Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,716,448 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest, Petersen, Dave, Conrad, Nina, Innes, Daniel, Udy, Adam, Burke, Brian Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Horton, Andrew A
• Application Number:
  US15/851,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20190082903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/20 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/201 with supply of cleaning agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/202 having separate drive for the cleaning brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• 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 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• 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 11/4083 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 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 : with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 : Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/38 : Built-in suction cleaner installations, i.e. with fixed tube system to which, at different stations, hoses can be connected
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0023 : Recovery tanks for cleaning machines A47L11/4013
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0028 : Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 : with means for emptying the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/009 : Details of suction cleaner tools for additional purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/02 : with driven tools for special purposes with floor-polishing tools A47L11/20
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0633 : with retractable brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 : flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 : tube- or sleeve-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 : Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 : for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 : for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 : Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 : with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 : Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/18 : Liquid filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 : Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 : Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 : the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 : Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 : User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/55 : for cleaning appliances, e.g. suction cleaners suction cleaners comprising filters A47L9/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/35 : arranged for outward flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 36/003 : Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids B01D35/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/08 : by impingement against baffle separators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/12 : by centrifugal forces centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/16 : generated by the winding course of the gas stream , the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/20 : Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2003/006 : Construction of elements by which the vortex flow is generated or degenerated
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/002 : with external filters
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/008 : with injection or suction of gas or liquid into the cyclone
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 3/06 : Construction of inlets or outlets to the vortex chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 9/00 : Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water lockswith filters B01D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/38 : Packaging materials of special type or form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/24 : Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with thermal insulation B65D81/38

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus, such as an extractor, has a liquid delivery system operable to alternately deliver a carpet cleaning solution and a hard floor cleaning solution.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a liquid delivery system operable to alternately deliver a carpet cleaning solution comprising a first chemical and a hard floor cleaning solution comprising a second chemical different to the first chemical; and

,

b) an actuator operably connected to the cleaning solution delivery system

wherein the liquid delivery system further comprises a water reservoir, a hard floor cleaning concentrate container and a carpet cleaning concentrate container, and

wherein, in a hard floor cleaning actuation mode, the cleaning solution delivery system delivers the hard floor cleaning solution prepared from water in the water reservoir and a hard floor cleaning concentrate in the hard floor cleaning concentrate container to at least one delivery nozzle and in a carpet cleaning actuation mode, the cleaning solution delivery system delivers the carpet cleaning solution prepared from water in the water reservoir and a carpet cleaning concentrate in the carpet cleaning concentrate container to the at least one delivery nozzle.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is manually operated by a user.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a detector operable to determine a surface that is being cleaned.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid delivery system further comprises a carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line extending from the carpet cleaning solution reservoir to the at least one delivery nozzle and a hard floor cleaning solution delivery line extending from the hard floor concentrate reservoir to the at least one delivery nozzle.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one delivery nozzle comprises at least one hard floor delivery nozzle and at least one carpet delivery nozzle and the carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line extends from the carpet cleaning concentrate reservoir to the at least one carpet delivery nozzle and the hard floor cleaning concentrate delivery line extend from the hard floor concentrate reservoir to the at least one hard floor delivery nozzle.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the carpet cleaning concentrate reservoir is removable from the surface cleaning apparatus with the carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line and the hard floor cleaning concentrate reservoir is removable from the surface cleaning apparatus with the hard floor cleaning concentrate delivery line.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the carpet cleaning concentrate reservoir and the hard floor cleaning concentrate reservoir are removable from the surface cleaning apparatus.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid delivery system further comprises a mixer chamber, a carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line extending from the carpet cleaning concentrate container, a hard floor cleaning concentrate delivery line extending from the hard floor concentrate container and a water delivery line extending from the water reservoir, wherein the carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line, the hard floor cleaning concentrate delivery line and the water delivery line are in fluid communication with a mixer nozzle.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line, the hard floor cleaning concentrate delivery line and the water delivery line each extend to a position selected from an inlet end of the mixer chamber or a position adjacent the inlet end of the mixer chamber.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mixer chamber is upstream of the at least one delivery nozzle.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one delivery nozzle comprises the mixer chamber.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, further comprising at least one pump operably coupled to an exterior of each of the carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line and the hard floor cleaning concentrate delivery line.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid delivery system mixes the hard floor cleaning concentrate with water at a first concentrate to water rate and mixes the carpet cleaning concentrate container with water at a second concentrate to water rate that differs to the first rate.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning solution delivery system is also operable to deliver clean water to the at least one delivery nozzle.