Surface cleaning device

Abstract

Surface cleaning device, comprising a cloth (C) placed on a porous material (PM), a reservoir (R) for collecting liquid absorbed by the cloth (C), and an arrangement (P) for applying under-pressure in the reservoir (R) so as to transfer liquid from the cloth (C) into the reservoir (R). A pore size of the porous material (PM) is between 1 μm and 50 μm.

Claims

1. Surface cleaning device, comprising: a cloth (C) placed on a porous material (PM), a pore size of the porous material (PM) being between 1 μm and 50 μm; a reservoir (R) for collecting liquid absorbed by the cloth (C); and an arrangement (P) for applying under-pressure in the reservoir (R) so as to transfer liquid from the cloth (C) into the reservoir (R).

2. Surface cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cloth (C) is a thin microfiber or non-woven cloth.

3. Surface cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous material (PM) is a porous plastic or a porous polymer with water permeable properties.

4. Surface cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous material (PM) is hydrophilic.

5. Surface cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous material (PM) is a part of the reservoir (R).

6. Surface cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous material (PM) does not allow the liquid collected in the reservoir (R) to come out again through the pores.

7. Surface cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous material (PM) and the cloth (C) are one multilayer component.

8. Surface cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement (P) for applying under-pressure comprises a syringe.

9. Surface cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement (P) for applying under-pressure comprises a pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a surface cleaning device in accordance with the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a window cleaning device in accordance with the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a window cleaning device in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(4) The essence of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is the porous material PM and the contact area with the cloth C. The porous material PM is preferably hydrophilic, and the pore size is chosen in such a manner that the material has a preference to pass liquid above air when a pressure difference is applied. Tests showed that a pore size between 1 μm and 50 μm is suited for this application.

(5) The porous material PM may be a plastic sheet having pores. Alternatively, the porous material PM can be a porous polymer with liquid permeable properties as available from Porex Corporation and other porous polymer manufacturers.

(6) The porous material PM is a part of the reservoir R or part of a soleplate that is a housing for the cloth or sponge to rest upon. The porous plastic is important as it has two functions: a. Allow moisture from the cloth C to pass to the reservoir R because of under-pressure; b. Do not allow the moisture collected in the reservoir R to come out again, i.e. allow moisture in one direction only and prevent from expelling it in the opposite direction.

(7) This aspect of not expelling the moisture in another direction is indeed very important as otherwise the cloth C will become wet again. So if we remove the porous plastic and use a cloth or sponge alone, the under-pressure will suck liquid but will wet the cloth again. Also, the porous plastic will help to create a better pressure difference which cannot be achieved using the more porous/open structure of a sponge or cloth.

(8) The cloth C that is intended for the cleaning/drying action is in direct contact with the porous material PM. Preferred is a thin microfiber or non-woven cloth. A thick cloth can be compressed during use by the consumer which can result in difference of performance and might give an excess of liquid when compressed. In a window cleaning application, the cloth or sponge is needed to capture the moisture that is trickling down when the squeegee is acting over the window.

(9) The porous material PM may be part of the reservoir R. This reservoir R can be of any shape but should cover the whole porous area. In another embodiment, a smaller housing may house the porous material PM and the cloth C, and then channel (e.g. through gravity) the liquid passing through the porous plastic to a reservoir formed by a container downstream for holding dirty liquid. In this case, the capacity to hold liquid may be larger.

(10) An arrangement P provides under-pressure over a surface formed by the porous material PM which is in contact with a wet cloth C in order to suck moisture that is captured in the cloth C while cleaning In a basic configuration, the arrangement P can be a simple syringe which can pump out moisture from the cloth C. So as long as the syringe is able to maintain the under-pressure inside the reservoir, any liquid in the cloth C can be sucked into the reservoir R. Also, point to note, porous plastic is hydrophilic and allows very little or no air in ideal conditions so the pressure created by syringe will suck moisture. In case of an arrangement P that is an electrically powered pump, the under-pressure is continuously generated, and in case of a syringe, the under-pressure is limited by the volume of the syringe.

(11) It is possible to use the cloth for cleaning rather than drying, especially when pumping action is reversed.

(12) This system can be built in different embodiments. For example, in combination with a squeegee, specific for window cleaning. Or in combination with a steamer, specific for hard floor cleaning Or in combination with vacuum cleaner for a so-called vac&mop appliance.

(13) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a window cleaning device in accordance with the present invention. A squeegee S collects liquid L from a window, which is collected by the cloth, and on via the porous material PM, and collected in the reservoir R due to under-pressure applied by the pump P. While not shown in this schematic drawing, the pump P is in contact with the reservoir R so as to provide under-pressure. In this embodiment, the pump P is an electrical pump, powered by batteries B. A switch SW serves to switch the pump P on/off.

(14) FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the window cleaning device in accordance with the present invention wherein the waste liquid is not contained directly behind the porous material PM assembly. In this embodiment, the waste liquid is contained in the body of the window cleaning device as compared to the device shown in FIG. 1. This means that the device will have a larger reservoir R or a separate tank where the waste liquid is collected. The advantage offered by these configurations is that more liquid can be collected and stored allowing a fairly longer operation time.

(15) Also, in yet another embodiment, the device can have a separate storage tank for storing water or a cleaning liquid for spraying or applying on the surface to be cleaned as the case with a conventional window cleaning device. Further, the spraying of the cleaning liquid or water to moisten the surface to be cleaned can be done by using a manual spray mechanism or by using a pump. Also, the device can use the same pump that is used to create under pressure in order to create the over pressure required to pump out water from the device. Furthermore, few other advantages that are offered by this device are that the device uses a very low power pump as compared to commercially available suction-based cleaners, so that the batteries used to power the device can last for a very long time. The pump is indeed small and can be placed anywhere as only a small tube needs to be connected with the reservoir for creating the required under pressure.

(16) It will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the surface cleaning device can be used over any surface—flat or bumpy. Also, on any surface orientation such as vertical wall or glass pane, or a horizontal surface such as a floor. Further, the device can be used on any surface type such as a hard floor. Moreover, the device can be designed from an ergonomic point so that a user can hold this comfortably i.e. with a handle or with a surface on the device well suited for gripping.

(17) It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. In the claims, the notion “cloth” also covers an embodiment in which a sponge covers the porous material PM. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.