Abstract:
A hand held cleaning apparatus for cleaning carpets and other surfaces comprises a housing and a solution reservoir mounted to the housing for storing and dispensing a cleaning composition onto the surface to be cleaned. The solution reservoir further comprises a dispenser assembly including a flexible vent tube that is weighted to consistently orient a free end of the vent tube away from the cleaning composition.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a hand held surface spot cleaning apparatus. In one aspect, the invention relates to a hand held surface cleaning assembly comprising a cleaning pad mounted to a housing designed so that a user can easily and comfortably apply downward pressure on the cleaning pad against the surface to be cleaned. In another aspect, the invention relates to a handheld surface cleaning assembly comprising a solution container with a manual squeeze dispenser for applying cleaning solution onto the surface to be cleaned. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a handheld surface cleaning assembly comprising a plurality of scrubbing surfaces mounted to a cleaning solution container that includes a dispensing orifice to dispense liquid from the cleaning solution container. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Upright extractors and canister extractors are known for cleaning carpets and upholstery. However, these devices are generally bulky and inconvenient to use for cleaning relatively small spots in the home and are awkward to use in areas outside the home, such as in automobiles. A small, portable handheld device is preferred for cleaning small spots both in the home and in environments outside the home. 
     Hand held composition dispensers are known. PCT patent application WO2005/009198 discloses a shoe polishing applicator having a squeezable reservoir containing a cleaner/polishing solution, and a block mounting the reservoir with a flat bottom side. The dispensing mechanism has a valve member with a slit diaphragm to control the flow of solution from the dispenser. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,645 to Fukushima discloses a hand held container for detergent composition and a dispenser. The dispenser comprises a squeezable reservoir, a filter screen, a removable cap and a dispensing member that includes a flow-restricted orifice and an applicator for applying the cleaning fluid to a fabric to be cleaned. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, a handheld surface cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a cleaning solution reservoir assembly for storing a predetermined amount of a cleaning fluid mounted to the housing, a solution dispenser assembly associated with the cleaning solution reservoir for delivering the cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned and including a vent tube having a length within the solution dispenser assembly and an end portion adapted to extend into an air space within the solution reservoir when the solution reservoir is less than completely filled with the cleaning fluid. The vent tube is configured so that at least the vent tube end portion extends into the air space regardless of the orientation of the housing with respect to the horizontal. 
     In one embodiment, the vent tube has a weight positioned along the length thereof, preferably in a central portion thereof, to maintain the end portion of the vent tube oriented upwardly. Further, a float mounted to the end portion of the vent tube to maintain the end portion thereof above the cleaning solution level in the reservoir. Preferably, the float is made of closed cell foam and is shaped to orient the vent tube end portion away from a lower portion of the solution reservoir. The weight can be positioned in different locations along the length of the vent tube so long as the end portion of the vent tube is above the surface of the cleaning solution in the reservoir. For example, the weight can be combined with the float at the end of the float tube so long as the end portion of the vent tube remains above the surface of the cleaning solution level in the reservoir. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a cleaning fluid is present in the cleaning solution reservoir and the cleaning fluid includes a peroxide compound. Preferably, the peroxide compound is hydrogen peroxide in an amount up to 10% by weight. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a comb assembly is mounted to the housing. The comb assembly extends from a rear surface of the housing and comprises a plurality of relatively stiff bristles that extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the rear surface of the housing. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, a brush assembly is mounted to the housing in an orientation generally transverse to the comb assembly. Typically, the brush assembly comprises a plurality of relatively flexible bristles that extend generally perpendicularly from the bottom surface of the housing. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, the housing and cleaning solution reservoir are configured to comfortably fit the palm of a user&#39;s hand for manipulation of the comb assembly and the brush assembly as well as dispensing the cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispensing assembly comprises an outlet opening in the bottom surface of the housing within the brush assembly. 
     Further according to the invention, a handheld surface cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a solution reservoir assembly for storing a predetermined amount of a cleaning fluid mounted to the housing, a solution dispenser assembly associated with the solution reservoir for delivering the cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned and a comb assembly mounted to the housing. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a brush assembly mounted to the housing in an orientation perpendicular to the comb assembly. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispensing assembly comprises an outlet opening in the bottom surface of the housing within the brush assembly. Further, the housing and cleaning solution reservoir are configured to comfortably fit the palm of a user&#39;s hand for manipulation of the brush assembly as well as dispensing the cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir through the dispensing assembly outlet opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a hand held spot cleaner according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the spot cleaner of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the spot cleaner of  FIG. 1  with a cover removed. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a dispenser assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross section of a float assembly through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a cross section of the hand held spot cleaner in a horizontal position through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross section of the hand held spot cleaner in an inclined position through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, and particularly  FIGS. 1-3 , a hand held spot cleaner assembly  10  comprises a cleaner housing  12 , a solution reservoir assembly  14 , and a cover  16 . The hand held spot cleaner  10  is dimensioned so that the solution reservoir assembly  14  comfortably fits in the palm of either hand of a user and is sized to fit a wide range of hand sizes. The cleaner housing  12  is a generally hollow bodied L shaped structure wherein a bottom surface has a plurality of perpendicularly extending flexible bristles that form a brush assembly  20 . A rear surface has a comb assembly  22  comprised of a plurality of stiff bristles extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the rear surface of the cleaner housing and parallel to the bottom surface thereof. An orifice (not shown) is formed in the bottom surface within and surrounded by the brush assembly  20  and is located in a forward portion of the cleaner housing  12 . “Forward” as used herein signifies the end of the housing  12  opposite the comb assembly  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface of the housing is formed in a slight arc; however, the bottom surface can also be flat or formed into a series of flat surfaces. 
     A cleaning pad assembly  24  is affixed to the bottom surface directly behind the brush assembly  20 . The cleaning pad assembly  24  further comprises a first laminate structure  26  bonded to a foam pad  28  and is configured such that the depth of the cleaning pad assembly  24  is roughly equal to the depth of the brush assembly  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the first laminate structure  26  contacts the surface to be cleaned and is denser than the foam pad  28  to which it is bonded. The foam pad  28  provides flexibility and absorbency for the cleaning pad assembly  24  while the more dense first laminate structure  26  provides good wear resistance. 
     The cover  16  is removably secured to the bottom surface of the cleaner housing  12  by a plurality of interlocking ribs  30  and recesses  32 . In the preferred embodiment, the cover  16  has at least four ribs  30  extending inwardly from side walls that removably engage with corresponding recesses  32  in the cleaner housing  12 . A plug (not shown) extends upwardly from a bottom inside surface of the cover  16  to engage a dispensing orifice  40  in the dispenser assembly  18 . Preferably, the cover  16  has gaps around the perimeter of its interface with the housing  12  or, alternatively, can have a plurality of holes formed in the sidewalls therein to permit air to flow through the cover  16 . The cover  16  is preferably made of a transparent material for visibility to the brush assembly  20  and cleaning pad assembly  24  when the cover  16  is attached. An outer bottom surface of the cover  16  is generally flat and dimensioned to provides a stable base on which the hand held spot cleaner  10  can rest. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the solution reservoir assembly  14  comprises a solution container  34  and the dispenser assembly  18 . The solution container  34  can be made of a plastic blow molded container with a single orifice forming a neck  36  as is commonly known in the liquid cleaning industry. The dispenser assembly  18  further comprises a cap  38  comprising a dispensing orifice  40  and an aperture  42 . A foaming chamber  44  comprises a foamer  46  and a vent conduit  48 . The foaming chamber  44  is fluidly sealed by a first seal  50  located between the cap  38  and the foaming chamber  44 . The foamer  46  can be an open cell foam material that that mixes air with solution passing therethrough to create foam as is commonly known in the art. Preferably, an additional absorbent cloth  52  can be placed between the foaming chamber  44  and the first seal  50  and its function will be described in more detail hereinafter. A length of very flexible vent tube  54  is slid over the vent conduit  48  in a sealing fashion on one end and a sintered valve  56  is inserted into the other end of the vent tube  54 . The sintered valve  56  is porous so that air can pass therethrough while inhibiting the flow of liquid therethrough. 
     At least one generally torroidal tube weight  58  is slid over the outer periphery of the vent tube  54  and is positioned generally mid-way between the ends of the vent tube  54 . Desirably, the tube weight  58  remains stationary at the midpoint of the vent tube  50  and the path within the vent tube  50  remains unrestricted. The tube weight  58  can be of any shape and composed of any material; however, stainless steel or high density plastic is preferred. 
     A closed cell float  60  is fixed in a stationary manner about the outer periphery of the vent tube  54  at the sintered valve  56 . In a preferred embodiment, the float  60  is formed in the shape of a pair of inverted cones with the base of the cones joined. The tube weight  58  should weigh more than the vent tube  54 ; however, the weight  58  should not exceed the buoyancy of the float  60 . 
     The solution reservoir assembly  14  is assembled by placing a second seal  62  over the float  60  and inserting the float  60 , vent tube  54 , and foaming chamber  44  into the solution container  34  orifice formed by the neck  36  until the foaming chamber  44  and seal  62  are seated on the neck  36 . The first seal  50  is placed over the exposed surface of the foaming chamber  44  so that the end of the vent conduit  48  remains clear. Optionally, the absorbent cloth  52  is placed between the foaming chamber  44  and the second seal. The cap  38  is then placed over the foaming chamber  44  and first seal  50  so that the vent conduit  48  protrudes through the aperture  42  in the cap  38 . The cap  38  is then press fit over the neck  36  to create a leak resistant closure. 
     The solution reservoir assembly  14  preferably stores and dispenses an aqueous cleaning composition and a predetermined head space for air. In the preferred embodiment, the solution reservoir assembly  14  is prefilled; however, the dispenser assembly can be modified to be refilled by the user. While the cleaning composition can be any suitable aqueous cleaning composition, the cleaning composition preferably comprises a peroxygen compound for superior cleaning of stains caused by red wine, pet stains, food stains, fruit juice, coffee, tea, chocolate, ink, motor oil, and others. The solution reservoir assembly  14  as described is particularly well suited for storing peroxygen compounds due to the vented dispenser assembly  18  as will be described further. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in operation, the hand held spot cleaner  10  is readied for use by picking the cleaner  10  up by the solution reservoir assembly  14  and removing the cover  16 . In the orientation depicted in  6 A, the cleaning composition level is generally parallel to the bottom surface of the cleaner housing  12  and the float  60  keeps the vent tube  54  in a generally upright position. To dispense the cleaning composition, the user squeezes the solution reservoir assembly  14  which creates a head pressure on the cleaning composition, forcing the cleaning composition through the foaming chamber apertures  45  in the foaming chamber  44 , through the foamer  46 , and out the dispensing orifice  40  in a foam form over the surface to be cleaned. When sufficient composition has been dispensed, the user releases the pressure on the solution reservoir assembly  14 . Air re-enters the reservoir assembly  14  through the exposed end of the vent conduit  48 , passing through the vent tube  54 , through the sintered valve  56  and into the head space of the reservoir assembly  14 . The sintered valve  56  is particularly important because it passes air to flow therethrough, but restricts the flow of liquid and thereby prevents the spot cleaner  10  from leaking when not in use. Furthermore, the dispenser assembly  18  vent is particularly useful when the cleaning solution is a peroxygen compound because the vent assembly will vent excess pressure formed in the head space in the event any or all of the peroxygen compound reacts with potential contamination inside the solution container  34 , or as a result of normal decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen as a result of elevated temperature storage of the spot cleaner  10  or as a result of changes in atmospheric pressure and thus preventing damage to the cleaner  10  from excessive internal pressure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning composition has from 1-10% by weight of hydrogen peroxide. 
     The shape of the float  60  and the location of the tube weights  58  on the vent tube  54  are advantageous as the user varies the orientation of the spot cleaner  10  during use. As the spot cleaner  10  is tilted, the tube weight  58  will pull the vent tube  54  down under force of gravity and the shape of the float  60  will always keep the sintered valve  56  above or out of the liquid cleaning composition. The tube weights  58  function to keep the sintered valve above the level of liquid in the solution container  34 , regardless of the orientation of the spot cleaner  10 . Otherwise, the vent tube  54  may float to the top of the liquid composition and force the sintered valve  56  into the composition and impede operation and may cause leaking. 
     An optional precaution against leaking is provided by the location of the absorbent pad  52  at the exit of the foaming chamber  44 . In some cases, small amounts of liquid may condense inside the vent tube  54  or may migrate past the sintered valve  56  and drip through the foamer  46 . The absorbent pad  52  absorbs the extraneous liquid and prevents leaking. 
     When sufficient composition has been dispensed, the composition can soak into the surface in order for the composition to react with the stain. In addition, the user can engage the brush assembly  20  or the cleaning pad  24  to provide manual agitation and the work the composition deeper into the surface to be cleaned. Optionally, excess composition can be removed with an absorbent cloth or with a commonly known extraction cleaning machine. Otherwise, the composition can be air dried. The comb assembly  22  can be used as a grooming tool after the spot has dried to revitalize the carpet fibers. 
     The hand held spot cleaner described is not limited to cleaning soft surfaces, such as carpets, upholstery, and fabrics. The hand held spot cleaner can also be employed to clean hard surfaces, such as tile and linoleum. The type of cleaning liquid stored in the liquid container assembly can be selected based on the type of surface to be cleaned. Further, the cleaning head can comprise an agitator suitable for the type of surface to be cleaned. Examples of agitators include, but are not limited to, brushes (as described above), sponges, scrubbing pads, dusting pads, and ultrasonic vibrating cleaning members. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims be construed as broadly as the prior art would permit. Reasonable variation and combinations are possible within the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.