ES2308356T3 - DEVICE AND CLEANING METHOD. - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for cleaning a surface, comprising: a pressure container (1) containing a cleaning compound, the pressure container having a nozzle (2) at its distal end, the nozzle having a distal face with a discharge opening, the discharge orifice that is in fluid connection with the cleaning compound through a valve on which it is actuated to dispense a jet of the cleaning compound, the pressurized container being mounted by a mounting means on an applicator head comprising a means to act on the valve, an inlet port (4) in fluid connection with the discharge port and a rigid containment skirt (5) connected to the discharge port at its proximal end and with a substantially flat edge (6) in its distal end, so that when the valve is operated, the jet of cleaning compound is directed through the inlet hole towards the center of the space defined by the edge of the skirt n rigid containment, in which an absorbent pad (16) is held removably within the containment skirt.

Description

Device and cleaning method.

The invention relates to devices, methods, and compositions for cleaning carpets, fabrics and upholstery. Plus specifically, the invention relates to the use of packaging of pressure sprays to clean carpets, fabrics and upholstery.

The fibers of fabrics and carpets get dirty easily when coming into contact with various elements that they dirty such as perfumes, particulate material, grease, oil, wine, food scraps, etc. Such spots are usually removed. by compounds containing combinations of agents cleaners. In addition to conventional cleaning compounds such as fabric detergent powders, washing liquids, floor cleaners, all of which may be suitable for use in cleaning stains of fabrics and carpets, they have developed compounds and special devices for cleaning carpets and upholsteries.

Document US4,780,100 discloses an aerosol Aqueous foamy tissue cleaning compound for use in the carpet cleaning. US 4,561,992 discloses an agent aerosol cleaner for textile surfaces containing plasticized particles of urea formaldehyde resin foam In addition to propellant and other ingredients. The product applies to textile upholstery, it is allowed to dry, and then vacuum removed of the tissue. Document US4,013,595 discloses some cleaning carpets (which are) non-flammable aqueous sprays that They use hydrocarbonate propellants. The document JP01-284299 exposes an aerosol container with a highly flammable stain remover liquid, in which the spray is supplied with a stain remover device equipped with bristles Such sparkling cleaning compounds have several disadvantages Foams may contain a high proportion of air, which may lead to incomplete contact of the stain with the product and thus lead to irregular cleaning. In addition, the foam which is not completely removed from the surface can form unwanted waste and additional cleaning is required. A additional disadvantage is that the mass of the foam can prevent that the compound will penetrate effectively through the fiber of the carpet or fiber of the fabric.

An additional disadvantage of the aerosols of the prior art is that there is no control over the extent of cleaning compound when applied on a stain, and thus non-dirty parts of the surface being treated can enter Contact with the cleaning compound.

In addition, the user has little advice about how close or far the spray compound should keep of the surface to be cleaned, and there is a risk that the compound is projected backwards from the surface to be clean and contaminate skin, eyes, or nearby objects. How consequence of this, the user can keep the device too far from the surface to be cleaned to avoid such  projection, which causes an inefficient penetration of the Composed in the body of the carpet, upholstery or fabric.

The document BE-A-897.110 describes a device to apply a substrate to a surface consisting of a container a pressure and an applicator head.

There is a need for a device to allow an effective penetration of a cleaning compound into the carpet, fabric or upholstery from which you have to remove a stain or dirt, and that prevents dispersion or projection of the compound, while having a good penetration of the compound in the mass of The surface to be cleaned.

There is therefore a need for a device Small and simple carpet cleaning, which can be stored for quick access without assembly, so that can quickly apply before the stain dries. It is not this is the case of carpet and upholstery cleaning devices on a large scale such as a shampoo cleaning equipment carpets There is therefore a need for a small device manual.

In a first aspect the present invention provides a device to clean a surface, which understands:

a pressurized container that has a compound of cleaning, the pressure container having a nozzle at its end distal, the mouthpiece having a distal face with a hole of discharge, the discharge hole that is in fluid connection with the cleaning compound, through a valve on which acts to dispense a jet of the cleaning compound, being the pressure package mounted by a head mounting means applicator that has a means to act on the valve, a inlet hole in fluid connection with the discharge port and a rigid containment skirt connected to the discharge hole at its near end and with a substantially flat edge at its distal end, so when acting on the valve, the jet of the cleaning compound is directed through the hole of entrance to the center of the space defined by the edge of the skirt of rigid containment, in which an absorbent sponge is contained inside the containment skirt.

The cleaning compound is stored and dispensed from a pressurized container, resistant to corrosion, which is equipped with a nozzle that has a hole discharge, so that a jet of the compound can be directed to The surface to be cleaned. Appropriate containers are known or dispensers as aerosol containers and include a waterproof chamber in which a cleaning and propellant fluid is stored, and a hollow stem or tube having a distal end located within the camera and a near end outside. The near end is connected to a nozzle through a valve on which there is to act in order to dispense the cleaning compound, having the nozzle an appropriately sized hole for provide a jet of the cleaning compound that has a pattern approximately conical distribution, in which the half angle of the cone is suitably 20 ° or less, preferably 15 ° or less, more preferably 10 ° or less.

The flow of the cleaning compound through the nozzle is regulated by a valve that is activated by pressure. It is preferred that a force be operated on the valve applied to the nozzle in the direction from the end of the nozzle towards the body of the pressurized container. The valves suitable for use in the devices of the invention include valves such as the valve Koh-I-Noor? PU VAV-1 for foam with an outlet diameter of 4 mm and the PU45 valve of the Lindal? group with an outlet diameter 4 mm

Preferably, the valve is a valve dosing, by which it is assumed that when acting on the valve opens for a predetermined time to release a blast the cleaning compound and then close. This has the advantage of preventing the user from inadvertently downloading a excessive volume of cleaning compound on the surface to clean, so that the surface is excessively moistened

The pressurized container is pressed with a gas component generally known as a propellant. The Preferred propellants for use in the invention are compressed air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, other inert gases, or hydrocarbons such as isobutane, butane 40, butane 70 or dimethyl ether.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the Pressurized container can be of a type in which a pump is used operated by hand to provide an overpressure inside the container pumping air into the container to act as a propellant.

An alternative type of pressure packaging that can be used in the devices in the invention includes a barrier or bag that separates the cleaning compound from the propellant. Such pressure containers "bag inside the can" are described in US 4,260,110. These have the advantage of that the dispensing of the cleaning compound from the container to Pressure is independent of the orientation of the container. These too they have the advantage that they overcome any problems of incompatibility between the propellant and the cleaning compound, since that are kept separated by the barrier or bag.

The pressurized container is such that when the valve it is fully open, so that the flow of the cleaning compound and propellant through the nozzle, the compound discharge rate (which includes some propellant) is suitable from 20 to 100 gm / second, preferably from 25 to 80 gm / second, more preferably 30 to 60 gm / second. Such rates discharge give an effective penetration on the surface that is going to clean, while not leading to a very fast discharge and at quick emptying of the pressure container, so that the container pressure can be small enough for easy handling containing enough cleaning compound for several treatments

The pressurized container is preferably attached to the applicator head by means of connection, in such a way that when the pressure container is empty or almost empty of compound The cleaner and / or propellant can be easily replaced by the user. It is preferable that the applicator head be reusable while The container is disposable.

The pressurized container is properly provided of a lip or edge around its perimeter towards the end of The nozzle of the container. This allows the application of media from binding such as an elastic notch or collar or rim on the inner surface of the cleaning head of the device, with that the head of the device applicator can be firmly attached so that it can be removed from the pressure package. In others embodiments the pressurized container can be supplied with others joining means, such as a male screw thread that can fit with a female collar provided with a thread in the head applicator

Preferably the nozzle of the container a pressure, located at the distal end of the container, is arranged such that when the valve is open, the compound jet cleaner is directed substantially along the axis longitudinal of the pressurized container, that is to say in a normal direction to that of the end plate of the pressurized container, in the hole of entrance of the applicator head.

The pressure container is mounted on a head applicator

In a simple form of the invention, the head applicator can take the form of a rigid containment skirt mounted directly on the nozzle of the pressurized container, and employs a valve on which one acts by pressure on the nozzle towards the pressurized container, so that when acting a jet of cleaning compound is released on the valve pressing the containment skirt towards the nozzle and the container to Pressure.

In another embodiment of the invention, the head applicator may have a union collar mounted on the container to pressure, and a containment skirt mounted on the connecting collar. The containment skirt will be provided with an entry hole at your waistline aligned with and surrounding the discharge hole of the nozzle in such a way that when acting on the valve can a jet of cleaning compound out of the discharge hole, to through the entrance hole of the skirt, towards the central area of the plane formed by the edge of the containment skirt. In this type of performance, the action of the valve can be by pressing the waist of the containment skirt against the nozzle, described above, or the applicator head may be provided with a trigger manually operated to act on the valve and release a jet of cleaning compound. Preferably, the device is provided with a childproof closure to avoid accidental operation of the device.

The rigid containment skirt can be any acceptable form, provided that at its near end it is provided with an entrance hole and is adapted to align with the discharge opening of the nozzle of the pressurized container, of such that the jet of the compound released when acting on the valve fully enters the area surrounded by the wall or retaining skirt walls. Suitably, the skirt can have the shape of a cone trunk or pyramid section cylindrical, polygonal or elliptical, which widens from its end close to its distal end, the distal end having the shape of a flat edge. Suitably, the skirt can be a tube hollow, with straight polygonal, circular or elliptical section, open in the distal end to form a flat edge, and closed in the near end except in the entrance hole.

The walls of the containment skirt are suitably formed by a rigid polymer such as polyethylene or polystyrene, and they are solid. However, it is preferable provide one or more exit holes in the walls towards the near end of the skirt, so that the discharge of the jet, when the edge of the skirt is in contact with a surface that will be cleaned not lead to excessive pressure increase in the volume confined within the walls of the skirt and the surface.

Suitably, the edge of the containment skirt has a maximum diameter of 25 cm or less, preferably 20 cm or less, more preferably 15 cm or less. Maximum diameter is consider the diameter of the smaller circle that would completely enclose the edge of the containment skirt.

The containment skirt is arranged in such a way so that its distal edge is substantially normal to the direction of flow of the cleaning fluid jet, and in such a way that the jet is directed substantially towards the center of the area defined by the edge.

The distance between the discharge hole and the center of the area defined by the edge, measured along the jet direction of the cleaning compound, is properly 0.2 to 25 cm, preferably 0.3 to 20 cm, more preferably of 0.5 to 15 cm

In a preferred embodiment, the end (next) from the waist of the containment skirt is mounted from sliding form on a collar, the collar being mounted on detachable form in a pressure container at the near end of the collar, so that the waist surface surrounding the inlet hole of the containment skirt can press against the surface of the nozzle surrounding the orifice of discharge. Preferably, the two surfaces are provided with a medium, such as a tongue and notch, so that they can fit together to give the fluid a tight seal. The valve is connected to the nozzle and is adapted to discharge a jet of cleaning compound through the entrance hole of the skirt containment when the nozzle is pressed by the surface of the waist of the containment skirt towards the body of the container a Pressure. In this embodiment, the device is used by pressing the edge of the containment skirt by flattening it against the surface that it is wanted to clean, defining an area to be cleaned, of such form that acts on the valve and a jet of cleaning compound towards the center of the area you want clean.

In another embodiment of the invention, the package a pressure may be enclosed within a housing cover, having the housing cover the applicator head at its end distal and a handle that has a trigger at its near end. In use, the user grabs the handle and when pressing on the trigger, this one is adapted to press the pressure boat to along the sleeve towards the applicator head at the end distal of the sheath, making the head entrance hole applicator press the nozzle towards the end plate of the container a pressure, opening the valve and releasing a stream of compound cleaner. This arrangement has the advantage that the trigger may be provided with a childproof locking device to prevent accidental triggering of jet release from cleaning compound

The cleaning compound to be used in the invention is a liquid with a kinematic viscosity (measured by the Capillarity viscosimeter) at 25 ° C of 10,000 mm2 / s or less, preferably 3,000 mm2 / s, and more preferably 1,000 mm2 / s or less. These preferred viscosities ensure that the compound penetrates soft surfaces such as tissues, upholstery and carpets, quickly removing dirt.

The composition of the cleaning compound, detailed below, does not include in the calculation of the percentage in weight any propellant that can be dissolved or dispersed in the cleaning compound when the compound is placed together with the propellant in the pressure container.

The cleaning compound is preferably a aqueous compound, so it is thought to comprise 60% or more by weight of water, preferably 70% or more, more preferably 80% or more. Suitably the compound comprises less than 99% in water weight

Preferably, the cleaning compound is a non-foaming compound. Because of this it is believed that any foam generated when the compound is agitated is unstable and a minute after finishing stirring, preferably in 30 seconds, more preferably in 10 seconds. This could be properly measured by placing 100 ml of compound in a glass of 500 ml wide mouth and beating for 30 seconds with a food mixer When necessary, the compound cleaner may comprise an antifoaming agent, such as a polydialkylsiloxane oil, at a level of 0.1 to 2% by weight, preferably 0.2 to 1% by weight, in order to eliminate the foaming

The cleaning compound adequately comprises one or more cleaning agents selected from, but not limited to a, surfactants, solvents, enzymes, bleaching agents, agents Germicides, polymers and chelating agents.

The cleaning compound adequately comprises 0.05 to 10% by weight of surfactant selected from surfactant anionic, cationic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant, surfactant with amphoteric ions, non-ionic surfactant and mixtures thereof. Suitable surfactants for use as cleaning agents are present at a level to help remove dirt without generate excessive foam. Preferred are non-surfactants. ionic, especially alcohol alkoxylates. Especially Preferred are the nonionic ethoxylate / propoxylate surfactants of Low foaming

An organic solvent may be present as from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the cleaning compound, preferably from 0.2 to 6%, more preferably 0.3 to 4%.

Suitable organic solvents include, but are not limited to, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanoles, n-butanol, t-butanol, isobutanol; glycols, glycol (s) of (poly) ethylene, glycol ethers, gly-
col (es) of (poly) propylene; ethylene, diethylene propylene, dipropylene and tripropylene glycol ethers (such as methyl, propyl or butyl ethers), hexylcellosolves, butylcellosolves, methylcellosolves, esters, glycol ether ether, ketone esters and mixtures thereof.

The cleaning compound can suitably comprise from 0.1 to 10% by weight of a bleaching agent, preferably 0.3 to 6%, more preferably 0.5 to 4%. Suitable bleaching agents are water soluble peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate and percarbonate of sodium, or mixtures of them. A preferred bleaching agent is the hydrogen peroxide.

The cleaning compound can also suitably comprise 0.1 to 5% by weight of an agent germicide, preferably a cationic germicidal agent.

The cleaning compound can also suitably comprise from 0.1 to 8% by weight of an agent chelator, such as citric acid and / or its metal salts alkaline, or EDTA (ethylene diamine acid tetraacetic acid and / or its salts alkali metal). Such chelating agents are advantageous in the rupture of ionic bridges of alkaline earth or heavy metals and thus favoring the removal properties of stains and dirt of the cleaning compound.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method. to clean an area with carpet, fabric or upholstery dirt, which includes the steps of:

i) provide a device in accordance with the other aspects of the invention described above,

ii) press the edge of the containment skirt of the device to surround the stained area,

iii) discharge a jet of cleaning compound over the area,

iv) remove the cleaning compound together with the dirt removed.

The cleaning compound and dirt can be removed with a cloth, sponge, cloth or similar absorbent aid. Because the dirt is removed from the area stained by the application of the invention, there should be no need to scrub. He excess compound and stain can simply be removed by drying with an absorbent material such as a dishcloth disposable.

The device of the invention has a pad absorbent maintained within the containment skirt of the device in order to absorb some or all of the compound cleaner and dirt after the discharge of the jet cleaning compound towards the stained surface.

The absorbent pad is bonded together removable to the inner walls of the containment skirt, of shape that can be replaced when the absorbent pad is saturated with an excess of cleaning compound, or stained. Be they can use any suitable means for temporary union of the absorbent pad, such as Velcro ™. Pad absorbent is properly made of polyacrylate fibers not woven

The invention will be described below, by way of example, referring to the examples and figures. In all the figures, the pressure container (1) is shown in plan view, while the applicator head is shown in a straight section.

Figures 1 to 4 show each different embodiments of a device. In each case, it is shown the applicator head in a straight section, while from the container to pressure (1) shows a plan view.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a device in which the containment skirt (5) is directly mounted on the nozzle (2) of the cylindrical container (1) a Pressure. The entrance hole (4) of the containment skirt (5) is aligned with the discharge hole (3) of the nozzle (2) by means of a sleeve (18) in which the nozzle fits.

In use, the edge (6) of the containment skirt is pressed against the surface to be cleaned by the user which grabs the pressure container. This results in the sleeve (18) press the nozzle (2) towards the pressure container, opening the valve and releasing a jet of the cleaning compound.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a device in which the containment skirt (5) is directly mounted on the nozzle (2) of the cylindrical container a pressure (1) in which the jet of the cleaning compound in use is directed axially from the pressurized container (1). The hole of inlet (4) of the retaining skirt (5) is aligned with the discharge hole (3) of the nozzle (2) by means of a sleeve (18) in which the nozzle fits. In this embodiment, the hole inlet (4) forms an angle to direct the jet of compound cleaner radially from the nozzle (2), and the skirt of containment (5) is arranged radially with respect to the container a pressure (1).

In use, the edge (6) of the containment skirt is located against the surface to be cleaned, by the user who grabs in pressure packaging. The user then presses on the surface of the containment skirt adjacent to the nozzle, in the indicated direction, which makes the sleeve (18) press the nozzle (2) towards the pressure container by opening the valve and releasing a jet of cleaning compound.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a device, in which the containment skirt (5) is mounted with the container and the nozzle by means of a collar (7) that receives The pressure container. A retainer is mounted inside the collar elastic (8) which is provided with a flange (9) that fits with the neck (10) located adjacent to the edge (11) of the pressurized container (one). The containment skirt (5) is attached to the collar (7) and is provided with a sleeve (18) to fit the nozzle (2).

The pressurized container fits the head applicator by sliding the nozzle end of the pressurized container  in the collar (7). The edge (11) pushes the flange (9) of the retainer (8) to the side while the container slides in the collar. The retainer (8) is arranged so that when the nozzle fits the sleeve (18) in the inlet hole of the containment skirt (5), the flange (9) fits the neck (10) of the pressurized container (1), which removably assembles the head applicator in the pressure package (1).

In use, the user grabs the pressurized container (1) and press the edge (6) of the containment skirt (5) on the surface to be cleaned. This causes the sleeve (18) in the inlet hole (4) of the containment skirt (5) press the nozzle (2) towards the pressure container (1) and open the valve to release a jet of cleaning compound to the surface enclosed by the edge (6). At the same time, the collar (7) is slide along the pressurized container (1) setting the movement.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the invention. A collar (7) is mounted on the pressure package (1). He collar has an inner ring plate (8) that stops against the end of the pressurized container, and is provided with a flange inside (13) that fits the neck (10) to mount the collar (7) firmly in the pressure container (1).

The distal part of the collar forms a tube cylindrical in which the cylindrical basal part of the skirt of containment (5) is slidably mounted. The hole of entrance (4) of the containment skirt (5) is provided with a sleeve (18) that fits the nozzle (2).

The alignment posts (9) are rigidly mounted on the annular plate (8) and exit through holes (14) at the basal part of the containment skirt (5). The staples of retention (12) attached to the alignment posts (9) retain the basal part of the containment skirt (5) inside the collar (7).

The containment skirt (5) is provided with pressure release holes (20) and is also provided with a removable toroidal absorbent pad (16) by Velcro ™ to the walls of the containment skirt (5) adjacent to the edge (6).

The applicator head is mounted on the container a pressure (1) by pressing the end plate of the container past the inner flange (13), pushing aside the elastic walls of the collar (7), until the end plate meets the plate annular (8) and the inner flange (13) is fitted with the neck (10) of the pressurized container (1).

In use, the user grabs the pressurized container (1) and press the edge (6) of the containment skirt (5) into The surface to be cleaned. This makes the sleeve (18) in the entrance hole (4) of the containment skirt (5) press the nozzle (2) towards the pressure vessel (1) and open the valve to release a jet of cleaning compound to the surface enclosed by the edge (6). At the same time, the basal part of the containment skirt slides inside the cylindrical tube of the collar (7), establishing the movement. The excess pressure formed when the jet of cleaning compound is released into the space enclosed by the containment skirt (5) and the surface to clean it aerates through the release holes of pressure (20). Excess cleaning fluid along with dirt lifted from the surface to be cleaned is absorbed by the 816 toroidal absorbent pad) which can then be removed of the Velcro? junction (15).

Claims (7)

1. A device to clean a surface, which includes: a pressurized container (1) containing a cleaning compound, the pressurized container having a nozzle (2) at its distal end, the mouthpiece having a distal face with a discharge hole, the discharge hole that is in connection fluid with the cleaning compound through a valve on the acting to dispense a jet of the cleaning compound, the pressurized container being mounted by means for mounting on an applicator head comprising a means for act on the valve, an inlet port (4) in connection fluid with the discharge hole and a rigid containment skirt (5) connected to the discharge hole at its near end and with a substantially flat edge (6) at its distal end, so that when the valve is operated, the compound jet cleaner is directed through the inlet hole towards the center of space defined by the edge of the containment skirt rigid, in which an absorbent pad (16) is secured by removable form within the containment skirt. 2. A device according to the claim 1, wherein the nozzle is the means of action, and the valve is operated by pressing the distal face of the nozzle towards the pressure container. 3. A device according to the claim 2, wherein the valve is actuated by grasping the container under pressure and pressing the edge of the rigid containment skirt in The surface to be cleaned. 4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the joining means comprise a collar (7) removably attached to the distal end of the pressurized container surrounding the nozzle, and the containment skirt rigid is provided with a neck mounted slidably on the collar, so that the entry hole in the neck is aligned with the nozzle discharge hole, so holding the container under pressure and pressing the edge of the skirt over one surface causes the neck to press the distal face of the nozzle, acting on the valve. 5. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the joining means comprise  a collar (7) removably attached and slidable to the end distal of the pressurized container surrounding the nozzle, in which the rigid containment skirt is mounted on the collar that the entry hole in the neck is aligned with the nozzle discharge hole, so grabbing the container to pressure and pressing the edge of the skirt on a surface makes that the distal face of the nozzle presses against the hole of inlet, acting on the valve. 6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning compound It is a non-foaming cleansing compound. 7. A method to clean an area with dirt of carpets, fabrics or upholstery, comprising the steps of:

i)

provide an agreement device with any preceding claim,

ii)

press the edge of the skirt containment of the device to surround the area with dirt,

iii)

discharge a stream of compound cleaner over the area,

iv)

remove the cleaning compound together With the dirt removed.