Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2001-07-24
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S321000, C015S415100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263539
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cleaning wand and machine for use in cleaning carpets.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In order to reduce the time and the effort involved with cleaning large carpeted areas, professional carpet cleaners typically utilize large truck based commercial carpet cleaning machines or slightly smaller portable carpet cleaning machines. These machines are typically stored in a truck or a central area and they use long hoses and fluid lines to provide vacuum and cleaning fluid to a cleaning wand. These cleaning wands are typically comprised of a long tubular pipe with a vacuum head having a vacuum channel and a spray head attached thereto. Typically these cleaning wands have no brushes for scrubbing the carpet/floor surface, or at least has only a stationary brush which only moves when the head is moved.
The problem with these large commercial carpet cleaning machines lies in the designs of their cleaning wands. The cleaning wands typically can only clean when the wand is being pulled backwards. Consequently, the wand is constantly moved forwards and backwards in a lateral direction in order to position and reposition the wand.
These commercial carpet cleaning machines typically generate tremendous vacuum pressure which is then applied to the carpet through the cleaning wand. The lateral movement of the cleaning wand becomes quite difficult at times. This vacuum pressure coming from the commercial carpet cleaning machines usually causes the cleaning wand to dig in the carpet making lateral movement difficult, especially in thick carpets. In order to move the cleaning wand in a lateral direction, the vacuum head must at times be moved simultaneously in a horizontal and vertical direction, the vertical movement to offset the vacuum pressure which causes the vacuum head to dig into the carpet.
As a result, there is a lot of wasted energy positioning and repositioning the cleaning wand. The cleaning of large areas of carpeting has long been a time consuming and arduous task. The substantial effort which is needed in order to push and pull the cleaning wand across a carpet can rapidly fatigue a person using the cleaning wand. In a commercial carpet cleaning operation, where large areas of carpeting are cleaned daily, fatigue will significantly limit the amount of carpeting cleaned daily.
A number of small devices for cleaning carpet and floors have been developed in the prior art. These devices spray the carpet or floor with a cleaning fluid and subsequently extract fluid and dirt from the carpet or floor through the use of a vacuum. However, these smaller carpet and floor cleaning systems are ineffective for use with large areas of carpeting or flooring due to the need to constantly refill the machine with cleaning fluid and the need to constantly remove the extracted fluid from the machine.
Even with the problems involved with the cleaning wands, the truck based commercial carpet cleaning systems are still considered the most effective means for the cleaning of large areas of carpet. Consequently, there is a need to improve the design of the cleaning wand in order to minimize the effort of using the cleaning wand with these truck based system. and also with the smaller portable units.
Accordingly, there is a need for a carpet/floor cleaning wand which is easily maneuvered across a carpet or floor surface.
Accordingly, there is a need for a carpet/floor cleaning wand which scrubs a carpet or floor surface removing the need to manually scrub.
Accordingly, there is also a need for a carpet/floor cleaning wand machine which alleviates some of the stresses and strains inflicted on the human body while carpet cleaning.
The present invention is a carpet/floor cleaning wand and machine for use in a commercial carpet cleaning setting where large areas of carpet are cleaned.
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the present invention solves the aforementioned and employs a number of novel features that render it highly advantageous over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a carpet/floor cleaning wand and machine for use in a commercial carpet cleaning setting where large areas of carpet are cleaned.
Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a carpet/floor cleaning wand which scrubs a carpet or floor surface removing the need to manually scrub.
Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a carpet/floor cleaning wand which reduces the stresses and strains on the human body associated carpet cleaning.
To achieve these objectives, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention the following carpet/floor cleaning wand is presented.
The carpet/floor cleaning wand has a vacuum tube with a first section extending roughly parallel to the ground and a second section angled in an upwards direction from the first section. A vacuum hose connects the vacuum tube to a vacuum source. A vacuum head is connected to the first section of the vacuum tube. The vacuum head has a vacuum chamber therein receiving vacuum pressure from the vacuum tube.
A wheel assembly is releasably mounted onto the vacuum tube. The wheel assembly raises the first section of the vacuum tube to a height, preferably 4 to 6 inches off the carpet, enabling the wheel assembly to function as a fulcrum upon which the vacuum head is raised or lowered onto the carpet. The vacuum head is raised or lowered by vertically adjusting the position of the second section of the vacuum tube. The wheel assembly also providing support during the lateral movement of the cleaning wand.
A brush assembly having a motor and a brush is mounted behind the vacuum head. The brush is cylindrical and has bristles arranged in helical fashion. The brush is rotatively mounted to the vacuum head and coupled to the motor. The motor rotates the brush, the brush then agitating the carpet allowing spots and dirt to be removed from the carpet.
A spray assembly is comprised of a spray manifold mounted behind the vacuum head, a plurality of spray heads emanating from the spray manifold, a fluid feeding tube extending from the spray manifold and to a flow regulator. A connecting means extends from the flow regulator. The connecting means connects the spray assembly to a pressurized fluid hose delivering pressurized cleaning fluid from a pressurized fluid pump.
A handle assembly is releasably mounted onto the second section of the vacuum tube. In the preferred embodiment, the handle assembly has a grip portion spanning across a U-shaped bar. The grip portion has an outer surface made of a material capable of molding to the contours of a hand such as a soft plastic, gel or leather. A handle mounting means, preferably a C-clamp releasably mounts the U-shaped bar onto the second section of the vacuum tube, allowing the handle assembly to be freely positionable along the second section of the vacuum tube.
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Meroni & Meroni P.C.
Meroni, Jr. Charles F.
Till Terrence R.
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