Mobile cleaning system

• US 9,434,400 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olson, Eric B., Carlson, Brian P., Anderson, Troy A., Hansen, Jon D., Chernik, Ryan A., Hartz, Adrian E., Raley, Seth Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller, Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US13/154,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20120312390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/51 Storing of cleaning tools, e.g. containers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/512 Clamping devices for hanging the tools
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 3/02 Table-knives B26B9/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/50 Cleaning or gardening articles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/005 Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/02 involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3802 With vehicle guide or support, e.g., service station

Abstract

A mobile cleaning system (10) that enables touch-free, daily cleaning and disinfecting to areas or locations within an establishment is provided. The system includes generally a push cart (12) having front (18) and rear (20) sections spaced between vertically upstanding side sections (22A-B). One or more sections of the cart (12) include a modulated space configurable with one or more cleaning and/or disinfecting modules for performing and supporting a cleaning and/or disinfecting operation. A tool drip tray (30) extends outward from at least one of the sections beneath a tool storage location (32A-B) for preventing liquid or debris from dropping onto a surface beneath the cart (12) while stationary or in transit.

Claims

1. A mobile cleaning system comprising:

a push cart comprising opposing front and rear sections separated by a vertical wall and spaced between vertically upstanding side sections, wherein the front and rear sections each include at least one modulated space for removably receiving one of a plurality of modules, wherein one of the vertically upstanding side sections is associated with a vertical sidewall extending substantially from the front of the push cart to the rear of the push cart, substantially perpendicular to the vertical wall separating the front and rear sections and having a height substantially equal to the height of the front and rear sections

a tool storage location associated with the one of the vertically upstanding side sections and comprising one or more features for removably securing an accessory or cleaning tool to the cart and positioned above a basin of a tool drip tray extending generally horizontally outward from the vertical sidewall;

wherein the mobile cleaning system has;

(a) a first configuration wherein one of the at least one modulated space of the front section removably houses a self-contained wet-vacuum module including a vacuum source fluidly connectable to a recovery tank, and a second module removably secured within one of the at least one modulated space of the rear section, and

(b) a second configuration wherein the at least one modulated space of the front section houses a different module than the wet-vacuum module or the second module; and

a horizontal retention bar within the at least one modulated space of the front, wherein the wet-vacuum module, the second module, or the different module is secured to the retention bar.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cart includes an external surface having one or more wet-vacuum accessory attachment points for removably securing accessories to the wet-vacuum.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the one of the vertically upstanding side sections is separated from both the front section and the rear section by the vertical sidewall.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second module comprises a storage shelf.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the tool storage location includes at least one tool guide and one tool clip.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the vertical sidewall is adjacent to each of the front section, the rear section, and the one of the vertically upstanding side sections.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein a portion of the one of the vertically upstanding side sections is opposite the vertical sidewall from the front section, and further wherein another portion of the one of the vertically upstanding side sections is opposite the vertical sidewall from the rear section.

8. They system of claim 1 further comprising a top section connected between the vertically upstanding side sections.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the top section includes a walled shelf adapted for removable storage of a hand caddy for storing cleaning tools and supplies.

10. A mobile cleaning system comprising:

a push cart comprising a front section, a rear section, and a top section, and a vertically upstanding side section, each of the front section, the rear section, and the top section including at least one modulated space for removably receiving one of a plurality of modules;

wherein the front section and the rear section are separated by a vertical wall and the modulated spaces of the front section and rear section open towards opposite directions;

wherein the vertically upstanding side section is separated from both the front section and the rear section by a vertical sidewall extending up to the top section substantially from the front of the push cart to the rear of the push cart and substantially perpendicular to the vertical wall separating the front and rear sections;

a generally horizontal retention bar in one of the modulated spaces wherein a first module or a second module are secured to the retention bar; and

a tool drip tray extending generally horizontally outward from the vertical sidewall and positioned below a tool storage location of the vertically upstanding side section.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the vertical sidewall is adjacent to each of the front section, the rear section, and the vertically upstanding side section.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a wet-vacuum module removable installable within the modulated space of the front section.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein a portion of the vertically upstanding side section is opposite the vertical sidewall from the front section, and further wherein another portion of the vertically upstanding side section is opposite the vertical sidewall from the rear section.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein each of the front section, the rear section, the vertically upstanding side section, and the top section are positioned above a frame of the push cart.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising a storage shelf module positioned within the at least one modulated space of the front section.

16. A mobile cleaning system comprising:

a push cart comprising opposing front section, a rear section, and a vertically upstanding side section completely separated from both the front section and the rear section by a vertical sidewall extending substantially from the front of the push cart to the rear of the push cart and substantially perpendicular to a vertical wall separating the front section and rear section, wherein each of the front section and the rear section includes at least one modulated space for removably receiving one of a plurality of modules;

a storage shelf module removably positioned within one of the modulated spaces;

a wet-vacuum module removably positioned within a different one of the modulated spaces;

a horizontal retention bar within one of the front section and the rear section to secure either the storage shelf module or the wet-vacuum module;

a liquid dispensing system operatively connected to the push cart; and

a tool drip tray extending generally horizontally outward from the vertical sidewall and positioned below a tool storage location of the vertically upstanding side section.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the storage shelf module includes securing means for removably securing the storage module within the at least one modulated space of the front section.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the tool storage location includes at least one tool guide and one tool clip.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the tool guide comprises an arcuate shaped guide having a tool clip with opposing fingers spaced on opposite sides of the guide to removably secure an arcuate shaped handle and tool head directly above the tool drip tray.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein a portion of the vertically upstanding side section is opposite the vertical sidewall from the front section, and further wherein another portion of the vertically upstanding side section is opposite the vertical sidewall from the rear section.