Apparatus and method for cleaning a surface

• US 7,146,679 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Durbin, Michael A., Bauman, Robert W., Tondra, Aaron P., Gordon, Evan A., Bradshaw, David A., Sclafani, Adam C., Maurer, Edgar A., Kellum, Wilbur J., Theiss, William H. Jr., Hertrick, Timothy T., Coates, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/145,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20020170137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/401, 153/402, 153/403, 153/404, 222/623, 222/624, 222/625
• US Class Current: 15/319
• 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 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A cleaner for cleaning a surface comprises a floor-engaging portion for moving along the surface. A source supplies a liquid to a distributor, which distributes the liquid from the source on the surface wherein an activating device is operatively connected to the source to activate the source to supply liquid to the distributor to distribute liquid on the surface in response to a force moving the floor engaging portion in a first direction.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:

a) a first source for distributing a first liquid onto said surface;

b) an activating device operatively connected to said first source to activate said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in a first direction; and

c) a suction nozzle for extracting said cleaning solution and said, dirt from said surface, said apparatus including a second source for distributing a second liquid onto said surface, said activating device activating said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in a second direction;

d) wherein said first liquid is detergent mixed with water and said second liquid is clean water.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a trigger switch operatively connected to said first liquid source and said second liquid source.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a solenoid valve connected to said first liquid source, said activating device being operatively connected to said solenoid valve to actuate said solenoid which causes said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in said first direction.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a second solenoid valve connected to said second liquid source, said activating device being operatively connected to said second solenoid valve to actuate said solenoid which causes said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in said second direction.

5. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a) at least one wheel rotatably connected to floor-engaging portion;

b) a wheel rotation activating assembly operatively connected to said wheel and a first device, said wheel rotation activating assembly activating a first device upon said wheel being rotated in a first direction and a second device oDeratively connected to said wheel rotation activating assembly, said wheel rotation activating assembly activating said second device unon said wheel being rotated in a second direction; and

c) a suction nozzle.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein said wheel rotation activating assembly deactivates said first device upon said wheel being rotated in a second direction.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein said wheel rotation activating assembly includes a lever rotatably connected to said cleaning apparatus and a switch mounted to said cleaning apparatus, whereby rotation of said wheel in said first direction causes said lever to rotate in said first direction and activate said switch.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein rotation of said wheel in a second direction causes said lever to rotate in said second direction and deactivate said switch.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7 including a metal portion secured to said wheel, said lever including a magnet attached thereto and located opposite said metal portion, wherein rotation of said wheel in said first direction causes said lever to rotate in said first direction due to the magnetic force between said magnet and said metal portion.

10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7 including a paddle wheel connected to said wheel, said paddle wheel having a plurality of paddles, said paddles engaging said lever to rotate said lever in said first direction upon rotation of said wheel in said first direction.

11. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:

a) a first source for distributing a first liquid onto said surface;

b) an activating device operatively connected to said first source to activate said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in a first direction;

c) a wheel rotatably connected to said cleaning apparatus;

d) wherein said activating device includes a wheel rotation activating assembly operatively connected to said wheel, said activating device activating said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said wheel rotation activating assembly detecting said wheel being rotated in a first direction caused by said cleaning apparatus being moved in said first direction and a second source for distributing a second liquid onto said surface, said activating device activating said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning annaratus being moved in a second direction; and

e) a suction nozzle for extracting said cleaning solution and said dirt from said surface.

12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein said activating device activates said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said wheel rotation activating assembly detecting said wheel being rotated in a second direction caused by said cleaning apparatus being moved in said second direction.

13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12 including a trigger switch operatively connected to said first liquid source and said second liquid source.

14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first liquid is detergent mixed with water and said second liquid is clean water.

15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11 including a solenoid valve connected to said first liquid source, said activating device being operatively connected to said solenoid valve to actuate said solenoid which causes said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in said first direction.

16. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11 including a second solenoid valve connected to said second liquid source, said activating device being operatively connected to said second solenoid valve to actuate said solenoid which causes said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in said second direction.

17. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:

a) a first source for distributing a first liquid onto said surface;

b) a pump operatively connected to said first source to draw under pressure said first liquid to said surface;

c) an activating device operatively connected to said first source to activate said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said cleaning apparatus being moved in a first direction;

d) a wheel rotatably connected to said cleaning apparatus;

e) wherein said activating device includes a wheel rotation activating assembly operatively connected to said wheel, said activating device activating said first source to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said wheel rotation activating assembly detecting said wheel being rotated in a first direction caused by said cleaning apparatus being moved in said first direction and a second source for distributing a second liquid onto said surface, wherein said second liquid from said second source is drawn to said cleaning surface by gravity alone; and

f) a suction nozzle for extracting said cleaning solution and said dirt from said surface.

18. The cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein said second liquid is clean water and said first liquid is detergent.

19. The cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein said activating device activates said second source to distribute said second liquid onto said surface in response to said wheel rotation activating assembly detecting said wheel being rotated in a second direction caused by said cleaning apparatus being moved in said second direction.