Multi-orientation cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11986140-B2
Application number	US-202217947500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2022
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

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 opening;
a vent member installed in a wall of the storage container and fluidly coupled directly between an interior portion of the storage container and an ambient environment and configured to selectively flow air into the interior portion; and
a cleaning element removably coupled to the cleaning head.

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

3. The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising an adapter member removably coupled to the cleaning head, wherein the adapter member is configured to removably couple the cleaning element to the cleaning head.

4. The cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein the adapter member includes a hook and loop fastener, the cleaning element being removably coupled to the adapter member via the hook and loop member.

5. The cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein the adapter member comprises one or more tabs configured to snap fit and couple with the cleaning head.

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 , wherein the storage container includes a removable cap, the cap being sealingly coupled to the storage container.

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

9. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element comprises a central opening that aligns with the central opening of the cleaning head when the cleaning element is attached to the cleaning head.

10. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the vent member comprises a slit in a normally closed position to prevent airflow therethrough.

11. 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 opening;
a vent member installed in a wall of the storage container and fluidly coupled between an interior portion of the storage container and an ambient environment;
a cleaning element removably coupled to the cleaning head;
wherein the vent member comprises a slit in a normally closed position to prevent airflow therethrough; and
wherein the vent member comprises a portion configured to deflect and permit airflow through the vent member in response to a pressure within the interior portion of the storage container falling below a threshold pressure, allowing air flow into the interior portion of the storage container.

12. A cleaning device of claim 1 , further 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 opening;
a vent member installed in a wall of the storage container and fluidly coupled between an interior portion of the storage container and an ambient environment;
a cleaning element removably coupled to the cleaning head; and
a valve assembly disposed in the storage container and in fluid communication with the pump and arranged between the pump and the spray nozzle, the valve assembly being configured to selectively flow cleaning fluid from a first portion of the storage container or a second portion of the storage container to the spray nozzle.

13. The cleaning device of claim 12 , 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.

14. The cleaning device of claim 13 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve fluidly coupled to the first fluid pathway between the first portion and the pump, the valve being configured to selectively fluidly couple the first portion to the pump based at least in part on an orientation of the device.

15. The cleaning device of claim 14 , wherein the valve fluidly couples the first portion to the pump when the first portion is vertically lower than the second portion.

16. The cleaning device of claim 14 , wherein the valve fluidly decouples the first portion from the pump when the first portion is vertically higher than the second portion.

17. The cleaning device of claim 13 , wherein the first fluid pathway comprises a first filter at an end of the first fluid pathway within the storage container and the second fluid pathway comprises a second filter at an end of the second fluid pathway within he storage container.

18. The cleaning device of claim 12 , wherein the valve assembly comprises:
a first take-up tube arranged and oriented in a first direction within the storage container; and
a second take-up tube arranged and oriented in a second direction within the storage container, the second direction being opposite the first direction,
wherein each of the first take-up tube and the second take-up tube are selectively fluidly coupled to the spray nozzle.

19. The cleaning device of claim 18 , wherein the first take-up tube comprises a first filter at an end thereof and the second take-up tube comprises a second filter at an end thereof.

20. The cleaning device of claim 18 , wherein each of the first take-up tube and the second take-up tube are coupled to a directional flow valve, the directional flow valve comprising a ball valve chamber arranged between the second take-up tube and the spray nozzle and a directional chamber and a port arranged between the first take-up tube and the spray nozzle.

Assignees

• Unger Marketing Int Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A47L13/22 Primary

  with liquid-feeding devices · CPC title

• A47L13/254

  Plate frames · CPC title

• A47L13/256

  for mops made of cloth · CPC title

• A47L13/257

  for mops made of sponge material · CPC title

• A47L13/26

  Other cleaning devices with liquid supply arrangements (such arrangements on floor-polishing machines A47L11/00, on scrapers A47L13/03, on mops A47L13/22; cloths, pads, or the like containing cleaning agents A47L13/17, A47L13/19) · CPC title