Cleaning apparatus

• US 8,397,343 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U.S. Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U.S. Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/549,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20120279526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/21, 153/271, 239/128, 239/135, 239/722, 239/754, 413/234, 417/234
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4002 Installations of electric equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• 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: B08B 2203/007 Heating the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus is described and which includes a housing which is moveable across a supporting surface; a first electrically actuated fluid pump which is mounted in the housing, and which is operable to deliver a first stream of fluid at a pressure of at least about 150 PSI to less than about 1200 PSI; a second electrically actuated fluid pump which is mounted in the housing, and which is operable to deliver a second stream of fluid, at a pressure, of less than about 600 PSI; and an electrically actuated heater which is mounted in the housing, and which is operable to impart heat energy to the second fluid stream.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a compartment configured to hold a fluid;

a first fluid pump secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the compartment, the first fluid pump configured to deliver the fluid from the compartment under pressure;

a second fluid pump discrete from the first fluid pump and secured to the housing, the second fluid pump configured to deliver the fluid from the compartment under pressure; and

a third pump discrete from the first and second fluid pumps, the third pump secured to the housing.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid pumps is configured to provide a pressure comprising at least about 150 PSI.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid pumps is configured to provide an uppermost pressure comprising less than about 600 PSI.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid pumps is configured to provide an uppermost pressure comprising less than about 1,200 PSI.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fluid pump is configured to provide a first uppermost pressure, and wherein the second fluid pump is configured to provide a second uppermost pressure that is different from the first uppermost pressure.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second uppermost pressures comprises less than about 1,200 PSI.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second uppermost pressures comprises less than about 600 PSI.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first uppermost pressure comprises less than about 600 PSI, and wherein the second uppermost pressure comprises less than about 1,200 PSI.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third pump is configured to dump a fluid from the housing.

10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third pump comprises a vacuum pump.

11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth pump discrete from the third pump and discrete from the first and second fluid pumps, the fourth pump secured to the housing.

12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the third pump comprises a discharge pump, and wherein the fourth pump comprises a vacuum pump.

13. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a housing comprising a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment is discrete and separate from the second compartment, both the first and second compartments configured to hold fluids;

a first fluid pump secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the first compartment, the first fluid pump configured to deliver fluid from the first compartment under pressure;

a second fluid pump discrete from the first fluid pump and secured to the housing, the second fluid pump configured to deliver fluid from the first compartment under pressure;

first electrical circuitry in the housing configured to communication with an electrical power source, the first electrical circuitry in electrical communication with the first fluid pump;

second electrical circuitry in the housing configured to communication with an electrical power source, the second electrical circuitry in electrical communication with the second fluid pump; and

a third pump secured to the housing and discrete from the first and second fluid pumps, the third pump is in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second compartments and in electrical communication with at least one of the first and second electrical circuitries.

14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a fourth pump discrete from the third pump and secured to the housing, the fourth pump is discrete from the first and second fluid pumps, the fourth pump is in fluid communication with the first compartment and in electrical communication with at the first electrical circuitry.

15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a heater secured to the housing and in thermal communication with the first compartment, the heater is in electrical communication with at least one of the first and second electrical circuitries.

16. The cleaning apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a heater secured to the housing and in thermal communication with the first compartment, the heater is in electrical communication with the first electrical circuitry; and

a switch secured to the housing and in electrical communication with the first electrical circuitry, the switch configured to alternate electrical communication between the heater and the first fluid pump.

17. The cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid pumps is configured to provide an uppermost pressure comprising less than about 600 PSI.

18. The cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid pumps is configured to provide an uppermost pressure comprising less than about 1,200 PSI.

19. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a housing comprising a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment is discrete and separate from the second compartment, both the first and second compartments configured to hold fluids;

a first fluid pump secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the first compartment, the first fluid pump configured to deliver fluid from the first compartment under pressure;

a second fluid pump discrete from the first fluid pump and secured to the housing, the second fluid pump configured to deliver fluid from the first compartment under pressure;

first electrical circuitry in the housing configured to communication with an electrical power source, the first electrical circuitry in electrical communication with the first fluid pump;

second electrical circuitry in the housing configured to communication with an electrical power source, the second electrical circuitry in electrical communication with the second fluid pump;

a third pump discrete from the first and second fluid pumps and secured to the housing, the third pump is in fluid communication with the first compartment and in electrical communication with the first electrical circuitry; and

a fourth pump discrete from the third pump and secured to the housing, the fourth pump is discrete from the first and second fluid pumps, the fourth pump is in fluid communication with the first compartment and in electrical communication with at the first electrical circuitry.

20. The cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid pumps is configured to provide an uppermost pressure comprising less than about 600 PSI.

21. The cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid pumps is configured to provide an uppermost pressure comprising less than about 1,200 PSI.