Surface cleaning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10932645-B2
Application number	US-201916573058-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2019
Priority date	Mar 4, 2011
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

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;
a cleaning pad on the base housing and having opposed first and second cleaning surfaces;
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; and

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 to direct the base housing away from the first use position and the second use position when the base housing is lifted from the surface to be cleaned.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biasing mechanism includes at least one flat spring.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base housing comprises a first foot enclosure operably coupled to a second foot enclosure and forming a cavity therebetween.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one flat spring comprises a first set of flat springs integrally formed with the first foot enclosure and a second set of flat springs integrally formed with the second foot enclosure.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first set of flat springs comprise a first set of resilient arms and the second set of flat springs comprise a second set of resilient arms, extending in an opposing direction from the first set of resilient arms.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a first cam received between a first pair of one of the first set of resilient arms and one of the second set of resilient arms and a second cam received between the a second pair of another of the first set of resilient arms and another of the second set of resilient arms and wherein the first cam and the second cam are configured to urge the first set of resilient arms and the second set of resilient arms apart when the base housing is in the first use position or the second use position.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a fluid delivery system carried by at least one of the foot assembly and the handle assembly for storing a cleaning fluid and selectively delivering a cleaning fluid through a manifold comprising at least one release opening to the surface to be cleaned and wherein the manifold is configured to pivot relative to the foot assembly in unison with the handle assembly such that the at least one release opening is generally oriented toward the surface to be cleaned in both the first use position and the second use position.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fluid delivery system comprises a steam generator coupled with the manifold.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the steam generator is mounted to the handle assembly and the manifold is provided within the base housing.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the at least one release opening comprises a plurality of release openings for delivering the cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned and the base housing is rotatable around the plurality of release openings.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first cam and the second cam are operably coupled to rotate with the manifold.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first cam is located at a first distal end of the manifold and the second cam is located at a second distal end, opposite the first distal end, of the manifold.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first set of flat springs and the second set of flat springs are configured to urge the base housing into a neutral position when the base housing is lifted from the surface to be cleaned, wherein the neutral position is defined between the first use position and the second use position.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one flat spring comprises spring arms integrally-molded on the base housing.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a cam received between the spring arms and wherein the cam is configured to urge the spring arms apart when the base housing is in the first use position or the second use position.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one flat spring comprises spring arms operably coupled to the base housing.

17. 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;
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 a first portion of the base housing faces the surface to be cleaned; and
a second use position in which a second portion of the base housing faces the surface to be cleaned; and

at least one flat spring associated with the base housing and wherein the at least one flat spring 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 into a neutral position when the base housing is lifted from the surface to be cleaned, wherein the neutral position is defined between the first use position and the second use position when the base housing is lifted from the surface to be cleaned.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one flat spring comprises two flat springs formed by a first pair of resilient arms and a second pair of resilient arms.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a first cam received between the first pair of resilient arms and a second cam received between the second pair of resilient arms and wherein the first cam and the second cam are configured to urge the first pair of resilient arms apart and urge the second pair of resilient arms apart when the base housing is in the first use position or the second use position.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a fluid delivery system carried by at least one of the foot assembly and the handle assembly for storing a cleaning fluid and selectively delivering a cleaning fluid through a manifold comprising at least one release opening to the surface to be cleaned and wherein the manifold is configured to pivot relative to the foot assembly in unison with the handle assembly such that the at least one release opening is generally oriented toward the surface to be cleaned in both the first use position and the second use position and wherein the first cam and the second cam are operably coupled to rotate with the manifold.

Assignees

• Bissell Homecare Inc
• Bissell 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

• A47L13/225 Primary

  Steam mops · CPC title

• A47L11/4086

  Arrangements for steam generation · CPC title

• A47L11/4075

  Handles; levers · CPC title