Carpet cleaning apparatus and method with vibration, heat, and cleaning agent

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for cleaning carpets, upholstered surfaces, and other surfaces is disclosed, the apparatus and method utilizing a combination of vibratory motion, controllable heat, and cleaning agents, the apparatus comprising a base plate, heating elements with electrical connections, and means for moving the base plate to produce a scrubbing motion, the method comprising a replaceable cleaning implement in combination with a mechanical scrubber, a cleaning agent, and controllable heat.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the cleaning of carpets, upholstered surfaces, and other surfaces utilizing a combination of vibratory motion, heat, and cleaning agents. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new apparatus and process for cleaning such surfaces utilizing vibratory or oscillatory "scrubbing" motions and heat, and generally also utilizing fluids, such as water or carbon compound cleaning fluids, whereby a user may remove materials and stains from such carpets or surfaces not otherwise removable.BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION[0002] Methods for cleaning carpets, fabrics, or other similar items ("workpieces"), and the apparatus associated with such methods, are common in the prior art. Some such methods and apparatus involve the movement of air at or close to the workpiece, oftentimes in combination with some method or apparatus for vibrating, or otherwise breaking or shaking loose materials residing on or within, the workpiece. As applied to carp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0018] The present invention overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the prior art by utilizing vibration or agitation simultaneously with heat and a cleaning agent. The cleaning agent is applied either directly to the workpiece or to a cloth which may reside under a base plate attached to a mechanical vibrator or agitator, which plate then moves the cloth in a very tight circular motion, or back and forth against the workpiece, or up and down against the workpiece, or in combinations of such movements, in small increments. The increments of movement may be increased in size by appropriate adjustment of the ag

Problems solved by technology

While the inventions disclosed in these prior patents fulfill their respective objectives, these prior patents do not describe or suggest an apparatus or method which simultaneously utilizes agitation or vibration, in combination with heat, applied directly to the area to be cleaned, along with a separately applied (and therefore controllable) fluid, to suspend and remove the material or particles to be removed.

However, neither the prior patents set forth above nor any other prior art combines all three of the above components as described herein, i.e., by the application of agitation, heat, and a cleaning fluid, each of which is individually controllable.

Put another way, each of the above-noted inventions fails alto

Images