US3263256A

US3263256A - Rug shampooer

Info

Publication number: US3263256A
Application number: US376454A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald W Ruehmann
Original assignee: National Union Electric Corp
Current assignee: White Consolidated Industries Inc
Priority date: 1964-06-19
Filing date: 1964-06-19
Publication date: 1966-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-02
Also published as: LU48847A1; BE665651A; NL126223C; DE1503855A1; FR1444989A; NL6507753A; GB1034400A; DE1503855B2

Description

Aug. 2, 1966 o. w. RUEHMANN RUG SHAMPOOER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1964 INVENTOR ehmann;

rrrmfii 27/4271? v i ll- -ll. I n.

79 g9 63 89 1 3 flonald United States Patent 3,263,256 RUG SHAMPOOER Donald W. Ruehrnann, Bloornington, IlL, assignor to National Union Electric Corporation, Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 19, 1964, Ser. No. 376,454 25 Claims. (Cl. 15-50) This invention relates to an improvement in rug shampooers, and more particularly relates to an improved foam generator adapted for use with a rug shampooer.

One of the problems which occurs in the operation of rug shampooing or carpet scrubbing devices is that of avoiding excessive soaking of the carpet or rug with shampoo liquid or detergent. Such soaking may result from incomplete conversion of the liquid shampoo or detergent into foam before it is applied to the carpet.

In addition, some rug shampooing devices which are capable of functioning as a floor polisher require the use of a dolly when the device is to be used as a rug shampooer. The installation and removal of such a dolly may present difficulties and at least is time consuming.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved rug or carpet shampooing device.

A more particular object is to provide a novel foam generator adapted for use with a rug shampooing device, which effectively converts liquid shampoo into foam and thereby prevents soaking of a rug being shampooed.

Another object is to provide a novel foam generator of the foregoing character which may be readily removed from a rug shampooer when it is desired to operate the shampooer as a floor polisher.

A further object is to provide a novel rug shampooer which does not require the use of a dolly or other supplemental support structure.

Still another object is to provide a novel foam generator adapted for use with a rug shampooer, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the lower portion of a rug shampooer showing a foam generator embodying the features of the present invention mounted on the underside thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, with some parts in elevation, showing an alternate mounting of the foam generator of the present invention on the underside of a rug shampooer.

Briefly described, the present invention contemplates a novel rug shampooer incorporating a novel foam or suds generator adapted to effectively aerate and convert shampoo liquid into foam. The device, to be hereinafter described in detail, generally comprises a motor housing having a pair of laterally spaced, oppositely rotatably driven drive shafts projecting downwardly from the underside of the housing. Each shaft is adapted to detachably receive a rug scrubbing brush when the device is to be used as a rug shampooer, or a polishing brush,

polishing pad, or both, when the device is to be used as a floor polisher. An elongated handle is provided to facilitate manipulation of the device, and a reservoir or container for receiving a supply of shampoo liquid or liquid wax is mounted on the handle in an elevated position above the motor housing. A conduit, such as a pipe or flexible tube, serves to direct shampoo liquid or liquid Wax downwardly from the container to a discharge point or outlet on the underside of the housing. Valve means, controlled from the handle, is provided for controlling liquid flow from the container to the discharge point.

The foam generator is adapted to be either detachably or permanently mounted on the underside of the motor housing adjacent the rotatable rug scrubbing brushes and somewhat toward the rear of the housing. The foam generator, to be hereinafter described in detail, includes at least one and preferably a pair of horizontally extending plate portions arranged so that the lower ends of the bristles of each brush sweep over a foam generating surface on each plate portion. According to the present invention each foam generating surface is irregularly formed and preferably provided with a plurality of upraised ribs which coact with the bristles of the brush to aerate and convert shampoo liquid supplied to the foam generating surfaces into foam when the device is in operation.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a rug shampooing device 10 embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated, the device including a foam generator, indicated generally at 60. The device 10, in the present instance, comprises a housing, designated generally at 11, which includes a domed upper section 12 and a fiat, generally oval lower section 13 (FIG. 2) having a top wall 14 and a bottom wall 15 (FIG. 2). A bumper guard 16 including a depending skirt 25, is carried around the lower housing section 13. The guard 16 is preferably of soft plastic or rubber-like material, and a metal strap 17 may be provided around the guard for decorative purposes. An electric motor (not shown) is mounted in the upper section 12 and serves to drive a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending shafts 30 in opposite directions through intermediate gearing, indicated at 18 in FIG. 2. The shafts 3t) project downwardly through the wall 15 of the housing section 13 and are adapted to detachably receive and drive various types of rotary attachments, such as rug scrubbing brushes and floor polishing pads. In the present instance, a pair of rug or

carpet scrubbing brushes

19 and 20 are shown mounted on the shafts 31 The brushes 19 and 29 include a plurality of annularly arranged, generally vertically downwardly extending bristles 21, the latter being disposed around a shallow, cup-shaped support member 22 disposed centrally of the bristles 21. Each support member 22 is adapted to engage the upper surface or pile of a rug, indicated at R, to be shampooed. The undersurfaces of the support members 22 are flat so that the weight of the motor housing 11 is distributed over a relatively large area. The vertical height of the support members 22 is such that the lower ends of the bristles 21 extend below the undersurfaces of the support members by an amount sufiicient to depress the pile of the rug and provide the desired scrubbing action without digging into or unnecessarily abrading the rug.

In order to facilitate manipulation of the device it over a rug or carpet, handle means is provided. Such handle means, in the present instance, comprises an inverted U-shaped frame or yoke 23 having its lower ends extending through openings 24 in the rear of the upper housing section 12 and pivotally connected thereto. A tubular handle 26 extends upwardly from the central connecting portion of the frame 23 and may be provided with a suitable grip (not shown) and a switch (also not shown) for controlling operation of the motor within the housing section 12.

An elongated generally rectangularly shaped reservoir or container 27 is mounted between the arms of the frame 23 and is adapted to receive a quantity of shampoo liquid when the device is to be used as a rug shampooer, or liquid wax when the device is to be used as a floor polisher. Shampoo liquid or liquid wax may be added to the container 27 through an opening in its upper end, such opening being closed by a removable cover 28. The container 27 is frictionally retained between the arms of the frame and may be removed therefrom for cleaning.

Conduit means, in this instance, a flexible plastic tube 32 is provided for directing a flow of shampoo liquid or liquid wax from the container 27 downwardly through the lower housing section 13 to a discharge point in the vicinity of the

brushes

19, 28 for application to a rug or floor. In the present instance, the upper end of the tube 32 communicates with an outlet opening 33 (FIG. 2) in the bottom wall, indicated at 34, of the container 27. A valve assembly 36 is mounted on the bottom wall 34 between the opening 33 and upper end of the tube 32.

The valve assembly 36, in the present instance, comprises a cup-shaped member 38 threaded onto a depending tubular extension 39 of the bottom wall 34. A short axial bore 41 in the bottom wall of the member 38 communicates with the outlet 33 and with another opening 42 in the member 38, the opening 42 communicating with the tube 32.

An elongated rod or plunger 43 having a tapered lower end 44 adapted to seat on the upper end of the bore 41 controls fluid flow into the upper end of the tube 32. A coil spring 46 is provided for normally urging the lower end 44 of the rod 43 into engagement with the seat 42. The lower end of the spring 46 bears against a washer 47 which is retained on the rod 43 by a snap ring 48, and the upper end of the spring 46 engages a shoulder 51 defined by the bore in the tubular extension 39. The rod 43 extends upwardly through the container 27 and outwardly through the upper end thereof to a connection with the lower end of a control rod 52. The upper end (not shown) of the control rod 52 terminates at the handle grip for manipulation by a user.

The lower end of the tube 32 extends over the upper end, indicated at 53 (FIG. 2) of a rigid tubular extension or flow fitting 54 and the latter is removably disposed in a tubular spacer 56 (FIG. 2) which extends between the top and bottom walls 14 and 15, respectively, of the lower housing section 13. The spacer 56 is disposed between and somewhat rearwardly of the

brushes

19 and 20. The fitting 54 is somewhat longer than the spacer 56 so that the lower end, indicated at 57, of the former extends below the bottom wall of the housing section 13 when the fitting is seated in the spacer 56.

As heretofore mentioned, the device includes the foam or suds generator 60 embodying the features of the present invention. It will be understood that prior to mounting the foam generator 60 on the bottom wall of the housing section 13, or thereafter, appropriate rug shampooing brushes, such as the

brushes

19 and 20, are mounted on the depending drive shafts 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the foam generator 69 comprises a generally hexagonally-shaped casing 61 having vertically extending

angled side walls

62, 63 and 64, 65 (FIG. 4), front, intermediate, and

rear walls

66, 67 and 68, respectively, and a bottom wall. The bottom wall includes a horizontal portion 69 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) extending between the intermediate and

rear walls

67 and 68 and a pair of laterally spaced inclined portions 70 (FIGS. 2 and 6) disposed on each side of the horizontal portion 69. The inclined portions 70 slope downwardly from the rear wall 68 toward the intermediate wall 67, as shown in FIG. 2. The horizontal portion 69 is con- 4 nected to the inclined portions 70 by vertical wall portions 71.

Extending laterally outwardly from the

side walls

62 and 63 of the casing 61 are a pair of horizontal plate portions or

flanges

78 and 79, respectively. The

plate portions

78 and 79 are adapted to underlie a portion of the bristles 21 of each brush when the casing 61 is mounted on the bottom wall 15. The

plate portions

78 and 79 are preferably arcuate in a horizontal plane and have a radial width substantially equal to the radial width of the annularly arranged bristles 21 of the

brushes

19 and 20, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the lower end portions of all of the bristles sweep across the entire arcuate length of the

plate portions

78 and 79. The inner peripheral edges, indicated at 80, of each

plate portion

78 and 79 is also arcuate to accommodate the lower end portions of the cup-shaped support members 22. The vertical side walls 62-65 have a length such that when the casing 61 is mounted on the bottom wall 15, the upper surfaces, indicated at 82 and 83, of the

plate portions

78 and 79, respectively, engage the lower ends of the overlying bristles 21 so that the latter are deflected as they sweep across these surfaces when the brushes are rotating.

In addition, and as will be apparent from FIG. 4, the

vertical walls

62 and 63 of the casing 61 are arcuate in a horizontal plane and have radii of curvature somewhat less than that of the outermost peripheral bristles of the

brushes

19 and 20. Thus, when the lower ends of the bistles 21 are sweeping across the

surfaces

82 and 83, the peripheral bristles will .be deflected radially inward and compressed. Such inward deflection is initiated when the outer peripheral bristles of the

brushes

19 and 20 contact the vertical side edges indicated at 84 and 85 of the

side walls

62 and 63, respectively. The direction of rotation of the

brushes

19 and 20 with respect to the foam generator 60 is indicated by arrows in FIG. 3.

Assuming that the container 27 is filled with shampoo liquid and the control rod 52 shifted to open the valve 36, shampoo liquid will flow downwardly in the tube 32 and through the fitting 54 into a chamber 86 (FIG. 2) in the casing 61 defined by the vertical side walls 64 and 65, intermediate and rear walls 67 and 6-8, and

bottom wall portions

69 and 70. Shampoo liquid in the chamber 86 flows outwardly thereof through a pair of

openings

88 and 89 in the

vertical side walls

62 and 63, respectively, immediately above the

upper surfaces

82 and 83 of the

plate portions

78 and 79. The sweeping action of the lower ends of the bristles 21 over the

surfaces

82 and 83 and the compression of the peripheral bristles of each brush serves to aerate and convert the shampoo liquid into foam or suds which is deposited on the rug by the forwardly moving bristles.

In order to prevent the shampoo foam from being thrown forwardly of the housing 11 when the device is operating, a retracable splash guard 90 is provided at the front of the housing 11. The splash guard 90, in the present instance, comprises a rectangularly shaped sheet of flexible material (FIG. 3), preferably plastic, which is secured along one of its longer edges 91 to an upwardly directed flange 92 (FIG. 2) that extends around the periphery of the bottom wall 15. When in use, the splash guard 90 is disposed in a vertical position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 2 so that the lower edge thereof, indicated at 93, closely overlies the surface of the rug R.

When the device 10 is not being used as a rug shampooer, or the splash guard 90 is otherwise not needed, the guard 90 may be swung rearwardly into a retracted horizontal position adjacent the underside of the bottom wall 15. To this end, a horizontally extending groove 94 (FIG. 2) may be provided in the outer or front surface of the guard. The guard is retained in its retracted position by a bracket 95 secure-d to the underside of the bottom wall 15 and having a lip 96 over which the lower edge 93 of the guard must be shifted.

In order to assure complete conversion or aeration of the shampoo liquid into foam or suds, and according to the present invention, the foam generating surfaces 82 and 83 of the

plate portions

78 and 79 are irregularly formed by providing at least one and preferably a plurality of spaced

upraised ribs

98 and 99 thereon, respectively. The

ribs

98 and 99 of each set, in this instance, are parallel and extend generally radially toward the axes of notation of their

respective brushes

20 and 19. However, the

ribs

98 and 99 could be skewed or arranged in some other manner if desired, so long as they are disposed 1111116 path of movement of the bristles 21. Preferably, the

openings

88 and 89 are located between the first and second ribs of each set, in the direction of rotation of the brushes, the first and second ribs of each set being spaced apart a somewhat greater distance than the remainder of the ribs to provide shampoo liquid receiving and transfer

areas

102 and 103 therebetween on the

surfaces

82 and 83, respectively. Thus, shampoo liquid supplied to the

areas

102 and 103 is picked up and swept by the bristles 2-1 over the remaining ribs of each set to effect aeration and conversion of the shampoo liquid into foam. The outer surfaces of the

vertical side walls

62 and 63 could also be irregularly formed as by the addition or ribs, convolutions or the like, to further assure conversion of the shampoo liquid into foam.

Because the lower ends of the peripheral bristles 21 of the

brushes

19 and 20 sweep across the

openings

88 and 89 in the

vertical side walls

62 and 63, the openings are prevented from becoming clogged so that a uniform flow of shampoo liquid from the chamber 86 through the

openings

88 and 89 is at all times assured.

As heretofore mentioned, the foam generator 60 is adapted to be either detachably or permanently mounted on the underside of the bottom wall 15 of the housing section 13. In order to provide such detachable mounting, another bracket in the form of an elongated rectangua-rly shaped plate 106 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6) is secured to the underside of the bottom Wall 15 as by rivets 107, the plate 106 being disposed centrally of the bottom wall 15 and at the rear of the housing 11. The plate 106, in the present instance, includes a laterally extending web or strap 108 formed by a struckout portion of the material of the plate, and a triangularly shaped opening 109 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed in the plate 106 adjacent the rear edge thereof to accommodate the tubular fitting 57 and to define a late-rally extending narrow strip 111 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of material adjacent the skirt 25. The strip 111 may be bent away from the plate 106 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. The open interior of the Web 108 thus defines an open ended pocket 112 (FIG. 6).

The foam generator casing 61 includes a horizontally disposed lug 113 which extends forwardly from the upper end of the intermediate wall 67 and which is adapted to extend into the pocket 112. In order to prevent lateral shifting or twisting of the casing 61 when the lug 113 is disposed in the pocket 112 and the casing 61 is engaged with the underside of the bottom wall 15, the casing 61 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced bars 114 which extend between the

side walls

62 and 63 and intermediate wall 67, respectively, and a shallow recess is formed in the upper edge of the rear wall 68 to define a pair of laterally spaced shoulders 116. The bars 11 and shoul ders 116 have a lateral spacing substantially equal to the width of the plate 106 so that when the casing 61 is engaged with the bottom wall 15, the bars 114 and shoulders 116 interlock with the lateral side edges of the plate 106. Lateral shifting or twisting of the casing 61 is thus prevented.

In order to releasably secure the casing 61 to the plate 106, releasable locking means is provided. Such releasable locking means, in the present instance, comprises a lever 118 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) pivotally secured, as by a rivet 119, to the rear wall 68 to the casing 61. A cam 121 comprising an inclined sector is provided at one end of the lever 118 and a circular tab 122 is provided at the other end of the lever to facilitate manipulation thereof. Thus, when the casing is engaged with the underside of the bottom wall 15 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 with the lug 113 disposed in the pocket 112, clockwise rotation of the lever 118, as viewed in FIG. 1, will cause the cam 121 to engage the inner edge of the strip 111 and hold the lug 113 seated in its pocket 112. counterclockwise rotation of the lever 113 from its locking position shown in FIG. 1 will cause the cam 121 to become disengaged from the strip 111, thereby permitting the casing 61 to be shifted toward the rear of the housing 11 until the lug 113 moves out of its pocket 112. The casing 61 may then be removed.

If it is desired to permanently secure the casing 61 to the underside of the bottom wall 15, such as when the device 10 is to be used only as a rug shampooer, another mounting arrangement is utilized. Such permanent mounting, in the present instance, comprises a laterally spaced pair of mounting flanges 124 and 125 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which extend horizontally outwardly from the vertical side walls 64 and 65, respectively, as viewed in FIG. 4-. The

flanges

124 and 125 are disposed adjacent the upper edges of the side walls 64 and 65 and are provided with openings 126 therethrough. The openings 126 are adapted to receive mounting screws 127 (FIG. 7) which are adapted to be threaded into internally threaded tubular spacers 128, the spacers extending vertically between the top and bottom walls 14 and 15, respectively, of the lower housing section 13. Thus, when the screws 127 are fully drawn up, the casing 61 is permanently secured to the under side of the bottom wall 15.

With the foregoing construction, it will be apparent that when the foam generator 60 is mounted on the bottom wall 15, the need for a supplemental support dolly is eliminated as the foam generator 60 also serves to support the rear end of the motor housing 11 during movement of the latter over a rug. Such support is provided by the underside of the horizontal bottom wall portion 69 of the casing 61, which comprises a skid, and by the lower surfaces of the

plate portions

78 and 79 which also lie in substantially the same plane as the flat undersurfaces of the cup-shaped support members 22. The skid or portion 69 also prevents the housing 11 from being tipped backwardly and further contributes to a more uniform distribution of the weight of the device 10 on a rug.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that modifications and variations thereof may be efiected without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rug shampooer having a brush mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with bristles adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding a shampoo liquid from a supply container into the vicinity of the brush, the improvement comprising means providing a foam generating surface underlying a portion of said brush and disposed in the path of rotation thereof so that the lower end portions of said bristles are flexed as they sweep across said surface in contact therewith during rotation of said brush, and means for directing shampoo liquid onto said surface whereby said liquid is aerated and converted into foam during passage of the bristles across said surface before coming into contact with the rug.

2. The rug shampooer of claim 1 further characterized in that said foam generating surface is irregular and coacts with said bristles to aerate and convert said shampoo liquid into foam.

3. In a rug shampooer having a brush mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with bristles adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding a shampoo liquid from a supply container into the vicinity of the brush, the improvement comprising means providing a foam generating surface underlying a portion of said brush and disposed in the path of rotation thereof so that the lower end portions of said bristles are flexed as they sweep across said surface in contact therewith during rotation of said brush, said foam generating surface having at least one upraised rib thereon disposed in the path of movement of said bristles and coacting with said bristles to convert shampoo liquid into foam, and means for directing shampoo liquid onto said surface whereby said sham-poo liquid is aerated and converted into foam during passage of the bristles across said surface before coming into contact with the rug.

4. The rug shampooer of claim 3, further characterized in that a plurality of said ribs are provided, said ribs being parallel and spaced from each other.

5. In a rug shampooer having at least one brush mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with bristles adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding shampoo liquid from a reservoir thereof to a point of discharge adjacent said brush, the improvement comprising a casing mounted on said shampooer adjacent said brush, said casing having a foam generating surface underlying a portion of said brush and disposed in the path of rotation thereof so that the lower end portions of said bristles are flexed as they sweep across said surface during rotation of said brush, said casing also having a chamber into which said shampoo liquid discharges, and said chamber having an opening therein for directing shampoo liquid onto said surface whereby said shampoo liquid is aerated and converted into foam during passage of said bristles across said surface before coming into contact with the rug.

6. The rug shampooer of claim further characterized in that said foam generating surface is irregular and coacts with said bristles to convert said shampoo liquid into foam.

7. The rug shampooer of claim 5 further characterized in that a plurality of upraised ribs are provided on said foam generating surface and disposed in the path of movement of said bristles, said ribs coacting with said bristles to convert said shampoo liquid into foam.

8. The rug shampooer of claim 5 further characterized in that said bristles are annularly arranged and extend generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said brush, and said foam generating surface is arcuate in the plane of rotation of said brush and has a width substantially equal to the radial width of said bristles such that the lower end portions of all of said bristles sweep across the entire arcuate length of said foam generating surface.

9. In a rug shampooer having at least one brush mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with bristles adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding shampoo liquid from a reservoir thereof to a point of discharge adjacent said brush, the improvement comprising a casing mounted on said shampooer adjacent said brush, said casing having a horizontal foam generating surface underlying a portion of said brush and a vertical side wall disposed in the path of movement of the peripheral bristles of said brush for engaging and deflecting said peripheral bristles radially inward during rotation of said brush, said casing also having a chamber into which said shampoo liquid discharges, and said chamber having an opening therein for directing shampoo liquid onto said surface whereby said shampoo liquid is aerated and converted into foam during passage of said bristles across said surface and said vertical side wall before coming into contact with the rug.

10. The rug shampooer of claim 9 further characterized in that said vertical side wall is arcuate and ha a radius of curvature somewhat less than the outermost peripheral bristles of said brush whereby said peripheral bristles are deflected radially inwardly upon contacting said side wall.

11. In a rug shampooer having a pair of rotatable laterally spaced brushes mounted for rotation on a verti- =cal axis with the bristles thereof adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding shampoo liquid from a reservoir thereof to a point of discharge adjacent said brush, the improvement comprising a foam generator including a casing mounted on said shampooer adjacent said brushes, said casing having a pair of foam generating surfaces underlying a portion of said brushes and disposed in the path of rotation thereof so that the lower end portions of said bristles are flexed as they sweep across said surfaces during rotation of said brushes, said casing also having a chamber into which said shampoo liquid discharges, and said chamber having a pair of openings therein each communicating with one of said surfaces for directing shampoo liquid onto said surfaces whereby said shampoo liquid is aerated and converted into foam during passage of said bristles across said surfaces before coming into contact with the rug.

12. The rug shampooer of claim 11 further characterized in that each of said brushes includes a central support member having a flat undersurface adapted to engage the upper surface of a rug being cleaned, the bristles of said brushes are annularly arranged around said support members, and said casing has a skid having a flat undersurface adapted to engage the upper surface of a rug being cleaned, said support members and said skid being effective to support said shampooer when the latter is resting on a rug.

13. The rug shampooer of claim 12 further characterized in that said skid is disposed at the rear of said casing and rearwardly of said support members, whereby said skid prevents said shampooer from being tipped backwards.

1 .4. In a rug shampooer having at least one brush mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with bristles adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding shampoo liquid from a reservoir thereof to a point of discharge adjacent said brush, the improvement comprising a casing adapted to be detachably mounted on said shampooer adjacent said brush, said casing having a foam generating surface adapted to underlie a portion of said brush when said casing is mounted on said shampooer so that the lower end portions of said bristles are flexed a they sweep across said surface during rotation of said brush, said casing also having a chamber adapted to receive shampoo liquid from said feeding means and an opening therein for directing shampoo liquid from said chamber onto said surface whereby said shampoo liquid is aerated and converted into foam for application to said rug, and means for releasably securing said casing to said shampooer to permit the latter to be used as a floor polisher when said casing is detached.

15. The rug shampooer of claim 14 further characterized in that said releasable securing means comprises a bracket adapted to be secured to the underside of said shampooer, and cam lock means carried by said casing and coacting with said bracket when in one position to secure said casing to the underside of said shampooer, said cam lock mean when moved to another position permitting detachment of said casing from said shampooer.

16. The rug shampooer of claim 15 further characterized in that said bracket includes means defining a pocket at one end of said bracket and a spaced laterally extending strip at the other end of said bracket, and said casing has a lug adapted to extend into said pocket when said casing is mounted on said shampooer, said cam lock means when moved to said one position engaging said strip whereby said casing is secured to said shampooer.

17. A foam generator adapted for use with a rug shampooer having at least one brush mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with the bristles of said brush adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding shampoo liquid from a container thereof to said foam generator, said foam generator comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the underside of said shampooer and having a foam generating surface adapted to underlie a portion of said brush when said casing is mounted on said shampooer so that the lower end portions of said bristles are flex-ed as they sweep across said surface during rotation of said brush, and said casing having means for directing shampoo liquid supplied thereto from said feeding means onto said surface whereby said shampoo liquid is aerated and converted into foam during passage of said bristles across said surface.

18. The foam generator of claim 17 further characterized in that said foam generating surface is irregular and adapted to coact with said bristles to aerate and convert shampoo liquid into foam.

19. The foam generator of claim 17 further characterized in that said foam generating surface has at least one upraised rib thereon adapted to be disposed in the path of movement of said bristles when said casing is mounted on said shampooer, said rib being adapted to coact with said bristles to convert said shampoo liquid into foam.

20. The foam generator of claim 19 further characterized in that a plurality of upraised ribs are provided on said surface, said ribs being parallel and spaced from each other.

21. A foam generator adapted for use with a rug shampooer having a pair of rotatable laterally spaced brushes mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with the bristles thereof adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding shampoo liquid from a container thereof to said foam generator, said foam generator comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the underside of said shampooer adjacent said brushes, said casing having a pair of laterally spaced horizontal foam generating surfaces each adapted to underlie a portion of a brush when said casing is mounted on said shampooer so that the lower end portions of the bristles of said brushes are flexed as they sweep across their respective foam generating surfaces, each of said foam generating surfaces having at least one upraised rib thereon adapted to be disposed in the path of movement of said bristles when said brushes are to: tating, said ribs being adapted to coact with said bristles to convert shampoo liquid into foam, and said casing having means for directing shampoo liquid supplied thereto from said container onto said surfaces.

22. A foam generator adapted for use with a rug shampooer having at least one brush mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with the bristles of said brush adapted to contact a rug, and means for feeding shampoo liquid from a container thereof to said foam generator, said foam generator comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the underside of said shampooer and having a foam generating surface adapted to underlie a portion of said brush when said casing is mounted on said shampooer,

the lower end portions of said bristles thereby being flexed as they sweep across said surface during rotation of said brush, said casing also having a chamber adapted to receive said shampoo liquid from said feeding means, and said chamber having an opening therein for directing shampoo liquid supplied to said chamber from said feeding means onto said surface for converting said liquid into foam during passage of said bristles across said surface.

23. The foam generator of claim 22 further characterized in that said surface has a plurality of spaced upraised ribs thereon, and said opening in said chamber is disposed between the first and second ones of said ribs in the direction of rotation of said brush.

24. The foam generator of claim 22 further characterized in that said first and second ribs are spaced a greater distance apart than the remainder of said ribs to provide a shampoo liquid receiving and transfer area.

25. A foam generator adapted for use with a rug shampooer having at least one brush mounted for rotation on a vertical axis with the bristles of said brush adapted to contact a rug, said foam generator comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the underside of said shampooer and having a horizontal foam generating surface adapted to underlie a portionof said brush when said casing is mounted on said shampooer so that the lower end portion of said bristles are flexed as they sweep across said surface during rotation of said brush, said casing also having a chamber therein having at least one vertical side wall adapted to be disposed in the path of movement of the peripheral bristles of said brush when said casing is mounted on said shampooer so that said peripheral bristles are deflected radially inward during rotation of said brush, said vertical side wall thereby coacting with said foam generating surface to aerate and convert shampoo liquid supplied to said surface into foam.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,121,896 2/1964 Allen et al. a 15-50 3,189,930 6/1965 Tuthill 15-320 FOREIGN PATENTS 381,351 10/1932 Great Britain.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. E. L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A RUG SHAMPOOER HAVING A BRUSH MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON A VERTICAL AXIS WITH BRISTLES ADAPTED TO CONTACT A RUG, AND MEANS FOR FEEDING A SHAMPOO LIQUID FROM A SUPPLY CONTAINER INTO THE VICINITY OF THE BRUSH, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING MEANS PROVIDING A FOAM GENERATING SURFAE UNDERLYING A PORTION OF SAID BRUSH AND DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF ROTATION THEREOF SO THAT THE LOWER END PORTIONS OF SAID BRISTLES ARE FLEXED AS THEY SWEEP ACROSS SAID SURFACE IN CONTACT THEREWITH DURING ROTATION OF SAID BRUSH, AND MEANS FOR DIRECTING SHAMPOO LIQUID ONTO SAID SURFACE WHEREBY SAID LIQUID IS AERATED AND CONVERTED INTO FOAM DURING PASSAGE OF THE BRISTLES ACROSS SAID SURFACE BEFORE COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE RUG.