Dual mode carpet cleaning machine, solution, system and methods of use

• US 20050050645A1
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rug Doctor
• Original Assignee: Frank Stephan, Roger Kent, Schubert Pereira
• Inventors: Stephan, Frank, Kent, Roger, Pereira, Schubert
• Granted Patent: US 7,048,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/137
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0031 Carpet, upholstery, fur or leather cleansers

Abstract

A dual mode carpet cleaning machine capable of being used in both a traditional deep cleaning mode and a fast drying surface cleaning mode. A selection mechanism provides selective communication with different sets of application jets. One set of application jets delivers a first cleaning solution that penetrates deeply into a carpet. After agitation with a scrub brush the device removes the cleaning solution and unwanted soil through a vacuum nozzle. The other set of jets delivers a lower flow rate of a second cleaning solution that does not penetrate deeply into the carpet. In addition, a novel cleaning solution is disclosed for use with the machine in differing concentrations, depending on the desired application. The carpet cleaning solutions dry more quickly when applied to carpet than previous solutions; the combined performance of the system displays similar cleaning efficiencies to previous carpet cleaning machines but obtains significantly reduced drying times

Claims

1-25. -25 (Cancelled).

26. A method of cleaning a carpet by applying a carpet cleaning solution to a carpet using a dual mode carpet cleaning machine such that the carpet is substantially dry within two hours of applying said carpet cleaning solution to the carpet.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said carpet cleaning solution is applied at a concentration of about 8.0 ounces carpet cleaning solution per gallon of water.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said carpet cleaning solution is applied to the carpet fibers at a rate of about 0.19 gallons per minute.

29. A method of cleaning a carpet, the carpet comprising carpet fibers and a carpet backing, using a dual mode carpet cleaning machine and a concentrated carpet cleaning solution comprising:

a) mixing the concentrated carpet cleaning solution at a concentration such that a foam produced by agitating the carpet cleaning solution does not penetrate to the carpet backing;

b) placing the mixed carpet cleaning solution into the dual mode carpet cleaning machine;

c) selecting a fast drying mode of the dual mode carpet cleaning machine; and

d) applying the carpet cleaning solution to the carpet fibers.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the carpet cleaning solution is mixed at a concentration of about 8.0 ounces carpet cleaning solution per gallon of water.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the carpet cleaning solution is applied to the carpet fibers at a rate of about 0.19 gallons per minute.

32. (Cancelled).

33. A method of cleaning a carpet by applying a carpet cleaning solution comprising:

a) an active detergent; and

b) an emulsifying agent;

wherein said carpet cleaning solution decreases the drying time of the carpet subsequent to cleaning the carpet.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the carpet cleaning solution further comprises:

c) a suspending agent;

d) a non-bleach optical brightener; and

e) a sequestering agent.

35-38. -38. (Cancelled).

39. A method of cleaning carpet comprising:

providing a carpet cleaning apparatus with a source of cleaning liquid, with a first cleaning jet, with a second cleaning jet that is different from the first cleaning jet, and with a valve that is selectively operable to communicate the source of cleaning liquid with one of the first cleaning jet and the second cleaning jet;

operating the valve to selectively communicate the source of cleaning liquid with one of the first cleaning jet and the second cleaning jet; and

,

discharging the cleaning liquid from the selected one of the first cleaning jet and second cleaning jet onto a carpet to clean the carpet.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

moving the apparatus over the carpet while cleaning the carpet.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

manually moving the apparatus.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

operating the valve by manually moving the valve.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

providing the source of cleaning liquid on the apparatus where the source of cleaning liquid moves with the apparatus.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

providing the source of cleaning liquid as a mixture of a cleaning concentrate and water.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

containing the mixture in a reservoir on the apparatus that moves with the apparatus.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

providing the source of cleaning liquid as one of a first mixture of the cleaning concentrate and water and a second mixture of the cleaning concentrate and water, where the second mixture has at least twice as much cleaning concentrate than the first mixture.

47. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

providing both the first cleaning jet and the second cleaning jet in a nozzle.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

providing a vacuum source on the apparatus; and

,

communicating the vacuum source with the nozzle.

49. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

providing the apparatus with the valve that is a two position valve that is manually movable between a first position and a second position.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

operating the valve by manually moving the valve to the first position where the valve communicates the source of cleaning liquid with the first cleaning jet and not the second cleaning jet.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising:

operating the valve by manually moving the valve to the second position where the valve communicates the source of cleaning liquid with the second cleaning jet and not the first cleaning jet.

52. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

operating the valve to communicate the source of cleaning liquid with the first cleaning jet; and

,

discharging the cleaning liquid from the first cleaning jet onto the carpet having carpet fibers on a carpet backing to clean the carpet fibers and not the carpet backing.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

operating the valve to communicate the source of cleaning liquid with the second cleaning jet; and

,

discharging the cleaning liquid from the second cleaning jet onto the carpet to clean the carpet fibers and the carpet backing.

54. A method of cleaning carpet comprising:

providing an apparatus with a source of cleaning liquid in a reservoir on the apparatus, with a first cleaning jet, and with a second cleaning jet;

providing a carpet cleaning solution in one of first and second different concentrations in the apparatus reservoir;

communicating the first jet with the apparatus reservoir when the first concentration of carpet cleaning solution is in the apparatus reservoir to discharge the first concentration of carpet cleaning solution from the first jet onto a carpet to clean the carpet, and communicating the second jet with the apparatus reservoir when the second concentration of carpet cleaning solution is in the apparatus reservoir to discharge the second concentration of carpet cleaning solution from the second jet onto a carpet to clean the carpet.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

providing a valve on the apparatus that is selectively operable to communicate the apparatus reservoir with the first jet and the second jet; and

,

operating the valve communicating the apparatus reservoir with the first jet when the first concentration of cleaning solution is in the apparatus reservoir, and operating the valve communicating the apparatus reservoir with the second jet when the second concentration of cleaning solution is in the apparatus reservoir.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

operating the valve by manually moving the valve.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

providing the valve on the apparatus as a two position valve that is manually movable between a first and second position.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

operating the valve by manually moving the valve to the first position where the valve communicates the reservoir with the first jet and not the second jet.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

operating the valve by manually moving the valve to the second position where the valve communicates the reservoir with the second jet and not the first jet.

60. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

manually moving the apparatus over the carpet while cleaning the carpet.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

providing the reservoir on the apparatus where the reservoir moves with the apparatus.

62. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

providing the first concentration of the carpet cleaning solution as a first mixture of a cleaning concentrate and water; and

,

providing the second concentration of the carpet cleaning solution as a second mixture of the cleaning concentrate and water, where the second mixture has at least twice as much cleaning concentrate as the first mixture.

63. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

providing both the first cleaning jet and the second cleaning jet in a nozzle.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

providing a vacuum source on the apparatus; and

,

communicating the vacuum source with the nozzle.

65. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

discharging the first concentration of carpet cleaning solution from the first jet onto the carpet having carpet fibers on a carpet backing to clean the carpet fibers and not the carpet backing.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

discharging the second concentration of carpet cleaning solution from the second jet onto the carpet to clean the carpet fibers and the carpet backing.

67. A method of cleaning a carpet comprising:

providing an apparatus with a source of cleaning liquid in a reservoir on the apparatus, with a first cleaning jet, and with a second cleaning jet;

providing a carpet cleaning solution in the apparatus reservoir;

communicating the first jet with the apparatus reservoir to discharge the carpet cleaning solution from the first cleaning jet onto a carpet having carpet fibers on a carpet backing to clean the carpet fibers and not the carpet backing; and

,

communicating the second jet with the apparatus reservoir to discharge the carpet cleaning solution from the second cleaning jet onto the carpet to clean the carpet fibers and the carpet backing.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

providing the apparatus with a valve that is manually movable between a first position of the valve and a second position of the valve;

manually moving the valve to the first position to communicate the reservoir with the first cleaning jet and not the second cleaning jet; and

,

manually moving the valve to the second position to communicate the reservoir with the second cleaning jet and not the first cleaning jet.