RECOVERY TANK FOR AN EXTRACTOR CLEANING MACHINE

• US 20120131760A1
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Louis, Jeffrey S., Chaney, David, Krondorfer, Harald, Rich, Ronald, Salo, Robert A., Paliobeis, Steven J., Quinn, Patrick J., Vail, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,291,546 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 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• 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

An extractor cleaning machine includes a base having a distribution nozzle and a suction nozzle, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, a recovery tank removably coupled to the base and having a recovery tank handle, an extractor handle pivotally coupled to the base, and a supply tank coupled to the extractor handle for pivotal movement with the extractor handle with respect to the base. At least a portion of the supply tank is positioned above and over the recovery tank in a direction normal to a surface to be cleaned when the extractor handle is in an upright storage position. The supply tank is in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle to supply cleaning fluid to the distribution nozzle. The extractor cleaning machine is liftable by the recovery tank handle when the extractor handle is in the upright storage position.

Claims

1. An extractor cleaning machine comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned, the base including a distribution nozzle and a suction nozzle;

a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the suction source operable to draw fluid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle;

a recovery tank removably coupled to the base, the recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction source to receive and store the fluid and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle, the recovery tank including a recovery tank handle;

an extractor handle pivotally coupled to the base to facilitate movement of the base along the surface, the extractor handle pivotal with respect to the base from a substantially upright storage position to an inclined operating position; and

a supply tank coupled to the extractor handle for pivotal movement with the extractor handle with respect to the base, at least a portion of the supply tank is positioned above and over the recovery tank in a direction normal to the surface to be cleaned when the extractor handle is in the upright storage position, and the supply tank is in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle to supply cleaning fluid to the distribution nozzle,

wherein the extractor cleaning machine is liftable by the recovery tank handle when the extractor handle is in the upright storage position.

2. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the recovery tank includes a tank portion, and wherein the recovery tank handle extends from the tank portion to define an aperture between the tank portion and the recovery tank handle to allow the recovery tank handle to be manually grasped.

3. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 2, wherein the tank portion includes a recovery tank base and a recovery tank cover removably coupled to the recovery tank base, wherein the recovery tank handle extends from the recovery tank cover.

4. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 3, wherein the recovery tank includes an opening for emptying the fluid and dirt stored in the recovery tank, wherein the recovery tank handle is positioned on a first side of the recovery tank and the opening is positioned on a second side of the recovery tank to allow the fluid and dirt to be poured through the opening while grasping the recovery tank handle.

5. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 4, wherein the opening extends through the recovery tank cover.

6. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 2, wherein the recovery tank handle is stationary relative to the tank portion.

7. The extractor of cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the base includes a front and a rear, wherein the distribution and suction nozzles are located adjacent the front of the base and the extractor handle is pivotally coupled to the rear of the base, wherein the extractor handle defines a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the recovery tank handle generally overlays the central longitudinal axis of the extractor handle when viewed from the front.

8. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising a latch that removably couples the recovery tank to the base.

9. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 8, wherein the latch is coupled to the base and the base includes a recess, wherein the recovery tank includes a flange and a foot, wherein the foot extends into the recess and the latch engages the flange to secure the recovery tank to the base.

10. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 9, wherein the latch and the flange secure a first side of the recovery tank to the base, and wherein the foot and the recess secure a second side of the recovery tank that is substantially opposite the first side to the base.

11. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 8, wherein the latch is a first latch, and wherein the recovery tank includes a recovery tank base and a recovery tank cover removably coupled to the recovery tank base by a second latch.

12. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the recovery tank handle facilitates removing and handling the recovery tank apart from the base.

13. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 12, wherein the recovery tank includes an opening for emptying the fluid and dirt stored in the recovery tank, wherein the recovery tank handle allows the fluid and dirt to be poured through the opening while grasping the recovery tank handle.

14. An extractor cleaning machine comprising:

a base having a front, a rear, a first side, and a second side, the base movable along a surface to be cleaned and including a distribution nozzle and a suction nozzle, the distribution and suction nozzles located adjacent the front of the base;

an extractor handle pivotally coupled to the rear of the base to facilitate movement of the base along the surface;

a supply tank coupled to one of the base and the extractor handle, the supply tank in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle to supply cleaning fluid to the distribution nozzle;

a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the suction source operable to draw fluid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle; and

a recovery tank removably coupled to the base, the recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction source to receive and store the fluid and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle, the recovery tank including a recovery tank handle; and

a connector manually operable to removably couple the recovery tank to the base,

wherein the recovery tank handle is generally evenly spaced from the first and second sides of the base when the recovery tank is secured to the base so that the extractor cleaning machine is liftable by the recovery tank handle.

15. The extractor of cleaning machine of claim 14, wherein the recovery tank handle extends generally parallel to the first and second sides of the base when the recovery tank is secured to the base.

16. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 14, wherein the recovery tank handle facilitates removing and handling the recovery tank apart from the base when the recovery tank is not secured to the base.

17. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 14, wherein the extractor handle defines a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the recovery tank handle generally overlays the central longitudinal axis of the extractor handle when viewed from the front.

18. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 17, wherein the extractor handle is pivotable relative to the base between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position, and wherein the recovery tank handle generally overlays the central longitudinal axis when the extractor handle is in the upright storage position.

19. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 14, wherein one of the base and the recovery tank includes a foot extending outwardly therefrom and the other of the base and the recovery tank defines a recess, and wherein the foot extends into the recess to secure the recovery tank to the base.

20. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 19, wherein the connector includes a latch that secures a first side of the recovery tank to the base, and wherein the foot and the recess secure a second side of the recovery tank that is substantially opposite the first side to the base.