Water soluable package for a floor cleaner

A floor cleaner includes a handle, a body, a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, and a supply tank coupled to the body. The supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width and a fluid disposed therein. A water soluble package includes a cleaning solution disposed therein and is inserted within the supply tank to combine with the fluid disposed therein to form a cleaning fluid. A distribution nozzle is in communication with the supply tank and disperses the cleaning fluid towards a ground surface. The package has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height. The package folds from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to water soluble packages for a floor cleaner.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment the invention provides a floor cleaner comprising a handle, a body coupled to the handle, a base coupled to the handle and movable over a surface to be cleaned, a supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width, the supply tank configured to store a fluid, a water soluble package having a cleaning solution, the water soluble package configured to be inserted within the supply tank and combine with the fluid stored in the supply tank to form a cleaning fluid, and a distribution nozzle in communication with the supply tank, the distribution nozzle configured to disperse the cleaning fluid toward a surface. Wherein the water soluble package has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height. Wherein the water soluble package folds from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width.

In another embodiment the invention provides a method of using a water soluble package in a floor cleaner including a supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width, the supply tank configured to store a fluid. The method comprising providing the water soluble package having a cleaning solution, the water soluble package having an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height, folding the water soluble package from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width, and inserting the water soluble package through the inlet opening to combine the water soluble package with the fluid stored in the supply tank to form a cleaning fluid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a floor cleaner10. In the illustrated embodiment, the floor cleaner10includes a base12and a body14pivotally coupled to the base12. The body14is pivotal relative to the base12between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position. The floor cleaner10further includes a supply tank16, a recovery tank18, and a vacuum source20. The supply tank16is configured to store a cleaning fluid and the floor cleaner10is operable to dispense the cleaning fluid onto a surface22to be cleaned.

Referring toFIG. 2, the vacuum source20includes a motor24and a fan26. The motor24and the fan26are operable to draw the cleaning fluid from the surface22into the recovery tank18. The base12is movable over the surface22to be cleaned. In the illustrated embodiment, the base12includes wheels28to facilitate moving the base12over the surface22. The base12includes a suction inlet30in fluid communication with the vacuum source20and the recovery tank18. The cleaning fluid is drawn from the surface22through the suction inlet30and into the recovery tank18. The base12further includes a distribution nozzle32in fluid communication with the supply tank16. The distribution nozzle32dispenses the cleaning fluid toward the surface22.

The floor cleaner10further includes a handle34. The handle34includes a grip36and an actuator38adjacent the grip36. The grip36is grabbed by the user to move the floor cleaner10along the surface22and to pivot the body14relative to the base12. The actuator38controls the flow of cleaning fluid from the supply tank16through the distribution nozzle32. The handle34further includes an extension40that extends from the body14. The extension40includes a first end42, a second end44, and a handle axis46that extends centrally through the first end42and the second end44as illustrated inFIG. 2. The first end42is coupled to and adjacent the body14. The second end44is adjacent the grip36. The floor cleaner10further includes a battery48(FIG. 2) that provides power to the vacuum source20. The battery48is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery in one embodiment.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the floor cleaner10further includes an upper end50and a lower end52opposite the upper end50. The handle34is adjacent the upper end50and the base12is adjacent the lower end52. The floor cleaner10further include a front side54and a back side56opposite the front side54. The suction inlet30is adjacent the front side54. In the illustrated embodiment, the supply tank16is coupled to the front side54and the recovery tank18is coupled to the back side56of the body14. In other embodiments, the supply tank16and the recovery tank18may be coupled to the base22or the handle34.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 5, the supply tank16includes an inlet opening60defining an inlet opening width WL and a cap64(FIG. 5) removably coupled to the supply tank16(e.g., threadably coupled) to selectively enclose the inlet opening60. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet opening60is circular and the inlet opening width WL is the diameter of the inlet opening60. The inlet opening width WL may be in a range from 20 mm to 50 mm. In some embodiments, the inlet opening WL may be greater than 50 mm. In other embodiments, the inlet opening60may have an alternative geometry (rectangular, triangular, etc.).

FIG. 3illustrates a water soluble package110according to an embodiment. The water soluble package110includes a film114defining compartments118,122,126that house cleaning solutions130,134,138. The film114defines a first compartment118having a first cleaning solution130, a second compartment122having a second cleaning solution134, and a third compartment126having a third cleaning solution138. In other embodiments, the film114may define more (e.g. four, five, etc.) or less (e.g., two) compartments.

In one embodiment, the second cleaning solution134is different than the first cleaning solution130and the third solution138is the same as the first cleaning solution130. In other embodiments, the third cleaning solution may be different than the first and second cleaning solutions130,134. Further, the first cleaning solution130includes a liquid ingredient and the second cleaning solution134includes a powder ingredient. The powder ingredient includes one or more of a surfactant, a PH adjuster, and a preservative. The liquid ingredient includes one or more of a surfactant and a fragrance. In the illustrated embodiment, the ratio of liquid ingredient to powder ingredient is 1-1. In other embodiments, the ratio may be 2-1, 1-2, 3-1, or 1-3. The water soluble package110may weigh 10 grams in some embodiments.

With continued reference toFIG. 3, the first compartment118and the third compartment126have a first geometry and the second compartment122has a second geometry that is different than the first geometry. In the illustrated embodiment, the first geometry is generally triangular and the second geometry is a wishbone shape. In other embodiments, the first and second geometries may have an alternative construction (e.g., cylindrical, rectangular, or the like)

The water soluble package110has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width W1that is larger than the inlet width WL, a height H defined orthogonal to the first width W1, and a thickness (e.g., into the page with reference toFIG. 3) defined orthogonal to the first width W1and the height H. The film114of the water soluble package110further includes a first fold line142positioned between the first compartment118and second compartment122and a second fold line146positioned between the second compartment122and the third compartment126. As described in more detail below, the water soluble package110folds from the unfolded dimension (FIG. 3) to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width WL. For example, the first compartment118may be folded relative to the second compartment122about the first fold line142and the third compartment126may be folded relative to the second compartment122about the second fold line146. In the folded dimension, the water soluble package110may be inserted within the supply tank16and combine with the fluid stored in the supply tank16to form a cleaning fluid.

FIG. 4illustrates a water soluble package210according to another embodiment of the invention. The water soluble package210is like the water soluble package110shown inFIG. 3and described above. Therefore, like features are identified with like reference numerals plus “100”, and only the differences between the two will be discussed. It should also be appreciated that the water soluble package110may be inserted within the supply tank16in a similar fashion as the water soluble package210.

The water soluble package210includes a film214defining a first compartment218having a first cleaning solution230, a second compartment222having a second cleaning solution234, and a third compartment226having a third cleaning solution238. In the illustrated embodiment, each compartment218,222,226includes a cylindrical construction. In particular, the first compartment218and the third compartment226have a first diameter and the second compartment has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. As such, the first compartment218and the third compartment226have a first geometry and the second compartment222has a second geometry that is different than the first geometry.

The water soluble package210has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width W1that is larger than the inlet width WL, a height H defined orthogonal to the first width W1, and a thickness (e.g., into the page with reference toFIG. 4) defined orthogonal to the first width W1and the height H. The film214of the water soluble package210further includes a first fold line242positioned between the first compartment218and the second compartments222and a second fold line246positioned between the second compartment222and the third compartment.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, the water soluble package210folds from the unfolded dimension (FIG. 4) to a compact size (FIG. 5) having a folded dimension defined by a second width W2that is smaller than the inlet opening width WL. For example, the first compartment218is folded relative to the second compartment222about the first fold line242(FIG. 4) and the third compartment226is folded relative to the second compartment222about the second fold line246(FIG. 4). In the illustrated embodiment, the first and third compartments218,226are folded in the same direction onto the second compartment222. In the folded dimension, the water soluble package210is inserted within the supply tank16and combines with the fluid stored in the supply tank16to form a cleaning fluid.

FIG. 6illustrates a supply tank316according to another embodiment. The supply tank316may be coupled to a floor cleaner such as an extractor. Similar to the supply tank16, the supply tank316includes an inlet opening360and a cap removably coupled to the supply tank to selectively enclose the inlet opening360. In the folded dimension the water soluble package110or the water soluble package210may be inserted within the inlet opening360.