Surface cleaning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10413149-B2
Application number	US-201815899153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2018
Priority date	Mar 4, 2011
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a fluid delivery or steam mop, comprises a handle assembly comprising a steam distributor and a foot assembly pivotally attached to the handle assembly and comprising a base housing. The foot assembly can be used in two positions, whereby opposing sides of a cleaning pad on the base housing can selectively engage a surface to be cleaned. The foot assembly is further swivelable relative to the steam distributor, such that fluid can be delivered to the surface to be cleaned in both of the two use positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
a foot assembly adapted to move across a surface to be cleaned and comprising a base housing;
a handle assembly pivotally attached to the foot assembly and comprising a steam distributor and steam generator in fluid communication with the steam distributor;
a cleaning pad on the base housing and having opposed first and second cleaning surfaces; and
a coupling joint pivotally attaching the foot assembly to the handle assembly and defining a first axis of rotation, wherein the foot assembly is swivelable relative to the handle assembly about the first axis of rotation between:
a first use position in which the first cleaning surface of the cleaning pad faces the surface to be cleaned; and
a second use position in which the second cleaning surface of the cleaning pad faces the surface to be cleaned;

wherein the foot assembly is further swivelable relative to the steam distributor about the first axis of rotation.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling joint further defines a second axis of rotation about which the foot assembly is rotatable relative to the handle assembly.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base housing comprises a slot extending inwardly from a peripheral side thereof and receives a portion of the coupling joint.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 , and wherein the cleaning pad comprises corresponding slots in the first and second cleaning surfaces to allow the coupling joint to extend exteriorly out of the cleaning pad.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first axis of rotation is generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the surface cleaning apparatus, and the peripheral side of the base housing comprising the slot defines a rear side of the base housing in the first use position and the peripheral side of the base housing comprising the slot defines a front side of the base housing in the second use position.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the steam distributor comprises a manifold.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the manifold comprises an elongated tube extending along the first axis of rotation.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the foot assembly is further swivelable around the manifold.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of release openings for delivering cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the manifold comprises a tube with at least one release opening in the tube.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the foot assembly comprises a pivot cradle which receives the manifold, and the pivot cradle comprises multiple steam distribution openings formed therein.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one release opening is in fluid communication with a first one of the multiple steam distribution openings in the first use position and the at least one release opening is in fluid communication with a second one of the multiple steam distribution openings in the second use position.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling joint comprises:
a foot connector coupled with the base housing; and
a handle connector pivotally coupled with the foot connector;
wherein the foot connector comprises a pivot receiver which receives the steam distributor and defines the first axis of rotation.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the steam distributor is generally oriented toward the surface to be cleaned in both the first and second use positions.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the steam distributor comprises at least one release opening generally facing the surface to be cleaned in both the first and second use positions.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a latch assembly configured for selective detachment of the foot assembly from the handle assembly.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a fluid conduit fluidly coupled with the steam distributor and passing through the coupling joint.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base housing comprises first and second enclosures, wherein the steam distributor is mounted between the first and second enclosures.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the steam distributor is provided at a lower end of the handle assembly.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a biasing mechanism associated with the base housing, wherein the biasing mechanism provides a directing force to at least one of the base housing or the coupling joint with respect to the handle assembly to direct the base housing away from the first and second use positions when the base housing is lifted from the surface to be cleaned.

Assignees

• Bissell Homecare Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Steve M

Classifications

• A47L11/4036

  Parts or details of the surface treating tools · CPC title

• A47L13/22

  with liquid-feeding devices · CPC title

• A47L11/4075

  Handles; levers · CPC title

• A47L11/4002

  Installations of electric equipment · CPC title

• A47L11/4086

  Arrangements for steam generation · CPC title