Fluid pump assembly for use with a cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A fluid pump assembly ( 268 ) for use in a cleaning apparatus ( 10 ) broadly comprises a fluid pump ( 22 ); a suction outlet tube ( 270 ) in direct fluid communication with a fluid reservoir ( 14 ); a fluid outlet tube ( 272 ) configured to be in direct fluid communication with the suction outlet tube ( 270 ) and connected to the fluid pump ( 22 ); a valve ( 274 ) cooperating with both the suction and fluid outlet tubes ( 270,272 ); and a control switch ( 58 ), wherein actuation of the control switch ( 58 ) simultaneously opens the valve ( 274 ) and activates the pump ( 22 ) to suction fluid from the fluid reservoir ( 14 ), through the suction outlet tube ( 270 ), and because the valve ( 274 ) is open, through the fluid outlet tube ( 272 ), and deactuation of the control switch ( 58 ) simultaneously closes the valve ( 274 ) and deactivates the pump ( 22 ), such that fluid is prevented from exiting the fluid outlet tube ( 272 ).

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:  
     
         1 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a fluid reservoir adapted to contain a cleaning fluid;    a nozzle operable to spray the cleaning fluid onto a cleaning surface;    an electrically driven fluid pump operable to pump the cleaning fluid from the fluid reservoir to the nozzle;    a control switch;    a suction outlet tube;    a fluid outlet tube; and    a valve cooperating with the suction outlet tube and the fluid outlet tube, such that actuation of the control switch simultaneously opens the valve and activates the pump to suction fluid from the fluid reservoir, through the suction outlet tube, through the fluid outlet tube, and to the nozzle, and deactuation of the control switch simultaneously closes the valve and deactivates the pump, such that fluid is prevented from exiting the nozzle.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the control switch mechanically opens the valve, and deactuation of the control switch mechanically closes the valve.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further including—
 at least one interchangeable head adapted to contact the cleaning fluid sprayed onto the cleaning surface,  
 a receiving portion for removably securing the interchangeable head,  
 a telescoping body having a proximal end and a distal end and including a first and a second generally cylindrically-shaped hollowed rod, wherein the first rod is of a slightly smaller diameter than the second rod so that the first rod may nest within the second rod, and  
 a substantially hollowed handle positioned generally adjacent to the fluid reservoir.  
 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the telescoping body further includes a locking sleeve for locking the position of the first rod in the second rod.  
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first rod is partially positioned within the handle and the fluid reservoir.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , the cleaning apparatus further including a receiving portion having a first end and a second end, the first end being positioned near an extreme distal end of the body and connected to the body using a connecting sleeve, the second end being generally cylindrically-shaped and including a first and a second generally L-shaped channel, the receiving portion including—
 an oblong section generally formed of a plurality of rigid concentric circular portions of varying diameter, and  
 an oblong generally V-shaped insert provided on the oblong section, wherein the nozzle is secured to the insert.  
 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the interchangeable head further includes—
 an attachment end adapted to be secured with the receiving portion, and  
 a generally rectangularly-shaped cleaning plate.  
 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the attachment end further includes—
 a first end having a partially hollowed portion, the hollowed portion having a first and a second boss formed therein, wherein the first boss rides within the first L-shaped channel, and the second boss rides within the second L-shaped channel, and  
 a second end provided with a generally sphere-shaped roller for rotatably positioning the head to a desired position.  
 
     
     
         9 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a fluid reservoir adapted to contain a cleaning fluid;    a nozzle operable to spray the cleaning fluid onto a cleaning surface;    an electrically driven fluid pump operable to pump the cleaning fluid from the fluid reservoir to the nozzle;    a control switch; and    a valve, such that actuation of the control switch simultaneously activates the pump and opens the valve, and deactuation of the control switch simultaneously deactivates the pump and closes the valve.    
     
     
         10 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , further including—
 a suction outlet tube, and  
 a fluid outlet tube, such that actuation of the control switch activates the pump to suction fluid from the fluid reservoir, through the suction outlet tube, through the fluid outlet tube, and to the nozzle, and deactuation of the control switch deactivates the pump and closes the valve, such that fluid is prevented from exiting the nozzle.  
 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further including—
 a telescoping body having a proximal end and a distal end,  
 a handle positioned at an extreme proximal end of the body, and  
 a first and a second interchangeable head adapted to be secured to the body, wherein the first head is adapted to have a cleaning cloth secured thereto, and the second head is equipped with a squeegee.  
 
     
     
         12 . A fluid pump assembly comprising: 
 a fluid pump;    a first tube adapted to be in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir and connected to the fluid pump;    a second tube portion configured to be in direct fluid communication with the first tube portion and connected to the fluid pump;    a valve cooperating with both the first and second tube portions; and    a control switch, wherein actuation of the control switch simultaneously opens the valve and activates the pump, and deactuation of the control switch simultaneously closes the valve and deactivates the pump.