Patent Publication Number: US-7717354-B1

Title: Cleaning system including operator-wearable components

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/598,007, entitled “Cleaning System Including Operator-Wearable Components” and filed on Aug. 2, 2004. The entire disclose of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/598,007 is incorporated into this patent document by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to portable cleaning systems, and in particular, to such systems that enable a user to selectively deliver, through a spray gun or the like, a pressurized liquid (for example, water) and a mixture of such a liquid and a cleaning liquid (for example, a cleaning liquid concentrate). 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Over the years, several cleaning devices have been proposed for use in cleaning various areas of commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. In recent times, cleaning machines have been developed that are more operator-friendly and that are more efficient and effective. One such machine includes an onboard chemical injector fluidly connected to an onboard chemical concentrate and to a source of pressurized liquid (Robinson U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,980). And while this machine performs extremely well, there is a desire to make a cleaning system that is even more operator-friendly, efficient and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the invention is directed to a cleaning system comprising a floor supported portable cleaning machine, as well as other components. The cleaning machine includes: a fresh liquid tank operable to contain a liquid; a waste recovery tank; a fresh liquid pump operable to pump a liquid from the fresh liquid tank; and a vacuum source for enabling a soil-containing fluid to be vacuumed into the waste recovery tank. Additional components of the cleaning system include a sprayer connectable to the fresh liquid tank, and a container connectable to the sprayer. The container is operable to hold a chemical material for delivery to the sprayer, and is wearable by an operator. Accordingly, when the fresh liquid tank contains a liquid and the container holds a chemical material, an operator may, remote from the cleaning machine, wear the container, spray a liquid from the fresh liquid source through the sprayer, and spray a chemical material from the container through the sprayer. If desired, the sprayer may be, or may include, a spray gun. 
     The cleaning system also may include support structure operable to assist an operator in wearing the container. The support structure may include an operator-wearable torso belt, and also may include a fastener. If desired, the fastener may include a hook. The support structure may further include a holder operable to hold the container, with the holder being connectable to the belt. If the support structure includes a hook, then the holder may be hung on the hook. In addition, the holder may be constructed so as to hold the sprayer. 
     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a cleaning system comprising: fresh liquid delivery structure; waste recovery structure; a vacuum source for enabling a soil-containing fluid to be vacuumed into the waste recovery structure; a sprayer connectable to the fresh liquid delivery structure; and a container connectable to the sprayer. The container is operable to hold a chemical material for delivery to the sprayer, and is wearable by an operator. In this fashion, when the fresh liquid delivery structure contains a liquid and the container holds a chemical material, an operator may, remote from the fresh liquid delivery structure, wear the container, spray a liquid from the fresh liquid delivery structure through the sprayer, and spray a chemical material from the container through the sprayer. 
     A further aspect of the invention is directed to a cleaning system for use with a source of pressurized liquid and a sprayer. The cleaning system includes a user-wearable torso belt and a holder releasably connectable to the torso belt. The holder is adapted to releasably hold a chemical container fluidly connectable to a chemical injector and a sprayer. If desired, the holder may include a first compartment adapted to releasably hold a sprayer, and a second compartment adapted to releasably hold the chemical container. Accordingly, an operator may, remote from the source of pressurized liquid, wear the container, spray a liquid from the fresh liquid source through the sprayer, and spray a chemical material from the container through the sprayer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated, and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cleaning system, in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of several of the components of the cleaning system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the motor housing of the machine of the cleaning system shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of the cleaning system, in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an operator  8  is using a particular cleaning system  10  in accordance with the principles of the invention. In the particular embodiment shown, the cleaning system  10  includes an operator wearable torso belt  12 , a pivotable hook  14  fastened to the belt  12 , and a holder  16  releasably hung on the hook  14 . The particular cleaning system  10  further includes a container  18  for holding a liquid chemical or chemical mixture, a spray gun  20 , a chemical draw line  22  connecting the chemical container  18  to the spray gun  20 , and a liquid supply line  24  extending from a multi-functional cleaning machine  26  to the spray gun  20 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the liquid chemical holder  16  includes a first compartment  28 , a second compartment  30 , and a third compartment  32 . When the operator  8  is not using the spray gun  20 , the first compartment  28  may be used to releasably hold the spray gun  20 . When the spray gun  20  is releasably positioned in the holder  16 , neither the chemical draw line  22  nor the liquid supply line  24  needs to be disconnected. Accordingly, when the operator  8  is ready to use the spray gun  20  again, they simply may remove the spray gun  20  from the first compartment  28 , and begin to spray a particular surface as desired. The second compartment  30  of the holder  16  is constructed and arranged to releasably hold a conventional chemical concentrate container, for example, the container  18 . The container  18  may include a length of tubing (not shown) that extends from the container top into the container interior, and toward the container interior bottom wall. The particular compartment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  happens to be optimally sized for a standard half gallon container. However, as will be appreciated, the second compartment  30  may have any desired size. The third compartment  32  of the holder  16  is shaped so as to releasably hold a squeegee  34  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the multi-functional cleaning machine  26  includes a fresh liquid tank  36 , a waste recovery tank  38 , a pump  40  for pumping a liquid from the fresh liquid tank  36  into and through the liquid supply line  24 , and a vacuum assembly  42  for enabling a soil-containing fluid to be vacuumed into the waste recovery tank  38 . Examples of suitable multi-functional cleaning machines include the KaiVac® machine and the KaiZen™ machine, both commercially available from Kaivac, Inc. of Hamilton, Ohio. The KaiVac® machine is disclosed in Robinson U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,980, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated into this patent document by reference. The KaiZen™ machine is disclosed in Robinson U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/685,259, entitled “Ergonomic Multi-Functional Cleaning Machine” and filed on Oct. 14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,869. The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,869 is incorporated into this patent document by reference. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , various liquid flow related fittings, connectors, and conduits are described in greater detail below. For example, a chemical injector fitting  44  is fastened to the liquid inlet (not numbered) of the spray gun  20 , and a male quick disconnect member  46  is attached to the fresh liquid inlet end (not numbered) of the chemical injector fitting  44 . In addition, the outermost end (not numbered) of the liquid supply line  24  includes a corresponding female quick disconnect member  48 , so that the spray gun  20  and liquid supply line  24  easily may be releasably and fluidly attached to one another. The chemical injector fitting  44  further includes a male inlet port (not shown) for fluid connection to the chemical draw line  22 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the chemical draw line  22  includes a first length of tubing  50  extending from the container  18 , a second length of tubing  52  extending from the male inlet port (not shown) on the sidewall (not numbered) of the chemical injector fitting  44 , and a length of coiled tubing  54  fluidly connecting the first and second lengths  50 ,  52 . Advantageously, a reducing connector fitting (not shown) may be used to assist in maintaining the connection between each end of the coiled tubing  54  and the corresponding end of the first or second length of tubing  50 ,  52 . 
     In use, and with reference to  FIG. 1 , the liquid supply line  24  and the chemical draw line  22  may be connected to the spray gun  20 . Also, the operator  8  may activate the pump  40  of the multi-functional cleaning machine  26 , by, for example, activating a switch (not shown) on a control panel (not shown) or the like of the machine  26 . In this fashion, when an operator  8  uses the spray gun  20  in a low pressure mode, a cleaning liquid concentrate or other material from the container  18  is drawn through the chemical draw line  22  and into the chemical injector  44 , where it is mixed with liquid from the liquid supply line  24 . Accordingly, an operator  8  may spray a dilute solution of a cleaning chemical or other material being held in the container  18 . Alternatively, if the operator  8  uses the spray gun  20  in its high pressure mode, the chemical injector  44  does not draw from the chemical draw line  22  and container  18 . Instead, the spray gun  20  receives only liquid from the liquid supply line  24 . In this fashion, an operator  8  may use the spray gun  20  in a rinse mode, for example. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment, a cleaning system  10 ′ may include a torso belt  12 , a swivel hook  14  connected to the torso belt  12 , and a container  18 ′ of a cleaning chemical concentrate or the like releasably positioned directly on the hook  14 . The cleaning system  10 ′ of  FIG. 4  also may include many of the components illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3  and described above. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a portion of the chemical draw line  22  in the form of a first length of tubing  50  and a portion of the coiled tubing  54  is shown. As will be appreciated with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the coiled tubing  54  may be connected to a second length of tubing  52  and to a spray gun  20  via a chemical injector fitting  44 . Also, the spray gun  20  may be connected to a pressurized source of a fresh liquid (e.g., water) via a liquid supply line  24 . And, if desired, the pressurized source of liquid may be a cleaning machine such as the multi-functional cleaning machine  26  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Cleaning systems, in accordance with the principles of the invention, offer several benefits and advantages. For example, even though an operator may be thirty or forty feet or more away from the source of pressurized liquid (e.g., a multi-functional cleaning machine), the chemical container remains at the operator&#39;s side. Therefore, the chemical draw line is relatively short. Accordingly, when a user operates the spray gun in a low pressure chemical injection mode, it takes even less time for a cleaning chemical or the like to move from the container, through the draw line, to the spray gun. In addition, when the operator switches to the high pressure mode, it takes very little time for the operator to flush any cleaning chemical from the interior chamber or chambers of the spray gun. These benefits result in other advantages as well. For example, an operator may be even more productive because of the reduced amount of time to flush a chemical from the spray gun. Also, because the chemical injector fitting is at the base of the spray gun (as opposed to, for example, a position located on a multi-functional cleaning machine), an operator is able to use less water or other liquid from the fresh liquid source when flushing chemical from the spray gun. In this fashion, less water is consumed from the fresh liquid source, and less water needs to be squeegeed or vacuumed up—all of which results in greater worker productivity and cost savings. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the inventor to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications readily will appear to those skilled in the art. The invention, in its broader aspects, is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventor&#39;s general inventive concept.