GB2114878A - Multi-purpose device for washing and cleaning vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand-held multi-purpose device for washing and cleaning vehicles and optionally other related purposes comprises a casing (10) housing an electric motor which drives a spindle to which a brush (62) may be connected for use with water supplied via hose (56) and nozzle (58) attachable to the casing (10), or to which a suction fan may be connected, the fan being mounted in housing (18) to which suction nozzle (32) is connected. A unit (38) for dispensing detergent into the water supply can be attached to the device. Mop heads, polishing heads, sanding heads, or grinding heads may also be used with the device. An extension arm may be fitted thereon. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multi-purpose device for washing, cleaning, polishing, etc.

This invention relates to a multi-purpose device which can be used for a wide range of purposes, including washing, cleaning, polishing etc. The device is particularly appropriate for use in connection with the care and maintenance of motor vehicles, particularly cars and vans.

Washing/cleaning machines are already known which can be used for the cleaning of cars and other vehicles, and for example for the cleaning of carpets, where the machine comprises a relatively large container which serves as a water reservoir, and is able to dispense the water and/or shampoo for cleaning purposes. British Patent Specification No. 1135591 describes a multi-mode selfcontained washing unit which can additionally perform a vacuuming function, but this washing unit is not very versatile, incorporates its own water reservoir and in general lacks the capability of being used for a wide range of different functions all based upon the use of a common hand-held core unit.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a hand-held device which is readily capable of adaptation for a number of functions.

The device which is electrically powered is designed to be connected to a mains water supply instead of having an associated water reservoir.

The device also incorporates a motor which is arranged to drive an impeller to perform a vacuuming function.

Although the two primary functions of the device are washing and vacuum cleaning, the device can readily be adapted to take a mop head, a polishing head, a sanding head, or a grinding head. This is simply indicative of the range of functions which the device of the present invention can be adapted to perform.

Preferably, the device incorporates a dispenser which can be used to dispense a regulated quantity of shampoo, detergent or other additive into the water supply, as desired, and under the control of the user.

One embodiment of multi-purpose device in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing the parts of the basic unit, and illustrating four alternative accessories which can be used with the unit; Fig. 2 shows the basic unit of Fig. 1, with the head portion assembled, and illustrating its use as a vacuum cleaning device; Fig. 3 is a view of the device shown in Fig. 1, but from the other side, and illustrating how the device is used in the washing mode; Fig. 4 is a schematic, part-sectional view of the additive dispenser shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 shows the device modified by the addition of an extension arm.

As shown in the drawings the multi-purpose device comprises an elongate casing 10 which houses an electric motor (not shown). This can be powered from the mains supply by way of a suitably insulated cable 12. The motor is preferably a 2-speed motor, with a speed control switch provided in the end of the unit. The casing 10 is preferably moulded from a suitable plastics material in order that it is light in weight and yet has the necessary strength and rigidity. Its shape and dimensions are such that it can readily be held for manual operation by the user. The motor is arranged to drive a spindle 14 which extends through a hole 16 in the base of a cup-shaped housing 18 for an impeller 20. The impeller 20 is secured to the spindle 14 for rotation therewith within the cup-shaped housing 18. The housing 18 is provided with an outwardly extending pipe 22.The end of the housing 1 8 opposite to the base is closed by a top plate 24 which is formed with a central boss 26 with a hole extending axially therethrough.

Fig. 2 of the drawings shows how the device is used in the vacuum cleaning mode. A flexible hose 30 is coupled to the projecting boss 26 on the head of the unit and carries a conventional sweeping head 32, or a nozzle or an equivalent dirt gathering component. The pipe 22 projecting from the cup-shaped housing 18 on the head of the device is fitted with a dirt collecting bag 34.

This can be attached to the pipe 22 by a suitable spring clip 36. In the vacuum cleaning mode the motor is switched to its high-speed setting, for example 2000 rpm.

Fig. 3 illustrates the device as used in the washing mode. On the side of the casing 10 of the device there is fitted a dispensing unit indicated generally at 38, and which is shown in more detail in Fig. 4. This dispensing unit 38 comprises a generally cylindrical container 40 which has a removable top 42. Within the housing 40 is a piston in the form of a plate 44 which is equipped with a circumferential seal and which can be moved up and down within the container 40 by means of a rotatable piston rod 46 which is fitted with a spring 48. By means of the piston/piston rod, a liquid additive 50 within the bottom portion of the container 40 can be put under pressure simply by rotation of the knob at the top of the piston rod 46.The bottom of the container 40 is provided with an outlet pipe 52 formed as a Junction. The T pipe 52 is fitted with a regulating screw 54 which can be adjusted by the user to vary the flow of additive past the screw and thus from the container. The T pipe 52 is connected on one side to a supply hose 56 which is connected to the mains water supply or to an equivalent source, and connected at the other side to a relatively short length of hose 58 which is fairly rigid and which connects in a nozzle 60. A brush indicated generally at 62 and shown also in Fig. 1 is fitted to the assembled head unit for rotation by way of the main spindle 14. The nozzle 60 at the end of the water supply pipe 58 is preferably positioned so that the water which issues from it is directed against and into the bristles of the brush.In one preferred arrangement the nozzle 60 is an arcuate nozzle with a number of jets so that the water issuing from it is directed into the bristles of the brush over an extended arc.

In use in the washing mode, the motor is set to its low speed setting, for example 100 to 120 rpm, thus causing the brush 62 to rotate at relatively low speed. The water supply hose 56 is preferably provided with some form of control whereby the desired rate of flow of water through the hose can be obtained. With the regulating screw 54 fully closed, clean water will be dispensed to the brush 62. If a supply of additive, e.g. shampoo or detergent is required, then the regulating screw 54 can easily be opened slightly to give the desired addition to the water stream.

The regulating screw 54 could be provided with suitable markings to indicate different settings.

Fig. 1 shows how the washing brush 62 can be replaced by other accessories so that the device can perform other functions. For example, the device can be fitted with a mop head 64 which comprises a rubber disc fitted with a plurality of relatively long moisture-retaining strips of flexible material. The device can be operated in the slowspeed mode and on completion of the drying process the water can be squeezed from the strips.

Alternatively, the device can be fitted with a polishing head 66, or a sanding or grinding disc 68. In the case of the polishing head 66 or the sanding or grinding disc 68 the device would be operated in the high-speed mode.

The method of fitting the accessories to the basic unit can be by screw fitting, or by any alternative method by which the main drive can be transferred to the accessory.

Fig. 5 shows one way in which the basic device of the present invention can be equipped with an extension arm 70 so that it can be used more easily for certain applications, such as for vans, small lorries, boats, etc. The extension arm 70 can be fitted on to the basic unit by a suitable bayonet fitting, or it can be bolted on, as desired.

Claims (10)

1. A hand-held electrically-operated multipurpose device for use in carrying out washing, cleaning and, optionally, other related functions, which comprises a casing arranged to be held for manual operation by a user and connectible to an electrical power supply, an electric motor located within the casing and at least one operative member drivingly connected to the electric motor and mounted for rotation within the casing, wherein the operative member comprises or is connectible to a washing component for use in association with a mains supply of water attachable to the casing, so as to be capable of control in conjunction with the washing component, in order to effect a water-assisted washing operation, and werein the operative member also comprises or is connectible alternatively to a cleaning component for use in association with a dirt-gathering nozzle, in order to effect a vacuum-cleaning operation in place of the washing operation.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the motor is capable of operating at least at two different speeds.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the washing component comprises a rotary brush and the water supply is arranged to be directed on to the brush, when the device is used to effect the water-assisted function, and the cleaning component comprises a rotary suction impeller associated with the nozzle and arranged to direct gathered dirt into a receptacle when the device is used to effect the vacuum-cleaning operation.

4. A device according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the motor is arranged to operate at a lower speed in conjunction with the washing component and at a higher speed in conjunction with the cleaning component.

5. A device according to claim 3 or 4, wh-rein the impeller is mounted for rotation within a housing upon a spindle drivingly connected to the motor, the housing being connectable to a hose carrying the nozzle and also including an outwardly-extending pipe fitted with the receptacle for the dirt gathered via the nozzle in the vacuum-cleaning operation.

6. A device according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the rotary brush is attachable without removing the impeller.

7. A device according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein a dispensing unit, for use in introducing a liquid additive into the wash water, is fitted to the casing and is arranged to dispense the additive into the water supply, as required, when carrying out the washing operation.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing unit comprises a container holding a spring-urged piston for exerting pressure on the additive held in the container, the lower part of the container being connected to a regulatable outlet pipe forming a T connection with a hose carrying the water supply.

9. A device according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the water supply is fed to an outlet nozzle adjacent the brush, the nozzle being of arcuate form and producing a number of jets of water in use.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein a detachable extension arm is attached to the casing, to enable vacuum-cleaning, washing or other operations to be carried out beyond normal reach when the arm is held by the user instead of the casing.