# US 11,297,995 B2 · Steam cleaning appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,995 B2 - Document ID: US11297995B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/658,673 - Filed: 2019-10-21 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-29 - Assignees: SharkNinja Operating LLC - Applicants: Sharkninja Operating LLC - Inventors: Alan L. Weeks; Kim C. Reeves; William Scott Hughes; Ognjen Vrdoljak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297995B2 ## CPC - A47L 13/225: {Steam mops} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include steam appliances and methods which apply steam and a liquid containing a cleaning agent to the floor via separate outlets. In some embodiments, the liquid containing a cleaning agent is applied to an area of the floor that is physically separated from a steam application area. The steam may be applied to the floor through a steam-permeable fabric. The liquid containing a cleaning agent may be heated before being applied to the floor or being mixed with steam. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steam cleaning appliance for cleaning floors comprising: an appliance body; a handle attached to the appliance body; a liquid applicator to apply a first liquid to a floor; a steam source to generate steam; and a cleaning head to apply steam to the floor; wherein movement of the handle in a forward and/or backward motion to move the cleaning head on the floor operates a liquid delivery system to deliver a second liquid to the steam source; and further comprising a controller and a lock configured to automatically prevent delivery of the second liquid to the steam source in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from a power source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, further comprising: a first reservoir to hold the first liquid, the liquid applicator being in communication with the first reservoir; and a second reservoir to hold the second liquid, the steam source being in communication with the second reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 2, wherein: the handle is movably attached to the appliance body; movement of the handle in a forward and/or backward motion to move the cleaning head results in a movement of the handle relative to the cleaning head, which movement pumps the second liquid from the second reservoir to the steam source; and the controller comprises an obstruction which prevents movement of the handle relative to the cleaning head. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the first liquid is different from the second liquid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, further comprising a steam-permeable cleaning pad mounted to the cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head is configured to apply steam to the floor through the pad. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein a solenoid is de-energized to automatically prevent delivery of the second liquid to the steam source in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from the power source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically prevent delivery of the second liquid to the steam source in response to a temperature sensor detecting a sensed temperature of the steam source being below a threshold temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the liquid applicator includes an electric pump. ### Claim 9 A steam cleaning appliance for cleaning floors comprising: an appliance body; a handle attached to the appliance body; a liquid applicator to apply a first liquid to a floor; a steam source to generate steam; and a cleaning head to apply steam to the floor; wherein movement of the handle in a forward and/or backward motion to move the cleaning head on the floor operates a liquid delivery system to deliver a second liquid to the steam source; and further comprising a controller and a lock configured to automatically prevent delivery of the second liquid to the steam source in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from a power source and/or a temperature sensor detecting a sensed temperature of the steam source being below a threshold temperature, wherein the lock is configured to prevent pushing and/or pulling movement of the handle relative to the appliance body and/or cleaning head in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from the power source and/or the temperature sensor detecting the sensed temperature of the steam source being below the threshold temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 9, wherein the lock includes a plunger configured to be received in an opening to prevent pushing and/or pulling movement of the handle relative to the appliance body and/or cleaning head in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from the power source and/or the temperature sensor detecting the sensed temperature of the steam source being below the threshold temperature. ### Claim 11 A steam cleaning appliance comprising: a handle; a liquid applicator fluidly coupled to a first reservoir and configured to dispense a first liquid; a steam generator fluidly coupled to a second reservoir and configured to generate steam; a cleaning head to dispense steam from the steam generator; a manually actuable pump to move a second liquid from the second reservoir to the steam generator in response to movement of the handle during pushing and/or pulling of the steam cleaning appliance; and a controller and a lock configured to automatically prevent delivery of the second liquid to the steam source in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from a power source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 11 wherein a solenoid is de-energized to automatically prevent delivery of the second liquid to the steam source in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from the power source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to automatically prevent delivery of the second liquid to the steam source in response to a temperature sensor detecting a sensed temperature of the steam source being below a threshold temperature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 11, wherein the liquid applicator includes an electric pump. ### Claim 15 A steam cleaning appliance comprising: a handle; a liquid applicator fluidly coupled to a first reservoir and configured to dispense a first liquid; a steam generator fluidly coupled to a second reservoir and configured to generate steam; a cleaning head to dispense steam from the steam generator; a manually actuable pump to move a second liquid from the second reservoir to the steam generator in response to movement of the handle during pushing and/or pulling of the steam cleaning appliance; and a controller and a lock configured to automatically prevent delivery of the second liquid to the steam source in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from a power source and/or a temperature sensor detecting a sensed temperature of the steam source being below a threshold temperature, wherein the lock is configured to prevent pushing and/or pulling movement of the handle in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from the power source and/or the temperature sensor detecting the sensed temperature of the steam source being below the threshold temperature. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 15, wherein the lock includes a plunger configured to be received in an opening to prevent pushing and/or pulling movement of the handle in response to the steam cleaning appliance being disconnected from the power source and/or the temperature sensor detecting the sensed temperature of the steam source being below the threshold temperature.