Cleaning Device
Patent No. US10993594 (titled "Cleaning Device") was filed by Bank Of America Na on Sep 30, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’594 is related to the field of cleaning devices, specifically vacuums and hard floor cleaners. Traditional cleaning methods often require multiple devices for different types of debris (wet vs. dry) and can be time-consuming and messy. Existing combination tools may also require significant setup and maintenance, potentially becoming unsanitary if not properly cleaned.
The underlying idea behind ’594 is to create a disposable cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner that integrates both a cleaning sheet and a dirt collection chamber. This allows for simultaneous wet and dry cleaning, with the entire head being discarded after use, eliminating the need to empty a dirt cup or clean the device.
The claims of ’594 focus on a replacement head for a cleaning device. The head includes a planar cleaning sheet with a lower surface for contacting the surface to be cleaned, and a housing defining a chamber for receiving debris. The housing is positioned on the front half of the cleaning sheet, with the trailing edge of the cleaning sheet extending rearward from the housing.
In practice, the cleaning head attaches to a vacuum cleaner body. As the device moves across the floor, the cleaning sheet wipes the surface, and the vacuum draws debris through a suction inlet into the dirt collection chamber. The disposable nature of the head means that the user never has to directly handle the collected dirt or clean the device itself.
This design differentiates itself from prior approaches by combining the functions of a cleaning sheet and a vacuum into a single, disposable unit. Unlike reusable cleaning heads that require emptying and cleaning, ’594 offers a more convenient and hygienic solution, particularly for handling both wet and dry messes. The integrated dirt collection chamber and disposable design are key to its ease of use.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’594 was filed, cleaning devices at a time when cleaning devices commonly relied on vacuum sources and removable cleaning pads. At this time, it was typical to have reusable dirt collection chambers that were emptied by the user.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art does not teach or suggest the claimed device, especially considering the claim amendments made during prosecution. The examiner modified the claims to specify the positioning of the housing relative to the cleaning sheet and the spacing between the trailing edge of the cleaning sheet and the rear edge of the housing.
Claims
US10,993,594 has 19 claims, of which claims 1 and 11 are independent. The independent claims are directed to a replacement head for a cleaning device, including a cleaning sheet and a housing for receiving debris. The dependent claims generally add specific features or limitations to the replacement head described in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Patent Family
File Wrapper
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Date
Description
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US10993594
- Application Number
- US17039057
- Filing Date
- Sep 30, 2020
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Sep 10, 2038
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents