GB2435414A

GB2435414A - A portable cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2435414A
Application number: GB0603936A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Dokk-Olsen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-27
Filing date: 2006-02-27
Publication date: 2007-08-29
Also published as: GB0603936D0

Abstract

A portable cleaning device for use in cleaning dirty animals or articles before they are placed in a vehicle for example, comprises a tank 1 for containing a cleaning fluid 4, a pump 5 immersed in the cleaning fluid 4 and a cleaning head 7 connected to the pump 5 for applying the cleaning fluid 4 to the item being cleaned. The device can be arranged so that the used cleaning fluid 4 can flow back into the tank 1 under gravity. Filter means 9 may be present so that the used cleaning fluid 4 can be recycled and used again. A variable flow meter may be provided so that the rate of delivery of the cleaning fluid can be varied.

Description

CLEANING SYSTEMS

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to cleaning systems, and in particular to a readily transportable, self contained device which can be taken to the location where it is to be employed. Examples of the use of the system can be the removal of dirt from equipment or animals, prior to placing them in a vehicle, removal of sand when going from the beach into a vehicle.

The present invention therefore comprises a cleaning system comprising a tank to contain a cleaning liquid, a pump for immersions in the cleaning liquid within the tank and attached to a cleaning head by a flexible tube, whereby the pump may be activated to deliver the cleaning liquid to the cleaning head where it may be applied to the article to be cleaned and flow back into the tank preferably under gravity after having performed it's cleaning function for reuse in a subsequent cleaning cycle.

In a preferred embodiment the pump is electrically driven by power from a battery to enhance the portability of the system. In an especially preferred environment the pump is electrically driven by a vehicle battery and in this way the cleaning system may be used *.

adjacent to the vehicle to clean articles, animal's and human beings before they pass into * : : : the vehicle.

In a further preferred environment the pump is driven electrically through the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle. In this way the power for the pump may be generated by the running of the motor of the vehicle.

One of the benefits of the present invention is that the cleaning liquid can be recycled to, for instance, clean a pram and walking shoes or boots of several people before they pass into an automobile. This enables the system to be relatively small and light and thus portable. In a further embodiment means are provided within the tank to remove at least some of the materials that are removed in a cleaning cycle to reduce the undesirable content of the cleaning fluid prior to recycle. The preferred means will depend upon the nature of the cleaning liquid and the nature of the dirt that is being removed. The means may be an adsorbent but is preferably a grid or a mesh which divides the tank vertically in a manner that the majority of the cleaning fluid flows back into the tank under gravity at the side of the grid or mesh remote from the pump. In this way the grid or mesh can prevent a substantial amount of the dirt passing to the pump and being recycled with the cleaning fluid.

The nature of the cleaning fluid will depend upon the nature of the articles to be cleaned and the nature of the dirt to be removed, however, for most of the cleaning operations envisaged the cleaning liquid will be water which may or may not contain a detergent or other cleaning aid.

The cleaning head may be of any suitable form and the preferred form depends upon the use to which it is to be put. A brush or a sponge is particularly useful and the flexible hose may be provided with an end piece that enables different heads to be interchanged according to the particular use to which the system is to be put. In a further embodiment of *..:.

the invention therefore the cleaning head is removable and replaceable and the invention is *** includes the cleaning system provided with at least two cleaning heads.

The cleaning head or the element of the flexible hose that is adjacent to the cleaning head may be provided with an on-off switch to control the flow of the cleaning liquid. It may also *: * * be provided with a variable flow meter which can be activated to vary the speed of delivery of the cleaning liquid. *::::* * S * The length of the flexible hose again depends upon the use to which the system isto be put, for most uses we find 3 metres to be sufficient and typically the flexible hose is no more than 2 metres long.

The dimensions of the tank are not critical but it is preferred that it be as small as possible and yet carry sufficient cleaning fluid to perform the desired cleaning function. It is also preferred that as well as holding the desired amount of cleaning fluid the pump, flexible hose and cleaning head can all be stored within the tank until the system is to be used.

The system is preferably provided with a handle and is also provided with a lid to prevent leakage of cleaning fluid during transportation of the system.

The various components of the system may be made from any suitable materials. The tank should be robust and is typically of injection moulded plastic such as polypropylene, high density polypropylene or nylon which may be filled with fibres such as glass fibres to provide additional strength. The lid may be of the same materials, polypropylene is particularly preferred as its flexibility enables the lid to be closed with a snap fit. The handle may also be of injection moulded plastic but is preferably of softer material, so as to make carrying the system less onerous. The flexible hose is preferably of diameter no greater than 2 centimetres, and it may be of any of the synthetic materials typically used in the production of the hosing such as garden hose pipes. The cleaning head whether a brush, a sponge or another device may be of materials and for designs typically used in cleaning systems.

We have found that cleaning systems of the present invention are particularly useful if they are carried in a vehicle and then used on site to remove mud, dirt, sand and other undesirable material from equipment such as prams, children's buggies, golf bags and...:.

carts and sports equipment, shoes and boots before they are placed in the vehicle. In *..

this way dirtying of the vehicle with the mud, dirt or sand can be avoided, similarly the system can be used to clean animals and also to remove sand from human bodies particularly feet.

The present invention is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows the cleaning system, of the present invention in closed portable form.

The system comprising of a tank (1), provided with a removable lid (2) and a handle (3).

Figure 2 is a cut away view for the interior of the tank (1), with the lid removed and the handle is not shown. In figure 2 the tank (1), contains cleaning liquid (4). A pump (5) is submerged in the cleaning liquid and a flexible hose (6), connect the pump to a cleaning head (7) which in this instance is a brush. The pump is provided with heads (8) to enable it to be connected to a power source such as the battery of a vehicle, preferably through the cigarette lighter socket. The grid or mesh (9) is provided within the tank so as to provide a filter for the cleaning liquid as it is recycled.

In this way dirt, mud and sand will accumulate in the section of the tank removed from the pump for disposal once the defined cleaning activity has been performed. The system may then be washed and recharged in readiness for the next use.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A cleaning system comprising a tank to contain a cleaning liquid, a pump for immersion in the cleaning liquid within the tank and attached to a cleaning head by a flexible tube, whereby the pump may be activated to deliver the cleaning liquid to the cleaning head, where it may be applied to the article being cleaned and flow back into the tank after having performed its cleaning function for reuse in a subsequent cleaning cycle.

2. A cleaning system according to claim I in which the pump is electrically driven by power from a battery. * *

I.....

3. A cleaning system according to claim 2 in which the battery is driven by a vehicle * * battery.

4. A cleaning system according to any of the proceeding claims in which the means *: *** are provided within the tank to remove at least some of the materials that are removed in a cleaning cycle, to reduce the undesirable content of the cleaning fluid. ::: :* prior to recycle. *:::: 5. A cleaning system according to claim 4 in which the means is a grid or a mesh, which divides the tank vertically in a manner that the majority of the cleaning fluid flows back into the tank under gravity at the side of the grid or mesh remote from the pump.

6. A cleaning system according to any of the preceding claims in which the cleaning head is removable and replaceable.

7. A cleaning system according to any of the preceding claims provided with at least two cleaning heads.

8. A cleaning system according to any of the preceding claims in which the cleaning head or the element of the flexible hose that is adjacent to the cleaning head is provided with an on-off switch to enable the flow of the cleaning liquid.

9. A cleaning system according to any of the preceding claims in which the hose or cleaning head is provided with a variable flow meter, which can be activated to vary the speed of delivery of the cleaning fluid.

10. A cleaning system according to any of the preceding claims in which the tank is provided with a handle.

II. A cleaning system according to any of the preceding claims in which the tank is provided with a lid. * *

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