Patent US3761985A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3761985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning device for producing and applying a cleansing foam
Assignee: Leifheit International GmbH
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Filing: 1971-09-13
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A housing can be moved over a surface to be cleaned and contains a reservoir for a foamable cleaning liquid which is received by foaming means by which it is foamed and then applied to the surface. The liquid is supplied to the foaming means by a float accommodated in the reservoir and having an outlet via which the latter communicates with the foaming means.
Inventors
- 👤 G Leifheit
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:59
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L11/00; A47L11/32; A47L11/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A cleaning device for producing and applying a cleansing foam, comprising a housing adapted for movement over a surface to be cleaned; a reservoir for a foamable cleaning liquid; foaming means for receiving liquid from said reservoir, foaming the liquid and applying the resulting foam to said surface; and supplying means for supplying liquid from said reservoir to said foaming means, comprising a float in said reservoir, and an outlet provided in said float and communicating with said reservoir and with said foaming means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A cleaning device for producing and applying a cleansing foam, comprising a housing adapted for movement over a surface to be cleaned; a reservoir for a foamable cleaning liquid; foaming means for receiving liquid from said reservoir, foaming the liquid and applying the resulting foam to said surface; and supplying means for supplying liquid from said reservoir to said foaming means, comprising a float in said reservoir, and an outlet provided in said float and communicating with said reservoir and with said foaming means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as defined in claim 1, said float being adapted for floating immersion in said liquid to a predetermined level; and wherein said outlet is provided on said float above said level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as defined in claim 1, said float being of substantially disc-shaped configuration and having a liquid-collecting channel provided with an upwardly directed open side and extending substantially transversely to the direction of movement of said housing over said surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said float is of rectangular outline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as defined in claim 1; and further comprising at least one guide element associated with said float and guiding the same for vertical displacement in said reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as defined in claim 5, said reservoir having a bottom wall, and said guide element comprising a frame portion located beneath said float in the region of said bottom wall, and at least two arm portions extending vertically from said frame portion in guiding engagement with said float and having a height corresponding substantially to that of said reservoir.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as defined in claim 6, said frame portion having one section fixedly secured in said region of said bottom wall, and an other section carrying said arm portions and pivotably connected with said one section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as defined in claim 7; further comprising integral hinge means connecting said sections pivotally with one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device as defined in claim 7; further comprising a control member for pivoting said other section relative to said one section, said control member having a control cam track provided with an ascending portion; and wherein said other section comprises a projection extending in parallelism with its pivot axis and riding on said control cam track.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as defined in claim 9, said reservoir having a filling opening for said liquid, and a closure member of predetermined cross-section for said filling opening; said control member being provided in the region of said filling opening and having a cross-section corresponding to said predetermined cross-section; and further comprising coupling portions for coupling said control member with said closure member against relative rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device as defined in claim 9, said reservoir having a filling opening bounded by a marginal portion, and a closure member for said filling opening; and wherein said control member has a collar overlying said marginal portion and said closure member is tightly engageable with said collar when closing said filling opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as defined in claim 1, said supplying means further having a supply conduit connecting said outlet with said foaming means and having an outlet opening communicating with the latter; and further comprising valve means in said supply conduit upstream of said outlet opening for permitting and preventing the flow of liquid to the latter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as defined in claim 12, wherein said valve means comprises a turnable valve flap in said supply conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device as defined in claim 13, said valve flap being movable between an open and a closed position and having mounting means mounting it for such movement in said supply conduit, and wherein said valve flap is normally in said closed position and composed at least in part of elastically deformable material in the region of said mounting means so as to have a permanent bias toward said closed position when moved toward said open position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device as defined in claim 14, said valve flap being turnable about a substantially horizontal axis and havng a general plane which is at least substantially vertically oriented when said valve flap is in said closed position; and further comprising contact portions operatively associated with said valve flap and adapted for contact with a surface to be cleaned, so as to move said valve flap to said open position in response to such contact.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as defined in claim 15, said contact portions being rotatably journalled on said valve flap and adapted to support said housing on said surface for movement over the same.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as defined in claim 16, said contact portions being elongated and having spaced ends; and further comprising journalling means located at opposite lateral sides of said valve flap for journalling the respective ends of said contact portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device as defined in claim 12, said supply conduit including a distributing portion for distributing liquid to said foaming means and having an inlet side and an outlet side of which the latter communicates with said foaming means; and wherein said valve means are located in the region of said inlet side.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
136 words
A device for treating floor and other surfaces, comprising housing means movable over a surface to be treated, and including at least one surface-engaging component movable relative to said housing means when the latter is so moved; reservoir means for a treating liquid; converting means provided on said housing means and adapted to receive treating liquid and convert it to a foamed state; passage means connecting said reservoir means and said converting means; valve means in said passage means for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough and being displaceable between a normally closed and an open position; biasing means biasing said valve means to said normally closed position; and connecting means between said valve means and said movable surface-engaging component for displacing the former toward said open position in response to movement of said surface-engaging component.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
136 words
A device for treating floor and other surfaces, comprising housing means movable over a surface to be treated, and including at least one surface-engaging component movable relative to said housing means when the latter is so moved; reservoir means for a treating liquid; converting means provided on said housing means and adapted to receive treating liquid and convert it to a foamed state; passage means connecting said reservoir means and said converting means; valve means in said passage means for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough and being displaceable between a normally closed and an open position; biasing means biasing said valve means to said normally closed position; and connecting means between said valve means and said movable surface-engaging component for displacing the former toward said open position in response to movement of said surface-engaging component.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as defined in claim 19, said biasing means comprising spring means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as defined in claim 19, said movable component being a surface-engaging rolling element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |