Extraction cleaner

• US 10,368,713 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: DeJonge, Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller, Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US15/241,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20160353957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 15422, 15325
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0004 Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0014 with additional means or devices between nozzle and casing

Abstract

An extraction cleaner for a floor surface includes an extraction nozzle. The extraction nozzle that defines a fluid flow path having an elongated nozzle opening, and includes one or more stiffening elements that stiffens the walls around the nozzle opening to prevent collapsing or deformation of the extraction nozzle during use.

Claims

1. An extraction cleaner for a floor surface, comprising:

a housing having a base assembly for movement across the floor surface and a handle assembly pivotally mounted to a rearward portion of the base assembly for directing the base assembly across the floor surface;

a fluid recovery system supported by the housing, comprising;

a recovery tank for storing spent cleaning fluid and dirt that is recovered from the floor surface;

a suction source configured to generate a working airflow; and

an extraction nozzle extending towards a surface to be cleaned and in fluid communication with the recovery tank, comprising;

a forward wall including a first tubular sleeve defining a first hollow cavity and a rearward wall including a second tubular sleeve defining a second hollow cavity, the forward wall and the rearward wall form a fluid flow path therebetween having an elongated nozzle opening that is in fluid communication with the recovery tank;

a forward stiffening element provided within the first hollow cavity of the forward wall, the forward stiffening element extends substantially across the width of the extraction nozzle and comprising a first tubular brace defining a first hollow interior; and

a rearward stiffening element provided within the second hollow cavity of the rearward wall, the rearward stiffening element extends substantially across the width of the extraction nozzle and comprising a second tubular brace defining a second hollow interior;

whereby the first tubular brace and the second tubular brace prevent deformation of the extraction nozzle during use.

2. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a fluid delivery system supported by the housing for storing cleaning fluid and delivering the cleaning fluid to the floor surface, the fluid delivery system comprising:

a fluid supply container for storing a supply of cleaning fluid; and

at least one fluid distributor in fluid communication with the fluid supply container for depositing a cleaning fluid onto the floor surface.

3. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 wherein the forward and rearward stiffening elements are provided outside the fluid flow path formed between the forward and rearward walls.

4. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 wherein the forward and rearward stiffening elements are plastic or metal.

5. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first tubular sleeve comprises open ends and the open ends of the first tubular sleeve are covered by caps to enclose the first tubular brace.

6. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the second tubular sleeve comprises open ends and the open ends of the second tubular sleeve are covered by caps to enclose the second tubular brace.

7. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 wherein the first tubular brace comprises a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape and the second tubular brace comprises a generally semi-cylindrical cross-sectional shape.

8. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward and rearward stiffening elements are metal.