Cleaning device

Abstract

Apparatus and method for adjusting a height of a suction chamber of a vacuum cleaner relative to a target cleaning surface. The vacuum cleaner includes a compressible cleaning sheet, such that as a user selectively executes different motions and/or applies different forces to a handle of the vacuum cleaner, the cleaning sheet compresses or uncompresses, dynamically adjusting the height of the suction chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a cleaning device to clean a surface, the cleaning device comprising a cleaning sheet support, the cleaning sheet support including a suction inlet and a compressible sheet, the method comprising:
 (a) moving the cleaning sheet support across the surface in a first direction with the suction inlet positioned ahead of the compressible sheet relative to the first direction, wherein as the cleaning sheet support moves in the first direction, at least a portion of the compressible sheet is compressed such that a leading edge of the suction inlet is positioned at a first height above the surface;   (b) moving the cleaning sheet support across the surface in a second direction such that the suction inlet is positioned behind the compressible sheet relative to the second direction, wherein as the cleaning sheet support moves in the second direction, the leading edge of the suction inlet is positioned at a second height above the surface, the second height being greater than the first height.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein during a transition from the first direction to the second direction, the leading edge of the suction inlet is positioned at a third height above the surface, the third height being greater than the second height. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device is configured to be supported on the surface by only the compressible sheet. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the compressible sheet is permanently attached to the cleaning sheet support. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein a leading edge of the suction inlet comprises castellations. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the compressible cleaning sheet is a nonwoven sheet. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the first height and the second height is at least 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein the difference between the first height and the second height is at most 4.0 mm. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the first height and the second height is at least 0.8 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein the difference between the first height and the second height is at most 4.0 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning sheet has an uncompressed thickness of at least 2.0 mm at a forward edge of the cleaning sheet. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a cleaning sheet support configured to be attachable to a cleaning appliance body; a compressible cleaning sheet attached to the sheet support; and   a suction inlet, the suction inlet being attached to the cleaning sheet support and positioned forwardly of the compressible cleaning sheet, the suction inlet having a leading edge which is configured to be positioned above a target cleaning surface by a first distance when the cleaning apparatus is placed at rest on the target cleaning surface;   wherein the cleaning sheet support, the suction inlet leading edge, and the compressible cleaning sheet are arranged such that compression of the cleaning sheet is capable of reducing the distance between the leading edge of the suction inlet and the target cleaning surface by at least 0.8 mm as compared to the first distance.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning sheet support, the suction inlet leading edge, and the compressible cleaning sheet are arranged such that compression of the cleaning sheet is capable of reducing the distance between the leading edge of the suction inlet and the target cleaning surface by at most 2.0 mm as compared to the first distance 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the leading edge of the suction inlet comprises castellations. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the compressible cleaning sheet is permanently attached to the sheet support. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the compressible cleaning sheet is at least 3.0 mm thick. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the compressible cleaning sheet has an average thickness of at least 3.0 mm. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is configured to be supported on the target cleaning surface by only the compressible cleaning sheet. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the compressible cleaning sheet comprises a nonwoven sheet. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning sheet support, the suction inlet leading edge, and the compressible cleaning sheet are arranged such that compression of the cleaning sheet is capable of reducing the distance between the leading edge of the suction inlet and the target cleaning surface by at least 1.0 mm as compared to the first distance. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning sheet has an uncompressed thickness of at least 2.0 mm at a forward edge of the cleaning sheet.