Abstract:
A steam mop having a main body including a water pump and a boiler. Generation of steam is provided when the water pump is actuated by angular movement of the mop handle which changes the angle between the handle and mop head for operating a two way piston pump to pump water to the boiler. Steam is fed to a steam pad that may have a replaceable fabric pad fit snugly on the frame to distribute cleaning steam to the surface to be cleaned.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/496,143, filed Jul. 31, 2006, and Ser. No. 11/769,521 filed Jun. 27, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to a steam mop, and more particularly to a steam mop including a water pump that is actuated by the angular movement of the mop handle to pump water from a reservoir to a boiler for generating steam to be distributed to a steam nozzle.  
         [0003]     Conventional mops have been widely used for cleaning floors. However, conventional mops have not been effective at cleaning dirt in small crevices and floor gaps. In addition, conventional mops require frequent rising since mops can only effectively clean a small surface area at a time.  
         [0004]     Steaming devices used to apply steam to household objects are well known. The uses of the devices vary widely, and may include the application of steam to drapes or other fabrics to ease wrinkles, and the application of steam to objects to assist in cleaning the objects.  
         [0005]     In general, the nozzles used with the steam cleaners do not have large surface areas and a cloth to absorb the liquid condensate of the steam. Here, the fabric pad is secured to the nozzle by Velcro strips to a plurality of cleats on the bottom of the nozzle. In another embodiment, a flat fabric piece is folded around a flat brush or nozzle in order to increase the cleaning surface area. The folded fabric on top of the brush or nozzle is secured by a clip on top of the piece. Often steam injected behind the cloth passes through the cloth at the points the bristles contact on the cloth. This tends to wet the cloth and reduce the cleaning effectiveness of the steam. In addition, the cloth covers must be carefully attached not to cover the front or back of the brush attachment.  
         [0006]     Recently steam mops wherein water is pumped from a reservoir to a boiling by the push-pull movement of the mop handle have been developed. This actuates a bellows pump or piston pump connected directly to the handle. These features are shown and described in parent application Ser. No. 11/496,143 and No. 11/769,525, the contents of which are incorporated here by reference in their entirety.  
         [0007]     It remains desirable to provide improved ways to pump water from the reservoir to the steam boiler.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a steam mop having a water pump for selectively injecting water from a reservoir to a boiler in response to a change in the angle of the mop handle is provided. The mop includes a housing with an electric boiler and a water pump wherein movement of the mop handle changes the angle of an actuator operatively connected to the pump to pump water to the boiler for distribution of steam to a steam pad frame attachment for cleaning. A fabric steam pad is mounted on the steam pad frame to provide an improved cleaning surface.  
         [0009]     Water is pumped to the boiler only when the angle between the actuator and mop head changes for generating steam to be fed to the mop head. This gives the user greater control over when water is pumped than in earlier proposals.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a steam mop and having an improved pump actuator.  
         [0011]     Another object of the invention is to provide a steam mop and actuator allowing a user to control when water is pumped to the boiler.  
         [0012]     A further object of the invention is to provide a steam mop with a mechanical pump that is actuated by changing the angle between the mop handle and mop head.  
         [0013]     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.  
         [0014]     The invention accordingly comprises a product possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the product hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing(s), in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view in perspective of steam mop in section having a handle connected to a steam head having a pump actuator constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a plan view in section of the steam mop of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic showing the actuator of  FIG. 1  in a first position of an increased angle with the piston depressed into the pump cylinder;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic showing the actuator of  FIG. 1  in a second position of a lesser angle with the piston extending away from the pump cylinder; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a two way pump suitable for use in the steam mop in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the operative pumping elements of a steam mop  10  constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention. Mop  10  includes a housing or mop head  11  having a steam pad  12  connected thereto. A mop handle  13  is connected to mop head  11  by a paid of arms  13   a  that pivot about mop head  11 . Mop head  11  includes a water pump  14  with a pump inlet  16  connected to a tank (not shown) and a pump outlet  17  connected to a water pipe  33  for supplying water to a boiler  18 . Any type of mechanical pump or some other means of feeding water to the boiler may be used with steam mop  10 . Preferably, pump  14  is a mechanical pump, such as a bellows pump or a piston pump, that is actuated by movement of mop handle  11 . Water pipe  33  is connected to boiler  18  for generating steam to be distributed to steam pad  12 .  
         [0022]     In this embodiment pump  14  is a two-way piston pump having an actuator  19  connected to handle  13  at arm  13   a  for pivoting. Pump  14  includes a piston  24  with an extending piston rod  26  in a caming relationship with a cam surface  19   a  of actuator  19 . Operation of pump  14  is as shown in  FIG. 5  and will be described below.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows steam mop  10  in plan view.  FIG. 3  shows handle  13  connected to pump actuator  13  at an increased angle with piston rod depressed into pump  14 .  FIG. 4  shows piston rod  26  extended as the angle between handle  13  and head  12  is decreased. Piston rod  26  is biased towards actuator  19 .  
         [0024]     Steam mop  10  provides many advantages for ease of use because it eliminates the need for an electric water pump and an on/off switch to activate the electric water pump. Here, the user has control over the amount of water fed to the boiler and consequently, how much steam is needed by pivoting the mop handle. In addition, steam mop  10  is designed as a low pressure or non-pressurized system so it is safer for the user to use. Further, since the amount of water routed to the boiler is controlled, the boiler can create steam in a short amount of time.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , pump  14  will pump water when piston  24  is displaced both in the forward motion and also in the return backwards motion. Pump  14  includes a pump cylinder  21  having an upper chamber  22  and a lower chamber  23  divided by piston  24  that is connected to piston rod  26  which moves up and down in response to movement of an actuator  19  coupled to handle  13 . Piston rod  26  is normally biased downwardly towards actuator  19  so as to engage and ride on cam surface  19   a.    
         [0026]     A first inlet unidirectional duck bill valve  28  and a first outlet unidirectional duck bill valve  29  are connected to upper chamber  22 . A second inlet unidirectional duck bill valve  31  and a second outlet unidirectional duck bill valve  32  are connected to lower chamber  23 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , both inlet duck bill valves  28  and  31  are connected in parallel to a water inlet pipe  27  having a water inlet fitting  34  for securing a hose from the water tank. Water outlet duck bill valves  29  and  32  are connected in parallel to a water outlet pipe  36  that is secured to a water outlet hose  37  connected to boiler  18  at an inlet  38 .  
         [0027]     In order to create the pumping action to force water out of valves  29  and  32 , volume changes in chambers  22  and  23  must be created. Volume changes in pump cylinder  21  is caused by the movement of piston  24  it is displaced in response to the angular displacement of handle  13  and actuator  19 .  
         [0028]     In accordance with the invention, piston  24  is displaced in response to a change in angle of handle  13  and mop head  11 . Actuator  19  connected to handle  13  has an inclined surface  19   a  in caming relationship with piston rod  26  that is biased toward it. As the angle between handle  13  and housing  11  increases, actuator caming surface  19   a  moves away from pump  14  and piston rod  26  is displaced downwardly. Conversely, as the angle decreases, piston rod  26  is displaced upwardly.  
         [0029]     As piston  24  is moving downward with piston rod  26 , the volume of lower chamber  23  decreases which causes the water which is inside to exit chamber  23  through duck bill valve  32 . Water flow direction is determined by the direction of a duck bill valve. Water can flow only in one direction through a duck bill valve. At the same time water flows through outlet valve  32 , the volume of chamber  22  increases. This increase of the volume causes water to flow from the reservoir into chamber  22  through inlet duck bill valve  28  as shown by arrow A. Water flows to boiler  18  through water hose  37  as shown by arrow B.  
         [0030]     A steam hose  39  is connected to boiler  18  of any suitable design, which can be used to distribute steam in the desired pattern. Water inlet can be connected with any suitable connection (rubber hose, direct connection to a water tank, etc) to the water supply to enable pump  14  to pump and deliver the water to boiler  18 .  
         [0031]     Steam mop  10 , provides many advantages for ease of use because it eliminates the need for an electric water pump and an on/off switch to activate the electric water pump. Here, a change of the angle between handle  13  and mop head  11  allows the user has more control over the amount of water to be discharged into the boiler. In addition, steam mop is designed as a low pressure or non-pressurized system so it is safe for use. Further, since the amount of water routed to the boiler is controlled, the boiler can create steam in a short amount of time.  
         [0032]     A fabric steam pad frame is typically placed over steam pad  12  for effective steam cleaning.  
         [0033]     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.  
         [0034]     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.  
         [0035]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. A steam mop having a pump that pumps water from a water container to a steam generator in response to movement of the mop handle with the steam fed to a fabric pocket cover in accordance with the invention provides a vast improvement over electrical pumps. The pump may include a two-way valve that pumps water in response to both the push and pull of the mop.