Accessory for use with vacuum cleaners

Abstract

An accessory for use with a vacuum cleaner, the accessory being adaptable to releasably connect to the vacuum cleaner, the accessory comprising: a vacuum intake head having a chamber arranged such that when the accessory is connected to the vacuum cleaner, the chamber is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner and adaptable to receive air and liquid from and around the surface to be cleaned; and filtration means adaptable to separate the liquid from the air such that substantially no liquid returns to the vacuum cleaner the accessory further comprising spraying means for spraying a work fluid onto a surface to be cleaned wherein the vacuum intake head comprises at least one rotatable brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned, wherein the spraying means is adaptable to spray work fluid onto and around the at least one rotatable brush the accessory having a control means.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An accessory for use with a vacuum cleaner, the accessory being adaptable to releasably connect to the vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a vacuum intake head having a chamber arranged such that when the accessory is connected to the vacuum cleaner, the chamber is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner and adaptable to receive air and liquid from and around the surface to be cleaned;   filtration means adaptable to separate the liquid from the air such that substantially no liquid returns to the vacuum cleaner;   spraying means for spraying a work fluid onto a surface to be cleaned; and   control means;   wherein the vacuum intake head comprises at least one rotatable brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned;   wherein the spraying means is adaptable to spray work fluid onto and around the at least one rotatable brush.   
     
     
         19 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the control means is operably coupled to the spraying means and the rotatable brush to perform a brush cleaning operation whereby the control means engages the spraying means to spray liquid on the brush and the control means engages the rotatable brush to rotate the brush. 
     
     
         20 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the spraying means is adaptable to spray work fluid onto and around the surface to be cleaned and spray work fluid onto and around the at least one rotatable brush. 
     
     
         21 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the spraying means is adaptable to switch between spraying work fluid onto and around the surface to be cleaned and spraying work fluid onto and around the at least one rotatable brush so that a user can switch between a surface/floor cleaning operation and a brush cleaning operation. 
     
     
         22 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the control means is operable to enable a user to switch the spraying means between spraying work fluid onto and around the surface to be cleaned and spraying work fluid onto and around the at least one rotatable brush. 
     
     
         23 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the spraying means comprises a work fluid storage means; a pumping means; and at least one work fluid conduit in fluid communication with the work fluid storage means, the pumping means being adaptable to pump work fluid from the work fluid storage means and through the at least one work fluid conduit, the control means being operably coupled to the pumping means. 
     
     
         24 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the accessory further comprising a motor adaptable to rotate the rotatable brush, the control means being operably coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         25 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the motor adaptable to rotate the rotatable brush is locatable within the vacuum intake head. 
     
     
         26 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the accessory further comprising a power source for powering the accessory, the control means being operably coupled to the power source. 
     
     
         27 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the power source being for powering a pumping means of the spraying means and/or a motor for rotating at least one rotatable brush. 
     
     
         28 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the power source being a battery and most preferably a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         29 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the accessory is for use with a central vacuum cleaner or a portable vacuum cleaner, and is adaptable to be releasably connected to the central vacuum cleaner or the portable vacuum cleaner during the brush cleaning operation. 
     
     
         30 . The accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the control means comprising electronic control means. 
     
     
         31 . A control means for an accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the control means comprises at least one control program for cleaning the at least one rotatable brush of the accessory. 
     
     
         32 . The control means as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the control program comprises means for initiating the spraying means of the accessory for spraying water onto the at least one rotatable brush for a predetermined period of time, the control program also having means for initiating the rotation of the rotatable brush for a predetermined period of time for effecting cleaning of the rotatable brush. 
     
     
         33 . The control means as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the control program comprises means for delivery of power to the spraying means of the accessory for spraying water onto the at least one rotatable brush for a predetermined period of time, the control program also having means for delivery of power to the rotatable brush for a predetermined period of time for effecting cleaning of the rotatable brush. 
     
     
         34 . The control means as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the control program comprises means for delivery of power to the pumping means of the spraying means of the accessory for spraying water onto the at least one rotatable brush for a predetermined period of time, the control program also having means for delivery of power to the motor of the rotatable brush for a predetermined period of time for effecting cleaning of the rotatable brush.