Abstract:
Apparatus for and method of cleaning or extracting liquid from carpet coupled to a truck mounted or portable carpet cleaning machine. The apparatus includes an elongated non-fixed handle that is attached to a vacuum head with two inlet ports parallel to one another. A solution manifold is attached parallel between the two ports. A plurality of spray jets derive from the spray manifold. A wheel assembly is mounted for stability of the vacuum head and are adjustable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/966,913, filed 2007 Aug. 30 by the present inventor. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This application relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning and removing liquids from carpets or similar fabrics. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Typically, professional carpet cleaners utilize truck mounted commercial carpet cleaning machines or portable carpet cleaning machines. These machines use long hoses and fluid lines to provide vacuum and water or a cleaning solution to a wand. 
     Wands typically consist of a long tubular pipe with one vacuum head having a vacuum port and a spray manifold or nozzle attached thereto. 
     The problem with a traditional wand lies in the design. Wands generally consist of one vacuum port which can only clean on a backwards motion. Consequently, the wand is moving in both directions, but only cleaning on the backwards movement. This causes a lot of wasted energy and fatigue. 
     The cleaning of large areas of carpeting is a time consuming and strenuous task. The extensive effort which is needed in order to push and pull the wand across the carpet can quickly fatigue a person using a traditional wand. In a commercial carpet cleaning operation, where large areas of carpeting are cleaned daily, fatigue will significantly place a limit on production rate. 
     Commercial carpet cleaning machines typically generate tremendous vacuum pressure which is then applied to the carpet through the wand. The vacuum pressure often causes the traditional wand to dig into the carpet, raising the inches of lift. Therefore, deadening the air-flow causing static lift. This causes the forward movement of the wand to be very strenuous. 
     Typically, a wand is constructed of a solid pipe with a fixed handle during operation. This causes the operator to tilt his or her body to one side, while slightly lifting the wand with their lead hand. All of the force and weight while moving the traditional wand vertically is applied to your shoulder and lower back. This causes unnatural twisting and turning of the human body, resulting in excessive strain on the lower back and shoulder. 
     Even with the problems associated with traditional cleaning wands, the truck mounted cleaning machines are still considered the most effective means for extracting water and cleaning carpet. Consequently, there is a need to improve the design and use of the traditional cleaning wand. 
     Several advantages of one or more aspects is to provide a cleaning apparatus with one vacuum head with two inlet ports that moves with ease and cleans and extracts both forward and backward. Another advantage of one or more aspects is to provide a cleaning apparatus which alleviates some of the strains and stress inflicted on the human body while cleaning carpet. Furthermore, other advantages of one or more aspects is to provide a head design which allows for increased airflow and improved drying time. These and other advantages will be described in greater detail hereinafter. One or more features solve the above-mentioned and utilizes a number of unique features that render it highly beneficial over prior art. 
     There are a number of patents disclosing various apparatuses which will accomplish, in general terms, some of the above-noted functions. The following patents are presented to aid in understanding and to some extent related to the current invention: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,541 to Williams, et al. (1978) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,600 to Albishausen (1979) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,203 to Yonkers (1982) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,518 to Kasper (1984) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,921 to Gleadall (1991) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,547 to Mayhew (1992) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,805 to Pinter (1992) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,439 to Allison (1993) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,652 to Holland (1996) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,598 to Grave, et al. (1996) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,289 to Collins (1998) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,198 to Pearlstein (1999) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,699 to Cho (2000) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,151 to Bolden, et al. (2000) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,539 to Baig (2001) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,506 to Sumner (2002) 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention addresses the limitations of the aforementioned prior art by providing a method for cleaning and/or extracting liquids from carpets or like fabrics. 
     This cleaning apparatus, unlike prior art, has one vacuum head with two inlet ports parallel to one another. As will be described in further detail, these inlet ports are positioned so that both ports penetrate the carpet fibers at an even depth at all times during operation. This unique feature allows for balanced airflow in the vacuum head due to the operator having no control of lifting the front or back ports off the ground due to the handle having a non-fixed position during operation. 
     The open air space in the top portion of the vacuum head creates a dynamic lift and an inverse relationship between lift and airflow. This coupled with the glides greatly increases airflow for smoother operation and faster dry times. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the vacuum head embodiment with the glides and glide retainers removed. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the vacuum head embodiment and assemblies. 
         FIG. 5  is a back view of handle brackets and wheel assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the complete vacuum head embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  6 . One embodiment of the apparatus  11  is preferably coupled to a truck mounted cleaning machine with 2 inch vacuum hose or a similar flexible conduit and ¼ inch or similar high pressure/high temperature solution line. The vacuum hose is coupled to a vacuum passageway  66  closest to valve  60 . The high pressure/high temperature solution line is coupled to valve  60  using ¼ inch male and female quick connect couplers or similar hardware. 
     Valve  60  is designed to allow the cleaning solution to flow from solution inlet  47  to solution line  45  when solution lever  64  is depressed pulled toward handle bar  62 . Solution lever  64  is coupled to valve  60  with a shoulder bolt and a roll pin to keep the lever in the correct position for operation. 
     Valve  60 , unlike prior art, is formed from four inch bar stock using a machining process known as billet. Valve  60  is machined from a single piece of aluminum, but may also be fabricated by welding or otherwise securing just described components together. 
     When solution lever  64  is depressed, cleaning solution passes from solution inlet  47  through valve  60  out to solution line  45 . Solution line  45  is coupled to solution tee  37  and solution line  45  is attached to handle arm  40  using solution line clip  44 . Cleaning solution is then directed from solution tee  37 , bi-directionally, to stainless steel, or like material, solution line  49 . Solution line  49  is coupled to a ninety degree line fitting  36 . Ninety degree line fitting  36  is coupled to solution manifold  32 . Solution jets  69  are attached to solution manifold  32 . 
     Solution manifold  32  is designed to allow for adjustment. In initial configuration, solution manifold  32  should be set so that solution jets  69  are directing cleaning solution spray about ¼ inch behind front vacuum port  13 . Attached to solution manifold  32  are six check valves  68 . Each check valve is terminated by a solution jet  69 . Solution manifold  32  is attached to vacuum head  12  with 2 manifold brackets  34 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 6 . Vacuum head  12  is formed from a single block of aluminum using a machining process known as billet. Unlike prior art, vacuum head  12  is designed this way to accommodate the rounded design of our glides  24 . Glides  24  are inserted into vacuum ports  13  and  14  along male glide channels  23  formed to project into opposite sides of each of the ports  13 ,  14  and female glide channels  22  formed into each glide on opposite sides thereof so as to slidingly receive the male glide channels  23 . Using this method allows us to have a reversible glide that is round in design, such that opposite (upper or lower) sides of the glides may be selectively positioned to project from the lower face of the vacuum head, without having void areas in the chambers above glide channels  22  and  23 . This feature doubles the life of the glides  24 . The support bridges  28  are recessed far enough into glides  24  to allow for glides to wear down/out and not reach bridges  28  to break up the vacuum into separate chambers. This feature eliminates bridge lines in the carpet being cleaned. These glides are held in place, preventing lateral movement, using four glide retainers  26 , which also serve as a bumper to prevent scratching of walls, baseboards, and other objects. Glides  24  are designed to allow for maximum air flow, stability of vacuum head  12 , and to reduce friction on the cleaning surface. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  5 , and  6 . To maintain the stability of vacuum head  12 , convex wheels  38  can be adjusted. Unlike prior art, wheels  38  are designed such that the entire apparatus can be moved laterally across the cleaning surface. Wheels  38  are connected to inside/outside brackets  70  and  72  using an axle bolt  74  inserted through bushing  76  which is inserted through wheel  38 . Brackets  70  and  72  are connected to wheel bracket mounts  80  using retainers such as screws, bolts, or other such hardware. 
     To achieve the adjustment that is necessary for vacuum head stability, brackets  70  and  72  are designed in such a way that they can be adjusted using wheel bracket adjustment slots  82 . These are oblong slots cut into brackets  70  and  72 . The purpose of this adjustment is to ensure that the glides and wheels remain level at all times during operation. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 . Handle arm bracket  48  is connected to axles  74  through oil lite bushings  78 . Unlike prior art, combined with a stable (dual port) vacuum head with adjustable wheels, this allows handle arm  40  to pivot in a non-fixed position during operation. The non-fixed handle arm allows the operator to maintain an erect posture during operation. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 . When handle arm  40  is fully upright, it is locked into position. This is achieved when handle latch  50  is resting on latch pin  58 . To release handle arm  40  for operation, pressure is applied downward on foot peg  54 . This compresses torsion spring  52  which is attached to shoulder bolt  56 . Shoulder bolt  56  is connected to handle bracket  48 . Handle bracket  48  is welded to handle arm  40 . This process lifts handle latch  50  off of latch pin  58 , releasing the handle arm. To keep torsion spring  52  from depressing and to keep handle latch  50  in proper position, latch stopper  53  is used to keep tension on torsion spring  52 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 . When in operation, on a forward movement, waste water is extracted from carpet through glide  24  channeled through back vacuum port  14  and into inside vacuum chamber  18 . On a backward movement, waste water is extracted from carpet through glide  24  channeled through front vacuum port  13  and into inside vacuum chamber  18 . Vacuum chamber cover  30  is attached to vacuum head  12 . In this use, chamber cover  30  is made from lexan but can be made from any material which would seal the vacuum chamber. Vacuum chamber  18  is an open area of attic space milled above the vacuum ports in vacuum head  12  where the airflow is maintained. As shown, the vacuum chamber extends substantially the full length and width of the vacuum head  12  at the upper portion of the head, and has a volume greater than either of front and rear vacuum ports. 
     Unlike prior art, vacuum chamber  18  allows for constant airflow distributed evenly through the front and rear vacuum ports. This creates a dynamic lift and an inverse relationship between lift and airflow. This coupled with the glides helps to increase the airflow for smoother operation and faster dry times. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Waste water moves through vacuum chamber  18  into outlet vacuum flange  16 . Outlet vacuum flange  16  is coupled to liquid passageway  66  utilizing a two inch flexible vacuum hose  42 . Liquid passageway  66  is connected to a flexible vacuum hose where waste water is extracted into the cleaning system. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 . Setup tray  84  houses sections for replacement parts, tools, and is used to adjust the wheels and as a storage and shipping mount for the apparatus.