Vacuum cleaner attachment for the wet cleaning of surfaces

• US 6,021,545 A
• Filed: 10/20/1997
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vorwerk & Company Interholding Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Vorwerk & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Vorwerk & Company Interholding Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Vorwerk & Company KG)
• Inventors: Delgado, Antonio, Thode, Jurgen, Graute, Ludger
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/945,426
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 15/321, 15/322, 15/339, 15/401, 15/367, 401/198, 401/273, 401/283
• US Class Current: 15/322
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/02 Power-driven machines or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/38 Machines, specially adapted for cleaning walls, ceilings, roofs, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4022 with means for recycling the dirty liquid treatment of waste water C02F
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices

Abstract

Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for the wet cleaning of surfaces (20), in particular of vertical surfaces, having a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) and a cleaning element (19), the liquid applicator (21) being arranged, for the purpose of continuous working, for the continuous supply of liquid. A liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with the liquid by means of capillary action.

Claims

1. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the liquid applicator (21) comprises a plurality of tufts of bristles for dispensing liquid from the liquid applicator said tufts having free ends lying within said supply tank.

2. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein with respect to application area, the liquid application (21) is subdivided into substructures.

3. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the tuft of bristles comprises bristles (22) which include an angle (alpha) of about 30-60°

with a front face of the attachment.

4. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in a capillary store (26), conveying of liquid of the applicator being effected from the capillary store (26) by capillary action.

5. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the mouth (15) of the suction channel has an elongated form.

6. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element (19) defines an edge of the mouth (15) of the suction channel.

7. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element (19) comprises a sealing element, and a cleaning nonwoven fabric fitted thereto, the sealing element serving to seal off the mouth of the suction channel from the liquid applicator.

8. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein an edge region of the mouth (15) of the suction channel, located downstream in a direction of application (R), comprises a lip (17) which is impermeable to air.

9. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 8, wherein a suction channel section (52) is partially bounded by the lip (17).

10. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the mouth (15) of the suction channel comprises a multiplicity of individual suction channel sections (52).

11. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 10, wherein the suction channel sections (52) are arranged at an oblique angle relative to a front face of the attachment, and are directed towards the suction channel (28).

12. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, further comprising a lip (17) formed as a double lip.

13. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, further comprising a residual water wiper (30) further downstream of a lip (17).

14. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element (19) is removably secured between the mouth (15) of the suction channel and the liquid applicator (21).

15. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, further comprising a pivotable working holder (8), and wherein the liquid applicator (21), the cleaning element (19) and the mouth (15) of the suction channel are disposed in said pivotable working holder (8).

16. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, further comprising a filter (33) connecting with the suction line for storing material sucked in by the suction line, a fluid conduction line connecting between the liquid applicator and the filter, a bypass fluid conduction line connecting with the liquid applicator and bypassing the filter to connect an air outlet of the filter, and a release switch (81), and wherein releasing of the bypass line is effected by actuating said release switch (81).

17. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein feeding of liquid by the applicator is effected via capillary transport.

18. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the liquid applicator (21) is displaceable together with a capillary store (26).

19. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 1, wherein the liquid applicator is displaceable relative to a housing of the attachment between a frontmost position and rearmost position, the attachment including means for latching the liquid applicator into at least one of said frontmost and said rearmost position of the liquid applicator (21).

20. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the attachment further comprises an inner lip, and an outer lip (54) made of a material which is softer than the inner lip (17), the outer lip being located outside the mouth, and the inner lip being located between the outer lip and the mouth.

21. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 20, wherein the outer lip (54) is formed with a greater spacing than the inner lip from the surface (20) to be cleaned such that, during a normal cleaning operation said outer lip does not come into contact with the surface (20) to be cleaned.

22. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the attachment further comprises a lip (17) located adjacent the mouth and having, on a side thereof facing the liquid applicator (21), channels (55) running in a width direction of the lip (17), said channels widening in their cross-section towards the suction channel (28).

23. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein an appliance part is located between the mouth (15) of the suction channel and the liquid applicator (21), and is displaceable relative to the suction channel for establishing a cross-sectional dimensional of the suction channel.

24. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the attachment further comprises a filter (33), and wherein the suction channel (28) extends through said filter (33), the filter (33) filtering sucked-up liquid out of sucked-up air.

25. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 24, wherein the filter (33) cooperates with a storage medium (34) for filtering out, to form a liquid store (35).

26. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the storage medium (34) has a fibrous material which sucks up moisture by capillary action, optionally by means of a tubular configuration of fibers (83), and releases it through micro-slits (85) only by evaporation.

27. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the sucked-up air passes through the storage medium (34) on labyrinth paths such that, optionally by means of filtering out, liquid separation is effected by deflecting the flow.

28. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the storage medium (34) is open-pore foam and/or active carbon.

29. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the suction is controllable, actuatable by a specific degree of filling of the liquid store (35).

30. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, further comprising a valve (64), and wherein a pressure drop which is established by degree of filling of the liquid store (35) is used for closing movement of the valve (64) closing the suction channel (28).

31. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 30, wherein a front side of the valve supports a membrane (36) at a high degree of filling of the liquid store (35).

32. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 30, wherein the closing valve (64) has a diaphragm base which is loaded on one side by pressure prevailing upstream of a liquid-impermeable membrane (36) and on the other side by the pressure of the suction channel (28).

33. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 30, wherein an adjusting movement of the valve (64) is transferred to an indicator in order to display the degree of filling of the liquid store (35).

34. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the liquid store (35) is made at least partially of a swelling material (61) which changes in a sense of an increase in volume on taking up liquid.

35. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 34, wherein a separate flow path (63) is provided in the swelling material (61).

36. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 35, wherein the separate flow path (63) is formed such that it changes direction with a view to enlarging surface.

37. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 35, wherein a wall of the separate flow path (63) is made partially or completely of the swelling material (61).

38. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 34, wherein a liquid-impermeable membrane (36) is located upstream of the swelling material (61).

39. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 34, wherein the swelling material (61) is polyacrylate.

40. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the liquid stored in the storage medium (34) can be fed back to the liquid applicator (21).

41. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the liquid (51) can be sucked back out of the liquid store (35) into a capillary store (26).

42. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 41, wherein a switchable flow connection (77) is provided between a side of membrane (36) on a blower side and the capillary store (26).

43. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 42, wherein the flow connection (77) is opened in a state of the vacuum cleaner attachment (1) not resting on the surface (20) to be cleaned.

44. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 42, further comprising a push-button switch provided on the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), said push-button switch releases the flow connection (77) when lifted off from the surface (20) to be cleaned.

45. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 41, wherein the capillary store (26) is connected to the liquid store (35) via capillary conveying lines.

46. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein introduction of suction air and feeding back of liquid in the liquid store (35) are physically removed from each other so far that the liquid fed back is at least adequately cleaned of dirt particles carried in the suction air.

47. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the liquid store (35) is equipped with a filling level indicator (37).

48. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 47, wherein the filling level indicator (37) is a capillary sensor (39).

49. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 25, wherein the liquid store (35) is equipped with a negative pressure sensor to register state of loading.

50. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 24, wherein the filter (33) is bounded in suction direction by a liquid-impermeable membrane (36).

51. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein an edge (42) of the mouth (15) of the suction channel is moveable out on one side, specifically on a side facing the liquid applicator (21) such that, optionally during a tilting of a working holder (8) of the attachment, in event of the mouth (15) of the suction channel resting further on the surface (20) to be cleaned, a lifting off of the liquid applicator (21) and, optionally, of the cleaning element (19), is effected.

52. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 51, wherein the movable edge (42) of the mouth of the suction channel is moveable substantially in suction direction.

53. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 51, wherein when the edge (42) of the mouth of the suction channel is moved out, a front edge (47) is displaced such that a comb construction comes into effect to form closely bounded suction channels (49).

54. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 53, wherein the front edge (47) is pivotably mounted in the working holder (8).

55. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 51, wherein the movable edge (42) of the mouth of the suction channel, forming a rear edge (48), is formed like a comb.

56. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 55, wherein the rear edge (48) is formed like a plough to provide closely bounded suction channels (50).

57. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is displacable with respect to a lip (17) of the mouth such that the liquid applicator (21) can be moved towards or away from the surface (20) to be cleaned.

58. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the suction channel (28) is formed to be static, and the liquid applicator (21), together with capillary store (26) of the tank, is displaceably disposed on the suction channel (28).

59. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the attachment further comprises a spring (94), and wherein the liquid applicator (21) is displacable back counter to said spring (94).

60. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 59, wherein the spring (94) is arranged concentrically with the suction channel (28).

61. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

further comprising a sleeve-like connecting element, and wherein the liquid applicator (21), includes a capillary store (26) located in the tank, and is held on the suction channel (28) by the sleeve-like connecting element (90).

62. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the cleaning element (19) comprises a cleaning cloth (95) which is wetted on a rear side facing away from the surface to be cleaned.

63. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 62, wherein the cleaning element further comprises a capillary device, and the cleaning cloth (95) is tensioned over the capillary device and is wetted via the latter.

64. Vacuum cleaner attachment (1) for wet cleaning of a surface (20), particularly a vertical surface, comprising:

a liquid applicator (21), a suction channel (28) having a mouth (15) spaced apart from the liquid applicator, and a cleaning element (19) adjacent the liquid applicator,

wherein the liquid applicator (21) is operative for continuous supply of liquid to enable continuous working, wherein a liquid supply tank (23) for supplying the liquid applicator (21) is disposed in the vacuum cleaner attachment (1), the liquid applicator (21) being supplied with liquid from the tank by means of capillary action; and

wherein the attachment further comprises a blocking element, and a valve (64) which is held in an open position by the blocking element (96), said blocking element (96) being actuatable by application of moisture.

65. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 64, wherein the blocking element (96) comprises a material which takes up moisture, and which can be compressed in dependence on a specific amount of liquid taken up.

66. Vacuum cleaner attachment according to claim 64, wherein the blocking element (96) is made of a sponge-like material.