EXTRACTOR WITH AUXILIARY FLUID DISPENSER

• US 20080196193A1
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Huffman, Eric C., Lenkiewicz, Kenneth M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,295,365 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 11/4044 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

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising an extractor has a primary fluid delivery system and an auxiliary fluid delivery system. A first button on a handle of the extractor controls the delivery of cleaning fluid from the primary fluid delivery system. A second button on the handle of the extractor controls the delivery of cleaning fluid from the auxiliary fluid delivery system, which includes a spot sprayer mounted to the base assembly through which cleaning fluid is delivered. The handle is provided with an interlock between the first and second buttons so that cleaning fluid cannot simultaneously be delivered by both the primary and auxiliary fluid delivery systems.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a housing including a base which is adapted to move along a surface to be cleaned, the base having a front portion and a rear portion;

a suction nozzle mounted at the front portion of the base;

a fluid delivery system mounted to the housing and including;

a fluid supply tank for holding a supply of a cleaning fluid;

a primary dispenser for distributing the cleaning fluid from the fluid supply tank to a front portion of the base, rearwardly of the suction nozzle, and onto the surface to be cleaned; and

a secondary dispenser for distributing the cleaning fluid from the fluid supply tank to the front portion of the base, forwardly of the suction nozzle, and onto the surface to be cleaned.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 1, wherein the base includes a cover, and the primary dispenser is positioned within the cover and the secondary dispenser is positioned on the exterior of the cover.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 2, wherein the secondary dispenser projects a spray of cleaning fluid forwardly of the cover.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 3, wherein the secondary dispenser is located on at least one side of the suction nozzle.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 3 wherein the secondary dispenser comprises a spray tip.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 5 wherein at least the spray tip of the secondary dispenser is mounted on an end cap of the base.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 6 wherein the end cap has an opening, and a fluid line extends through opening to the spray tip.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 7, wherein the secondary dispenser further comprises a removable cover positioned over the fluid line.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises a first valve controlling distribution of cleaning fluid from the primary dispenser, a second valve controlling distribution of cleaning fluid from the secondary dispenser, and a first switch selectively connected to the first and second valves for effecting the distribution of the cleaning fluid from either the primary dispenser or the secondary dispenser.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a handle pivotally mounted to base, and the handle comprises a first actuator for controlling distribution of cleaning fluid from the primary dispenser and a second actuator for controlling the distribution of cleaning fluid from the secondary dispenser.

11. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a housing including a base which is adapted to move along a surface to be cleaned;

a suction nozzle mounted to the base;

a fluid delivery system mounted to the housing and including;

a source of cleaning fluid;

a primary dispenser for distributing the cleaning fluid from the source of cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a secondary dispenser for distributing cleaning fluid from the source of cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a first valve controlling distribution of cleaning fluid from the primary dispenser;

a second valve controlling distribution of cleaning fluid from the secondary dispenser; and

a first switch selectively connected to the first and second valves for effecting the distribution of the cleaning fluid from one of the primary dispenser and the secondary dispenser.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 11, wherein the housing further includes a handle pivotally mounted to base, and the handle comprises a first actuator operably connected to the first valve and a second actuator operably connected to the second valve.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 12, wherein the first and second actuators are positioned on a hand grip of the handle and the first actuator is positioned to be operated by a finger of a user and the second actuator is positioned to be operated by a thumb of the user.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 11, wherein the source of cleaning fluid comprises a fluid supply tank.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 11, wherein the source of cleaning fluid comprises multiple fluid supply tanks.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 15, wherein the primary dispenser distributes the cleaning fluid from one of the multiple fluid supply tanks and the secondary dispenser distributes the cleaning fluid from another of the multiple fluid supply tanks.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 15 and further comprising a metering valve assembly for selectively controlling the concentration of the cleaning fluid to the primary and secondary dispensers.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 17, wherein the metering valve is controlled to distribute one concentration of the cleaning fluid to the primary dispenser and a different concentration of the cleaning fluid to the secondary dispenser.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 11, and further comprising a second switch connected to the first valve for effecting distribution of the cleaning fluid from the primary dispenser.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus from claim 19, wherein the second switch is operable to effect distribution of the cleaning fluid when the first switch is connected to the first valve.