Cleaning device with cleaning head and cleaning product supply means

Abstract

A cleaning device is adapted to be secured to a vacuum pump, said cleaning device comprising a cleaning head ( 10 ) and cleaning product supply means ( 16 ), wherein a first cleaning product is located in a cleaning product section of the head section, the cleaning device comprises a first path ( 14 ) from the cleaning product supply means ( 16 ) to the cleaning head ( 10 ) and a second path ( 12 ) from the cleaning head ( 10 ) to a reservoir ( 16 ), wherein an ejection section ( 52 ) of the cleaning head ( 10 ) is operable to a eject cleaning product ( 49 ) from the cleaning product supply means ( 16 ) on/in to a surface ( 38 ) to be cleaned and a suction section ( 42, 44, 46 ) of the cleaning head ( 10 ) is operable to draw ejected cleaning product ( 49 ) from said surface ( 38 ) along said second path ( 12 ).

1 . A cleaning device is adapted to be secured to a vacuum pump, said cleaning device comprising a cleaning head and cleaning product supply means, wherein a first cleaning product is located in a cleaning product section of the head section, the cleaning device comprises a first path from the cleaning product supply means to the cleaning head and a second path from the cleaning head to a reservoir, wherein an ejection section of the cleaning head is operable to a eject cleaning product from the cleaning product supply means on/in to a surface to be cleaned and a suction section of the cleaning head is operable to draw ejected cleaning product from said surface along said second path.  
   
   
       2 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which the reservoir comprises a part of the cleaning product supply means or is separate from the cleaning product supply means.  
   
   
       3 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which, on application of suction from the vacuum pump, the cleaning head is adapted to at least partially seal against a surface on which it is placed, thereby causing suction on the ejection section, which suction is operable to cause ejection of cleaning product from the ejection section.  
   
   
       4 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which the cleaning head is adapted, in use, to eject cleaning product from the cleaning head when the cleaning head is placed against a surface to be cleaned and at least partly seals against the surface.  
   
   
       5 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which, the suction section incorporates a peripheral sealing element and an inner sealing element forming a cavity.  
   
   
       6 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which one of the suction section and the ejection section is located within the other.  
   
   
       7 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which, in use, suction from the suction section causes cleaning product from the ejection section to be drawn into a surface to be cleaned and to move around the inner flange and into the suction section.  
   
   
       8 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which cleaning product to be ejected from the head section comprises a second cleaning product from the cleaning product supply section and the first cleaning product.  
   
   
       9 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which the first and second cleaning products are preferably mixed in the cleaning product section.  
   
   
       10 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which he cleaning product section is a cartridge received on or in a remainder of the cleaning head.  
   
   
       11 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which the cleaning device is adapted such that on placing the cleaning head on a surface to be cleaned suction along the second path draws free material from the surface.  
   
   
       12 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which the cleaning device is adapted such that after a delay following placing the cleaning head on a surface to be cleaned cleaning product is ejected from the ejection means.  
   
   
       13 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which the cleaning product supply means includes a second cleaning product store.  
   
   
       14 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which, the second cleaning product store is received in a body section of the cleaning product supply means.  
   
   
       15 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1 , in which an obstruction element is located in the path of an air stream carrying material received from the cleaning head  
   
   
       16 . A cleaning device according to  claim 15 , in which the cleaning product supply means incorporates a filter section, which is adapted to filter the air stream, after the air stream has passed the obstruction element.  
   
   
       17 . A cartridge for a cleaning device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is adapted to be secured to a cleaning head of the cleaning device and to form part of a first path thereof, said cartridge including a first cleaning product.  
   
   
       18 . A cartridge according to  claim 17 , which is adapted to eject the first cleaning product from an ejection section of the cleaning head on receipt of a second cleaning product from a cleaning product supply means of the cleaning device.  
   
   
       19 . A replaceable cleaning head operable to be secured to the remainder of the cleaning device according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       20 . A method of cleaning which comprises the process steps of: 
 securing a vacuum pump to a cleaning product supply means of a cleaning device, said cleaning device further incorporating a cleaning head;    drawing material into a suction section of the cleaning head and along a second path to a reservoir; and    drawing a second cleaning product from the cleaning product supply means along a first path for mixing with a first cleaning product;    ejecting the mixed first and second cleaning products from an ejection section of the cleaning head; and    drawing the mixed first and second cleaning products and material cleaned from a target surface into the suction section and along the second path.    
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the reservoir comprises a part of the cleaning product supply means or is separate from the cleaning product supply means.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20 , which includes the additional step of continuing suction with the suction means after the first and/or second cleaning products have been exhausted.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20 , which includes partially sealing the cleaning head against a surface to be cleaned to allow a partial vacuum to be created in the ejection section in order to draw the first cleaning fluid along the first path.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , which includes the partial seal created by the cleaning head sealing both the suction section and the ejection section.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which cleaning product from the ejection section passes into a surface to be cleaned in order to enter the suction section.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which a first suction stage draws free material from the surface to be cleaned; a second suction stage draws the second cleaning material along the first path and through the surface to be cleaned; and a third suction stage draws remaining free material from the surface.