Cleaning device having heated cleaning solution

Abstract

A cleaning device having a cleaning solution that can be heated is disclosed. The cleaning device has a fluid reservoir connected to a handle wherein the fluid reservoir contains a volume of cleaning fluid. The device also contains a heating unit disposed within the cavity in the fluid reservoir and has a first reactant chamber with a first reactant and a second reactant chamber with a second reactant. When the reactants are mixed, heat is generated to heat the cleaning fluid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning implement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a partial exploded view of a cleaning fluid container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 b is another partial exploded view of a cleaning fluid container according to the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 2a; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cleaning fluid container according to one embodiment of the present invention with a portion cut-away to show internal features;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of a self-contained heating unit according one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of a self-contained heating unit according another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A motorless cleaning device comprising: a handle having a first end and a second end;a cleaning surface section proximal to the second end and engageable with a surface to be cleaned;a cleaning fluid container connectable to the handle and defining a chamber for holding a volume of cleaning fluid,a fluid delivery nozzle in fluid communication with the cleaning fluid container for distributing cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned; anda heating unit in thermal contact with the cleaning fluid container and operable to increase the temperature of the cleaning fluid within the cleaning fluid container.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the heating unit comprises a first reactant chamber having a first reactant and a second reactant chamber having a second reactant, wherein mixing of the first reactant and the second reactant creates heat and warms the cleaning fluid.

3. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the heating unit comprises a battery and heating element.

4. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the cleaning surface section comprises a member having a substantially flat lower surface

5. The cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the cleaning surface section further comprises a detachable cleaning fabric engageable with the substantially flat lower surface of the cleaning surface section.

6. The cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the cleaning surface section further comprises an upper surface with the fluid delivery nozzle being connected to an upper surface of the cleaning surface section.

7. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the heating unit is disposed within a cavity defined by the cleaning fluid container.

8. The cleaning device of claim 7 wherein the heating unit is removably disposed within the cavity of the cleaning fluid container.

9. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the fluid container comprises a holder connectable to the handle and a fluid reservoir containing a volume of cleaning fluid, and wherein the fluid reservoir is removably disposed within a cavity defined by the holder.

10. A method of cleaning a surface using heated cleaning fluid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a motorless heated cleaning fluid assembly comprising a cleaning fluid container for holding a volume of cleaning fluid, a heating unit in thermal contact with the cleaning fluid container, and a cleaning surface section connected with the cleaning fluid container;activating the heating unit to generate heat;warming the cleaning fluid within the cleaning fluid container with heat generated by the heating unit; andapplying the warmed cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned such that the surface to be cleaned is wetted with cleaning fluid.

11. The heated cleaning fluid assembly of the method of claim 10 further comprising a fluid delivery nozzle in fluid communication with the cleaning fluid container for applying cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned

12. A cleaning fluid heating system comprising: a cleaning fluid reservoir for containing a volume of cleaning fluid;a self contained heating unit in thermal contact with the cleaning fluid reservoir wherein heat generated by the self-contained heating unit warms the volume of cleaning fluid within the cleaning fluid reservoir.

13. The cleaning fluid heating system of claim 12 wherein the self-contained heating unit is disposed within a cavity defined by the cleaning fluid reservoir.

14. The cleaning fluid heating system of claim 12 wherein the self-contained heating unit comprises reactants operative to generate heat when combined.

15. The cleaning fluid heating system of claim 14 wherein the self-contained heating unit comprises a first reactant chamber having a first reactant and a second reactant chamber having a second reactant wherein mixing of the first reactant and the second reactant generates heat and warms the cleaning fluid.

16. The cleaning fluid heating system of claim 15 wherein the self-contained heating unit further comprises a breakable barrier between the first reactant chamber and the second reactant chamber and comprises a trigger operative to pierce the breakable barrier when a force is applied to the trigger.

17. The cleaning fluid heating system of claim 12 wherein the self-contained heating unit comprises a battery and a heating element.