Steam mop and floor tool therefor

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, the apparatus may have an elongated body. A heater is configured for receiving liquid and heating the liquid. A conduit may be in fluid flow communication with an outlet of the heater. A floor tool is connected at a proximal end of the elongated body. The floor tool may include a hub portion, at least one roll defining a floor cleaning interface, the roll connected to the hub portion for rotation, the roll defining an inner cavity for receiving steam, the floor cleaning interface of the roll being permeable to steam. A delivery outlet may be in fluid flow communication with the conduit to receive steam or vapour therefrom, the delivery outlet in fluid flow communication with the inner cavity of the roll.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated body;   a heater configured for receiving liquid and heating the liquid;   a conduit in fluid flow communication with an outlet of the heater;   a floor tool connected at a proximal end of the elongated body, the floor tool including:
 a hub portion, 
 at least one roll defining a floor cleaning interface, the roll connected to the hub portion for rotation, the roll defining an inner cavity for receiving steam, the floor cleaning interface of the roll being permeable to steam, and 
 a delivery outlet in fluid flow communication with the conduit to receive steam or vapour therefrom, the delivery outlet in fluid flow communication with the inner cavity of the roll. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the floor tool further includes a drive unit drivingly engaged to the at least one roll to rotate the roll relative to the hub portion. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive unit includes a shaft rotating relative to the hub portion, the at least one roll mounted to the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive unit includes an electric motor. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the electric motor is coupled to the roll by a transmission, the transmission reducing a rotational speed of the roll relative to a rotational speed of the electric motor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the transmission includes a belt and pulleys or gears. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivery outlet includes a manifold in the hub portion, the manifold in fluid communication with the conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the manifold defines at least one outlet aligned with an inlet of the at least one roll, the inlet of the at least one roll being in an end face thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the floor tool has two rolls, the manifold has at least one of the outlet for each of the two rolls. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , including a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the heater to supply liquid to the heater. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the liquid reservoir and the heater are in the elongated body. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the floor tool includes a rotative head rotatably coupled to the elongated body for rotation, the rotative head forming a rotational joint with an end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the conduit is routed inside the rotative head and the hub portion. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one roll is rotatably mounted to a shaft of the floor tool. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the floor tool has two of the roll, the two of the rolls being mounted to the shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one roll is matingly engaged to the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . A roll for a steam mop, the roll comprising:
 a body having a wall having an outer surface and defining an inner cavity;   a floor interfacing layer permeable to steam, the floor interfacing layer mounted peripherally about the roll body; and   a connector portion at an end of the body, the connector portion having a shaft receiving portion configured for matingly receiving a shaft of the steam mop therein, the connector portion having at least one fluid inlet at the connector portion in fluid communication with the inner cavity for steam to be injected in the inner cavity;   wherein the body defines a steam path between the inner cavity and the floor interfacing layer.   
     
     
         18 . The roll according to  claim 17 , wherein the outer surface of the body is cylindrical, the wall having a plurality of holes therethrough to define the steam path. 
     
     
         19 . A method for defining a steam path between a floor tool of a steam mop and an outer surface of a roll, comprising:
 unscrewing a roll out of engagement from a shaft of the floor tool;   subsequently screwing another roll into engagement with the shaft of the floor tool, for an end of the other roll having at least one inlet to be adjacent to a steam outlet of the floor tool; and   activating a heater of the steam mop for steam to be generated and to follow a steam path being sequentially through the steam outlet, the at least one inlet, an inner cavity of the other roll and through the outer surface of the roll.