Magnetically cleaning fabric surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016198924-A1
Application number	US-201615079736-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Dec 27, 2010
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A magnetic cleaner distributes ferromagnetic cleaning particles to a surface to agglomerate dirt and dust, agitates the cleaning particles on the surface so that dirt particles adhere to the cleaning particles, and collects the dirt laden cleaning particles. A dispenser for holding and dispensing the ferromagnetic cleaning particles, an agitator to agitate the ferromagnetic particles on the surface, a magnetic collector for picking up ferromagnetic cleaning particles from the surface, and a dirt cup for collecting the ferromagnetic cleaning particles picked up by the collector are provided by the cleaner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A magnetic cleaner comprising:
a housing comprising a handle assembly; a ferromagnetic cleaning particle dispenser for dispersing ferromagnetic cleaning particles from the front of the housing onto a surface to be cleaned; a ferromagnetic cleaning particle reservoir coupled to the ferromagnetic cleaning particle dispenser to selectively supply the ferromagnetic cleaning particle dispenser with ferromagnetic cleaning particles; a mechanical agitator for mechanically agitating the ferromagnetic cleaning particles dispersed onto the surface to be cleaned; a magnetic agitator for magnetically agitating the ferromagnetic cleaning particles dispersed onto the surface to be cleaned, wherein the magnetic agitator comprises an oscillating magnetic field to effect magnetic agitation of the ferromagnetic cleaning particles; a rotating magnetic drum emanating a magnetic field for attracting the ferromagnetic cleaning particles from the surface to be cleaned back to the magnetic cleaner; and a dirt cup for collecting the ferromagnetic cleaning particles attracted by the drum.

2 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the mechanical agitator comprises at least one agitator brush having multiple bristles tufted to a hub.

3 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 2 wherein the magnetic agitator comprises a static or rotating magnet disposed in the hub to effect magnetic agitation of the ferromagnetic cleaning particles.

4 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 2 and further comprising a motor rotatably coupled with the at least one agitator brush through a connector for rotation of the at least one agitator brush.

5 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 4 wherein the at least one agitator brush is rotatable around a vertical axis.

6 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a foot assembly coupled with the handle assembly, wherein at least the ferromagnetic cleaning particle dispenser and the agitator assembly are provided on the foot assembly.

7 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 6 wherein the magnetic agitator comprises a magnet for magnetic agitation may be disposed on the housing of the foot assembly.

8 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 6 wherein the handle assembly is pivotally mounted to the foot assembly by a swivel joint.

9 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 6 wherein the foot assembly comprises wheels for translating the magnetic cleaner over a surface to be cleaned.

10 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 9 and further comprising a gear drive mechanism coupling the rotating magnetic drum and at least one of the wheels.

11 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 10 wherein the gear drive mechanism comprises a wheel gear connected to the wheel and a magnetic drum drive gear connected to the magnetic drum and meshing with the rear wheel gear.

12 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 9 wherein at least one wheel comprises an axle rotatably mounting the wheel to a housing of the foot assembly, and wherein the axle is received within a slot on the housing to enable the wheel to translate forwardly and rearwardly along the slot depending on the direction, of movement of the magnetic cleaner.

13 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 12 wherein the magnetic drum is mechanically coupled with the at least one wheel to rotate the magnetic drum with the wheel.

14 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 1 and further comprising a scraper mounted to the housing proximate the drum for scraping the ferromagnetic cleaning particles from the magnetic drum as the drum rotates.

15 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 14 wherein the magnetic drum is mounted on drum mount for rotation within a slotted drum mount hub on the housing to enable the drum to translate toward and away from the scraper, depending on the direction of movement of the magnetic cleaner.

16 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the dirt cup is removable from the housing and comprises a hand grip to enable separation of the dirt cup from the housing for emptying the dirt cup.

17 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the ferromagnetic cleaning particle reservoir comprises a vibrating cleaning particle reservoir.

18 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic cleaner is configured to dispense particles from the ferromagnetic cleaning particle dispenser when the cleaner is moved in a rearward direction, but not a forward direction, and wherein the cleaner is configured to collect the ferromagnetic cleaning particles attracted by the drum in the dirt cup when the cleaner is moved in the forward direction, but not the rearward direction.

19 . The magnetic cleaner of claim 18 , wherein the agitator assembly agitates the ferromagnetic cleaning particles when the cleaner is moved in the forward direction, but not the rearward direction.

Assignees

• Bissell Homecare Inc

Inventors

• Pruiett Jason W
• Kellis Jay M
• Vanderbilt Herbert J

Classifications

• A47L13/12

  Implements with several different treating devices · CPC title

• A46B3/00

  Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier (machines or appliances therefor A46D) · CPC title

• B25G3/38 Primary

  Hinged, pivoted, swivelling, or folding joints · CPC title

• A47L13/50

  Auxiliary implements (cleaning devices for brushes or the like A46B17/06) · CPC title

• A47L13/41 Primary

  Magnetic cleaning implements · CPC title