WATER-SAVER CLEANING DEVICE

• US 20100282275A1
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yvon Francoeur
• Original Assignee: Yvon Francoeur
• Inventors: Francoeur, Yvon
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/002 pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/066 with means for introducing an additive, e.g. soap
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3046 Brushes for cleaning cars or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0008 Brushes with two or more heads on the same end of a handle not intended for simultaneous use
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B9/00

Abstract

A cleaning device to be connected with a water hose, the cleaning device comprising a water inlet at a first end for receiving the water hose, an outlet assembly having a brush located at a first end thereof, a cleaning mixture reservoir in fluid communication with the outlet assembly, and a flow selection assembly operatively coupled to the water inlet, the outlet assembly and the cleaning mixture reservoir, the flow selection assembly comprising a switch assembly for switching between a water and cleaning mixture dispensing mode wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the cleaning mixture reservoir and the outlet assembly and the water is dispensed at a first given flow rate and a cleaning mode wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet assembly and the water is dispensed at a second given flow rate greater than the first given flow rate.

Claims

1-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A cleaning device to be connected with a water hose, the cleaning device comprising:

a water inlet at a first end for receiving the water hose;

an outlet assembly having a brush located at a first end thereof;

a cleaning mixture reservoir in fluid communication with the outlet assembly; and

a flow selection assembly operatively coupled to said water inlet, said outlet assembly and said cleaning mixture reservoir, said flow selection assembly comprising a switch assembly for switching between;

a water and cleaning mixture dispensing mode wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the cleaning mixture reservoir and the outlet assembly and the water is dispensed at a first given flow rate;

a first water dispensing mode wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet assembly and water is dispensed at a second given flow rate greater than the first given flow rate; and

a second water dispensing mode wherein said water inlet is in fluid communication with said outlet assembly and water is dispensed at a third given flow rate greater than the second given flow rate.

43. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 42, wherein said switch assembly comprises:

an entry port in fluid communication with said water inlet;

a water and cleaning mixture dispensing port in fluid communication with said entry port when said switch assembly is in said water and cleaning mixture dispensing mode;

a water and cleaning mixture dispensing tube extending between said water and cleaning mixture dispensing port and said outlet assembly;

a first water dispensing port in fluid communication with said entry port when said switch assembly is in said first water dispensing mode;

a first water dispensing tube extending between said water dispensing port and said outlet assembly;

a second water dispensing port in fluid communication with said entry port when said switch assembly is in said second water dispensing mode; and

a second water dispensing tube extending between said second water dispensing port and said outlet assembly.

44. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 43, wherein said switch assembly comprises a switch having a water communication opening selectively positionable between said water and cleaning mixture dispensing port and said entry port, between said first water dispensing port and said entry port and between said second water dispensing port and said entry port such that when said switch assembly is in said water and cleaning mixture dispensing mode, said water communication opening is in fluid communication with said water and cleaning mixture dispensing port and said entry port;

when said switch assembly is in said water dispensing mode, said water communication opening is in fluid communication with said first water dispensing port and said entry port and when said switch assembly is in said second dispensing mode, said water communication opening is in fluid communication with said second water dispensing port and said entry port.

45. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 44, wherein said switch comprises a rotatable switch selectively rotating between a water and cleaning mixture position wherein said switch assembly is in said water and cleaning mixture dispensing mode, a first water dispensing position wherein said switch assembly is in said first water dispensing mode and a second water dispensing position wherein said switch assembly is in said second water dispensing mode.

46. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 44, wherein said switch assembly comprises a translatable switch selectively translating between a water and cleaning mixture position wherein said switch assembly is in said water and cleaning mixture dispensing mode, a first water dispensing position wherein said switch assembly is in said first water dispensing mode and a second water dispensing position wherein said switch assembly is in said second water dispensing mode.

47. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 42, wherein said switch assembly comprises:

a water routing assembly operatively coupled to said water inlet, said water routing assembly comprising an entry port in fluid communication with said water inlet, said water routing assembly further comprising a water and cleaning mixture dispensing port in fluid communication with said entry port, a first water dispensing port in fluid communication with said entry port and a second water dispensing port in fluid communication with said entry port;

a water and cleaning mixture dispensing tube extending between said water and cleaning mixture dispensing port and said outlet assembly;

a water and cleaning mixture dispensing switch operatively coupled to said water and cleaning mixture dispensing tube, said water and cleaning mixture dispensing switch selectively moving between an open position wherein water is dispensed from said water and cleaning mixture dispensing port to said outlet assembly when water enters said cleaning device through said water inlet and a closed position wherein dispensing of water from said water and cleaning mixture dispensing port to said outlet assembly is prevented;

a first water dispensing tube extending between said water dispensing port and said outlet assembly;

a first water dispensing switch operatively coupled to said first water dispensing tube, said water dispensing switch selectively moving between an open position wherein water is dispensed from said first water dispensing port to said outlet assembly when water enters said cleaning device through said water inlet and a closed position wherein dispensing of water from said first water dispensing port to said outlet assembly is prevented;

a second water dispensing tube extending between said second water dispensing port and said outlet assembly; and

a second water dispensing switch operatively coupled to said second water dispensing tube, said water dispensing switch selectively moving between an open position wherein water is dispensed from said second water dispensing port to said outlet assembly when water enters said cleaning device through said water inlet and a closed position wherein dispensing of water from said second water dispensing port to said outlet assembly is prevented.

48. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 42, wherein said first end comprises a handle for handling said cleaning device using a hand.

49. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 48, wherein said handle comprises an actuation mechanism, said actuation mechanism comprising a check valve selectively moving between an open position wherein water is dispensed from said water inlet to said flow selection assembly when water enters said cleaning device through said water inlet and a closed position wherein dispensing of water from said water inlet to said flow selection assembly when water enters said cleaning device through said water inlet conduit is prevented.

50. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 49, wherein said actuation mechanism further comprises a depressible lever adapted to be actuated by at least one finger of a hand holding said handle, said depressible lever selectively moving said check valve between said open position and said closed position.

51. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 49, wherein said actuation mechanism further comprises a hinged lever having a first grasping end adapted to be grasped by at least one finger of a hand holding said handle and a second, opposite hinge end hingedly connected to said handle using a hinge, said hinged lever selectively moving said check valve between said open position and said closed position.

53. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 42, wherein said water inlet comprises a quick disconnect fitting adapted to engage a corresponding quick disconnect fitting provided with said water hose.

56. A method for manufacturing the cleaning device as claimed in claim 42 consisting in assembling said water inlet, said outlet assembly, said cleaning mixture reservoir and said flow selection assembly using an assembling method.

57. The method as claimed in claim 56, wherein said assembling method is selected from a group comprising gluing, friction welding and thermoforming.

58. A method for cleaning an object using the cleaning device as claimed in claim 42 wherein said water hose is connected to a water source and cleaning mixture is provided in said cleaning mixture reservoir.

54. A method for cleaning an object using a cleaning device comprising:

(a) providing a cleaning device to be connected with a water hose, the cleaning device comprising;

a water inlet at a first end for receiving the water hose;

an outlet assembly having a brush located at a first end thereof;

a cleaning mixture reservoir in fluid communication with the outlet assembly; and

a flow selection assembly operatively coupled to said water inlet, said outlet assembly and said cleaning mixture reservoir, said flow selection assembly comprising a switch assembly for switching between;

a water and cleaning mixture dispensing mode wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the cleaning mixture reservoir and the outlet assembly and the water is dispensed at a first given flow rate;

a first water dispensing mode wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet assembly and water is dispensed at a second given flow rate greater than the first given flow rate; and

a second water dispensing mode wherein said water inlet is in fluid communication with said outlet assembly and water is dispensed at a third given flow rate greater than the second given flow rate;

(b) providing cleaning mixture inside said cleaning mixture reservoir;

(c) providing water to said water inlet of said cleaning device;

(d) positioning said brush near an object to be cleaned, said outlet assembly facing towards said object;

(e) selecting said water and cleaning mixture dispensing mode using said flow selection assembly for dispensing water and cleaning mixture at the first given flow rate onto said object until said object is partially covered with a predetermined amount of water and cleaning mixture;

(f) brushing said object using said brush until said predetermined amount of water and cleaning mixture is spread out on said object in a predetermined fashion;

(g) selecting said first water dispensing mode using said flow selection assembly for dispensing water at a second given flow rate higher than said first given flow rate onto said object to be cleaned until the predetermined amount of cleaning mixture previously dispensed onto said object is rinsed off said object.

55. The method as claimed in claim 54 further comprising selecting the second water dispensing mode using said flow selection assembly for dispensing water at the third given flow rate greater than said second given flow rate onto said object to be cleaned until said object is cleared of debris.