Cleaning device

Abstract

Apparatus and method for receiving and holding debris in a collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner. The collection chamber has an inlet opening through which debris-entrained air enters the collection chamber. When the vacuum cleaner is off, an internal valve prevents debris from leaving the collection chamber through the inlet opening. The internal valve is movable from a first sealed position, in which the internal valve covers the chamber inlet opening, to a second unsealed position in which the internal valve does not cover the chamber inlet opening.

1 . A cleaning head comprising:
 a debris collection chamber;   an air filter; and   a cleaning sheet including a retention layer, an acquisition layer, a face layer, and a strip arranged for at least one of scrubbing and providing friction, wherein the layers are attached together.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the strip is attached to the face layer. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning head of  claim 2 , wherein the face layer is backed by the acquisition layer and the retention layer. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning head of  claim 2 , wherein the strip is arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning head of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the face layer is arranged to contact the surface, and wherein the strip is attached to a surface-facing side of the face layer. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning head of  claim 5 , wherein the strip is attached to a central portion of the surface-facing side of the face layer. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the strip is formed of a hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the face layer is formed of a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein each of the acquisition layer and the retention layer is formed of a thermal bonded airlaid. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the face layer is formed of a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the air filter is arranged to cover a top of the debris collection chamber and the cleaning sheet is disposed on an underside of the debris collection chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-return valve arranged to keep dust, dry media, and/or wet media within the debris collection chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the debris collection chamber is formed as part of a tray. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a cleaning sheet, the method comprising:
 adhering an acquisition layer of a first material to a retention layer of a second material;   joining together a strip of a third material, the strip arranged for at least one of scrubbing and providing friction, a face layer of a fourth material, and the acquisition layer to form a cleaning sheet; and   sealing a forward edge and a rear edge of the cleaning sheet.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein adhering includes applying an adhesive between the acquisition layer and the retention layer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein joining includes ultrasonically joining the strip, the face layer, and the acquisition layer. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein joining includes applying an adhesive between the strip and the face layer and between the face layer and the acquisition layer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein sealing includes at least one of ultrasonically welding and heat sealing together a forward edge of each of the face layer, the acquisition layer, and the retention layer. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising adhering the retention layer to a tray, wherein a dirt collection chamber is formed as part of the tray. 
     
     
         29 - 48 . (canceled)