Systems for steam cleaning

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for steam cleaning comprise a steam cleaning device/system employed for steam cleaning or treating operations. In an embodiment, a steam cleaning device may comprise agitation features employed for steam cleaning or treating. In another embodiment, the steam cleaning device may be a steam accessory employed for steam cleaning or treating. In yet another embodiment, the steam cleaning device may comprise various features employed for multi-purpose steam cleaning or treating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a head removably attached to a body, wherein the head is in fluid communication with the body and is configured to direct steam from the body into contact with a cleaning surface; and   a scrubber member connected to the body and configured to pivot between a retracted state and a deployed state;, wherein attachment of the head to the body prevents the scrubber member from reaching the cleaning surface and detachment of the head from the body allows the scrubber member to reach the cleaning surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a steam generator unit configured to produce steam and a controller in electrical communication with the steam generator unit, wherein the controller is configured to operate the steam generator unit in a first mode to produce steam at a first rate that is different from a second steam rate in a second mode. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuation mechanism configured to pivot the scrubber member between the retracted state and the deployed state, wherein when the scrubber member is in the deployed state, the scrubber member extends away from the body and when the scrubber member is in the retracted state, the scrubber member extends towards the body. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a distance the actuation mechanism actuates is equal to a distance the scrubber mechanism extends away from the body. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the actuation mechanism and the scrubber member are co-axial relative to each other. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus comprising:
 a head removably attached to a body, wherein the head is in fluid communication with the body and is configured to discharge steam from the body through a first head outlet and a second head outlet,   wherein the first head outlet extends lengthwise along a first axis of the head and wherein the second head outlet extends lengthwise along a second axis of the head, and   wherein when the first and second axes intersect at a first angle, the first head outlet is configured to discharge steam, and when the first and second axes intersect at a second angle, the second head outlet is configured to discharge steam, the first angle is different from the second angle.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be positioned on a cleaning surface and moved across the cleaning surface in a first direction, and wherein the first head outlet discharges steam in the first direction and the second head outlet discharges steam toward the cleaning surface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising an actuation mechanism configured to selectively adjust an intersection angle of the first axis and the second axis between the first angle and the second angle. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a body having an inlet about a first end of the body and an outlet about a second end of the body; and   a head having an opening and a recess, the head configured to releasably couple with the body such that the first end of the body is received in the recess and the second end of the body is received in the opening, wherein the system is configured to discharge steam from the inlet through the outlet and into the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the body further comprises a first button on the second end, the first button being configured to decouple the body and the head. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the body further comprises a second button about the second end, the second button being configured to control the discharge of steam from the inlet through the outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the head further comprises first and second vents in fluid communication with the opening, the first vent disposed about a first axis and is configured to discharge steam in a first mode of operation, the second vent disposed about a second axis and is configured to discharge steam in a second mode of operation, and the first axis and the second axis are nonparallel to one another, and the apparatus is configured to be positioned on a cleaning surface and moved across the cleaning surface in a first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet and the first vent are aligned with one another such that steam is discharged linearly from the inlet through the first vent. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet and the second vent are perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein in the first mode of operation, the first vent is configured to discharge steam in the first direction. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein in the second mode of operation, the first vent is configured to discharge steam in the first direction and the second vent is configured to discharge steam toward the cleaning surface. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the head further comprises an actuation mechanism configured to selectively adjust between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the head further comprises a member in communication with the actuation mechanism, such that in the first mode of operation, the actuation mechanism prevents fluid communication between the inlet and the second vent, and in the second mode of operation, actuation of the member causes the actuation mechanism to prevent fluid communication between the inlet and the first vent. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the actuation of the member is carried out by applying a downward force on the body relative to the cleaning surface. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the body further comprises a third button about the second end, the button being configured to actuate the actuation mechanism.