Recovery tank for a cleaning apparatus

• US 20050283938A1
• 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: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Inventors: Cooper, Kenneth H., Fawcett, Jonathan E., Theiss, William H. Jr., Symensma, Kenneth L., Kegg, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,797 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

The cleaning apparatus includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. A recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle and has a front end. A lid covers the recovery tank and has an inlet opening for directing dirt and liquid into the recovery tank and an outlet opening located at the front end of the recovery tank. A suction nozzle is secured to the base portion and fluidly communicates with the inlet opening of the lid. A suction source fluidly communicates with the outlet opening for drawing dirt and liquid from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A partition device is positioned between the outlet opening and the inlet opening and extends down within the recovery tank a sufficient distance to prevent the liquid from flowing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a) a housing

b) a recovery tank removably mounted to said housing;

c) a lid covering said recovery tank, said lid having an inlet opening for directing dirt and liquid into said recovery tank, said lid having an outlet opening;

a suction nozzle fluidly communicating with said inlet opening of said lid;

d) a suction source fluidly communicating with said outlet opening for drawing dirt and liquid from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank; and

e) a separator secured to said lid and fluidly connected to said inlet opening, said separator having a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall, said peripheral wall having an outlet, a baffle portion provided on said bottom wall, said baffle portion and said peripheral wall defining a channel for directing dirt and liquid out of said outlet of said peripheral wall, said peripheral wall including a beveled wall portion positioned below said inlet opening such that the flow of liquid and dirt from said inlet opening impinges upon at least a portion of said beveled wall portion.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recovery tank includes a float assembly slidably mounted to said beveled wall portion, said float assembly having a seal portion for sealing said outlet opening of said recovery tank to prevent air and liquid from entering said suction source when the liquid in said recovery tank reaches a predetermined volume.

3. The cleaning apparatus claim 2 wherein said float assembly includes a lower float portion and an elongated member, said lower float portion being connected to said seal by said elongated member, said elongated portion being slidably mounted to said beveled wall portion and being substantially parallel to said beveled wall portion for sliding along said beveled wall portion.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 3 including a solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution removably mounted to said housing.

5. 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.

6. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a) a base portion for movement along the surface;

b) a handle pivotally connected to said base portion;

c) a recovery tank removably mounted to said handle, said recovery tank having a front end;

d) a lid covering said recovery tank, said lid having an inlet opening for directing dirt and liquid into said recovery tank, said lid having an outlet opening located at the front end of said recovery tank;

e) a suction nozzle secured to said base portion and fluidly communicating with said inlet opening of said lid;

f) a suction source fluidly communicating with said outlet opening for drawing dirt and liquid from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank; and

g) a partition device positioned between said outlet opening and said inlet opening and extending down within said recovery tank a sufficient distance to prevent the liquid from flowing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein said recovery tank includes a float assembly slidably mounted to said partition device, said float assembly having a seal portion for sealing said outlet opening of said recovery tank to prevent air and liquid from entering said suction source when the liquid in said recovery tank reaches a predetermined volume.

8. The cleaning apparatus claim 7 wherein said float assembly includes a lower float portion and an elongated member, said lower float portion being connected to said seal by said elongated member, said elongated portion being slidably mounted to said partition device and being substantially parallel to said partition device for sliding along said partition device.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6 including a solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface removably mounted to said handle.

10. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a) a base portion for movement along the surface;

b) a handle pivotally connected to said base portion, said handle pivoting between an upright position and an inclined position for floor cleaning;

c) a recovery tank removably mounted to said handle, said recovery tank having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

d) a suction nozzle associated with said base portion and fluidly communicating with said inlet opening of said recovery tank;

e) a suction source fluidly communicating with said outlet opening for drawing dirt and liquid from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank;

f) a float assembly having a seal portion for sealing said outlet opening of said recovery tank to prevent air and liquid from entering said suction source when the liquid in said recovery tank reaches a predetermined volume; and

g) wherein said seal portion seals said outlet opening upon the recovery tank reaching said predetermined volume when the handle is positioned in one of the upright position and the inclined position for floor cleaning.

11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said float assembly includes a lower float portion and an elongated member, said lower float portion being connected to said seal by said elongated member.

12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 including a solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface removably mounted to said handle.

13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said recovery tank includes a lid covering said recovery tank, said outlet opening being formed in said lid.

14. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising

a) a base portion for movement along the surface;

b) a handle pivotally connected to said base portion;

c) a recovery tank removably mounted to said handle;

d) a lid covering said recovery tank, said lid having an inlet opening for directing dirt and liquid into said recovery tank and an outlet opening;

e) a suction nozzle secured to said base portion and fluidly communicating with said inlet opening of said lid;

f) a suction source fluidly communicating with said outlet opening for drawing dirt and liquid from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank; and

g) a partition device positioned between said outlet opening and said inlet opening and extending down within said recovery tank a sufficient distance to prevent the liquid from flowing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening;

h) a float assembly slidably mounted to said partition device, said float assembly having a seal portion for sealing said outlet opening of said recovery tank assembly to prevent air and liquid from entering said suction source when the liquid in said recovery tank reaches a predetermined volume.

15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein said float assembly includes a lower float portion and an elongated member, said lower float portion being connected to said seal by said elongated member, said elongated portion being slidably mounted to said partition device and being substantially parallel to said partition device for sliding along said partition device.

16. The cleaning apparatus of claim 14 including a solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface removably mounted to said handle.

17. The cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein said seal portion seals said outlet opening upon the recovery tank reaching said predetermined volume when the handle is positioned in either the upright position or the inclined position for floor cleaning.