Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Utility Patent
1998-05-04
2001-01-02
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3741)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S321000, C137S614200, C239S304000, C239S578000
Utility Patent
active
06167586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to upright water extraction cleaning machines and, more particularly, to an improved tank assembly for an upright water extraction cleaning machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Water extraction cleaning machines have long been used for removing dirt from surfaces such as carpeting, upholstery, drapes, and the like. The known water extraction cleaning machines can be in the form of a canister-type unit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,720 to Blase et al. or an upright unit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,977 to McAllise et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,665 to Fitzwater.
Filling and emptying the clean water tank can be cumbersome with current water extraction cleaners. Removing and replacing the tanks from a base or handle assembly can require multiple actions by the user, such as tilting the handle or unscrewing a fastener. Further, some tanks are not removable, which makes filling and emptying even more difficult. With removable tanks, the fluid connection between the supply tank and fluid application system can be inconvenient, such as those requiring a conduit to be threaded through a lid or a filling aperture in the tank. Removable recovery tanks often require the user to empty the tank by tipping the tank so that recovered fluid empties from an aperture adjacent the top of the tank. The fluid pouring from this aperture can be hard to control, often resulting in spills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along the surface to be cleaned; an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base; a liquid dispensing nozzle associated with the base for applying liquid to a surface; a cleaning solution supply tank fluidly connected to the dispensing nozzle for supplying cleaning solution to the dispensing nozzle; a conduit fluidly connecting the cleaning solution supply tank to the dispensing nozzle; a fluid recovery tank; a suction nozzle mounted to the base; a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle; a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating suction in the recovery tank, working air conduit, and nozzle to thereby draw liquid from the surface and deposit liquid into the recovery tank; and a protrusion extending downwardly from a bottom wall of the fluid supply tank and defining a well in the tank for receiving a measured amount of concentrated cleaning solution. In one embodiment, the protrusion mates with a recess in the handle or base to stabilize the cleaning solution supply tank with respect to the base or handle.
An alternative embodiment, according to the invention, includes over-center clamps between the base or handle in the cleaning solution supply tank for removably mounting the cleaning solution supply tank to the base or handle. A further embodiment, according to the invention, includes an outlet opening in the cleaning solution supply tank and a valve mounted to the outlet opening to close the outlet opening when the fluid supply tank is removed from the base or handle. Also, an embodiment according to the invention includes a check valve in the conduit inlet opening to permit fluid to flow from the cleaning solution supply tank to the dispensing nozzle and prevent the flow of fluid in an opposite direction. The removable recovery tank includes an aperture with a removable drain plug therein, according to another embodiment of the invention. Another embodiment includes an elongate float having a first end that is buoyant and a second end that is adapted to cover an upper free end of a stand pipe in communication with the working air conduit and the vacuum source for drawing separated air in the recovery tank to the vacuum source is adapted to be blocked by the second end of the elongate float, thereby blocking the transfer of air and liquid from the recovery tank to the vacuum source when recovered fluid in the recovery tank reaches a predetermined level.
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Kasen Timothy E.
Kelly Luke E.
Metzger Eric R.
Reed, Jr. Charles A.
Smith Gary L.
Bissell Homecare Inc.
Mohanty Bibhu
Rader, Fishman, Grauer & Mc Garry, An Office of Rader, Fishman &
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