Portable steam vacuum cleaner

• US 5,386,612 A
• Filed: 04/23/1993
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GT Investments (BVI) Limited
• Original Assignee: John C.K. Sham
• Inventors: Sham, John C. K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/052,147
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 15/321, 15/322, 15/401, 15/344, 15/320, 15/367
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/08 with provision for supplying liquids, e.g. cleaning agents A47L1/095, A47L1/13, A47L1/15 take precedence
• 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 11/4086 Arrangements for steam generation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0613 with means specially adapted for picking up threads, hair or the like, e.g. brushes, combs, lint pickers or bristles pads

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning apparatus is provided which includes a housing having a handle portion and a nozzle portion. A reservoir is defined in the housing for retaining cleaning solution or water, and a heating unit is associated with the reservoir for heating the liquid so as to generate steam for delivery to a flat surface such as a window to be cleaned. A squeegee assembly is mounted to the housing adjacent the nozzle portion for wiping the window after liquid has been deposited thereon. A motor driven fan assembly is disposed within the housing in communication with the nozzle portion for drawing excess liquid and debris into the nozzle portion. The nozzle portion defines structure for separating and containing the liquid which is drawn into the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning flat surfaces comprising:

a) a housing having a handle portion and a nozzle portion;

b) means for scrubbing said flat surface mounted on said housing adjacent said nozzle portion;

c) a squeegee assembly mounted to said housing adjacent said nozzle portion for wiping a flat surface; and

d) collection means for drawing liquid from the surface into said nozzle portion.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a reservoir defined in said housing for retaining clean liquid, and means for heating the clean liquid so as to generate steam for delivery to the flat surface.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for transferring the clean liquid from said reservoir to said heating means.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said collection means comprises a motor driven fan assembly disposed in said housing and communicating with said nozzle portion.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said collection means further comprises means for containing the liquid drawn from the flat surface.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said squeegee assembly is removably mounted adjacent said nozzle portion.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said squeegee assembly includes a replaceable squeegee blade formed of a flexible material.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said scrubbing means comprises a brush member.

8. An apparatus for cleaning flat surfaces comprising:

a) a housing having a handle portion and a nozzle portion;

b) a reservoir defined in said housing for retaining clean liquid for delivery to a flat surface;

c) means for delivering the liquid as steam to the surface to be cleaned;

d) means for scrubbing the Surface to be cleaned mounted on said housing adjacent said nozzle portion;

e) a squeegee assembly mounted to said housing adjacent said nozzle portion for wiping the surface; and

f) collection means for drawing unclean liquid from the surface into said nozzle portion.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said delivering means includes a heater for heating the clean liquid so as to generate steam for delivery to the surface.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for transferring the clean liquid from said reservoir to said heating means.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said collection means comprises a motor driven fan assembly disposed in said housing and communicating with said nozzle portion.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said collection means further comprises means for containing the unclean liquid drawn from the surface.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said squeegee assembly is removably mounted adjacent said nozzle portion.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said squeegee assembly includes a replaceable squeegee blade formed of a flexible material.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said scrubbing means comprises a brush member.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said delivering means delivers liquid to said surface to be cleaned through said brush member.

15. A portable apparatus for steam cleaning flat surfaces comprising:

a) a housing having a handle portion and a nozzle portion;

b) a reservoir defined in said housing for retaining clean liquid;

c) means for heating the clean liquid so as to generate steam for delivery to the surface to be cleaned;

d) a squeegee assembly mounted to said housing adjacent said nozzle portion for wiping the surface; and

e) collection means for drawing unclean liquid from the surface into said nozzle portion.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said collection means further comprises means for containing the unclean liquid drawn from the surface.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising valve means for selectively allowing or preventing transferral of the clean liquid from said reservoir to said heating means.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising means for pumping clean liquid from said reservoir to said heating means.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said squeegee assembly is detachably mounted adjacent said nozzle portion and includes a replaceable squeegee blade formed from a strip of rubber.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said heating means comprises an enclosure defining an entry port for receiving clean liquid from said reservoir, a plurality of cascading steam generating chambers in communication with said entry port, and at least one exit port in communication with at least one of said steam generating chambers for releasing steam from said enclosure.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said heating means further comprises a heating coil in association with said enclosure for transferring heat to said plurality of steam generating chambers.