Method of cleaning a surface

• US 6,986,619 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Flagler, Robert W., Hall, Michael J., Zhou, Boli, Minkler, Douglas J., Haubrich, Scott T., Olsen, Sharon, Porticos, Richard, Mitra, Shumanta, Park, Eric Y., Rader, James E., Sayler, David J., Hefter, Karen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/859,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 401136-140
• US Class Current: 401/140
• 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 13/312 supplied with liquid wax or oil
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/44 Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement

Abstract

A method for cleaning a surface using a tool with both a cleaning head and a cleaning fluid reservoir housing coupled to an elongated handle, the method comprising the following steps: attaching a cleaning pad to the cleaning head; inserting a replaceable cleaning fluid reservoir into the housing; fluidically coupling the cleaning fluid reservoir to the cleaning head; dispensing controlled amounts of cleaning fluid from the reservoir onto a surface; and distributing the cleaning fluid evenly over the surface with the cleaning pad.

Claims

1. A method for use of a gravity-fed cleaning system with replaceable cleaning fluid reservoir, the method comprising the following steps performed in the indicated order:

initially, obtaining a unitary handle portion, the unitary handle portion having;

(1) a proximal portion with a single-handed handle gripping portion and a trigger-style actuator;

(2) a central elongated portion having a removable fluid reservoir housing portion and fluid actuator mechanism; and

(3) a distal portion, coupled to the central portion with a rotatable, universal joint swivel mechanism, the distal portion having an essentially rectangular-shaped cleaning head portion with a plurality of mechanical attaching mechanisms located on an outer top portion of the cleaning head portion;

secondly, obtaining a unitary replaceable self-contained fluid path portion, the unitary replaceable fluid path portion having;

(1) a canister-style fluid reservoir portion with sealable connector for sealably coupling to a sealable cap portion;

(2) a sealable cap portion having a sealing portion for sealing to the fluid reservoir portion;

(3) a normally-closed, fluid valve for communicating cleaning fluid therethrough from inside of the fluid reservoir portion to beyond as desired;

(4) a portion of flexible tubing, the tubing having a first end connected to the downstream-end of the fluid valve; and

(5) a nozzle with a plurality of orifices, the nozzle coupled to a second end of the portion of flexible tubing;

thirdly, removably installing the fluid reservoir portion of the unitary fluid path portion into the housing portion of the central elongated portion of the unitary handle portion in an inverted position;

fourthly, removably coupling the nozzle portion connected to the flexible tubing portion of the unitary fluid path portion directly to the cleaning head portion of the distal end portion of the unitary handle portion;

fifthly, operating the trigger-style actuator at the proximal end of the unitary handle portion such that cleaning fluid is allowed to flow via gravity from the fluid reservoir portion of the unitary fluid path portion through the valve, flexible tubing and nozzle portions of the unitary fluid path portion in a plurality of individual streams onto the surface to be cleaned in front of the cleaning head portion at the distal end of the unitary handle portion without communication between the cleaning fluid and the unitary handle portion.