SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20160037990A1
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: McDowell, David E., Huffman, Eric C.
• Application Number:
  US14/921,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037990A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/026 where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat A46B9/005 takes precedence
• 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 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• 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 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4086 Arrangements for steam generation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• 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 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• 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 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/54 with pinion and rack
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/00 Ohmic-resistance heating

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus is capable of both vacuum cleaning and steam cleaning, and can be operated in a vacuum cleaning mode and a steam cleaning mode. In the vacuum cleaning mode, power is supplied to the vacuum motor, and the heated vapor generator is inoperable. In the steam cleaning mode, power is supplied to the heated vapor generator, and the vacuum motor is inoperable.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a vacuum motor for generating a vacuum force;

a supply tank for containing a supply of fluid;

a heated vapor generator for generating steam from the fluid in the supply tank; and

a control circuit for controlling the supply of electrical energy to the vacuum motor and the heated vapor generator, the control circuit comprising a power supply line and a switch, wherein;

in a steam cleaning mode, the switch is configured to connect the heated vapor generator to the power supply line to supply electrical energy to the heated vapor generator; and

in a vacuum cleaning mode, the switch is configured to connect the vacuum motor to the power supply line to supply electrical energy to the vacuum motor; and

wherein the vacuum motor is inoperable in the steam cleaning mode and the heated vapor generator is inoperable in the vacuum cleaning mode.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a rotatable brushroll having radially extending bristles, wherein the brushroll is rotatably driven in the vacuum cleaning mode.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the brushroll is operated independently of the heated vapor generator.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a pump fluidly coupled to the supply tank, wherein the pump is activatable in the steam cleaning mode.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pump is powered independently of the vacuum motor.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises an upright unit including a base module and a handle assembly pivotally attached to the base module.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein the base module comprises the heated vapor generator, vapor nozzle, and a vapor conduit.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein the base module comprises a brushroll having radially extending bristles and a suction nozzle.

9. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a vacuum cleaning system comprising a suction nozzle, a vacuum motor for generating a vacuum force at the suction nozzle, and a brushroll;

a heated vapor cleaning system comprising a supply tank for containing a supply of fluid, a pump, and a heated vapor generator for generating steam from the fluid in the supply tank; and

a control circuit for supplying electrical energy to the vacuum cleaning system in a vacuum cleaning mode and supplying electrical energy to the heated vapor cleaning system in a steam cleaning mode, the control circuit comprising a switch, wherein;

in the vacuum cleaning mode, the switch is configured to couple the vacuum motor to a power supply to supply electrical energy to the vacuum motor, and the heated vapor generator is inoperable; and

in the steam cleaning mode, the switch is configured to couple the heated vapor generator to a power supply to supply electrical energy to the heated vapor generator, and the vacuum motor is inoperable.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the brushroll is operated independently of the heated vapor generator.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pump is powered independently of the vacuum motor.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises an upright unit including a base module and a handle assembly pivotally attached to the base module.

13. A method of operating a surface cleaning apparatus having a vacuum cleaning system comprising a vacuum motor for generating a vacuum force at the suction nozzle, and a brushroll, and a heated vapor cleaning system comprising a supply tank for containing a supply of fluid, a pump, and a heated vapor generator for generating steam from the fluid in the supply tank, the method comprising:

supplying power to the vacuum motor in a vacuum cleaning mode, wherein the vapor generator is inoperable in the vacuum cleaning mode; and

supplying power to the heated vapor generator in a steam cleaning mode, wherein the vacuum motor is inoperable in the steam cleaning mode.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising generating a vacuum force at the suction nozzle when power is supplied to the vacuum motor.

15. The method of claim 13, and further comprising generating steam in the heated vapor generator when power is supplied to the heated vapor generator.

16. The method of claim 15, and further comprising releasing the generated steam to a surface to be cleaned.