Cleaning device

Abstract

This invention relates to a handheld cleaning device for fabric surfaces, including soft furnishings and carpet that dispenses under pressure a cleaning composition in the form of droplets and subsequently removes a substantial amount of the cleaning fluid and any associated soil.

1 . A cleaning device comprising a cleaning composition store, cleaning composition supply means, cleaning composition removal means and a used cleaning composition store, wherein the cleaning composition supply means are operable to supply the cleaning composition from the cleaning composition store to a cleaning location, wherein the cleaning composition is supplied in a spray or a jet at a speed in the range 0.001-30 g/sec, and wherein the cleaning composition removal means are operable to remove used cleaning composition and waste material from the cleaning location to the used cleaning composition store.  
   
   
       2 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the cleaning composition is a liquid spray formed of droplets.  
   
   
       3 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the cleaning composition supply means is operable to atomise a liquid cleaning composition to give a Dv(50) of droplets of the atomised cleaning composition less than approximately 850 microns.  
   
   
       4 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the cleaning composition store is replaceable.  
   
   
       5 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , which is a hand-held cleaning device.  
   
   
       6 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , which has a major length of less than 80 cm.  
   
   
       7 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a cleaning composition heating section.  
   
   
       8 . A cleaning device comprises a cleaning composition store, cleaning composition supply means, cleaning composition removal means and a used cleaning composition store, wherein the cleaning composition supply means are operable to supply the cleaning composition in a spray from the cleaning composition store to a cleaning location, wherein a Dv(50) of droplets of the spray cleaning composition is less than approximately 850 microns, and wherein the cleaning composition removal means are operable to remove used cleaning composition and waste material from the cleaning location to the used cleaning composition store.  
   
   
       9 . A cleaning device comprises a cleaning composition store, cleaning composition supply means, cleaning composition removal means and a used cleaning composition store, wherein the cleaning composition supply means are operable to supply the cleaning composition from the cleaning composition store to a cleaning location, wherein the cleaning composition is supplied in a spray, and wherein the cleaning composition removal means are operable to remove used cleaning composition and waste material from the cleaning location to the used cleaning composition store, characterised in that the cleaning device is adapted to be handheld.  
   
   
       10 . A method of cleaning comprises supplying a cleaning composition from a cleaning composition store to a cleaning location with cleaning composition supply means, the cleaning composition being applied in a spray a speed of 0.001-30 g/sec.  
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the method involves removing used cleaning composition and waste from the cleaning location.  
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , which includes heating the cleaning composition prior to spraying the same on the cleaning location.  
   
   
       13 . A cleaning composition store for a cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       14 . A cleaning device comprising cleaning composition store, wherein the cleaning device is operable to supply the cleaning composition from the cleaning composition store to a cleaning location, wherein the cleaning composition is supplied in a spray or a jet at a speed in the range of 0.001-30 g/sec.