Roller applicator for applying detergent to rugs and the like

Claim 1

IN A MANUALLY OPERABLE DEVICE FOR APPLYING AND SPREADING A FOAM UPON NAP SURFACES FOR CLEANING THE SAME, AND WHEREIN A MANUALLY OPERABLE HANDLE CARRIES A FRAME HAVING FIXEDLY JOURNALLED THEREIN A ROTATABLE ROLLER OF POROUS YIELDABLE MATERIAL, AND WHEREIN MASS ARE PROVIDED FOR SUPPLYING A FOAMABLE CLEANING LIQUID TO SAID ROLLER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME AND ROLLER ABOVE AND OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE SAID NAP SURFACE, AND (B) MEANS TO DRIVE SAID ROLLER, (C) SAID FIRST MEANS BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF TRANSLATION AND INTO DEFORMING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ROLLER UPON TRANSLATION OF THE DEVICE OVER SAID SURFACE IN A FIRST DIRECTION, TO THEREBY CAUSE GENERATION OF FOAM BENEATH AND AHEAD OF THE AXLE OF SAID ROLLER, AND (D) SAID FIRST MEANS ALSO BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF TRANSLATION AND OUT OF DEFORMING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ROLLER UPON TRANSLATION OF THE DEVICE IN A SECOND DIRECTION OPPOSITE FROM SAID FIRST DIRECTION.