Wand for a carpet extractor
A cleaning tool head for use with the wand of a carpet extractor. The head includes a housing that engages a surface being cleaned and forms an enclosed interior. A partition divides the interior into a vacuum chamber located a front sidewall of the housing and a cleaning chamber located behind the vacuum chamber. The cleaning head is mounted on a pair of transport wheels which extend along a wheel axis and is further supported by an upwardly extending handle assembly. The cleaning head is pivotable in an arcuate path about the wheel axis through movement of the handle assembly between a cleaning position in which the housing lower edge engages the surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is pulled by a user and a transport position in which the lower edge is out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned as the user pushes the handle assembly.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning tool device and method for cleaning planar surfaces, such as carpeted floors, and more particularly to the wand and associated cleaning tool head used in such devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cleaning systems that circulate and spray liquids are widely used for cleaning carpets, upholstery, fabric and wall coverings, as well as for hard surfaces such as ceramics. Many of these systems use a device in which a liquid cleaning solution is sprayed toward the surface being cleaned, typically while the cleaning head is being pushed across the floor. On the return stroke across the floor, a vacuum source creates a high velocity airstream that draws the dispensed liquid from the surface being cleaned upwardly into an internal chamber of the cleaning head, thereby extracting soil, debris and other foreign matter to clean the surface.
Cleaning systems of this type which circulate and spray liquids often include a tank of liquid cleaning solution supported on a wheel mounted base or framework. The framework also supports a motor and liquid pump for circulating the cleaning solution. These systems also include a vacuum motor and blower for recovering the solution and returning solution to the tank. In many such systems, the cleaning head is not integral with the framework, but rather is coupled to the solution tank through pliable hosing and thus is movable independently. Frequently the connection includes a wand and a length of rigid tubing to enable the operator to orient the cleaning tool head and to either push or pull the cleaning tool head across the surface being cleaned by handling the wand. Patents describing the cleaning heads used in these systems include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,594 (Grave); U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,889 (Grave); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,598 (Grave and Cho).
Alternatively, a surface cleaning apparatus can be self-contained, in the sense of providing a wheel supported housing that incorporates the necessary motors and contains the cleaning fluid, and further incorporates the cleaning tool head as a part of the same housing, for example, through a pair of pivot arms. This type of cleaning apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,975 (Hilmanowski), issued Jul. 18, 1995.
The cleaning tool head which is utilized with both of the above types of devices will generally include an elongate housing which is typically divided into a vacuum chamber and a cleaning fluid chamber. One or more fluid spray nozzles are mounted to the head, as in a single row lengthwise of the head. Liquid cleaning solution is supplied to the nozzle or nozzles under pressure so that cleaning fluid is dispensed into the cleaning fluid chamber. Each nozzle sprays cleaning solution in a thin, sheet-like fan-shaped spray pattern that diverges in the direction from the nozzle toward the surface being cleaned. The fluid is drawn away from the surface being cleaned by a vacuum applied to the vacuum chamber portion of the cleaning head.
Despite the above noted similarities, the prior art devices differ on how the cleaning tool head is arranged or divided to form the respective cleaning fluid chamber and the vacuum chamber. Because the chambers are configured differently, a user would also perform a different sequence of motions in using the particular device to clean a surface. For example, in the device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,598, the cleaning fluid chamber is forward of the vacuum chamber and a user would tend to push while spraying cleaning fluid and pull while vacuuming.
The configuration of the above devices depends, to some extent, upon the type of planar surface being cleaned. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,594 is used on smooth and napped surfaces; U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,889 is used on hard and yielding surfaces; U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,598 is used on carpeted floors; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,975 is also used on carpeted floors.
While the above described devices all represent advances in the state of the floor cleaning arts, a need continues to exist for a carpet extractor wand design which is more efficient in use than the presently existing tools.
A need also exists for such a device which is easier for a user to push and pull across a carpeted planar surface being cleaned, thereby relieving some of the manual effort required in the cleaning operation.
A need also exists for an improved cleaning head for a carpet extractor which is relatively simple in design and economical to manufacture, without requiring significant changes to the overall existing wand configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe cleaning apparatus of the invention is used to clean a planar covered surface, such as a carpeted surface, and includes a cleaning head housing having a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a top wall and opposing sidewalls which together define a closed interior. The cleaning housing has a longitudinal axis and a substantially planar leading lower edge arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and running along a lower extent of the front sidewall. The housing interior also has an internal partition which divides the interior into a vacuum chamber located adjacent the front sidewall and a cleaning chamber located adjacent the rear sidewall. A cleaning fluid line extends into the cleaning chamber and a vacuum line extends from the vacuum chamber.
A transport wheel is mounted on a wheel axis extending from each of the respective opposing sidewalls of the housing, the wheel axis being generally parallel to the housing longitudinal axis. The cleaning head is further supported by means of a normally upwardly extending handle assembly having a lower extent connected to the cleaning head housing and an upper extent. The leading lower edge of the cleaning head housing is pivotable in an arcuate path about the wheel axis through movement of the handle assembly between a wet mode cleaning position in which the housing lower edge engages the surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is pulled by a user and a dry mode or transport position in which the lower edge is out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned as the user pushes the handle assembly.
A vacuum source is connectable with the vacuum line for drawing a partial vacuum within the housing interior when the cleaning head is in the cleaning position and the cleaning head is being pulled by the user. At least one fluid jet is located in the top wall of the cleaning head housing in communication with the cleaning fluid line for spraying a fluid under pressure into the cleaning chamber when the cleaning head is in the cleaning position.
The housing internal partition has a lower linear edge which is disposed near the carpeted surface when the cleaning head is pivoted about the wheel axis to the cleaning position, the lower linear edge defining a narrow gap extending across the chamber interior between the partition and the surface, whereby the housing cleaning chamber comprises an intake compartment for receiving fluids and the housing vacuum chamber comprises an evacuation compartment for evacuation of fluids. The fluid jet sprays fluid toward the carpeted surface proximate the gap while the vacuum source simultaneously draws a vacuum in the evacuation chamber to thereby draw fluids from the intake compartment across the gap and into the evacuation compartment.
A user of the improved device of the invention thus dispenses cleaning solution into the cleaning chamber in a fluid dispensing operation while pulling the cleaning head in the direction of the user and then stops the fluid dispensing operation, followed by pushing the cleaning head in a direction away from the user while continuing to apply a vacuum to the vacuum chamber of the cleaning head. The cleaning fluid line is connected to a tank of liquid cleaning solution supported on a wheel mounted base, the base also supporting a motor and liquid pump for circulating the cleaning solution and a vacuum motor and blower for recovering the solution and returning the solution to the tank. The user controls the fluid dispensing operation by means of a hand operated valve assembly mounted adjacent an upper extent of the upwardly extending handle assembly.
Additional objects, features and advantages will be apparent in the written description which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Turning to
As shown in
The normally upwardly extending handling assembly 15 has a lower extent 47 which is connected to the cleaning head housing 13. The handle assembly also has an upper extent (49 in
As shown in
The cleaning fluid line 41 connects to a valve assembly 67 by means of a quick connect coupling 69. The valve assembly 67 includes a user operated hand lever 71 whereby the user controls the fluid dispensing operation by moving the hand operated valve assembly 67 between open and closed positions. The overall wand assembly also has a handle grip 73 which allows a user to manipulate the cleaning head over the surface to be cleaned.
In use, the device is first placed in the cleaning positing by rotating the housing about the wheel axis (47 in
An invention has been provided with several advantages. Because the cleaning head of the invention is mounted on rollers, the head can be pivoted between a wet mode in which the housing leading lower edge contacts surface to be cleaned and a dry mode in which the housing leading lower edge is out of contact with the carpeted surface. The contact between the housing leading edge and the surface temporarily closes off the internal housing to facilitate the dispensing of the cleaning solution, contact with the surface to be cleaned and vacuuming off the cleaning solution. Pulling the cleaning head during the wet mode of operation has been found to enhance the ultimate effectiveness of the solution dispensing and cleaning operation. Because the housing can be rotated on the wheel axis, the leading edge of the housing can be rotated out of contact with the surface to be cleaned as the user pushes the handle assembly and cleaning head away from the user's body during the dry mode step. This relative sequence of operating steps has been found to enhance the cleaning operation and facilitate the user's range of motions necessary to accomplish the cleaning job.
While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
Claims
1. An apparatus for cleaning a covered planar surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a cleaning head housing having a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a top wall and opposing sidewalls which together define a closed interior, the cleaning housing having a longitudinal axis and a substantially planar leading lower edge arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and running along a lower extent of the front sidewall, the housing interior also has an internal partition which divides the interior into a vacuum chamber located adjacent the front sidewall and a cleaning chamber located adjacent the rear sidewall;
- a cleaning fluid line extending into the cleaning chamber;
- a vacuum line extending from the vacuum chamber;
- a transport wheel mounted on a wheel axis extending from each of the respective opposing sidewalls of the housing, the wheel axis being generally parallel to the housing longitudinal axis;
- a normally upwardly extending handle assembly having a lower extent connected to the cleaning head housing and an upper extent, the leading lower edge of the cleaning head housing being pivotable in an arcuate path about the wheel axis through movement of the handle assembly between a cleaning position in which the housing lower edge engages the surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is pulled by a user and a transport position in which the lower edge is out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned as the user pushes the handle assembly.
2. A wand for a carpet extractor used to remove soil from a carpeted surface, the wand comprising:
- a cleaning head housing having a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a top wall and opposing sidewalls which together define a closed interior, the cleaning housing having a longitudinal axis and a substantially planar leading lower edge arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and running along a lower extent of the front sidewall, the housing interior also having an internal partition which divides the interior into a vacuum chamber located adjacent the front sidewall and a cleaning chamber located adjacent the rear sidewall;
- a cleaning fluid line extending into the cleaning chamber;
- a vacuum line extending from the vacuum chamber;
- a transport wheel mounted on a wheel axis extending from each of the respective opposing sidewalls of the housing, the wheel axis being generally parallel to the housing longitudinal axis;
- a normally upwardly extending handle assembly having a lower extent connected to the cleaning head housing and an upper extent, the leading lower edge of the cleaning head housing being pivotable in an arcuate path about the wheel axis through movement of the handle assembly between a cleaning position in which the housing lower edge engages the carpeted surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is pulled by a user and a transport position in which the lower edge is out of engagement with the carpeted surface as the user pushes the handle assembly.
3. The wand of claim 2, further comprising:
- a vacuum source connectable with the vacuum line for drawing a partial vacuum within the housing interior when the cleaning head is in the cleaning position and the cleaning head is being pulled by the user.
4. The wand of claim 3, wherein at least one fluid jet is located in the top wall of the cleaning head housing in communication with the cleaning fluid line for spraying a fluid under pressure into the cleaning chamber when the cleaning head is in the cleaning position.
5. The wand of claim 4, wherein the housing internal partition has a lower linear edge which is disposed near the carpeted surface when the cleaning head is pivoted about the wheel axis to the cleaning position, the lower linear edge defining a narrow gap extending across the chamber interior between the partition and the surface, whereby the housing cleaning chamber comprises an intake compartment for receiving fluids and the housing vacuum chamber comprises an evacuation compartment for evacuation of fluids.
6. The wand of claim 5, wherein, in a wet mode of operation as the user pulls the handle assembly, the fluid jet sprays fluid toward the carpeted surface proximate the gap and the vacuum source simultaneously draws a vacuum in the evacuation chamber to thereby draw fluids from the intake compartment across the gap and into the evacuation compartment.
7. A method of cleaning a carpeted surface, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cleaning head housing having a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a top wall and opposing sidewalls which together define a closed interior, the cleaning housing having a longitudinal axis and a substantially planar leading lower edge arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and running along a lower extent of the front sidewall, the housing interior also having an internal partition which divides the interior into a vacuum chamber located adjacent the front sidewall and a cleaning chamber located adjacent the rear sidewall;
- attaching a cleaning fluid line which extends into the cleaning chamber;
- attaching a vacuum line which extends from the vacuum chamber;
- mounting a pair of transport wheels on a wheel axis which extends from each of the respective opposing sidewalls of the housing, the wheel axis being generally parallel to the housing longitudinal axis;
- mounting the cleaning head onto a lower extent of a normally upwardly extending handle assembly, whereby the leading lower edge of the cleaning head housing is pivotable in an arcuate path about the wheel axis through movement of the handle assembly between a cleaning position in which the housing lower edge engages the surface to be cleaned as the handle assembly is pulled by a user and a transport position in which the lower edge is out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned as the user pushes the handle assembly;
- dispensing cleaning solution into the cleaning chamber in a fluid dispensing operation while pulling the cleaning head in the direction of a user;
- stopping the fluid dispensing operation, followed by pushing the cleaning head in a direction away from the user while continuing to apply a vacuum to the vacuum chamber of the cleaning head.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the housing internal partition has a lower linear edge which is disposed near the carpeted surface when the cleaning head is pivoted about the wheel axis to the cleaning position, the lower linear edge defining a narrow gap extending across the chamber interior between the partition and the surface, whereby the housing cleaning chamber comprises an intake compartment for receiving fluids and the housing vacuum chamber comprises an evacuation compartment for evacuation of fluids.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cleaning fluid line is connected to a tank of liquid cleaning solution supported on a wheel mounted base, the base also supporting a motor and liquid pump for circulating the cleaning solution and a vacuum motor and blower for recovering the solution and returning the solution to the tank.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user controls the fluid dispensing operation by means of a hand operated valve assembly mounted adjacent an upper extent of the upwardly extending handle assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 9, 2006
Inventor: Sung Cho (Arlington, TX)
Application Number: 11/121,548
International Classification: A47L 11/30 (20060101);