Carpet stain removal device

• US 7,921,497 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Cook, Stephen B., Rippl, Carl Gerard, Ludka, Brian James, Rajala, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter; Monica S
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWTON, STEPHANIE R
• Application Number:
  US11/529,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20080078042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 15/23, 15/27, 15/481, 15/503, 15/521, 15/98
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/26 Floor-scrubbing machines, hand-driven A47L11/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4077 Skirts or splash guards

Abstract

A floor scrubbing apparatus that is particularly well suited to scrubbing carpet materials is disclosed. The floor scrubbing apparatus is manually operated and includes a drive roller coupled to a scrub roller. In one embodiment, the drive roller is coupled to the scrub roller using a gear arrangement that causes the scrub roller to rotate faster than the drive roller. If desired, the apparatus can include a cleaning fluid dispensing system. For instance, the apparatus can include one or more nozzles that dispense a cleaning fluid onto a carpet material as the material is being cleaned.

Claims

1. A floor scrubbing apparatus comprising:

a handle;

a rotating roller arrangement attached to the handle, the roller arrangement including a drive roller in operative association with a scrub roller, the drive roller and scrub roller being positioned substantially along a common axis; and

a gear arrangement connecting the drive roller to the scrub roller, the gear arrangement causing the scrub roller to rotate when the drive roller is rotated, the gear arrangement being further configured to rotate the scrub roller at a faster rate than the drive roller;

at least one nozzle positioned to emit a cleaning fluid on or near the scrub roller;

a trigger actuated pump in fluid communication with the nozzle, the pump being configured to pump the cleaning fluid through the nozzle; and

wherein the scrub roller comprises a mandrel adapted to receive a scrubbing sleeve, the scrubbing sleeve comprising a liquid absorbent and compressible material.

2. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the gear arrangement comprises a planetary gear set, the planetary gear set comprising a stationary ring gear, a sun gear, and a plurality of planet gears positioned in between the sun gear and the ring gear, the planet gears rotating around the ring gear as the drive roller is rotated causing the sun gear to rotate, the sun gear, in turn, causing the scrub roller to rotate.

3. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the gear arrangement is in communication with a clutch device that only permits the scrub roller to rotate when the drive roller is rotating in a single and preselected direction.

4. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the clutch device comprises an inner collar that is in communication with the scrub roller, the inner collar defining a plurality of bearing engagement members, the clutch device further comprising a plurality of bearing elements positioned along an outer circumference of the inner collar, the bearing elements being positioned between the inner collar and an outer collar that is rotated by the gear arrangement, and wherein, when the outer collar is rotated in a first direction, the bearing elements engage the bearing engagement members causing the inner collar to rotate, and, when the outer collar is rotated in a second and opposite direction, the bearing elements travel along the circumference of the inner collar without rotating.

5. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a shield member that partially encircles the scrub roller.

6. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive roller includes a largest diameter that tapers to a smallest diameter.

7. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive roller includes a middle portion positioned in between a first end portion and a second end portion, the middle portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first and second end portions, the middle portion gradually tapering from the middle portion to each of the end portions.

8. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the scrub roller comprises a mandrel covered by a compressible layer.

9. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the scrub roller further comprises an inflatable bladder positioned in between the mandrel and the scrubbing sleeve, the inflatable bladder being configured to hold the scrubbing sleeve in place when inflated.

14. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a reservoir in communication with the at least one nozzle, the reservoir for holding the cleaning fluid.

15. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the handle defines an internal compartment that comprises the reservoir.

16. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the reservoir is a container that is separable from the handle.

10. A floor scrubbing apparatus comprising:

a handle; and

a rotating roller arrangement attached to the handle, the roller arrangement including a drive roller in operative association with a scrub roller, the drive roller and the scrub roller being positioned substantially along a common axis and being coupled together such that the scrub roller is driven by the drive roller when the drive roller is rotated, the drive roller having a first end and a second end and including at least one tapered surface that gradually tapers from a greatest diameter to a smaller diameter, the smaller diameter being generally located at the first end;

wherein the scrub roller comprises a mandrel adapted to receive a scrubbing sleeve, the scrubbing sleeve comprising a liquid absorbent and compressible material.

11. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the drive roller includes a middle portion positioned between the first end and the second end, the greatest diameter being located in the middle portion, the drive roller including a first tapered surface that gradually tapers from the middle portion to the first end and a second tapered surface that gradually tapers from the middle portion to the second end.

12. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a gear arrangement connecting the drive roller to the scrub roller, the gear arrangement being configured to rotate the scrub roller at a faster rate than the drive roller.

13. A floor scrubbing apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the gear arrangement is in communication with a clutch device that only permits the scrub roller to rotate when the drive roller is rotating in a single and preselected direction.