Grout cleaning tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10159394-B2
Application number	US-201615236892-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	Sep 17, 2012
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

A grout cleaning tool includes a grout cleaning tape. The grout cleaning tape can be provided as a replaceable grout cleaning cartridge containing a supply reel of grout cleaning tape that can be rolled across grout line grooves with an applicator roller. The grout cleaning tape can include a composition therein that is configured to be activated or enhanced by steam and transferred into the grout line to be cleaned when steam is applied to the tape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grout cleaning cartridge, comprising:
a housing;
an applicator roller carried by the housing;
a supply reel rotatably carried by the housing;
a take-up reel rotatably carried by the housing; and
a grout cleaning tape provided with a grout cleaning composition on a transfer backing, the grout cleaning tape provided on the supply reel, wound around the applicator roller, and coupled to the take-up reel;
wherein advancement of the housing along a surface to be cleaned advances the grout cleaning tape around the application roller and into contact with the surface to be cleaned, transferring the grout cleaning composition from the transfer backing to the surface, and after the grout cleaning composition has been transferred the transfer backing is collected on the take-up reel.

2. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the grout cleaning composition comprises water, methyl hydrogen polysiloxane, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, n-octyltriethoxysilane, and trimethylated silica.

3. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the grout cleaning composition comprises a heat-activated cleaning composition.

4. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 3 , wherein the grout cleaning composition comprises a dissolvable membrane that is configured to release from the transfer backing when exposed to steam.

5. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the grout cleaning composition comprises a hydrogen peroxide component in combination with an anionic detergent.

6. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the anionic detergent comprises sodium lauryl sulfate.

7. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the grout cleaning tape comprises a substrate of non-woven fibers comprising at least one of polypropene, polythene, or poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers.

8. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the grout cleaning composition comprises a dissolvable membrane that is configured to release from the substrate when exposed to steam.

9. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein the dissolvable membrane comprises one of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EV-OH).

10. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the applicator roller comprises a deformable elastomeric material.

11. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the supply reel comprises a first hub that is rotatably mounted to a first support pin on the housing, and the take-up reel comprises a second hub that is rotatably mounted to a second support pin on the housing.

12. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the applicator roller is rotatably mounted to a third support pin located on the housing.

13. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the grout cleaning tape comprises a steam-permeable substrate.

14. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the applicator roller comprises a tacky outer surface that engages the grout cleaning tape.

15. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the applicator roller comprises a deformable elastomeric material.

16. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the applicator roller is rotatably mounted to the housing by a support pin.

17. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the grout cleaning tape further includes a melt-blown sheet material forming a substrate.

18. The grout cleaning cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the grout cleaning composition comprises a dissolvable membrane that is configured to release from the grout cleaning tape when exposed to steam.

Assignees

• Bissell Homecare Inc

Inventors

• Hansen Eric J

Classifications

• A47L13/12 Primary

  Implements with several different treating devices · CPC title

• A47L13/225

  Steam mops · CPC title

• A47L11/4086

  Arrangements for steam generation · CPC title

• A47L11/4047

  Wound-up or endless cleaning belts · CPC title

• A47L11/34 Primary

  Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam · CPC title