JP2024540413A - Floor Cleaning Equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A floor cleaning device with a flexible floor wiping blade secured to an elongated width retaining arm or frame. The wiper is a semi-rigid, semi-flexible material and is removable and replaceable via a retaining slot in the bottom of the frame. A vacuum cleaner hose or tube is secured to a fitting on the top of the frame and leads to a suction channel in the frame that terminates in a suction opening near the floor near the left or right edge of the arm, either towards or away from the operator as determined by operation. The device sweeps the floor by dragging the blade over the floor one or more times to create a line of dirt, which is then sucked up by aligning the suction opening with the line of dirt and dragging the device the length of the line of dirt. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/275,737, filed November 4, 2021.

The present invention relates to a floor cleaning device having a flexible floor wiping blade secured to an elongated width retaining arm. The wiper is made of a flexible yet semi-rigid material and is positionable, removable and replaceable via a retaining slot in the bottom of a receiving wand that is typically fashioned to present a frame or yoke. In particular, a vacuum cleaner hose or tube may be secured to a fitting on top of said frame to span a length that lies parallel to the surface to be cleaned, whereby dirt, debris and liquids are directed into a suction channel in the vacuum cleaner frame that terminates near the floor and at an opening in the end of the vacuum cleaner wand just near the left or right edge of the arm that faces the operator.

Floor cleaning devices come in several different forms, including brooms, mops, carpet cleaners, vacuum cleaners, including special attachments for tank vacuums, squeegees for wet floors, and vibratory floor contact devices that loosen and collect debris. See, for example, Patent Nos. 10,702,115, 10,390,671, 10,130,229, 9,420,931, and 9,386,896, all of which are assigned to the inventor of the present invention.

There are many motorized upright and tank vacuums in the art, generally with multiple functions such as handles, tubes (rigid and flexible), attachments (powered and non-powered), collection tanks, bags, filters, etc. However, all vacuums have a vacuum or suction source, usually propelled by a motor and fan assembly, that generates a sufficient volume of dirt, debris, or liquid (such as water) to draw the dirt, debris, or liquid into the vacuum device and collect it in a tank, filter bag, or other similar container. Rotating brushes have historically been used to (1) remove dirt and debris from hard surfaces and carpets, and (2) "sweep" said dirt and debris into an area proximate to a suction port or ports, but there are other modes in this technology that accomplish or attempt to accomplish the same functions, such as a myriad of static and adjustable nozzles, wands, brushes, adapters, etc. Generally, once the particles have collected in an internal receptacle (such as a tank canister or an inserted filter bag), the air is then vented, the debris is retained, and collection continues until the container is full or collection is complete.

There are also a number of non-electrical, non-powered cleaning tools that are widely used on flat surfaces in kitchens, bathrooms, and hardwood floors, which utilize physical action to collect dirt and debris, rather than suction as the primary driving force. Historically, this collection and recovery has been accomplished through the use of brooms, featuring bristles or similar stiff fibers attached to a coplanar, elongated handle (with or without a dustpan), but more recently, since 1997, it has been accomplished through a handle and cleaning pad combination, in which a rotating flat attachment is perpendicular to the handle and is adapted to receive a disposable sheet or pad, which can be of either wet or dry type. A cleaning solution may also be "sprayed" onto the surface in front of the sheet or pad to wet the surface before contacting the disposable sheet or pad. In addition, there are numerous surfaces, from smooth to rough, solvents, and abrasives, designed to loosen and collect particles of various sizes, capture and discard them.

However, there is a need in the art for surface cleaning devices and tools that allow for the removal of small particles with rotating brushes and disposable wipes that require replacement after relatively minimal use.

Therefore, a need exists for a simple and effective floor or surface cleaning device that can be attached to the hose or tube of a vacuum cleaner, particularly a canister vacuum cleaner, to efficiently clean the surface. This need exists for hard surfaces, whether indoors or outdoors, dry or wet. To meet this need, it is the inventor's goal to provide this new and innovative cleaning device, as well as a method of use.

The present invention addresses an unmet need in the art for an efficient and effective surface cleaning device, which is a new, novel and unobvious cleaning device comprised of a dry squeegee or blade made of flexible foam, rubber, silicone, or similar flexible material, preferably held on a blade holder bar or arm via a slot that allows for replacement of different blades as needed based on required stiffness, flexibility, use, wear, or a combination thereof. The elongated blade holding bar or arm, in addition to having a blade holding slot on its underside, has a fitting for attachment to a hose or tube of a vacuum cleaner (i.e., a domestic canister vacuum, an upright cleaning unit, and/or an industrial vacuum cleaner). This fitting communicates with a suction port through the interior of the holding arm, which may be centrally located at one end of the arm, split along the length of the bar/arm, or located elsewhere, and which is most preferably slightly above the floor or surface and in close proximity to dirt, debris, or liquids when the device is in use and positioned in front of the blade facing the user.

In use, the present invention, i.e., the cleaning device, is in contact with a floor or other substantially flat surface and is pushed or pulled across the surface in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the arm. The foam blade "rakes" and captures dirt, debris, and/or liquid, concentrating the debris along the path of travel of the blade at the point where the blade contacts the surface. At regular intervals, the device can be angled to deposit the collected debris into the suction port, and the vacuum cleaner efficiently removes the dirt and debris into the suction channel, as all vacuum cleaners exhibit in normal operation.

In one preferred embodiment, the floor contacting blade is formed of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, also known as polyethylene-vinyl acetate, or PEVA, which is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, with the weight percent of vinyl acetate typically ranging from about 10 to 40 percent, with the remaining 90 to 60 percent being ethylene. The foam floor contacting blade is flexible yet rigid, allowing for navigation along generally planar, horizontal, or vertical (wall) surfaces. In another preferred embodiment, the blade itself is about 0.5 inches deep (face to face width) and may span, for example, about 12 to 20 inches, preferably about 18 inches, in its widest direction.

The blade retaining arms and frame can be made of injection molded polypropylene plastic for strength, rigidity, and resistance to surface damage. Alternatively, certain portions of the vacuum cleaner housing and trim parts can be made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastic, which may be preferred over other polystyrene plastics, with small amounts of styrene-butadiene rubber for impact resistance, and acrylonitrile to harden the styrene before polymerization, allowing for both moderate flexibility and rigidity. The vacuum hose connector can be sized to fit the vacuum cleaner hose or wand, and in one embodiment is a one-piece plastic cylindrical member having an outer diameter of about 1 inch and an inner diameter of about 1 1/4 (or other dimensions for commercial vacuum cleaners). The inventors also contemplate utilizing adapters or couplings to allow a single floor cleaning device to be retrofitted to a multitude of vacuum cleaners and floor cleaning devices with varying diameters of exterior and interior parts.

The vacuum fitting itself is made to receive the lead in an elongated slot shown at the bottom of the vacuum "wand", which extends to the bottom of the blade retainer and finally connects to the suction port. The same slot defines a preferably rectangular internal cavity that, when pushed up into this channel or cavity, tightly receives the rectangular outer surface of said foam blade, which then forms the bottom boundary of the suction channel (i.e., air duct cavity) that contacts the surface (e.g., floor). However, the inventors further contemplate that the suction duct may be a circular or triangular (e.g., angled) receiving cavity made to reciprocate to accommodate the approximately flat top of the inserted blade shape, and in the case of a triangular or circular cavity, the channel may be "bottomed" by the flat portion of the top of the blade. In either case, the upper edge of the suction cavity and the foam blade are joined to form a sealed channel for the transmission of dirt, debris, and/or liquid.

The slot or channel of the blade retainer/receiver is of an appropriate width (front to back) to (1) receive the blade, (2) securely hold/grasp the foam blade, and (3) allow for convenient replacement (removal and reinsertion) of the blade. In one embodiment, this may be accomplished if both the top of the blade and the receiving channel or cavity are rectangular, with the top of the blade being slightly larger than the width of the receiving channel, and the blade is inserted into the slot to a depth of about 1 inch and held in place by a restraining force along the length of the blade. Alternatively, a flexible foam may exhibit a width slightly wider than the width of the channel or cavity, allowing the elasticity of the blade material to compress upon insertion and additionally expand upon deployment to secure said blade in the receiving channel. Additionally, the length of the blade may exceed the length of the receiving and retaining arms at either end, and the retaining arms may have a form and boundary but no side enclosure, and the length of the blade may exceed the length of the receiving arms. Approximately half the length of the frame's retainer slot (left to right), as opposed to the opposite half, can extend higher to form an air suction channel at the top of the foam blade as described above.

More specifically, when the foam blade is fully inserted into the slot or channel, in yet another preferred embodiment, this allows a continuous, sealed air channel over a portion of the arm's length to communicate suction from the vacuum cleaner to the suction port and directly draw dirt, debris, and/or liquid into the suction channel.

In another preferred embodiment, the retaining arm of the frame has a slot or channel depth (front to rear) that increases away from the frame on the working side of the floor cleaning device to form a protruding suction passage along the leading side of the foam blade that extends outwardly away from the frame and downwardly protruding close to the floor or other surface to allow for the vacuuming of debris that has collected against the inserted blade. Thus, the air channel is integrally formed with the molded blade frame and retainer and is used in combination with the inserted blade.

Another embodiment of the floor cleaning device according to the present invention is in the form of a "V" shape, bifurcated, with two equal blade arms extending outward from an apex, preferably at a right to obtuse angle between 90° and 180°. In another related embodiment, the "V" shape has two arms of different lengths. At the apex of both arms are preferably vertically disposed cylindrical vacuum fittings to receive a hose or tube from a tank cleaner or industrial vacuum cleaner to form a suction port for the suction of dirt, debris or liquids. Furthermore, the frame made to receive said bifurcated blade arms is of equal length corresponding to the length of each blade arm.

In a preferred embodiment, a cylindrical fitting on the device frame is angled, preferably at about 45°, so that it can be secured to pull or push the device along a floor or similar surface. More preferably, the angled connection rotates 360° so that the blade or squeegee can be rotated to pull or push so that the inlet for suction can be directed toward collected particles (e.g., dirt, debris, and/or liquid). Each of the two arms can be generally similar in length and width to the retaining arm described above, but this embodiment is intended for wet floors and has a different shape of the "wiper" blade relative to the floor and no horizontal internal air channels. A typical squeegee blade with moderate flexibility can be used in each arm. The squeegee blade can be similar to a typical squeegee blade used to wipe smooth surfaces, or preferably somewhat stiff, which can be rectangular or angled downward.

In the V-shaped device embodiment, the top ends of the two arms include a small flat pan structure just below the bottom end of the vacuum tube and at the base of the blade arms. The receiving/retaining arms in this form of the invention do not have an air movement cavity internalized within the frame's retaining/receiving arms. A pair of V-shaped squeegee blades collect dry and wet debris toward the top end (apex) as the device moves along the floor, where the debris is moved to the junction of the two arms and "rides up" onto a thin flat pan that contacts the floor. The collected debris is also discharged through the vacuum tube.

In one V-shaped embodiment, the two arms may be equal or different lengths and may be fixed together at the apex (vertex) or adjustable. In another preferred embodiment, the point of connection between each arm (i.e., the apex) may be adjustable, allowing the angle to be increased or decreased via an adjustable "hinge."

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved, ergonomic floor cleaning apparatus for efficient use on dry floors, wet floors, or a combination thereof, with a vacuum attached to the floor cleaning apparatus to effectively, effortlessly, and quickly isolate and remove dust, debris, and possibly liquids from a substantially flat wall or floor surface. These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention from any of several preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which may be considered in conjunction with the numerous accompanying drawings and descriptions provided herein.

While the novel features and method of use of the present application have been described above, the application itself, as well as the preferred mode of use and its advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in light of the appended claims.

1 is a top, perspective view of the floor cleaning apparatus of the present invention showing a foam floor contacting blade held on a blade holding arm; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for use in combination with a canister vacuum cleaner; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the device connected to a vacuum cleaner tube. 1 shows a perspective view of the blade removed from the device. FIG. 13 is a rear side view of the blade holding arm. FIG. 4 is a perspective front view of only the blade holding arm. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the arm taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 8. FIG. 4 is a top view of the blade holding arm. 8. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the arm taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the arm taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8. FIG. FIG. 1 illustrates a V-shaped embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention itself and the method of use are amenable to various modifications and alternative configurations, the most well-known modes of making and using the invention are shown by way of example in the drawings and described herein in sufficient detail to teach those skilled in the art how to make and practice the invention. However, it should be understood that the above description and the preferred embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed, but rather that the disclosure of the invention is intended to cover all iterations, alternatives and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined within the broadest reasonable interpretation of the claims consistent with the specification.

Although certain specific features, dimensions, and configurations constituting the present invention are described, examples set forth for illustrative purposes are included without abandoning the subject matter or departing from the spirit of the present invention. And, although the following detailed description includes specific references to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will certainly appreciate that modifications, changes, and variations are within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the following embodiments of the present invention are described without prejudice to the generality of, and without imposing limitations on, the claimed invention. Although preferred embodiments are described in connection with the description of this specification, these embodiments are limiting. To the contrary, it is intended to cover all equivalents.

The present invention is characterized as a floor cleaning device with a flexible floor wiping blade secured to an elongated retaining arm or frame. The wiper can be made of semi-rigid, semi-flexible materials, such as silicone, rubber, foam, or a hybrid material combining one or more of silicone, rubber, and foam, which is removable and replaceable via a retaining slot at the bottom of the frame or yoke. The vacuum cleaner hose or tube is secured to a fitting at the top of the frame and leads to a suction channel in the frame, which terminates in a suction opening near the left or right edge of the arm, near the floor, toward the operator, or away from the operator, as appropriate. Alternatively, the point of suction may be centrally located in the center of the device or at multiple points along the arm of the device (which may be selectable between open, partially open, partially closed, and/or closed). The device drags the blade over the floor one or more times to create a line of dirt, then orients the device 90 degrees to the line of dirt, aligns the suction opening with the line of dirt, and drags the device the length of the line of dirt to clean the floor. In a second embodiment, the floor cleaner has two arms in a V-shape, with a squeegee blade that draws debris from wet floors to the top of the V where it is removed by a connected vacuum cleaner.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one preferred embodiment of a floor cleaning device 10 of the present invention. The device 10 includes a foam floor wiping blade 12 held by a blade retaining arm 14 having an upper side with a fitting 16 for connecting to a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner is typically a domestic canister vacuum, an industrial vacuum, a stick (upright) vacuum, or any vacuum cleaner having a hose or tube that can be attached to an end fixture, even if an adapter is required.

Figure 2 shows an example of a device 10 connected to a tube 20 of a canister vacuum cleaner 22 and operated by an operator 21. Figure 3 shows the device 10 connected to a vacuum cleaner tube 20 that is extendable and retractable to suit the height and requirements of the operator 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, the blade 12 can be a generally rectangular solid body and can be made of a flexible or rubbery foam material, such as neoprene foam, or more preferably EVA foam. The front-to-rear thickness is such that it fits securely (but removably) into the receiving slot of the blade-retaining arm 14 (see FIG. 5), and is preferably about 1/2 inch thick, but may be thicker or thinner to allow for thicker (stiffer) or thinner (flexible) blades for various applications and requirements. For example, FIGS. 5-11 show a preferred form of the retaining arm 14. The width is long, for example about 18 inches, or in the range of about 12 to 24 inches. In certain applications where space is limited, the width may be narrower. In large areas, it may be even larger.

Furthermore, because the structure is malleable, the blades themselves can be of any configuration that allows for the desired contact with the surface and "scooping" or "raking" of particles, including square blades (as shown in Figures 1-5, 6 and 11), blades that form angled edges, or blades with multiple edges or fins.

As shown in FIG. 5, the retaining arm 14 has a slot 24, preferably across its entire width, for frictionally holding the foam blade 12 in close contact. In FIG. 5, the foam blade 12 is shown in dashed lines, and the drawing indicates that it can be longer than the frame 24, for example extending widthwise at each end by about 1/2 inch to 1 inch. In this embodiment, the foam blade extends completely through about half the width of the retaining arm (right side of FIG. 5) to the depth of the slot, so that the upper part 26 of the retaining arm forms a stop that defines the assembly position of the blade on the right side and is raised to form the suction air duct on the left side. Another limit stop is formed at the opposite end of the retaining arm by the lower edge 28 of the end wall 30, shown in cross section in FIG. 7.

As can be seen in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the retaining arm, as the top of the slot 24, forms an internal channel 32 or vacuum passageway that connects to the vacuum fitting 16, the bottom wall of which is formed by the top of the foam blade 25 when in position as shown in Figures 5 and 7. The foam blade 12 can either completely close the channel 32 by extending beyond the outermost boundary of the receiving and retaining arm 14, forming a rearward barrier to the chamber/conduit or "bump-out" 34, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, or the chamber/conduit or "bump-out" 34 can form a completely encapsulated channel within and as an extension of said retaining arm 14 of the frame 24, where the outwardly extending chamber/conduit or "bump-out" 34 is on one of the two leading sides of the device and can be positioned towards the direction where dirt, debris or liquids will collect. Further, the inventors contemplate that this chamber/conduit or "bump-out" 34 may be on either the right or left side of the device 10, may be rotatable into a rearward or forward facing configuration, respectively, for pulling or pushing action of the device 10, or the chamber may be centrally located (not shown). Moreover, nothing in this description limits variations of the device 10 in which right, left, forward, rear, center, or any combination thereof may be present in one device.

As shown in FIG. 6, this chamber/conduit or "bump-out" 34 is in the deeper portion of the slot 24, preferably located at or near one end, and in use transmits suction down the face of the blade to a suction opening 36 close to the floor and directly adjacent the front (tip) side of the blade 12. FIG. 7 is a representative cross-sectional view of the rear wall showing where the foam blade 12 is secured within the retention slot 24 (dashed line), including arrows 40 showing the movement of air and debris through the suction opening 36 in the protruding chamber 34, through the channel 32, through the vacuum fitting 16, into the tube 20 (see FIG. 3), and into the vacuum cleaner 22 or similar suction device.

Please note that the foam blade 12 is easily removable and detachable, so that any clogging of the device's channels is easily cleared by simply removing the blade. Any such clogging debris will not reach the vacuum cleaner fitting 16, but will be retained within the rectangular channel 24 or within the suction chamber 34, where it can be easily removed.

Figure 9 shows in cross section the transition from the slot 24 to the vacuum fitting 16. Figure 10 is another cross section taken along line 9-9 in Figure 8, showing a deeper cross section of the retention arm 14 where the suction channel 32 extends as a continuous space above the slot 24. As in Figure 7 above, and as shown in Figure 10, the lower edge 28 of the distal end wall 30 forms a limit to the insertion depth of the foam blade. The perspective view of Figure 11 helps visualize some aspects of the retention arm shape that are not easily appreciated from other views.

In this illustrated embodiment of FIG. 11, the suction outlet/air inlet chamber 34 has an angled lower edge 44 on a laterally extending protruding wall 46. The lower edge of the extended end wall 30 can also have this angled shape if desired, see also FIG. 10. This can guide the operator to hold the device at approximately 45 degrees (or another selected angle) to the floor and can also help capture the line of debris at the suction outlet as it is sucked up and passes by the retaining arm 14.

In use, the device 10 is typically connected to a straight section of vacuum cleaner tubing connected to a canister, industrial, or stick vacuum (such as a DYSON® stick vacuum) as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the operator pushes or pulls the device, holding it at an angle such as 45 degrees (easily adjustable from 30 to 60 degrees from the floor), to collect debris on the blade 12. Once the column of debris has collected against the blade, the operator, in a particularly preferred method of use, rotates the device 10 vertically and at a right angle to the column of debris, with the open bottom of the suction channel 34 positioned to face one end of the column of dirt, debris, or liquid. At this point, the vacuum can be turned on (it does not have to be running while the debris is collecting) and the device moves forward to pick up the column of debris. In another alternative use, the vacuum can be functioning while the device 10 is operating, although this is not a requirement for it to function properly.

12 shows a V-shaped device 50 and an embodiment of the present invention. A vacuum fitting is shown at 52 at the apex 54 of the V-shaped device and consists of two wiper blade retaining arms 56 connected to the vacuum fitting 52 and preferably integrally formed with the vacuum fitting 52, which may be by injection molding. Note that the fitting 52 may be provided with a swivel fitting 57 and/or adapter to allow the device to be pushed and pulled.

In this embodiment, the arms 56 do not have vacuum air channels. The vacuum fittings 52 may be oriented vertically as shown, with tubes extending to a lower suction outlet 58 near the floor, e.g., about 3/8 inch to 1 inch above the floor. Attached to the arms 56 are squeegee blades 60, which may be mounted in slots on the underside of each arm, much like in the previous embodiment. These squeegees 60 may have an upper portion of similar thickness to the foam floor wiper blades described above, but a lower, floor-engaging portion is thinner, somewhat resembling a conventional squeegee of the type used to clean floors, and stiffer than squeegees used to clean glass. In one preferred embodiment, the length of each arm is between about 12 inches and 15 inches, although smaller or much larger models may be suitable for various applications.

In use, the device 50 pushes or pulls the open side of the V forward to contact both arms 56 with the floor and capture liquid and debris on the wet floor into the V and eventually to the top. It preferably includes a flat pan 62 arranged to contact the floor and receive liquid and debris wiped from the floor, similar to the function of a dustpan. The flat floor contacting pan is very thin and can have a chamfered or tapered edge like a dustpan, and is rubber or other flexible material, although it can be made rigid if desired. The configuration of the flat pan is such that it receives material swept inside the device along with the squeegee, and the debris rides on the pan 62 and is removed via the section tube/fitting 52.

The flat collection pan 62 may be approximately 1/32 inch thick at the leading edge and approximately 1 1/2 inches wide at the leading edge. The squeegee 60 may abut the side edges of the pan, with the squeegee being parallel to and in contact with those side edges. In one preferred form, the pan 62 is made of ultra high density polyethylene (UHDPE).

As used herein, the terms "about," "approximately," and "approximately" should be interpreted to mean plus or minus 10% of the stated description. The above preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In this detailed description, reference is made to specific examples in the drawings and illustrative descriptions. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the subject matter of the present invention. These examples also serve to illustrate how the subject matter of the present invention can be applied and modified for various purposes or embodiments. Logical, mechanical, and other changes can be made to the exemplary embodiments described herein, so that other embodiments are included within the subject matter of the present invention. However, the features of the various embodiments described above, while essential to the exemplary embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit the subject matter of the invention as a whole, and references to the invention, its elements, operations, and uses are not limiting as a whole, but serve only to define these particular exemplary embodiments. Thus, the scope of the disclosure should be determined by the appended claims in light of this disclosure, together with legal equivalents. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the invention(s) described above will be known to those skilled in the art and are expressly incorporated herein by reference as read into the claims. Thus, this detailed description does not limit the embodiments of the present invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims. Each of the embodiments described herein is contemplated as falling within the scope of the inventive subject matter, as set forth in the claims that follow.

Claims (20)

1. A floor cleaning device comprising:
1. A vacuum frame attachment, comprising:
The vacuum frame attachment is configured to present a vacuum fitting above for receiving a vacuum hose and an elongated receiving arm below;
the vacuum frame having a raised conduit at one end of the vacuum frame;
the vacuum frame enclosing a suction duct cavity formed therein to tightly receive a rectangular upper and outer surface of a received rectangular flexible foam blade;
The blade is secured within the retaining arm, and at least a portion of the blade is received within the elongated retaining arm;
the blade has a rectangular upper surface and a rectangular lower surface;
said rectangular upper surface forming a bottom boundary of said suction duct;
a bottom boundary of the flexible blade forming a seal between a substantially flat surface and the blade;
the blade is used to collect and collect dirt, debris, or liquid in a linear fashion for subsequent suction;
the vacuum frame fitting, the vacuum frame air duct, and the raised conduit of the vacuum frame form a through suction passage;
the retention arm presents a retention slot for blade insertion;
The flexible blade is removable and replaceable;
a vacuum frame attachment, the suction passage opening extending downward adjacent dirt, debris or liquid collected on the left or right side of the holding arm;
a vacuum tube or hose attached to the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum tube or hose sucking dirt, debris or liquid from the passage opening through the suction passage to the vacuum hose and into the vacuum cleaner. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the blade is a combination of semi-rigid, semi-flexible silicone, rubber, or foam. The floor cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the flexible blade is formed from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. The floor cleaning device of claim 3, wherein the flexible blade is approximately 1/2 inch deep and approximately 12 to 20 inches long. The floor cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the blade is square or rectangular. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the retention slots are rectangular, convex, or angular and can be configured to receive upper blade edges that are mutually rectangular, concave, or angular. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the suction passage is centrally located. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein there is an air channel formed through the frame and the holding arm at the center, either end, both ends, or a combination thereof, and the suction port communicates with the suction passage at the center, either end, both ends, or a combination thereof. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the upper fitting is cylindrical and vertically disposed to receive a vacuum hose or tube. The floor cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the fitting is angled at 45 degrees and can rotate 360 degrees to push or pull the floor cleaning device and communicate the dirt, debris, liquid, or combination thereof to the suction passage. An angled vacuum frame, an angled retention arm, and two flexible blade arms,
The angled frame is constructed to show a vacuum fitting at the top for attaching a vacuum hose or tube and the angled retaining arm at the bottom;
the angled frame defines an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees between the blade arms;
the frame presents a suction opening at the apex of the blade arm;
the blades being flexible blades, each blade being removable and replaceable;
the blade arms may be of equal or unequal length;
The flexible blade is fixedly attached to a retaining arm of opposite length to the blade arm;
the blade arm is a thin blade or an angled blade;
The retention arms are shown below the frame with the retention arm lengths reversed;
the retention arm exhibits a retention slot for inserting a removable and replaceable blade;
the retention arm exhibits a cylindrical vacuum fitting that serves as a suction passageway extending downwardly adjacent the dirt, debris or liquid collected at the apex of the retention arm;
The blade arms are shown as two equal blade arms extending outward from an apex at an angle of 90° to 180°;
said blade arms comprising an angled vacuum frame, an angled retaining arm and two flexible blade arms, the blade arms being used to bring together and collect dirt, debris or liquid at their apexes;
A vacuum tube or hose,
2. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, comprising a vacuum tube or hose attached to a vacuum cleaner for communicating with a flat surface through the frame to collect and suck up dirt, debris and liquids. The cleaning device of claim 11, wherein the apex formed by the blade arm presents a pan structure for capturing and collecting dirt, debris or liquid at the apex of the blade. The cleaning device of claim 11, wherein the angle between the blade arms is adjustable by a hinge at the apex of the frame. The cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the vacuum hose fitting is angled at 45 degrees and can rotate 360 degrees for pushing or pulling the floor cleaning device. 1. A method of collecting and aspirating dirt, debris, and liquids utilizing a floor cleaning device, comprising:
Attaching the floor cleaning device to a vacuum cleaner hose or tube via a vacuum fitting;
The device comprises a frame having an upper portion on which the vacuum fitting is disposed and a lower portion on which a receiving arm is disposed;
the receiving arm is adapted to reversibly receive a blade;
the frame presenting an air suction passage therein from a vacuum hose or tube through the vacuum fitting into a suction channel at the top of the receiving arm and terminating in a suction opening at one end of the vacuum frame;
Attaching the hose or tube to a vacuum generating device;
initiating and generating a vacuum suction from the vacuum generating device;
creating a conglomerate of dirt, debris, or liquid against the blade by pushing, pulling, or both, the dirt, debris, or liquid to create a conglomerate of the dirt, debris, or liquid in a linear fashion;
rotating the device perpendicular to the column of dirt, debris or liquid;
Positioning the bottom of a suction channel shown at one end of the device perpendicular to the row and over one end of a line of dirt, debris or liquid;
and sucking the dirt, debris, or liquid into the vacuum generating device. The method of claim 15, wherein collection of dirt, debris, and liquid occurs prior to activation of the vacuum generating device. The method of claim 15, wherein the suction channels and suction openings are located exactly at one end of the floor cleaning device, at both ends of the device, centrally located in the center of the device, or a combination thereof. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the blade is a combination of semi-rigid, semi-flexible silicone, rubber, or foam. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the flexible blade is formed from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. The method of claim 15, wherein the fitting can rotate 360 degrees to push or pull the floor cleaning device, thereby communicating the dirt, debris, fluid, or combination thereof with the suction passage.

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