Convertible upright carpet extractor

• US 5,615,448 A
• Filed: 02/23/1996
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jeffery A., McAllise, Gregg A., Crouser, Darwin S., Sindlinger, Fred S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US08/606,055
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/321, 15/322, 15/331, 15/334, 15/387
• US Class Current: 15/321
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/20 combined with vacuum cleaning devices
• 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 11/4055 for lifting the tools to a non-working position
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• 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

Abstract

A novel upright carpet cleaning extractor is disclosed which may be conveniently converted from the floor cleaning mode to the upholstery and/or stair cleaning mode. The overall configuration and operation of the extractor is similar to that of a typical upright vacuum cleaner and may be operated in the forward or reverse direction similar to a typical upright vacuum cleaner. When in the floor cleaning mode, cleaning solution is supplied to a solution distributor by gravity flow. However, when converted to the upholstery cleaning mode an auxiliary, air turbine driven cleaning solution pump is automatically energized for supplying pressurized cleaning solution to an upholstery or stair cleaning nozzle.

Claims

1. In an upright carpet extractor, the carpet extractor including vacuum means for creating a vacuum, reservoir means for storing and providing a supply of cleaning solution, recovery means for separating and recovering liquid from vacuumed air, nozzle means for vacuuming the surface to be cleaned, the extractor having means for applying the cleaning solution to a floor surface and vacuuming said solution from said floor surface in a floor cleaning mode, the improvement comprising:

conversion means for converting said extractor from the floor cleaning mode to an upholstery cleaning mode;

said conversion means including a solution supply pump means for supplying cleaning solution to an associated upholstery cleaning accessory;

said pump means including means for activating said pump means when said extractor is converted to the upholstery cleaning mode; and

said cleaning accessory including a cleaning fluid supply hose and a suction hose.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

quick coupling means for quickly connecting and disconnecting said cleaning fluid supply hose to and from said pump means.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said quick coupling means comprises:

a coupling assembly attached to said cleaning supply hose; and

a solution discharge valve;

said coupling assembly being configured to selectively engage and disengage said solution discharge valve wherein said cleaning fluid supply hose is in fluid communication with said pump means when said coupling assembly engages said solution discharge valve.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said coupling assembly comprises:

a main body section;

a tubulet extending through said main body section;

said tubulet having a passageway therethrough;

said cleaning fluid supply hose connected to said tubulet;

at least two fingers extending from said main body section; and

a collar slidingly carried by said fingers.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said coupling assembly further comprises:

a peripheral rim disposed about said main body section;

a detent extending from each of said fingers;

said collar being slidingly restrained by said peripheral rim at one extreme and by said detents at another extreme.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said solution discharge valve comprises:

a main body surrounding a chamber;

said chamber in fluid communication with said pump means;

a discharge nipple extending from said main body;

said discharge nipple surrounding a valve stem passage;

said discharge nipple sealingly engaging said coupling assembly when said coupling assembly and said solution discharge valve are selectively engaged; and

a valve stem slidingly disposed in said valve stem passage between a first position and a second position;

said valve stem creating fluid communication between said chamber and said cleaning fluid supply hose when said valve stem is in said second position.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said solution discharge valve further comprises:

spring means for biasing said valve stem towards said first position;

said valve stem sealingly closing said chamber from said valve stem passage when said valve stem is in said first position;

said valve stem being translated toward said second position by said coupling assembly when said coupling assembly and said solution discharge valve are selectively engaged.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conversion means further comprises module means for selectively redirecting the vacuum when the extractor is converted from the floor cleaning mode to the upholstery cleaning mode.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said module means comprises:

first and second modules;

each of said modules being selectively insertable in the carpet extractor;

said first module having a passageway therethrough;

said passageway at least partially effecting fluid communication between the recovery means and the nozzle means when said first module is inserted in the carpet extractor;

said second module having a cavity therein;

said suction hose in fluid communication with said cavity; and

said cavity at least partially effecting fluid communication between the recovery means and said suction hose when said second module is inserted in the carpet extractor.

10. In a carpet and upholstery extractor having a fan assembly for creating a vacuum source, a suction nozzle fluidly connected with said vacuum source, a cleaning fluid distributor for applying cleaning fluid to the surface being cleaned, the improvement comprising:

a clean air vacuum inlet in fluid communication with the fan assembly forming a flow path therebetween;

valve means for selectively opening and sealing said clean air vacuum inlet to and from the atmosphere;

an air turbine operatively disposed in said flow path between said clean air vacuum inlet and the vacuum source; and

fluid supply pump means driven by said air turbine when said valve means is open for supplying cleaning fluid to the distributor.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:

coupling means for selectively connecting an accessory to the extractor;

said valve being open when said accessory is attached to the extractor.