Method of cleaning a surface

• US 20040216771A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Flagler, Robert W., Zhou, Boli, Minkler, Douglas J., Hall, Michael J., Haubrich, Scott T., Olsen, Sharon, Porticos, Richard, Mitra, Shumanta, Park, Eric Y., Rader, James E., Sayler, David J., Hefter, Karen S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,986,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/34
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/26 Other cleaning devices with liquid supply arrangements such arrangements on floor-polishing machines A47L11/00, on scrapers A47L13/03, on mops A47L13/22; cloths, pads, or the like containing cleaning agents A47L13/17, A47L13/19
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/312 supplied with liquid wax or oil
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/44 Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement

Abstract

A method for cleaning a surface using a tool with both a cleaning head and a cleaning fluid reservoir housing coupled to an elongated handle, the method comprising the following steps: attaching a cleaning pad to the cleaning head; inserting a replaceable cleaning fluid reservoir into the housing; fluidically coupling the cleaning fluid reservoir to the cleaning head; dispensing controlled amounts of cleaning fluid from the reservoir onto a surface; and distributing the cleaning fluid evenly over the surface with the cleaning pad.

Claims

1. A method for use of a gravity-fed cleaning system with replaceable cleaning fluid reservoir, the method comprising:

obtaining a handle portion having;

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a housing, the housing adapted to receive a replaceable cleaning fluid reservoir;

obtaining a cleaning head portion with;

mechanical apparatus for attaching a cleaning pad to the head portion; and

a nozzle with a plurality of orifices, the nozzle mounted to the head portion;

coupling the cleaning head portion to the handle portion with a yoke section;

inserting a replaceable cleaning fluid reservoir into the housing; and

fluidically coupling the cleaning fluid reservoir to the nozzle such that cleaning fluid is allowed to flow via gravity through the nozzle in a plurality of individual streams onto the surface to be cleaned in front of the cleaning head portion.

2. A method of use for a gravity-fed fluid distribution system with replaceable fluid reservoir, the method comprising:

coupling a head portion to a handle portion, the handle having a housing adapted to receive the replaceable fluid reservoir and the head portion having (i) mechanical apparatus for attaching a pad to the head portion and (ii) a nozzle with one or more orifices;

inserting the replaceable fluid reservoir into the housing; and

coupling the fluid reservoir to the nozzle such that fluid is allowed to flow via gravity through the nozzle in one or more streams onto the surface in front of the head portion.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of attaching a removable cleaning pad to the cleaning head prior to distributing the fluid.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of removing a removable cleaning pad from the cleaning head subsequent to distributing the fluid.

5. A method for applying fluid to a surface with a gravity-fed tool comprising the following steps:

mechanically coupling a head portion with a multi-orifice nozzle to a handle portion;

removably coupling a fluid reservoir to the handle portion;

fluidically coupling the fluid reservoir to the nozzle on the head portion; and

controllably allowing the fluid to flow by gravity onto a surface through the multi-orifice nozzle essentially in front of the head portion.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of distributing the fluid dispensed onto the surface with the head portion.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of attaching a removable cleaning pad to the cleaning head prior to distributing the fluid.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of removing a removable cleaning pad from the cleaning head subsequent to distributing the fluid.

9. A method for cleaning a surface using a tool with a cleaning head and a cleaning fluid reservoir housing coupled to an elongated handle, the method comprising the following steps:

attaching a cleaning pad to the cleaning head;

inserting a replaceable cleaning fluid reservoir into the housing;

fluidically coupling a nozzle to the cleaning fluid reservoir;

coupling the nozzle to the cleaning head; and

allowing cleaning fluid to flow via gravity from the reservoir through the nozzle onto a surface.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the following step:

distributing the cleaning fluid over the surface with the cleaning pad.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the following step:

removing excess cleaning fluid from the surface with the cleaning pad.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the following step:

removing soil and debris from the surface with the cleaning pad.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the following step:

replacing the cleaning pad.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the following step:

replacing the cleaning fluid reservoir.