| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080236635 | Steam mop - A steam mop having a main body with a boiler, a water container, a mechanical water pump between the boiler and container and at least one side arm connecting the boiler steam outlet to a fabric steam pocket frame. The water pump is actuated by movement of the mop when cleaning to send water to the boiler. The steam pocket frame is substantially rectangular with a plurality of baffles to distribute steam disposed substantially perpendicular to a steam channel having openings to distribute steam between the baffles. A replaceable fabric pocket fits snugly over the frame to distribute cleaning steam to the surface to be cleaned. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20090000051 | Fabric Pad for a Steam Mop - A steam pad for use with a steam mop is provided. The steam pad includes at least one layer of fabric having at least one fastener that corresponds to at least one fastener on the steam mop. In another embodiment, the steam pad comprises a first layer of fabric, a corresponding second layer of fabric, where the first and second layer are joined around the perimeter and where the second layer of fabric has at least one fastener that corresponds to at least one fastener on the steam mop. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090016916 | BIDIRECTIONAL PISTON PUMP - A two-way mechanical pump for a steam appliance having a main body having a boiler with a water inlet and a steam outlet positioned therein in provided. The bidirectional pump on two-way piston pump in accordance with the invention includes a cylinder separated into two chambers by a piston coupled to a piston rod or appliance handle. An inlet having a one-way valve and an outlet having a one-way valve are connected to each change. Movement of the piston from the first end of the cylinder to the second end expels liquid out of the second end and outlet and draws water into the first chamber through the first inlet and one-way valve and movement of the piston towards the first and expels water out of the first chamber and outlet through the first outlet valve and draws water into the second chamber through the second inlet and inlet valve. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090178697 | MULTI-DIRECTIONAL ACTUATOR FOR A PUMP - A steam mop having a main body including a water pump for pumping water from a water tank to a steam generator in response to any movement of the mop is provided. Movement of the mop causes a pump actuator to slide within a frame. The actuator has a camming surface with a pump piston rod biased against the camming surface that causes the pump piston rod to move in and out of a pump cylinder when the actuator moves. This operates a the pump to pump water to the steam generator for feeding steam to a steam pad mounted on a mop steam frame connected to the steam generator outlet. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090249570 | Adapter for Use With a Mop - An adapter for connecting a mop frame to a fluid source is provided. The adapter includes a hollow substantially tubular connector portion with a swivel joint at a mop frame connection end, an elongated hollow body portion with a locking tab at each end and a central opening to receive the swivel joint of the tubular connector portion and the locking tabs at the opposed ends of the body portion biased outwardly for selective engagement to the mop frame and for rotation of the mop frame about the axis of the body portion. In addition, a steam mop frame and adapter for connecting the mop frame to a fluid source is provided. The steam mop and adapter includes a steam mop frame having receiving openings for engaging a connector, a hollow substantially tubular connector having a connector portion with a swivel joint at a mop frame connection end, an elongated hollow body portion with a locking tab at each end and a central opening to receive the swivel joint of the tubular connector portion, and the locking tabs at the opposed ends of the body portion biased outwardly for selective engagement to the mop frame and for rotation of the mop frame about the axis of the body portion. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090279938 | Universal Connector for a Fluid Mop - A universal connector for connecting a mop frame to a fluid source is provided. The universal connector includes an upper connector piece with a proximal end for connection to a mop housing and a distal end with a pair of pivot arms. A fluid distributor having a hollow nipple portion connects to the fluid source and has a pair of pivot plates for pivotal connection to the of upper connection piece for side to side pivot. Fluid distributor also has a pair of opposed elongated hollow arms for coupling to a mop frame. The end of the distributor arms is adapted to slip into a key slot in the mop frame and provide an axis to pivot the joint in an up and down direction. A fluid conduit passing through the upper connector piece from the fluid source and connected to the nipple portion of the distributor for distribution of fluid to the mop frame through the hollow distributor arms. Fabric mop pockets with opening to permit rotation of the mop frame about the distributor are also disclosed. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090320231 | STEAM MOP - A steam mop including a mop housing is provided. The mop housing includes a water tank with a water inlet and a water outlet, a water pump with a pump inlet and a pump outlet and a boiler. A mop handle is connected to the mop housing at one end and a steam frame is connected to the housing at the opposite end. The water tank has a water inlet opening to a surface of the housing with a removable inlet cap where the surface of the housing about the cap has a funnel shape. The water pump is coupled to the outlet of the water tank and inlet of the boiler so that movement of the steam mop activates the pump to pump water from the water container to the boiler for the generation of steam. In addition, a steam frame assembly provided with a fabric steam pocket is selectively removable from the housing. The frame has an opening about the middle of rear wall for mounting a connector including a top end having a steam inlet for connecting to a steam housing and a bottom end having a pair of steam nozzles for connecting to the steam frame and a plurality of baffles are disposed perpendicular to the pair of steam nozzles between the front and rear walls. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100024146 | Fabric Pad for a Steam Mop - A steam pad for use with a steam mop is provided. The fabric steam pad comprises at least one cleaning fabric layer, and a corresponding layer of fabric where the fabric layers are joined around the perimeter. The fabric steam pad has at least one fastener band secured to the mesh fabric in a position to correspond to at least one fastener anchored on the steam mop frame and increased structural stability of the pad to avoid buckling of the fabric at the edges. A warp knit mesh layer may be disposed on the fabric surface opposed to the cleaning surface. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100037495 | Steam Appliance With Pump - A steam appliance having a water pump controlled by an actuator or motion switch response to movement of the appliance is provided. In one embodiment, a micro-switch is turned ON and OFF by movement of a micro-switch actuator in operative engagement with the towel frame at the base if the appliance. In another embodiment, the actuator is operatively connected to a mechanical pump to activate the pump. The motor switch or actuator will be displaced whenever the unit is moved by a user, thus causing the pump to pump water to the boiler. Steam is then fed to a steam pad that may have a replaceable fabric pad fit snugly on the frame to distribute clean steam to a surface to be steamed. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100040489 | Tubular Pump - A tubular fluid pump is provided. The pump includes a chamber for receiving and discharging fluid, and a squeezing mechanism for pumping fluid through the chamber. The chamber has a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, and a length of resilient tubular material extending between the first and second openings. One-way valves disposed at the openings cooperate to permit fluid to pass through the chamber in only one axial direction. The squeezing mechanism includes a substantially rigid base and a substantially rigid displaceable actuator. The tubular material is mounted on the base of the squeezing mechanism, and the actuator is aligned to alternately squeeze the tubular material against the base to pump fluid out of the chamber, and release the tubular material from the base to draw fluid into the chamber. A steam appliance incorporating a one-way tubular pump is also provided. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100088932 | Convertible Steam Appliance - A steam appliance having a split handle with the upper part biased away from the handle base and an actuator for a water pump. When the appliance is pushed, the handle upper part is depressed and displaces a pump actuator to activate the pump. Use of a steam frame and steam towel allows an iron to be used as a steam cleaner. When a pole is mounted on the upper handle part, the appliance may be used as a steam mop that is activated by pushing the pole which depresses the handle to actuate the pump. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100107351 | Fabric Towel With Slider For Steam Appliance - A fabric towel with a slider pattern for use on a cleaning surface with at least one fastener to secure the towel to a steam frame. The fabric towel is used with a steam appliance and the slider pattern reduces friction when used on a fabric or carpeted surface yet provides a sufficient amount of towel surface to steam. In one embodiment, the fabric towel is a steam pocket including a top and bottom layer joined around its perimeter with an open side to allow for mounting on a steam frame with fasteners secured to each layer and wrapped around the back of a steam frame. The slider pattern may be a single piece or a plurality of segments secured to the towel. In another embodiment, towel is a steam pad with has at least one fastener for attachment to the steam cleaner frame. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100116298 | Steam Appliance With Motion Switch - A steam appliance having a water pump controlled by a motion switch response to movement of the appliance is provided. In one embodiment, a micro-switch is turned ON and OFF by movement of a micro-switch actuator in operative engagement with the towel frame at the base if the appliance. In another embodiment, the actuator is operatively connected to a mechanical pump to activate the pump. The motor switch or actuator will be displaced whenever the unit is moved by a user, thus causing the pump to pump water to the boiler. Steam is then fed to a steam pad that may have a replaceable fabric pad fit snugly on the frame to distribute clean steam to a surface to be steamed. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100126535 | Multi-Direction Actuator - A steam appliance, such as a steam mop having a main body including a water pump for pumping water from a water tank to a steam generator in response to any movement of the appliance is provided. Movement causes a pump actuator to slide within a frame. The actuator has a camming surface with a pump piston rod biased against the camming surface that causes the pump piston rod to move in and out of a pump cylinder when the actuator moves. This operates a the pump to pump water to the steam generator for feeding steam to a steam pad mounted on a steam frame connected to the steam generator outlet. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100236018 | CLEANING APPLIANCE HAVING MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS - A cleaning appliance is capable of performing two or more cleaning functions. The cleaning appliance may include a vacuum cleaner and a steam cleaner such that a user can vacuum a floor prior to steam cleaning the floor. Various manual switching arrangements may be used as part of controlling the cleaning appliance. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100269287 | STEAM APPLICATORS - Steam applicators, steam applicator frames, and steam appliance systems in which a steam applicator can be maneuvered to clean and sanitize all kinds of surfaces, not merely floors. | 10-28-2010 |
