Abstract:
This invention relates to a multi-purpose position sensitive floor cleaning device having two separate and distinct selective modes of operation whereby 180° longitudinal rotation of the floor cleaning device selectively activates one of the two separate and distinct selective modes of operation. The two separate and distinct selective modes of operation are, for example, a scrubbing mode for scrubbing an associated floor and a suctioning mode for suctioning associated liquid from the associated floor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention pertains to a floor-cleaning device. More specifically, this invention pertains to a multi-purpose position sensitive floor-cleaning device having a gravity switch that selectively activates at least a first motor to provide power to at least a first implement when the cleaner is rotated or flipped about its longitudinal axis. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is known in the prior art to provide floor-cleaning devices operated by a switch containing two tubes of mercury, also known as gravity switches. For example, gravity switches have been used to create a “dead man” condition in floor cleaning devices. U.S. Pat. No. 2,138,279 (&#39;279 patent) (expired) discloses such a “dead man” switch. The &#39;279 patent relates to a control switch that includes two tubes of mercury, which are mounted in a head of a floor care appliance. Each tube includes two spaced contacts, which are interposed in an electric circuit. Rotating handgrips that tilt the mercury tubes to complete the circuit operates the machine. A spring is provided to create the “dead man” condition. When the handgrips are released, the spring returns the mercury tubes to the “off” position. Thus, a gravity switch on a floor care appliance for use as a “dead man” switch is known in the art. However, the &#39;279 patent does not disclose the use of a gravity switch to alternate between two or more modes of operation such as scrubbing and suction modes. 
     It is also known to use a level-sensitive switch to turn off a motor on a carpet-cleaning machine when the handle of the device is tilted. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,944 (&#39;944 patent) (expired), a carpet cleaning machine having a handle, a cleaning head with a brush, a brush motor, a solution supply tank, a rinsing reservoir, a waste tank, a vacuum head and a vacuum pump is disclosed. A level sensitive switch is provided in the cleaning head to turn off the brush motor when the handle is tilted to raise the brush and lower the vacuum head. Further, the &#39;944 patent discloses that the same level sensitive switch can be used to turn the vacuum motor on when the handle is tilted. Thus, the level sensitive switch disclosed in this patent selectively activates a first motor, namely, the brush motor, when the handle is tilted to lower the brush and raise the vacuum head. In addition, the gravity switch selectively activates a second motor, namely, the vacuum motor, when the handle is tilted to raise the brush and lower the vacuum head. However, the patent does not disclose rotation of the entire unit to selectively activate a mode of operation. 
     Another example of use of the use of gravity to influence a device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,676,890 (&#39;890 patent) (expired). The &#39;890 patent relates to a suction cleaner having a detent mechanism pivotally mounted by a pin on the handle control lever. The detent includes an arcuate surface at one end; a portion on the other side of the pivot pin is weighted so that it is influenced by gravity to rotate the detent when the cleaner is up-ended onto a surface. The detent engages a roller to lock the cleaner in the upright position and prevent actuation of a switch actuator. 
     The present invention is an improved multi-purpose position sensitive floor cleaning device having two separate and distinct selective modes of operation whereby 180° rotation of the multi-purpose position sensitive floor cleaning device selectively activates at least one of the two separate and distinct selective modes of operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose position sensitive floor-cleaning device having two separate and distinct selective modes of operation whereby 180° rotation of the floor-cleaning device selectively activates one of the two separate and distinct selective modes of operation. The two separate and distinct selective modes of operation are, for example, a scrubbing mode for scrubbing an associated floor and a suctioning mode for suctioning associated liquid from the associated floor. 
     The activation of the one of the two separate and distinct selective modes of operation can be accomplished, in its preferred embodiment, by a gravity switch. The gravity switch activates one of the two separate and distinct selective modes of operation due to the gravitational force acting upon the gravity switch. 
     Another object of the present invention is the multi-purpose position sensitive floor cleaning device to have a longitudinal axis with a cleaning head at a first end of the longitudinal axis and a handle at a second end of the longitudinal axis, a motor being located between the first and second ends for operating the cleaning head, wherein the improvement comprises a switch for activating and deactivating the motor, the switch activates the motor when the floor care device is rotated about the longitudinal axis and when the cleaning head is placed in contact with the floor surface, and the switch deactivating the motor when the floor care device is rotated about the longitudinal axis to place the cleaning head in a non-contact position with the floor surface. 
     Another object of the improved multi-purpose position sensitive floor cleaning device is to rotate the floor care device 180°, thus placing the cleaning head in a non-contact position with the floor surface. 
     Another object of the present invention disclosed herein is an improved multi-purpose position sensitive floor-cleaning device for cleaning a bare floor. The improved floor cleaning device has a longitudinal axis, a handle, a housing, the housing having first and second ends, the first end of the housing being attached to the handle, at least two separate and distinct modes of operation, the at least two separate and distinct modes of operation, for example, being a cleaning mode and a suction mode, at least one implement operatively attached to the second end of the housing and having an axis parallel to a plane of a floor, the axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the improved floor cleaning device, the at least one implement operatively attached to the second end of the housing comprises two implements, the two implements being a power-driven brush and a pump communicating with a nozzle for dispensing a cleaner, the power-driven brush and the pump being located substantially opposite one another, at least one motor operatively connected to the at least one implement, a means for supplying power to the improved floor cleaning device, a means for activating and deactivating the means for supplying power, a means for activating and deactivating the at least one motor, the means for activating and deactivating the means for supplying power being a first switch, the means for activating and deactivating the at least one motor activating the motor by rotating the improved cleaning device 180° about its longitudinal axis such that the at least one implement is in contact with a surface of a floor, the means for activating and deactivating the at least one motor selectively deactivating the at least one motor when the cleaning device is rotated about the longitudinal axis such that the at least one implement is not in contact with the surface of the floor, the means for activating and deactivating the at least one motor being a gravity switch connected to the second motor and, wherein the floor cleaning device is a bare floor cleaning device. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by the present invention wherein there is provided a floor cleaning device comprised of a motor housing having first and second ends, a handle attached to the first end of the motor housing, a cleaning housing having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the cleaning housing is attached to the second end of the motor housing, a nozzle attached to the second end of the cleaning housing, a cleaning solution delivery system positioned within the cleaning housing for dispensing unused cleaning solution onto a floor surface and a recovery tank positioned within the cleaning housing for holding dirty cleaning solution. The device further comprises a means for selectively providing power to the suction motor. The means for supplying power is positioned within the motor housing and includes a master switch, a pump, a suction motor for providing power to the pump, a power means for providing an electrical current to the suction motor and a gravity switch operatively connected to the power means and the suction motor. The device further comprises a power driven brush system for selectively providing power to the brush motor. The power driven brush system includes a power driven brush operatively attached to the nozzle and a power driven motor operatively connected to the gravity switch. When the cleaning device is rotated about its longitudinal axis such that the nozzle faces the floor surface, the gravity switch turns off the brush motor and simultaneously turns on the suction motor. In addition, when the cleaning device is rotated about its longitudinal axis such that the power driven brush faces the floor surface, the gravity switch turns off the suction motor and simultaneously turns on the brush motor. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of cleaning a floor surface with a floor cleaning device having at least two modes of operation, at least one means for supplying power, at least one means for activating/deactivating the floor cleaning device, the modes of operation being located opposite one another on the floor cleaning device, wherein the method is the steps of placing the floor cleaning device in a first position contacting the floor, rotating the entire cleaning device a first time, the first rotation of the device is preferably a 180° rotation, to activate the means for supplying power to the floor cleaning device, and rotating the cleaning device a second time to deactivate the means for supplying power to the floor cleaning device. An additional step includes the method wherein the floor cleaning device further has first and second implements mounted opposite one another on the floor cleaning device and selectively contact the floor, and wherein the step of rotating the device a first time results in either the first or the second implement contacting the surface of the floor. 
     Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and herein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cleaning device having a stationary brush; 
     FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device having a stationary brush showing the device in the scrubbing mode; 
     FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device having a stationary brush showing the device in the suction mode; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaning device having a power driven brush; 
     FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device having a power driven brush showing the device in the scrubbing mode; 
     FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device having a power driven brush showing the device in the suction mode; and, 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cleaning device having a stationary brush showing an AC power source. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiment(s) of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1-3 show a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 4-6 show a second preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a cleaning device  10  has a first implement  12 , a removable motor housing  14  having first and second ends  16 ,  18 , a handle  20  that is connected to the first end of the motor housing  16  and that extends upwardly therefrom, a cleaning housing  22  having first and second ends  24 ,  26 , a second implement  28  having a preferred embodiment squeegee  30  connected to the second end  26  of the cleaning housing  22 , and wherein the first implement  12  is mounted approximately opposite the nozzle  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the first implement  12  is shown as a stationary brush (also referenced as  12 ) and the second implement  28  is a nozzle (also referenced as  28 ). The second end  18  of the motor housing  14  is removably attached to the first end  24  of the cleaning housing  22  to facilitate the emptying and cleaning of a recovery tank  84 , which is located within the cleaning housing  22 , as will be explained in further detail below. In the preferred embodiment, the removable motor housing  14  has a substantially u-shaped configuration and can be assembled/disassembled to the cleaning device  10  by known means in the art. 
     With continuing reference to FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment, the squeegee  30  facilitates the nozzle  28  in the removal of dirty cleaning solution from the floor surface  34 . However, the nozzle  28  will adequately remove the dirty cleaning solution from the floor surface  34  without the assistance of the squeegee  30 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2, the first end  24  of the cleaning housing  22  contains a cleaning solution delivery system  32 . The delivery system  32  dispenses a cleaning solution  33  onto the floor surface  34  for later scrubbing by a means for scrubbing the associated floor, identified in the preferred embodiment as the stationary brush  12 . The cleaning solution  33  used in the present invention may be any known cleaning solution or combination of solutions, such as water with a detergent additive. 
     With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the cleaning solution delivery system  32  includes a cleaning solution delivery tank  36  having first and second chambers  38 ,  40 , a means  51  for releasing the unused cleaning solution  33  and a cleaning solution delivery tube  56 . The first chamber  38  of the delivery tank  36  sits atop the second chamber  40  and a separator wall  42  separates the two chambers  38 ,  40 . The first chamber  38  holds the unused cleaning solution  33  and selectively releases it into the second chamber  40 , which in turn releases the solution onto the floor surface  34  via the solution delivery tube  56 , as will be explained in further detail below. The first chamber  38  has an aperture  44  for receiving the unused cleaning solution  33 . The aperture  44  in the first chamber  38  is aligned with an aperture  46  in the cleaning housing  22  and opens thereto to facilitate filling of the first chamber  38  with the unused cleaning solution. The aperture  46  on the cleaning housing  22  is provided with a threaded dispensing cap  48  that can be removed to allow a user to fill the first chamber  38  with solution. 
     With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the means  51  for selective release of unused cleaning solution  33  from the first chamber  38  to the second chamber  40  is accomplished, in the preferred embodiment, by a plunger  52 . The plunger  52  is received within an aperture  50  located on the separator wall  42 . The plunger  52  also abuts the bottom portion  97  of a control rod  95  which is connected at its upper portion  99  to a means for releasing the liquid  54  (shown in FIG. 1) positioned on the handle  20  of the cleaning device  10  which controls the dispensing of the unused cleaning solution  33 . The means for releasing liquid  54  selectively moves the control rod  95  to move the plunger  52  from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. FIG. 2 shows the plunger  52  in its open position. FIG. 3 shows the plunger  52  in its closed position. With reference to FIG. 3, the plunger  52  seals the aperture on the separator wall  42  and prevents the unused cleaning solution  33  from being released into the second chamber  40 . However, engagement of the means for releasing liquid  54  selectively moves the plunger  52  in an upwards direction to its second position, as shown in FIG.  2 . With reference to FIG. 2, when the plunger  52  is in its open position, the seal surrounding the aperture  50  on the separator wall  42  is broken which causes a gravitational flow of cleaning solution  33 , as shown by arrows A and B, from the first chamber  38  to the second chamber  40 . This, in turn, causes a gravitational flow of the solution  33  from the second chamber  40  through the solution delivery tube  56 , which is attached to the bottom of the second chamber  40  and extends downward through the nozzle  28 , and onto the floor surface  34 . The gravitational flow of cleaning solution onto the floor surface  34  is stopped by disengaging the means for releasing liquid  54  which returns the plunger  52  to its first position and, thereby, seals the aperture  50  in the separator wall  42 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cleaning solution delivery system  32  is a mechanical system. However, the cleaning solution  33  may also be delivered by an electrically powered delivery system that sprays the cleaning solution onto the floor surface  34  (FIGS.  2  and  3 ). Further, any system, which adequately delivers the solution  33  to the floor surface  34 , is within the scope of this invention. 
     Turning now to FIG. 3, the motor housing  14 , which contains the power system  58  that supplies a means for suctioning needed to remove the cleaning solution  33  from the floor surface  34 , is best shown. The power system  58  includes a suction motor  60 , an associated suction motor circuit  76 , a power means  62 , such as batteries  64  which also can be rechargeable, cells or a direct AC power source  66  (as shown in FIG.  7 ), a pump  68 , a master switch  70  having first and second positions and a gravity switch  72 , such as a mercury switch  74  (as shown in FIG. 2) or a weighted micro-switch  82 . A plurality of wires (not referenced but shown) extend between the suction motor  60 , the power means  62 , the pump  68 , the master switch  70  and the gravity switch  72  and provide the necessary electrical connections therebetween. Masters switch means  70  are well known in the art and therefore will not be disclosed in detail herein. It is sufficient to state that when the master switch  70  is in the first position, power is not supplied to the cleaning device  10 . 
     With continuing reference to FIG. 3, the associated suction motor circuit  76  is controlled by the gravity switch  72 . The gravity switch  72  selectively breaks the associated circuit  76  to turn off the suction motor  60 . When the cleaning device  10  is in the scrubbing mode (as shown in FIG.  2 ), suction is not needed. Therefore, when the cleaning device  10  is rotated or flipped about its longitudinal axis  11  such that the stationary brush  12  faces the floor surface  34 , the gravity switch  72  automatically breaks the associated circuit  76  to turn off the suction motor  60 . Turning off the suction motor  60  when the device is in the scrubbing mode is desirable because it conserves power. This is especially important when utilizing the battery  64  for the cleaning device  10 . If the suction motor  60  is left on during the scrubbing mode, the continuous power drain will quickly deplete the batteries  64  and the batteries  64  will be drained before the entire floor surface  34  is cleaned. On the other hand, when the cleaning device is in the suction mode, power is needed to turn on the suction motor  60 , which provides the suction needed to remove the dirty cleaning solution from the floor surface  34 . In sum, when the cleaning device  10  is rotated or flipped about its longitudinal axis  11  such that the nozzle  28  faces the floor surface  34 , the gravity switch  72  automatically closes the associated circuit  76  to turn on the suction motor  60 . 
     In operation, a user activates the cleaning device  10  by moving the master switch  70  from a deactivated position to an activated position. Then, the user rotates the cleaning device  10  about its longitudinal axis  11  such that the stationary brush  12  faces the floor surface  34 . Next, the user engages the means for releasing liquid  54  on the handle to dispense the unused cleaning solution onto the floor surface  34  and the user manually scrubs the floor surface  34  with the stationary brush  12 . After the floor surface  34  is scrubbed, the user rotates the cleaning device  10  about its longitudinal axis  11 , in the preferred embodiment 180° such that the nozzle  28  faces the floor surface  34 . This causes the gravity switch  72  to close the associated suction motor circuit  76 , which turns on the suction motor  60 . The user can then suction the dirty cleaning solution upward through the nozzle  28  as shown by arrows C and D, along the direction of arrows E and F and into the second end  26  of the cleaning housing  22 . A solution reflecting plate  80  can be located in the cleaning housing  22  to deflect the dirty cleaning solution downward in the direction of arrow G and into the recovery tank  84 . The user can repeat this process as many times as is needed until the floor surface  34  is adequately cleaned. Once the floor surface  34  is clean or when the recovery tank  84  is fall, the user can remove cleaning housing  22  from the motor housing  14  to empty and clean the recovery tank  84 . 
     Turning to FIGS. 4-6, a cleaning device having a power driven brush  78  is illustrated by way of example. Except for the power driven brush system  92 , this cleaning device  90  has the same overall configuration as the cleaning device  10  described in the first embodiment of this invention. Therefore, the description for the cleaning device  10  having the stationary brush  12  is included herein by reference and only the power driven brush system  92  will be described in detail. 
     With reference to FIG. 6, the power driven brush system  92  includes a power driven brush  78 , a brush motor  86  and an associated brush motor circuit  88 . A plurality of wires extend between the power driven brush  78 , the brush motor  86 , the power supply  62  and the gravity switch  72  and provide the necessary electrical connections therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, the wires removably connect the brush motor  86  to the gravity switch  72  and the power means  62  so that the cleaning housing  22  can be removed from the motor housing  14  to facilitate emptying and cleaning of the recovery tank  84 . However, the recovery tank  84  may be provided with a cleaning solution removal means (not shown), such as an aperture in the recovery tank (not shown), to allow the tank  84  to be emptied without having to remove the cleaning housing  22  from the motor housing  14 . Such a configuration would enable the brush motor  86  to be hard wired to the gravity switch  72  and the power means  62 . 
     With specific reference to FIG. 6, the gravity switch  72  selectively transfers power from the suction motor  60  to the brush motor  86 . When the cleaning device  90  is in the scrubbing mode, power must be supplied to the power driven brush  78  to facilitate scrubbing of the floor surface  34 . Therefore, when the cleaning device  90  is rotated or flipped about its longitudinal axis  11  such that the power driven brush  78  faces the floor surface  34 , the gravity switch  72  automatically breaks the associated suction motor circuit  76  to turn off the suction motor  60  and simultaneously closes the associated brush circuit  88  to turn on the brush motor  86 . On the other hand, when the cleaning device is in the suction mode, power is needed to turn on the suction motor  60 , which provides the suction needed to remove the dirty cleaning solution from the floor surface  34 . Therefore, when the cleaning device  90  is rotated or flipped about is longitudinal axis  11  such that the nozzle  28  faces the floor surface  34 , the gravity switch  72  automatically breaks the associated brush motor circuit  88  to turn off the brush motor  86  and simultaneously closes the associated suction motor circuit  76  to turn on the suction motor  60 . 
     In operation, a user activates the cleaning device  90  by moving the master switch  70  from the first position to the second position. Then, the user rotates or flips the cleaning device  90  about its longitudinal axis  11  such that the power driven brush  78  faces the floor surface  34 , which turns on the brush motor  86 . Next, the user engages the means for releasing liquid  54  on the handle  20  to dispense the unused cleaning solution on the floor surface  34  and the user uses the power driven brush  78  to scrub the floor surface. After the floor surface is scrubbed, the user rotates or flips the cleaning device  90  about its longitudinal axis  11  such that the nozzle  28  faces the floor surface  34 . This causes the gravity switch  72  to turn off the brush motor  86  and to simultaneously turn on the suction motor  60 . The user can then use the nozzle  28  to suction the dirty cleaning solution off the floor surface  34  and into the recovery tank  84 . The user can repeat this process as many times as is needed until the floor  34  surface is adequately cleaned. Once the floor surface  34  is clean, the user can remove cleaning housing  22  from the motor housing  14  to empty and clean the recovery tank  84 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, separate motors drive the power driven brush  78  and the pump  68 . However, a single motor (not shown) can power both the power driven brush  78  and the pump  68 . In this configuration, the gravity switch  72  would selectively transfer power from the single motor to either the power driven brush  78  or the pump  68 . 
     The invention has been described with reference to two preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alternations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.