CLEANING IMPLEMENT
A cleaning implement including a foot, a motor, and an eccentric mass. The foot has a foot plate and an oscillation plate movably coupled to the foot plate. The motor is coupled to at least one of the foot plate and the oscillation plate. The motor rotates about a motor axis extending at a non-perpendicular transverse angle relative to the surface. The eccentric mass is coupled to the motor to generate an oscillating force between the foot plate and the oscillation plate upon operation of the motor. The oscillating force has a planar component parallel to the oscillation plate and a perpendicular component perpendicular to the oscillation plate.
This application claims priority to the following: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/143,433, filed Jan. 29, 2021, the entire contents all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to cleaning implements, and more particularly, to powered cleaning implements including at least a vibration assembly.
BACKGROUNDSome types of cleaning implements include vacuum cleaners, spray mops, and agitators. In prior agitators, eccentric masses rotate a first plate relative to a second plate in a plane parallel with a surface to be cleaned. In prior agitators, the first plate and the second plate are biased toward each other by elastic members. Finally, in prior cleaning implements, solution may be discharged via the spray mop during use of the vacuum cleaner. This may result in the vacuum cleaner attempting to suck wet debris.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, a cleaning implement for cleaning a surface is disclosed. The cleaning implement includes a foot, a motor, and an eccentric mass. The foot has a foot plate and an oscillation plate movably coupled to the foot plate. The motor is coupled to at least one of the foot plate and the oscillation plate. The motor includes a rotor which rotates about a motor axis extending at a non-perpendicular transverse angle relative to the surface when the foot is supported upon the surface. The eccentric mass is coupled to the rotor to generate an oscillating force between the foot plate and the oscillation plate upon operation of the motor. The oscillating force has a planar component parallel to the oscillation plate and a perpendicular component perpendicular to the oscillation plate.
In another independent embodiment, a cleaning implement for cleaning a surface is disclosed. The cleaning implement includes a foot, a motor, and an eccentric mass. The foot has a foot plate including a foot plate partition defining a foot plate slot extending transverse to the surface. The oscillation plate includes an oscillation plate partition defining an oscillation plate slot extending transverse to the surface. The foot further includes a pin configured to inhibit decoupling of the oscillation plate from the foot plate. The pin is coupled to the foot plate partition with at least a portion of the pin positioned within the oscillation plate slot. The motor is coupled to at least one of the foot plate and the oscillation plate. The motor includes a rotor rotating about a motor axis. The eccentric mass is coupled to the rotor to generate an oscillating force between the foot plate and the oscillation plate upon operation of the motor.
In another independent embodiment, a cleaning implement for cleaning a surface is provided. The cleaning implement includes a vacuum assembly, a sprayer assembly, a user-actuated vacuum switch, and a user-actuated sprayer switch. The vacuum assembly includes a suction motor and impeller configured to generate suction to move dirty air through a dirty air inlet, a separator configured to separate the dirty air into debris and clean air, a dust bin configured to collect the debris, and a clean air outlet configured to outlet clean air to surroundings of the cleaning implement. The sprayer includes a solution tank configured to store cleaning solution, an outlet nozzle, and a sprayer pump in fluid communication with the solution tank and the outlet nozzle. The sprayer pump is configured to pump cleaning solution from the solution tank and out the outlet nozzle. The user-actuated vacuum switch is configured to actuate the suction motor. The user-actuated sprayer switch is configured to actuate the sprayer pump. Upon simultaneous actuation of the sprayer switch and the vacuum switch, the suction motor is deactivated.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONWith reference to
With continued reference to
As best illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum button 46a, and the vibration button 46b may be held in an actuated position after being operated by a user. In other words, the vacuum button 46a may be actuated by a user to an ON position initiate operation of the vacuum assembly 300. The vacuum assembly 300 may be continuously operated until the user actuates the vacuum button 46a to an OFF position. Similarly, the vibration button 46b may be actuated by a user to an ON position to initiate operation of the vibration assembly 100. The vibration assembly 100 may be continuously operated until the user actuates the vibration button 46b to an OFF position. In contrast, the spray button 46c controls operation of the sprayer assembly 200 only during actuation of the spray button 46c by the user. In other words, the spray button 46c must be continuously actuated to operate the sprayer assembly 200. In other embodiments, other arrangements of ON and OFF positions and subsequent operation of the vibration assembly 100, sprayer assembly 200, and/or vacuum assembly 300 could be used.
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
With continued reference to
In instances where the foot plate 26 is lifted relative to the oscillation plate 30, the cleaning implement 10 includes pins 140 configured to inhibit separation of the oscillation plate 30 from the foot plate 26 and removal of the balls 124 from the sleeves 136. To an extent, the pins 140 of the illustrated embodiment are elastic and may be deformed. In other embodiments, other pins 140 may be used which are inelastic and may not be deformed. The pins 140 are illustrated in
As shown in
Each portion 144a, 144b of the foot plate partition 144 and the oscillation plate partition 152 include slots 148a, 148b, 156. The slots 148a, 148b, 156 extend transverse to (i.e., perpendicularly from) the surface S when the foot 22 is supported on the surface S. In other embodiments, the slots 148a, 148b, 156 include at least one dimension extending perpendicular from the surface S when the foot 22 is supported on the surface S. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end 140a of the pin 140 is secured to the first portion 144a of the foot plate partition 144. The second end 140b of the pin 140 is secured to the second portion 144b of the foot plate partition 144. More specifically, the first end 140a and the second end 140b of the pin 140 are secured in the slots 148a, 148b. The arm 140e of the pin 140 is received in the slot 156 of the oscillation plate partition 152.
As best illustrated in
The pins 140 function in conjunction with the balls 124 to retain the oscillation plate 30 relative to the foot plate 26. The balls 124 inhibit compression applied to the foot plate 26 downwards towards the oscillation plate 30. The pins 140 inhibit excess separation of the oscillation plate 30 relative to the foot plate 26. With reference to
As best viewed in
With continued reference to
With reference to
The valve 236 is movable during use of the sprayer assembly 200 to permit fluid (e.g., air) to flow into the solution tank 204 as fluid (e.g., cleaning solution) flows out of the solution tank 204. The illustrated valve 236 is a duckbill valve. Other valves 236 are possible. The valve 236 is movable between a closed position where ingress of fluid into the solution tank 204 is inhibited (illustrated in
The vacuum assembly 300 is best illustrated in
With reference to
The suction motor 304 is electrically coupled to the main PCBA 38, and thus the vacuum button 46a (
As best illustrated in
As previously mentioned, the cleaning implement 10 includes a light 400. The light 400 is best illustrated in
At decision step 516, the cleaning implement 10 determines whether the vacuum motor 304 is being operated while the spray button 46c is pressed. This decision step 516 may be carried out by the electronic components 38b. If the vacuum motor 304 is not being operated while the spray button 46c is pressed, step 520 is carried out. In step 520, the spray button 46c is released to stop spraying fluid to the work surface S. If the vacuum motor 304 is being operated while the spray button 46c is pressed, step 524 is carried out prior to step 520. In step 524, the vacuum motor 304 is deactivated. Optionally, after step 520, step 528 is carried out. In step 528, the vibration button 46b is pressed to stop vibration of the oscillation plate 30 relative to the foot plate 26.
In sum, the decision step 516 determines whether there is simultaneous actuation of the spray button 46c and the vacuum button 46a. If there is simultaneous actuation of the spray button 46c and the vacuum button 46a, then the suction motor 304 is deactivated. Other similar decision steps may be implemented to restrict operation of the vibration assembly 100, the sprayer assembly 200, the vacuum assembly 300, and/or the lights 400.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.
Claims
1. A cleaning implement for cleaning a surface, the cleaning implement comprising:
- a foot having a foot plate and an oscillation plate movably coupled to the foot plate;
- a motor coupled to at least one of the foot plate and the oscillation plate, the motor including a rotor rotatable about a motor axis extending at a non-perpendicular transverse angle relative to the surface when the foot is supported upon the surface; and
- an eccentric mass coupled to the rotor to generate an oscillating force between the foot plate and the oscillation plate upon rotation of the rotor, the oscillating force having a planar component parallel to the oscillation plate and a perpendicular component perpendicular to the oscillation plate.
2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the cleaning implement further comprises a vacuum assembly comprising
- a suction motor and impeller configured to generate suction to move dirty air through a dirty air inlet,
- a separator configured to separate the dirty air into debris and clean air,
- a dust bin configured to collect the debris, and
- a clean air outlet configured to outlet clean air to the surroundings.
3. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the cleaning implement further comprises a sprayer assembly comprising
- a solution tank configured to store cleaning solution,
- an outlet nozzle, and
- a sprayer pump in fluid communication with the solution tank and the outlet nozzle, the sprayer pump configured to pump cleaning solution from the solution tank and out the outlet nozzle.
4. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the angle is between 10 and 20 degrees from perpendicular relative to the surface.
5. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the planar component is parallel to the surface and the perpendicular component is perpendicular to the surface.
6. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the motor is coupled to the oscillation plate.
7. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein the motor is coupled to a motor mount, and the motor mount is coupled to the oscillation plate.
8. The cleaning implement of claim 7, wherein the motor mount includes a mount surface provided at the non-perpendicular transverse angle, and the motor rests upon the mount surface.
9. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the eccentric mass defines a center of mass offset from the motor axis.
10. A cleaning implement for cleaning a surface, the cleaning implement comprising:
- a foot having a foot plate including a foot plate partition defining a foot plate slot extending transverse to the surface, an oscillation plate including an oscillation plate partition defining an oscillation plate slot extending transverse to the surface, a pin configured to inhibit decoupling of the oscillation plate from the foot plate, the pin being coupled to the foot plate partition with at least a portion of the pin positioned within the oscillation plate slot,
- a motor coupled to at least one of the foot plate and the oscillation plate, the motor including a rotor rotating about a motor axis;
- an eccentric mass coupled to the rotor to generate an oscillating force between the foot plate and the oscillation plate upon operation of the motor.
11. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the foot plate includes a second foot plate partition, and the oscillation plate partition is sandwiched between the foot plate partition and the second foot plate partition.
12. The cleaning implement of claim 11, wherein second foot plate partition includes a second foot plate slot extending transverse to the surface, and the pin includes a second end coupled to the arm opposite the end, the second end being coupled to the second foot plate partition.
13. The cleaning implement of claim 12, wherein the end includes a planar portion which engages the foot plate partition.
14. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the foot has a plurality of pins.
15. The cleaning implement of claim 14, wherein the plurality of pins are arranged in a rectangular array when viewed perpendicular from the surface.
16. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the pin is elastic.
17. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the foot plate further comprises a foot plate ball receiver, the oscillation plate further comprises an oscillation plate ball receiver, and the foot further comprises a ball received by the foot plate ball receiver and the oscillation plate ball receiver.
18. The cleaning implement of claim 17, wherein the ball is elastic.
19. The cleaning implement of claim 17, further comprising a sleeve surrounding the ball, the sleeve being positioned between the ball and both the foot plate ball receiver and the oscillation plate ball receiver.
20. The cleaning implement of claim 17, wherein the foot plate comprises a plurality of foot plate ball receivers, the oscillation plate comprises a plurality of oscillation plate ball receivers, and the foot comprises a plurality of balls.
21. The cleaning implement of claim 20, wherein the plurality of balls are arranged in a rectangular array when viewed perpendicular from the surface.
22. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the pin defines an end coupled to the foot plate partition and an arm coupled to the end, the arm being received in the oscillation plate slot.
23. The cleaning implement of claim 22, wherein the oscillation plate slot is larger than the pin to define a gap between the arm and the oscillation plate slot, the gap being adjustable in size as the oscillation plate moves relative to the foot plate.
24. The cleaning implement of claim 23, wherein the gap is adjustable in size between zero and non-zero values.
25. The cleaning implement of claim 24, wherein when the gap is a zero value, the pin contacts the oscillation plate partition to inhibit decoupling of the oscillation plate from the foot plate.
26. A cleaning implement for cleaning a surface, the cleaning implement comprising: a vacuum assembly comprising
- a suction motor and impeller configured to generate suction to move dirty air through a dirty air inlet,
- a separator configured to separate the dirty air into debris and clean air,
- a dust bin configured to collect the debris, and
- a clean air outlet configured to outlet clean air to the surroundings; and a sprayer assembly comprising
- a solution tank configured to store cleaning solution,
- an outlet nozzle, and
- a sprayer pump in fluid communication with the solution tank and the outlet nozzle, the sprayer pump configured to pump cleaning solution from the solution tank and out the outlet nozzle; and
- a user-actuated vacuum switch configured to actuate the suction motor,
- a user-actuated sprayer switch configured to actuate the sprayer pump, and wherein upon simultaneous actuation of the sprayer switch and the vacuum switch, the suction motor is deactivated.
27. The cleaning implement of claim 26, wherein the suction motor will not be operated until the user actuates the vacuum switch to operate the suction motor.
28. The cleaning implement of claim 26, further comprising a vibration assembly including a foot having
- a foot plate and an oscillation plate movably coupled to the foot plate,
- a vibration motor coupled to at least one of the foot plate and the oscillation plate,
- an eccentric mass coupled to the motor to generate an oscillating force between the foot plate and the oscillation plate when the vibration motor is operated; and
- a user-actuated vibration switch configured to operate the vibration motor.
29. The cleaning implement of claim 28, wherein the vibration switch is configured to operate the vibration motor to generate the oscillating force while the sprayer switch is actuated and the sprayer pump pumps cleaning solution out of the outlet nozzle.
30. The cleaning implement of claim 29, further comprising lights which are operated upon actuating either the vacuum switch or the sprayer switch.
31. The cleaning implement of claim 26, wherein the vacuum switch and the sprayer switch are each electrically coupled to at least one electrical component on a common printed circuit board, and the common printed circuit board is configured to selectively supply power from a power supply to the corresponding suction motor or sprayer pump based on operation of the vacuum switch and sprayer switch.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2022
Publication Date: Apr 11, 2024
Inventors: Zachary P. Scott (Pendleton, SC), Elton Lee Watson (Greenville, SC)
Application Number: 18/262,471