The invention relates to a steam cleaner, particularly to a steam cleaner that operates easily and generates steam stability.
Conventional floor steam cleaners comprise a steam head, a steam generator and an integral reservoir. Water from the reservoir flows thought the steam generator and is heated to form steam. Steam is useful in removing oil and sticky matter from a floor. Several methods exist to make the water flow into the reservoir. One method uses a valve to control the water inlet. When the valve is open, gravity causes water to flow into the reservoir. Another method uses a pump to control the flow of water. The above methods have drawbacks such as difficult operation, complex mechanical structure or unstable steam generation.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a portable floor steam cleaner that is light-weight and is prepared for operation quickly and easily.
The steam cleaner comprises a handle assembly, a pole connector, a reservoir, a reservoir socket, a steam head and an electric wire. The handle assembly comprises a grip and a lever. The pivoting connector is attached to the steam head. The reservoir is mounted detachably in the reservoir socket and is removed easily to fill the reservoir with tap water. Squeezing the handle assembly releases water from the reservoir into the steam head where steam needs to be generated to clean a floor.
With reference to
With further reference to
The steamer (52) converts water to steam, sprays steam against a floor surface and has an upper surface (521), a lower surface (522), a seal ring (523), a heater (524), a water inlet (525) and a steam outlet (526). The water inlet (525) is formed between the upper surface (521) and the lower surface (522). The steam outlet (526) is connected to the steam port (5121) of the steam head (50), so steam formed in the steamer (52) will be forced out of the steam outlet and the steam port (5121) and into the at least one groove (5122, 5123).
The electric wire (56) is connected to the steamer (52) to provide electricity to heat water and generate steam and detachably connects to an electrical outlet.
The cleaning cover (54) is used to clean smooth floors, is elastic material such as terrycloth or a scrubbing pad, is mounted on the flange of the steam head (50) and covers the bottom surface (512) of the steam head (50).
With further reference to
The reservoir socket (40) has an open top and a lid (41). The lid (41) has a hole (411) (see
The reservoir (30) holds water, is detachably mounted securely in the reservoir socket (40), is easily removed and filled with tap water and has a closed top, an open bottom, an outer surface, a cap (31) and a reservoir fastener (32).
As best shown in
With reference to
The piston pump (22) is mounted in the lower pole (212) and comprises a cylinder (221), a pumping unit (222), a water inlet (223) and a water outlet (224). The cylinder (221) has a top opening and a bottom opening. The pumping unit (222) is mounted in the cylinder (221) and comprises a pump cap (2221), a spring (2222), a piston (2223) and a cylinder sleeve (2224).
The pump cap (2221) covers the top opening of the cylinder (221) has a pore in the central of the pump cap (2221). The spring (2222) is mounted in the cylinder (221). The piston (2223) is mounted movably in the cylinder (221) against the top of the spring (2222), and has a rod. The rod passes through the pore of the pump cap (2221) and couples with the cylinder sleeve (2224).
The water inlet (223) comprises a water inlet piston (2231) and a water inlet spring (2232) and has two ends. One end is connected to the cylinder (221) in the opposite opening of the pump cap (2221). The other end is connected to the reservoir socket (40) by a water inlet tube (225A). The water inlet piston (2231) is closed by pressing the piston (2223) and opened by pushing the piston (2223) back through the spring (2222) for water flowing into the cylinder (221).
The water outlet (224) is parallel to the water inlet (223), comprises a water outlet piston (2241) and a water outlet spring (2242) and has two ends. One end is connected to cylinder (221) in the opposite opening of the pump cap (2221). The water outlet piston (2241) is opened by pressing the piston (2223) for water flowing out.
The actuating rod (23) is mounted in the hollow pole (21) and connects to the cylinder sleeve (2224), is material of iron or steel, and comprises a compression spring (231), an actuating rod A (232A) and an actuating rod B (232B).
The compression spring (231) is mounted in the hollow pole (21) and connects with the actuating rod A (232A) and the actuating rod B (232B). The actuating rod A (232A) is mounted in the upper pole (211) and connects to the handle assembly (10). The actuating rod B (232B) is mounted in the lower pole (212) and connects to the cylinder sleeve (2224) of the piston pump (22).
The flexible tube is mounted through the longitudinal hole in the pivoting joint and connects the coaxial hole in the reservoir socket to the water inlet of the steamer (52).
The handle assembly (10) is mounted on the upper end of the pole connector (20) and comprises a grip (11) and a lever (12). The grip (11) is hollow, has an open lower end and a lever opening. The lever opening is formed near the open lower end. The lever (12) extends into and is attached pivotally to the grip (11) and has an inner end. The inner end is aligned with a segmented pole (111) and attaches to the actuating rod (23) (see
Squeezing the lever (12) presses the piston into the cylinder (221) to release from the reservoir (30) and flows into the steam head (50).
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20100050367 A1 | Mar 2010 | US |