This invention relates to a surface cleaning apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a surface such as a floor or wall which utilises a source of steam. It should be appreciated that the invention is applicable to many other types of surface cleaning apparatus, for example, carpet washing apparatus / vacuums.
An example of steam cleaning apparatus is known from
The use of steam cleaners for cleaning floor and other surfaces is well known. For cleaning floor surfaces, a steam cleaner typically has a cleaning head comprising a body able to be moved, by a user, over the surface to be cleaned, the body being adapted to carry a cleaning element of or including a fabric/textile or other material of a steam permeable absorbent nature. Steam (or very hot water) is emitted from the body and passes through the cleaning element to contact the surface being cleaned, with the effect of loosening dirt from the surface. Dirty water from condensation of the steam on the surface is absorbed by the cleaning element.
The cleaning head, to enable it to be manipulated over the surface being cleaned, may be attached to a wand and steam supplied thereto by way of a hose from a separate steam generator. Alternatively, the wand may itself be provided with a steam generator and supply of water, to form a self-contained steam cleaning device, sometimes referred to as a "stick" or "mop" type of steam cleaner.
A further provision known in such a steam cleaner is the ability to store a cleaning agent, e.g. a solution of a suitable detergent, to assist the cleaning operation.
According to the present invention, we provide a steam cleaning apparatus according to independent claim 1.
Further features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:
Referring to
It can be seen from the figures that a lower end of the handle 11 is pivotally connected to the body 20 by a connection 11a. In order to aid clarity, the handle 11 has been omitted in
The cleaning head body 20 is substantially triangular in plan view (see
Whilst not shown in the figures, the nozzle may include a portion which is telescopically moveable so as to affect displacement between an outlet of the nozzle 40 and the body 20. In other words, the nozzle 40 could be configured so its overall length could be extended and/or reduced so as to provide the user with a greater control over the distance between an outlet from the nozzle 40 and the surface being cleaned.
In some embodiments the nozzle 40 may be made from a resilient material such that it is resiliently moveable relative to the body 20. For example, the nozzle could be made from a rubber or rubber-like material.
In some embodiments the nozzle 40 may be detachably connected to the body 20, for example by a screw, press or bayonet connection fitting. Whilst in the present embodiment a single nozzle 40 is provided, embodiments are also envisaged including two or more nozzles 40. In such embodiments the nozzles could be positioned at any location around the periphery of the cleaning head body 20. For example the one nozzle may be positioned somewhere along the wall 20b whilst another is positioned somewhere along the wall 20c. In addition, or as an alternative, the nozzle or one of the nozzles may be positioned on the rear wall 20a.
The apparatus 10 includes a valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the container 30 to the nozzle 40. That valve is actuated by a user operable switch 60 which is positioned on the body 20 of the cleaning head. The switch 60 is hand or foot operable.
In the present invention, as discussed above, the apparatus 10 includes a steam generator in fluid connection with the water storage container 30. The steam generator includes at least one heating element positioned in a suitable housing which heats water pumped thereto from the container 30 by a pump. The purpose of the steam generator is to boil the water so as to generate steam which is then passed through suitable fluid passages to the underside of the cleaning head body 20 and to the nozzle 40. Thus, the footprint F of the body 20 receives a proportion of the steam generated and, when the valve is opened by pressing the switch 60, steam is permitted to pass through a suitable fluid passage to the nozzle 40. In some embodiment the valve may be configured to permit steam to pass to either the footprint F or the nozzle, or to both footprint F and the nozzle 40 at the same time.
In some embodiments the apparatus may include a detergent storage container and a detergent passage for directing detergent from the detergent storage container to the nozzle 40. In such an embodiment the apparatus 10 may include a common passage connecting the outlet from the steam generator to the detergent passage so as to provide a combination of detergent and steam to the nozzle 40. As an alternative, the nozzle may include respective outlets from the steam generator and from the detergent passage (i.e. there being two outlets from the nozzle 40). In some embodiments the apparatus may include a device, e.g. a switch or user controllable dial, for controlling the amount of steam and/or detergent which is passed to the nozzle 40. Such a device may include one or more valves positioned in the steam and detergent passages to control the flow of fluid therethrough.
Although not shown in the figures, the apparatus may include one or more tools for cleaning, with each tool having a conduit, e.g. a flexible pipe or the like, which is connectable to the outlet from the nozzle 40. As an alternative, where the nozzle 40 is detachably connected to the body 20, the conduit for each tool may be connectable to the respective part of the body to which the nozzle 40 connects. Such a connection may be a press connection, a screw threaded connection or a bayonet connection. Other suitable connections are envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is advantageous over prior art apparatus, because of its ability to provide fluid, e.g. steam and/or detergent, to a floor surface outside of the footprint F. This is highly desirable to a user as they can more easily clean stubbornly dirty floor areas. The steam being emitted from the nozzle is preferably at a higher pressure and/or flow rate than that which passes to the footprint F, which means that stubbornly dirty floor areas are more easily and quickly cleaned. For example, the present invention is suited to surfaces such as tiled floors and walls, with the nozzle being particularly useful in cleaning grout joins between adjacent tiles.
Although not shown in the figures, embodiments of the invention may include a source of suction, e.g. a vacuum source, for removing dirt, emulsified dirt and/or condensed water from the surface being cleaned.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.