Carpet cleaning device

A carpet washing attachment with a vacuum hose attached to a washing head with a liquid line feeding water/cleaning fluid into washing head is disclosed. Washing head is formed of hollow members and a cover sealed to the top washing head with the vacuum hose attached to the cover. This forms cleaning area which is surrounded by the hollow members. Each of the hollow members has water jet holes located on the inner part of the washing head such that the water exiting the holes is projected inward so that the jets of water come to an apex and intersect at a given distance X from the bottom of the washing head. The angle of the jets and the spacing of members should be chosen such that the distance X is roughly the depth of the carpet pile to be washed.

BACKGROUND

Many carpet washing devices are known in the art. The various known devices always have to balance the wear on the carpet with the amount of cleaning provided. Many carpet cleaning devices have rotating brushes to scrub the carpet, however, this causes wear of the carpet fibers. In prior art carpet washing devices the water jet was given access to the base of the carpet pile by moving brushes contacting the carpet pile and moving to one side, allowing the water jets access to the base of the carpet pile. This contact of the brushes with the carpet pile increases wear on the carpet and can damage the carpet over time. The present design eliminates or reduces the manual friction of the carpet caused by the brushes.

Carpet cleaning devices that merely spray water on which is then vacuumed up are known, however this are generally less effective in getting dirt out of the carpet, particularly out of pile of the carpet.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a carpet washing device that creates an agitating action without moving brushes.

Another aspect is to provide the vacuum air in the center of the spray of water jets, creating an agitation of the water and air, helping to remove more dirt from the carpet.

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is carpet washing attachment with a vacuum hose attached to a washing head with a liquid line feeding water/cleaning fluid into washing head. Washing head is formed of hollow members and a cover sealed to the top washing head with the vacuum hose attached to the cover. This forms cleaning area which is surrounded by the hollow members. Each of the hollow members has water jet holes located on the inner part of the washing head such that the water exiting the holes is projected inward so that the jets of water come to an apex and intersect at a given distance X from the bottom of the washing head. The angle of the jets and the spacing of members should be chosen such that the distance X is roughly the depth of the carpet pile to be washed.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first toFIGS. 1 and 2, carpet washing attachment100with a vacuum hose101attached to a washing head102. The washing attachment100has a liquid line103feeding water/cleaning fluid into washing head102. Washing head102is formed of hollow members104,105,106, and107, formed into a rectangle in the depicted embodiment. A cover108, which is transparent in the depicted embodiment, is sealed to the top washing head102with the vacuum hose101attached to the cover. This forms cleaning area110which is surrounded by the hollow members104,105,106, and107, seen inFIG. 2.

Each of the hollow members has water jet holes111spaced along their length. The water jet holes111are located on the inner part of the washing head such that the water exiting the holes is projected inward so that the jets of water come to an apex and intersect at a given distance X from the bottom of the washing head, as seen inFIG. 3. The diameter of the water jet holes is chosen to ensure a strong jet of water that will reach the base of the carpet pile to ensure a strong scrubbing action. The exact size of the hole will depend on the size of the washing head, the available water pressure, the size of the water reservoir, the desired rate of us up of the water and other known design considerations for the overall design of the device. In the depicted embodiment the holes are place such that the water jets are coming out at30degrees from vertical as show by angle α and the space Y between104and106is ⅜thof inch as shown inFIG. 2. The angle of the jets and the spacing of members104,106should be chosen such that the distance X is roughly the depth of the carpet pile to be washed. This results the water jets coming together at the base of the carpet pile, creating maximum agitation of the carpet pile and removal of more debris. This reduces wear on the carpet and results in better cleaning of the carpet. The design also increase the surface area that water is being jetted onto and suction is being applied to over current designs. The dimensions the washing head, specifically the spacing of the members104and106and the angle of water jets need to be chosen to create this configuration. In one possible embodiment the spacing of members104,106and/or the angle of the jets are adjustable to allow for different carpet pile depths.

As seen inFIG. 4, is use the water jets120are injected into the carpet pile P, as the vacuum hose101sucks air through the carpet pile and into the cleaning area110and then into vacuum hose101. The water flows through hollow members and in is jetted into the carpet piles as the air is flowing through the carpet pile, creating a scrubbing action to loosen dirt without brushes. Depending on the angle of water jets and the depth of the carpet pile, the jets120may intersect before the base of the carpet pile as shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 5shows the air flow into the washing head102. The air is pulled horizontally from the ends A and B, and in from the sides, as shown by the arrows. This is believed to create a further scrubbing action.

FIG. 6shows an additional embodiment of the device. A housing200has washing head201, which functions as described above. The vacuum line202provides the suction and carries the liquid and dirt away to a container (not shown). A liquid line203carries water and any cleaning fluids to the washing head201as described above. Wheels204are provided to make the device easier for most consumers to use.

FIG. 7shows an additional embodiment of the device. In this embodiment that standard commercial “wand” unit300is modified with the washing head301which functions as described above. This allows the unit to be used with standard truck mounted equipment used by commercial carpet cleaning operations.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations are within their true spirit and scope. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are intended to be included in the disclosure. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and subcombinations possible of the group are intended to be individually included in the disclosure.