Abstract:
An indoor/outdoor cleaning system includes a portable pressurized housing for containing cleaning fluids (water, chemicals, and mixtures thereof). Multiple hoses connect the interior of the housing with a cleaning wand. The wand includes a handle, a hollow trunk portion and a cleaning head. The multiple hoses have outlets adjacent the cleaning head for feeding water, cleaning chemicals, or surface treating fluids thereto. The outlets open adjacent a cleaning pad, which pad, which pad is attached to the cleaning head via a mechanism that allows the pad to move either in a linear or sinusoidal (rocking) motion or the combination of both motions thereof. A variety of cleaning pad accessories (brush, sponge, sanding pad, buffing pad, etc.) can be optionally attached to the cleaning pad based on the type of surface to be cleaned or treated. A suction conduit, disposed in the cleaning head, functions to draw used fluids away from the surface for safe disposal thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/632,211 filed Nov. 29, 2004. This application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of US Non-Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 2006/0112513 A1 filed Nov. 29, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to cleaning systems. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a cleaning or surface-treating system in which pressurized water, water/chemical mixtures or surface treating fluids are supplied to a sonic vibrating cleaning pad. The cleaning pad can travel in both the linear and oscillating motions. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Homeowners and small commercial establishments constantly search for affordable, portable, efficient cleaning devices that are also versatile. Surfaces around the home or office such as floors, decks, walls, driveways, carpets, upholstery, etc. require cleaning or treating on a periodic basis. More often than not, the home or business owner will attempt to clean or treat these surfaces instead of hiring professional cleaners. The most popular cleaning devices, as shown in the related art, rely on pressurized spray nozzles to accomplish the above noted functions. While somewhat effective, the pressurized nozzle units sill leave a lot to be desired, especially when used to clean heavy, layered grime and dirt from surfaces. The art would certainly welcome a cleaning system that could handle a variety of cleaning situations in an effective and efficient manner and yet have the simplicity to be operated by everyone. 
         [0006]    None of the inventions and patents identified in the previous IDS, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the cleaning system as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The indoor/outdoor cleaning system of the present invention comprises a portable, pressurized housing for containing cleaning or treating fluids (water, chemicals and mixtures thereof). The housing is pressurized for reasons that will be explained below. Multiple hoses connect the interior of the housing with a cleaning wand. The wand includes a handle, a hollow trunk portion and a cleaning head. The multiple hoses have outlets in the cleaning head for feeding water and cleaning chemicals thereto. The outlets open adjacent a cleaning pad, which pad is attached to the cleaning head via a mechanism that allows the pad to vibrate at sonic frequency. An accessory (brush, sponge, sanding pad, buffing pad, etc.) is removably attached to the pad and will be selected based on the type of surface to be cleaned or treated. A suction conduit, disposed in the cleaning head, functions to draw used fluids away from the surface for safe disposal thereof. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, the invention presents a cleaning system, which system is capable of effectively cleaning and/or treating almost any surface. The system is relatively compact and portable, which permits the system to be utilized by homeowners and small business establishments. Utilization of sonic vibration technology permits the cleaning or treating fluids to be applied to the desired surface area with minimum spillage and waste. The cleaning pad unit of the device can have both a linear motion and an oscillatory motion. The linear motion is both a back and forth motion where an oscillating motion can be activated as well in order to clean between spaces of the tiles, woods or any other material where dirt can easily hide. The back and forth motion of the device can be adjusted by the operator by making the accessory travel in greater distance between each stroke or shorter distance to focus on a particular area. Also, the oscillating motion of the device can provide for a rocking motion or seesaw motion to scrub or remove dirt where gaps exist between materials. 
         [0009]    The invention provides for improved elements and arrangement thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes. 
         [0010]    A clear understanding of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of an indoor/outdoor cleaning system according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cleaning wand of an indoor/outdoor cleaning system according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a partial view showing a cleaning head of an indoor/outdoor cleaning system according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an LCD screen of an indoor/outdoor cleaning system according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cleaning caddy of an indoor/outdoor cleaning system according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cleaning was of an indoor/outdoor cleaning system according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a partial side view showing an alternative embodiment of the cleaning pad unit of an indoor/outdoor cleaning system according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Attention is first directed to  FIGS. 1 and 2  wherein the cleaning system of the present invention is generally indicated at  10 . System  10  includes a cleaning wand  12  having a handle  14  attached at an upper end and a cleaning head  16  attached at a lower end. Pressurized housings  18 ,  18   a  respectively contain fluids to be supplied to cleaning head  16  via hoses  20  and  20   a . Power cord  22  extends from handle  14  for connection to a source of electrical power E. A suction hose  24  is in fluid communication with cleaning head  16 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , handle  14  is pivotally attached to wand  12  at  14   a . Wand  12  is pivotally attached to cleaning head  16  at  12   a . A multi-function operating switch  26  and a LCD monitor  28  (both of whose functions are explained below) are mounted on handle  14 . 
         [0019]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , wand  12  and head  16  have hollow interiors for receiving hoses  20 ,  20   a  and power cord  22 . Hose  20   a  has an outlet  30  at base  16   a  of cleaning head  16 . A cleaning pad unit  34  is disposed adjacent base  16   a  and is spaced therefrom. A cleaning pad unit  34  has a hollow interior and a perforated base  34   a . Hose  20  has an outlet  32  that opens into the interior of the cleaning pad unit  34 . An electronically powered motor  36  is positioned in head  16  and is connected to power cord  22 . Motor  36  functions to produce vibratory motion in shaft  36   a , which shaft  36   a  is connected to cleaning pad unit  34 . The motor  36  is designed to produce vibratory motion in the range of 40,000-15,000 strokes per minute. A replacable accessory  38  is removably mounted on the cleaning pad unit  34 . As noted above, accessory  38  will be selected based on the type of surface that is to be cleaned or treated. The removable accessory  38  can be a brush head, mop head, scrubber, or any type of good used for cleaning surfaces. A suction port  40  is provided to remove the used fluids from the treated surfaces. Suction port  40  is connected to suction hose  24 . LCD readout device  28  ( FIG. 4 ) is mounted on the handle and is programmed to monitor selected functions. The functions shown are merely examples of the many functions that may be monitored. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the cleaning pad unit  34  travels in a linear motion when the cleaning device is activated for vibratory motion. The linear motion is a back and forth motion  12   a  as shown in  FIG. 2 . A stroke is defined by the distance the cleaning pad unit  34  can travel within the wand  12 . One stroke can be up to 6 inches from the back end to the front end of the base  16   a . The user can adjust a stroke where the cleaning pad unit  34  can travel less than 6 inches or more than 6 inches. The stroke can be adjusted to be less than a ¼ of an inch. The user can use a user interface to adjust the stroke to travel a desired distance to cover a certain surface area, which a user interface is not shown in the embodiment, but can be employed to change the distance at which the cleaning pad unit  34  can travel for each stroke. The user interface is connected to a control processing unit (not shown) which is then connected to the cleaning pad unit  34 . The user can desire to maintain the stroking distance to be the same throughout the entire cleaning process or he can change the stroking distance. 
         [0021]    The importance behind changing the stroking distance to have the replaceable accessory  38  to concentrate on the surface area at which the user desired to be scrubbed, wiped, or cleaned. If the stroking distance of the cleaning pad unit  34  covers a small area such as ¼ of an inch, then the replaceable accessory  38  may focus on a particular area to remove a stain or hardened dirt. If the stroking distance of the cleaning pad unit  34  is greater than 6 inches, then cleaning pad unit will clean more of the surface area with each stroke and it would not be as focus covering a greater area with each stroke. 
         [0022]    To facilitate the cleaning or treating operation and to enhance portability, a caddy  50  ( FIG. 5 ) is provided to transport housings  52 . Housings  52  are adapted to contain all fluids that are utilized in a cleaning or treating process. The housings are provided with pumps  54  for pressurizing the fluids and supplying said fluids to the wand via hoses  20 ,  20   a . A pump also induces suction in suction hose  24  for evacuating the used fluids to the wand via hoses  20 ,  20   a . A pump also induces suction in suction hose  24  for evacuating the used fluids and disposing of the same. A heating coil  56  is utilized to hear the cleaning or treating fluids if desired. 
         [0023]    In a second embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the wand  12  is self-contained in that a rechargeable battery  60  and pump  62  (both shown in phantom lines) are encased in wand  12 . The battery provides power to motor  36  while the pump extracts fluids from housing  18 . It should also be noted that housing  18  can take on the form of a canister mounted to the exterior of the wand. 
         [0024]    In use, manipulation of multi-function switch  26  will activate a pump(s) for supplying fluids (for example cleaning fluid and water) through hoses  18 ,  18   a . Switch  26  also functions to operate motor  36  to vibrate the accessory  38 . Cleaning fluid and water will exit the cleaning head whereby the cleaning pad unit  34  employs vibratory motion to clean the desired surface. A suction pump can be activated to withdraw the used fluids away form the surface for safe disposal. 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  renders an alternative embodiment of the cleaning pad unit  34  having electromagnets which provides the pad or removable accessory  63  with oscillatory motion. The cleaning pad units include a motor  60 , shaft  61 , frame  72 . There can be one motor in the center of the frame  72 , or there can be two motors  60  on each end of the frame  71 . There can be more motors  60  in order to provide the cleaning pad unit  34  with more power to scrub the dirt from surfaces. 
         [0026]    Furthermore,  FIG. 7  shows the cleaning pad unit  34  having a pad (or removable accessory)  63 , pivot point  64 , coupler  65 . The motor  60  is connected to the shaft  61  which the shaft  61  is attached to a guide  71  and linear member  74 . Once again, if there a plurality of motors and shafts, then there will be a plurality of guides  71 . There is a second guide  67  on the linear member  74  connected to a resistance member  66  to prevent the structure moving in the linear motion from colliding with the frame  72 . On the frame  72 , there are about two electromagnets  69   a ,  70   a  connected on each end of the frame  72 , and two metal plates  69   b ,  70   b  are connected on the oscillating member  73 . The structural set up for  FIG. 7  permits a rocking motion to take place for the oscillating member  73 . This rocking motion is like a seesaw motion or oscillating motion for the oscillation member  73  which is connected to the coupler  65  and that oscillating motion is translated onto the pad or removable accessory  63 . The electromagnets  69   a ,  70   a  are facing the metal plates  69   b ,  70   b , respectively. Elastic members  68   a ,  68   b  are sandwiched and connected between the oscillating member  73  and linear member  74 , so that way both members would not collide with each other preventing damage between the oscillating member  73  and linear member  74 . 
         [0027]    Through the user interface, a person can activate the electromagnets  69   a ,  70   a  where both of them may have current running through at the same time to produce an up and down motion. When the electromagnets  69   a ,  70   a  are activated current is flowing through it to produce a magnetic field forcing the metal plates  69   b ,  70   b  to move towards the electromagnets  69   a ,  70   a  where the metals  69   b ,  70   b  would be attracted to the electromagnets  69   a ,  70   a . By producing an oscillating motion or seesaw motion, a person can activate one electromagnet  69   a  while the other electromagnet  70   a  is deactivated to bring one end of the oscillating member  74  down and the other end up. And then, the electromagnet  69   a  is deactivated while the other electromagnet  70   a  is activated producing an oscillatory motion like a seesaw or rocking motion. In other words, oscillating member  74  pivots up on one end and then down on the other end. This type of oscillating motion happens several times a second. The user can also activate the motor(s)  60  to produce the linear motion while the oscillating motion occurs, so the invention can produce both stroking (linear) and oscillating (seesaw, rocking or pivots) motion at the same time through the coupler  65  that both motions can be translated to the pad or removable accessory  63 . The purpose for these types of motion so that the pad or removable accessory  63  would be able to contact spaces between the tiles (kitchen or bathroom) or lumbers (deck) removing the dirt between crevices. 
         [0028]    The cleaning system has two main parts. The first is a transfer unit  52 . The transfer unit  52  is a caddy  50  for holding removable and replaceable pumps  54  and vacuum motors (not shown). The cartridge style pumps  54  come in different varieties, such as 1. water (cold, hot, mist, high and low pressure or steam), 2. chemicals (detergents, acids, caustics, sealants, finishes, stains, paints, herbicides and pesticides), 3. Air flow (suction, blowing, compressed, cold, or warm air). The caddy  50  can be made in many styles like portable, upright, canister, back pack, truck mounted or integrated for cars and homes. Each model will have the same interchangeable pump concept  54 . 
         [0029]    The transfer unit  52  is made in this manner for a few of reasons: 1. Commercial customers can change the pumps  54  at the job site; 2. The transfer unit  52  can be upgraded or customized to suit individual customer needs; 3. It covers all the basic water or chemical needs for virtually any type of janitorial cleaning without changing the entire system; 4. There will be a great arsenal of products for upgrading. 
         [0030]    In a way, the transfer unit  52  is designed like a personal computer. The pumps  54  and motors (not shown) can be considered “plug and play” devices. Just as you can change the floppy, CD, or DVD in a computer without changing the whole tower, you can change the pumps and motor just by plugging it in without replacing the whole transfer unit  52 . 
         [0031]    Fluids and solids travel through the hoses  20 ,  20   a ,  24  to and from the transfer unit  52 . The hoses  20 ,  20   a ,  24  are flexible and resistant to chemicals and heat. A quick connect coupling with shut off valves will be on each end for fast connection and removal. 
         [0032]    A multi-function operating switch  26  of the system is located on the handle  14 . The handle  14  has buttons and switches for controlling vacuuming actuations, chemical transfer and water transfer. The control handle is a tubular shaped device and can take other shapes as well. One end of the device receives power from the transfer unit  52 . The other end has a threaded coupling for connecting pressure cleaning wands, spay nozzles or the wand and head assembly. This feature allows the system to be used as a pressure washer, chemical sprayer, or cleaning machine. 
         [0033]    The second main part of the system is the wand  12  and head assembly  16 . This part of the system is a powered cleaning tool used by the operator to clean various surfaces. It primarily uses a high speed linear actuations (thousands to tens of thousands strokes per minute at up to ½ inch strokes) to move cleaning pad in a back and forth motion that is parallel to the surface for scrubbing, sanding, and polishing dirty surfaces. The cleaning wand  12  also uses a secondary actuation motion. Electromagnets are mounted on the cleaning pad unit  34  causing the accessory  38  to pulsate perpendicular to a surface at speeds up to 40,000 strokes per minute. The agitation coupled with interchangeable cleaning pads of different textures and materials can clean virtually any indoor or outdoor surface around homes, buildings, and vehicles. Indoor cleaning wands  12  have water spray nozzles for rinsing debris. Cleaning head or removable accessory  38  sizes will range from toothbrush size to extra wide floor cleaning models. 
         [0034]    Every home, building and vehicle has different types of surfaces inside and out. Flooring alone can be carpet, linoleum, tile, hardwood, granite, laminate, marble, brick, etc. Each surface requires a different cleaning pad material  38  for optimum cleaning capabilities. The cleaning pads or removable accessory  38  will be made to match each type of surface. Cleaning pads or removable accessory  38  will be hard, or soft bristles, sponge, microfibers, soft cloth, aggressive or fine sanding material, etc. 
         [0035]    The fresh water and chemical storage containers (also removable)  18 ,  18   a  are located in transfer unit caddy  50 . The debris container has two chambers  18 ,  18   a . Once section is for dry debris, and the other is for wet debris. The suction air flow can be redirected from one chamber to the other by simply moving a lever, allowing wet or dry debris fall into its proper chamber. An operator can switch from dry to wet vacuum mode without having to manually remove the dust filter. 
         [0036]    The invention is set up where it can produce both a linear motion and oscillating motion. However, it is also designed to produce either a linear or oscillating motion if the user desires it for such purposes. Through the user interface, the user can activate the invention to produce one of these motions or both the linear and oscillating motion. 
         [0037]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.