Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Apparatus – With means to treat gas or vapor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-10-09
Wilson, Pamela (Department: 3749)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Apparatus
With means to treat gas or vapor
C034S085000, C034S095100, C034S633000, C034S635000, C034S638000, C034S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298577
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for increasing the efficiency of a carpet-cleaning machine and other extraction machines in removing cleaning solution and other liquids from fabric, especially a carpet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Carpet-cleaning machines spray a cleaning solution onto a fabric carpet and then vacuum the solution from the carpet into the machine. Other extraction machines may spray a liquid onto a fabric or simply remove a pre-existing liquid from the fabric.
The inventor was unable to locate any prior art patent which dealt with increasing the volume of liquid which a carpet-cleaning or other extraction machine can remove from carpet or another fabric.
The closest invention appears to be the cleaning tool of U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,238. According to lines 33 through 44 of column 2 in that patent:
“Two continuous rows of channel bristles are mounted on the one surface of the block assembly adjacent to its front and rear edges so that the distal ends of the bristles project outwardly from the one surface of the block assembly and contact the wall or ceiling to be cleaned during the cleaning operation. “A plurality of nozzles are mounted on the one surface of the block assembly between the front and rear edges of the seembly and the adjacent rows of bristles and are used to uniformly wet all of the bristles in the rows of bristles with a cleaning fluid . . . ”
Line 62 of column 2 through line 14 of column 3 further provide:
“A pair of longitudinal slots are disposed in the one surface of the block assembly and are positioned equidistant about the central, transvers axis or centerline of the block assembly and midway between the continuous rows of bristles. The inner tapered ends of the slots communicate, via the interior of the wand, with a source of vacuum which causes air to be drawn into the slots during the cleaning operation. The shape of the slots is designed so that a relatively high velocity flow of air, as compared with the velocity of the air flow in the remainder of the tool, will be drawn generally uniformly into and through the slots. This air flow causes the cleaning fluid, together with the dirt suspended therein, to be stripped from the surface of the wall or ceiling almost immediately after the cleaning fluid has been applied. The substantially instantaneous extraction or removal of the cleaning fluid prevents the evaporation or drying of the cleaning fluid on the surface and also eliminates the cause of unsightly streaking by preventing cleaning fluid from trickling or running down and across a dry portion of the wall . . . ”
And lines 51 through 60 in column 6 elaborate:
“. . . The design of the grooves 88 and 90, the apertures 92 and 94 and the slots 96 and 98 assures that when the vacuum source 22 is being operated, air will be drawn into and through the slots 96 and 98 and into the apertures 92 and 94 at a relatively high velocity, as compared with the velocity of the air flowing downstream of the slots. As seen in
FIG. 3
, the highest velocity air flow is achieved as the air passes through the apertures 92 and 94 because these apertures provide the greatest restriction to air flow in the tool 10.”
Additionally, lines 25 through 28 of column 3 indicate:
“A spray nozzle may be mounted on the block assembly for spraying cleaning fluid directly onto the wall or ceiling to be cleaned prior to the use of our improved cleaning tool . . . ”
But, although U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,238 recognizes that increased air velocity can be achieved by restricting flow and that this can assist in cleaning, nothing in the device of that patent forcibly directs the cleaning fluid to the apertures, the bristles would preclude a deep penetration into fabric or carpet by the tool even if the tool were intended to be used on fabric or carpet, there is no recognition of maximizing the total power of extraction for the machine, and no consideration is given to reducing boundary layer drag in the slots and apertures.
Similarly, in its concept for the suction nozzle for a vacuum, U.S. Pat. No. 2,219,802 recognizes, on lines 39 through 42 of column 2, “Inasmuch as opening 27 is smaller than opening 16, a more concentrated flow of air is obtained, which is able to remove the thread.” But the nozzle is designed neither to forcibly direct a fluid into the an opening or to permit deeper penetration into carpet. Moreover, again there is no recognition of maximizing the total power of extraction for the machine, and no consideration is given to reducing boundary layer drag in the nozzle.
And even though the vacuum tool of U.S. Pat. No. 1,601,774 has apertures, they are so numerous as essentially to avoid restricting the flow of air in order to increase air speed, there is no recognition of maximizing the total power of extraction for the machine, and no consideration is given to reducing boundary layer drag in the apertures. In fact, the immense number of apertures most likely increases boundary layer drag. Furthermore, because the element containing the apertures rolls, it would not forcibly direct a fluid into the apertures. Nor is there any indication in the patent that the design of the roller facilitates deeper penetration into carpet. In fact, it would appear that penetration into the carpet is not desired because the patent, in line 5 through line 9 of column 1, asserts, “It is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a vacuum tool which will roll easily and smoothly over a carpet, rugh or the like without pulling up its threads or nap.”
The suction-cleaning implement of U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,824 has tubular projections which are intended to reach the bottom of a carpet while cleaning of the upper level of the carpet is to be achieved through apertures in the base from which the tubes extend downward. A slidable plate selects either the tubes or the apertures in the base through which to draw air. Nothing, however, suggests that the tubes, the apertures in the base, or apertures in the slidable plate restrict air flow and thereby increase velocity, there is no recognition of maximizing the total power of extraction for the machine, and no consideration is given to reducing boundary layer drag. Moreover, there is no indication that the tubes increase pressure that can be exerted by the implement in order to achieve deeper penetration. It appears that such penetration is accomplished solely through the vertical extension provided by the tubes because the only reference (lines 34 through 35 of column 4) to the means of penetration by the tubes (which are called “teeth”) indicates that they “provide combing action . . . ”
And the apertures of plate 15 in U.S. Pat. No. 1,016,435 merely equalize pressure (See, e.g., lines 44 through 51 in the left column on page 4). The grill 104 for the suction device in U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,017 is, according to lines 35 through 27 of column 4, “. . . to prevent the device from becoming clogged by solid debris and thus reducing its effectiveness.” And the circular or oval chambers in the adapter plate for the nozzle of U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,705 create rotary air currents to facilitate the removal of dust particles from carpets. There is no indication that the inventions of any of these patents restricts air flow to affect speed, there is no recognition of maximizing the total power of extraction for the machine, no consideration is given to reducing boundary layer drag. Additionally, nothing suggests this invention could forcibly direct a liquid into a nozzle or aperture or aid a nozzle to penetrate into a carpet. In fact, lines 27 through 30 and 32 through 33 of column 2 in U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,705 state, “The exterior surface of the adapter plate is smooth and slides easily over each surface to be cleaned, irrespectively of how rough the latter is . . . The adapter plate is not pulled by suction into the pile of a carpet . . . ”
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a device for attachment to the bottom of a wand or other nozzle that is used to vacuum liquid, espe
Concept Cleaning Systems, Inc.
Wilson Pamela
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