Suction nozzle assembly for a cleaning apparatus

• US 20050283936A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Barker, Douglas C., Lang, Charles A., McAllise, Gregg A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,367,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used

Abstract

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 is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a recovery tank removably mounted to the housing. A liquid distribution system is operatively associated with the housing for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface. A suction nozzle is secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the recovery tank. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. The suction nozzle includes a front nozzle portion removably mounted to a rear nozzle portion.

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) a housing;

b) a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said housing for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface;

c) a recovery tank removably mounted to said housing;

d) a suction nozzle secured to said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank, said suction nozzle including a front nozzle portion and a rear nozzle portion, said front nozzle portion being removably mounted to said rear nozzle portion;

e) a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through said suction nozzle and into said recovery tank; and

f) wherein said front nozzle portion includes an upper portion defining a hand grip for removing said front nozzle portion from said rear nozzle portion.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rear nozzle portion includes a raised portion, said hand grip has a part that engages behind said raised portion to retain said front nozzle portion to said rear nozzle portion.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front nozzle portion includes opposite side portions, said rear nozzle portion comprising opposite side portions having bottom edges, each of said side portions of said front nozzle portion having a projection that fits under a said bottom edge of a said side portion of said rear nozzle portion when said front nozzle portion is mounted to said rear nozzle portion, said projection being design and constructed to prevent said front nozzle portion from pivoting on the bottom edge of said side portion of said rear nozzle portion upon removal of said front nozzle portion from said rear nozzle portion.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to said base portion.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein said suction source is mounted to said base portion.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a brush assembly secured to said housing, said front nozzle portion including opposite side portions, said rear nozzle portion comprising opposite side portions, said side portions being translucent and at least partially covering said brush assembly such that said brush assembly can be viewed through said side portions.

14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to said base portion.

7. 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) a housing;

b) a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said housing for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface;

c) a recovery tank removably mounted to said housing;

d) a suction nozzle secured to said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank, said suction nozzle assembly including a front nozzle portion and a rear nozzle portion, said front nozzle portion being removably mounted to said rear nozzle portion;

e) a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through said suction nozzle and into said recovery tank;

f) a brush assembly secured to said housing; and

g) wherein said front nozzle portion includes opposite side portions, said rear nozzle portion comprising opposite side portions, said side portions being translucent and at least partially covering said brush assembly such that said brush assembly can be viewed through said side portions.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein said side portions of said rear nozzle portion have bottom edges, each of said side portions of said front nozzle portion having a projection that fits under a said bottom edge of a said side portion of said rear nozzle portion when said front nozzle portion is mounted to said rear nozzle portion, said projection being design and constructed to prevent said front nozzle portion from pivoting on the bottom edge of said side portion of said rear nozzle portion upon removal of said front nozzle portion from said rear nozzle portion.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein said housing includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to said base portion.

10. 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) a housing;

b) a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said housing for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface;

c) a recovery tank removably mounted to said housing;

d) a suction nozzle secured to said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank, said suction nozzle assembly including a front nozzle portion and a rear nozzle portion, said front nozzle portion being removably mounted to said rear nozzle portion;

e) a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through said suction nozzle and into said recovery tank; and

f) wherein said front nozzle portion includes opposite side portions, said rear nozzle portion comprising opposite side portions, each of said side portions of said rear nozzle portion having a recessed area for receiving a said side portion of said front nozzle portion.

11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said front nozzle portion includes an upper portion defining a hand grip for removing said front nozzle portion from said rear nozzle portion.

12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein said rear nozzle portion includes a raised portion, said hand grip has a portion that engages behind said raised portion to retain said front nozzle portion to said rear nozzle portion.

13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 including a brush assembly secured to said housing, wherein said side portions are translucent and at least partially covering said brush assembly such that said brush assembly can be viewed through said side portions.