Cleaning tool

• US 6,568,024 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rug Doctor
• Original Assignee: Rug Doctor
• Inventors: Kennedy, William B., Maddox, Rodney D., Stephan, Frank, Kent, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/162,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20020148072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 152/201, 152/441, 152/442, 153/21, 153/22, 154/16, 154/17
• US Class Current: 15/322
• 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 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0673 with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads

Abstract

The invention is a cleaning tool housing assembly and a replaceable cleaning assembly. The manifold, in combination with a fluid intake element, also delivers fluid (under pressure through holes in the manifold located in a longitudinal channel) to a sponge. Two spaced apart fluid barriers are longitudinally disposed in the sponge. As fluid is introduced into the center of the sponge, between the fluid barriers, the fluid travels toward the opposite surface of the sponge. The fluid is prevented from traveling laterally due to the fluid barriers. As vacuum pressure, negative pressure, is exerted on the outer portions of the sponge (on each side of the fluid barriers), fluid is pulled back through the sponge, through the manifold and through the nozzles into the hollow housing body.

Claims

1. A cleaning element comprising:

a sponge having a rectangular top surface, a rectangular bottom surface, a first side disposed between said rectangular top surface and said rectangular bottom surface, a second side disposed between said rectangular top surface and said rectangular bottom surface, a first end, and a second end;

a first slit disposed longitudinally along said top surface extending from said top surface towards and spaced from said bottom surface;

a second slit disposed longitudinally along said top surface and spaced from said first slit, said second slit extending from said top surface towards and spaced from said bottom surface; and

wherein a surface area of the rectangular top surface is greater than a surface area of the rectangular bottom surface.

2. The cleaning element of claim 1 further comprising

a first fluid barrier disposed in said first slit; and

a second fluid barrier disposed in said second slit.

3. A cleaning element comprising:

a sponge having a rectangular top surface, a rectangular bottom surface, a first side disposed between said rectangular top surface and said rectangular bottom surface, a second side disposed between said rectangular top surface and said rectangular bottom surface, a first end, and a second end;

a first slit disposed longitudinally along said top surface extending from said top surface towards and spaced from said bottom surface;

a second slit disposed longitudinally along said top surface and spaced from said first slit, said second slit extending from said top surface towards and spaced from said bottom surface;

a first fluid barrier disposed in said first slit;

a second fluid barrier disposed in said second slit;

a backing plate adapted to contact said sponge top surface and having

a fluid delivery opening; and

a fluid suction opening; and

wherein a surface area of the rectangular top surface is greater than a surface area of the rectangular bottom surface.

4. The cleaning element of claim 3 wherein said first and second fluid barriers are integral with said backing plate.

5. The cleaning element of claim 3 wherein said backing plate further comprises

a textured surface for adhering said backing plate to said sponge.

6. The cleaning element of claim 3 wherein said backing plate further comprises

a first end tab;

and

a second end tab.

7. The cleaning element of claim 6 further comprising

a first side tab;

and

a second side tab.

8. A cleaning element for use with a cleaning tool having a manifold providing an interface between the cleaning tool and said cleaning element, said cleaning element comprising:

a sponge having a rectangular top surface, a rectangular bottom surface, a first side disposed between said rectangular top surface and said rectangular bottom surface, a second side disposed between said rectangular top surface and said rectangular bottom surface, a first end, and a second end;

a first slit disposed longitudinally along said top surface extending from said top surface towards and spaced from said bottom surface;

a second slit disposed longitudinally along said top surface and spaced from said first slit, said second slit extending from said top surface towards and spaced from said bottom surface;

a first fluid barrier disposed in said first slit;

a second fluid barrier disposed in said second slit;

a backing plate adapted to contact said sponge top surface and having

a fluid delivery opening;

a fluid suction opening; and

a gasket for providing a seal between said cleaning element and the manifold.

9. A cleaning element comprising:

a sponge having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the top surface having a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the bottom surface;

a first fluid barrier disposed longitudinally along said top surface extending from said top surface towards and spaced from said bottom surface;

a backing plate adapted to contact said sponge top surface;

a fluid delivery opening in the backing plate and disposed on one side of the first fluid barrier; and

a fluid suction opening in the backing plate and disposed on an opposite side of the first fluid barrier from the fluid delivery opening.

10. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a second fluid barrier disposed longitudinally along the top surface and spaced from the first fluid barrier, the second fluid barrier extending from the top surface towards and spaced from the bottom surface.

11. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 9 wherein a portion of the sponge top surface is in fluid communication with the fluid delivery opening.

12. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 9 wherein a portion of the sponge top surface is in fluid communication with the fluid suction opening.

13. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 9 wherein the fluid suction opening is an oblong opening that extends parallel to the first fluid barrier.

14. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 9 wherein the fluid suction opening is one of a pair of first and second suction openings positioned on opposite sides of the fluid delivery opening.

15. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a second fluid barrier disposed longitudinally along the top surface and spaced from the first fluid barrier, the second fluid barrier extending from the top surface towards and spaced from the bottom surface;

and

wherein a portion of the sponge top surface is in fluid communication with the fluid delivery opening.

16. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 15 wherein a portion of the sponge top surface is in fluid communication with the fluid suction opening.

17. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 15 wherein the fluid suction opening is an oblong opening that extends parallel to the first fluid barrier.

18. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 15 wherein the fluid suction opening is one of a pair of first and second suction openings positioned on opposite sides of the fluid delivery opening.

19. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a second fluid barrier disposed longitudinally along the top surface and spaced from the first fluid barrier, the second fluid barrier extending from the top surface towards and spaced from the bottom surface;

and the fluid suction opening is one of a pair of first and second suction openings that are positioned on opposite sides of the first and second fluid barriers.

20. A cleaning element as set forth in claim 19 further comprising the fluid delivery opening being positioned between the first and second fluid barriers and between the first and second suction openings.