VACUUM CLEANER ACCESSORY TOOL CONFIGURED TO DISTRIBUTE MIST
An accessory tool for use with a vacuum cleaner. The accessory tool has a fluid delivery system configured to distribute nebulized mist onto various surfaces to be cleaned, including soft surfaces such as upholstery, dog beds, pillows, and automobile interiors. The mist can contain a solution or combination of solutions, such as an odor eliminator, a sanitizer, a stain remover, a deodorizer, a fragrance, or any combination thereof.
1 . A vacuum accessory tool, comprising:
a housing having a suction nozzle and defining an interior;
a suction nozzle inlet formed in the suction nozzle and adapted to be connected to a suction source remote from the housing for generating a working air flow through the interior of the housing;
a supply tank including a reservoir adapted to contain a cleaning solution, the supply tank having a supply tank inlet and a supply tank outlet; and
a mist delivery system, comprising:
a wick fluidly coupled with the supply tank outlet and defining a fluid conduit;
a mist distributor operably coupled to the wick, the mist distributor having a body with having micro-perforations;
a mist generator operably coupled to the mist distributor, the mist generator includes a piezoelectric transducer; and
wherein cleaning solution is drawn through the fluid conduit from the supply tank outlet towards the mist distributor and the piezoelectric transducer vibrates the mist distributor and cleaning solution on the mist distributor is atomized into mist and configured to be applied onto a surface to be cleaned.
2 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer surrounds the mist distributor.
3 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 , further comprising a roller located between the suction nozzle inlet and the mist generator to block the mist from flowing directly into the suction nozzle inlet.
4 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 , further comprising a controller and a power switch and wherein the piezoelectric transducer is operably connected to the controller and the power switch.
5 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 4 , further comprising a trigger operably connected to the power switch and configured to provide a user interface to control the mist delivery system.
6 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 4 , further comprising a push button operably connected to the power switch and configured to provide a user interface to control the mist delivery system.
7 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is adapted to vibrate within a frequency range of 5.0 kHz-2.5 MHz to convert cleaning solution into the mist.
8 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 7 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is adapted to vibrate at about 1.7 MHz.
9 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the mist includes diameters from about 10 microns to 100 microns.
10 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is annular and comprises an inner diameter and an outer diameter and the mist distributor is provided within the inner diameter.
11 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 10 wherein the inner diameter is about 12 mm and the outer diameter is about 20 mm.
12 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the wick comprises an absorbent material.
13 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 12 wherein the absorbent material is any one of a felt, a porous thermoplastic material including a polyethylene, or a synthetic thermoplastic polymer fiber including a polyethylene/polyester fiber.
14 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spaced fins operably coupled to the wick and configured to retain the wick.
15 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the micro perforations are in the range of 4-11 microns.
16 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting plate operably coupled to the housing and adapted to hold the piezoelectric transducer in place on the housing.
17 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 16 wherein the mounting plate comprises an opening for passage of the mist.
18 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 17 wherein the opening is funnel-shaped and adapted to encourage diffusion of the mist.
19 . The vacuum accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the supply tank is removably coupled with the housing.
20 . A vacuum accessory tool, comprising:
a housing having a suction nozzle and defining an interior;
a suction nozzle inlet formed in the suction nozzle and adapted to be connected to a suction source remote from the housing for generating a working air flow through the interior of the housing;
a supply tank including a reservoir adapted to contain a cleaning solution, the supply tank having a supply tank inlet and a supply tank outlet; and
a mist delivery system, comprising a fluid conduit fluidly coupled with the supply tank outlet and a mist generator operably coupled with the fluid conduit and wherein during operation of the mist delivery system the cleaning solution is drawn through the fluid conduit from the supply tank outlet to the mist generator where cleaning solution is atomized into mist and configured to be applied onto a surface to be cleaned.