering device;

a rinse control means in fluid communication with the second metering device for selectively causing operation of the second metering device when the first metering device is disabled;

a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first metering device for dispensing a cleaning solution to the first metering device whereupon the first metering device mixes a metered portion of the cleaning solution with water from the water source;

a second reservoir in fluid communication with the second metering device for dispensing a rinsing solution to the second metering device whereupon the second metering device mixes a metered portion of the rinsing solution with water from the water source; and

a cleaning head in fluid communication with both the first metering device and the second metering device for applying the cleaning solution or the rinsing solution to a carpet to be cleaned with the system.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rinse control means is a solenoid valve selectively controllable by an operator of the carpet cleaning machine during its usage.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching apparatus comprises a first switching device and a second switching device, the first switching device being in fluid communication with the water source and the first metering device so that when the first switching device is activated, water enters the first metering device and is contacted with the cleaning solution from the first reservoir and a metered amount of a mixture of cleaning solution and water is directed to the cleaning head;

and the second switching device being in fluid communication between the water source and the second metering device, so that when the second switching device is activated, water enters the second metering device arid is contacted with the rinsing solution from the second reservoir and a metered amount of a mixture of rinsing solution and water is directed to the cleaning head, and wherein the metered amounts of cleaning solution and rinsing solution are such that the alkaline cleaning solution is neutralized by the acidic rinsing solution.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the structure of the system can be retrofit to an existing carpet cleaning device.