Suction cleaning head

• US 5,485,652 A
• Filed: 03/04/1993
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VAX Appliances Limited
• Original Assignee: VAX Appliances Limited
• Inventors: Holland, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/987,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 15/321, 15/322
• US Class Current: 15/322
• 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 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00

Abstract

A suction cleaning head (10) characterised in that it comprises a suction chamber (12) having an open mouth (36) and an outlet (40) adapted to be connected to an air extraction means, a cleaning liquid chamber (14) located at a point external to the suction chamber (12) and having an open mouth (63) and an outlet (62) adapted to be connected to a supply of cleaning liquid, a flow restricting means (16) adapted to engage the open mouth (63) of the cleaning liquid chamber (14), and a plurality of passageways (78, 122, 192) to enable transfer of cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid chamber (14) through or past the flow restricting means (16).

Claims

1. A suction cleaning head, comprising:

a suction chamber having an open mouth and an outlet connectable to an air extractor;

a cleaning liquid chamber positioned externally to said suction chamber and having an open mouth and an inlet connectable to a supply of cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid being flowable through said cleaning liquid chamber; and

means for restricting the flow of the cleaning liquid through said cleaning liquid chamber, comprising;

a closure releasably engaging and at least partially closing the open mouth of said cleaning liquid chamber; and

a plurality of passageways formed at least in part by said closure, said passageways being in communication with said cleaning liquid chamber and enabling the cleaning liquid to flow from said cleaning liquid chamber at a rate restricted by a dimension and number of the passageways.

2. A suction cleaning head according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid chamber and the suction chamber at least in part share a common wall.

3. A suction cleaning head according to claim 1, wherein the suction chamber is defined by forward, rear and side walls meeting at the outlet at one end and forming the suction chamber open mouth at another end.

4. A suction cleaning head according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning liquid chamber is located across the rear wall of the suction chamber, the cleaning liquid chamber being defined by a rearmost wall, a plurality of side walls and the rear wall of the suction chamber.

5. A suction cleaning head according to claim 3, wherein a lower edge of the forward and side walls of the suction chamber define substantially a single flat plane.

6. A suction cleaning head according to claim 5, wherein a lower edge of the rear wall of the suction chamber and a lower edge of a rearmost wall of the cleaning liquid chamber define a plane located above and at an angle to the single flat plane.

7. A suction cleaning head according to claim 6, wherein said closure is releasably attachable over the rear wall of the suction chamber and rearmost wall of the cleaning liquid chamber to substantially enclose the cleaning liquid chamber.

8. A suction cleaning head according to claim 7, wherein said closure has a rearwardly projecting foot, a forward depending edge and a base member therebetween having a flat to mildly concave lower surface, the base member having provided therein the passageways communicating between the cleaning liquid chamber and lower surface.

9. A suction cleaning head according to claim 8, wherein the base member of said closure includes an upper surface having a stud member locatable between the rear wall of the suction chamber and rearmost wall of the cleaning liquid chamber when the closure is attached thereto.

10. A suction cleaning head according to claim 8, wherein said closure includes a distribution channel formed at a junction of the base member and the rearmost wall for the gathering of the cleaning liquid when said closure is attached to said cleaning liquid chamber.

11. A suction cleaning head according to claim 7, wherein said closure includes a reinforcing member projectable into the suction chamber to abut the forward wall thereof.

12. A suction cleaning head according to claim 3, wherein the forward wall has provided at a lower edge thereof a forwardly projecting foot being substantially flat on an underside thereof.

13. A suction cleaning head according to claim 1, wherein said closure is received within the open mouth of the cleaning liquid chamber, and the cleaning liquid chamber includes a rearmost wall provided with a rearwardly projecting foot.

14. A suction cleaning head according to claim 13, wherein the rearwardly projecting foot lies in the same plane as a plane substantially defined by a lower edge of a forward and side walls of the suction chamber.

15. A suction cleaning head according to claim 13, wherein a lower face of the closure, when fitted in the open mouth of the cleaning liquid chamber, defines a plane from a lower edge of a rear wall of the suction chamber to the rearward projecting foot of the rearmost wall, the closure having the passageways provided therein to allow the lower face to communicate with the cleaning liquid chamber.

16. A suction cleaning head according to claim 15, wherein the passageways are located adjacent the rear wall of the suction chamber, and a distribution channel for the cleaning liquid is formed by the closure means and the rearmost wall.

17. A suction cleaning head according to claim 13, wherein the suction chamber includes at least one spacer means located therein, and a forward wall and a rear wall of said suction chamber includes therein a plurality of recesses to receive the spacer means.

18. A suction cleaning head according to claim 13, wherein a lower face of the closure, when said closure is fitted in the open mouth of the cleaning liquid chamber, defines a plane from a point above a lower edge of a rear wall of the suction chamber to the rearwardly projecting foot of the rearmost wall, and the closure has the passageways provided therein allowing the lower face to communicate with the cleaning liquid chamber.

19. A suction cleaning head according to claim 18 wherein the passageways are located adjacent the rear wall of the suction chamber, and a distribution channel for the cleaning liquid is formed by the closure and the rearmost wall.

20. A suction cleaning head according to claim 13, wherein a lower face of the closure has both a flat surface and a curved surface, the closure having the passageways provided therein allowing the lower face to communicate with the cleaning liquid chamber.

21. A suction cleaning head according to claim 20, wherein the passageways are located adjacent a rear wall of the suction chamber, and a distribution channel for the cleaning liquid is formed by the closure and the rearmost wall.

22. A suction cleaning head according to claim 13, wherein a lower face of the closure has a concave surface, the closure having the passageways provided therein allowing the lower face to communicate with the cleaning liquid chamber.

23. A suction cleaning head according to claim 22, wherein the passageways are located substantially midway between a rear wall of the suction chamber and the rearmost wall of the cleaning liquid chamber, and a distribution channel for the cleaning liquid is formed by the closure and the rearmost wall.

24. A suction cleaning head according to claim 13, wherein the passageways are provided only in one of a rear wall of the suction chamber and the rearmost wall.