US 11,700,991 B2
Upright steam mop with auxiliary hose
Alan J. Krebs, Pierson, MI (US); and Kurt E. Ashbaugh, Rockford, MI (US)
Assigned to BISSELL Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed by BISSELL Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/524,796.
Application 17/524,796 is a continuation of application No. 16/408,555, filed on May 10, 2019, granted, now 11,202,549.
Application 16/408,555 is a continuation of application No. 15/246,837, filed on Aug. 25, 2016, granted, now 10,307,033, issued on Jun. 4, 2019.
Application 15/246,837 is a continuation of application No. 14/505,917, filed on Oct. 3, 2014, granted, now 9,433,335, issued on Sep. 6, 2016.
Application 14/505,917 is a continuation of application No. 13/389,899, granted, now 8,850,654, issued on Oct. 7, 2014, previously published as PCT/US2010/045167, filed on Aug. 11, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/232,971, filed on Aug. 11, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2022/0071471 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. A47L 13/22 (2006.01); A47L 13/44 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 13/225 (2013.01) [A47L 13/22 (2013.01); A47L 13/44 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steam mop providing on-floor steam cleaning and above-floor steam cleaning, the steam mop comprising:
a foot comprising a first fluid distributor configured to distribute steam;
an upright handle assembly pivotally mounted to the foot and comprising:
a modular support frame that forms a cavity having a lower end and an upper end; and
a handle tube with a grip at one end thereof, the handle tube coupled to the modular support frame above the upper end of the cavity; and
a steam module removably mounted to the upright handle assembly and selectively receivable by the cavity, the steam module comprising:
a steam generator having an inlet and an outlet; and
a first coupling fitting fluidly coupled with the outlet of the steam generator and disposed on an upper rear side of the steam module, wherein the first coupling fitting is selectively fluidly couplable to the first fluid distributor;
wherein for on-floor steam cleaning, the steam module is received by the cavity and the first coupling fitting is in fluid communication with the first fluid distributor to distribute steam from the foot; and
wherein for above-floor steam cleaning, the steam module is removed from the cavity.