GB2232068A - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Cleaning apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2232068A
GB2232068A GB9010439A GB9010439A GB2232068A GB 2232068 A GB2232068 A GB 2232068A GB 9010439 A GB9010439 A GB 9010439A GB 9010439 A GB9010439 A GB 9010439A GB 2232068 A GB2232068 A GB 2232068A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cleaning apparatus
cleaning
housing
pump
container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9010439A
Other versions
GB9010439D0 (en
GB2232068B (en
Inventor
Kenneth Sidney Tedder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9010439D0 publication Critical patent/GB9010439D0/en
Publication of GB2232068A publication Critical patent/GB2232068A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2232068B publication Critical patent/GB2232068B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40Parts 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
    • A47L11/4011Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/34Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40Parts 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
    • A47L11/4036Parts or details of the surface treating tools
    • A47L11/4044Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B15/00Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
    • B05B15/60Arrangements for mounting, supporting or holding spraying apparatus
    • B05B15/65Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits
    • B05B15/656Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits whereby the flow conduit length is changeable
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B9/00Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour
    • B05B9/03Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material
    • B05B9/04Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump
    • B05B9/08Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type
    • B05B9/085Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type with a liquid pump
    • B05B9/0855Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type with a liquid pump the pump being motor-driven
    • B05B9/0861Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type with a liquid pump the pump being motor-driven the motor being electric

Landscapes

  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Abstract

Cleaning apparatus (2) for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture e.g. settees, armchairs, comprises a housing (4), a container (6) for a cleaning solution, a spray device (8) for spraying the solution on to an area to be cleaned, a pump (10) for pumping the solution from the container to the spray device, a pump (12) for sucking up dirty solution from the area to leave the area clean, a suction device (14) via which the dirty solution is sucked, and a container (16) for receiving the dirty solution, the cleaning apparatus being such that it is electrically driven, portable and hand-holdable. The apparatus may be battery or mains operated. The cleaning solution may be heated by a heating element in container (6). <IMAGE>

Description

CLEANING APPARATUS This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and, more especially, this invention relates to cleaning apparatus for cleaning small areas of carpets and furniture.
Cleaning apparatus for cleaning carpets and furniture is traditionally large. The known cleaning apparatus usually has a hand held cleaning section and a long run of pipes connecting to a large piece of equipment which contains substantially all the working parts of the cleaning apparatus. The large piece of cleaning equipment is extremely bulky, as are the pipes.
The cleaning apparatus is thus heavy and cumbersome to move and it is totally unsuited for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture, these small areas of carpet and furniture often being the sole areas that require cleaning.
It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.
Accordingly, this invention provides cleaning apparatus for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture, which cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a first container for receiving a clean solution of a cleaning chemical, a spray device for spraying the clean solution on to an area to be cleaned, a first pump for pumping the clean solution from the first container to the spray device, a second pump for sucking up dirty solution from the area to leave the area clean, a suction device via which the dirty solution is sucked, and a second container for receiving the dirty solution, the cleaning apparatus being such that it is electrically driven, the first and second containers and the first and second pumps all being provided in the housing, and the housing being of such a size that the cleaning apparatus is portable and hand-holdable so that the cleaning apparatus is constructed and adapted specifically for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture.
The cleaning apparatus of the present invention is thus such that it can easily be stored and easily be used. The cleaning apparatus can thus be owned by individuals and used in homes, instead of having to call out professional cleaning personnel.
In addition, the cleaning apparatus of the present invention can be used by professional cleaning personnel in order to save time where only a small area or small areas of carpet or furniture need to be cleaned and the provision of the large and bulky known cleaning apparatus is inappropriate. The furniture to be cleaned will typically be settees, armchairs, and other chairs having fabric parts.
Preferably, the spray device and the suction device are both housed in a head which extends from a front part of the housing.
The head is preferably rotatably secured to the housing for ease of cleaning.
The head may be rotatably secured to the housing by any suitable and appropriate means. A screw clamp arrangement is presently preferred. With a rotatable head, the head can be inclined at an appropriate angle to the surface requiring cleaning.
The cleaning apparatus will usually be one in which the first and the second containers are tanks, in which the first pump is a spray pump, and in which the second pump is a suction pump. The tanks and the pumps will all be of a small size so that they can be provided as appropriate in the housing.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a perspective view of first cleaning apparatus; Figure 2 is a circuit layout of the various components forming the first cleaning apparatus; Figure 3 is a perspective view of second cleaning apparatus; Figures 4 and 5 are respectively side and front schematic views of the second cleaning apparatus; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a head part of the second cleaning apparatus.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown cleaning apparatus 2 for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture. The cleaning apparatus 2 comprises a housing 4, a first container 6 for receiving a clean solution of a cleaning chemical, and a spray device 8 for spraying the clean solution on to an area to be cleaned. The cleaning apparatus 2 further comprises a first pump 10 for pumping the clean solution from the first container 6 to the spray device 8. The cleaning apparatus 2 further comprises a second pump 12 for sucking up dirty solution from the area to leave the area clean. The dirty solution is sucked up via a suction device 14. The dirty solution is sucked into a second container 16.
The cleaning apparatus 2 is such that it is electrically driven via a mains cable 18. The first and the second containers 6, 16 and the first and the second pumps 10,12 are all provided in the housing 4. The housing 4 is of such a size that the cleaning apparatus 2 is portable and hand-holdable. Thus the cleaning apparatus 2 is constructed and adapted specifically for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture such for example settees, armchairs and chairs.
The spray device 8 gives a jet spray. The spray device 8 and the suction device are both housed in a head 20 which extends from a front part of the housing 4. More specifically, the head 20 is shaped as shown most clearly in Figure 1 and it has an extension tube 22. The extension tube 22 fits inside an extension tube 24 which extends from the front of the housing 4.
The extension 22 can rotate in the extension tube 24 so that the head 20 can be inclined at any appropriate angle with respect to the housing 4. Thus, the head 20 can be appropriately laid on various parts of furniture that are stained, irrespective of the angle of inclination of that part of the furniture.
As shown in Figure 1, the extension tube 24 is provided with three button members 26 which co-operate with recessed parts (not shown) in the extension tube 22 to secure the extension tube 22 at a desired rotational angle with respect to the housing 4. In an alternative and preferred construction, a screw clamp arrangement (not shown) is employed for enabling the extension tube 22 to rotate with respect to the extension tube 24 and the housing 4, and then to be retained in a desired rotated position. With the screw clamp arrangement, it is merely necessary to unscrew a screw collar to release the extension tube 22, whereafter the head 20 can be rotated and the screw collar tightened to hold the head 20 in its desired rotated position. Other arrangements for rotatably securing the head with respect to the housing may be employed.
The first and the second containers 6,16 are tanks. The first pump 10 is a spray pump, and the second pump 12 is a suction pump. The first and the second containers 6, 16 and the first and the second pump 10, 12 are all small in size so that they can be housed in the housing 4. The clean solution of the cleaning chemical is provided in the first container 6 via a filler plug 28. The first container 6 may also incorporate a filter (not shown).
The second container 16 is provided with a drainage plug 30 so that the second container 16 can be emptied as and when appropriate. The second container 16 incorporates appropriate non-return valves (not shown) so that water or other liquid in the second container 16 is not sucked by the second pump 12 out of the second container 16 and into the second pump 12.
A short run of pipe 32 provides a dirty solution return pipe from the suction device 14 to the second container 16. A short run of pipe 34 connects the second pump 12 to the second container 16 for the purposes of providing a suction inside the second container 16.
The first pump 10 is connected by a short pipe 36 to the first container 6. A short pipe 38 connects the first pump 10 to a clean liquid release trigger 40. On operation of the release trigger 40, the first pwnp 10 is able to force liquid from the first container 6 along the pipe 38, along a pipe 42 to the spray device 8. An on/off switch 44 is provided for the first pump 10. An on/off switch 46 is provided for the second pump 12. Both switches 44, 46 are provided with an indicator light to indicate whether or not each switch 44,46 is on or off. When the switch 44 is on, the first pump 10 is activated and is ready to pump the clean fluid but the fluid will not be pumped along the pipe 42 to the spray device 8 until the release trigger 40 is appropriately released to open up a connection between the pipes 38 and 42.
The cleaning apparatus 2 will usually contain a cleaning chemical in a solution of water. The cleaning chemical may be a carpet/furniture shampoo or any other desired and appropriate chemical.
As shown in Figure 1, the housing 4 is provided with air release vents 48,50 to avoid an air build up inside the housing 4.
The cleaning apparatus 2 is hand held and it may be regarded as a miniature steam vacuum machine. The sprayed cleaning liquid can be hot or cold as may be desired. Where the sprayed cleaning liquid is to be hot, then an appropriate heating element (not shown) may be provided, for example in the first container 6.
Referring now to Figures 3,4,5 and 6 there is shown second cleaning apparatus 2. In Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 similar parts as in Figures 1 and 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.
Figure 3 shows that the extension tube 24 is flexible as compared with the rigid extension tube 24 shown in Figure 1. The flexible extension tube 24 is able to be pulled out of the housing 4 and pushed back into the housing 4 so that the most suitable length of extension tube 24 is always available. The extension tube 24 is moved in and out of the housing 4 by pushing and pulling on a lever 56 which operates in a slot 58 in the housing 4.
Figure 3 also shows how only one handle 52 is employed, this handle 52 being located on top of the housing 4 as shown.
The housing 4 in Figure 3 has a reception portion 60 for receiving the head 20. The head 20 is retained in position in the reception portion 60 by a pair of clips 62.
Figure 4 shows somewhat schematically the layout of the various components in the second apparatus 2 shown in Figure 2. In particular, Figure 4 shows how the second container 16 has a valve 64. The valve 64 has a float 66 operating in a chamber 68. The valve 64 operates such that the float 66 can rise and seat against the pipe section 70to isolate the second pump 12 when it is sucking up dirty solution into the second container 16.
Figure 5 illustrates somewhat schematically how the second container 16 can be slid in and out of the housing 4. A spring lever 72 is employed. The spring lever 72 is operatively connected to the valve 64 so that the spring lever 72 and the valve 64 are able to pivot in an anti-clockwise manner as the second container 16 is pulled out of the housing 4, and to pivot in a clockwise manner as the second container 16 is pushed back into the housing 4. As the second container 16 is pushed back intothehousing 4,it will contact the spring lever 72 which will then be in a vertical position and it will rotate the spring lever 72 and the valve 64 through approximately 900 back to the position shown in Figure 5.
Figure 6 shows how the head 20 is provided with a trigger lever 74 which operates to release pressure in the head 20 when desired. Thus the trigger lever 74 acts to control the spray from the spray device 8.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the cleaning apparatus 2 may be battery operated if desired, or the cleaning apparatus 2 can be such that it operates on mains electricity or a battery supply. Where a battery supply is used, then rechargeable batteries may be provided. The shape of the housing 4 can be varied as may be desired. Similarly, the shape of the head 20 may be varied as may be desired.
The housing 4 is advantageously provided with a pair of gripping handles 52, 54 and the shape of these gripping handles and their position of the housing 4 may be varied as may be desired.
As the cleaning apparatus 2 operates, the clean liquid may be sprayed on to the area to be cleaned via the spray device 8, and it will then very shortly thereafter be sucked up along with the dirt via the suction device 14. Thus small stains and the like can very easily be removed. The size of the first and the second containers 6, 16 is preferably such that the cleaning apparatus 2 is able to operate for a practical period of time such for example as ten minutes. Any desired and appropriate valves may be employed to stop the escape of water or other cleaning liquid inside the various parts in the housing 4. The indicator lights for the switches 44, 46 may be neon indicator lights or any other suitable indicator lights. The cleaning liquid may advantageously be a shampoo solution.
Preferably, the size of the container apparatus 2 shown in Figure 3 is such that it is 10.5 inches long and 8.5 inches wide (26.67cm long and 21.59cm wide).

Claims (6)

1. Cleaning apparatus for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture, which cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a first container for receiving a clean solution of a cleaning chemical, a spray device for spraying the clean solution on to an area to be cleaned, a first pump for pumping the clean solution from the first container to the spray device, a second pump for sucking up dirty solution from the area to leave the area clean, a suction device via which the dirty solution is sucked, and a second container for receiving the dirty solution, the cleaning apparatus being such that it is electrically driven, the first and second containers and the first and second pumps all being provided in the housing, and the housing being of such a size that the cleaning apparatus is portable and hand-holdable so that the cleaning apparatus is constructed and adapted specifically for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture.
2. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 in which the spray device and the suction device are both housed in a head which extends from a front part of the housing.
3. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 in which the head is rotatably secured to the housing for ease of cleaning.
4. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and the second containers are tanks, in which the first pump is a spray pump, and in which the second pump is a suction pump.
5. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 in which the tanks and the pumps are all provided in the housing.
6. Cleaning apparatus for cleaning small areas of carpet and furniture, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9010439A 1989-05-30 1990-05-09 Cleaning apparatus Expired - Fee Related GB2232068B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898912386A GB8912386D0 (en) 1989-05-30 1989-05-30 Cleaning apparatus

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9010439D0 GB9010439D0 (en) 1990-06-27
GB2232068A true GB2232068A (en) 1990-12-05
GB2232068B GB2232068B (en) 1993-12-01

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GB898912386A Pending GB8912386D0 (en) 1989-05-30 1989-05-30 Cleaning apparatus
GB9010439A Expired - Fee Related GB2232068B (en) 1989-05-30 1990-05-09 Cleaning apparatus

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB898912386A Pending GB8912386D0 (en) 1989-05-30 1989-05-30 Cleaning apparatus

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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5386612A (en) * 1992-09-09 1995-02-07 Sham; John C. K. Portable steam vacuum cleaner
EP0949006A1 (en) * 1998-04-08 1999-10-13 The Procter & Gamble Company A packaged product
EP0949005A1 (en) * 1998-04-08 1999-10-13 The Procter & Gamble Company Packaged product for cleaning
EP0988822A1 (en) * 1998-09-10 2000-03-29 Eco Byte S.r.l. Multipurpose portable apparatus for surface cleaning
FR2794471A1 (en) * 2000-06-07 2000-12-08 Procter & Gamble Treating a carpet involves using an electrical spraying device to apply a liquid composition comprising non-irritating anionic surfactant
EP1059349A1 (en) * 1999-06-07 2000-12-13 The Procter & Gamble Company Process of treating a carpet with a composition comprising a non irritant surfactant
US7021571B1 (en) * 1999-06-07 2006-04-04 The Procter & Gamble Company Spray device with flat fan nozzle
CN102551614A (en) * 2012-03-08 2012-07-11 宁波凯波集团有限公司 Steam mop supplied with water by manual pump
AU2015238843A1 (en) * 2014-10-14 2016-04-28 Scheppach Gmbh Hand Sprayer

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100662440B1 (en) 2005-12-09 2007-01-02 엘지전자 주식회사 Steam cleaner

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4788738A (en) * 1985-07-17 1988-12-06 Monson Clifford L Compact self-contained hand held extraction cleaner

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5386612A (en) * 1992-09-09 1995-02-07 Sham; John C. K. Portable steam vacuum cleaner
EP1010389A3 (en) * 1998-04-08 2001-10-04 The Procter & Gamble Company A process of cleaning carpets and the like
EP0949006A1 (en) * 1998-04-08 1999-10-13 The Procter & Gamble Company A packaged product
EP0949005A1 (en) * 1998-04-08 1999-10-13 The Procter & Gamble Company Packaged product for cleaning
WO1999051354A1 (en) * 1998-04-08 1999-10-14 The Procter & Gamble Company A packaged product
EP1004264A2 (en) * 1998-04-08 2000-05-31 The Procter & Gamble Company A process of cleaning carpets and the like
US6578224B1 (en) 1998-04-08 2003-06-17 The Procter & Gamble Company Process of cleaning carpets and the like
US6560806B1 (en) 1998-04-08 2003-05-13 The Procter & Gamble Company Process of cleaning carpets and the like
AU746785B2 (en) * 1998-04-08 2002-05-02 Procter & Gamble Company, The A packaged product
EP1004264A3 (en) * 1998-04-08 2000-12-27 The Procter & Gamble Company A process of cleaning carpets and the like
EP0988822A1 (en) * 1998-09-10 2000-03-29 Eco Byte S.r.l. Multipurpose portable apparatus for surface cleaning
WO2000075268A1 (en) * 1999-06-07 2000-12-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Process of treating a carpet with a composition comprising a non irritant surfactant
EP1059349A1 (en) * 1999-06-07 2000-12-13 The Procter & Gamble Company Process of treating a carpet with a composition comprising a non irritant surfactant
US7021571B1 (en) * 1999-06-07 2006-04-04 The Procter & Gamble Company Spray device with flat fan nozzle
FR2794471A1 (en) * 2000-06-07 2000-12-08 Procter & Gamble Treating a carpet involves using an electrical spraying device to apply a liquid composition comprising non-irritating anionic surfactant
CN102551614A (en) * 2012-03-08 2012-07-11 宁波凯波集团有限公司 Steam mop supplied with water by manual pump
AU2015238843A1 (en) * 2014-10-14 2016-04-28 Scheppach Gmbh Hand Sprayer
AU2015238843B2 (en) * 2014-10-14 2016-12-08 Scheppach Gmbh Hand Sprayer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9010439D0 (en) 1990-06-27
GB8912386D0 (en) 1989-07-12
GB2232068B (en) 1993-12-01

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19950509