Abstract:
A liquid dispensing unit for a steam cleaner with a hand grip for dispensing steam is provided. The liquid dispenser injects a liquid, such as soap, into the steam to be applied to the dirt or stain to be removed. The dispenser includes a housing with at least one liquid cleaning agent tank adapted to fit onto the nozzle connection of the cleaner hand grip. The liquid dispensing unit includes a manually controlled pump for controlling the amount of liquid cleaning agent injected into the steam. The dispenser housing includes a nozzle end for receiving the same cleaning attachments that fit onto the hand grip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to a liquid dispensing device, and more particularly to a device for dispensing a controlled amount of liquid cleaner into a steam outlet of a steam cleaner.  
         [0002]     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.  
         [0003]     Typical steam devices have a reservoir for storing water with a heating element to heat the water. The heated water generates steam, which may be directed towards its intended destination through a nozzle which controls the application of the steam. Variation of the shape and size of the nozzle allows for preferred distribution of generated steam to an object to be cleaned. The nozzles may be disconnectable from the steam generator to allow different nozzles to be utilized, based on the object to be steamed. The nozzle may be either closely coupled to the steam generator, or located at a distance from the steam generator, requiring tubing or other steam transfer structures to be interconnected between the steam generator and the discharge nozzle. Typically, it is beneficial to provide suitable connectors between the steam generator and the nozzle to allow either the nozzle to be connected to the steam generator, or to allow the interpositioning of transfer tubes or hoses between the steam generator and the nozzle.  
         [0004]     The use of steam alone sometimes is not sufficient to clean an object or surface where the dirt and/or stain to be removed is particularly resistant to cleaning i.e. blood, wine, grass, tea, coffee and the like. In these cases, a cleaning agent in addition to steam may help facilitate in the removal of the dirt and/or stain. Further, an unregulated amount of cleaning agent and steam decreases the efficiency of the removal of the dirt and/or stain. This is because some dirt and/or stains need to be pretreated with the cleaning agent before applying the steam for the dirt and/or stain removal or vice versa. In addition, other dirt and/or stains may need just steam to remove or dislodge the dirt and/or stain. The unregulated release of steam generated by a steam generator reduces the efficiency with which the device may be operated. Such inefficiency arises from the generation of excess steam when the steam is not being applied to an object to be steamed. These inefficiencies increase the operating cost of the device, and decreases the utility of the device.  
         [0005]     The use of a cleaning agent and mixing it with steam to bring the mixture into contact with the dirt and/or stain to be removed is known in the art. However, such devices do not allow the user the option of applying the steam first to the object to be cleaned and then immediately applying a controlled amount of cleaning agent to the object to be cleaned. Further, the ratio of cleaning agent to steam needed for the removal of dirt and/or stain is not tailored by the user.  
         [0006]     A combined steam and vacuum cleaner is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,459. Here, a steam hose and a detergent hose deposit steam and detergent on a surface to be cleaned adjacent to a vacuum hose. In this device, a water reservoir and a detergent reservoir are provided in a canister. Another variation of a combined steam and vacuum cleaner is shown in United States published application No. 2002/0112744. Here, a liquid cleaning agent is injected into a steam compartment that is then applied to the surface to be cleaned through a steam spray head. The steam and soap are then removed by a suction nozzle adjacent to the steam spray head. A steam cleaning apparatus providing for injection of a cleaning agent into a fluid conduit carrying a hot stream of water, steam and combustion gases to form a cleaning jet is shown in GB 1,449,483.  
         [0007]     Notwithstanding the wide variety of steam generating appliances available, there exists the need to provide a self-contained liquid cleaning fluid dispenser device for use with a steam cleaner, particularly for a light-weight portable device suitable for household use. It is desirable to provide this device with the ability for a user to control the amount of steam so that a small amount of cleaning agent is injected into the steam without lowering the quality of the steam making the device suitable for cleaning household items.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a liquid dispensing unit suitable for injecting a controlled amount of liquid, such as a liquid soap agent into the outlet of a steam cleaning device as steam is applied to an object to be cleaned is provided. The steam generating device includes a water reservoir with a heating element for generating steam that is controlled by a hand grip that regulates the amount of steam fed to a nozzle, rigid pipe or an appliance piece mounted on the pipe or nozzle. The liquid dispensing unit includes a liquid reservoir mounted on the hand grip with a user operated pump for controlling the amount of liquid dispensed into the steam pipe upstream of the steam outlet. In one embodiment, the liquid dispensing unit includes a mechanical pump having a chamber with a trigger connected to a piston that is biased away from the bottom of the chamber by a spring. When the user depresses the trigger, the piston is pushed against the spring injecting liquid into the steam pipe. When the piston is released and moves back to its original position, additional fluid is drawn from the storage tank into the chamber.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved liquid dispensing unit.  
         [0010]     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved liquid dispensing unit for a steam cleaner for controlling the amount of liquid injected into the steam outlet.  
         [0011]     A further object of the invention is to provide an improved liquid dispensing unit for a steam cleaner where a user controls the amount of steam and liquid cleaning agent dispensed in the steam outlet or nozzle.  
         [0012]     Yet another object of the invention is a liquid cleaning dispensing unit that can be selectively added to a hand-held steam cleaning hand grip.  
         [0013]     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a liquid cleaning dispensing unit that allows addition of steam cleaning appliances.  
         [0014]     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.  
         [0015]     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  
       [0016]     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing(s), in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a steam cleaning device suitable for use with a liquid dispensing unit in accordance with the invention;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are perspective views of the hand grip of the steam cleaner of  FIG. 1  showing the locking button and how an appliance is attached;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the hand grip of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a liquid dispensing unit constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the liquid dispensing unit of  FIG. 4  and how it attaches to the hand grip of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the liquid dispensing unit of  FIG. 4  attached to the steam cleaner hand grip;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the hand grip and dispensing unit with an appliance attached to the liquid dispensing unit; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional elevational view of a liquid dispensing unit constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention to be mounted on a steam cleaner hand grip of the type shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a steam cleaning device  11  including a main body  12  and a steam release hand grip  13  coupled to main body  12  by a flexible hose  14  and a steam outlet  15 . A liquid dispensing attachment  51  is mounted on the distal nozzle end of hand grip  13  (see  FIG. 6 ). Liquid dispensing device  51  includes a steam inlet  19  at the proximal end, a liquid reservoir  57  mounted on the bottom, and a steam outlet  51   b  for dispensing steam mixed with liquid stored in reservoir  57 . Outlet  51   b  is the same configuration as outlet  15  to hand grip  13  that will be described in more detail in connection with hand grip  13  shown in detail in  FIG. 2 . This allows for installation of the same attachments, such as brushes and nozzle, to dispensing device  51  as outlet  51   b  of hand grip  13 .  
         [0026]     Main body  12  of steam cleaning device  11  includes a water inlet  22  and an internal water reservoir  17  with heating elements connected to a power source by a power cord  21 . Steam generated in reservoir  17  exits by steam outlet  23  with flexible hose  14  coupled thereto. Main body  12  is outfitted with a handle  24  and a strap  26  for conveniently lifting and carrying main body  12 . Main body  12  also includes an on/off switch  27  and an indicator light  28  to indicate when steam temperature is appropriate for use.  
         [0027]     Once water has been heated sufficiently to generate steam within main body  12 , a user may selectively release steam by operation of hand grip  13 . Hand grip  13  is illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 2   a  and in cross-section in  FIG. 3 . Hand grip  13  has an internal cavity  34 , and is elongated and curved for conveniently fitting within the hand of a user. Hand grip  13  includes a proximal inlet end  32  having a fitting for securing flexible hose  14  and a distal outlet end  31  for securing a nozzle or additional attachments, such as brushes or nozzles. In accordance with the invention, liquid cleaner dispenser  51  is mounted in the same manner as will be described in more detail below.  
         [0028]     Hand grip  13  is fitted with a trigger  36  for selectively releasing and controlling the amount of steam fed to outlet end  31 . In connection with the type of steam cleaner  11  set forth for purposes of illustration, steam generated by main body  12  passes through a steam conduit  37  coupled to a valve  38  within cavity  34  operated by squeezing trigger  36 . When trigger  36  is squeezed, steam in conduit  37  passes through valve  38  and is released through a valve outlet  41  and a steam outlet conduit  42  that extends to outlet end  31 .  
         [0029]     A spring tab  43  is located at the distal end of hand grip  13  for allowing attachments to be placed at outlet end  31  and secured to hand grip  13 . Tab  43  is positioned within an opening  44  in the upper portion of hand grip  13  and biased upwardly to extend above the upper surface of hand grip  13 . Tab  43  is configured to fit within a corresponding opening within an attachment. This is illustrated and described in more detail in connection with an attachment such as a hose  20  having a button hole  20   a  shown in  FIG. 2   b  for receiving tab  43 .  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a liquid dispensing unit  51  constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention is shown. Dispensing unit  51  is elongated, formed of substantially rigid plastic material having a proximal inlet end  511   a  and a distal outlet end  51   b , and has a button hole  53  to engage locking tab  43  on distal end of hand grip  13 . Unit  51  is formed with a proximal inlet end  51   a  for receiving distal end  31  of hand grip  13  with tab  43  fitting into a hole  53  formed at the top of unit  51  to engage unit  51  on hand grip  13  so the units will function as one. Unit  51  is formed with a distal outlet end and nozzle connection  51   b  that is identical with distal nozzle end  15  of hand grip  13 . This allows addition of additional cleaning attachments, such as brushes and hoses or rigid pipes to distal outlet end  51   b  of unit  51 . In this case, when liquid soap is dispensed into steam exiting outlet end  51   b , it will then pass through the additional cleaning attachments mounted thereon.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows how liquid dispensing unit  51  is attached to locking button  43  of hand grip  13 . Once attached as shown in  FIG. 6 , locking button  56  on unit  51  is available for attaching a steam cleaning attachment of the same type that may be attached directly to hand grip  13 . Suitable attachments include steam concentrators, bristle brushes, wallpaper scrapers, squeegees and the like. This makes the steam cleaner suitable for a wide variety of chores requiring the additional cleaning benefits of soap in combination with steam.  
         [0032]     Locking projecting tab  56  is provided at distal end  51   b  of unit  51  for providing the locking engagement mechanism with these attachments.  FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of the present invention where a bristle brush attachment  75  is mounted on liquid dispensing unit  51 , which is mounted on stream hand grip  13 . Brush attachment  75  has an opening  79  configured to engage locking tab  56  on the distal end  51   b  of the liquid dispensing unit  51 .  
         [0033]     In accordance with the invention, unit  51  includes a liquid reservoir tank  57 , in this case positioned at the bottom of unit  51 , with a removable cap  58  for adding liquid cleaning fluid to reservoir  57 . Unit  51  has a user operable release pump button  59  for injecting liquid stored in reservoir  57  into steam passing through a conduit  61  in liquid dispensing unit  51 . Operation of pump button  59  will be described in detail in connection with  FIG. 8 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  shows in schematic a cross-sectional view of liquid dispensing unit  51  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Steam allowed to exit hand grip  13  passes through elongated passageway  61  to nozzle end  54 . Pump button  59  of liquid dispensing unit  51  is operatively coupled to a pump  62  having a cavity  63  and a piston  64  connected to button  59  by a shaft  66 . A spring  67  is positioned within cavity  63  biasing piston  64  upwardly. A one-way inlet valve  68  is located at the lower end of cavity  63  with an inlet conduit  69  extending from reservoir  57 . An one-way outlet valve  71  is located in the sidewall of cavity  63 . An outlet conduit  72  connects one-way outlet valve  71  to steam conduit  61 . This control is mechanical; however, it is within the scope of the invention to utilize electrical controls.  
         [0035]     During operation, after button  59  is depressed and released, spring  67  biases piston  64  upwardly to fill cavity  63  with liquid from reservoir  57 . When it is desired to inject cleaning fluid into conduit  61  to mix with the steam, button  59  is depressed forcing liquid cleaning fluid out outlet one-way valve  71  through conduit  72  into steam conduit  61 . Here, liquid cleaning fluid from cavity  63  is injected into steam passing to outlet  51   b  directly onto the surface to be cleaned or through an optional attachment coupled thereto.  
         [0036]     The diameter of the proximal end of conduit  61  of the liquid dispensing unit  51  is larger than the passageway  42  of the steam hand grip attachment  13  so that a tight connection can be formed between the conduit  61  of the liquid dispensing unit  51  and the passageway  42  of the steam hand grip attachment  13 . A secure locking engagement of tab  56  with a spring allows a variety of cleaning nozzles to be engaged to the liquid dispensing unit  51  when assembled for use.  
         [0037]     The liquid in reservoir  57  to be injected into the steam may be any suitable liquid cleaning agent such as soap or solvent, preferably, the liquid soap is fully miscible with water and bio-degradable. The solvents include cleaning solutions and degreasers.  
         [0038]     Liquid dispensing unit provides many advantages over known steam cleaning devices. Here, a controlled and small amount of soap is selectively added to the steam outlet. This allows the surface to be steamed initially, soaped and steam added for increased cleaning, and then the soap rinsed from the cleaned surface by steam alone. The internal mechanism of the hand grip does not encounter the soap that is slowly injected into the steam being fed to the nozzle, pipe or appliance attached to the hand grip. Thus, there is no potential to clog or foul the steam release trigger mechanism. By injecting small amounts of liquid soap, the temperature and quality of the steam are not lowered.  
         [0039]     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.  
         [0040]     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.  
         [0041]     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.