GB2432303A

GB2432303A - A portable cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: GB2432303A
Application number: GB0703205A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald J Stephens; Gary M Johns; David W Moine
Original assignee: Hoover Co
Current assignee: Hoover Co
Priority date: 2003-10-08
Filing date: 2004-06-28
Publication date: 2007-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2024-06-28
Also published as: GB2432304B; GB0703205D0; GB2432303B; GB0703208D0; GB2432304A

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided. The cleaning apparatus comprises a housing 44, a recovery system which includes a recovery tank 64 removably mounted to the housing 44, a suction nozzle 62 selectively mounted to the housing 44 and usable in both and attached position and in a detached position for cleaning said surface and a suction source 46 for drawing liquid and dirt from the surface through the nozzle 62 and into the recovery tank 64. A liquid distribution system is also provided and is, at least in part, mounted to the housing 44 for dispensing liquid to the surface being cleaned. The liquid distribution system including a solution tank (52, fig 3) removably mounted to the housing 44 for holding a cleaning solution. The handle 104 is preferably telescopic and maybe moveable between a first position in which it is used to propel the cleaner (fig 1), and a second position (fig 3) such that the cleaner can be used as a hand-held cleaning machine.

Description

A PORTABLE CLEANING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a portable cleanlnp machine such * as a carpet extractor.

The present application is divided from GB 0414432.5 to which reference is directed.

It. is known-Ir the prior art to provide.a portable cleaning machine for cleaning surface. It would be desirable to provide such a cleaning machine that can be used for both floor cleaning and above the floor cleahing surf aces such a upholsteries * and stairs. Further, it would be convenient to have the cleaning machine be converted from an upright type to a hand-held type for use in a variety of cleaning applicatk)ns, such as vehides, closets Or other areas of limited maneuvering space. However, In many of theses cleaning machines, it requires some time and effort to convert the is machine from one such deaning mode or applicätionto another. Often, additional paits such as an accessory hose with a suction nozzle and a conversion vaive has to be incorporate in the deaning machine so that it can be used to clean both the floor and abcve the floor cleaning surfaces. . . *.

Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vers'atile cleaning, machine that can be easily used to clean various surfaces in a variety of * . . cleaning areas. * * . . . .* . . ..

The foregoing and other objects of the present Invention will be readily apparent from the foliówing 4escription and the attached drawings. In one aspect of the present invention, a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface Is provided.. The cleaning apparatus has a housing for movement aiong a surface with a suction nozzle assembly having an inlet and outlet provided on the housing. A recovery container Is removably mounted to the housing. A hose having a first end detachably cohnected to the outlet of the suction nozzle and a second end in fluid communiátion with the recovery container floor-scrubbing machine is provided. A vacuum source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, hose, and recovery container fordrawlng dirt from the cleaning surface into the inlet of the suction nozzle and into said recovery container. The cleaning apparatus further includes a handle movably connected to the housing and movable between a first position that locks the first end of the hose to the * housing to a second position that unlocks the first end of the hose to the housing.

In another aspectof the present invention, a cleaning apparatus for is cleaning a surface In which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface In a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus comprises a housing with a recovery system mounted to the housing. The recovery system comprises a recovery tank removable mounted to the housing, a suction nozzle selectively mounted to the housing and usable in both the attached and detached position for cleaning the surface, ahd a suction source for drawing liquid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A liquid distribution system is mounted at least in part to the housing for dispensing liquid to the surface. The liquid distribution system includes a solution tank removably mounted to the housing for holding the cleaning solution. 3*

In still another aspectof the Invention a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a urface comprises a baèe assembly for movement along a surface. A handle Is mOvably connected to the base assembly for propelling the base assembly along the surface. A recovery system is mounted to the base assembly and comprises a recovery container removably mounted to the housing. Therecovery system further comprises a suction nozzle selectively mounted to the housing and usable in both an attached position and in a detached position for cleaning the surface, and a suction source for drawing liquid and dirt from said surface through said suction nozzle and into said recovery container.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the carpetextractor with portions cut away to illustrate hidden elements and with the hose nozzle detached from the houaing of the carpet extractor according to the present invention; is Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the carpet extractor of FIG.1 with the handle extended and the hose nozzle attached to the housing of the carpet.

extractor for use as an upright in cleaning floor surfaces; and Figure 3 is a left side perspective view of the carpet extractor with portions cut away to Illustrate hidden elements and with the handle retracted and the hose nozzle detached from the housing of the carpet extractor for use as a hand-held extractor in cleaning above the floor surfaces.

in one embodiment of the present Invention, an upright carpet extractor4O that can be converted ihto ànd-hè1d is shOwn In FIG. 1. The baseassembly 42 includes a frame or housing 44 that houses in part a suction motor/fan assembly 46. A sUitable motor/fan assembly is shown in U.S. patent 5500977, the disclosure of which s Is incàrporated by reference. The base assembly includes twd laterally displaced wheels 48R, and 48L are rotatably attached to the rear of the housing 44. A supply tank asamby 52;s removably mounted to the housing 44 at tc Ipft. rear portion thereof as shown in FIG. 3. A pump 54 is mounted to the base assembly 42 and fluidly connected to the fluidly supply tank assembly 52 for drawing the cleaning solution o to a distributor 45 (FIG.3) provided on the base assembly 42 or through a solutlonhose 56 to a spray mechanism 58 fora suction hose 60. The suction hOse 60 has a nozzle 62 attached at its inlet end 63 through hose connector 90 that is selectively mountd to the housing 44 and usable in both an attached position and in a detached position (which will be explain further) for cleaning a surface. The pump 54 can be any suitable type, such as an air turbine driven type disclosed In the above-mentioned U.S. patent 5,500,977.

The spray mechanism 58 is mounted to the underside of the tubularhose connector 90 and operated by a trigger 50. The hose connector and spray mechanism is generally formed of a rigid material. The spray mechanism 58 can be any suitable device such as that disclosed in previously mentioned U.S. patent 5,50O,977 PJtematively, the hose suction nozzle 62 could be detachably connected to the hose connector 90 of the hose 60, so that other nozzles or accessory tools suôh as a creilce tool or nozzle with an attached rotating bnish could be attached to the hose 60 instead of the nozzle 62. A recovery tank 64 removably sets upon the housing 44 at the right rear portion of the housing 50 and Is.in fluid communication, with the suction motor 46.

A trapezoidal shaped floor suction nozzle 66 is mOunted to the front portion 68 of the housing 44'of the base assembly. The floor sudion nozzle 66 has an inlet 70 formed at Its bottom 7.6 extending across the width of the base assembly 42.

The sides of the floor suction nozzle 66 converge Into an outlet 72 at the upper portion 74 of the nozzle 66. The hose suction nozzle 02 is detachably attached to the housing 4A reorwardly adjacent the cutlet 72 of the floor suction nozzle 66 and in fluid communication therewith. The hose suctiorrnoz le 62 has an inlet 78, which Isof substantially similar width as that of the outlet 72of the floor suction nozzle 66, so that It jo fits over the outlet 7Z of the floor suction nozzle 66. The hose suction nozzle 62 Is generally ttiangularly shaped and attached to. the hose connector 90, whIch Is connected to the inlet 63 of the hose 60 as previously mentioned. The outlet end 80 of the hose 60 is attached to the housing 44 and is in fluid communication with the inlet 82 of the recovery tank 64. Alternatively, the hose 60 can be detachably connected tohe inlet 82 of the recovery tank 64. The hose 60 is generally flexible, elongated, and.

corrugated throughout its length. . The housing 44 includes a middle portion 84 In whIch a channel 86,ts formed an the upper surface of the middle portion 84 for receiving the hose connector for the hose 60. The channel 86 extends from the front edge to the rear edge of the middle portion 84 and has a generally semicircular shaped cross section. A dosed.

looped carry handle 88 is pivotally connected by a hinge 92 to the housing 44 idJacent the channel 86 and pivots along a longitudinal axis with respect to the carry handle 88.

The carry handle 88 Includes a curvilinear top section 94 for grasping by a hand of a user and a bottom section 96 that extends along the length of the channel 86.,' A channel 98 is formed on the underside of the bottom section 96 and complimentaryfits over the hose connector 90 receIved in the channel 86 to releasably secure the hose 60, hose connector 90, and hose suction nozzle 62 to the housing 44. The Spray mechanIsm 58 and trigger 50 is received in a recessed area within the channel 86. A suitable latching means such as a hook and pile fastener commonly know as Velcro s releasably secures the carry handle 88 to the housing 44.

In particular, hooks 1.0 attached to the underside of the bottom section 96 of the carry han lie 88 are detachably connected to a conip!imentary pile strip 102 attached to the housing 44 adjacent the channel 86. To attach the hone 60, hove connector 90 and the hose suction nozzle 62 to the housing 44, a user first grasps the carrying handle 88 and pivots the carrying handle 88 away fromthe channel 86 as seen In FIG. 1. The user then inserts the hose connector 90 into the channel 86 and then pivots the carry handle 88 towards the channel 86 until the channel 98 of the bottom section 96 of the carryin handle 88 fits over the hose connector 90 and the hooks 100 attach to the pile strip 102.

An upright telescoping handle 104 is pivotafly connected tothe rear portion of the base assembly 42 for propelling the carpet extractor 40 across the surface. The handle 104 is collapsible so that the extractor 40 can be convertedlo a hand-held extractor as shown in FIG. 3. The handle 104 includes three telescoping sections 106, 108, 110. in particular, the upper section 106 terminates into a dosed looped handgrip 112 (FIGS. 2 and.3) and is inserted into the middla section 108, whIch is inserted into the lower section 110. Thus, the upper section 106 has a smaller diameter than the middle section 108, which has a smaller diameter than the lower section 110. The telescoping sectIons 106, 108, 110 slide into their respective sections when the handle 1041$ retracted with sufficient force applied to overcome the frictional sliding force of adjacent telescoping sections. A hose support member 114 is secured on the upper section for reoeMng the hose 60.

Whenthe carpet extractor 40 is inthe floor cleaning position as shown in FIG. 2, the handle 104 Is extended and the hose suction nozzle 62 is mounted on the housing 44 adjacent the outlet 72 of the floor suction nozzle66 lii fluid communication with the floor suction nozzle 66 for floor cleaning. in this position, the extractor 40 Is an upright extractor. A suitable trigger switch 47 (FiG. 1) pivotally mounted on the handnrio 47 or Itemativelv on the hse AmhIv 42 qAIt'fivAIv rrnfrnk th ftaiw nf

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cleaning solution to the distributor 45. lii the above the floor cleaning position, the handle 104 Is retracted to convert the. extractor 40 to a hand-held extractor. The carry handle 881s then pivoted away from the hose connector 90 to allow Its removal from the housing 44. The hose 60, hose connector 90, and hose sUction nozzle 62 can be then -be used for above the floor cleaning as shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that the extractor 40 can also be used as a hand-held extractor with the hose 60, hose connector 90, and hose suction nozzle 62 attached to the housing 44. Further, the extractor can be used as an upright extractor with the hose 60, hose connector 90, and hose suction nozzio 62 detached from the housing 44. Further, a brush assembly such as a horizontal brush roll can be rotatabty mounted to the base assembly 42 to scrub the floor.

In general, the carpet extractor 40 distributes deaning solution to the * carpeted surface and substantially simultaneously extracts It along with-the dirt on the * carpet in a continuous operation. In particular, soiled cleaning liquid is extracted from the carpet by the floor suction nozzle 66 or hose suction nozIe 62, which * communicates with the recovery tank 64 through the hose 60. The soiled cleaning solution trave!s through the hose 60 and hose connector 90 and into the recovery tank 64 where the liqUid Is separated by the air and collects on the bottom of the tank 64. A. vacuum Is created in the recovery tank64 by the Motor fan assembly 46 that draws air * from the recovery tank 64 and exhausts the air to the carpeted surface.

The present Invention has been decrIbed by way of example using the * illustrated embodiment. *Upon reviewing the dtajIed description and the appended drawings, various modifications and variations of the preferred embodiments wIH become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. All-such obvious modifications and varitiors are intended Lobe included in the scope of'the present invention and of the claims appended hereto. * * * -*

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A cleanIng apparatus for cleaning a surface In which

cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the * dirt on the surface In a continuous operation: comprising: * a housing; * a recovery systemmounted to said housing and comprising: a) a recovery tank removably mounted tQ said housing; b) a suction nozzle selectively mounted to said housing and usable in both an attached position afid in a detached position for cleaning said surface; c) a suction.source for drawing liquid and dirt from said surface through said suction nozzle and Into said recovery tank; and. to

* a liquid distribution system mounted at least in part to said housing for * dispensing liquid to said surface, said liquid distribution system Including a solutlontank removably mounted to said housing for holding the cleaning solution. *
2. The cleating apparatus of claim I including a handle operatively connected to the housiAg in a first position for propelling said cleaning apparatus along (tie surface.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim. 2 wherein said handle is placed in a second position such that the cleaning apparatus can be used as a hand-held cleaning machine. *

4. . The cleaning apparatus of clèim 3 wherein said handle includes at * least a first portion telescopically connected to a second portion, said first portion telescoping substantially into said second portion to place said handle. in said second position.