Patent Publication Number: US-2007119487-A1

Title: Liquid dispenser for steam cleaner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/738,145 filed on Nov. 18, 2005, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to devices for steam cleaning. More particularly, the present invention relates to a liquid dispenser that attaches to a steam cleaner to dispense a liquid, such as a cleaning fluid, while simultaneously steam cleaning.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      It is known to provide devices that can be used to clean objects with steam. A pressure vessel can be used to hold a quantity of water. A heater can be used to heat the water to a temperature sufficient to convert at least a portion of the water to steam. A trigger can then be pressed in order to open a valve, which can then enable the steam to flow out through a nozzle toward an object to be cleaned.  
      Inherent shortcomings associated with these known devices include the inconvenience of providing a cleaning fluid at the same time as using the steam cleaner. A user must either apply the cleaning fluid to an area first and then steam clean the area or vice versa. There is a need for a device that can enable a user to easily apply a cleaning fluid and steam to an area simultaneously.  
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art mentioned above. These and other objects are achieved by the present invention described herein.  
      The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a liquid dispenser to be used with a steam-cleaning device that enables a user to dispense a heated liquid, such as a cleaning fluid, soap or detergent, for example, while simultaneously steam-cleaning. This can be accomplished through the use of a main housing, a base, a housing connection aperture, and a sponge.  
      The preferred embodiment features the main housing capable of easily being connected to the base in a bayonet type coupling for a quick, removable connection. The housing has a reservoir that can be filled with a liquid, such as a cleaning fluid, soap or detergent. The steam-cleaning device can be operated to send steam though a hose to an attachment connector and into the liquid dispenser. The steam flows through an attachment protrusion and into a housing passageway via a housing connection aperture. The steam then flows though a base opening and past the sponge aperture to the surface of the object to be cleaned.  
      As the steam travels through the housing passageway, the steam heats up the liquid in the housing reservoir for a more effective cleaning. The liquid can flow to the sponge through a number of minute holes in the base. The holes can be sized whereby the liquid in the housing reservoir will run out at approximately the same time that the water in the tank of the steam-cleaning device runs out so that both can be refilled at the same time. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention is more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment with the drawings identified below.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a liquid dispenser and associated steam-cleaning device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the liquid dispenser of  FIG. 1 , showing a close-up view of the liquid dispenser and steam-cleaner connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the liquid dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the liquid dispenser and hose attachment connector shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the liquid dispenser, showing the bottom of the housing  12 , including housing reservoir, and the top of the base, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the liquid dispenser, including the sponge, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7A  is bottom view of liquid dispenser, without the sponge.  
       FIG. 7B  is side view of the liquid dispenser, without the sponge. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a liquid dispenser  10  and associated steam-cleaning device  12  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. An attachment connector  14  connects a hose  16  from a steam-cleaning device  12  to the liquid dispenser  10 . The liquid dispenser  10  enables a user to dispense a liquid, such as a cleaning fluid (e.g., Lysol brand, etc.), soap or detergent, for example, while simultaneously steam-cleaning.  
       FIGS. 3-5  show the preferred embodiment for the liquid dispenser  10 , which includes a main housing  20 , a base  22 , a housing connection aperture  24 , and a sponge  25 . Preferably, the main housing  20  has a generally dome-like shape. However, any ergonomic shape may be utilized. In one embodiment, the base  22  can have extensions  23  that provide a user with an easier method of holding the base  22 . These base extensions  23  would preferably be located at opposite ends of the base  22 .  
      Preferably, the main housing  20  can be connected to the base  22  in a bayonet type coupling for a quick, removable connection. The housing  20  can be rotated so that tabs  26  can be swiveled under lips  28  on the base  22  so that the tabs  26  are obstructed by the lips  28 . This locks the housing  20  and base  22  together. To disconnect one from the other, the housing  20  is rotated in the opposite direction to rotate the tabs  26  out from under the lips  28 . The housing  20  can then be easily pulled apart from the base  22 . This enables a user to easily refill the housing  20  with a liquid at any time. In one embodiment, the housing  20  has four tabs  26  and the base  22  has four lips  28 . However, any number of tabs  26  and lips  28  may be used. Alternate embodiments for temporarily connecting the housing  20  and base  22  together may include latches, springs or any other non-permanent fasteners. In an alternate embodiment, the housing  20  may be filled with a liquid via a fill hole (not shown) in the housing  20 .  
      In the preferred embodiment, the attachment connector  14  is connected to the housing  20  by a connector protrusion  30 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The protrusion  30  enters the housing connection aperture  24  to where the outer wall  32  of the attachment connector  14  butts up against the upper rim  34  of the housing  20 . The attachment connector  14  is then rotated so that the protrusion knobs  36  are rotated under the flanges  38  of the connection aperture  24 . This provides a bayonet type connection similar to the housing  20  and base  22  connection. To detach, the attachment connector  14  from the housing  20 , the attachment connector  14  is rotated in the opposite direction, and the two  14 ,  20  can be easily separated from one another.  
       FIG. 5  shows the housing  20  separated from the base  22 . The housing  20  preferably has a reservoir  40  that can be filled with a liquid, such as a cleaning fluid, soap or detergent. The housing  20  can then be reconnected to the base in the bayonet type connection described above. A seal  39  can be used to prevent the liquid from leaking out of the housing  20 . The housing  20  and base  22  connection can then be attached to the attachment connector  14  in the manner previously described.  
      The steam-cleaning device  12  can then be operated to send steam though the hose  16  to the attachment connector  14  and into the liquid dispenser  10 . The steam flows through the attachment protrusion  30  and into the housing passageway  42  via the housing connection aperture  24 . The steam then flows though the base opening  44  and past the sponge aperture  46 , seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , to the surface (not shown) of the object to be cleaned.  
      As the steam travels through the housing passageway  42 , the steam heats up the liquid in the housing reservoir  40 . Many liquids, in the form of cleaning fluids, detergents, etc., are more effective at a temperature higher than room temperature. Certain cleaning fluids have an optimum working temperature of approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit, for example. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of ribs  47  can extend from the outer surface of the housing  20  to enable a user to grasp the housing  20  so that the high temperature of the liquid does not cause discomfort to the user. These ribs  47  provide a space between the outer wall of the housing  20  and the user&#39;s fingers should the user to desire to refill or alternate liquids within the reservoir  40 . In one embodiment, these ribs  47  can be a series of generally parallel lines. However, they can be in the form of a variety of geometric patterns or shapes and be fabricated to have a higher density than the surface of the housing, if desired.  
      From the top wall  48  of the base  22  and passing through the base, one or more liquid holes  50  enable the liquid to pass from the housing reservoir  40  to the sponge  25 . These holes  50 , seen in  FIG. 7A , can be minute in size to allow a small amount of liquid at a time to flow into the sponge  25 . In the preferred embodiment, the base  22  has two liquid holes  50  at opposite ends of the base  22 . However, the base  22  can have any number of holes at any of a variety of locations on the base  22 . The holes  50  can be in a predetermined pattern or can be located in a random manner in the base  22 .  
      In a preferred embodiment, the holes  50  are sized to work in conjunction with the tank of water (not shown) in the associated steam-cleaning device  12 , whereby the liquid in the housing reservoir  40  will run out at approximately the same time that the water in the tank of the steam-cleaning device  12  runs out. As such, a user will only need to stop once to refill both rather than having to refill the housing reservoir  40  and the water tank at different times. This will save the user time and effort. The size of the holes  50  can be determined by the type of liquid likely to be used. The thicker the liquid, the slower it will flow through the holes. In an alternate embodiment, the liquid dispenser could come with more than one base  22 , where each base  22  could have different size holes. This would enable a user to choose one of several bases, depending on the type of liquid to be placed in the reservoir  40 . The bases could be labeled or color-coded for different liquids to be used.  
      The liquid dispenser  10  preferably has a safety system incorporated in the form of exit holes  52 , as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 7 B, and a steam overflow section  54  that runs adjacent to the housing passageway  42 . The exit holes  52  and steam overflow section  54  provide a route for the steam to flow should the housing passageway  42  become obstructed for any reason. The housing passageway  42  could possibly become blocked due to an object or due to a mineral deposit, such as a calcium buildup from hard water, for example. The excess steam would have a backup exit through the exit holes  52  to prevent the steam from traveling back up the attachment connector  14  and/or hose  16  where the hot steam might be expelled toward the face or body of a user. The steam overflow section  54  provides an initial space for the steam to flow so that the steam does not cause a pop or other disruption if instantly attempting to exit through the exit holes  52 .  
      While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein disclosed and described, it is understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.