Multi-orientation cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019159650-A1
Application number	US-201916251769-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 18, 2019
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	May 30, 2019
Grant date	—

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.

2 . The device of claim 1 , 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.

3 . The device of claim 2 , 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 the orientation of the device.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the first valve fluidly couples the first portion to the pump when the first portion is vertically lower than the second portion.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the first valve fluidly decouples the first portion from the pump when the first portion is vertically higher than the second portion.

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

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the vent member selectively flows air into the interior environment in response to activation of the pump.

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

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

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

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

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

13 . A method of cleaning a surface, the method comprising:
providing a storage container, a cleaning head and a pump that are connected to one another; flowing cleaning fluid through a first fluid pathway when the storage container is in a first orientation; flowing cleaning fluid through a second fluid pathway when the storage container is in a second orientation; and flow cleaning fluid from the first fluid pathway or the second fluid pathway to the cleaning head.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the storage container is in a first orientation when the cleaning fluid flows through the first fluid pathway and is in a second orientation when the cleaning fluid flows through the second fluid pathway, the first orientation being different than the second orientation.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising closing a valve in the first fluid pathway when the storage container is in the second orientation.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising refilling the storage container with cleaning fluid.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising fluidly decoupling the storage container from the pump before refilling the storage container.

18 . 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; an adapter member removably coupled to the cleaning head; and a cleaning element removably coupled to the adapter member.

19 . The method of claim 18 , 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.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the cleaning element is a disposable cleaning element.

Assignees

• Unger Marketing Int Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A47L13/256

  for mops made of cloth · CPC title

• A47L13/254

  Plate frames · 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

• B25G1/04

  telescopic; extensible; sectional · CPC title

• B25G3/38

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