SPRAY MOP
A spray mop comprising a handle, a spray housing, a cleaning end, and a bottle. The spray housing can be coupled to the handle and can include a nozzle. The cleaning end can be coupled to the handle and the spray housing. The bottle can be removeably coupled to the spray housing and can have a body for enclosing a fluid. The body can have a first end and a second end. The bottle can have a shroud disposed at the second end. The shroud can have a support surface for supporting the bottle in an upright position when the bottle has been removed from the spray housing such that the bottle can be filled with a fluid at the first end. The spray mop may have a pump mechanism with a reload spring disposed outside of a fluid chamber. The nozzle can be removeable from the spray housing.
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This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,544, filed Aug. 27, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
BACKGROUNDMops having a liquid dispenser for spraying a floor with a cleaning solution are known in the art. Typically, the cleaning solution is pre-packaged in single use containers that are mounted to the mop and attached to the liquid dispenser. Upon activation of the liquid dispenser, the cleaning solution is drawn from the single use container and sprayed in front of the mop such that a user can wipe the floor with the cleaning end of the mop. Once the cleaning solution container is emptied, it is usually discarded and a new container is mounted to the mop.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe invention provides a spray mop comprising a handle, a spray housing, a cleaning end, and a bottle. The spray housing can be coupled to the handle and can include a nozzle. The cleaning end can be coupled to the handle and the spray housing. The bottle can be removeably coupled to the spray housing and can have a body for enclosing a fluid. The body can have a first end and a second end. The first end can have an opening, and the bottle can have a removeable cap for attachment to the first end of the body to enclose the opening. The bottle can have a shroud disposed at the second end. The shroud can have a support surface for supporting the bottle in an upright position when the bottle has been removed from the spray housing such that the bottle can be filled with a fluid at the first end.
The invention also provides a spray mop comprising a handle, a spray housing, a cleaning end, a bottle, and a pump mechanism. The spray housing can be coupled to the handle and can include a nozzle. The cleaning end can be coupled to the handle and the spray housing. The bottle can be coupled to the spray housing. The pump mechanism can pump fluid from the bottle to the nozzle. The pump mechanism can include a piston housing, a piston, and a reload spring. The piston can be disposed within the piston housing. The piston housing can have an interior surface surrounding the piston. The piston housing can have a first end with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The piston can have a surface opposing the first end and forming a chamber therebetween. The piston is moveable in a first direction within the piston housing to decrease the volume of the chamber, and the piston is moveable in a second direction within the piston housing to increase the volume of the chamber. The reload spring can be disposed outside of the chamber and can be compressed when the piston moves in the first direction. When compressed, the reload spring exerts a force pulling the piston in the second direction.
The invention further provides a spray mop having a handle, a spray housing, a cleaning end, and a bottle. The spray housing can be coupled to the handle. A nozzle can be coupled to the spray housing, and the nozzle can be removeable from the spray housing. The cleaning end can be coupled to the handle and the spray housing. The bottle can be removeably coupled to the spray housing. The bottle can have a body for enclosing a fluid.
The invention is directed to a spray mop. The spray mop has a structure suitable for use as either a wet mop or a dry mop. When used as a wet mop, the spray mop is able to project a fluid, such as a cleaning solution, in front of the mop and onto a surface for cleaning. The spray mop can then be guided over the surface by the user to clean the surface.
Referring to
The spray housing 110 includes a nozzle 120 on its front surface. The nozzle 120 is generally directed forward and downward so that fluid exiting the nozzle 120 is sprayed onto a surface in front of the cleaning end 116 of the spray mop 100.
The spray mop 100 can utilize a pump mechanism in the form of a mechanical pump to draw fluid from the bottle 112 to the nozzle 120 for spraying the fluid onto a surface. Referring generally to
As shown in
Referring to
As mentioned, when the trigger 104 is actuated, the internal shaft 122 is moved downward to push the spring coupler 124 downward and compress the reload spring 126. The reload spring 126 can compress, for example, by contacting an interior ledge 160 of the sleeve 128 as the spring coupler 124 moves downward. Thus, the reload spring 126 can be compressed between the upper end 162 of the spring coupler 124 and the ledge 160. As the spring coupler 124 moves downward, it also moves the piston 130 downward. Upon release of the trigger 104, the reload spring 126 exerts a force upward against the spring coupler 124 to move the spring coupler 124 and pull the piston 130 back to their initial positions, which likewise results in the internal shaft 122 and the trigger 104 moving back to their initial positions. The reload spring 126 may be disposed in a position with respect to the piston 130 such that the reload spring is not exposed to fluids that enter into the piston housing. This arrangement can reduce wear on the reload spring, which could be damaged through extended exposure to certain fluids that may be used with the spray mop 100.
Referring to
As shown in
Each of the unidirectional valves 136, 138 may be identical, and as shown in
As discussed above, the movement of the piston 130 draws fluid into and pushes fluid out of the chamber 170 of the piston housing 132. Thus, referring to
When the user releases the trigger 104, the piston 130 is moved upward by reload spring 126, and a pressure differential is created in the fluid sufficient to overcome the spring biasing force in the unidirectional inlet valve 136 to permit fluid to flow through the unidirectional inlet valve 136 and into the fluid inlet 164 to fill the chamber. When the piston 130 stops moving, the valve pin in the unidirectional inlet valve 136 returns to the closed position. The unidirectional outlet valve 138 remains closed as the fluid is drawn into the chamber 170. Through this process, a unidirectional flow path is created in the pumping apparatus that can repeatedly take fluid from the bottle 112 and exit the fluid through the nozzle 120.
As shown in
To supply fluid to the unidirectional inlet valve 136, the unidirectional inlet valve 136 may be connected to the fluid connector 134. Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
The interior of the bottle body 206 provides a reservoir for storing fluid. The bottle body 206 can have an opening 218 near its upper end, which is sealable with the removeable cap 204, and an opening 220 at is lower end, which is sealable with the plunger cap 208. The bottle body 206 may have any suitable size to be capable of storing any suitable amount of fluid. In addition, the bottle body 206 may have any suitable shape. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 13-15, the bottle body 206 may have a rear channel 222 to receive the external shaft 106. One or more projections 224 may be disposed near the channel 222 to help retain the bottle body 206 to the external shaft 106. The bottle body 206 may also include measuring indicia to help a user measure the amount of fluid added to the bottle 112 and to assist with diluting fluid concentrations.
As mentioned, the bottle 112 has a plunger cap 208 attached to its lower end. Referring to
When the bottle 112 is inserted into the spray housing 110, the plunger cap 208 can be received in the bottle base 194. When this occurs, the projection 198 moves the plunger 228 to an open position such that fluid can exit through the opening in the plunger cap 208 to enter the bottle base 194 and exit through the exit channel 192 of the bottle base 194 connected to the fluid connector 134. The arrows in
Because the bottle 112 is removeable such that it can be filled with a desired fluid and can be reused, the bottle 112 can include a structure so that the bottle 112 can stand upright on a surface, such as on a counter or in a sink. As an example, as shown in
Referring to
It will be appreciated that like shown features in the drawings may correspond to similar or identical features. Although certain features may be described with respect to a particular orientation, such as upper or lower, it will be appreciated that such descriptors are used for reference and the convenience of describing certain features as oriented in the figures. It will be appreciated that the features in the drawings may be oriented, and thus directionally referred to, in other suitable ways.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Claims
1. A spray mop comprising:
- a handle;
- a spray housing coupled to the handle, the spray housing including a nozzle;
- a cleaning end coupled to the handle and the spray housing; and
- a bottle removeably coupled to the spray housing, the bottle having a body for enclosing a fluid, the body having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening, the bottle having a removeable cap for attachment to the first end of the body to enclose the opening, the bottle having a shroud disposed at the second end, the shroud having a support surface for supporting the bottle in an upright position when the bottle has been removed from the spray housing such that the bottle can be filled with a fluid at the first end.
2. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the support surface is substantially planar.
3. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the removeable cap includes a valve for permitting air to enter the bottle.
4. The spray mop of claim 3 wherein the valve is a duck-bill shaped valve.
5. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the shroud is removeable from the bottle.
6. The spray mop of claim 1 further comprising a pump mechanism for pumping fluid from the bottle to the nozzle, the pump mechanism including a piston housing, a piston disposed within the piston housing, and a reload spring, the piston housing having an interior surface surrounding the piston, the piston housing having a first end with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the piston having a surface opposing the first end and forming a chamber therebetween, the piston being moveable in a first direction within the piston housing to decrease the volume of the chamber, the piston being moveable in a second direction within the piston housing to increase the volume of the chamber, the reload spring being disposed outside of the chamber, the reload spring being compressed when the piston moves in the first direction, and when compressed, the reload spring exerts a force pulling the piston in the second direction.
7. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the nozzle is removeable from the spray housing.
8. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the second end has a second end opening, and the second end opening is covered with a second end cap, the second end cap having a spring actuated plunger.
9. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the removeable cap includes a channel for receiving an external shaft.
10. A spray mop comprising:
- a handle;
- a spray housing coupled to the handle, the spray housing including a nozzle;
- a cleaning end coupled to the handle and the spray housing;
- a bottle coupled to the spray housing; and
- a pump mechanism for pumping fluid from the bottle to the nozzle, the pump mechanism including a piston housing, a piston disposed within the piston housing, and a reload spring, the piston housing having an interior surface surrounding the piston, the piston housing having a first end with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the piston having a surface opposing the first end and forming a chamber therebetween, the piston being moveable in a first direction within the piston housing to decrease the volume of the chamber, the piston being moveable in a second direction within the piston housing to increase the volume of the chamber, the reload spring being disposed outside of the chamber, the reload spring being compressed when the piston moves in the first direction, and when compressed, the reload spring exerts a force pulling the piston in the second direction.
11. The spray mop of claim 10 wherein the bottle has a body for enclosing a fluid, the body having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening, the bottle having a removeable cap for attachment to the first end of the body to enclose the opening, and the removeable cap including a valve for permitting air to enter the bottle.
12. The spray mop of claim 11 wherein the valve is a duck-bill shaped valve.
13. The spray mop of claim 11 wherein the second end has a second end opening, and the second end opening is covered with a second end cap, the second end cap having a spring actuated plunger.
14. The spray mop of claim 13 further comprising a bottle base disposed within the spray housing, the bottle base having a projection, the projection engaging the spring actuated plunger when the bottle is disposed in the bottle base to permit fluid to flow past the projection out of the bottle.
15. The spray mop of claim 10 wherein the nozzle is removeable from the spray housing.
16. The spray mop of claim 10 wherein the reload spring is disposed around a spring coupler, the spring coupler being coupled to the piston.
17. The spray mop of claim 16 further comprising a sleeve disposed around the reload spring and the spring coupler, the sleeve having a ledge in contact with the reload spring.
18. The spray mop of claim 17 wherein when the spray mop is actuated, the reload spring is compressed between an upper end of the spring coupler and the ledge.
19. A spray mop comprising:
- a handle;
- a spray housing coupled to the handle;
- a nozzle coupled to the spray housing, the nozzle being removeable from the spray housing;
- a cleaning end coupled to the handle and the spray housing; and
- a bottle removeably coupled to the spray housing, the bottle having a body for enclosing a fluid.
20. The spray mop of claim 19 wherein the nozzle is removeable by rotation.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 27, 2010
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2011
Applicant: Freudenberg Household Products LP (Aurora, IL)
Inventors: Balaji Kandasamy (Naperville, IL), Joseph Seifts (Naperville, IL), Shun Shing Choi (Shatin), Nancy Gaul (Inverness, IL)
Application Number: 12/870,550
International Classification: A47L 13/22 (20060101);