Abstract:
An easy, efficient, and self-feeding steam mop is provided. With its special design, it is economical and practical to be competitive. There are three sections inside this mop—water feeding, heating, and steaming. The check valve installed on the water feeding tube can be used not only to shut off the water flowing into the boiler when not in use so that the wooden floor or the fabric carpet will not be harmed, but also its unique baffle plate can be used to minimize the backpressure from the boiler and keeps the steam serving flow rate sufficient and continuous with no additional supplement, such as a water or an air pump. And the closed type mop head encompasses the steam not to escape. The bulged, flexible ribs keeps the fabric pad touched on the floor thoroughly, so that the temperature is high and stable and the cleaning effect is good.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a mop, and more particularly to a self-feeding steam mop that is convenient and efficient. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The major issue for a self-feeding steam mop is the backpressure from the boiler. It interrupts the water on and off to flow into the boiler and makes the steam serving intermittently. To most steam mop designers, what they think to overcome the problem is to use an additional supplement such as a water pump or an air pump to reinforce the water to flow into the boiler. The aforementioned method is not economical and practical. The water or air pump costs much money. Furthermore, when the mop is not in use, the continuous serving steam will harm the floor or the carpet when it is left a place for seconds. The water circulation diagram to control the system also costs much money. With a special design baffle plate inside the check valve, it absorbs the backpressure from the boiler and bounces back the pressure into the boiler. It keeps the water flowing constant and pressuring the steam to vent out high. The steam serving is continuous and the steam rate can be up. 
         [0005]    The other issues are how to upgrade the cleaning effect. Too much steam escaping when mopping and the pad is only used around the edge always raises the complaints from the user. The mop head of the steam mop is specialized. It is a close type mop with a rim around to encompass the steam not to escape from the mop. The bulged, flexible rib keeps the fabric pad contacting with the floor when using. The temperature is high, the serving steam is sufficient, and the cleaning effect is good. 
         [0006]    To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a self-feeding steam mop to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The main objective of the invention is to provide a self-feeding steam mop that is convenient and efficient. 
         [0008]    This self-feeding steam mop is made up of three sections—water feeding, heating and steaming. The water feeding section is composed of a water tank placed at the top and a vent valve higher than the water inlet. The weight of the water plus the height between the outlet of the water tank and the inlet of the boiler and the vent to the atmosphere always provide a positive pressure (larger than 1 atm) to feed the water into the boiler with no additional supplement or a water or an air pump. The flow on or off is controlled by a water control valve linked with a knob of three settings—ON/OFF/STEAM. When the knob is turned to “STEAM”, the linkage pushes the stem down and the water flows out from the water tank to the boiler. The check valve is designed of two functions. When the mop is tilted, the steel ball runs aside, the water in the tube flows into the boiler. When the mop is not in use, it stands upright. The steel ball sets up on the seal, so that the water is shut off. The other special functions of this valve are used to minimize the backpressure from the boiler and upgrade the output of the steam rate and as a protective device to keep the steam not to damage the floor when the mop is not in use. As the backpressure is bouncing back to the check valve, the baffle plate inside stops the pressure going back to the water tank, and bouncing back it instantly to the boiler, so that the venting out steam rate is increased. As the pressure inside the boiler is decrease, the water feeds into the boiler continuously. 
         [0009]    The heating section is composed of a boiler and a temperature controller and a fuse. The boiler is designed to heat up the water into steam at designated rate and temperature. The temperature controller can be varied to meet the flow rate and temperature at the nozzle for requirement. The fuse is used as a safely device for the mop and the user. 
         [0010]    The steaming section is composed from the outlet of the boiler to the nozzle to the mop head. The mop head is a closed type. The rim around the mop head encompasses the steam inside the mop and spread evenly to every corner so that the temperature at the corners is the same as the temperature at the nozzle. Because the steam will not escape mopping, the cleaning effect, temperature and amount of the steam is expected. The bulged, flexible ribs under the mop head keeps the fabric pad stay firm with the floor. As the friction increases, the rubbing effect increases. 
         [0011]    Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of a self-feeding steam mop in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2 and 3  respectively show a front perspective view and a rear view of the self-feeding steam mop in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded perspective view of the self-feeding steam mop in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a front view, a detailed layout of the components inside the steam assembly of the self-feeding steam mop in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4A  shows an enlarged perspective view of the control mechanism and the water control valve of the self-feeding steam mop in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4B  shows an exploded perspective view of the water control valve of the self-feeding steam mop in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded perspective view, the interior layout of the check valve of the self-feeding steam mop in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6 to 8  show enlarged perspective views of the mop head and its components of the self-feeding steam mop in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , a self-feeding steam mop in accordance with the present invention is lightweight, inexpensive and highly efficient in housework. 
         [0021]    The self-feeding steam mop comprises a handle  300 , a steam assembly  100  and a mop head  200 . All of the handle  300 , steam assembly  100  and mop head  200  can be varied in size and shape and color for difference requirements. 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A and  4 B, the steam assembly  100  is mounted under the handle  300  and has a casing  101 , a light  11 , a water cap  12 , a control mechanism, a water control valve  6 , a check valve  7  and a boiler  8 . 
         [0023]    The casing  101  is hollow and has a water tank  1  and a vent valve  2 . 
         [0024]    The water tank  1  is mounted on a top of the casing  101  of the steam assembly  100  and has a water inlet and a water outlet. The water tank  1  provides a higher (positive) pressure (water weight plus 1 atm) than that inside the boiler  8  so that the water in the water tank  1  feeds into the boiler  8  without external force from an air or a water pump. 
         [0025]    The vent valve  2  is mounted on a top of the water tank  1  and releases the backpressure from the boiler  8  and maintains the pressure inside the water thank at 1 atm. 
         [0026]    The vent valve  2  on the top of the water tank  1  serves as a safety device. The vent valve  2  vents out the backpressure from the boiler  8  inside the water tank  1  and keeps the feeding water from air and maintains the pressure inside the water tank  1  equal to atmosphere pressure. The outlet of the water tank  1  is placed at the bottom and keeps the pressure of the feeding water is always higher than that inside the boiler. 
         [0027]    The light  11  is mounted on the casing  101  to indicate operation status of the steam mop. 
         [0028]    The water cap  12  is mounted detachably on the casing  101  and covers the water tank  1  so that detaching the water cap  12  opens the water tank  1  for water supplying purposes. 
         [0029]    The control mechanism is mounted on the casing  101  and has a dial  4 , a switch  3  and a water control linkage  5 . 
         [0030]    The dial  4  is mounted rotatably on the casing  101 . In a preferred embodiment, the dial  4  has a transmission shaft  41  formed on and protruding axially from the dial  4  toward the switch  3  and having an oblique abutting end  411  and a driving rib  412 . The oblique abutting end  411  selectively presses against and pushes the rocker member  31  into one of the positions. The driving rib  412  is formed on and protrudes radially from the transmission shaft  41 . 
         [0031]    The switch  3  mounted securely in the casing  101 , may be a rocker switch having a rocker member  31 , is selectively switched by the dial  4  among three different settings: ON″, “OFF” and “Steam”. The rocker member  31  may rock among a flat position, a left-leaning position and a right-leaning position corresponding to the aforementioned setting. 
         [0032]    The water control linkage  5  is mounted in the casing  101  and is connected to the dial  4  so that rotating the dial  4  moves the control linkage  5  up or down. In a preferred embodiment, the water control linkage  5  has a driven end  51  and a pressing end  52 . The driven end  51  abuts the transmission shaft  41  of the dial  4  and is selectively pushed by the driving rib  412  of the dial  41 . The pressing end  52  is located opposite to the driven end  51 . 
         [0033]    The water control valve  6  is mounted in the casing  101 , is connected to the water tank  1  and is selectively pushed and by the water control linkage  5  so that turning the dial  4  drives the water control linkage  5  to control the opening or closing of the water control valve  6 . The water control valve  6  has an internal chamber  61 , an inlet port  62 , an outlet port  63  and a valve stem  64 . The internal chamber  61  is defined in the water control valve  6 . The inlet port  62  is formed on the water control valve  6  and is connected to the water tank  1  through a tube. The inlet port  63  is formed on the water control valve  6 . The valve stem  64  is mounted slidably in the internal chamber  61 , extends out of a top of the water control valve  6  and is selectively pushed by the pressing end  52  of the water control linkage  5  to seal and block the outlet port. 
         [0034]    When the dial  4  turns on, it pushes down the stem of the water control valve  6 , so that the valve opens, and the water inside the tank  1  flows down automatically by gravity. 
         [0035]    When the dial  4  turns off, a spring inside the water control valve  6  bounces up to shut and stop entering water from the water tank  1 . 
         [0036]    The check valve  7  is mounted in the casing  101  under the water control valve  6 , is connected to the water control valve  6 , is designed for two purposes and has a valve case  70 , a water channel  18 , a baffle plate  17 , a seat  16  and a ball  15 . The water channel  18  is defined in the valve case  70  and has an inlet hole and an outlet being opposite to and located under the inlet hole. The baffle plate  17  is formed in the water channel  18  between the inlet hole and outlet hole and reflects the backpressure back into the boiler  8  so that it increases the steam output. The seat  16  may be rubber, is mounted around the outlet hole. The ball  15  is mounted movably in the water channel and is selectively positioned in the seat  16  to block the outlet hole. When the boiler  8  is not in use, as the steam mop stands upright. The ball  15  may be steel, is mounted on the seat  16 , shuts off the outlet hole and prevents water from flowing into the boiler  8 . Then there is no steam serving to harm the floor. 
         [0037]    The check valve  7  between the water control valve and the boiler  8  is used as a controller. When the steam mop is in use and tilted, the check valve  7  opens to let the water from the water tank  1  flow through the water control valve  6  and check valve  7  to go into the boiler  8 . When not in use, the steam mop is positioned upright. The check valve  7  shuts and prevents the water from coming into the boiler  8  so that even if the steam mop is left in one place, the floor or the carpet on the place will not be damaged by the steam mop because no steam serves at this moment. 
         [0038]    The boiler  8  is placed under the water tank  1 , is capable of heating water and has a top, a bottom, a water inlet, a steam outlet, a cover plate and a temperature controller. The water inlet is mounted on the bottom and is connected to the outlet port  63  of the water control valve  6  through a pipe. The steam outlet is mounted on the top and has a tube  9  and a steam nozzle  10 . The tube  9  is connected to the steam outlet and extends down to a bottom of the casing  101 . The steam nozzle  10  is mounted on and protrudes down from the bottom of the casing  101  and is connected to the tube  9  so that steam may be conveyed in the tube  9  and spouted out of the steam nozzle  10 . 
         [0039]    Because the water tank  1  is placed at the top, potential energy of the water stored in the water tank  1 , accumulated from the water weight itself and the distance between the water inlet of the boiler, the water outlet of the water tank  1  and the vent (to atmosphere 1 atm), will push and feed the water into the boiler  6  automatically. As the vapor vents out, the chamber inside the boiler  8  is under negative pressure, so that the water is fed into the boiler  8  by itself. 
         [0040]    When the dial  4  is turned to “ON”, the boiler  8  inside will be heated up and be ready for service in 30 seconds. When the dial  4  is turned to “STEAM”, the water control linkage  5  pushes down the stem of the water control valve  6  and feed the water inside the water tank to flow into the boiler  8 . When the dial  4  is at “OFF”, a spring inside the water control valve  6  bounces back to shut off the water control valve  6 . 
         [0041]    The check valve  7  is designed to have two unique functions. The inside baffle plate  17  minimizes the backpressure from the boiler  8  and at the same time reflects the backpressure back to the boiler  8 , so the it increases the output of the steam and decreases the air going into the water tank  1 . When the steam mop is not in use, it is positioned upright. The steel ball  15  inside will run on the rubber seat  16 , and the water from the water tank  1  will be blocked. As no water feeds into the boiler  8 , no harmful steam spouts to the floor. 
         [0042]    The temperature controller is mounted on the cover plate of the boiler  8  and is used to control the operation temperature to meet the requirement. It is also used as a safety device to keep the boiler  8  from heating over the designated temperature. A fuse behind the temperature controller is used as an additional safety device. When the temperature is over the designated temperature, the fuse is broken. Then the power is cut off instantly to protect the steam mop and the user. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  show the mop head  200  being closed type. The mop head  200  is mounted securely around the steam nozzle  10  of the casing  101  and has an open bottom, a rim  23 , multiple ribs  21  and a base cover  24 . 
         [0044]    The rim  23  is annular, is formed around the open bottom of the mop head  200  of the casing  101  and encompasses and prevents the steam from escaping when the steam mop is in use. The sealing effect of the rim  23  upgrades the cleaning effect and keeps the temperature the same at the nozzle  10  as those at the corners. 
         [0045]    The ribs  21  are mounted in the open bottom of the mop head  200 , may be arranged in two columns and hold a pad to contact the floor thoroughly. 
         [0046]    The base cover  24  is annular and is mounted around the rim  23  under the ribs  21   
         [0047]    The friction between the pad and the floor upgrades the cleaning effect. The serving temperature around corners of the mop head  200  is the same as the temperature at the nozzle. The serving temperature under the pad can be up to 100° C. at every corner. Therefore, the pad with high temperature can be used to fight against germs, bacteria, dust mites, stubborn grease, etc., without detergent. 
         [0048]    Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.