Multi-functional floor-cleaning tool

• US 6,647,585 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kaivac Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kaivac Inc.
• Inventors: Robinson, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/011,144
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 153/21, 153/22, 154/01, 239/754
• US Class Current: 15/322
• 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 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0229 Suction chambers for aspirating the sprayed liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/024 Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/103 in which the soiled loosening or washing liquid is removed, e.g. by suction removing liquids in general E01H1/108

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, the tool includes: a housing having a front wall, a back wall, a top wall connecting the front and back walls, an interior surface, a liquid-delivery opening, and a soil-uptake opening, the soil-uptake opening being connectable to a vacuum source; a first squeegee blade depending from the front wall; a second squeegee blade depending from the back wall; an interior space defined by the interior surface, first squeegee blade, and second squeegee blade; a diverter valve connected to the housing, the diverter valve having at least an inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet, and a diverter, the diverter capable of selectively directing the flow of a pressurized liquid from the inlet to either the first outlet or the second outlet, the diverter valve being connectable to a pressurized-liquid source; a high-pressure nozzle connected to the first outlet of the diverter valve, the high-pressure nozzle constructed and arranged to deliver a liquid into the interior space via the liquid-delivery opening; and a low-pressure nozzle connected to the second outlet of the diverter valve, the low-pressure nozzle constructed and arranged to deliver a liquid exterior to the interior space.

Claims

1. A multi-functional floor-cleaning tool for use with a pressurized-liquid source and a vacuum source, comprising:

a housing having a front wall, a back wall, a top wall connecting the front and back walls, an interior surface, a liquid-delivery opening, and a soil-uptake opening, the soil-uptake opening being connectable to a vacuum source;

a first squeegee blade depending from the front wall;

a second squeegee blade depending from the back wall;

an interior space defined by the interior surface, first squeegee blade, and second squeegee blade;

a diverter valve having at least an inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet, and a diverter, the diverter capable of selectively directing the flow of a liquid from the inlet to either the first outlet or the second outlet, the diverter valve being connectable to a pressurized-liquid source;

a high-pressure nozzle connected to the first outlet of the diverter valve, the high-pressure nozzle constructed and arranged to deliver a liquid into the interior space via the liquid-delivery opening; and

a low-pressure nozzle connected to the second outlet of the diverter valve, the low-pressure nozzle constructed and arranged to deliver a liquid exterior to the interior space.

2. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the high-pressure nozzle has an oulet orifice, and the high-pressure nozzle is constructed to deliver a focused, pinpoint jet of liquid from the outlet orifice.

3. The multi-functional floor-deaning tool of claim 1 wherein the low-pressure nozzle is constructed and arranged to deliver a liquid downward from behind the back wall of the housing.

4. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 3 wherein the low-pressure nozzle is a fan nozzle, whereby a liquid exiting the low-pressure nozzle has a fan-shaped patterm.

5. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the low-pressure nozzle is a fan nozzle, whereby a liquid exiting the low-pressure nozzle has a fan-shaped pattern.

6. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 5 wherein the low-pressure nozzle has an outlet orifice and an arcuate deflector plate spaced from the outlet orifice.

7. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the diverter valve is a three-way valve, the diverter capable of selectively directing the flow of a liquid from the inlet to either the first outlet or the second outlet.

8. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 7 wherein the diverter valve includes a handle operatively connected to the diverter, thereby enabling an operator to selectively direct the flow of a liquid from the inlet to either the first outlet or the second outlet.

9. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 8 wherein the diverter of the diverter valve may be oriented in a plurality of positions so as to provide larger and smaller flow paths to the first outlet, larger and smaller flow paths to the second outlet, and a completely blocked flow path to both the first and second outlets.

10. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second squeegee blades has an exterior surface and a base surface, the exterior surface including serrations which extend from the base surface upward toward the housing.

11. The multi-functional floor-cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the housing further includes at least two wheels or glides.