US20040163199A1

US20040163199A1 - Steam cleaner

Info

Publication number: US20040163199A1
Application number: US10/368,594
Authority: US
Inventors: Bill Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-20
Filing date: 2003-02-20
Publication date: 2004-08-26

Abstract

A steam cleaner includes a water pump to supply water from a water tank to a heater, and the heater heats it up to become steam to be shot out of a base so as to be used for washing a floor. The steam cleaner also has a water volume button for controlling operating frequency of the water pump to change steam volume to be shot out, by handling of a switch button fixed on a handle to control start and close of washing and operating condition. The grip of the handle is pivotally connected to the base with no limited stages so that the handle can be inclined to one of numerous angles to suit to the height of a user for conveniently using the steam cleaner. And a support base is provided for the steam cleaner to rest thereon for storing away when not used.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a steam cleaner, particularly to one moved forward to clean floor with steam at first and then brushing and cleaning with a rotating disc with help of steam synchronously, performing washing, sterilizing, and brushing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional mops are widely used for cleaning, but they cannot completely clean out dirt in small crevices or gaps in floors, and they have to be washed clean after cleaning a certain dimensions of a floor so as to use it again, not so convenient and even troublesome to use.

So conventional cleaning machines have been thought out, using a detergent and a cleaning unit together for thoroughly cleaning floors. For example, a U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,202 B1 titled “Cleaning machine” includes a supply box of a detergent, a detergent dispenser for dispensing detergent on the floor, a main guide tube connected between the supply box and the dispenser for detergent to flow from the supply box to the dispenser, an auxiliary guide tube connected also between the supply box and the dispenser for guiding detergent from the supply box to the dispenser, a main valve to be opened and closed to control detergent flowing in the main guide tube, an auxiliary valve to be used for controlling detergent flowing in the auxiliary guide tube, a main remote controller connected to and controlling the main valve in its opening and closing, and an auxiliary remote controller connected to and controlling the auxiliary valve in its opening and closing, Thus the main and the auxiliary valves are opened and closed to control a first detergent and a second detergent to flow through the main and the auxiliary guide tube from the supply box to the dispenser so as to carry out cleaning work.

However, the cleaning machine of the U.S. patent just described has the following disadvantages in practical use.

1. A handle and a foot base are provided firmly, unable to move, so the handle cannot be adjusted in its height to suit to the height of a user, And in moving the cleaning machine, a user has to move together with the moving machine in the same direction. In other words, a user must follow the movement of the machine, resulting in inconvenience and embarrassment.

2. When the machine is not used, only rear wheels, permitting the machine prone to slide down if the floor is not flat, impossible to be positioned for storing, support the machine. Should the brush be also used to support the machine, the brush might disfigure owing to the heavy weight of the machine, wording its function in the future work.

3. The cleaning machine can be only used with detergent in cleansing and sterilizing floors, not so convenient to use, and use of detergent may mean pollution to the environment and potent slipping of a user as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been devised to offer a steam cleaner improved in the disadvantages of the conventional cleaning machine described above.

The feature of the invention is a water pump controlled to send water stored in a water tank into a heater, which heats up the water to become steam to be shot out of shoot holes of a base. Meanwhile a water volume button is used to control the operative frequency of the water pump to change the volume of steam to be shot out. Further, a switch button is provided on a handle to move a side plate via a connect rod to star and control operative conditions of the steam cleaner, In addition, The handle is pivotally connected with the base so that the handle can be inclined to one of numerous angles to suit to the height of a user in handling the steam cleaner. When the steam cleaner is not used, it can be placed on a support base for storing away.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0012]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a steam cleaner in the present invention: [0013]
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a handle of the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a control electronic circuit for the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0015]
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a transmission unit in the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0016]
FIG. 5 is a lower view of the transmission unit in the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0017]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the relative structure of a steel rod and a slide plate in the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0018]
FIG. 7 is an upper view of the steel rod and the slide plate in the present invention; [0019]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0020]
FIG. 9 is a lower perspective view of a base in the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0021]
FIG. 10 is an upper perspective view of the case in the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0022]
FIG. 11 is a front view of the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0023]
FIG. 12 is a partial magnified cross-sectional view of the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0024]
FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0025]
FIG. 14 is a magnified side cross-sectional view of the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0026]
FIG. 15 is a side view of the steam cleaner attached with a brush or cotton cloth in the present invention; [0027]
FIG. 16 is a side view of a switch button being pulled to turn on the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0028]
FIG. 17 is a side view of a wire connected to and pulling up and down the slide plate in the present invention; [0029]
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the steam cleaner used to clean a floor in the present invention; [0030]
FIG. 19 is a view of steam produced by the steam cleaner in the present invention; [0031]
FIG. 20 is a view of another steam producing mode in the present invention; [0032]
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the steam cleaner and a support base in the present invention; [0033]
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the steam cleaner placed on the support base in the present invention; and, [0034]
FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a steam cleaner in the present invention.[0035]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of a steam cleaner in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a [0036] handle 10, a base 20 as main components.
The [0037] handle 10 consists of a grip 1, a steel rod 2, a plastic rod 3, and the base 20 consists of a base body 4, a water tank 5, a heater 6, a water pump 7 and a transmission unit 8.
The [0038] grip 1 has a first shell 11 and a second shell 12 symmetrically combined firmly together, a switch button 13 and a wire hook 14.
The [0039] steel rod 2 has its upper end firmly connected in the grip 1 and its lower end fitting in the plastic rod 3, and a tube joint 21 is fixed in the lower end, having a center hole 211 provided with opposite ribs 212 inside. Then a connecting rod 22 extends through the center hole 211 from under, having a rod body 221 and two opposite lengthwise grooves 222 formed in the rod body 221 to match with the ribs 212 of the tube joints 21. The rod body 221 has a projecting edge 223 at the lower end and an engage head 224 extending down from the projecting edge 223 with a gap 225 formed between the projecting edge 223 and the engage head 224. The steel rod 2 further has a wire 23 extending lengthwise in its interior, and the wire 23 has its upper end connected to the switch button 13 and the lower end connected with the rod body 221 of the connect rod 22. Further, a wire hook 24 is fixed on an outer surface of the steel rod 2
The [0040] plastic rod 3 consists of a first shell 31 and a second shell 32 symmetrically combined together, having a three-stage switch 33 at an inner upper wall, an L-shaped slide plate 34 combined with one side of the switch 33. The slide plate 34 has a combine hole 341 in the top, a stopper 342 extending down from one side of the hole 341. The plastic rod 3 has a PCB board 35 fixed in an intermediate portion, and a control electronic circuit (shown in FIG. 3) arranged on the PCB board 35 for controlling the motor 81, the water pump 7 and the heater 6 in their operation. Further a water volume button 36 is provided an opposite spot of the PCB board 35 for controlling the water pump 5 in its operating frequency for changing the volume of steam to be shot out. In addition, the switch 33 is connected to the control circuit to alter operating modes of the steam cleaner. Further, a pivot 37 is provided respectively at two sides of the lower end of the plastic rod 3.
The [0041] base body 4 has a bottom plate 41 bored with two holes 411 for shafts 421 of two rotating discs 42 to pass through. The rotating discs 42 respectively have a male Velcro band 422 attached on the bottom for a female Velcro band of a brush 43 or a cotton cloth 44 to engage with each other for combining the both components 42 and 43 or 44 together as shown in FIG. 15. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 14, the bottom plate 41 is surrounded by a protective ring 412, having a recessed space 413 formed upward in the bottom for receiving a steam guide tube 45 bored with shooting holes 451. The base body 4 has a recess 46 formed in an intermediate portion and a curved engage groove 461 respectively formed in two opposite sides of the recess 46. Further, an inverted U-shaped fixing member 47 is provided to correspond to the recess 46, having two side curved grooves 471 at two sides facing the engage grooves 461 to form a pivot hole for the pivots 37 to fit therein. Additionally, a hole 48 and an indicating lamp 49 are provided beside the recess 46 in the base body 4.
The [0042] water tank 5 has an inlet 51 in an upper side, with the inlet 51 passing up through the hole 48 and closed with a cap 52, and an outlet 53 in the bottom connected with a filter 53 for filtering water.
The [0043] heater 6 is to heat water coming in it to become steam, having an inlet connected with the outlet of the water pump 5, and an outlet connected to the interior of the steam guide tube 45 and let steam shot out of shoot holes 451 of the steam guide tube 45.
The [0044] water pump 7 is to pump the water stored in the water tank 5 into the heater 6, having an inlet connected with the outlet of the filter 53.
The [0045] transmission unit 8 consists of a motor 81, a gear box 82, two transmitting gears 83, and two connecting gears 84, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
The transmitting gears [0046] 83 and the connect gears 84 are all positioned in the gear box 82 consisting of an upper half box 821 and a lower half box 822. The motor 81 has a spindle 811 with a spindle gear 812 fixed thereon, which engages with a first transmitting gear 83 engaging with a second transmitting gear 83. The shafts of the first and the second transmitting gears 83 are fixed separately with two pinions 831, which engages respectively with the connecting gears 84, and at the same time, the shafts 841 of the connecting gears 84 respectively fixed firmly with the shafts 421 of the rotating discs 42, so the motor 81 indirectly rotates the two rotating discs 42.
In assembling, referring to FIGS. [0047] 6-14, firstly, the upper end of the steel rod 2 is fixed with the grip 81, with the lower end of the steel rod 2 inserted in the plastic rod 3. Meanwhile, the engage head 224 of the connect rod 22 is made to pass through the combine hole 341 of the slide plate and restricted by the projecting edge 223 in its passing length, and with the gap 225 being equal to the thickness of the slide plate 34. Then the steel rod 2 is rotated to force the connect rod 22 to rotate in the same direction for an angle until the engage head 224 is stopped by the stopper 342. Then it means that the engage head 224 is positioned in place, and the steel rod 2 is already fixed with the plastic rod 3. Next, the transmission unit 8, the water pump 7 and the heater 37 are combined on the bottom plate 41, and the water tank 5 is fixed firmly on the transmission unit 8. Then the pivots 37 of the plastic rod 3 is fitted in the engage grooves 461 of the recess 46, with the fixing member 47 closed on the recess 46, and with the pivots 37 engaging the engage grooves 471. Now the fixing member 47 is secured stably with the base body 4, and the plastic rod 3 is pivotally connected with the base body 4 without any stage. Lastly, the base body 4 is firmly assembled with the bottom plate 41, finishing assembly of the steam cleaner in the invention.
In using, referring to FIGS. [0048] 15-19, if a user wants to use the steam cleaner for washing only, the water pump 7 and the heater 6 is not started, with the transmitting unit 8 started, permitting the rotating discs 42 operate by pushing optionally the switch button 13 to a proper mark. Then the brush 43 or the cotton cloth 44 connected to the rotating discs 42 is moved to wash a floor.
If a user selects washing with steam, the [0049] brush 43 or the cotton cloth 44 connected with the rotating discs 42 are operated, and the water pump 7 and the heater 6 are also operated synchronously additionally. Now it will be described in detail. In case the switch button 13 is pushed to the function mark of washing with steam, the wire 23 is moved together with the slide plate 34 via the connecting rod 22, and the function button 331 is fixed with the slide plate 34 so that it may be moved to the washing with steam function mark. Then the control circuit on the PCB board 35 connected to the switch 33 may start the transmission unit 8, the water pump 7 and the heater 6, which then all begin to work. More minutely, the motor 81 starts with its spindle 811 rotating the pinion 812, which then rotates the first transmitting gear 83 engaging with the second transmitting gear 83, Then the pinions 83 of the second transmitting gear 83 rotate the connect gears 84, which then rotate the two rotating discs 42 so that the brush 43 of the cotton cloth 44 fastened with the rotating discs may 42 moved to perform washing work against a floor. Meanwhile the water pump 7 pumps the water in the water tank 5 to the heater which heats up the water from the tank 5 into steam, which then quickly shoots through the shooing holes 451 in the steam guide tube 45, performing two kinds of work synchronously. In addition, the water volume button 36 is handled to adjust the operating frequency of the water pump 7 to control the water volume entering the heater 6 and consequently changing the volume of steam to be shot out.
Besides, the [0050] handle 10 is pivotally connected to the base 20, as shown in FIG. 18, so the handle 10 can be adjusted in its inclining angle without any limited stages so as to suit to the height of a user. Then the user can handle the steam cleaner comfortably and conveniently. Further, a user can stand at a spot to move the cleaner to wash a circular dimension with the spot as a center, without necessity of moving together with the cleaner. Thus the steam cleaner is very convenient to use.
Next, as shown in FIG. 20, another embodiment of the [0051] heater 6′ is used instead of the heater 6, having a metal block 61′ and a U-shaped heating tube 62′ embedded in the metal block 61′, and a water channel (not shown) provided in the interior of the block 61′ and connected with a valve 7′ also connected to the water tank 5. When the valve 7′ is opened, the water in the water tank 5 may flow in the water channel and heated up by the heating tube 62′ into steam, which then shoots out of the shooting hole 451.
Moreover, a [0052] support base 30 shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 may be provided to support the base 20 of the steam cleaner when not used. The support base 30 has the same shape and size as the base 20, for storing the steam cleaner conveniently.
Additionally, a [0053] wire hook 14 is provided on the grip 1, and another wire hook 24 is provided on the steel rod 2 to wound the electric cord around between the two wire hooks 14, 24 to properly hold it. Further, another steam guide tube 45 is additionally provided on the other side of the bottom plate 41, bored with shoot holes 451 for steam from the heater 6 to shoot out of.
Further, FIG. 23 shows another embodiment of a steam cleaner in the invention, further including a [0054] housing 9 in front of the base body 4, and the housing 9 has a sucking chamber 91 and a sucking pump 92 connected to a tube 93 to connect with a sucking mouth 84 formed in the bottom of the housing 9. The sucking pump 92 is controlled in operation by the switch 33, which functions together with the switch button 13, both having to have four stages, such as starting and closing, washing, washing with steam, and sucking dirt.
If the [0055] switch button 13 is handled to move the switch 33 to the stage of sucking dirt, the sucking pump 92 is started to suck in dirt and miscellaneous small grains on a floor or the ground and through the tube 92 into the sucking chamber 91.
The steam cleaner in the invention has the following advantages, as understood from the aforesaid description. [0056]
1. The switch button on the grip can independently start the transmission unit or the water pump and the heater together with the transmission unit or only the sucking pump in performing washing only, or washing with steam, or only sucking dirt, very convenient to handle. [0057]
2. Depending on a condition, properly turn the water volume button for adjusting operative frequency of the water pump, controlling the volume of water entering the heater and subsequently the volume of steam to be shot out. [0058]
3. As the handle is pivotally connected with the base without any limited stage, the handle can be changed in its inclining angle to suit to the height of a user so that the user can handle the seam cleaner comfortably and conveniently as wanted. [0059]
4. As the handle is pivotally connected with the base, a user can stand at a spot and move around the steam cleaner in a circular dimension without need of moving around together with the cleaner, very convenient to handle. [0060]
5. The steam cleaner can be placed on the support base when not used, easily stored away on the support base. [0061]
6. A user can use a brush or a cotton cloth as wanted by using a Velcro band to attach a brush or a cotton cloth very easily on the rotating discs, quick to handle. [0062]
While the preferred embodiment of the steam cleaner has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cove all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. [0063]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A steam cleaner comprising a handle and a base, said handle consisting of a grip, a steel rod and a plastic rod, said base consisting of a base body, a water tank, a heater, a water pump, and a transmission unit:

Said grip gripped with a hand to move said steam cleaner around, having a switch button;

Said steel rod having its upper end fixed firmly with said grip, and a lower end connected to said plastic rod, a wire provided in its interior, the upper end combined with said switch button, and the lower end connected with a connect rod;

Said plastic rod having a switch and a water volume button, said switch combined with said connect rod via a slide plate, said switch and said water volume button both connected with a control electronic circuit arranged on a PCB board fixed in said plastic rod;

Said base body so combined with said plastic rod that said handle wholly is possible to be inclined to numerous angles without any limited stages relative to said base body, two rotating discs provided on the bottom of said base body, said rotating discs having its lower bottom attached with a Velcro band for temporally stuck with a brush or a cotton cloth as wanted by a user, a steam guide tube with shoot holes fixed on a bottom of said base body;

Said water tank positioned in said base body, having a water inlet and a water outlet, and a cap closed on the water inlet;

Said water pump positioned in said base body and connected to said control electronic circuit, having a an inlet and an outlet, said inlet connected to said water outlet of said water tank;

Said heater also positioned in said base body and connected to said control electronic circuit, having an inlet connected with said outlet of said water pump, said heater heating up the water coming from said water tank to steam, said heater further having an outlet connected with said steam guide tube for steam to shoot out of the shoot holes of said steam guide tube;

Said transmission unit combined in said base body and having a motor connected to said control electronic circuit, said transmission unit having two shafts respectively fixed firmly with two rotating discs; and,

Said switch button handled to operate washing only or washing with steam and forcing said wire move said switch so that said control electronic circuit may drive said motor of said transmission unit to perform only washing a floor or may also drive said motor, said water pump, said heater to heat up the water coming from said water tank to steam, said steam shooting out of the shoot holes to perform both washing and steam shooting.

2. The steam cleaner as claimed as claim 1, wherein said steel rod has a tube joint fixed around a lower end, said tube joint has a center hole provided with opposite ribs, a connect rod inserting in said center hole of said tube joint and having opposite grooves formed in the rod body to engage said ribs of said tube joint, said rod body having its lower end fitted with a projecting edge and an engage head extending from a bottom end of the projecting edge, a gap formed between said projection edge and said engage head; said switch having one side combined with a L-shaped slide plate, said slide plate having a combine hole at top and a stopper extending down from one side of said combine hole, said engage head of said connect rod passing through said combine hole of said slide plate to have its passing length limited by said projecting edge, said gap of said connect rod being equal to the thickness of said slide plate, said connect rod rotating with said steel rod to the same direction for the same angle until said engage head is blocked by the stopper, which means that the engage head is already positioned in place, said steel rod already firmly connected with said plastic rod, said switch button related with said switch for \mutual movement.

3. The steam cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plastic rod has a pivot formed respectively on two opposite sides of a lower end, and said base body has two curved grooves formed two sides of said recess and an inverted U-shaped fixing member, said fixing member having a curved engage groove respectively formed at two sides to match with said engage grooves of said recess so as to be used as a pivot hole for said pivots of said plastic rod to fit therein so that said plastic rod is combined pivotally with said base body.

4. The steam cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission unit consists of said motor, a spindle gear, two transmitting gears, two pinions, two connect gears and two rotating discs, said motor having a spindle fixed with said spindle gear, said spindle gear engaging a first one of said two transmitting gear, said first transmitting gear engaging a second of said two transmitting gear, said second transmitting gear having a shaft fixed with said two pinions, said two pinions respectively engaging said two connect gears, said connect gears having a shaft respectively connected with a shaft of said two rotating discs, said rotating discs indirectly rotated by said motor,

5. The steam cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a valve is used instead of said water pump for controlling water coming from said water tank to enter said heater for heated up to steam.

6. The steam cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein heater has a metal block, a heating tube embedded in said metal block, and a tube route provided in the interior of said metal block, the water stored in said water tank flowing into said tube route of said heater if said valve is opened, the water in said tube route heated up by said heating tube to become steam to be shot out of the shoot holes of said steam guide tube.

7. The steam cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a support is further provided under said base, having the same shape and size as that of said base so that said steam cleaner may be placed on said support base when not used and may be stored away.

8. The steam cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said grip and said steel rod respectively have a wire hook for a cleaner cord to be wound around and between them.

9. The steam cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom plate of said base has additionally a second steam guide tube provided at the other side, and said second steam guide tube has also plural shoot holes for steam coming from said heater to shoot out of.

10. The steam cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base body further has a housing at the front, said housing provided with a sucking chamber and a sucking pump, said sucking pump connected to a sucking inlet in the bottom of said housing via a tube, said sucking pump controlled to open and close by said switch handled together by said switch button synchronously.