US20060288516A1 - Handheld mechanical soft-surface remediation (SSR) device and method of using same - Google Patents

Abstract

A handheld mechanical soft-surface remediation (SSR) device and method of dislodging, displacing, and disposing of particulates from surfaces and performing disinfection and/or freshening is disclosed. The device is preferably lightweight, easy-to-use and includes a fan assembly, filter assembly, flapper assembly, battery assembly, and chemical delivery system. Performing soft-surface remediation with the mechanical SSR device includes the steps of retrieving the device from storage, installing the consumables into the device, activating the device, performing the cleaning operation, deactivating the device, removing the consumables from device, preparing the device for the next use, storing the device and, optionally, recharging the batteries.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to an apparatus for soft-surface remediation (SSR). In particular, this invention relates to a handheld mechanical SSR device for dislodging, displacing, and disposing of particulates from soft-surfaces and for performing disinfection and/or freshening.
• 2. Discussion of the Related Art
• Indoor air is a very good transport mechanism for airborne particles or contaminants, such as dust and allergens. Dust is generally characterized as including, for example, soot, pet dander, skin flakes, carpet fibers, dust mite feces, hair, and lint. Allergens are generally characterized as including, for example, dust mites, pet dander, mold/mildew, pollen, and germs/bacteria. For energy efficiency reasons, modern homes are constructed to be as air-tight as possible, which has the adverse effect of creating an environment of poor indoor air quality, because it takes a significant amount of time to circulate air into and out of a room. Consequently, airborne contaminants remain circulating in the air and, over time, may land on hard and soft surfaces in the home. Hard surfaces are, for example, floors, counter tops, and the wooden, metal, or glass components of furniture. By contrast, soft surfaces are, for example, upholstery, carpets, mattresses, and drapes.
• Soft surfaces are typically formed by a number of strands of thread or fiber that are woven together in a specific pattern to form a thick surface. Alternatively, the fiber may be in the form of a thin, non-woven mesh. However, most furniture upholstery is of the woven type. Airborne particles become lodged in between the weave of the fibers and onto the fibers themselves. A common structure of upholstered furniture is outer woven fabric atop a thin layer of batting material, which is atop a thick inner foam that provides firmness for, for example, supporting a person's weight. The vast majority of contaminants reside within the weave of the surface fabric or on the batting material of the upholstered item. The surface of the outer woven fabric becomes a collection area for crumbs, hair, dust, lint, and stains. In particular, hair, dust, lint, and dust mite feces become lodged between the surface fabric weave. The batting material becomes a repository for hair, dust mites, dust mite feces, and mold/mildew spores. Finally, mold/mildew spores, bacteria, and germs are commonly found on the surface of the inner foam.
• Technical challenges exist with regard to SSR, which as used herein is any treatment to relieve, prevent, or cure the adverse effects of contaminants that collect thereon. There are generally four components of soft-surface remediation that may be defined as follows: (1) dislodging, which is the act of freeing dust, dirt, hair, etc., from or near the surface, (2) displacing, which is the act of moving dust, dirt, hair, etc., to a containment mechanism after it has been dislodged, (3) disposing, which is the act of capturing the contaminants via a containment mechanism, and (4) disinfecting/freshening, which is the act of applying a treatment to control dust mites, bacteria, mold, etc. or, alternatively, to remove odors or otherwise improve the scent or perceived “freshness” of the soft surface.
• A vacuum cleaner is a well-known household item used for cleaning. A typical vacuum cleaner consists of a suction fan driven by a motor and a suction nozzle with a rotating brush that has a beating effect (for dislodging) on the surface to be cleaned, such as a carpet. Vacuum cleaners exist in various forms, such as a canister type or upright type of design. Both types of vacuum cleaners have considerable weight and are, therefore, cumbersome to use. Additionally, typical canister or upright vacuum cleaners are corded, which limits their easy accessibility to some areas of the home. In particular, standard vacuum cleaners are too cumbersome for use on soft surfaces, such as furniture upholstery, mattresses, and drapes. Furthermore, the mechanical dislodging mechanism of standard vacuum cleaners are destructive the fabric itself.
• Alternatively, handheld portable vacuum cleaners exist in the market today, such as the DustBuster® handheld vacuum manufactured by Black & Decker (Towson, Md.). However, handheld portable vacuum cleaners do not include a dislodging mechanism; they use vacuum power only. Consequently, handheld portable vacuum cleaners are not powerful enough to clean to any sufficient depth and, thus, only the surface is cleaned. In particular, handheld portable vacuum cleaners are not effective in removing hair, as hair is difficult to remove, because of the static cling to fabrics and the entanglement into the weave of the fabric itself. What is needed is a handheld SSR device that has a dislodging mechanism for effectively performing soft-surface remediation, but in a non-destructive manner. Additionally, handheld portable vacuum cleaners have a small opening, so the user must operate the device slowly over the surface to be cleaned, in order for it to work effectively. Furthermore, what is needed is a handheld mechanical apparatus that has a large pickup area, in order to reduce the cleaning time.
• A chemical, e.g., a cleaner, or another ingredient is sometimes desired for freshening, disinfection, or for assisting in the removal of contaminants from a soft surface. It is difficult to introduce chemistry to the surface to be cleaned by use of a standard vacuum cleaner or a handheld portable vacuum cleaner, as neither includes a chemical delivery system. The consumer must, therefore, resort to a separate device for applying a chemical or fluid, which means that the consumer is spending additional time performing separate cleaning, freshening, and disinfecting operations. What is needed is a more effective and efficient way to introduce a fluid or other material onto a soft surface by use of a low-powered, light-weight, handheld mechanical apparatus and, therefore, reduce the overall time for performing cleaning, freshening, and disinfecting operations.
• As a preventative measure, frequent touchup cleaning is beneficial to soft surfaces for delaying more involved and destructive deep-cleaning events. Generally, upholstery does not get as dirty when frequent touchups are performed, as compared with relying on occasional deep cleaning. However, consumers tend not to do touchup cleaning, because existing soft-surface touchup cleaning approaches are not very effective. Deep cleaning is effective, but very laborious and requires powerful tools, chemistry, and energy. Furthermore, the more effective the deep-cleaning event, the more damaging it is to the soft surface. What is needed is an easy-to-use, convenient mechanism for performing touchup cleaning that encourages frequent use and, thus, minimizes the need for deep-cleaning events.
• The disclosures of all of the below-referenced prior United States patents, and applications, in their entireties are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application for purposes including, but not limited to, indicating the background of the present invention and illustrating the state of the art.
• U.S. Patent Application No. 20040172769, “Method and apparatus for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium,” invented by Daniel G. Giddings (Holland, Mich.), Frederick A. Hekman (Holland, Mich.), Richard W. Wellens (Plymouth, Minn.), and Larry D. Wydra (Plymouth, Minn.), describes an apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.
• U.S. Patent Application No. 20020104184, “Portable vacuum cleaning apparatus,” invented by Alma L. Rogers (Stockridge, Ga.) and Dietrich Hoecht (Loganville, Ga.), describes a portable vacuum cleaning apparatus intended to be carried either on a single shoulder or worn backpack style, wherein the vacuum cleaner has an extensible tube and nozzle arrangement that may be held substantially fully enclosed in the vacuum cleaner case, wherein the hose or wand may be collapsed when not in use to prevent entanglement, or may be incrementally extended and secured in a desired position for use. Additional advantages of the present invention include a suspension arrangement for flexibly suspending the internal components of the vacuum and for providing a moment to counteract the force and movement of the wand.
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,166, “Apparatus for cleaning a surface,” assigned to Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.), describes an apparatus for efficiently cleaning stains and extracting cleaning fluid from surfaces such as carpets and upholstery without requiring electrical power is presented. The invention eliminates the inconvenience of retrieving, filling with cleaning fluid, and plugging a deep cleaner into an electrical outlet in order to remove a small spot from a carpet. In addition to the scrubbing and fluid extracting capabilities, embodiments of the invention include a sprayer for applying cleaning fluid to stains. The sprayer may receive fluid from an attached refillable reservoir of cleaning solution, for example. During scrubbing, the top of a pump actuator provides a resting place for the heel of a user's palm. The pump actuator may be locked down when scrubbing and unlocked for pumping to suck up fluid. A piston in a chamber provides the suction force for pulling fluid up through tubules, which may be interspersed between bristle tufts, past check valves and into a waste reservoir. A downward force on the piston provides the suction thereby assuring that the tubules are in contact with the surface during suction. The waste reservoir may be dumped via a plug in the waste reservoir.
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,953, “Vacuum cleaner,” assigned to Aktiebolaget Electrolux (Stockholm, SE), describes vacuum cleaner including a unit, comprising an electric motor and an associated suction fan, and a suction nozzle (36) connected to the inlet side of the unit via a dust separating device (15), either directly or via a connectable rigid conduit (13). The vacuum cleaner comprises a handheld unit (10) which when not in use is arranged to be positioned on a stationary storage unit (11), said handheld unit (10) incorporating the said unit and the dust separating device (15) and being provided with a coupling means (12) for connecting of the rigid conduit (13). For power supply purposes, by means of an extensible flex (26), the handheld unit (10) is connected to the storage unit (11) which via an additional flex (39) is connectable to a mains outlet.
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,122, “Corded handheld vacuum cleaner,” assigned to Electrolux Corporation (Atlanta, Ga.), describes a handheld vacuum cleaner that has a motor mounted with the rotational axis of its shaft parallel to the rotational axis of the rotating brush. The vacuum cleaner motor has an end bell, which is attached to the motor stator, and which holds a motor shaft bearing. The end bell is secured to the vacuum housing with an elastomeric mounting ring to dampen motor vibrations. The need for most motor mounting hardware is eliminated, because the housing supports the motor stator directly. The intake orifice of the vacuum is shaped to lie in two distinct planes, so that flat cleaning surfaces do not obstruct the orifice. The shape of the intake also allows one to clean immediately adjacent to a vertical wall.
• World Intellectual Property Organization Application No. WO8301734, “Dust remover for removing dust, hair, or other loose particles from objects such as clothes, textiles, furniture, etc.,” describes a dust remover for removing dust, hair or other loose particles from the surface of objects such as clothes, textiles, furniture etc comprising a substantially cylindrical roller (1) which is rotatably supported on a holder, the peripheral surface of said roller being provided with an adhesive layer (6) for removing said dust particles etc by adhesion when the roller (1) is brought into rolling contact with the surface of the object to be cleaned. The dust remover comprises a divided casing, the casing parts (7, 11) being movable in relation to each other by relative rotational movement between a position in which the casing parts (7, 11) completely enclose the roller (1), and a position in which the roller (1) is partly exposed for enabling rolling contact with the object to be cleaned. The casing parts (7, 11) are arranged for relative rotational movement about an axis that is parallel to, and preferably coaxial with the rotational axis of the roller (1).
• Also incorporated by reference herein is the disclosure contained in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/090,438 entitled “SOFT-SURFACE REMEDIATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING SAME” and assigned to S.C. Johnson & Sons, Inc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• It is therefore an aspect of the invention to provide a handheld SSR device that has a dislodging mechanism for effectively performing soft-surface remediation in a non-destructive manner.
• It is another aspect of this invention to provide a low-powered, light-weight, handheld mechanical SSR device that has a large pickup area, in order to reduce the cleaning time.
• It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a more effective and efficient way to introduce a chemistry, fluid or cleaner onto a soft surface by use of a low-powered, light-weight, handheld mechanical SSR device.
• It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a low-powered, light-weight, handheld mechanical SSR device having a slapping mechanism, a dispenser, and a filter that reduces the time required for cleaning, freshening, and disinfecting soft surfaces.
• It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide an easy-to-use, convenient mechanism that encourages consumers to perform touchup cleaning events more frequently.
• Various consumables may aid the device of the present invention in this purpose, for example, disposable filters, scrubbing members, cleaning heads, and various other cleaning materials or fluids. For example, compositions for refreshing fabrics, stain removal and antibacterial control may also be provided.
• These and other aspects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views, and in which:
• FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of the internal elements of a mechanical SSR device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the mechanical SSR device of the first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 1C illustrates a bottom view of the mechanical SSR device of the first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of performing soft-surface remediation by use of the mechanical SSR device of the present invention.
• FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of the internal elements of a mechanical SSR device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of the mechanical SSR device of the second embodiment of the invention.
• In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
• The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description.
• For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “cleaning” or “cleaned” is broadly expanded to include operations associated with soft-surface remediation (SSR). The materials used for further cleaning may include cleaning chemicals, odor eliminators, stain removal, fabric protectors, fresheners, and disinfectants all of which may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, gels, substrates and/or powders or combinations thereof.
• 1. System Overview
• The present invention is a handheld mechanical SSR device for, and method of, dislodging, displacing, and disposing of particulates from soft surfaces, such as upholstery. The handheld mechanical SSR device of the present invention effectively performs soft-surface remediation in a non-destructive manner, is low-powered and light-weight, has as large pickup area for providing a faster cleaning operation, provides a chemical delivery mechanism for freshening, disinfection, or assisting in the removal of contaminants, and provides an easy-to-use, convenient mechanism that encourages consumers to perform touchup cleaning events more frequently. For the purposes of this disclosure the term “cleaning” or “cleaned” is broadly expanded to include operations associated with SSR.
• 2. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
• FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of the internal elements of amechanical SSR device100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. Preferably,mechanical SSR device100 includes afan assembly110, afilter assembly112, aflapper assembly114, and abattery assembly116.
• In this embodiment,fan assembly110 further preferably includes afan motor120, which is a standard 5 to 24 volt DC motor or 120 Volt AC motor capable of 1000 to 30000 rotations per minute (RPMs) and afan blade122, which is a standard lightweight fan blade formed of, for example, molded plastic.Fan motor120 may be either a single-speed or multi-speed AC or DC motor. An example offan motor120 is Mabuchi Motor RS-540SH/SF-5045.Fan assembly110 is preferably capable of developing a suction pressure of −0.15 to −0.66 pounds per square inch (PSI). However, other fans with similar characteristics are contemplated.
• Filter assembly112 further includes afilter130 and acollection tray132.Filter130 is a consumable non-woven filter or electrostatic cloth positioned in close proximity tofan blade122.Filter130 can be a standard high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or a high airflow filter (HAF) filter available from 3M.Collection tray132 is positioned at the lower region offilter130, in order to capture large or heavy particles that will not lodge withinfilter130 because the suction force is limited. Additionally, whenfan motor120 is turned off and the suction stops, some particles will drop fromfilter130 and intocollection tray132.Filter130 andcollection tray132 are mechanically integrated such that both may be easily accessed by the user, in order to remove and replacefilter130 and for emptyingcollection tray132. In another embodiment, the filter and the collection tray may be incorporated into the same device. This device may be disposable.
• Flapper assembly114 is preferably a mechanical, surface-slapping mechanism. Theassembly114 preferably includes a set of slappers or flappers140, such as aflapper140a,140b, and140c, as shown inFIG. 1A, that are arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart, in order to ensure a small air gap therebetween.Flappers140a,140b, and140care preferably formed of rigid lightweight material, such as spring steel, and include a plurality ofholes142. Alternatively, each flapper140 is a solid piece of material that has noholes142. In one embodiment, flappers may have a sticky surface or tape on them for catching debris that is freed from the soft surface. Such a tape may be removable and disposed of after capturing debris. This consumable material will need to be replaced before a new cleaning project is started. In another embodiment, protrusions may be added to the flappers either on the tape materials or on the flapper.
• Flappers140a,140b, and140care attached at one end to a spring-loadedhinge112, which is mechanically attached in close proximity to filterassembly114. Spring-loadedhinge144 provides a pivot point forflappers140a,140b, and140c. Spring-loadedhinge144 also provides an appropriate spring force.
• Flapper assembly114 further includes a set of disks146 that are arranged along ashaft148. Disks146 are oriented orthogonal to flappers140 and are mechanically coupled to flappers140 via a set of arms150. More specifically, adisk146ais mechanically coupled toflapper140avia anarm150a, adisk146bis mechanically coupled toflapper140bvia anarm150b, and adisk146cis mechanically coupled toflapper140cvia anarm150c. Astandard pulley152 that is mounted at one end ofshaft148 is driven by aflapper motor154 via astandard belt156. Spring-loadedhinge144, disks146,shaft148, arms150, andpulley152 are formed of a rigid lightweight material, such as molded plastic or aluminum.
• Flapper motor154 is preferably a standard 5 to 24 volt DC motor or a 120 volt AC motor capable of 1000 to 30000 RPMs.Flapper motor154 may be either a single-speed or a multi-speed DC motor. Anexample flapper motor154 is a Johnson Electric HC613G, however, there are a wide range of suitable motors available. When activated,flapper motor154 imparts rotational motion toshaft148 and, subsequently, to disks146.
• Each disk146 has one ormore notches158, into which a curved end of its respective arm150 is alternately engaged and disengaged as each disk146 rotates. In one example,disk146aanddisk146care mounted onshaft148 such that theirnotches158 are in alignment one to another, whiledisk146bis mounted onshaft148 such that itsnotches158 are 90 degrees out of phase with those ofdisk146aanddisk146c. However,disk146a,146b, and146cmay be mounted with theirnotches158 in any user-desired orientation.
• If the embodiment is battery powered, thebattery assembly116 preferably further includes a plurality ofbatteries160, which are standard rechargeable or non-rechargeable 1.5 to 9 volt batteries that are electrically connected in series to provide a DC voltage source of 5 to 24 volts tofan motor120 andflapper motor152. Alternatively, the device may be corded and operate via an AC voltage source.
• FIG. 1B illustrates a side view ofmechanical SSR device100, which shows thatmechanical SSR device100 further includes abody170 formed of a rigid lightweight material, such as molded plastic, that housesfan assembly110,filter assembly112,flapper assembly114, andbattery assembly116. Molded withinbody170 is ahandle172; an opening in that lower region ofbody170 forms aninlet174. Additionally, adisplacement chamber176 is formed frominlet174 ofmechanical SSR device100 and leads to filter130.Displacement chamber176 is bounded on two sides by the inner walls ofbody170 and, on an upper side near disks146, by anairflow guide178, which is formed of, for example, molded plastic.
• FIG. 1B shows thatmechanical SSR device100 further includes adelivery system180 that preferably includes achemical supply182, which is fluidly connected to aspray pump184, both of which are mounted withinhandle172.Spray pump182 is fluidly connected to aspray nozzle186 via atube188.Spray nozzle186 is mounted in the forward region ofbody170 in close proximity toinlet174.Chemical supply182 is representative of, for example, a consumable aerosol or liquid canister that contains a substance for freshening, disinfection, or assisting in the removal of contaminants, such as the Oust® Bathroom Air Sanitizer canister manufactured by SC Johnson & Son, Inc (Racine, Wis.).Spray pump184 is, for example, a manual pump mechanism that has a button that may be manipulated easily by the user's thumb as the user graspshandle172.Spray nozzle186 is the spray outlet for directing the chemical onto the soft surface to be cleaned.Spray nozzle186 maximizes dispersion and creates very small particles, in order to ensure that the chemistry is properly applied onto, but does not soak, the soft surface. While a fluid cleaner is preferred, it is possible the material dispensed may be a foam, or a powder.
• With reference toFIGS. 1A and 1B, those skilled in the art will recognize that standard mechanical mounting structures exist withinbody170 ofmechanical SSR device100 for securingfan assembly110,filter assembly112,flapper assembly114,battery assembly116, andchemical delivery system180 but, for simplicity, are not shown.
• FIG. 1C illustrates a bottom view ofmechanical SSR device100, which shows the position of flappers140 in relation toinlet174.Inlet174 is the contaminant pickup area for cleaning a soft surface and also as the air intake port formechanical SSR device100, through which air is drawn by the action offan assembly110. A set of exhaust ports (not shown) are present withinbody170 in close proximity tofan assembly110. An example dimension of each flapper140 is 50 to 250 mm long, 20 to 50 mm wide and 3 to 7 mm thick.Holes142 of each flapper140 have a diameter of 1 to 7 mm. Note these holes allow dust and dirt that are under the flapper to flow into the body of the unit and then eventually be sucked into the filter. An example dimension ofinlet174 is 1×50 mm. A distance from the end of flappers140 to the front edge ofinlet174 is typically between 1 and 40 mm. The surface area of each flapper140 that extends into the area ofinlet174 is, for example, 25×100 mm. Flappers140 are spaced apart a small distance of, for example, 3 to 10 mm, in order to ensure a small air gap therebetween. Alternatively, a mesh screen or wire material may be used to form the flappers, e.g., in a tennis racket-like configuration.
• With reference toFIGS. 1A, 1B, and1C, the overall dimensions ofmechanical SSR device100 are, for example, a length of between 20 and 40 cm, a width of between 12 and 20 cm, and a height of between 9 and 15 cm. Additionally, an example weight ofmechanical SSR device100 is between 0.9 and 2.0 kg. The overall dimensions and weight ofmechanical SSR device100 are not limited to those stated above, so long as they are practically suited to an ergonomically correct handheld portable device.
• With continuing reference toFIGS. 1A, 1B, and1C, the operation ofmechanical SSR device100 is as follows. Aclean filter130 and afull chemical supply182 are installed withinbody170 ofmechanical SSR device100.Mechanical SSR device100 is activated by a standard on/off switch (not shown) that makes an electrical connection between the output voltage ofbattery assembly116,fan motor120, andflapper motor154. As a result,fan blade122 rotates and creates a flow of air of between 25 and 50 cubic feet per minute (CFM), by drawing air intoinlet174 inbody170, throughdisplacement chamber176, throughfilter130,past fan assembly110, and exiting the air through the exhaust ports at the rear ofbody170. At the same time,flapper motor154 imparts rotational motion toshaft148 viapulley152 andbelt156. Consequently,disks146a,146b, and146care rotating, which causes one end offlappers140a,140b, and140c, respectively, to slap up and down. More specifically, and usingflapper140aas an example, asdisk146arotates, the curved end ofarm150ais alternately engaged and disengaged from one ormore notches158. When the curved end ofarm150ais engaged within anotch158, it is lifted upward momentarily, which causes the end offlapper140athat is attached to arm150aalso to lift upward momentarily. In doing so,flapper140apivots upward at an angle away from the plane ofinlet174, with spring-loadedhinge144 as the pivot point. Asdisk146acontinues to rotate, the curved end ofarm150adisengages eventually from within anotch158, which causesarm150aandflapper140ato return to alignment with the plane ofinlet174, because of the action of spring-loadedhinge144 and gravity. In doing so,flapper140aslaps against the soft surface to be cleaned and dislodges particles of contaminants within its fibers in a non-destructive manner. This lifting and releasing offlapper140acontinues in an alternating fashion asdisk146arotates. As the particles are kicked away from the soft surface because of the action offlapper140a, they are caught in the airflow withindisplacement chamber176 and move towardfilter130. Small particles are trapped withinfilter130, while particles that are too heavy or too large to be trapped withinfilter130 hit the surface offilter130 and then fall intocollection tray132. Clean filtered air then exitsmechanical SSR device100.Flappers140band140coperate identically. However, the slapping action offlappers140a,140b, and140cmay be such that they each make contact with the soft surface at different times. Additionally, the repetition rate offlappers140a,140b, and140c, which is determined by the rotational speed ofshaft148 and the diameter of disks146, is, for example, between 1 and 10 repetitions/second. As a result, particles of contaminants are dislodged in a non-destructive manner, displaced, and then disposed of. Optionally, by use ofspray pump184, the user may activatechemical delivery system180 during the use ofmechanical SSR device100 and, thereby, provide a freshening or disinfection operation, in combination with the removal of contaminants. Upon completion of the cleaning operation,mechanical SSR device100 is deactivated,filter130 is cleaned or replaced,collection tray132 is emptied and, if necessary,chemical supply182 is replenished.
• Those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementation offlapper assembly114 as shown and described inFIGS. 1A, 1B, and1C is but one example. Any number of well-known mechanical arrangements is possible for causing a slapping motion of a mechanical element upon the soft surface to be cleaned and, thus,mechanical SSR device100 is not limited to thespecific flapper assembly114 design disclosed herein. For example,flapper assembly114 with flappers140 may be replaced by one or more piston mechanisms arranged orthogonally to the plane ofinlet174. A piston mechanism is driven to impart an up and down motion to a flat paddle element that is oriented parallel to the plane ofinlet174 for producing a slapping motion upon the soft surface to be remediated.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of onepreferred method200 of performing soft-surface remediation by use ofmechanical SSR device100 of the present invention.Method200 preferably includes first thestep210 of retrieving SSR device from storage. In this step, a user retrievesmechanical SSR device100 from its storage location (which may be a battery recharging device).Method200 proceeds to step212, the step of installing consumables into SSR device. In this step, the user opens the access mechanism forfilter130 withinbody170 and installs a new or cleanedfilter130. If necessary, the user opens the access mechanism forchemical supply182 withinhandle172 ofbody170 and installs anew chemical supply182. After installingfilter130 and/orchemical supply182, the user closes all access mechanisms.Method200 proceeds to step214, the step of activating SSR device. In this step, the user activatesmechanical SSR device100 by a standard on/off switch and, thereby, activatesfan motor120 andflapper motor154. As a result,fan blade122 rotates and creates a flow of air by drawing air intoinlet174 inbody170, throughdisplacement chamber176, throughfilter130,past fan assembly110, and out the exhaust ports at the rear ofbody170. At the same time,flapper motor154 imparts rotational motion toshaft148 viapulley152 andbelt156. Consequently,disks146a,146b, and146care rotating, which causesflappers140a,140b, and140c, respectively, to slap up and down.Method200 proceeds to step216.
• Step216 is the step of performing the cleaning operation. In this step, the user grasps handle172 and bringsinlet174 ofmechanical SSR device100 into contact with a soft surface to be cleaned, such as upholstery, and, subsequently, movesinlet174 ofmechanical SSR device100 over the soft surface to be cleaned by using any back-and-forth or side-to-side motion, until the entire surface has been cleaned by the action offlapper assembly114 andfan assembly110. More specifically, the slapping action offlapper assembly114 dislodges the particulates, the suction action offan assembly110 displaces the particulates by the airflow moving throughdisplacement chamber176 and towardfilter130, and the filtering action offilter130 captures the particulates. Optionally, by use ofspray pump184, the user may activatechemical delivery system180 and, thereby, provide a freshening or disinfection operation, in combination with the removal of contaminants. Alternatively,chemical delivery system180 is automatically activated without direct user activation.Method200 proceeds to step218, the step of deactivating SSR device. In this step, the user deactivatesmechanical SSR device100 by a standard on/off switch, which deactivatesfan motor120 andflapper motor154.Method200 proceeds to step220.
• Step220 is the step of removing consumables from SSR device. In this step, the user opens the access mechanism forfilter130 withinbody170 and removes thedirty filter130. If necessary, the user opens the access mechanism forchemical supply182 withinhandle172 ofbody170 and removeschemical supply182.Method200 proceeds to step222. Step222 is the step of preparing SSR device for next use. In this step, the user emptiescollection tray132 and, optionally, wipes clean flappers140 with a cloth. The user then closes all access mechanisms. Next isstep224, the step of storing SSR device. In this step, the user returnsmechanical SSR device100 to its storage location.Method200 may then proceed to step226. In this optional step, in the case in whichbatteries160 are rechargeable batteries, the user plugsmechanical SSR device100 into an associated battery recharging device.Method200 ends. Of course, these steps need to not be preformed in the order in which they appear above. Additionally, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate some steps need not be present at all and other steps may be added.
• FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of the internal elements of amechanical SSR device300 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.Mechanical SSR device300 includesfan assembly110,flapper assembly114, andbattery assembly116, as described in reference toFIGS. 1A, 1B, and1C. However, instead of includingfilter assembly112 positioned nearfan assembly110,mechanical SSR device300 includes afilter310 in an alternative position relative toflapper assembly114, for reasons described in more detail in reference toFIG. 3B.Filter310 is a consumable non-woven filter or electrostatic cloth that is preferably slightly sticky to capture debris.
• FIG. 3B illustrates a side view ofmechanical SSR device300, which shows thatmechanical SSR device300 further includes abody312 formed of a rigid lightweight material, such as molded plastic, that housesfan assembly110,flapper assembly114, andbattery assembly116. Molded withinbody312 is ahandle314, an opening in that lower region ofbody312 forms aninlet316 at which filter310 is mounted. Additionally, adisplacement chamber318 is formed frominlet316 ofmechanical SSR device300 and leads tofan assembly110.Displacement chamber318 is bounded on two sides by the inner walls ofbody312, on an upper side near disks146 by anairflow guide320, and on a lower side by anairflow guide322, which are formed of, for example, molded plastic.
• In this embodiment,filter310 is located at the outside ofinlet316, in order to facilitate easier access for removal and replacement. Furthermore, this configuration greatly limits any dust and hair from enteringmechanical SSR device300 and reachingfan motor120 andflapper motor154, which reduces the possibility of failure. However, because there is nocollection tray132 withinmechanical SSR device300, this embodiment is less suited for picking up large or heavy particles and more suited for removing fine particles and hair. More specifically, themedia forming filter310 is slightly sticky and, thus, acts like a piece of tape on a soft surface, to attract and hold the dust and hair. Flappers140 make contact with the surface offilter310 opposite the soft surface to be cleaned. The slapping action offlapper assembly114 enhances the cleaning operation, in order to pick up hair that is entangled within the fibers of the soft surface to be cleaned.
• The general operation ofmechanical SSR device300 is similar to that described in reference tomechanical SSR device100 ofFIGS. 1A, 1B, and1C. Additionally, the method of performing soft-surface remediation usingmechanical SSR device300 of the present invention is similar to that described in reference tomethod200 ofFIG. 2. In both cases,mechanical SSR device300 differs only in the placement and handling of the filter mechanism and the absence ofcollection tray132.
• In summary and with reference toFIGS. 1A, 1B,1C,2,3A and3B,mechanical SSR device100 and300 of the present invention effectively perform soft-surface remediation in a non-destructive manner viaflapper assembly114 andfan assembly110; are low-powered and light-weight, have a large pickup area (i.e.,inlet174 andinlet316, respectively) for providing a faster cleaning operation, providechemical delivery mechanism180 for freshening, disinfection, or assisting in the removal of contaminants; and provides an easy-to-use, convenient mechanism that encourages consumers to perform touchup cleaning events more frequently.
• In one embodiment, thecatch mechanism130 or consumable non-woven filter, electrostatic cloth or other such material is preferably positioned in close proximity to thefan110. Such a disposal mechanism or catch130 may be a variety of shapes, including, but not limited to, a J-ring, a donut, or a slightly convex or concave cup. The filter may be supported by a plastic or cardboard ring, frame, or housing. In another example,disposal catch mechanism130 is a Grab-It® Cloth from S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. (Racine, Wis.) or a Swiffer® Cloth from Procter & Gamble (Cincinnati, Ohio). In yet another example, disposal catch mechanism may be located on or in thetray132 and may be a non-woven material, a gel, or some sticky substance that will act to trap and hold particulate matter within the air.
• In another embodiment, the flappers140 themselves may be also impregnated with an active material or ingredient to provide sanitation, such as, odor removal, odor neutralization, or dust mite control, to the soft surface to be cleaned. An example active ingredient for providing sanitation and that has suitably small particles that do not saturate the fabric is triethylene glycol (TEG). An example active ingredient for providing odor neutralization is also triethylene glycol (as found in Oust® from S.C. Johnson & Son). An example active ingredient for providing odor removal is cyclodextrin (as found in Febreze® from Procter & Gamble). Alternatively, this material may be added through the delivery system.
• As mentioned, the fluid orchemical material consumable182 may include a variety of materials, e.g., cleaners, odor eliminators, fresheners, protectants, and disinfectants all of which may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, gels and/or powders or combinations thereof. This chemistry is suitable to remediate hard and soft surfaces such as a pillow, mattress, carpet, car interior, drape, window, floor, plumbing drain, insect habitat, and/or couch.
• Additionally, any active material or ingredient may be delivered to the surface being treated by thedelivery system180 which may also include a reservoir or other system that is externally or internally mounted to the unit, and which may include a trigger spray, pump spray, canister, fluid cavity, aerosol, or similar means. Alternatively, the material may be a foam cleaner (contained e.g., in a canister) which after being first set down by an outward flow is then picked up by the device. The foam may be activated by a variety of means as is known in the art, e.g., chemical reaction, surfactants, agitators, a dual bottle system, OXYCLEAN, etc.
• Materials that both protect and renew also may be added to the fluid stream. These materials can rejuvenate the fibers of the soft surface and coat them to become more dirt resistant and water resistant in the future. For example, various compositions made by DuPont and 3M are known to make fabric water and/or stain resistant, such as SCOTCHGUARD™. These materials may also include compositions comprised of a dispersant and/or microcapsules containing an active material.
• Because of it configuration, thisdevice100 may be used not only for soft surface cleaning but with minor modification to deliver material that includes an insecticide, repellant, herbicide, fungicide, antimicrobial, floor cleaner, window cleaner, drain cleaner, air freshening, etc. A long, extendable, preferably telescoping, handle allows the user to reach certain surfaces and/or provide distance between the user and the material treating the surface during application. In some instances, the motor is preferably impervious to water so that the device can be used in areas where these types of liquids are used.
• In yet another embodiment, the handle may not be present. This embodiment would be configured to fit into the palm of the user's hand for ease of use in touch-up cleaning particular in areas where is there is not much space.
• Other embodiments of the present invention may have protrusions projecting from the slapper or for the bottom of the housing. These protrusions or teeth may be used to grab on and lift up what is on the surface, e.g., pet hair, paper, or even some other electro-statically bound matter. Alternatively, the teeth may be part of a rake, brush, or they may not resemble teeth at all but rather just a soft, spongy piece of material. The teeth may be more rounded to be more like fingers and may be made of plastic, rubber, or some equally stiff yet somewhat flexible material so as not to damage the surface. Inner housing and motor housing are substantially cylindrical shaped and are formed of a rigid lightweight material, such as molded plastic or aluminum.
• Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. In addition, the individual components need not be fabricated from the disclosed materials, but could be fabricated from virtually any suitable materials. Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration. Further, although many components are described herein as physically separate modules, it will be manifest that they may be integrated into the apparatus with which they are associated. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each disclosed embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive.
• It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A method of cleaning a soft surface comprising the steps of:

mechanically dislodging and displacing of particulates from a soft surface with a handheld device having a slapper;

disposing of the particulates through use of filter in the device; and

disinfecting and freshening the surface with a sprayer containing connected to the handheld device.

2. A handheld mechanical soft-surface remediation device comprising

a housing;

a fan assembly within the housing;

a filter assembly in fluid communication with the fan assembly;

a flapper assembly within the housing;

a battery assembly adjacent the housing; and

a delivery system operably connected to the housing.

3. A method of performing soft-surface remediation by use of the mechanical device comprising the steps of:

retrieving the device from storage;

installing the consumables into the device, activating the device;

performing the cleaning operation with a flapper;

deactivating the device;

automatically activating chemical delivery system without direct user activation;

removing the consumables from the device;

preparing the device for the next use;

storing the device; and

recharging the batteries of the device.

4. A handheld device comprising:

a light-weight housing including a large pickup area;

a motor operably associated with the housing;

a dislodging mechanism driven by the motor for effectively performing soft-surface remediation in a non-destructive manner; and

a means to introduce a cleaner onto a soft surface.

5. A cleaning device comprising:

a housing;

an ingredient delivery mechanism operably associated with the housing for freshening, disinfection;

a flapper assembly in the housing; and

a catch within the housing for the removal of contaminants.

6. A method of performing soft-surface remediation including the steps of:

retrieving from storage from a battery charging position a cleaning device having a body, an inlet, a displacement chamber, exhaust ports and a handle;

installing a consumable into the device by opening a filter access mechanism within the body and installing a new or cleaned filter;

opening a supply access mechanism within handle of body and inserting a new chemical supply;

closing at least one access mechanism;

grasping a handle and bringing inlet of the device into contact with a soft surface to be cleaned;

activating a fan motor to rotate a fan blade and create a flow of air by drawing air into the inlet in body, through the displacement chamber, through filter, past a fan assembly, and out the exhaust ports at the rear of body;

imparting motion to flapper motor to rotate a shaft via a pulley and belt;

rotating disks operably attached to the shaft to cause flappers to move up and down;

slapping the flapper assembly on a surface to dislodge particulates;

moving inlet of device over the soft surface to be cleaned by using a back-and-forth or side-to-side motion;

cleaning a surface by the action of flapper assembly and fan assembly;

displacing the particulates by a suction fan assembly to create an airflow moving through displacement chamber;

moving the particulates toward a filter;

capturing the particulates by a filtering action of filter;

using a spray pump;

activating a chemical delivery system to freshen or disinfect the surface;

deactivating the device by an on/off switch to stop fan motor and flapper motor;

opening the access mechanism for the filter within body to remove the dirty filter;

opening the supply access mechanism within handle of body to remove the chemical supply and recharge the supply;

preparing the device for a next use;

closing all access mechanisms; and

returning the device to its storage location.

7. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the fan assembly includes a fan motor and a fan blade,

wherein the fan motor includes one of a single-speed or multi-speed AC or DC motor,

wherein the fan assembly is capable of developing a suction pressure of −0.15 to −0.66 pounds per square inch,

wherein the filter assembly includes a filter and a collection tray,

wherein the filter assembly includes a consumable non-woven portion or electrostatic cloth positioned in close proximity to fan blade.

8. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the filter is at least one of a standard mesh high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or HAF filter.

9. The device ofclaim 2, further comprising a collection tray positioned near a lower region of a filter in the filter assembly in order to capture particles that will not lodge within filter.

10. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the filter assembly comprising a filter and a collection tray that are mechanically integrated for ease of access by a user.

11. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the flapper assembly includes a set of flappers that are arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart to ensure a small air gap therebetween.

12. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the flapper assembly includes a plurality of flappers that are formed of a rigid lightweight material and include a plurality of holes.

13. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the flapper assembly includes flappers formed of spring steel;

a disk mechanically coupled to a flapper via an arm;

a pulley mounted at one end of a shaft and driven by a flapper motor via a standard belt; and

a flapper motor that is at least one of a DC motor, an AC motor, a single-speed motor, and a multi-speed motor.

14. The device ofclaim 2, wherein

the flapper assembly includes a flapper that is a solid piece of material that has no holes;

the flappers are attached at one end to a spring-loaded flapper hinge;

the flapper hinge is mechanically attached in close proximity to the filter assembly;

the hinge provides a pivot point for the flapper;

the spring-loaded hinge provides an appropriate spring force;

the flapper assembly includes a set of disks that are arranged along a shaft; and

the flapper disks are oriented orthogonal to the flappers and are mechanically coupled to flappers via a set of arms.

15. The device ofclaim 2, wherein when activated, a flapper motor imparts rotational motion to a shaft and, subsequently, to disks.

16. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the flapper assembly includes a plurality of disks, and wherein each disk has one or more notches into which a curved end of an arm is alternately engaged and disengaged as each disk rotates.

17. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the flapper assembly includes a plurality of disks are mounted on a shaft such that the notches are in alignment one to another, and wherein at least one disk is mounted on shaft such that its notches are 90 degrees out of phase with those of the other disks.

18. The device ofclaim 2, further comprising a displacement chamber bounded on two sides by inner walls of a housing body and, on an upper side near disks by an airflow guide.

19. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the delivery system includes a chemical supply fluidly connected to a spray pump mounted within a handle in the housing; wherein the flapper assembly includes a flapper that slaps against a soft surface to be cleaned and dislodges particles of contaminants within its fibers in a non-destructive manner.

20. The device ofclaim 5, further including a piston mechanism arranged orthogonally to a plane of an inlet; wherein the piston mechanism is driven to impart an up and down motion to a flat paddle element that is oriented parallel to the plane of inlet for producing a slapping motion upon the soft surface to be remediated.

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