Plural nozzle cleaning implement

• US 8,186,898 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Bradbury, Glenn Allen, Fanta, Keith David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US12/229,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20100043167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 401/25, 401/27, 401136-140, 401/270, 401/278, 401/279, 152/28, 152/31, 153/20, 153/22, 239/548, 239/722, 239/754, 239/543, 239/544
• US Class Current: 401/139
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices

Abstract

A plural nozzle cleaning implement. The nozzles are oriented inwardly, to provide a converging spray pattern. The converging spray pattern provides more coverage of the target surface, which increases residence time of fluid sprayed onto debris.

Claims

1. A head for a cleaning implement, said head having a longitudinal centerline and

comprising:

A front edge having a width, said width being divisible into four quadrants, two outer quadrants and two inner quadrants therebetween, one of said inner quadrants and one of said outer quadrants being disposed on each side of said longitudinal centerline; and

at least two nozzles juxtaposed with said front edge of said head, one said nozzle being disposed in each outer quadrant of said head, each said nozzle being oriented towards said longitudinal centerline to spray a fluid theretowards.

2. A head according to claim 1 wherein said width is defined by two opposed edges and further comprising a means for spraying a fluid from each of said nozzles towards the respective opposed edge, wherein said spray from said nozzle remains within said width defining said edges.

3. A head according to claim 2 wherein said nozzles have an included spray angle of 70 to 80 degrees.

4. A head according to claim 3 wherein said nozzles are oriented at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees relative to said longitudinal centerline.

5. A head according to claim 3 wherein said nozzles are oriented at an angle of 0 to minus 5 degrees relative to the horizontal plane when said head is placed on a horizontal surface.

6. A head according to claim 4 having a front face, wherein each said nozzle is recessed from said from front face.

7. A head according to claim 2 wherein each said nozzle has an asymmetric spray pattern, said asymmetric spray pattern providing a greater spray near said respective edge and a lesser spray near the longitudinal centerline.

8. A head according to claim 2 having a front face and further comprising an abrasive patch removably attached to said front face of said head and disposed between said two nozzles.

9. A head according to claim 8 wherein said abrasive patch has a patch width, said patch width being from 70 to 100 percent of said width of said front edge of said head.

10. A head for a cleaning implement, said head having a front edge, two opposed side edges,

a longitudinal centerline and comprising:

at least two nozzles, one said nozzle being disposed on each side of said longitudinal centerline of said head, each said nozzle being oriented towards said longitudinal centerline to spray a fluid towards and across said longitudinal centerline and towards said respective opposed side edge, wherein each said nozzle sprays with an outboard fluid deposition oriented towards the respective side edge of that nozzle and a centerline deposition oriented towards the centerline of said head, each said outboard deposition being greater than each said centerline deposition.

11. A head according to claim 10 wherein said nozzles are spaced apart a distance of at least 15 cm.

12. A head according to claim 11 having a head width wherein said spray is confined to be within said head width.

13. A head according to claim 12 wherein said spray is directed forward of said front edge of said head a distance of at least about 50 cm.

14. A head according to claim 11 further comprising a third nozzle, said third nozzle being juxtaposed with said longitudinal centerline.

15. A cleaning device having a longitudinal centerline and a transverse width perpendicular

thereto, said device comprising:

a head for contactingly cleaning a target surface;

a reservoir for dispensing fluid to a plurality of transversely spaced apart nozzles through a flow path in fluid communication from said reservoir to each said nozzle;

a check valve disposed in said flow path, said check valve having a single inlet from said reservoir and a plurality of outlets, one said outlet being in communication with a respective said nozzle, said check valve preventing fluid flow from any said nozzle to the another said nozzle.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein said check valve has an operationally biased diaphragm intermediate said inlet and said outlets.

17. A device according to claim 16 further comprising a powered pump, said pump dispensing fluid from said reservoir through said check valve to each of said nozzles.