Extraction cleaning with oxidizing agent

• US 7,862,623 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Jesse J., Hansen, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ogden, Jr.; Necholus
• Application Number:
  US09/589,973
• Time in Patent Office: 3,862 Days
• Field of Search: D32/15, D32/17, D32/18, D32/21, D32/32, 153/02, 153/20, 153/21, 510/278, 510/280, 510/309, 510/405
• US Class Current: 8/111
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• 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 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4086 Arrangements for steam generation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• 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: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/46 applying energy, e.g. irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0031 Carpet, upholstery, fur or leather cleansers
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/39 : Organic or inorganic per-compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3905 : Bleach activators or bleach catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3917 : Nitrogen-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 : Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/3254 : Esters or carbonates thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/54 : with pinion and rack
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/00 : Ohmic-resistance heating

Abstract

A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a base module for movement along the surface; an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module; a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank mounted to the handle or the base module, a dispensing nozzle mounted to the base module for applying a cleaning fluid to an upholstery or carpet surface to be cleaned, and a heater for heating the fluid to be applied to the surface to be cleaned to a temperature less than boiling; a fluid recovery tank mounted to the handle or the base module for holding recovered fluid; a suction nozzle associated with the base module; a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle; and a vacuum source and fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery tank to thereby recovering fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery tank. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface in which a fluid cleaning solution is contained in a tank and dispensed on the surface through a nozzle and the cleaning solution is recovered from the surface with suction and deposited into a recovery tank includes, according to the invention, the steps of admixing an oxidizing agent with the cleaning solution, and heating the admixture prior to the step of dispensing the cleaning solution onto the surface to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface in which a fluid carpet or upholstery cleaning solution is dispensed onto the upholstery or carpet surface to be cleaned and the cleaning solution is recovered from the surface with suction, comprising the steps of:

admixing an oxidizing agent with the cleaning solution prior to the step of dispensing the cleaning solution onto the upholstery or carpet surface; and

heating the cleaning solution before the admixing step to heat the admixture.

2. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 1 wherein the oxidizing agent comprises a preformed peracid compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, percarboxylic acid and salts, percarbonic acids and salts, perimidic acids and salts, peroxymonosulfuric acids and salts, and mixtures thereof, a persalt or a peroxide compound.

3. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 2 wherein the oxidizing agent further includes an activator.

4. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 3 wherein the activator is selected from the group consisting of tetraacetylethylenediamine, sodium octanoyloxybenzene sulfonate, sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate, sodium decanoyloxybenzene sulfonate, (6-octanamido-caproyl)oxybenzenesulfonate, (6-nonanamido-caproyl)oxybenzenesulfonate, 6-decanamido-caproyl)oxybenzenesulfonate, and mixtures thereof.

5. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 4 wherein the activator is tetraacetylethylenediamine.

6. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 4 wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of perborate compounds, percarbonate compounds, perphosphate compounds and mixtures thereof.

7. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 6 wherein the admixture is at a temperature in the range of 120 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit during the dispensing step.

8. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 7 wherein the admixture is mixed with heated air to further heat the admixture and further comprising the step of heating the air before the step of mixing the admixture with heated air.

9. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of heating the admixture inline in a heater between the admixing step and the dispensing step.

10. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 9 wherein the admixture is heated to a temperature in the range of 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit within 20 seconds.

11. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 1 wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of perborate compounds, percarbonate compounds, perphosphate compounds and mixtures thereof.

12. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 1 wherein the admixture is at a temperature in the range of 120 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit during the dispensing step.

13. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 12 wherein the admixture is mixed with heated air to heat the admixture and further comprising the step of heating the air before the step of mixing the admixture with heated air.

14. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 12 and further comprising the step of further heating the admixture inline in a heater between the admixing step and the dispensing step.

15. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 14 wherein the admixture is heated to a temperature in the range of 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit within 20 seconds.

16. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 12 and further comprising the step of heating the cleaning solution before the admixing step to heat the admixture.

17. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of further heating the admixture inline in a heater between the admixing step and the dispensing step.

18. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 17 wherein the admixture is heated to a temperature in the range of 120 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit within 20 seconds.

19. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning solution is dispensed through a nozzle onto the surface to be cleaned.

20. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning solution includes an anionic and/or nonionic surfactant, an anti-soiling agent and an organic solvent.

21. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 20 wherein the anti-soiling agent is selected from the group consisting of polymerized styrene/maleic anhydride, acrylate copolymer, fluoro-chemical compounds and mixtures thereof.

22. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 21 wherein the organic solvent is glycol ether.

23. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 20 wherein the organic solvent is glycol ether.

24. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 20 wherein the cleaning solution includes a fragrance.

25. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface according to claim 1 wherein the admixture is at a temperature well above room temperature during the dispensing step.

26. A method for cleaning an upholstery or carpet surface in which a fluid carpet or upholstery cleaning solution is dispensed onto the upholstery or carpet surface to be cleaned and the cleaning solution is recovered from the surface with suction, comprising the steps of:

admixing an oxidizing agent with the cleaning solution prior to the step of dispensing the cleaning solution onto the upholstery or carpet surface;

mixing the admixture with heated air to heat the admixture; and

heating the air before the step of mixing the admixture with heated air.