Versatile flow-through foam carpet cleaning apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus for cleaning carpets and rugs comprising: a relatively stiff backing member, a surface working pad formed of open non-woven three-dimensional web material fixed with respect to said backing member, and a smooth-faced, thin, stiff pressure plate secured to the lower surface of said surface working pad wherein the relative dimensioning of the surface working pad and the pressure plate provides a peripheral margin of the pad around the pressure plate; the improvement comprising: means for releasing foam-generating liquid into said surface working pad in a region axially above said pressure plate.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for releasing includes means for releasing said liquid in a plurality of said regions.

Claim 4

For use in a surface working machine in which the weight of the machine is utilized to apply pressure on a surface working element which is moved by the machine, and in which the machine includes means for releasing a foam-generating liquid into the surface working element, the combination wherein the surface working element includes a pad in combination with a pressure plate; the pad being an open non-woven three-dimensional surface working pad positioned to contact a surface to be worked, the pressure plate being positioned between said pad and said surface, said pressure plate comprising a relatively thin, stiff, Smooth-faced disc having adhering means for adhering said plate to said pad, said plate being smaller than the pad to provide a working margin between the edge of the pad and an edge of said disc, which margin contacts the material to be cleaned; and wherein said means for releasing foam-generating liquid into said surface working pad are means for releasing said surface working liquid only axially above said pressure plate.

Claim 5

For use in a surface working machine in which the weight of the machine is utilized to apply pressure on a surface working element which is moved by the machine, and in which the machine includes means for releasing a foam-generating liquid into the surface working element, the combination wherein the surface working element includes a pad in combination with a pressure plate; the pad being an open non-woven three-dimensional surface working pad positioned to contact a surface to be worked, the pressure plate being positioned between said pad and said surface, said pressure plate comprising a relatively thin, stiff, Smooth-faced disc having adhering means for adhering said plate to said pad, said plate being smaller than the pad to provide a working margin between the edge of the pad and an edge of said disc, which margin contacts the material to be cleaned; and wherein said means for releasing foam-generating liquid into said surface working pad are means for releasing said surface working liquid only axially above said pressure plate.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for cleaning carpets and rugs comprising a relatively stiff backing plate, a flexible backing member adhered to the underside of said backing plate, facing material adhered to the lower face of said backing member and a surface working pad formed of an open non-woven three-dimensional web material adhering to said facing material, said facing material including a multitude of pad-engaging filaments, thereby providing an exposed face of the surface edge of surface working pad, a pressure plate including a thin stiff body portion having an exposed smooth abrasion-free face, and having attaching means including a multitude of pad-engaging filaments for releasably connecting said pressure plate to a portion of the face of the surface working pad; wherein the dimensions of the surface working pad and the pressure plate provide a peripheral margin of said pad around the plate; the improvement comprising: means for releasing foam-generating liquid into said surface working pad in a region axially above said pressure plate.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for cleaning carpets and rugs comprising a relatively stiff backing plate, a flexible backing member adhered to the underside of said backing plate, facing material adhered to the lower face of said backing member and a surface working pad formed of an open non-woven three-dimensional web material adhering to said facing material, said facing material including a multitude of pad-engaging filaments, thereby providing an exposed face of the surface edge of surface working pad, a pressure plate including a thin stiff body portion having an exposed smooth abrasion-free face, and having attaching means including a multitude of pad-engaging filaments for releasably connecting said pressure plate to a portion of the face of the surface working pad; wherein the dimensions of the surface working pad and the pressure plate provide a peripheral margin of said pad around the plate; the improvement comprising: means for releasing foam-generating liquid into said surface working pad in a region axially above said pressure plate.

Claim 8

In combination: a driving plate adapted for use on a surface working machine which has a power transmission adapted to receive said driving plate and rotate said plate about a substantially vertical axis, said driving plate comprising means for securing said plate with respect to said transmission, a flat radially extending element and a plurality of generally radially extending vanes dividing the upper surface of said flat element into a series of open-topped compartments, said vanes being positioned on the bias with respect to radii extending from said axis, and extending towards the direction of rotation, each of said compartments having peripheral wall means for retaining liquid within said compartments, each of said compartments having downwardly extending discharge opening means originating adjacent respective vanes and ahead of said vanes with respect to said direction of rotation, said discharge means being means through which liquid in each of said compartments can pass through said driving plate; means on the lower surface of said driving plate for securing a surface working pad thereto; means for channeling said liquid passing through said openings into said surface working pad at a release zone; a surface working pad formed of an open non-woven three-dimensional web material and secured with respect to said driving plate; a pressure plate including a thin stiff body portion having an exposed smooth abrasion-free face and having means for releasably connecting said pressure plate to a portion of the face of the surface working pad, wherein the dimensions of the surface working pad and the pressure plate provide a peripheral surface working margin of said pad around the plate; said release zone being entirely in a region directly above said pressure plate whereby liquid released into said zone cannot pass directly downwardly onto said surface.

Claim 9

In combination: a driving plate adapted for use on a surface working machine which has a power transmission adapted to receive said driving plate and rotate said plate about a substantially vertical axis, said driving plate comprising means for securing said plate with respect to said transmission, a flat radially extending element and a plurality of generally radially extending vanes dividing the upper surface of said flat element into a series of open-topped compartments, said vanes being positioned on the bias with respect to radii extending from said axis, and extending towards the direction of rotation, each of said compartments having peripheral wall means for retaining liquid within said compartments, each of said compartments having downwardly extending discharge opening means originating adjacent respective vanes and ahead of said vanes with respect to said direction of rotation, said discharge means being means through which liquid in each of said compartments can pass through said driving plate; means on the lower surface of said driving plate for securing a surface working pad thereto; means for channeling said liquid passing through said openings into said surface working pad at a release zone; a surface working pad formed of an open non-woven three-dimensional web material and secured with respect to said driving plate; a pressure plate including a thin stiff body portion having an exposed smooth abrasion-free face and having means for releasably connecting said pressure plate to a portion of the face of the surface working pad, wherein the dimensions of the surface working pad and the pressure plate provide a peripheral surface working margin of said pad around the plate; said release zone being entirely in a region directly above said pressure plate whereby liquid released into said zone cannot pass directly downwardly onto said surface.