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EP 0 028 276 A1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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Date of publication: |
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13.05.1981 Bulletin 1981/19 |
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Date of filing: 01.11.1979 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)3: A47L 13/00 |
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LU NL SE |
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Applicant: MILLIKEN RESEARCH CORPORATION |
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Spartanburg
South Carolina 29304 (US) |
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Inventor: |
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- Brown, Robert Saul
Spartanburg, South Carolina (US)
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Representative: Pears, David Ashley (GB) et al |
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Broadlands
105 Hall Lane GB-Upminster, Essex RM14 1AQ GB-Upminster, Essex RM14 1AQ (GB) |
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(54) |
Method and device for cleaning carpets |
(57) A container (12) has a first section (18) in which is mounted a distributing roller
(20) and which has a brush (22) on its end. A second section (16) is attached to a
handle (14) and an open cleaning powder container (29) is slid into the second section.
The roller (20) distributes the powder on the carpet. The device is then turned over
so that the brush (22) can be used to scrub in the powder which is then vacuumed up.
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[0001] This invention relates to a carpet cleaning device which can be used by a housewife,
for example, to clean a carpet in situ.
[0002] Recently, a new approach to cleaning carpets has been developed which uses a powdered
cleaning composition containing a mixture of extremely porous solid particles and
a solvent. This new cleaning composition is described in U.S. Patent Specification
4,013,594 and has proved especially effective in removing dirt. Further, only a short
interval is required between application and removal of the powered cleaning composition.
Using this new cleaning composition, it has now become possible to clean wall-to-wall
carpets in offices, shops and residences witp little disruption of normal affairs.
[0003] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lightweight, low cost carpet
cleaner which uses a powdered cleaning composition to clean carpets in situ.
[0004] The invention is defined in claim 1 below.
[0005] Because the two sections of the container are at an angle to each other, the device
can be used in two orientations, in one of which the roller faces down to contact
the carpet and in the other of which it is the brush which faces down.
[0006] The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
FIGURE 1 is a side view of the carpet cleaner in the powder distribution position;
FIGURE 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;
FIGURE 3 is a side view of the carpet cleaner in the cleaning position; and
FIGURE 4 illustrates a modification of the carpet power container and its mounting
in the carpet cleaner.
[0007] In Figures 1 and 2, a carpet cleaner 10 comprises a hollow container 12 and a handle
14. The container 12 consists of a powder support section 16 and a cleaning section
18 at an angle to the powder support section 16. The cleaning section 18 has a roller
20 with a rough or porous surface, such as a reticulated foam roller, rotatably mounted
therein in communication with the powder support section 16, and a brush 22 mounted
on the end thereof. The handle 14 is secured to the back 24 of the powder support
portion 16 by a pair of U-shaped clips 26 and screws 28.
[0008] The powder dispenser 29 is a disposable container, which is opened at one end and
slid downward into the powder support section 16 until it engages flanges 30 at the
bottom of the hollow powder support portion 16 adjacent the roller 20. In Figures
1-3, the bottom 32 of the powder dispenser 29 is flanged and is engaged by a clip
34 which is secured to the handle 14 by wing nut 36. In the embodiment shown in Figure
4, the flanged bottom 32 is eliminated and an integral elastic cord or wire noose
38 is slid over the handle 14.
[0009] When the carpet cleaner 10 is to be used, the powder container 29 is opened, inverted
and placed in the hollow powder section 16 and secured to the handle 14, as in Figure
3 or 4. The cleaner 10 is then placed roller-down (Figure 1) on the carpet 36 to be
cleaned and pushed over the carpet by the handle 14. The roller 20 rotates to deposit
cleaning powder from the container 29 on to the carpet. When the carpet 36 has been
covered with powder, the cleaner 10 is turned over (Figure 3) and the brush 22 is
used to scrub the powder into the carpet to loosen the dirt which, along with powder,
is cleaned up afterwards by a vacuum cleaner.
1. A carpet cleaning device comprising a hollow container having first and second
sections (18, 16) at an angle to each other, a powder transfer roller (20) rotatably
mounted in the first section, a brush (22) mounted on the first section, a handle
(14) on the second section and a device (34) for holding a disposable powder container
(29) in the second section in communication with the powder transfer roller.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the roller (20) has a rough or porous surface.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the roller (20) is a reticulated
foam.
4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the holding device includes a clip
(34) and wing nut (36) arrangement engaging a powder container (29) slid into the
second section (16).
5. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the holding device is an elastic
noose (38) on the powder container (29) that slides over the handle (14).
6. A method of cleaning a carpet comprising the steps of depositing a cleaning powder
on the carpet by rotating a cleaning roller into contact with the surface, brushing
the powder on the surface and vacuuming up the powder.
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 86(2) EPC.
1. A device for cleaning a floor surface, comprising a handle for pushing the device
along the floor, a hollow container for a cleaning agent at the lower end of the handle,
a distributing roller in the lower part of the container for spreading the cleaning
agent, and a brush mounted on a support projecting at an angle from the container
such that, in a first orientation of the device, only the roller contacts the floor
surface whereas in a second orientation of the device the brush contacts the floor
surface, characterised in that, in the first orientation the bristles of the brush
(22) project substantially horizontally from a substantially vertical wall at the
end of the support (18) and, in the second orientation the said wall is substantially
horizontal and the roller (20) is raised away from the floor surface.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the roller (20) has a rough
or porous surface for distributing a carpet cleaning powder.
3. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the roller (20) surface is
of reticulated foam.

