Systems for steam cleaning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374533-A1
Application number	US-201615169647-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 31, 2016
Priority date	May 28, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and Apparatuses for steam cleaning comprise a steam cleaning device/system employed for steam cleaning or treating operations. In an embodiment, a steam cleaning device may comprise agitation features employed for steam cleaning or treating. In another embodiment, the steam cleaning device may be a steam accessory employed for steam cleaning or treating. In yet another embodiment, the steam cleaning device may comprise various features employed for multi-purpose steam cleaning or treating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a body comprising:
a steam generator unit configured to produce steam;
a controller in electrical communication with the steam generator unit;
a first end, and a second end defining a body outlet configured to output steam generated by the steam produced by the steam generator unit;
an extension attached to the first end of the body, the extension comprising a handle portion and a shaft extending between the handle portion and the first end of the body; and a head removably attached to the second end of the body, wherein the head comprises a head inlet in fluid communication with the body outlet and configured to direct steam from the body outlet through the head to a target surface to be contacted by a first surface of the head for cleaning; wherein the body comprises a scrubber member connected to the second end of the body; wherein attachment of the head to the second end of the body prevents the scrubber member from reaching the cleaning surface; wherein detachment of the head from the second end of the body permits the scrubber member from reaching the cleaning surface; and wherein the controller is configured to operate the steam generator unit in a first mode to produce steam at a first rate that is different from a second steam rate in a second mode.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the head comprises a plurality of openings configured to output steam to the cleaning surface.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scrubber member is pivotable relative to the second end of the body.

4 . An apparatus comprising:
a body comprising:
a body outlet configured to output steam;
a scrubber member configured to be oriented in a retracted state or in a deployed state; and
an actuation mechanism configured to deploy or retract the scrubber member; and
a head removably coupled to the body, wherein the head comprises:
a head inlet in fluid communication with the body outlet; and
a head outlet in fluid communication with the head inlet;
wherein when the head is coupled to the body, the scrubber member is in a retracted state, the head inlet is configured to receive steam, and the head outlet is configured to output steam outside of the apparatus; and wherein when the head is removed from the body, steam is output outside of the apparatus from the body outlet, and the scrubber member is configured to be in a deployed state by an actuation of the actuation mechanism.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein when the scrubber member is in the deployed state, the scrubber member extends away from the body and when the scrubber member is in retracted state, the scrubber member moves towards the body.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a distance the actuation mechanism actuates is substantially similar to a distance the scrubber member extends away from the body.

7 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the actuation mechanism and the scrubber member are substantially co-axial relative to each other.

8 . An apparatus comprising:
a body comprising a body outlet configured to output steam; and a head coupled to the body, the head comprising: a head inlet in fluid communication with the body outlet; and a first and second head outlets in fluid communication with the head inlet; wherein the first head outlet is defined through a first portion of the head, the first portion of the head defining a first axis, wherein the first head outlet is configured to discharge steam in a first mode of operation; wherein the second head outlet is defined through a second portion of the head, the second portion of the head defining a second axis, wherein the second head outlet is configured to discharge steam in a second mode of operation; and wherein when the first and second axes intersect at a first angle, steam is discharged in the first mode of operation, and when the first and second axes intersect at a second angle, steam is discharged in the second mode of operation.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first and second angles are different acute angles.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first and second angles are different obtuse angles.

11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a mechanism configured to switch between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second portion of the head comprises a member in communication with the mechanism wherein:
in the first mode of operation, the mechanism prevents fluid communication between the head inlet and the second head outlet, thereby allowing fluid communication between the head inlet and the first head outlet, and in the second mode of operation, actuation of the member causes the mechanism to prevent fluid communication between the head inlet and the first head outlet, thereby allowing fluid communication between the head inlet and the second head outlet.

13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first head outlet discharges steam out the front of the apparatus and the second head outlet discharges steam out the bottom of the apparatus.

14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the head inlet and the first head outlet are along substantially similar direction, and the head inlet and the second head outlet are substantially perpendicular to each other.

15 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a first and second ends, the first end comprising a body inlet and the second end comprising the body outlet.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the head is configured to define an opening and a recess, wherein the first end of the body is received on the recess and the second end of the body is received in the opening.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the body further comprises a first button about the first end for decoupling the body from the head or a second button about the second end for controlling the discharge of steam from the body inlet to the body outlet.

18 . An apparatus comprising:
a steam generating unit configured to produce steam; a body comprising a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a steam outlet outputting steam, an extension removably attached to the first end of the body, the extension comprising a handle and a shaft extending between the first end of the body and the handle; an attachment removably attached to the second end of the body, wherein the attachment comprises a steam inlet in fluid communication with the steam out of the body to receive steam; and a controller configured to operate the steam generating unit in a first or second steam modes; wherein:
when the extension is attached to the body, the controller is configured to operate the steam generating unit in the first steam mode to produce steam at a first steam rate of the first steam mode; and
when the extension is detached from the body, the controller is configured to operate the steam generating unit in the second steam mode to produce steam at a first steam rate of the second steam mode, the first steam rate of the first steam mode and the first steam rate of the second steam mode are different.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect whether the extension is attached to the body and communicate with the controller.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor, and the extension comprises a trigger detectable by the Hall effect sensor.

Assignees

• Sharkninja Operating Llc

Inventors

• Innes Dan
• Cottrell Lee
• Grandstrand Paul

Classifications

• A47L13/225 Primary

  Steam mops · CPC title

• A47L13/254

  Plate frames · CPC title

• A47L13/12

  Implements with several different treating devices · 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