Apparatus for cleaning tile grout joints

• US 6,059,475 A
• Filed: 05/13/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hossein Jafarmadar
• Original Assignee: Hossein Jafarmadar
• Inventors: Jafarmadar, Hossein H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/078,083
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 401/140, 401/137, 401/139, 401/289, 401/196, 15/50.3, 15/52.2
• US Class Current: 401/140
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/04 with reservoir or other means for supplying substances
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/10 Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
• 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: E04F 21/165 for finishing joints, e.g. implements for raking or filling joints, jointers bricklayers' tools E04G21/16; repairing, e.g. filling cracks, E04G23/02 ; wallpaper scrapers or the like B44C7/02; implements for cleaning joints A47L13/10
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/1652 for smoothing and shaping joint compound to a desired contour

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning grout joints formed between adjacent ceramic and clay floor and wall tiles. The apparatus includes a liquid container mounted on a handle and containing liquid grout cleaner, a manual flow control valve, and a liquid dispensing head, all in fluid communication. The liquid dispensing head is connected to an end of the handle and includes a liquid outlet for dispensing liquid grout cleaning solution therefrom. A scrubbing brush is removably connected to the liquid dispensing head for allowing the user to scrub the grout joint thereby removing dirt, mold, mildew, and other unwanted debris therefrom. In a first embodiment, the container, control valve and liquid dispensing head are mounted on an elongated handle thereby providing a compact apparatus for cleaning grout joints on floors, counter tops, walls and the like. An alternate embodiment further includes a wheeled structure, having an alignment sight disposed thereon, so the user is able to guide the device along a groove by rolling the apparatus over the underlying floor tile during the cleaning process. The apparatus may further include at least one squeegee connected to the trailing end of liquid dispensing head for automatically wiping an excess cleaning solution from the surfaces of the tile as the apparatus is moved forward over a grout joint. The scrubbing brush may be rotatably connected to, and powered by, an electric motor for cleaning grout joints while requiring minimal manual effort.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning grooves containing grout existing between installed tiles, from a standing position comprising:

providing an apparatus with an elongated handle of sufficient length for operation in a stand-up position by a user, a liquid container connected to an end of said handle, a manual flow control valve fluidly communicating with said container, a liquid dispensing outlet connected to said handle and in fluid communication with said valve, and a scrubbing brush having bristles wherein said brush is removably connected to said liquid dispensing outlet;

filling said liquid container with a suitable liquid cleaning solution;

grasping said handle;

positioning said brush over said groove to be cleaned;

actuating said valve to an open position thereby allowing said cleaning solution to flow from said container to said dispensing outlet such that said cleaning solution exits said dispensing outlet and is uniformly spread within said groove; and

moving said apparatus along said grout filled groove thereby allowing said bristles to scrub said groove until clean.