Sprayless surface cleaner

Abstract

A cleaning head for carpets, walls or upholstery, including a rigid, exterior, open-bottomed main body which defines the surface subjected to the cleaning process. Mounted within or adjacent to the main body portion coplanar with the bottom thereof is the fluid-applying device, which includes a slot at an acute angle to the plane of the bottom of the body located adjacent the plane of the bottom of the body, configured such that the fluid is applied in a thin sheet which flows out of the slot and into the upper portion of the surface to be cleaned and subsequently into the vacuum source for recovery method for cleaning a surface comprises providing a cleaning tool including a lower surface contact area defined by a lip surrounding an opening through which a vacuum is applied and a liquid supply means adjacent the lip, placing the lower surface contact area in contact with a surface to be cleaned, applying a cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned within the lower surface contact area by flowing a substantially continuous film of cleaning liquid from an angled delivery slot of the liquid supply means over a portion of the lower surface contact area, and suctioning the film of cleaning liquid through the opening in the cleaning tool.

1. A cleaning head including a main body portion adapted to be used with a source of cleaning liquid, and a vacuum source for cleaning a floor, wall or upholstered surface; comprising:
 a lower surface contact area defined by a rectangular lip defined by the main body of the head, outlining the limits of operation of the tool as it is guided over the floor;    liquid-applying means fixedly located within the confines of the lip, said liquid-applying means being configured such that the cleaning liquid is applied to the surface as a continuous film flowing over the lower surface, whereby the liquid is better controlled, there is no danger of overspray, and the surface is dried more quickly;    means to interconnect the cleaning head and a source of cleaning liquid; and    means to interconnect the cleaning head and a vacuum source.    
     
     
       2. A floor, wall or upholstery cleaning tool for use in conjunction with a source of cleaning liquid and a vacuum source comprising:
 means interconnecting the tool of the liquid source;    exterior envelope means and interior supply means wherein the exterior envelope has a substantially uni-planer lower surface wherein the envelope means defines a substantially enclosed area of the floor when in contact therewith and is connected to the vacuum source and the supply means is interconnected with the source of cleaning liquid, said interior supply means provides an elongated bottom lip substantially uni-planer with the lower surface of the envelope means and is configured such that the liquid is selectively applied to the floor as a thin film which flows over the bottom lip.    
     
     
       3. A tool as in  claim 2 , wherein the supply means is tabular and includes an elongated slot in its lower surface for delivering the cleaning liquid. 
     
     
       4. A tool as in  claim 3 , wherein the slot is at an acute angle to the plane formed by the lower surface of the exterior envelope means so as to create a fluid attraction, moving fluid toward the vacuum source. 
     
     
       5. A tool as in  claim 2 , wherein the supply means comprises a downwardly open narrow slot with its lower opening substantially in the same plane as the bottom surface of the envelope, means one side of which includes an inwardly projecting foot. 
     
     
       6. A cleaning head adapted to be used with a source of cleaning liquid and a vacuum source for cleaning a floor, wall or upholstered surface, comprising:
 a lower surface contact area defined by a lip surrounding an opening through which a vacuum is applied for removing fluid and entrained soil; and    a liquid supply means adjacent the lip, including an angled delivery slot, causing the liquid to flow in a sheet over the lip and into the vacuum.    
     
     
       7. A method for cleaning a surface, the method comprising:
   providing a cleaning tool comprising:      a lower surface contact area defined by a lip surrounding an opening through which a vacuum is applied for removing liquid; and        a liquid supply means adjacent the lip, the liquid supply means including an angled delivery slot structured for causing liquid to flow over the lip and into the opening through which the vacuum is applied;          placing the lower surface contact area in contact with a surface to be cleaned;        applying a cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned within the lower surface contact area by flowing a substantially continuous film of cleaning liquid from the angled delivery slot over a portion of the lower surface contact area; and        suctioning the film of cleaning liquid through the opening in the cleaning tool.     
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein placing a lower surface contact area in contact with a surface to be cleaned further comprises placing a lowermost surface of the cleaning tool in contact with a surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein placing a lower surface contact area in contact with a surface to be cleaned further comprises placing the lip of the cleaning tool in contact with a surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  wherein flowing a substantially continuous film of cleaning liquid from the angled delivery slot over a portion of the lower surface contact area further comprises flowing the film of cleaning liquid over the lowermost surface. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8  wherein placing a lower surface contact area in contact with a surface to be cleaned further comprises outlining limits of operation of the cleaning tool. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: interconnecting the cleaning tool and a source of cleaning liquid. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: interconnecting the cleaning tool and a source of vacuum. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the lip surrounding the opening in the lower surface contact area is a substantially rectangular lip. 
     
     
       15. A method for cleaning a surface, the method comprising:
   providing a cleaning device defining a first chamber coupled to a vacuum source and having a substantially planar opening, and a second chamber coupled to a cleaning liquid source and having an angled distribution slot and a distribution surface adjacent to the substantially planar opening;        positioning the distribution surface adjacent to a surface to be cleaned such that the distribution surface is substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned; and        distributing a substantially continuous film of cleaning liquid through the angled distribution slot and across a portion of the distribution surface positioned substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned such that the substantially continuous film of cleaning liquid flows from the second chamber, along the distribution surface, and into the first chamber.     
     
     
       16. A method for cleaning a surface, the method comprising:
   providing a cleaning head defining a first chamber structured for connection to a source of vacuum and having a substantially planar opening, and a second chamber structured for connection to a source of cleaning liquid and having an angled distribution slot and a distribution surface, the angled distribution slot being positioned adjacent to the planar opening of the first chamber;        placing a surface contact area of the cleaning head in contact with a surface to be cleaned such that the distribution surface is substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned;        applying a cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned within the surface contact area by flowing a substantially continuous film of cleaning liquid through the angled distribution slot and over a portion of the distribution surface positioned substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned; and        removing the film of cleaning liquid through the first chamber.