Multi-purpose position sensitive floor cleaning device

• US 6,572,711 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Alford, William G., Thomas, Kevin L., Sclafani, Adam C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/727,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20020066153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/19, 153/39, 153/28, 134/21
• US Class Current: 134/21
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/26 Floor-scrubbing machines, hand-driven A47L11/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0019 Details of the casing
• 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 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2863 Control elements activated by pivoting movement of the upright vacuum cleaner handle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2878 Dual-powered vacuum cleaners, i.e. devices which can be operated with mains power supply or by batteries

Abstract

This invention relates to a multi-purpose position sensitive floor cleaning device having two separate and distinct selective modes of operation whereby 180° longitudinal rotation of the floor cleaning device selectively activates one of the two separate and distinct selective modes of operation. The two separate and distinct selective modes of operation are, for example, a scrubbing mode for scrubbing an associated floor and a suctioning mode for suctioning associated liquid from the associated floor.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a floor cleaning device having a first mode of operation for performing a first cleaning function and a second mode of operation for performing a second cleaning function, said first and second modes of operation being separate and distinct whereby 180°

rotation of said floor cleaning device about its longitudinal axis changes operation of the floor cleaning device between said first and second modes.

19. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first mode of operation acts to scrub a floor surface and the second mode of operation acts to remove a liquid from the floor surface.

20. The device as claimed in claim 1, further including a switch that changes the operation of the floor cleaning device between the first and second modes when the floor cleaning device is rotated about its longitudinal axis.

21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said switch comprises a gravity switch, said gravity switch activating one of said first and second modes of operation due to the change in gravitational force acting on said gravity switch when the cleaning device is rotated about its longitudinal axis.

2. An improved floor cleaning device having a longitudinal axis with a cleaning implement at a first end of the longitudinal axis and a handle at a second end of the longitudinal axis, a motor being located between the first and second ends for operating the cleaning implement, the improvement comprising:

a switch for activating and deactivating the motor, said switch activating the motor when the floor care device is rotated about the longitudinal axis and when the cleaning implement is placed in a first position, and said switch deactivating the motor when said floor care device is rotated about the longitudinal axis to place the cleaning implement in a second position.

3. The improved floor cleaning device of claim 2, wherein said rotation of said floor care device to place the cleaning implement in the first position is a 180°

rotation.

4. An improved floor cleaning device for cleaning a bare floor, the improved floor cleaning device having a longitudinal axis, a handle and a housing, the housing having first and second ends wherein the first end of said housing is attached to the handle, said improvement comprising:

at least one implement operatively attached to said second end of said housing, said at least one implement having operable and inoperable positions;

at least one motor operatively connected to said at least one implement;

a power supply for supplying power to said improved floor cleaning device;

a switch for activating and deactivating said power supply for supplying power; and

means for activating and deactivating said at least one motor, said means for activating and deactivating said at least one motor activating said motor by rotating said improved cleaning device 180°

about its longitudinal axis such that said at least one implement is in the operable position, said means for activating and deactivating said at least one motor selectively deactivating said at least one motor when said cleaning device is rotated about said longitudinal axis such that said at least one implement is in the inoperable position.

5. The improved floor cleaning device of claim 4, wherein:

said at least two separate and distinct modes of operation comprise a cleaning mode and a suction mode;

said at least one implement operatively attached to said second end of said housing comprises two implements, said two implements being a power-driven brush and a pump communicating with a nozzle for dispensing a cleaner, said power-driven brush and said pump being located substantially opposite one another;

said means for activating and deactivating said means for supplying power comprises a first switch;

said at least one motor comprises first and second motors; and

,

said means for activating and deactivating said at least one motor comprises a gravity switch connected to said second motor.

6. A floor cleaning device comprising:

a motor housing having first and second ends;

a handle attached to the first end of the motor housing;

a cleaning housing having first and second ends, the first end of the cleaning housing attached to the second end of the motor housing;

a cleaning solution delivery system for delivering unused cleaning solution to a floor surface, the cleaning solution delivery system positioned within the cleaning housing;

a recovery tank for holding dirty cleaning solution, the recovery tank positioned within the cleaning housing;

a nozzle attached to the second end of the cleaning housing, and;

a power supply system positioned within the motor housing, the power supply system having a master power switch having first and second positions, wherein when the master power switch is in the first position, power is not provided to the floor cleaning device;

a pump;

a suction motor operatively connected to the pump; and

a gravity switch operatively connected to the power supply system and the suction motor, the gravity switch selectively turning on the suction motor when the cleaning device is rotated about its longitudinal axis such that said nozzle faces a floor surface, the gravity switch selectively turning off the suction motor when the cleaning device is rotated about its longitudinal axis such that the nozzle faces away from the floor surface.

7. The floor cleaning device of claim 6, further comprising a stationary brush operatively attached to the nozzle.

8. The floor cleaning device of claim 6 further comprising:

a power driven brush operatively attached to the nozzle;

a brush motor operatively connected to the power driven brush, and;

the gravity switch operatively connected to the brush motor, the gravity switch selectively turning on the brush motor when the cleaning device is rotated or flipped about its longitudinal axis such that the power driven brush faces the floor surface, the gravity switch selectively turning off the brush motor when the cleaning device is rotated or flipped about its longitudinal axis such that power driven brush faces away from the floor surface.

9. The floor cleaning device of claim 8 wherein said nozzle has a squeegee.

10. The floor cleaning device of claim 8 wherein said power supply is at least one battery.

11. The floor cleaning device of claim 10 wherein said at least one battery is rechargeable.

12. The floor cleaning device of claim 8 wherein said power means is a direct AC power supply.

13. The floor cleaning device of claim 8 wherein said gravity switch is a mercury type switch.

14. The floor cleaning device of claim 8 wherein said gravity switch is a weighted micro-switch.

15. The floor cleaning device of claim 8 further including a reflecting plate positioned within said cleaning assembly for deflecting dirty cleaning solution into said recovery tank.

16. A method of cleaning a floor surface with a floor cleaning device having at least two modes of operation, at least one power source, at least one switch for activating/deactivating said floor cleaning device, said modes of operation being located opposite one another on said floor cleaning device, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the floor cleaning device in a first position contacting the floor;

cleaning the floor with the floor cleaning device in the first position;

rotating the entire cleaning device a first time to activate the power source for supplying power to the floor cleaning device;

rotating the cleaning device a second time to deactivate the means for supplying power to the floor cleaning device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first rotation of the device is a 180°

rotation.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the floor cleaning device further comprises first and second implements mounted opposite one another on said floor cleaning device and selectively contact said floor, and wherein said step of rotating said device a first time results in either said first or said second implement contacting said surface of said floor.