US4095309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for cleaning a carpet
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-09-25
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Granted: 1978-06-20
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Expires: 1995-09-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for cleaning a carpet using a cleaning fluid and a reciprocating head member that contacts the carpet. The cleaning fluid is applied to the carpet through a slot in the reciprocating head member. The head member further includes scrubbing means and vacuum means that are reciprocated with the cleaning fluid slot. The drive means for the reciprocating head member moves the head member back and forth along the same path at a rate of about 125 to about 585 cycles per minute. The slot for the cleaning fluid is fixedly spaced from the inlet to the vacuum means and the head member is reciprocated a distance greater than the spacing between the slot and the inlet to the vacuum means. The drive means in this embodiment is part of a body member whose mass is sufficiently greater than that of the head member so that when the drive means reciprocates the head member at a high rate, the distance moved by the head member is greater than the distance moved by the body member. In one embodiment, the body member is held off the carpet and only the head member is touching the carpet. In all of the embodiments, the high rate of reciprocation of the head member results in there being only a small frictional force between the carpet and the head member. In one embodiment, the scrubbing means on the head member includes V-shaped lands and grooves inclined to the direction of reciprocating motion. In another embodiment, the scrubbing means includes scallop-shaped recesses. The apparatus of this invention is self-propelling in a direction from the head member toward the body member. The head member is reciprocally moved by the drive means in a first direction away from the body member. As it moves in this first direction, the head member engages the carpet. Further movement of the head member away from the body member serves to accelerate the body member in a direction opposite to the first direction and propels the head and body members in the second direction.
Inventors
- 👤 John J. Sundheim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:25
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L11/00; A47L11/40; A47L11/4094; A47L11/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A carpet cleaning apparatus constructed for movement across a carpet in a predetermined direction, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for engaging the fibers of the pile of a carpet and directing a cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said means being connectible in use with a source of cleaning liquid, said means extending laterally of said predetermined direction, (b) a suction manifold, said suction manifold being connectible when in use with a source of suction, (c) a laterally extending nozzle disposed in fluid communication with said suction manifold for applying suction to said carpet, said nozzle being spaced from said means for engaging the fibers of the carpet in a direction generally parallel to said predetermined direction, (d) a body member, (e) a head member carrying at least one suction manifold and said laterally extending nozzle, said head member being mounted for movement toward and away from said body member, (f) means supporting said head member from said body member, and (g) means mounted on said body member for reciprocating said head member and support means for the head member relative to said body member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A carpet cleaning apparatus constructed for movement across a carpet in a predetermined direction, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for engaging the fibers of the pile of a carpet and directing a cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said means being connectible in use with a source of cleaning liquid, said means extending laterally of said predetermined direction, (b) a suction manifold, said suction manifold being connectible when in use with a source of suction, (c) a laterally extending nozzle disposed in fluid communication with said suction manifold for applying suction to said carpet, said nozzle being spaced from said means for engaging the fibers of the carpet in a direction generally parallel to said predetermined direction, (d) a body member, (e) a head member carrying at least one suction manifold and said laterally extending nozzle, said head member being mounted for movement toward and away from said body member, (f) means supporting said head member from said body member, and (g) means mounted on said body member for reciprocating said head member and support means for the head member relative to said body member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
285 words
A carpet cleaning apparatus constructed for movement across a carpet in a predetermined direction, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for engaging the fibers of the pile of a carpet and directing a cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said means being connectible in use with a source of cleaning fluid, said means for extending laterally of said predetermined direction, said means further having a fiber engaging surface portion with segmental V-shaped lands and grooves formed therein, said fiber engaging surface portion having a slot therethrough for conveying cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said slot having two sides extending along a longitudinal axis disposed substantially normal to said predetermined direction, said segmental V-shaped lands and grooves extending along a portion of one side of said slot, said V-shaped lands and grooves having the apex of the middle segmental V-shaped land and groove disposed along one side of said slot at the middle portion thereof, (b) a suction manifold said suction manifold being connectible in use with a source of suction, (c) a laterally extending nozzle disposed in fluid communication with said suction manifold for applying suction to said carpet, said nozzle being spaced from said means for engaging the fibers of the carpet in a direction generally parallel to said predetermined direction, (d) a body member, (e) a head member carrying at least said suction manifold and said laterally extending nozzle, said head member being mounted for movement toward and away from said body member, (f) means supporting said head member from said body member, and (g) means mounted on said body member for reciprocating moving said head member and support means for the head member relative to said body member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
285 words
A carpet cleaning apparatus constructed for movement across a carpet in a predetermined direction, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for engaging the fibers of the pile of a carpet and directing a cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said means being connectible in use with a source of cleaning fluid, said means for extending laterally of said predetermined direction, said means further having a fiber engaging surface portion with segmental V-shaped lands and grooves formed therein, said fiber engaging surface portion having a slot therethrough for conveying cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said slot having two sides extending along a longitudinal axis disposed substantially normal to said predetermined direction, said segmental V-shaped lands and grooves extending along a portion of one side of said slot, said V-shaped lands and grooves having the apex of the middle segmental V-shaped land and groove disposed along one side of said slot at the middle portion thereof, (b) a suction manifold said suction manifold being connectible in use with a source of suction, (c) a laterally extending nozzle disposed in fluid communication with said suction manifold for applying suction to said carpet, said nozzle being spaced from said means for engaging the fibers of the carpet in a direction generally parallel to said predetermined direction, (d) a body member, (e) a head member carrying at least said suction manifold and said laterally extending nozzle, said head member being mounted for movement toward and away from said body member, (f) means supporting said head member from said body member, and (g) means mounted on said body member for reciprocating moving said head member and support means for the head member relative to said body member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said segmental V-shaped lands and grooves form an included angle with the longitudinal axis of said slot varying between approximately 10° and 20°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said head member further carries said fiber engaging means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fiber engaging means has a fiber engaging surface portion, said fiber engaging surface portion having a slot therethrough for conveying cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said slot having two sides extending along a longitudinal axis disposed substantially perpendicularly to said predetermined direction, said fiber engaging surface portion having a pair of grooves formed therein, one of said pair of grooves extending longitudinally along one of the sides of said slot and spaced from said one side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fiber engaging means has a fiber engaging surface portion, said fiber engaging surface portion having a slot therethrough for conveying cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said slot having two sides extending along a longitudinal axis disposed substantially perpendicularly to said predetermined direction, said fiber engaging surface portion including a plurality of scallop-shaped recesses formed therein along at least one side of said slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fiber engaging surface portion includes a plurality of scallop-shaped recesses formed along the second side of said slot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fiber engaging means has a fiber engaging surface portion, said fiber engaging surface portion having a slot therethrough for conveying cleaning fluid to a portion of the carpet, said slot having two sides extending along a longitudinal axis disposed substantially perpendicularly to said predetermined direction, said fiber engaging surface portion having a plurality of recesses formed along opposite sides of said slot, each recess being disposed in fluid communication with said slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said laterally extending nozzle has a surface portion having a slot formed therethrough, said slot having two sides extending along a longitudinal axis disposed substantially normal to said predetermined direction, said surface portion of said nozzle having a pair of grooves formed therein, one of said pair of grooves extending longitudinally along one of the sides of said slot and spaced from said one side.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said laterally extending nozzle has a surface portion having a slot formed therethrough, said slot having two sides spaced from each other and extending along a longitudinal axis disposed generally normal to said predetermined direction, said surface portion having a plurality of scallop-shaped recesses formed therein along one side of said slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said laterally extending nozzle has a surface portion having a slot formed therethrough, said slot having a longitudinal axis disposed generally normal to said predetermined direction, said surface portion having a plurality of recesses formed along opposite sides of said slot, each recess being disposed in fluid communication with said slot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reciprocating means moves said head member toward and away from said body member along a path at a rate of a least approximately 125 cycles per minute.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The carpet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reciprocating means moves said head member toward and away from said body member along a path at a rate of at least approximately 585 cycles per minute.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-19 | 1981-12-19 | 1982-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-19 | 1985-12-19 | 1986-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-19 | 1989-12-19 | 1990-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |