Patent Application
20080295278
The present invention relates generally to the field of building maintenance and, more particularly, to a mop cleaner.
Dust mop cleaners are known in the art and are particularly used to clean dust laden industrial dry dust mops, brushes, scrubbers and the like. Typical dust mop cleaners generally consist in a suction nozzle embedded in a suitable trough and are either adapted to be coupled to the suction hose of a conventional vacuum cleaner or include their own dedicated motor-fan unit.
Typical examples of the prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,470, to Branham et Al. (2000), U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,818, to Gardner et Al. (1970), U.S. Pat. No. RE026955, to Milis (1970), U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,419, to Barnhart (1968) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,993, to Lewis (1962).
While these dust mop cleaners of the prior art can generally fulfill the main objective of cleaning a dust laden dry dust mop, or the like, they also offer one or more of the following disadvantages:
a) they usually are stationary devices, which means that a user often has to return to the latter every time a dust mop needs to be cleaned, an aspect which may prove to be particularly demanding during heavy cleaning jobs in multi-story buildings;
b) they usually represent an oversize suction nozzle that may be coupled to the suction hose of a conventional vacuum cleaner, or may represent a dedicated mobile device for cleaning dust mops. In either configurations, a user has the cumbersome task of bringing along two devices in situations where both a dust mop cleaner and a vacuum cleaner are needed;
c) dust mop cleaners of the prior art that are simply represented by a stationary suction nozzle are not particularly convenient to use during heavy cleaning operations where a user often has to use alternatively the dust mop cleaner and the vacuum cleaner due to the small but annoying sequence of coupling and decoupling manipulations of suction nozzles between each use.
Against this background, there exist a need for a new and improved mop cleaner that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages. It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mop cleaner.
In a first broad aspect, the invention provides a mop cleaner usable in combination with a vacuum cleaner unit for cleaning a mop head, the mop cleaner being also usable with a vacuum cleaner hose, the mop cleaner comprising: a frame, the frame defining a vacuum cleaner support for supporting the vacuum cleaner unit; a substantially elongated mop head guide for guiding the mop head therealong, the mop head guide being mounted to the frame, the mop head guide defining an opening and a mop cleaning suction nozzle, the opening leading into the mop cleaning suction nozzle; a valve, the valve defining a mop cleaning inlet, a vacuuming inlet and an outlet, the outlet being connectable to the vacuum cleaner for allowing the vacuum cleaner unit to apply a vacuum to the outlet; a mop cleaner tube extending between the mop cleaning suction nozzle and the mop cleaning inlet for fluidly coupling the mop cleaning suction nozzle and the mop cleaning inlet to each other; wherein the valve is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which the suction nozzle is in fluid communication with the outlet and a vacuuming configuration in which the vacuuming inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet; whereby when the valve is in the mop cleaning configuration and the outlet is connected to the vacuum cleaner unit, the dust mop cleaner is usable for cleaning the mop head with the mop cleaning suction nozzle by sliding the mop head along the mop head guide and across the opening; and when the valve is in the vacuuming configuration with the vacuum cleaner hose connected to the vacuuming inlet and the outlet is connected to the vacuum cleaner unit, the dust mop cleaner is usable for vacuuming using the vacuum cleaner hose.
In some embodiments of the invention, the proposed mop cleaner is usable for cleaning dust mops. However, in alternative embodiments, the proposed mop cleaner is also suitable for cleaning wet mops.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mop cleaner is mounted on wheels and includes an industrial vacuum cleaner unit rigidly fastened thereon.
In operation, with the vacuum cleaner unit turned on and the valve handle in position for applying a suction of air through the suction nozzle embedded in the mop head guide, a user may grasp the handle of a dust mop and slide the mop head back and forth along the elongated mop head guide and across the opening, thus drawing the dust, dirt and lint from the mop head. Alternatively, the valve handle may be pivoted for applying a suction of air to the conventional vacuum cleaner hose, thus converting the mobile dust mop cleaner into a conventional industrial vacuum cleaner.
In some embodiments of the invention, the proposed mop cleaner is:
a) relatively easily brought where it is needed the most, an aspect particularly appreciated during cleaning operations in large multi-story buildings;
b) usable alternatively as a mobile dust mop cleaner or as a conventional mobile vacuum cleaner, thus avoiding the cumbersome task of bringing along two individual devices during cleaning operations;
c) includes the valve that makes it easy to switch from a dust mop cleaner to a conventional vacuum cleaner;
d) is quite simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet, is quite efficient and reliable in operation since it essentially represents an assembly of industrial grade components;
e) facilitates management of the various hoses and accessories used during mopping and vacuuming operations;
f) is ergonomic to use.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The frame 11 includes a frame base 12 and a vacuum cleaner support 14 for supporting the vacuum cleaner unit 16 extending substantially away from the frame base 12. The vacuum cleaner support 14 is configured and sized for supporting the vacuum cleaner unit 16 in a spaced apart relationship relative to the frame base 12.
The frame base 12 is generally defined as having a frame base front end 26, a substantially opposed frame base rear end 28 and frame base side edges 30 and 31 extending therebetween. A set of wheels is provided in the form of a pair of parallel casters 32 rotatably mounted to the frame base front end 26 and a pair of swivel casters 34 secured to the frame base 12 so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis substantially adjacent to the frame base rear end 28.
The vacuum cleaner support 14 is generally defined by a pair of upright parallel support members 36 having their lower ends rigidly attached to the frame base 12 and their upper ends joined by a substantially vertical mounting plate 38. The mounting plate 38 is therefore located in a spaced apart relationship relative to the frame base 12. Horizontally extending frontwardly and rearwardly relative to the vacuum cleaner support 14, there is an accessory tray 40 and a rear, substantially U-shaped, handle bar 42 respectively. Accessory tray 40 may be used for carrying items such as small hand tools and various vacuum nozzles, while rear handle bar 42 is provided for maneuvering the mop cleaner 10. A hose support in the form of a relatively large hook 44 is rigidly fixed to a peripheral edge of the accessory tray 40 for conveniently hooking thereon a rolled-up vacuum cleaner hose 20. The location of the accessory tray 40 and hook 44 facilitate the management of the vacuum cleaner hose 20 and the exchange of accessories attachable to the vacuum cleaner hose 20 as the accessory tray 40 is conveniently adjacent to the vacuum cleaner hose 20.
Mop head guide 18 is mounted to the frame base 12 and longitudinally extending horizontally along frame base side edge 31 of frame base 12. Typically, the mop head guide 18 is represented by an elongated hollow structure having a substantially triangular cross-section generally defining an inclined substantially planar surface 46 and is equipped with a protruding lower guiding lip 48, and a rearside support member 50 attached to the frame base 12.
In other words, the substantially planar surface 46 defines substantially opposed planar surface first and second ends 47 and 49 and substantially opposed planar surface first and second side edges 51 and 53 each extending between the planar surface first and second ends 47 and 49. The guiding lip 48 extends along the planar surface first side edge 51 and the substantially planar surface 46 is angled relative to the frame base 12 such that the planar surface first side edge 51 is closer to the frame base 12 than the planar surface second side edge 53. The rearside support member 50 extends between the planar surface second side edge 53 and the frame base 12.
Substantially centrally positioned along the longitudinal axis of the elongated substantially planar surface 46 between the planar surface first and second ends 47 and 49, there is a transversal elongated opening 52, seen in
Vacuum cleaner unit 16 is rigidly mounted to the rearside of the vertical mounting plate 38, within the space delimited between the latter and rear handle bar 42. The vacuum cleaner unit 16 is preferably of the heavy-duty, cyclone separator type that is generally found in industrial and domestic applications such as, for example, in a central vacuum cleaning system. For demonstration purposes,
In the operation of cyclone separator vacuum units of this type, incoming dust-laden air passes downwardly through intake port 24 and cylindrical air conduit 72, and then into filter bag 74 where it is swirled in a generally circular path therein. The circulation action of the air causes a centrifugal separation from the lint, dust and dirt particles, which cumulates along the peripheral inner walls of the dust collecting filter bag 74, to finally fall downwardly and accumulate at the bottom of the latter. The air passing outwardly through the filter bag 74 is then exhausted through the lower end 76 of the suction motor-fan unit 70, and then to an air exhaust outlet (not shown in the drawings) positioned along the peripheral wall of the upper portion 60.
It is to be noted that the vacuum cleaner unit 16 is properly vertically positioned relative to the upperside of the frame base 12 such that the lower portion 62 can be easily removed by hand from under the vacuum unit in order to replace a dust laden filter bag 74.
Three-way valve 22 has a mop cleaning inlet 58, a vacuuming inlet 80, and an outlet 68 that is sealably coupled to the air intake port 24 of the vacuum cleaner unit 16. The three-way valve 22 is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which the mop cleaning inlet 58, and therefore the mop cleaning suction nozzle 54, is in fluid communication with the outlet 68 and a vacuuming configuration, in which the vacuuming inlet 80 is in fluid communication with the outlet 68. To that effect, the three-way valve 22 has a pivotably coupled valve handle 82 for selecting one of the two air inlets 58 or 80 to be connected to intake port 24 of the vacuum cleaner unit 16. Vacuuming inlet 80 is coupled to one end of a relatively short vacuum hose 84 which, in turn, has its opposite end coupled to the rearside of an interface connector 86 conveniently mounted through the upper end of vacuum cleaner support 14, the vacuum hose 84 ensuring fluid communication between the vacuuming inlet 80 and the interface connector 86. The mop cleaning inlet 58 is coupled to the mop cleaning tube 56 which, in turn, is coupled to the mop head guide 18 through the mop cleaning suction nozzle 54 (as described above).
Conventional vacuum cleaner hose 20 is of a suitable length and has one end detachably coupled, through a quick-connect tubing coupling 88, or the like, on the front side of interface connector 86, and has its opposite end equipped with a conventional suction nozzle 90 having its open end compatible for detachably coupling with one of a plurality of suction nozzles (not shown) offering various configurations for specialized cleaning tasks such as, for example, a wide-mouthed dust brush for cleaning carpets, a narrow-mouthed nozzle for cleaning tight corners, and the like.
Alternatively, valve handle 82 can be rotated in the opposite direction to select vacuuming inlet 80 such that it is in operative relation with the vacuum cleaner unit 16, and thus converting the mop cleaner 10 into a conventional industrial vacuum cleaner through the normal use of vacuum cleaner hose 20.
It is to be noted that the air outlet on upper portion 60 of the vacuum cleaner unit 16 thus being generally directed towards the rearside of vertical mounting plate 38, offers a convenient air exhaust deflector. Furthermore, rear handle bar 42 offers appreciable mechanical protection to the vacuum cleaner unit 16 against impacts with objects or stationary structures as the handle bar 42 and the vacuum cleaner support 14 together define a vacuum cleaner receiving space extending therebetween for receiving the vacuum cleaner unit 16. Yet furthermore, the configuration of the proposed mop cleaner 10 positions the valve handle 82 so that operation of the valve handle 82 is ergonomic. Yet furthermore, the inclination of the substantially planar surface 46 contributes furthermore to the ergonomics of the proposed mop cleaner 10.
Although the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention but as merely providing one illustration of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the general disposition of the vacuum cleaner support 14, with the vacuum cleaner unit 16, the accessory tray 40 and handle bar 42 attached thereto, may be modified to accommodate the addition of a trash can resting on the wheeled base. Furthermore, suitable clamping means arrangements may by provided along a peripheral edge of the accessory tray 40 or the handle bar 42 for holding the handles of various brooms, brushes, scrubbers or other like tools.
Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0710241.1 | May 2007 | GB | national |
