Steam broom for floor cleaning

• US 7,891,047 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plastecs S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Euroflex S.r.l.
• Inventors: Milanese, Pierantonio
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US11/885,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 15319-322, 153/28, 153/51, 154/12
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4075 Handles; levers
• 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 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/225 Steam mops

Abstract

It is a new steam broom for floor cleaning with a boiler (C) for steam production connected to two ducts for steam delivery, the delivery duct (CF) for front jets and the delivery duct (C1) for lower jets and a detergent delivery duct (CD), the opening or closing of the valve (VU) for steam output from the boiler is controlled by the operation device (DA), connected to the arm (M1) of the handle (M), so that the rotation of said arm (M1) around the hinge (M′) causes the displacement of said operating device (DA), thus causing the opening of said output valve (Vu). Said boiler (C) comprises two pressure gauges (P1) and (P2), a device for jet deflection (D) shuts one or more delivery ducts (CF), (C1) and (CD) by compressing them.

Claims

1. A steam broom for floor cleaning comprising:

a main body comprising a boiler, said boiler comprising;

a heating element;

a safety valve;

a primary gauge comprising one or both of a first temperature and a first pressure gauge;

an inlet hole for feeding water;

an outlet hole;

an outlet duct positioned adjacent said outlet hole; and

an output valve adapted for selectively shutting said outlet duct;

a handle linked to the main body by means of a fork having first and second arms, said handle attached to the fork by first and second hinges;

an operating device linked to the first arm so that rotation of said first arm around the first hinge causes displacement of said operating device, thus opening or shutting said output valve;

first nozzles and second nozzles for steam delivery inserted in the main body.

2. The steam broom of claim 1, wherein said first nozzles are located forwardly on said main body.

3. The steam broom of claim 2, wherein said second nozzles are located underneath said main body.

4. The steam broom of claim 3, wherein said output duct is connected to first and second steam delivery ducts, wherein the first steam delivery duct provides steam to the first nozzles, and the second steam delivery duct provides steam to the second nozzles.

5. The steam broom of claim 4, wherein said boiler comprises a switch having closed and open states which are determined by rotation of the second arm around the second hinge, thus allowing connection/disconnection of said heating element with an electric power supply circuit, while bypassing said primary gauge to prevent the electrical power supply circuit from causing a first temperature and/or a first pressure in excess of a first temperature and/or first pressure value set at said primary gauge.

6. The steam broom of claim 5, wherein said boiler further comprises a secondary gauge comprising one or both of a second temperature and a second pressure gauge set at a second temperature and/or second pressure limit value higher than the first temperature and/or first pressure value of said primary gauge.

7. The steam broom of claim 6, further comprising a reservoir containing detergent and a detergent delivery duct, which connects said reservoir to one or both of said first and second steam delivery ducts, wherein through a Venturi effect the detergent is sucked into said one or both of said first and second steam delivery ducts and is mixed with steam and dispensed.

8. The steam broom of claim 7, further comprising a slider suitable for opening or shutting one or more of said steam and detergent delivery ducts.

9. The steam broom of claim 8, wherein said slider cannot shut any of said steam and detergent delivery ducts during a starting position.

10. The steam broom of claim 9, wherein said slider has a first position in which it only shuts said second steam delivery duct.

11. The steam broom of claim 10, wherein said slider further has a second position in which it shuts said second steam delivery duct and said detergent delivery duct.

12. The steam broom of claim 11, wherein said slider further has a third position in which it only shuts said detergent delivery duct.

13. The steam broom of claim 12, wherein said slider further has a fourth position in which it shuts said first steam delivery duct and said detergent delivery duct.

14. The steam broom of claim 13, wherein said slider further has a fifth position in which it only shuts said first steam delivery duct.

15. The steam broom of claim 14, wherein said steam delivery and detergent ducts are made of flexible silicone.