Multi-orientation cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11589725-B2
Application number	US-202117168539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2021
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

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 in fluid communication with the pump;
a cleaning head having a first opening and a spray nozzle, the spray nozzle being in fluid communication with the pump, the spray nozzle being disposed to direct cleaning fluid through the first opening;
an adapter member removably coupled to the cleaning head, and
a removable cleaning element removably coupled to the adapter member,
wherein the adapter member comprises:
one or more attachment regions on a first side of the adapter member and configured to removably and securely attach the removable cleaning element to the adapter member; and
one or more tabs on a second side of the adapter member and configured to snap fit and couple with the cleaning head.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more attachment regions of the adapter member includes hook and loop fasteners, the cleaning element being removably coupled to the adapter member via the hook and loop fasteners.

3. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element is a disposable cleaning element.

4. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the adapter member comprises three attachment regions, wherein the cleaning element is configured to removably couple to the adapter member at the three attachment regions.

5. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the adapter member is triangular and wherein the each of the one or more attachment regions of the adapter member has polygonal shape.

6. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element is configured to connect to the cleaning head by one or more straps.

7. The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising:
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.

8. The cleaning device of claim 7 , 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.

9. The cleaning device of claim 8 , further comprising 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 an orientation of the device.

10. The cleaning device of claim 9 , wherein the first valve fluidly couples the first portion to the pump when the first portion is vertically lower than the second portion.

11. The cleaning device of claim 10 , wherein the first valve fluidly decouples the first portion from the pump when the first portion is vertically higher than the second portion.

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

13. The cleaning device of claim 12 , wherein the vent member selectively flows air into the interior portion in response to activation of the pump.

14. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the storage container includes a removable cap, the cap being sealingly coupled to another component of the storage container.

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

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

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

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

19. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element is made from at least one of microfiber, cotton, wool, and non-woven fibers.

20. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element comprises a second opening that aligns with the first opening of the cleaning head when the cleaning element is attached to the adapter member.

Assignees

• Unger Marketing Int Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A47L13/42

  Details · CPC title

• B25G1/04

  telescopic; extensible; sectional · CPC title

• B05B12/002

  Manually-actuated controlling means, e.g. push buttons, levers or triggers (for single units B05B11/00) · CPC title

• B05B15/30

  Dip tubes · CPC title

• B25G1/102

  the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip · CPC title