The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 03, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 03, 2000
John Chun Kuen Sham, Aberdeen, HK;
Kumkit Kunavongvorakul, Yannawa, Sathron Bangkok, TH;
Other;
Abstract
The vacuum cleaner and steamer apparatus of the present invention has a fluid assembly for generating and delivering true steam to a surface to be cleaned and a vacuum assembly for drawing deposited steam and other matter from the surface. The apparatus also includes a cleaning fluid reservoir for holding cleaning fluid and a waste reservoir for holding vacuumed matter. Preferably, both reservoirs are removable. Highly preferred embodiments have a housing within which the cleaning fluid and waste reservoirs are received and retained. The fluid assembly preferably includes the cleaning fluid reservoir, a fluid pump for pumping cleaning fluid therefrom, a heater within which the cleaning fluid is turned into steam, and a sprayer head for spraying the steam upon the surface to be cleaned. The vacuum assembly preferably includes a vacuum fan driven by an electric motor, a vacuum head through which matter is drawn, and the waste reservoir. For improved maneuverability and control, the body assembly of the apparatus (including both reservoirs, the fan and motor, and preferably the fluid pump and heater) is preferably connected to a base assembly for movement with respect thereto. Preferably, the base assembly carries the vacuum and sprayer heads and a rotary brush driven by a dedicated electric motor. Highly preferred embodiments permit a user to control the amount of steam produced by the fluid assembly and indicate to the user via a humidity sensor and humidity indicator how dry a surface being vacuumed is.