Multi-orientation cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10973387-B2
Application number	US-201916251769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2019
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

A cleaning device and method of cleaning are provided. The cleaning device includes a power source and a pump in selective electrical communication with the power source. A storage container is provided. A valve assembly is disposed in the storage container and in fluid communication with the pump, the valve assembly being configured to selectively flow cleaning fluid from a first portion and a second portion of the storage container. A cleaning element having a spray nozzle is in fluid communication with the pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning device comprising:
a power source;
a pump in selective electrical communication with the power source;
a storage container;
a valve assembly disposed in the storage container and in fluid communication with the pump, the valve assembly being configured to selectively flow cleaning fluid from a first portion and a second portion of the storage container; and
a cleaning element having a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the pump,
wherein the valve assembly includes a first fluid pathway in fluid communication with the first portion and a second fluid pathway in fluid communication with the second portion, and
a first valve fluidly coupled to the first fluid pathway between the first portion and the pump, the first valve being configured to selectively fluidly couple the first portion to the pump based at least in part on the orientation of the device.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first valve fluidly couples the first portion to the pump when the first portion is vertically lower than the second portion.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first valve fluidly decouples the first portion from the pump when the first portion is vertically higher than the second portion.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a vent member fluidly coupled between an interior portion of the storage container and an ambient environment.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the vent member selectively flows air into the interior environment in response to activation of the pump.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the storage container includes a removable cap, the cap being sealingly coupled to the storage container.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the storage container is removably coupled to the pump.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the storage container is refillable by an end user.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the storage container is made from a substantially rigid material.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a tube fixedly coupled between the storage container and the pump to define a flow path therebetween.

Assignees

• Unger Marketing Int Llc

Inventors

• Patterson Joseph K
• Adams Paul H
• Huda Stephen P
• Carballo Christopher Joseph

Classifications

• B05B9/0861

  the motor being electric · CPC title

• B05B15/30

  Dip tubes · CPC title

• A47L13/44

  Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement · CPC title

• B05B15/40

  Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets · CPC title

• B05B1/3006

  the controlling element being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed (B05B1/323 takes precedence; single-unit outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed B05B11/0062) · CPC title