Patent Application
20170215674
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Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices, systems and methods for effectively and sanitarily removing liquids from a surface. More particularly, the invention relates to devices, systems and methods for removing spilled or other liquids off a surface in a quick and efficient method using a device that wicks liquid through an absorbent panel.
Description of the Related Art
Fluids often leak from containers when dropped in grocery stores. During medical procedures bio-hazardous fluids accumulate on floor often causing slip and fall accidents, cross contamination, electrocution or bio-hazardous contact. Generally, standing water, chemical spills, biohazardous or unsanitary fluids on floors decrease the level of safety for all involved.
Known apparatuses and methods for removing fluid include mops, buckets, wringers and dry/wet vacuums which pose numerous disadvantages. For one, the task of mopping, rinsing and wringing, when removing standing fluids is inefficient due to the poor absorption and spread of liquid to a larger area. Mops become heavy and difficult to maneuver, and may cause back injury due to weight and side to side motion by user. They are also typically unsuitable for drying a surface while cleaning a liquid spill simultaneously. They are also typically unhygienic and an efficient for use in an environment where microorganisms are undesirable.
Additionally, the volume of water and cleaning solutions used to mop floors cannot be regulated efficiently and must air dry for approximately 10-15 minutes and If not dry when walked on slip and fall injuries occur. By way of further example, mops, wringers, buckets and wet vacuums are problematic to keep clean and can easily become unsanitary preventing safe re-use unless rinsed and sanitized after each use.
Squeegees have also been modified to include suction conduits on or near the squeegee. Other devices include steamers that both dispense water and suck it back up. They are typically cumbersome and do not adequately remove liquid. More common wet/dry vacuums are also cumbersome and typically utilize suction from an open nozzle to remove liquid.
The above-described deficiencies of today's systems are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional systems, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the state of the art and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limiting embodiments may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.
Disclosed is a fluid suction apparatus and related methods. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the suction apparatus may include a fluid absorbing device, such as a suction head. The suction head may comprise a pipe with a plurality of holes or a single slot therein that is in fluid communication with pipe and is covered by a removable fluid-absorbent cover such as micro fiber which causes a constant wicking effect. The pipe is fluidly connected to a flexible tube by a 90 degree barbed connector on one of its ends and is capped on the other to prevent loss suction. The pipe can be of varying length to accommodate a larger or smaller floor space and maneuverability concerns. The holes or slot can also be of varying sizes to accommodate a greater volume of fluid intake. The pipe is attached by screw to a jointed stem that can swivel left or right to increase maneuverability and is attached by screws to a handle of varying length.
When attaching pipe and stem to handle it may be used in a mop like manner. The handle may be adjustable in length and capable of accommodating different heights of users, as well as detachable such that the suction head can be used by hand replacing handle.
The opposite end of tube coming from suction head up handle is attached to an intake port of alternating or direct current electrically driven self priming pump. Suction pump is able to run electrically by means of a rechargeable battery giving device full portability indoors and outdoors or power can draw by plugging its power cord directly into a 120V receptacle. The pump, waste reservoir and battery can be attached permanently to either a bucket, platform, carry case or any shaped fabricated encasement. Wheels can be screwed under any of the above and or a harness can be attached to wear as a back pack.
A varying sized or shaped reservoir may be used. Reservoir being filled by way of fluid on floor in direct contact with micro fiber into suction head, through a varying length of flexible tubing into pump intake, pumped out exhaust and through tube attached to reservoir which can be detached to pour contents into sink, toilet or drain, or incinerated then reattached to tube for continued use. Buckets are heavy, cumbersome and must be emptied by lifting over sink or tilting over drain causing possible back injuries.
Separate container of cleaning fluid may be attached to handle allowing user to spray onto floor and immediately suck through suction head. Freshly sprayed cleaning solution being evacuated from floor allows effective sanitization. Continually dipping dirty conventional mops into buckets cause weakened strength and contamination of water and cleaning solution.
Eliminating the need to fill a conventional bucket with approximately 32 quarts of water several times a day due to the introduction of a dirty mop contaminating the water within the bucket. With said apparatus water conservation can be achieved. When placing the suction head into a rectangular tray of greater or equal size containing sanitizing liquid and pump activated, sanitizing liquid is sucked through the micro fiber cover into the pipe, through the flexible tube and into pump and into the reservoir sanitizing the entire system.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fluid suction apparatus and related methods.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of spraying a floor with a cleaning solution which traps dirt and bacteria, then removing the solution, dirt and bacteria by evacuating it immediately using a micro fiber cover being continually dried by a suction pump and discharging waste fluid into a reservoir keeping dirty water and cleaning solution from being re-used on floor.
An additional feature of invention is to use an attached suction head to gather glass or other debris into a single pile while simultaneously sucking liquid originating from broken container off floor. Broken glass can be swept up with a brush and pan and disposed of safely. This eliminates removal of glass by use of hands which is the case when using a conventional mop which may spread broken pieces of glass making it a difficult and unsafe task.
These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawings and following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The disclosed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the subject disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the various embodiments herein.
In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Throughout the description, the term “downstream” typically refers to a direction equal to the direction of the flow of fluid through a system, and upstream typically refers to a direction opposite, or in reverse to, the flow of fluid through a system.
Disclosed are devices and methods for removing liquids from a surface. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the device may include an elongate body having a handle at a distal end similar to the body and handle of a broom, mop or other devices for acting upon a surface upon which an operator is standing. The distal end of the body has a suction head that extends outward in one or more directions perpendicular to the body. The suction head in one embodiment is substantially cylindrical and includes an internal cavity in fluid communication with the suction heads exterior via one or more apertures covered by an absorbent, wicking panel. The wicking panel may be replaced so that the original panel can be disposed of or cleaned.
The internal cavity of the suction head is also in fluid communication with a suction pump incorporated into the device, usually affixed to the medial region of the elongate body. Typically, fluid communication is provided by a conduit. A waste reservoir is also affixed to the medial region of the elongate body along with a power supply for the suction pump. The waste reservoir collects liquid with through the absorbent panel by the suction applied by the suction pump. The waste reservoir in one embodiment is a vacuum trap positioned on the conduit between the suction head and the suction pump. Optionally, the reservoir may be downstream of the suction pump and the liquid removed from the surface travels through the pump before being dispensed into the waste reservoir. The suction head may optionally be attached to the elongate body by a joint such that the angle of the suction head may be altered. Optionally, the elongate body may be configured to telescopically adjust its length. Optionally, the suction head may be removed and replaced with a suction head having a different configuration.
The suction pump 18 is in fluid communication with the waste reservoir 16 via a discharge tube 20. The pump 18 is also in fluid communication with the suction head 14 via suction tube 22. The suction head 14 has a substantially cylindrical body and extends in opposite directions perpendicularly from the distal end of the handle 12. In this embodiment, the suction pump 18 creates fluid flow from the suction head 14 to the pump 18 and then into the waste reservoir 16. I.e., the suction pump 18 is downstream from the suction head 14 and the waste reservoir 16 is downstream from the pump 18. Optionally, the waste reservoir 16 may be positioned between the suction head 14 and the pump 18 such that it is downstream from the suction head 14 and upstream of the pump 18.
In the distal region of the suction head 14, i.e. the region of the suction head that is opposite to the direction of the handle 12, is an elongate longitudinally extending aperture, not shown, running along the length of the suction head 14. An absorbent panel 28 is removably affixed to the suction head 14 such that it covers the distal aperture in the suction head 14. A rechargeable battery 24 is also incorporated into this embodiment and supplies power to the suction pump 18. A simple lever switch 26 on the suction pump 18 allows an operator to turn the device on and off. Optionally, the lever switch 26 may be replaced with a power switch that allows an operator to modulate the power supplied to the suction pump 18 in order to adjust the amount of suction applied to the suction head 14. The handle 12 may optionally include a padded sheath 29 at its proximal end 30.
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Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/388,568 filed on Feb. 2, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62388568 | Feb 2016 | US |
