Water soluable package for a floor cleaner
A floor cleaner includes a handle, a body, a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, and a supply tank coupled to the body. The supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width and a fluid disposed therein. A water soluble package includes a cleaning solution disposed therein and is inserted within the supply tank to combine with the fluid disposed therein to form a cleaning fluid. A distribution nozzle is in communication with the supply tank and disperses the cleaning fluid towards a ground surface. The package has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height. The package folds from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width.
1. A floor cleaner comprising:
a handle;
a body coupled to the handle;
a base coupled to the handle and movable over a surface to be cleaned;
a supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width, the supply tank configured to store a fluid;
a water soluble package having a cleaning solution, the water soluble package configured to be inserted within the supply tank and combine with the fluid stored in the supply tank to form a cleaning fluid; and
a distribution nozzle in communication with the supply tank, the distribution nozzle configured to disperse the cleaning fluid toward a surface;
wherein the water soluble package has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height,
wherein the water soluble package folds from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width.
2. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening width is in a range from 20 mm to 50 mm.
3. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening width is greater than 50 mm.
4. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening is circular, and wherein the inlet opening width is a diameter of the inlet opening.
5. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the water soluble package includes a film defining a first compartment having a first cleaning solution and a second compartment having a second cleaning solution that is different than the first cleaning solution.
6. The floor cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the water soluble package includes a first fold line positioned between the first and second compartments.
7. The floor cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the first cleaning solution includes a liquid ingredient and the second cleaning solution includes a powder ingredient.
8. The floor cleaner of claim 7 , wherein the powder ingredient includes one or more of a surfactant, a PH adjuster, and a preservative.
9. The floor cleaner of claim 7 , wherein the liquid ingredient includes one or more of a surfactant and a fragrance.
10. The floor cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the water soluble package includes a third compartment having a third cleaning solution.
11. The floor cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the first and the third compartments have a first geometry and the second compartment have a second geometry that is different than the first geometry.
12. The floor cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the third cleaning solution is the same as either the first cleaning solution or the second cleaning solution.
13. The floor cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the water soluble package includes a first fold line positioned between the first and second compartments and a second fold line positioned between the second compartment and the third compartment.
14. The floor cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the second compartment is positioned between the first and third compartments.
15. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising
a vacuum source within the body,
a suction inlet formed in the base and in fluid communication with the vacuum source, and
a recovery tank coupled to the body, the recovery tank configured to store the cleaning solution drawn through the suction inlet from the surface by the vacuum source.
16. A method of using a water soluble package in a floor cleaner including a supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width, the supply tank configured to store a fluid, the method comprising:
providing the water soluble package having a cleaning solution, the water soluble package having an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height;
folding the water soluble package from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width; and
inserting the water soluble package through the inlet opening to combine the water soluble package with the fluid stored in the supply tank to form a cleaning fluid.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein folding the water soluble package includes folding a first compartment having a first cleaning solution relative to a second compartment having a second cleaning solution about a first fold line.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein folding the water soluble package includes folding a third compartment having a third cleaning solution relative to the second compartment about a second fold line.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising forming the first compartment with a first geometry and forming the second and third compartments with a second geometry.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein folding the water soluble package includes folding the first and third compartments onto the second compartment.