Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 6,524,173 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Earl E. Martens, Marc O. Nelson
• Original Assignee: Earl E. Martens, Marc O. Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, Marc O., Martens, Earl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eley, Timothy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, Alvin J.
• Application Number:
  US09/906,569
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 451/178, 451/449, 451/450, 451/456, 451/523, 451/524, 451/525, 451/541, 451/547
• US Class Current: 451/178
• 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 11/20 combined with vacuum cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/38 Machines, specially adapted for cleaning walls, ceilings, roofs, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a surface has a handle joined to a cleaning head operable to dispense liquid onto a surface to be cleaned, mechanically work up dirt, film and particulates from the surface into a vacuum unit. The cleaning head has a cylindrical core supporting a scrubber that rotates on a cylindrical member as the head moves relative to the surface to be cleaned. Nozzles located within the cleaning head discharge liquid into the core and scrubber. The scrubber has helical abrasive and porous ribbons that horizontally and laterally scrub and distribute the liquid onto the surface to be cleaned. A modification of the apparatus has nozzles located adjacent the scrubber that dispenses liquid to a surface. The scrubber when subjected to vacuum picks up the liquid and dirt from the surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

an elongated tubular handle having a passage, a cleaning head connected to the handle, means for providing a vacuum to the passage of the tubular handle, tubular means for carrying a liquid located within the passage of the handle to the cleaning head, pump means connected to the tubular means operable to supply liquid under pressure to the tubular means, valve means connected to the tubular means for controlling the flow of liquid through the tubular means, said cleaning head having a rigid cylindrical first member with an internal chamber open to the passage in the handle, a plurality of first holes in the first member open to the chamber, means securing the first member to the handle, a cylindrical core rotatably mounted on the first member, a plurality of second holes in the core open to the first member, a scrubber located around said core, said scrubber having a rigid cylindrical second member telescoped over the core and rotatable with said core, said second member having third holes open to the second holes in the core, an open helical ribbon of abrasive material secured to said second member and projected radially outwardly from said second member, and a second helical ribbon of porous material located between the first ribbon secured to said second member and projected radially outwardly from said second member operable to dislodge particulates, dirt and films from a surface and allow air, liquid, particulates, dirt and films to move through the porous material into the internal chamber, a tube located in the internal chamber of the first member connected to the tubular means for accommodating liquid from the tubular means, means mounting the tube on the first member, nozzle means connected to the tube operable to direct liquid into the second holes in the core and third holes in the second member whereby at least the second ribbon spreads the liquid on the surface to be cleaned, said liquid on the surface being drawn through the scrubber along with air, particulates, dirt and films by the vacuum into the chamber of the cylindrical member and passage of the handle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the second ribbon has an outer surface, and said first ribbon has an outwardly projected outer portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the first ribbon has a radial thickness, and the second ribbon has a radial thickness less than the radial thickness of the first ribbon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the first ribbon comprises a plastic fiber member having a radial thickness and a generally uniform width, and the second ribbon comprises a generally smooth porous member having a radial thickness smaller than the radial thickness of the first ribbon and a width greater than the width of the first ribbon.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the first ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.

6. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

an elongated tubular handle having a passage, a cleaning head connected to the handle, means for providing a vacuum to the passage of the tubular handle, tubular means for carrying a liquid located within the passage of the handle of the cleaning head, pump means connected to the tubular means operable to supply liquid under pressure to the tubular means, valve means connected to the tubular means for controlling the flow of liquid through the tubular means, said cleaning head having a rigid cylindrical first member with an internal chamber open to the passage in the handle, a plurality of first holes in the first member open to the chamber, means securing the first member to the handle, a cylindrical core rotatably mounted on the first member, a plurality of second holes in the core open to the first member, a scrubber located around said core, said scrubber having a rigid cylindrical second member telescoped over the core and rotatable with said core, said second member having third holes open to the second holes in the core and an open helical ribbon surrounding and secured to the second member and projected radially outwardly from said second member operable to dislodge particulates, dirt and films from a surface and allow air, liquid, particulates, dirt and films to move through the porous material into the internal chamber, a tube located in the internal chamber of the first member connected to the tubular means for accommodating liquid from the tubular means, means mounting the tube on the first member, nozzle means connected to the tube operable to direct liquid into the second holes in the core and third holes in the second member whereby the ribbon spreads the liquid on the surface to be cleaned, said liquid on the surface being drawn through the scrubber along with air, particulates, dirt and films by the vacuum into the chamber of the cylindrical member and passage of the handle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

the ribbon comprises plastic fibers having a generally uniform radial thickness and generally uniform width.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

the ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

the ribbon is a band of abrasive material.

10. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a handle having a passage, a cleaning head connected to the handle, means for providing a vacuum to the passage of the handle, tubular means for carrying liquid to the cleaning head, pump means connected to the tubular means operable to supply liquid under pressure to the tubular means, liquid dispensing means connected to the tubular means to direct liquid on the surface to be cleaned, said cleaning head having a cylindrical member with an internal chamber open to the passage in the handle, first hole means in the cylindrical member open to the chamber, means securing the member to the handle, a cylindrical core rotatably mounted on the cylindrical member, said core having second hole means open to the cylindrical member to allow air and liquid to flow through the core, a porous scrubber having an open helical ribbon located around the core operable to horizontally and laterally dislodge particulates, dirt and film from the surface to be cleaned and allow air, liquid and particulates, dirt and films to move through the scrubber, said liquid on the surface being drawn through the scrubber along with air, particulates, dirt and films by the vacuum into the chamber of the cylindrical member and passage of the handle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

the scrubber has third hole means to allow air, liquid, particulates, dirt and films to flow through the scrubber.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

the scrubber includes has a rigid cylindrical second member telescoped over the core and rotatable with said core, said second member having third hole means open to the second hole means in the core.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the ribbon comprises plastic fibers having a generally uniform radial thickness and generally uniform width.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the ribbon is a band of abrasive material.

16. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a handle having a passage, a cleaning head connected to the handle, means for providing a vacuum to the passage of the handle, tubular means for carrying liquid to the cleaning head, pump means connected to the tubular means operable to supply liquid under pressure to the tubular means, liquid dispensing means connected to the tubular means to direct liquid under pressure to the tubular means, liquid dispensing means connected to the tubular means to direct liquid on the surface to be cleaned, said cleaning head having a cylindrical member with an internal chamber open to the passage in the handle, first hole means in the cylindrical member open to the chamber, means securing the member to the handle, a cylindrical core rotatably mounted on the cylindrical member, said core having second hole means open to the cylindrical member to allow air and liquid to flow through the core, a porous scrubber located around the core operable to horizontally and laterally dislodge particulates, dirt and film from the surface to be cleaned and allow air, liquid and particulates, dirt and films to move through the scrubber, said scrubber having a rigid second member telescoped over the core, said second member having third holes open to the core, an open helical first ribbon of abrasive material secured to said second member and projected radially outwardly from said second member, and a second helical ribbon or porous material located between the first ribbon and projected radially outwardly from said second member, said liquid on the surface being drawn through the scrubber along with air, particulates, dirt, and films by the vacuum into the chamber of the cylindrical member and passage of the handle.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the second ribbon has an outer surface, and said first ribbon has an outwardly projected outer portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the first ribbon has a radial thickness, and the second ribbon has a radial thickness less than the radial thickness of the first ribbon.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the first ribbon comprises a plastic fiber member having a radial thickness and a generally uniform width, and the second ribbon comprises a generally smooth porous member having a radial thickness smaller than the radial thickness of the first ribbon and a width greater than the width of the first ribbon.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the first ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.

21. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a handle having a passage, means for providing a vacuum to the passage of the handle, a cleaning head connected to the handle, said cleaning head having a rigid first member with an internal chamber open to the passage in the handle, first hole means in the first member open to the chamber to allow air to flow through the first member, means securing the first member to the handle, a second member mounted on the first member, said second member being porous to allow air, liquid, particulates and dirt to flow through the second member into the chamber, at least one first helical ribbon of abrasive material secured to the second member for horizontally and laterally scrubbing the surface to be cleaned, nozzle means mounted on the first member located in the chamber operable to direct liquid into the first hole means and second member whereby the second member spreads the liquid on the surface to be cleaned, said liquid on the surface being drawn through the second member along with air, particulates and dirt by the vacuum into the chamber of the first member and passage of the handle.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein:

the ribbon comprises plastic fibers having a generally uniform radial thickness and generally uniform width.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein:

the ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein:

the ribbon is a band of abrasive material.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 including:

a helical second ribbon of porous material located adjacent said first ribbon secured to said second member for allowing air, liquid, particulates and dirt to flow through said second ribbon and second member into the chamber.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

the second ribbon has an outer surface, and said first ribbon has an outwardly projected outer portion.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

the first ribbon has a radial thickness, and the second ribbon has a radial thickness less than the radial thickness of the first ribbon.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

the first ribbon comprises a plastic fiber member having a radial thickness and a generally uniform width, and the second ribbon comprises a generally smooth porous member having a radial thickness smaller than the radial thickness of the first ribbon and a width greater than the width of the first ribbon.

29. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

the first ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.

30. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a handle having a passage, means for providing a vacuum to the passage of the handle, a cleaning head connected to the handle, said cleaning head having a rigid first member with an internal chamber open to the passage in the handle, first hole means in the first member open to the chamber to allow air to flow through the first member into the chamber, means securing the first member to the handle, a second member surrounding and mounted on the first member, said second member being porous to allow air, liquid, particulates and dirt to flow through the second member into the chamber of the first member, nozzle means mounted on the first member located in the chamber of the first member operable to direct liquid into the first hole means and second member whereby the second member spreads the liquid on the surface to be cleaned and scrubs said surface, said liquid on the surface being drawn into and through the second member along with air, particulates and dirt and through the hole means in the first member by the vacuum into the chamber of the first member and passage of the handle.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 including:

second hole means in the second member to allow liquid, air, particulates and dirt to flow through the second member and through the hole means in the first member into the chamber of the first member.

32. A scrubber for a cleaning apparatus comprising:

a rigid cylindrical member having an outer surface, an open helical first ribbon of abrasive material secured to the outer surface of the cylindrical member, and a second helical ribbon located between the first ribbon secured to the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

33. The scrubber of claim 32 wherein:

said cylindrical member has a plurality of holes to allow air and liquid to flow through the cylindrical member.

34. The scrubber of claim 32 wherein:

the second ribbon has an outer surface, the first ribbon has an outwardly projected outer portion.

35. The scrubber of claim 32 wherein:

the first ribbon has a radial thickness, and the second ribbon has a radial thickness less than the radial thickness of the first ribbon.

36. The scrubber of claim 32 wherein:

the first ribbon comprises a plastic fiber member.

37. The scrubber of claim 32 wherein:

the second ribbon is a flat generally smooth porous member.

38. The scrubber of claim 32 wherein:

the first ribbon comprises a plastic fiber member having a radial thickness and a generally uniform width, and the second ribbon comprises a generally smooth porous member having a radial thickness smaller than the radial thickness of the first ribbon and a width greater than the width of the first ribbon.

39. The scrubber of claim 32 wherein:

the first ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.

40. A scrubber for a cleaning apparatus comprising:

a rigid cylindrical member having an outer surface and a plurality of holes through said member to allow air and liquid to flow through the member, and an open helical ribbon of abrasive material secured to the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein:

the ribbon comprises plastic fibers having a generally uniform radial thickness and generally uniform width.

42. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein:

the ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.

43. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein:

the ribbon is a band of abrasive material.

44. The apparatus of claim 40 including:

a helical second ribbon of porous material located adjacent said first ribbon secured to said member for allowing air, liquid, particulates and dirt to flow through said second ribbon and member into the chamber.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein:

the second ribbon has an outer surface, and said first ribbon has an outwardly projected outer portion.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein:

the first ribbon has a radial thickness, and the second ribbon has a radial thickness less than the radial thickness of the first ribbon.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein:

the first ribbon comprises a plastic fiber member having a radial thickness and a generally uniform width, and the second ribbon comprises a generally smooth porous member having a radial thickness smaller than the radial thickness of the first ribbon and a width greater than the width of the first ribbon.

48. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein:

the first ribbon is a combination of materials comprising plastic fibers, grit abrasive material, and absorbant material.