Portable steam cleaner with back harness

Abstract

A portable steam cleaner eliminates the need for the heavy, self-contained machine that houses the water pump, vacuum system, solution tank, and wastewater recovery tank. It moves the vacuum system and recovery tank from the self-contained unit to a module that the technician wears on his back. The water pump itself becomes a separate unit that attaches to any external tank of water at the job site, such as a bathtub. This external tank serves as the solution tank. Because the portable steam cleaner breaks the machine into small, manageable modules, a technician can easily transport the equipment to a job site. With the smaller steam cleaner, the technician has a great degree of flexibility, so he can maneuver the steam cleaner with ease and efficiency. Finally, because the recovery tank rests on the technician's back, he can effortlessly drain the tank simply by opening a valve.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable steam cleaning apparatus operable for cleaning surfaces in one or more rooms located within a building unit comprising: 
 a. a housing unit having a vacuum motor and a recovery tank for collecting wastewater;    b. a wand connected to said vacuum motor by a vacuum hose, said wand having a distal end for being placed in proximity to a surface to be cleaned;    c. a solution pump operable for obtaining water from a plumbing fixture in proximity to a room having the surface to be cleaned within the building unit;    d. a solution line wherein an end of said solution line is connected to said solution pump and an opposite end of said solution line is connected to said wand.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in    claim 1    further comprising a harness assembly for carrying said housing unit on the back of an operator.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in    claim 1    wherein said plumbing fixture is a bathtub.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus in    claim 1    wherein said plumbing fixture is a sink.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus in    claim 1    wherein said plumbing fixture is a toilet.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus in    claim 1    further comprising a dump valve operable for expelling wastewater from said recovery tank.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in    claim 1    further comprising a hose to pump a cleaning solution provided in said plumbing fixture to said surface to be cleaned, wherein an end of said hose is attached to said solution pump and an opposite end of said hose dips into said plumbing fixture.  
     
     
         8 . A system for cleaning surfaces in one or more rooms located within a building unit comprising: 
 a. a housing unit having a vacuum motor and a recovery tank for collecting wastewater;    b. a wand connected to said vacuum motor by a vacuum hose, said wand having a distal end for being placed in proximity to a surface to be cleaned;    c. a plumbing fixture in proximity to a room having the surface to be cleaned within the building unit, wherein said plumbing fixture is filled with water and soap to create a cleaning solution for distribution onto the surface to be cleaned by said wand;    d. a solution pump operable for obtaining water from a plumbing fixture in proximity to a room having the surface to be cleaned within the building unit;    e. a solution line wherein an end of said solution line is connected to said solution pump and an opposite end of said solution line is connected to said wand;    f. a hose to pump the cleaning solution provided in said plumbing fixture to said surface to be cleaned, wherein an end of said hose is attached to said solution pump and an opposite end of said hose dips into said plumbing fixture; and    g. a harness assembly for carrying said housing unit on the back of an operator.    
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in    claim 8   , wherein said plumbing fixture is a bathtub.  
     
     
         10 . A method for cleaning surfaces in one or more rooms located within a building unit comprising the steps of: 
 a. attaching a solution pump to a plumbing fixture in proximity to a room having a surface to be cleaned within the building unit to obtain water from said plumbing fixture;    b. filling said plumbing fixture with a water and soap to create a cleaning solution for distribution onto a surface to be cleaned;    c. connecting said solution pump to a portable housing unit having a recovery tank for collecting wastewater, a vacuum motor, and a dump hose connected to said recovery tank, wherein said portable housing unit is carried on the back of the operator; and    d. moving a wand connected to said portable housing unit in a longitudinal motion along said surface to be cleaned, wherein said wand distributes a cleaning solution onto said surface and concurrently extracts wastewater from said surface for disposal through a distal end of said wand.    
     
     
         11 . The method in    claim 10    wherein said plumbing fixture is a bathtub.  
     
     
         12 . The method in    claim 10    wherein said plumbing fixture is a sink.  
     
     
         13 . The method in    claim 10    wherein said plumbing fixture is a toilet.