GB2442351A

GB2442351A - Carpet cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2442351A
Application number: GB0719019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew James Heywood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-28
Filing date: 2007-09-28
Publication date: 2008-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-28
Also published as: GB2442351B; GB0719019D0

Abstract

A device suitable for cleaning surfaces, the device has a brush head which comprises a brush receptacle 17 and a brush 19. The brush receptacle comprises a reservoir 105 arranged to hold a liquid and means for dispensing the liquid through the brush to the surface; and the replaceable brush has bristles which in use remove debris. The means for dispensing liquid comprises a piston which has a press plate 101 actuated by a press plate rod 103 which forms part of the handle. The replaceable brush 19 comprises a semi-permeable membrane or permeable surface 301 and brush material layer 303. The replaceable brush receptacle comprises a first filter 107, sponge layer 109 and a second filter 111 which prevent liquid leaking from the reservoir 105 when not in use. When in use liquid is transferred via holes in the press plate from the upper to the lower surface of the plate.

Description

CARPET CLEANING DEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device suitable for cleaning surfaces for example but not limited to carpets having a pile, the device able to clean surfaces in either a wet or dry manner.

Background of the Invention

The problem of cleaning surfaces and carpets is well-known. Many devices have been devised which seek to provide improved carpet cleaning, one of the most successful of which has been the vacuum cleaner. However, a difficulty with these prior art devices is that debris such as human hair, pet hair and other foreign bodies more securely embedded into the pile of the carpet are difficult to remove.

Furthermore cleaning devices such as the vacuum cleaner are problematic in requiring a power source and being generally only applicable to providing dry cleaning capability.

Wet cleaning capable devices are also generally well known. The powered carpet cleaning devices have similar drawbacks to vacuum cleaners -requiring the user to search for power sockets and avoiding running the cleaning head over any cable trailing in the wake of the cleaner.

Mechanical wet cleaners or mops are also known, typically these comprise of sponge or sponge like material which is soaked in a cleaning liquid and then applied to the surface to be cleaned. These cleaning devices are also problematic in that although it is possible to clean smooth water-resistant surfaces fairly easily, carpeted surfaces are not easily cleaned as the mop only typically soaks the surface with cleaning liquid.

A way of ameliorating these problems has been sought.

Summary of the Invention

There is provided according to the invention a device suitable for cleaning surfaces, the device having a brush head comprising a brush receptacle and a brush; the brush receptacle comprising a reservoir arranged to hold a liquid and means for dispensing the liquid through the brush to the surface; and the brush having bristles which in use removes debris.

The brush receptacle and the brush may be connected by coupling means.

The brush receptacle may be replaceable.

The brush may be replaceable.

The means for dispensing the liquid may comprise a press plate arranged operate in a first mode of operation to apply pressure on the liquid, the brush receptacle may comprise a semi-permeable or permeable layer through which the liquid under pressure passes.

The semi-permeable layer may comprise at least one of at least one filter layer and a sponge layer.

The press plate may be arranged to operate in a second mode of operation to move reservoir liquid from a first face of the press plate to a second face of the press plate.

The press plate may comprise a plate with a plurality of holes from the first face to the second face wherein the liquid is arranged to pass from the first face to the second face.

The device may further comprise a handle wherein the handle is arranged to control the means for dispensing the liquid through the brush to the surface.

The handle may comprise a first handle portion connected to the brush receptacle and a second handle portion connected to the press plate.

The second handle portion may be substantially contained within a hollow core of the first handle portion.

The motion of the second handle portion with respect to the first handle portion may activate the press plate to operate in the first mode of operation.

The first handle portion may be connected to the second handle portion via a releasable coupling means.

The releasable coupling means may comprise at least one of: interference fit coupling means; screw coupling means; The handle may be connected to the brush head by a rotatable joint.

The bristles may have a pile such that they abrasively contact a carpet surface when moved across the carpet surface in a first direction relative to the pile of the bristles and non-abrasively contact the carpet surface when moved across the carpet surface in a second direction relative to the pile of the bristles.

The bristles may be VelcroTM.

Preferably the bristles form a fish scale pattern.

Advantages of the present invention include an improved dry/wet cleaning capability, where the device is capable of operating as a fully dry cleaner or a wet cleaner with the advantages of the frictional cleaning technique capable of removing human hair, pet hair and other foreign bodies from a surface.

Furthermore such a device can carefully control the amount of cleaning liquid placed on the surface and thus prevent the surface from being soaked or waterlogged when used in a wet cleaning mode.

Brief Description of Drawings

The present invention will be further described in greater detail by reference to the following Figures of the accompanying drawings which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a cleaning device according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the cleaning device as shown in figure 1; Figures 3a and 3b shows the operation of the cleaning device of figures 1 and 2 in a wet mode of cleaning; and Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the replaceable brush.

Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Figure 1 shows a cleaning device 5 suitable for dry/wet cleaning carpets having a pile. Figure 2 shows a sectioned view of parts of the cleaning device 5 to aid the understanding of the cleaning device 5.

The device 5 has a handle part 13 which connects to a cleaner head part 15.

The handle part comprises an elongate handle 27, which is a hollow tube suitable for being held by the user. The elongate handle 27 has at one end an external screw thread 151 and at the other end an internal screw thread 155.

The handle part further comprises a press plate handle 25. The press plate handle may be machined with an internal thread 153 which is designed to cooperate with the external thread 151 of the elongate handle 27 to lock the press plate handle with respect to the elongate handle 27. As would be understood by the person skilled in the art in other embodiments of the invention the screw threads used to lock the position of the press plate handle with respect to the elongate handle may be replaced by any other means suitable of locking the position of the press plate handle with respect to the elongate handle.

The press plate handle may also comprise in some embodiments of the invention a spring 113 or some other resilient means capable of expressing a force moving the press plate handle 25 away from the elongate handle 27.

The handle part 13 may also comprise a press plate rod 103. The press plate rod 103 is attached to the press plate handle 25 at one end and a press plate 101 at the other end. The press plate rod is configured to slide within the hollow elongate handle 27 and conducts and force applied to the press plate handle 27 to the press plate 101.

The brush head part 15 comprises a replaceable brush receptacle 17, a replaceable brush 19 and connectors 21 for connecting the replaceable brush receptacle 17 to the replaceable brush 19. The connectors may in embodiments of the invention be clips fixed on one of the replaceable brush 19 and replaceable brush receptacle 17 for securing the two firmly together. In other embodiments other arrangements may be used to releasably secure the replaceable brush 19 and replaceable brush receptacle 17 together. For example an interference fitting may be used to secure the two.

As is shown in figure 4 the replaceable brush 19 comprises a semi-permeable or permeable surface 301 upon which a material layer 303 is disposed. The material layer 303 also permits the passage of liquid, such as cleaning liquids, but which when moved across the carpet surface in a first direction 305 relative to the pile of the bristles 307 has an abrasive cleaning motion and non-abrasively contacts the carpet surface when moved across the carpet surface in a second direction 309 relative to the pile of the bristles 307. The semi-permeable or permeable surface 301 may be made from a foam rubber material and thus retain a small amount of liquid to be applied to the surface. In these embodiments the foam rubber material assists the cleaning effect of the device when for example the foam rubber material is in contact with a smooth surface as the brush moved over the smooth surface.

A possible material layer 303 may be one made from Velcro TM.

The replaceable brush receptacle 17 comprises a hollow construction with a tank 105 configured to hold liquids, for example cleaning liquids. The replaceable brush receptacle 17 furthermore comprises a filling hole 23 for refilling the tank 105 with liquid. The filling hole 23 may in some embodiments of the invention be equipped with a removable or replaceable cap for preventing the liquid in the tank 105 from escaping when the replaceable brush receptacle 17 is tilted or turned up-side down.

The replaceable brush receptacle 17 comprises an internal screw thread which is configured to co-operate with the elongate handle 27 external screw thread to releasably connect the elongate handle 27 to the replaceable brush receptacle 17. As would be understood by the person skilled in the art other releasable connections may be used to connect the elongate handle 27 to the replaceable brush receptacle 17 enabling the above to be connected and unconnected.

The replaceable brush receptacle 17 is configured to contain a press plate 101 or press pad. The press place 101 is releasably connected to the press plate rod 103. In some embodiments of the invention this may be implemented by the press plate having a first screw thread and the press plate rod 103 having a co-operating screw thread so that the press plate rod 103 may be screwed into and from the press plate 101. In other embodiments of the invention this releasable connection may be a friction or interference fitting such as a ball and socket or Velcro tm arrangement.

The press plate 101 may be. a plate of material, such as plastic or metal, of which the width fills or substantially fills the internal dimensions of the replaceable brush receptacle tank 105. The press plate furthermore comprises many holes which extend from the top of the plate to the bottom of the plate.

These holes are designed to allow some liquid to pass from the underside to the upper side of the press plate or vice versa when the plate is moved in a tank containing liquid. The choice of the size and the number of holes is such that when the press plate is pushed down by a force exerted via the press plate rod 103 from the press plate handle 25 pressure is exerted by the liquid under the press plate 101 downwards, but that when the press plate is pulled up by a force exerted via the press plate rod 103 from the press plate handle 25 pressure the pressure differential between the upper side and the lower side of the press plate 101 forces liquid through the holes in order to equalise the pressure and thus replenish the liquid supply underneath the press plate 101.

The replaceable brush receptacle 17 furthermore comprises a first filter 107, a sponge layer 109 and a second filter 111. The first filter 107, sponge layer 109 and second filter 111 are arranged in a sandwich arrangement and extend across the internal dimensions of the replaceable brush receptacle tank 105. In the embodiment shown in figure 2 the second filter 111 forms part of the lower wall of the replaceable brush receptacle 17 through which the cleaning liquid may pass from the tank 105 to the replaceable brush pad 19.

The operation of the first filter 107, the sponge layer 109 and the second filter 111 are to control the amount of liquid which passes from the tank 105 to the surface to be cleaned. These layers thus permit the flow of liquid from the tank to the surface when pressure is applied to the liquid but prevents liquid from leaking from the lank 105 when no pressure is applied. In some embodiments of the invention the filter arrangement may be simplified or replaced with other means for controlling the flow of liquid from the tank to the surface to be cleaned.

With respect to figures 3a and 3b the operation of the cleaning device is shown.

Where features similar to those shown in figures 1 and 2 are shown the same reference numerals have been used.

In figure 3a the effect of applying a pushing force on the top of the press pad handle 25 is shown. The force exerted on the press pad handle 25 is transferred by the press pad rod 103 to the press pad 101. The press pad 101 transmits this force to the liquid in the tank 105 exerting pressure on the liquid, shown by reference 203, which under pressure passes, as shown in the figure by reference 205, through the sponge layer 109 and the cleaning device to the surface to be cleaned. In this manner by controlling the force applied to the press pad handle 25 it is possible to control the amount of liquid applied to the surface to be cleaned.

Therefore in combination with the replaceable brush 19 the cleaning device is able to provide dry cleaning, by either locking the press pad handle 25 to the elongate handle 27, or by not applying a force to the press pad handle 25, and physically moving the brush 19 over the surface to be cleaned so that the abrasive or frictional bristle layer 303 picks up hair and other dirt particles.

Furthermore the cleaning device is able to provide wet cleaning or assisted wet cleaning, by pushing the press pad handle 25 and applying liquid to the surface to be cleaned, the liquid assisting in the removal of the hair and dirt particles.

In figure 3b the effect of applying a pulling force on the on the top of the press pad handle 25 is shown. The force exerted on the press pad handle 25 is transferred by the press pad rod 103 to the press pad 101. The press pad 101 transmits this force to the liquid in the tank 105 exerting pressure on the liquid, shown by reference 209. The pressure differential created between the upper side and the lower side of the press plate 101 then forces liquid through the holes in the press p'ate to equalise the pressure and thus replenish the liquid supply underneath the press plate 101.

Claims

1. A device suitable for cleaning surfaces, the device having a brush head, comprising a brush receptacle and a brush; the brush receptacle comprising a reservoir arranged to hold a liquid and means for dispensing the liquid through the brush to the surface; and the brush having bristles which in use removes debris.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brush receptacle and the brush are connected by coupling means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein the brush receptacle is replaceable.

4. A device as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the brush is replaceable.

5. A device as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein means for dispensing the liquid comprises a press plate arranged operate in a first mode of operation to apply pressure on the liquid, the brush receptacle comprising a semi-permeable or permeable layer through which the liquid under pressure passes.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the semi-permeable layer comprises at least one of at least one filter layer and a sponge layer.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the press plate is arranged to operate in a second mode of operation to move reservoir liquid from a first face of the press plate to a second face of the press plate.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the press plate comprises a plate with a plurality of holes from the first face to the second face wherein the liquid is arranged to pass from the first face to the second face.

9. A device as claimed in claims 1 to 8, further comprising a handle wherein the handle is arranged to control the means for dispensing the liquid through the brush to the surface.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 when dependent on claim 5, wherein the handle comprises a first handle portion connected to the brush receptacle and a second handle portion connected to the press plate.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second handle portion is substantially contained within a hollow core of the first handle portion.

12. A device as claimed in claims 10 and 11, wherein the motion of the second handle portion with respect to the first handle portion activates the press plate to operate in the first mode of operation.

13. A device as claimed in claims 10 to 12, wherein the first handle portion is connected to the second handle portion via a releasable coupling means.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the releasable coupling means comprise at least one of: interference fit coupling means; screw coupling means;

15. A device as claimed in claims 9 to 14, wherein the handle is connected to the brush head by a rotatable joint.

16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristles have a pile such that they abrasively contact a carpet surface when moved across the carpet surface in a first direction relative to the pile of the bristles and non-abrasively contact the carpet surface when moved across the carpet surface in a second direction relative to the pile of the bristles.

17. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristles are VelcroTM.

18. A device suitable for cleaning surfaces substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.