The invention relates generally to a surface cleaning apparatus with steam delivery. Devices such as steam mops and handheld steamers are configured for cleaning a wide variety of common household surfaces such as bare flooring, including tile, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and linoleum, as well as countertops, stove tops and the like. Typically, steam mops comprise at least one liquid tank or reservoir for storing water that is fluidly connected to a selectively engageable pump or valve. The outlet of the pump or valve is fluidly connected to a steam generator, which comprises a heating element for heating the liquid. The steam generator produces steam, which can be directed towards the surface to be cleaned through a distributor nozzle or a manifold located in a foot or cleaning head that engages the surface to be cleaned. Steam is typically applied to the backside of a cleaning pad that is attached to the cleaning head. Steam eventually saturates the cleaning pad and the damp pad is wiped across the surface to be cleaned to remove dirt, dust, and debris present on the surface. Additionally, auxiliary liquids such as fragrances, detergents or other additives can be supplied via the liquid tank for distribution through the surface cleaning apparatus to improve cleaning efficacy or to provide other sensory benefits.
Some steam appliances locate a removable water supply tank and a steam generating device on an upright handle and deliver steam through a universal joint to a pivoting cleaning foot that is typically covered by a reusable cleaning pad. One example is the BISSELL Steam Mop™ Deluxe (Model 31N1). Details of a similar steam mop device are disclosed in Chinese Patent CN2482956 to Wu. In an alternate configuration, the steam generator can be located on the cleaning head as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,990 to Shaw.
Impregnated cleaning pads and cleaning pads that can also reabsorb liquid from a surface to be are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,173 to Policicchio.
Carpet cleaning compositions for use in extraction machines are also known as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,718,593 to Micchice. Extraction machines that incorporate an in-line heater can heat the solution to a temperature less than boiling are more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,237 to Kasper. Cleaning compositions are stored in a liquid state and are selectively applied to the carpet, optionally agitated, left to dwell, and then removed using suction generated by a separate vacuum motor and fan assembly.
It is also known to combine steam and cleaning compositions to remove stains from textile fabrics as more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,368 to Tcheou. This patent teaches applying the cleaning composition on a front side of the textile, pushing the composition through the textile, and then absorbing the excess liquid from the back side of the textile.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a surface cleaning apparatus for treating a stain on a floor surface comprises a cleaning solution reservoir configured to hold a supply of cleaning solution, a steam generator in fluid communication with the reservoir for heating the cleaning solution to generate steam, a steam distributor fluidly connected to the steam generator to distribute steam onto the stain on the floor surface, a cleaning pad positioned to contact the stain on the floor surface, and a cleaning composition comprising a peroxygen and a surfactant for application onto the stain on the floor surface, wherein application of steam to the cleaning composition increases the reaction rate of the cleaning composition as compared to the reaction rate of the cleaning composition without steam.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of treating a stain on a floor surface with a surface cleaning apparatus having a steam generator comprises applying a cleaning composition comprising a peroxygen and a surfactant to a stain on the floor surface, applying steam from the surface cleaning apparatus to the stain on the floor surface, and heating the cleaning composition with the applied steam, wherein application of steam to the cleaning composition transfers energy from the steam to the cleaning composition to enhance the cleaning efficacy of the cleaning composition as compared to the cleaning efficacy of the cleaning composition without steam.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a system for treating a stain on a floor surface comprises a steam generating appliance, a pad frame for removably attaching a cleaning pad thereto, a cleaning pad removably attachable to the pad frame, and a cleaning composition associated with one of the steam generating appliance and the cleaning pad, wherein the application of steam from the steam generating appliance heats the cleaning composition to enhance the cleaning efficacy of the cleaning composition as compared to the cleaning efficacy of the cleaning composition without steam.
In the drawings:
Referring to
The handle housing 16 further accommodates a portion of a fluid delivery system comprising a cleaning solution reservoir 30 that is configured to distribute cleaning solution to downstream portions of the fluid delivery system as is commonly known in the art. A solution conduit 32 fluidly connects the cleaning solution reservoir 30 through the universal joint 20 to convey liquid cleaning solution to the steam generator 24. A steam conduit 86 (
The cover 44 comprises a generally rectangular housing with a raised central portion 46, which forms a cavity 48 (
As illustrated for exemplary purposes, and as best shown in
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The cleaning pad assembly 28 can comprise a non-woven pad optionally impregnated with a specially formulated cleaning composition. In one suitable embodiment, the pad 28 is composed of 100% meltblown polypropylene with a tensile strength of 16,294 in the machine direction (MD) and 11,721 in the cross direction (CD). The pad 28 has a basis weight of 340 grams/square meter or 10.0 OSY with an absorbency of up to 13 times itself per pad.
According to one aspect of the invention, stains on a surface can be treated using a combination of a peroxygen, a surfactant, and steam. Cleaning compositions can be tailored to remove specific stains, however compositions that include a dilute hydrogen peroxide component in combination with an anionic detergent that includes a surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate have been found to be effective in removing stubborn stains from nylon carpet fibers when exposed to steam.
It has been found that surprising results occur when the cleaning compositions described herein are heated at the point of delivery through the use of steam. Steam releases a predictable and precise amount of energy to the composition at the surface to be cleaned as it changes from a gaseous state to a liquid state. This energy is transferred to the cleaning composition to enhance the cleaning efficacy. When a combination of a peroxygen, a surfactant, and steam is applied to the surface to be cleaned, stains are effectively removed. In one example, in which a stain is on a surface comprising a carpet, the surfactant, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, mobilizes the stain in the carpet, which is subsequently at least partially destroyed by the peroxygen, such as hydrogen peroxide, through an oxidation reaction. The heat and moisture from the application of steam provides energy for the oxidation reaction and aids in mobilization of the stain. The stain may be fully destroyed by the peroxygen. Any remaining stain that is not destroyed may be absorbed along with any excess cleaning composition and moisture, by the cleaning pad 28. Alternate means can also be used to remove excess cleaning composition and moisture, such as a known carpet extraction device as more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,237 to Kasper which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. After the stain removal process, the stain is no longer visible on the carpet to the user, and does not reappear later.
Particularly, stubborn stains involving red dye #40 that have not been appreciably loosened by either steam alone, hydrogen peroxide compositions alone, sodium lauryl sulfate compositions alone, or mixed compositions containing hydrogen peroxide and sodium lauryl sulfate, are effectively removed with the combination of steam, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium lauryl sulfate.
The cleaning composition can be impregnated into the cleaning pad assembly 28. The cleaning composition can optionally be encapsulated in the cleaning pad assembly 28 as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/323,286, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Alternatively, the cleaning pad 28 can comprise a generally flat disposable pad or sheet, with the cleaning composition applied directly to the floor or indirectly by dispensing the cleaning composition through the cleaning pad 28.
The cleaning composition can comprise hydrous or anhydrous configurations or combinations thereof. In one example of a hydrous cleaning composition, the cleaning pad assembly 28 can be pre-moistened with a liquid peroxygen and surfactant solution. For example, the cleaning pad assembly 28 can be impregnated with a liquid hydrogen peroxide and sodium lauryl sulfate solution.
Alternatively, the cleaning composition can comprise a soluble anhydrous composition. For example, the composition can include a mixture of a solid, soluble peroxygen component, in combination with a solid, soluble anionic detergent that includes a surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate in soluble solid or powder form. The solid peroxygen component can comprise sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, calcium percarbonate, or a solid complex of hydrogen peroxide with polyvinylpyrrolidone (commercially available from Ashland Inc. as Peroxydone™), for example.
Surfactants other than anionic detergents can also be used, such as cationic, nonionic, zwitterionic or amphoteric detergents, or combinations thereof, regardless of whether the composition is hydrous or anhydrous. The use of anionic, cationic, nonionic, zwitterionic or amphoteric detergents can produce difference surface finishes when dry.
The anhydrous composition can be impregnated or otherwise provided on or in the pad assembly 28 such as by encapsulating the composition within soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film or in a soluble tablet or disk that can be attached to the cleaning pad or placed directly onto the surface to be cleaned, for example.
In operation, the steam appliance 10 of
If an anhydrous composition is applied to the pad assembly 28, the steam appliance 10 can be energized and placed on the surface to be cleaned as previously described. However, steam and moisture from the steam appliance 10 solubilize the anhydrous composition and transform the soluble solid particles or powder into a commingled liquid slurry comprising the cleaning composition, which is carried by the steam through the cleaning pad assembly 28 and onto the stain. To treat the stain, the cleaning composition can be allowed to dwell on the surface for a specified period of time, such as 2-5 minutes, at which point the stain has been mobilized and at least partially destroyed, as described above. Excess cleaning composition, along with any stain that may remain, is then absorbed by the cleaning pad assembly 28 or other means as previously described herein. Other debris on the surface to be cleaning can also be absorbed by the cleaning pad assembly 28.
Alternatively, the anhydrous composition can be applied directly to a stain the surface to be cleaned and the steam appliance 10 can be energized and placed on the surface to be cleaned, with the cleaning pad assembly 28 placed directly over the stain pre-applied with the anhydrous composition. Steam and moisture from the steam appliance 10 solubilize the anhydrous composition and transform the soluble solid particles or powder into a commingled liquid slurry comprising the cleaning composition, which is carried by the steam through the cleaning pad 28 and onto the stain. To treat the stain, the cleaning composition can be allowed to dwell on the surface for a specified period of time, such as 2-5 minutes, at which point the stain has been mobilized and at least partially destroyed, as described above. Excess cleaning composition, along with any stain that may remain, is then absorbed by the cleaning pad assembly 28 or other means as previously described herein. Other debris on the surface to be cleaning can also be absorbed by the cleaning pad assembly 28.
Laboratory testing illustrates the surprising cleaning results achieved by combining steam with a pre-moistened cleaning pad, even without the presence of a peroxygen component. Three different appliances were used to clean four different stains on white vinyl tiles. The appliances included the commercially available EuroPro Shark Steam Mop, the commercially available Procter and Gamble Swiffer Wet Jet, and the steam appliance 10 as embodied in
Further testing was conducted to evaluate the impact of combining steam with a cleaning composition comprising water, a detergent further comprising a surfactant including sodium lauryl sulfate, and optionally a fragrance on removing a red dye stain from carpet fibers. Generally, a commercially available BISSELL Stomp N Go (Model 96Q9W) pre-moistened cleaning pad comprising a composition including hydrogen peroxide and sodium lauryl sulfate was modified by removing the impermeable top layer. Specifically, the cleaning composition had ratio of 1:1.15 sodium lauryl sulfate to hydrogen peroxide. The pad was placed over a red dye stain on a carpet sample and allowed to dwell for approximately two to five minutes. A commercially available BISSELL Steam Mop was placed over the Stomp & Go pad and steam was discharged through the pad. When the Steam Mop was removed, it was observed that the red dye stain was no longer visible on the carpet fibers, and any excess cleaning composition was absorbed into the modified Stomp n Go pad. The process was found to work equally well on a variety of carpet stains and discolorations.
In an alternate embodiment, a second solution reservoir can be added to the handle housing 16 along with a separate solution conduit to deliver the cleaning composition described herein directly to the floor via a dedicated spray tip as is commonly known in the art. A suitable auxiliary spray system is described in conjunction with a wet mop device in U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,804 to Kisela which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In this embodiment, the steam appliance 10 effectively serves its customary function as an effective bare floor cleaner as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,990 to Shaw or the BISSELL Steam Mop. When stains on carpeted surfaces are observed, the steam appliance 10 can be taken to the stained area and pre-wetted with cleaning composition contained in the second solution tank. Once the stain is pre-wetted, the cleaning pad assembly 28 is placed over the pre-wetted area, steam is delivered to the treated stain, the stain is effectively removed from the carpet fibers, and the excess cleaning solution is absorbed by the cleaning pad assembly 28 as previously disclosed.
Optionally, the composition can be applied directly to a stain to be cleaned via an auxiliary distributor such as a conventional manual sprayer or pressurized dispenser, for example. When a stain on a carpeted surface is observed, a user can distribute the cleaning composition onto the stained area using the auxiliary distributor to wet the surface. Next, the steam appliance 10 can be energized and placed on the surface to be cleaned, with a substantially dry cleaning pad assembly 28 on the steam appliance 10 placed directly over the stain pre-wetted with the cleaning composition. To treat the stain, the cleaning composition can be allowed to dwell on the surface for a specified period of time, such as 2-5 minutes, at which point the stain has been mobilized and at least partially destroyed, as described above. Excess cleaning composition, along with any stain that may remain, is then absorbed by the cleaning pad assembly 28 or other means as previously described herein. Other debris on the surface to be cleaning can also be absorbed by the cleaning pad assembly 28.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit. For example, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to steam mop floor cleaning machines of various configurations, but is equally applicable to, for example, extraction cleaning machines having fluid delivery and recovery tanks, where the extraction cleaning machine is modified to include a steam delivery function as described above. Representative examples of extraction cleaning machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,977 and 6,658,692, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. In addition, the invention is also equally applicable to wet mops having a fluid delivery tank as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,458, which is also incorporated herein in its entirety, where the wet mop is modified to include a steam delivery function as described above.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/655,289, filed Jun. 4, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61655289 | Jun 2012 | US |