Method for mopping and drying a floor

• US 5,968,281 A
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kalman, Jeffrey M., Cipolla, Mark, Saunders, Craig M., Zahuranec, Terry L., Farone, Richard C., Wright, Michael F., Shumaker, Laurie M., Specht, Glenn E., Lazarra, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): EL ARINI, ZEINAB
• Application Number:
  US09/093,355
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 134/21, 134/6, 15/320, 15/321
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/144 having squeezing rollers
• 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 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0028 Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of using a suction cleaning device which provides liquid dispensing, scrubbing, squeegeeing, and suction drying in a single, compact, self contained device. The suction cleaning device includes a cleaning device housing, a handle connected to the housing, an absorbent cleaning member mounted on the housing and movable between an extended and a retracted position, and a pair of squeegee blades. The device includes a suction system which draws the water from the floor surface which has been cleaned into a tank mounted on the housing which collects the liquid from the floor surface. A clean water bottle is provided on the housing for delivering cleaning liquid to the floor and a rechargeable battery power source provides power to the suction motor. The cleaning device is compact and lightweight and leaves the floor in a substantially dry state. The method includes dispensing cleaning liquid from the bottle provided in the self contained cleaning system and cleaning the floor with the cleaning member and the cleaning liquid. The cleaning member is retracted and contaminated cleaning liquid is wrung from it. The squeegee member collects the contaminated cleaning liquid from the floor and the suction system draws the contaminated cleaning liquid into the tank to leave the floor in a substantially dry state.

Claims

1. A method of mopping and drying a floor with a self contained cordless wet mop cleaning system including a bottle of cleaning liquid, a cleaning member, a squeegee member, a tank for receiving a contaminated cleaning liquid and a suction system, the method comprising the steps of:

dispensing cleaning liquid from the bottle provided in the self contained cleaning system;

cleaning the floor with the cleaning member;

retracting the cleaning member and wringing contaminated cleaning liquid from the cleaning member;

collecting the contaminated cleaning liquid on the floor with the squeegee member; and

drawing the contaminated cleaning liquid into the tank with the suction system to leave the floor in a substantially dry state.

2. The method of mopping and drying of claim 1, wherein the step of retracting the cleaning member correspondingly activates the suction system to draw the contaminated liquid into the tank.