Abstract:
A surface treating implement ( 10 ) according to the invention comprises a body ( 14 ) comprising a container receiver ( 36 ) and a nozzle assembly ( 26 ) comprising a fluid conduit fluidly ( 72 ) connected to the container receiver ( 36 ). At least one container ( 16 ) is selectively mounted to the container receiver ( 36 ) and contains a predetermined amount of a treating composition and has a dispensing opening ( 102 ) in fluid communication with the fluid conduit ( 72 ). A handle ( 12 ) is associated with the body ( 14 ). The nozzle assembly ( 26 ) is mounted to the body ( 14 ) for selective displacement a predetermined distance to release the treating composition from the container ( 16 ) through the fluid conduit ( 72 ) and onto a surface to be treated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national phase application from International Application No. PCT/US2008/072439, filed Aug. 7, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/954,460, filed Aug. 7, 2007, both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a floor cleaning implement. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a stick-type small area surface cleaning implement utilizing replaceable fluid container that is adapted to discharge fluid onto a surface to be cleaned. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,319 to Munchel et al. discloses a stick-type cleaning implement for small areas of carpeted floor that includes a housing that mounts an aerosol cleaning solution dispenser in inverted relationship to a brush or other surface cleaning implement and has an actuation mechanism that opens the aerosol valve directly to the carpet when the housing is pressed into the surface to be cleaned. 
     US20050158116 to Belansky et al. discloses a cleaning apparatus having a body graspable by a user, a cleaning head at a distal end of the body, an aerosol canister with cleaning material mounted in the body, an interlocking device mounted on the canister to prevent inadvertent dispensing of the cleaning solution from the canister, and a lock-out feature that includes sloping walls and including a nipple, mounted within the body. The cleaning material is dispensed when a force is applied to the canister through the cleaning head 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,307 Kopanic et al. discloses a cleaning device comprising a housing configured to retain a spray canister, a segmented shaft assembly connected to the housing, and a handle assembly connected to the shaft assembly. The housing includes an aligning protrusion matingly received by a recess in the over cap on the canister. The handle assembly can include a trigger linked to a pivot link to spray the contents of the canister. Also disclosed are a variety of attachments positioned in front of the sprayer nozzle, including a translucent spraying attachment, a curved applicator attachment, and a rake attachment. 
     WO2007028970 to Brown discloses a device comprising a pressurized container having a nozzle with a sleeve of a containment skirt mounted thereto. The skirt 5 is pressed against a surface to be cleaned by a user causing the nozzle to move towards to pressurized container and release a jet of cleaning composition from the container. The skirt can have an absorbent pad removably attached thereto. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,705 to Drew discloses an apparatus for operating an aerosol dispenser from a distance. An elongated body receives the aerosol dispenser and mounts an extension pole and an actuation member. The extension pole mount is coaxially aligned with an aerosol dispenser-receiving cavity in the elongated body. The actuation member is movable between an at-rest position and a displaced position for spraying the contents of the aerosol dispenser. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,165 to Heathcock et al. discloses a trigger-actuated cleaning tool that moves an aerosol canister axially to expel the contents of the canister. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,306 to Pollicicchio et al. discloses a cleaning implement having a mop head attached to a handle and a liquid delivery system having a container filled with cleaning solution removably attached to a fitment. A disposable cleaning pad having an absorbent layer and an attachment layer is also disclosed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,088 to Wright et al. discloses a suction cleaning device, wherein a user can push downward on the handle to spray water from a bottle of cleaning solution. 
     US20060276730 to Thiebaut et al. discloses a massaging device using an aerosol container and having a spray manifold to a textured surface, the spraying being actuated by axially displacing a spray valve relative to a housing of the device by applying force. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A surface treating implement according to the invention comprises a body comprising a container receiver and a nozzle assembly comprising a fluid conduit fluidly connected to the container receiver. At least one container is selectively mounted to the container receiver and contains a predetermined amount of a treating composition and has a dispensing opening in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. A handle is associated with the body. The nozzle assembly is mounted to the body for selective displacement with respect to the body of a predetermined distance to release the treating composition from the container through the fluid conduit and onto a surface to be treated. 
     In another embodiment, the surface treating implement further comprises a plurality of rake members formed on the nozzle assembly. 
     In another embodiment, at least one of the plurality of rake members comprises a ramped surface. 
     In another embodiment, the container receiver comprises a unique geometry that is complementary to a mating unique geometry on the container. 
     In another embodiment, the rake members are adapted to penetrate carpet fibers on the surface to be treated and at least one fluid distribution conduit is adapted to distribute the treating composition near a base of the carpet fibers. 
     In another embodiment, the surface treating implement further comprises a brush assembly adapted to agitate the surface to be treated after the treating composition has been applied to the surface to be treated. 
     In another embodiment, the brush assembly is mounted to the nozzle assembly. 
     In another embodiment the surface treating implement further comprises a squeegee assembly affixed to the body. 
     In another embodiment, the at least one container is an aerosol container adapted to dispense fluid under pressure. 
     In another embodiment, the at least one container is a liquid container adapted to dispense fluid by gravity feeding. 
     In another embodiment, the at least one container comprises at least one aerosol container and at least one liquid container. 
     In another embodiment, the nozzle assembly is rotatably mounted to the body for movement between a fluid retention position and a fluid discharge position. 
     In another embodiment, the container is an aerosol container having a valve stem and the nozzle assembly has an actuator that interfaces with the valve stem to displace the valve stem with respect to the container receiver to discharge the treating composition from the aerosol container as the nozzle assembly moves between the fluid retention position and the fluid discharge position. 
     In another embodiment, the container has a valved opening and the nozzle assembly has an actuator that interfaces with a valve in the valved opening to displace the valve with respect to the container receiver to discharge the treating composition from the container as the nozzle assembly moves between the fluid retention position and the fluid discharge position. 
     The treating composition can be any one of a variety of surface treating compositions for carpet or fabric surfaces or for bare floor surfaces. For example, the treating composition comprises a cleaning solution. Alternatively, the treating composition comprises a topical treatment. The topical treatment can be an anti-stain, anti-soil, miticide, or peroxide composition. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stick cleaning implement according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the stick cleaning implement of  FIG. 1 , showing a handle, a container, and a body at a lower portion thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is top view of an upper housing of the body of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the upper housing of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a nozzle assembly of the body of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a brush assembly of the body of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view taken through line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1 , showing the dispenser in the off position. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial sectional like  FIG. 8  but showing the dispenser in the on position. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken through line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a small area carpet treating implement  10  in the form of a stick cleaner comprises a handle assembly  12 , a body assembly  14  and a container  16  removably attached to the body assembly  14 . The handle assembly  12  further comprises a plurality of handle segments  18  that are removably coupled via segment connectors  20  which are commonly used in the stick floor cleaning industry. A grip  22  provides a user interface at a first end of the handle assembly  12  while a second end is removably coupled to the body assembly  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the body assembly  14  further comprises an upper housing  24 , a nozzle assembly  26 , and a brush assembly  28 . The upper housing  24  further comprises an exterior surface  30  and an interior surface  32 . A handle receiver  34  is integrally formed on a rear surface of the upper housing  24  and removably receives the second end of the handle assembly  14 . A container receiver  36  is integrally formed on an upper surface of the upper housing  24  and removably receives the container  16 . In one embodiment the container receiver  36  comprises a unique geometry that corresponds with a mating fitting on the container  16  so that standard containers are not compatible with the container receiver  36 . In one embodiment, the unique geometry on the container  16  is formed by removing the finger pad portion of the unique spray-through cap to expose a valve stem  102 , pedestal, and mounting cup on the container  16 . The container receiver  36  design corresponds to the unique spray-through cap thus creating a unique geometry whereby only the unique spray-through cap will mate with the container receiver  36 . A container aperture  38  is formed through the upper housing  24  and is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cleaner container  16 . A pair of locking lever notches  40  is formed asymmetrically around a perimeter of the aperture  38 . A plurality of stiffening ribs  42  are arranged about the perimeter of the container receiver  36  to provide strength to the receiver wall and support the container  16  as is commonly known in the art. A plurality of screw bosses  44  provides a mechanism to secure the upper housing  24  to the nozzle assembly  24  via screws or other commonly known fastening devices and techniques. The interior surface  32  of the upper housing  24  further comprises a pair of pivot arms  46 , each of which incorporates a single pivot pin  48  that are axially aligned with each other between the pivot arms  46 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the nozzle assembly  26  further comprises a nozzle housing  50 , a manifold cover,  52 , and an angle conduit  54 . The nozzle housing further comprises a pair of support arms  56  that have through openings  58  at an upper portion thereof that receive the pivot pins  48  on the pivot arms  46  in the upper housing  24  to pivotally mount the nozzle housing  50  to the upper housing  24 . A plurality of rake blades  60  are formed along a bottom and rear surface of the nozzle housing  50 , each further comprising a fluid distribution conduit  62  formed therein. In one embodiment each rake blade  60  is ramped, i.e., a rearward portion of the rake blade is wider than a forward portion of the rake blade. Each of the fluid distribution conduits  62  are in fluid communication via a distribution channel  64  formed across the width of the nozzle housing  50 . The manifold cover  52  further includes a manifold conduit  66  projecting upwardly therefrom and in fluid communication with the distribution channel  64 . A manifold seal  53  is positioned between the manifold cover and the nozzle housing  50  to prevent leaking of fluid as it passes through the distribution channel  64 . The manifold cover  52  is securely attached to the nozzle housing  50  via commonly known methods of heat staking, ultrasonic welding, adhesives, or screws. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the angle conduit  54  further comprises a base portion  68  integrally formed with a main body  70  and forming a fluid conduit  72  therethrough. The base portion  68  is fixedly mounted to the manifold cover  52  and surrounds the manifold conduit  66 . A fluid inlet  74  is formed at the other end of the fluid conduit  72  and further comprises a cup seal retainer recess  76  that receives a seal  77  and a seal retainer  78 . The main body  70  further comprises an annular flange  80  concentric with an upper portion of the fluid conduit  72 . A pair of opposed locking ears  82  are positioned in spaced relation to the annular flange  80  and interface with a lock lever  84  that rotates about an outer surface of the main body  70  between the annular flange  80  and the locking ears  82 . The lock lever  84  is a rigid elongate structure comprising a grip  86  on one end and an aperture  88  on an opposing end. The aperture  88  comprises a pair of opposed notches  90  that correspond with the locking ears  82  of the main body  70 . 
     In an alternate configuration the seal  77 , seal retainer  78 , and angle conduit  54  can be replaced by an aerosol actuator and a flexible tube. The aerosol actuator comprises an L-shaped internal fluid conduit that is sealingly connected to the cleaner container valve stem  102  on an inlet side and to the flexible tube on an outlet side. The flexible tube is fluidly connected to the manifold conduit  66  formed on the manifold cover  52 . The manifold cover  52  can further comprise an upwardly ramped protrusion formed at the center portion thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the brush assembly  28  further comprises a brush body  92  and a plurality of bristles  94 . The brush body  92  incorporates a plurality of mounting bosses  96  for mechanical attachment to the upper housing  24  by a corresponding number of screws  97 . A decorative bezel  98  surrounds the bristles  94  and snaps into place on the brush body  92  in a conventional manner. A squeegee  100  can be located on the brush body  92  or the bezel  98  for use on bare floor surfaces. 
     The container  16  is a conventional aerosol dispenser utilizing contents under pressure that are dispensed by engaging a commonly known valve assembly that includes a valve stem  102 . Alternatively, the container  16  can be any type of container that dispenses a treating composition to the surface to be treated. For example, the container  16  can be a liquid container that feeds via gravity though a spring loaded normally closed valve or an optional commonly known pump assembly such as a trigger or battery powered motor coupled to a known pump. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that the invention can comprise more than one container  16  with each container storing a different treating composition. The treating composition(s) can include any fluid, solid, or gas that can be used to clean or otherwise treat the surface to be treated. By way of example, one container can store a standard carpet cleaning solution, and a second container can store a topical treatment, such as an anti-stain, anti-soil, miticide, or peroxide composition, or other commonly known carpet treatments. It is further anticipated that the invention can comprise a hybrid whereby one of the containers  16  is an aerosol container and a second container is a liquid container. 
     Referring to the figures and particularly to  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , the treating implement  10  is readied for use the lock lever grip  86  is moved to the left as the user is facing the nozzle assembly  26  and placed in a “lock” position. With the lock lever  84  in the “lock” position, the locking lever notches  90  are offset from the locking ears  82  on the angle conduit  54  and thus prevent the angle conduit  54  from moving. A full container  16  is inverted and placed in the container receiver  36  formed in the upper housing  24  so that the valve stem  102  slides within the cup seal retainer  78  and the sides of the container  16  are aligned with the container receiver  36  of the upper housing  24 . To dispense the treating composition from the container  16 , the lock lever is moved to the right and placed in an “unlock” position. With the lock lever  84  in the “unlock” position, the locking lever notches  90  are aligned with the locking ears  82  on the angle conduit  54 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , to use the treating implement  10 , the user grasps the handle  12  at a convenient location with the body  14  oriented in a downward position. The user places the nozzle assembly  26  on the surface to be treated and pushes down on the handle  12 . The downward force causes the nozzle assembly  26  to rotate about the pivot pins  48  associated with the upper housing  24  which, in turn, moves the manifold cover  52  and angle conduit  54  in a generally upward direction so that the valve stem  102  of the container  16  is forced upward. Upward movement of the valve stem  102  releases the treating composition from the container  16  to flow, as shown by arrows, through the cup seal retainer  78 , through the fluid conduit  72 , through the manifold conduit  66  and into the distribution channel  64  within the nozzle housing  50 . Now referring to  FIG. 9 , the fluid is distributed across the distribution channel  64  as shown by arrows and through the individual distribution conduits  62  formed in each of the rake blades  60 . On carpeted surfaces, the rake blades penetrate the carpet nap and extend near the carpet backing thus separating the carpet fibers so that the treating composition can flow deep down into the carpet fibers. The treating composition can be further worked into the carpet by repeated downward stroking with either the rake blades  60  or brush bristles  94 . In one embodiment, the treating composition is a heavy traffic formulation that can be dried on the surface to be treated and can be subsequently removed via conventional vacuum cleaning. 
     Other embodiments of the treating implement not specifically shown herein are possible. For example, the treating implement can be adapted for use on bare floors by use of the optional squeegee  100 . Furthermore, the rake blades  60  can be combined with additional bristles  94  for an alternate agitation device. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.