APPARATUS FOR CLEANING A SURFACE

• US 20150108244A1
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Pruiett, Jason W., Miller, David M., White, Joseph M., DeJonge, Mitchell, Supplee, Michael N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,821,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/71
• 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 11/4002 Installations of electric equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/14 with multiple outlet openings B05B1/02, B05B1/26 take precedence; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/008 integrated in or attached to a discharge apparatus, e.g. a spray gun
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1693 with means for heating the material to be sprayed or an atomizing fluid in a supply hose or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2464 a liquid being fed by mechanical pumping from the container to the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2472 comprising several containers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2481 with a flexible container for liquid or other fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/262 a liquid and a gas being brought together before entering the discharge device

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a liquid delivery system for storing cleaning liquid and delivering the cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned, and an indicator system that is operably coupled with the liquid delivery system to indicate an operational status to the user operating the apparatus. The indicator system can include a light emitter that illuminates when an operational status is detected. The light emitter can illuminate the container storing cleaning liquid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:

a liquid delivery system for storing and delivering cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned, the liquid delivery system comprising;

a supply container for storing the cleaning liquid; and

a liquid distributor for delivering liquid to the surface to be cleaned;

a sensor operably coupled with the liquid delivery system to detect an operational status of the liquid delivery system;

a first indicator operably coupled with the sensor for indicating a first detected operational status to a user operating the apparatus; and

a second indicator operably coupled with the sensor for indicating a second detected operational status to a user operating the apparatus.

2. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 1 wherein the liquid delivery system further comprises a liquid delivery path and the sensor is located in the liquid delivery path.

3. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 2 wherein the operational status comprises liquid pressure within the liquid delivery path.

4. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 3 wherein the first detected operational status comprises liquid pressure below a predetermined threshold value and the second detected operational status comprises liquid pressure above a predetermined threshold value.

5. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 3 and further comprising a pump for pressurizing the liquid delivery system.

6. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 5 wherein the sensor is provided within the liquid delivery path fluidly downstream of the pump.

7. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 1 wherein the first and second indicators comprise light emitting devices for indicating the detected operational status via illumination.

8. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 7 wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the first light emitter and the second light emitter.

9. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 7 wherein the first and second light emitters are different colors.

10. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 7 wherein the first and second light emitters are positioned adjacent to the supply container.

11. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the supply container is light-transmissive.

12. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 1 wherein the first detected operational status is indicative of a liquid delivery fault and the second detected operational status is indicative of the liquid delivery system being ready for liquid delivery.

13. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 12 wherein the liquid delivery fault comprises at least one of an empty supply container, a pump failure, or a clog, restriction or leak in the liquid delivery system.

14. An apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:

a liquid delivery system for storing and delivering cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned, the liquid delivery system comprising;

a supply container for storing the cleaning liquid and comprising at least one light-transmissive portion; and

a liquid distributor for delivering liquid to the surface to be cleaned;

a sensor operably coupled with the liquid delivery system to detect an operational status of the liquid delivery system; and

an indicator light positioned adjacent the at least one light-transmissive portion of the supply container and operably coupled with the sensor for indicating the detected operational status to a user operating the apparatus;

wherein, when the operational status is detected, the indicator light illuminates the supply container such that the light is visible to the user through the at least one light-transmissive portion of the supply container.

18. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 14 wherein the operational status comprises a liquid delivery fault.

19. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 14 and further comprising a pump for pressurizing the liquid delivery system.

20. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 19 wherein the sensor is provided within the liquid delivery system fluidly downstream of the pump.

15. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 15 wherein the liquid delivery system further comprises a liquid delivery path and the sensor is located in the liquid delivery path.

16. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 15 wherein the sensor detects liquid pressure within the liquid delivery path.

17. The apparatus for cleaning a surface of claim 16 wherein the sensor is configured to illuminate the indicator light when the liquid pressure is below a predetermined threshold value.