Abstract:
A fluid delivery system for a cleaning tool. In one embodiment, the fluid delivery system includes a reservoir, a first conduit and a second conduit coupled to the reservoir and adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir, wherein an end of the second conduit is moveable relative to the first conduit to dispense fluid in a plurality of directions. In another embodiment, the fluid delivery system includes a reservoir adapted to contain at least one fluid, a first conduit coupled to the reservoir adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir, and a second conduit coupled to the reservoir adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir independent of the first conduit. In another embodiment, the fluid delivery system has a reservoir with a first and second outlet wherein the second outlet selectively dispenses fluid from the reservoir independent of the first outlet.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Advancements continue to be made in cleaning tools adapted for dispense of fluid onto one or more surfaces prior to wiping, scrubbing, or other operation with such cleaning tools. Examples of such tools include mops and similar tools having fluid delivery devices. While such conventional tools are often suitable for their intended uses, further advancements in this technology are always welcome in the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments of this application are directed toward a fluid delivery device. More particularly, some embodiments are directed toward a fluid delivery system for a cleaning tool. 
     In one particular embodiment, the fluid delivery system includes a reservoir adapted to contain at least one fluid, a first conduit coupled to the reservoir and adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir, and a second conduit coupled to the reservoir and adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir, wherein an end of the second conduit is moveable relative to the first conduit to dispense fluid in a plurality of directions. When the fluid delivery system is coupled to the cleaning tool, the first conduit dispenses the fluid to a surface adjacent the cleaning head. The fluid delivery system further comprises a hand held dispensing head coupled to the moveable end of the second conduit. In some embodiments, the fluid delivery system further comprises a pump coupled to the reservoir adapted to pressurize the reservoir. Also, in some embodiments, the reservoir is divided into two chambers adapted to contain different fluids, wherein the first conduit is in fluid communication with a first chamber and the second conduit is in fluid communication with the second chamber. 
     Another embodiment is directed toward a cleaning tool having a handle, a cleaning head coupled to an end of the handle, and a fluid delivery system coupled to the handle. The fluid delivery system includes a reservoir adapted to contain at least one fluid, a first conduit coupled to the reservoir adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir, and a second conduit coupled to the reservoir adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir independent of the first conduit. The first conduit dispenses the fluid to a surface adjacent the cleaning head. A hand held dispensing head is coupled to an end of the second conduit. In some embodiments, the fluid delivery system further comprises a pump coupled to the reservoir adapted to pressurize the reservoir. Additionally, the reservoir can divided into two chambers adapted to contain different fluids, wherein the first conduit is in fluid communication with a first chamber and the second conduit is in fluid communication with the second chamber. 
     Some embodiments are also directed toward a cleaning tool having a fluid delivery system having a reservoir adapted to contain at least one fluid, a first outlet coupled to the reservoir adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir to a surface adjacent the cleaning head, and a second outlet coupled to the reservoir adapted to selectively dispense fluid from the reservoir independent of the first outlet. The fluid delivery system can further include a first conduit coupled to the first outlet, a second conduit coupled to the second outlet, and a hand held dispensing head coupled to the second outlet. In some embodiments, the fluid delivery system further comprises a pump coupled to the reservoir adapted to pressurize the reservoir. Also, in some embodiments, the reservoir is divided into two chambers adapted to contain different fluids, wherein the first conduit is in fluid communication with a first chamber and the second conduit is in fluid communication with the second chamber. In some embodiments, the reservoir is selectively separable from the handle for use independent of the cleaning tool. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cleaning tool with a fluid delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the fluid delivery device of the cleaning tool illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2   b  is a side view of the fluid delivery device illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a.    
         FIG. 2   c  is a top view of the fluid delivery device illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2   b.    
         FIG. 3   a  is a front view of a fluid delivery device according to another embodiment of the present invention, adapted for use with the cleaning tool illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3   b  is a side view of the fluid delivery device illustrated in  FIG. 3   a.    
         FIG. 3   c  is a top view of the fluid delivery device illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b.    
         FIG. 4   a  is a partially-sectioned front view of a fluid delivery device according to an yet another embodiment of the present invention, adapted for use with the cleaning tool illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4   b  is a partially-sectioned side view of the fluid delivery device illustrated in  FIG. 4   a.    
         FIG. 4   c  a is top view of the fluid delivery device illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b.    
         FIG. 5  is a detail view of a conduit connection for the fluid delivery devices illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4   c.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the details of the construction as set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are not intended as a limitation and do not define a limitation upon the scope of the present invention. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cleaning tool  10  with a fluid delivery device  11  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning tool  10  is in the form of a mop or similar floor cleaning device. However, it should be noted that the fluid delivery device  11  can be utilized in conjunction with other types of cleaning tools, and that the illustrated form of a mop is presented by way of example only. For example, the present invention can be embodied in sponge mops, dust mops, wet mops, specialty mops, towel mops, brushes, squeegees, and a variety of other cleaning devices having handles. 
     The cleaning tool  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a cleaning head  12  connected to the distal end of an elongated shaft  14 . The cleaning head  12  can have one or more fluid nozzles  45  for delivery of fluid to locations adjacent the cleaning head  12 . The size, location, and number of these nozzles  45  can vary depending upon the desired pattern of distribution and viscosity or other properties of fluids to be dispensed. The proximal end of the shaft  14  serves as a handle for mechanical manipulation of the cleaning head  12 . In some embodiments, the shaft  14  is a single element, such as a tube or rod. In other embodiments, the shaft  14  comprises multiple elements connected together in any suitable manner, such as by one or more threaded connections, pin-and-aperture connections, and the like. Also, in some embodiments the shaft  14  can be adjustable, such as by telescoping inner and outer tubes  14   a ,  14   b . For example, the inner and outer tubes  14   a ,  14   b  illustrated in  FIG. 1  can be moved to a desired relative position with respect to one another (corresponding to a desired length of the shaft  14 ), after which time the inner and outer tubes  14   a ,  14   b  can be releasably secured against relative movement by rotation of a locking assembly  16  located on the shaft  14 . This and other types of adjustable shafts can be employed in the present invention. 
     The fluid delivery device  11  of the illustrated embodiments in  FIGS. 1-4   c  has a reservoir or bottle  20 . The bottle  20  can have any shape desired. However, in some embodiments, the bottle  20  is substantially elongated and/or has a relatively flat shape. For example, the bottle  20  can have a relatively flat and elongated shape as shown in  FIGS. 1-4   c , thereby reducing interference of the bottle  20  in navigating obstructions about which the cleaning tool  10  is used (e.g., under beds, dressers, desks, and other furniture, and the like). The tapered bottom  56  of the bottle  20  can also reduce this interference, making the cleaning tool  10  easier to use. Additionally, the tapered shape can help funnel the solution contained within the bottle to a single location wherein the solution can be evacuated, dispensed, or otherwise removed from the bottle during use. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottle  20  is connected to the shaft  14 . This connection can be a permanent connection, such as by one or more rivets or other permanent fasteners, by adhesive or cohesive bonding material, by welding or brazing (depending at least in part upon the material of the shaft  14  and bottle  20 ), and the like. However, in other embodiments, the bottle  20  is detachable from the shaft  14 . This feature can better facilitate cleaning and/or refill of the bottle  20 , and in some embodiments can enable a user to detach the bottle  20  in order to use the bottle  20  (and other component(s) of the fluid delivery device  11  attached thereto) independently of the shaft  14  and cleaning head  12 . 
     The bottle  20  can be releasably attached to the shaft  14  in a number of different manners, such as by one or more hooks, hangers, screws and other conventional fasteners, pin and aperture, dovetail, and other inter-engaging connections, hook and loop fastener material, a press-fit connection enabled by mating shapes of the bottle  20  and shaft  14 , or in any other suitable manner. In some embodiments, the bottle  20  is releasably connected to the shaft  14  by receiving the shaft  14  into a groove  21  defined by the bottle  20 . For example, in the illustrated embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4   c , the shaft  14  is shown as cylindrical and the bottle  20  is shaped to have a longitudinal groove  21 ,  121 ,  221  into which the shaft  14  can be pressed (as best shown in  FIGS. 2   c ,  3   c , and  4   c ). The diameter of the groove  21 ,  121 ,  221  can be slightly smaller than that of the shaft  14  such that an elastic connection is formed when the shaft  14  is pressed into the groove  21 ,  121 ,  221 , thereby holding the bottle  20 ,  120 ,  220  in place. In these and other embodiments, the bottle  20 ,  120 ,  220  and/or the shaft  14  can be constructed of any material having sufficient elastic properties capable of accommodating the deformation required as the bottle  20 ,  120 ,  220  is pressed into place on the shaft  14 . For example, the bottle  20 ,  120 ,  220  and shaft  14  in the illustrated embodiments comprise plastic. 
     The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2   c  includes a dual fluid delivery device for cleaning solutions or other fluids contained within the bottle  20 . The fluid delivery device  11  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2   c  is adapted to distribute fluid from the bottle  20  through either of two outlet ports  52 ,  54 . The outlet ports  52 ,  54  can be located anywhere in the bottle  20  at which fluid can exit the bottle  20 . For example, one of the outlet ports  54  in the bottle  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2   c  is located near the bottom  56  of the bottle  20 , whereas the other outlet port  52  is located near a top  58  of the bottle  20 . In either case, a conduit  60  (only one of which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c ) can extend from either or both outlet ports  52 ,  54  to any location within the bottle  20  in order to draw fluid therefrom. In this manner, the outlet ports  52 ,  54  need not necessarily be located below the level of fluid within the bottle  20  in order for fluid to be dispensed from the bottle  20 . For example, fluid can be drawn from the bottom  56  of the bottle  20  by a conduit  60  extending from an outlet port  54 . The outlet ports  52 ,  54  can be provided with any type of permanent or releasable conduit fittings  70 ,  72  desired, including without limitation barbed tube fittings, fittings with one or more O-rings or other gaskets or seals, threaded fittings, swage fittings, John Guest® (trademark, John Guest International, Ltd.) fittings, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the bottle  20  is provided with one or more removable or non-removable caps  32  for covering one or more additional ports  62 . A removable cap  32  can be connected to the bottle  20  in any suitable manner, such as by a threaded fitting, any of the other types of fittings described above with reference to the outlet port fittings  70 ,  72  of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c , and the like. A removable cap  32  can enable a user to fill, empty, and/or clean the bottle  20 . Like the outlet ports  52 ,  54 , the cap  32  can be located anywhere on the bottle  20 . 
     With continued reference to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c , the cap  32  can be part of a manual pump  64  connected to the bottle  20 , regardless of whether the cap  32  is removable or non-removable. The manual pump  64  can take any conventional form, such as by telescoping internal and external parts in which a user reciprocates the internal part to force air into the bottle  20  via one or more one-way air valves in the manual pump  64 . In this manner, a user can increase pressure within the bottle  20 , thereby pressurizing fluid for delivery from the outlet ports  52  and/or  54  of the bottle  20 . Any other type of manual pump  64  can be used, and falls within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In some embodiments, the manual pump  64  can be removed from the port  62  to enable a user to empty, fill, and/or clean the bottle  20 . 
     The bottle  20  can have any number of internal chambers for holding the same or different types and/or amounts of fluid. For example, in some embodiments, the bottle  20  has a single internal chamber from which fluid is drawn out of either or both outlet ports  52 ,  54 . However, in other embodiments, the bottle  20  can be shaped and/or can have one or more internal walls to define two or more internal chambers of the same or different sizes. For example, the bottle  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c  has two internal chambers  22   a ,  22   b  having substantially the same size and separated from one another by an internal wall  69 . The internal wall  69  can be integral with the bottle  20  or can be a separate element connected inside the bottle  20 . Also, the internal wall  69  can have any shape desired, defined at least in part by the shape of the bottle  20 . 
     As mentioned above, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c  utilizes a dual fluid delivery device  11  having two outlet ports  52 ,  54  through which fluid in the bottle  20  can be dispensed. Each of the internal chambers  22   a ,  22   b  has an outlet port  52 ,  54  for this purpose, although either or both internal chambers  22   a ,  22   b  can have two or more outlet ports  52 ,  54  for dispense of fluid therethrough in other embodiments. Any type of fluid dispensing device can be connected to each of the outlet ports  52 ,  54 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c , the outlet port  52  for one of the internal chambers  22   a  is fitted with a conduit  31  extending to a hand-held spray head  30 , whereas the outlet port  54  for the other internal chamber  22   b  is fitted with a conduit  40  extending to the cleaning head  12  (see  FIGS. 1 and 5 ). The conduits  31 ,  40  can take any suitable form, such as hose, tubing, pipe, and the like, and can extend to their respective outlet ports  52 ,  54  or further within the bottle  20 , in which case the conduit  31  and/or  40  can define part or all of an internal conduit  60  as described above. Also, either or both conduits  31 ,  40  can be flexible or substantially rigid, and can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, rubber, nylon, metal, and the like. For example, both conduits  31 ,  40  in the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c  are made of flexible plastic. 
     Although the bottle  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c  has two outlet ports  52 , 54  for delivery of fluid to a hand-held spray head  30  and a cleaning head  12  as described above, the two outlet ports  52 ,  54  can each be connected to any other fluid dispensing device of the same or different type. For example, the connections of the fluid dispensing devices  12 ,  30  to the outlet ports  52 ,  54  can be reversed, a hand-held spray head  30  can be connected to each outlet port  52 ,  54 , or each outlet port  52 ,  54  can be connected and deliver fluid to the cleaning head  12 . In short, each outlet port  52 ,  54  can be connected for fluid delivery to any type of fluid dispensing device desired, can deliver such fluid to the same fluid dispensing device or different fluid dispensing devices, and can deliver fluid to the same type of fluid dispensing device or different types of fluid dispensing devices. In some embodiments, the conduits  31 ,  40  can be disconnected and re-connected by a user to establish fluid communication with any one or more fluid dispensing devices of the cleaning tool  10 , thereby enabling a user to modify the cleaning tool  10  as desired to suit his or her particular needs or the needs of a particular cleaning project. 
     As mentioned above, one of the internal chambers  22   b  of the bottle  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2   c  can be pressurized by a manual pump  64 . In other embodiments, the internal chamber  22   b  is not provided with such a pump  64 , in which cases fluid can be dispensed from the internal chamber  22   b  to the cleaning head  12  by gravity. Also, in other embodiments, the other internal chamber  22   a  can also or instead be provided with a manual pump (not shown) having any of the forms described above, thereby enabling a user to pressurize the internal chamber  22   a . In such embodiments, the hand-held spray head  30  need not necessarily be of a type that draws fluid by internal pumping action of the spread head  30  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2   a ), but can instead have a manually-operated valve that can be opened and closed by a user to dispense fluid from the pressurized internal chamber  22   a . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2   c , the hand-held spray head  30  can be hung from the shaft  14  by a hook  18  fixed to the shaft  14 , or in any other suitable manner when not in use. 
     The bottle  20  can be provided with a single internal chamber in which is retained a single fluid (and in which a common internal pressure can be generated by a manual pump  64 , if employed), or can have multiple internal chambers  22   a ,  22   b , in which are retained multiple fluids of the same or different type (and in which the same or different pressures can be generated by one or more manual pumps, if employed). In any such embodiment, any of the internal chambers  22   a ,  22   b  can be provided with any number of outlet ports  52 ,  54  for delivering fluid to the same or different dispensing devices  12 ,  30  and/or to the same or different types of dispensing devices  12 ,  30 . 
     A user can operate the cleaning tool  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c  by grasping and manipulating the shaft  14 . The user can prepare the fluid delivery device  11  for fluid dispense by pumping the manual pump  64  until a desired pressure is reached within the internal chamber  22   b . Thereafter, when the user desires to dispense cleaning fluid upon a surface adjacent the cleaning head  12 , the user can operate a trigger (e.g., a button, lever, or other user-manipulatable device, not shown) connected to the conduit  40  leading from the bottle  20  to the cleaning head  12  in order to open the conduit  40 . By opening the conduit  40 , pressurized fluid is dispensed from the cleaning head  12  until the trigger is released or until pressure within the internal chamber  22   b  is sufficiently reduced. In those embodiments in which the internal chamber  22   b  is not provided with a manual pump  64  (or in some cases where the manual pump  64  has not been pumped), the trigger can be operated to open the conduit  40  for fluid dispense by gravity. 
     With continued reference to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c , the user can also grasp and squeeze the hand-held spray head  30  to dispense fluid from the other internal chamber  22   a  as desired, such as to spray cleaning fluid upon a countertop while holding the shaft  14 , or to spray cleaning fluid while the fluid delivery device  11  is being carried independently (e.g., disconnected from) the shaft and cleaning head  12 . To disconnect the fluid delivery device  11  from the rest of the cleaning tool  10 , the user can disconnect the conduit  40  from the bottle  20  (in which case the conduit  40  and/or bottle  20  can be provided with a quick disconnect or other valve to prevent spillage), and can then pull the bottle  20  from the shaft  14 . In those embodiments in which the internal chamber  22   a  for the hand-held spray head  30  is provided with a manual pump  64 , the user can operate the manual pump  64  to develop pressure within the internal chamber  22   a  for pressurized fluid dispense from the hand-held spray head  30 . It should be noted that the bottle  20  can be provided with a common manual pump  64  that can be used to pressurize two or more internal chambers  22   a ,  22   b  separated by one or more internal walls  69  described above. 
     A fluid delivery device according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a - c , and shares many of the same features and elements described above with regard to the fluid delivery device  11  of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c . Accordingly, the following description focuses primarily upon those elements and features that are different from the embodiments described above. Reference should be made to the above description for additional information regarding the elements, features, and possible alternatives to the elements and features of the fluid delivery device illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a - c  and described below. Elements and features of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3   a - c  that correspond to elements and features of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c  are designated hereinafter in the  100  series of reference numbers. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 3   a - c , the bottle  120  has a single fluid reservoir  122  and a removable cap  162  enabling a user to fill, empty, and/or clean the bottle  120 . In other embodiments, the cap  162  can be part of a manual pump, or can be part of a filling for connection of a conduit extending to a hand-held spray head or other fluid dispensing device. 
     The bottle  120  illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a - c  is also provided with a receptacle  190  for receiving a fluid pump  192 . The fluid pump  192  can be operated to pressurize the internal chamber  122  of the bottle  120 , and can be powered by a re-chargeable or non-rechargeable battery (not shown, but part of the cross-hatched area of  FIG. 3   a ). In the case of a re-chargeable battery, suitable electrical terminals  194  can be provided to enable a user to connect the battery to a power source for charging between uses of the cleaning tool. 
     The fluid pump  192  and battery can be in a single modular unit permanently or removably received within the receptacle  190 . Alternatively, the fluid pump  192  can be housed separately from the battery, and can be connected thereto by any suitable electrical wiring, terminals, or other power connectors. In either case, the battery can be protected from exposure to fluid within the bottle  120  by being at least partially enclosed within a fluid-tight-receptacle  190 . In other embodiments, the fluid pump  192  and/or battery can be located outside of the bottle  120 , such as by being mounted on the outside of the bottle  120  and/or to the shaft  114 , by being received within another receptacle of the bottle  120 , and the like. 
     Fluid delivery devices according to other embodiments of the present invention can be provided with any number of powered fluid pumps  192 , such as a single fluid pump for pressurizing one or more internal chambers  122 , or two or more fluid pumps for pressurizing different respective internal chambers  122 . 
     A fluid delivery device according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a - c , and shares many of the same features and elements described above with regard to the fluid delivery device  11  of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c . Accordingly, the following description focuses primarily upon those elements and features that are different from the embodiments described above. Reference should be made to the above description for additional information regarding the elements, features, and possible alternatives to the elements and features of the fluid delivery device illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a - c  and described below. Elements and features of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4   a - c  that correspond to elements and features of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - c  are designated hereinafter in the  200  series of reference numbers. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 4   a - c , the bottle  220  has a single fluid reservoir  222  and includes a manual pump  264  with a removable cap  262  enabling a user to fill, empty, and/or clean the bottle  220 . The illustrated bottle  220  also has a single outlet port  254  for dispense of fluid through a conduit  240 . The fluid delivery device  211  illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a - c  provides another example of a bottle and outlet configuration that can be produced utilizing various features and elements described above in connection with  FIGS. 1-3   c.    
     The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.