Cleaning machine with a detachable cleaning module

• US 5,715,566 A
• Filed: 06/05/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Inventors: Pino, Giovanni, Umbach, Steven, Weaver, James M., Medema, Douglas J., Zuiderveen, Marc D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/658,753
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 15/321, 15/320, 15/322, 15/328, 15/327.5
• 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 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• 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 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

A multi-use cleaning machine capable of use as an upright machine or as a detachable cleaning module is disclosed. A detachable cleaning module is selectively mounted to the foot and support member of an upright machine. The cleaning module includes the motor, motor-driven fan, dirt receptacle, and hose. The machine may be operated as an upright cleaning machine or, alternatively, the module can be separated from the foot and support member and may be used independently of and at a great distance from the foot and support member for a wide variety of cleaning purposes. The machine may be a vacuum cleaning machine or a water extraction cleaning machine.

Claims

1. A cleaning machine comprising:

a foot housing having a suction nozzle conduit provided therein, the conduit terminating at one end at a suction nozzle opening and a first electrical connector;

an elongated support member pivotally mounted to the foot housing, the elongated support member being adapted for use in pushing and pulling the foot housing along the floor;

a portable cleaning module comprising;

a module housing;

a motor-driven fan supported in the module housing, the fan adapted to generate a working air flow;

a dirt receptacle supported in the module housing for collecting dirt, the receptacle being fluidly connected to the motor-driven fan;

a module conduit fluidly connected to the dirt receptacle and motor driven fan and selectively, fluidly connected to the foot housing suction nozzle for conveying the collected dust and dirt to the dirt receptacle; and

a second electrical connector provided on the module housing, the first and second electrical connectors being selectively engaged to create a closed electrical circuit between the foot housing and the module housing;

the module being selectively and removably mounted to one of the elongated support member and foot housing at least through a mechanical interconnection so that the module can be separated from said one of the foot housing and elongated support member and operated independently and separately therefrom as a portable cleaning machine, or can be operated as an upright cleaning machine when the module is mounted to said one of the elongated support member and foot housing.

2. A cleaning machine according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning machine comprises a vacuum cleaning machine.

3. A cleaning machine according to claim 2 wherein the cleaning machine comprises a water extraction cleaning machine.

4. A cleaning machine according to claim 3 wherein the portable cleaning module further comprises:

a clean solution receptacle supported in the module housing, and the clean receptacle is adapted to store a cleaning fluid used in a water extraction cleaning process; and

a pump fluidly connected to the clean solution receptacle and adapted to draw the cleaning fluid therefrom; and

a solution conduit fluidly connected to the pump and adapted to selectively discharge cleaning fluid therefrom onto a surface to be cleaned.

5. A cleaning machine according to claim 4 and further comprising a cleaning tool fluidly connected to the working air conduit of the module.

6. A cleaning machine according to claim 5 and further comprising a spray nozzle mounted to the cleaning tool, the spray nozzle being fluidly connected to the solution conduit and adapted to selectively deposit cleaning solution onto a surface to be cleaned.

7. A cleaning machine according to claim 1 wherein the foot housing further comprises:

an agitation member rotatably mounted therein; and

an agitation member motor adapted to rotate the agitation member, the second electrical connector being electrically connected to the agitation member motor so that a closed electrical circuit is created between the source of electricity and the motor when the module is mounted to the foot housing in the operative position.

8. A cleaning machine according to claim 1 wherein the motor-driven fan is mounted intermediate the working air conduit and the dirty water receptacle.

9. A cleaning machine according to claim 1 and further comprising:

an accessory cleaning hose having a proximal end mounted to the module housing and a distal end being adapted to receive a cleaning tool, the accessory cleaning hose being fluidly connected to the module conduit; and

a working air valve member mounted in the module conduit, the working air valve member being moveable between first and second positions;

in the first position, the valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the motor-driven fan and the accessory hose and in the second position, the valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the motor-driven fan and the foot housing suction nozzle opening.

10. A cleaning machine according to claim 9 wherein the working air valve member is biased into the second position.

11. A cleaning machine according to claim 9 wherein the working air valve member comprises a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the module conduit.

12. A cleaning machine according to claim 9 and further comprising:

a solution distribution member provided in the foot housing and fluidly connected to the pump by the solution conduit, the solution distribution member being adapted to selectively direct cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a solution distribution member provided on the cleaning tool, the solution distribution member being fluidly connected to the pump by the solution conduit and being adapted to selectively direct cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a solution valve member provided in the solution conduit, the solution valve member being moveable between first and second positions;

in the first position, the solution valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the pump and the cleaning tool solution distribution member and in the second position, the valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the solution pump and the solution distribution member of the foot housing.

13. A cleaning machine according to claim 12 wherein the solution valve member and the working air valve member are integrated into a single conversion valve housing provided on the module housing.

14. A cleaning machine according to claim 13 wherein the foot housing includes a working air actuator provided thereon, the actuator being adapted to bias the working air valve member to the first position when the module is mounted to the foot housing.

15. A cleaning machine according to claim 14 wherein the foot housing includes a solution actuator provided thereon, the solution actuator being adapted to bias the solution valve member to the first position when the module is mounted to the foot housing.

16. A water extraction cleaning machine comprising:

a foot housing having a suction nozzle conduit provided therein, the conduit terminating at one end at a suction nozzle opening;

an elongated support member pivotally mounted to the foot housing, the support member being adapted for use in pushing and pulling the cleaning machine along a surface to be cleaned; and

a portable cleaning module selectively mounted to one of the foot housing and the elongated support member, the cleaning module comprising;

a module housing;

a motor-driven fan supported in the module housing for generating a working air flow;

a dirty water receptacle supported in the module housing for collecting dirt and dust, the dirty water receptacle being fluidly connected to the motor-driven fan and having an air/water separator member adapted to separate the working air from entrained water and dirt;

a working air conduit provided in the housing and fluidly connected to the vacuum motor and the dirty water receptacle;

an accessory hose having a proximal end mounted to the module housing and the distal end being adapted to receive a cleaning tool, the accessory hose being fluidly connected to the working air conduit;

a clean solution receptacle supported in the module housing, the clean solution receptacle being adapted to store a cleaning fluid used in a water extraction cleaning process;

a pump fluidly connected to the clean solution receptacle and adapted to draw the cleaning fluid therefrom; and

a solution conduit fluidly connected to the pump and adapted to selectively discharge cleaning fluid therefrom onto a surface to be cleaned;

wherein the portable cleaning module can be mounted to one of the foot housing and elongated support member for use as an upright water extraction cleaner, or the module can be removed from the foot housing and the support member for use as a portable water extraction cleaner in a variety of applications.

17. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 wherein the vacuum motor fan is mounted intermediate the working air conduit and the dirty water receptacle.

18. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 and further comprising a working air valve member mounted in the working air conduit, the working air valve member being moveable between first and second positions;

in the first position, the valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the motor-driven fan and the accessory hose and in the second position, the valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the motor-driven fan and the floor suction nozzle opening.

19. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 18 wherein the working air valve member is biased into the second position.

20. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 18 wherein the working air valve member comprises a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the working air conduit.

21. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 18 and further comprising:

a solution member provided in the foot housing and fluidly connected to the pump by the solution conduit, the solution member being adapted to selectively direct cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a cleaning tool mounted to the distal end of the accessory hose, the tool including a solution member which is fluidly connected to the pump by the solution conduit, the solution member being adapted to selectively direct cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a solution valve member provided in the solution conduit, the solution valve member being moveable between first and second positions;

in the first position, the solution valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the pump and the cleaning tool and in the second position, the valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the solution pump and the solution member of the foot housing.

22. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 21 wherein the solution valve member and the working air valve member are integrated into a single conversion valve housing provided on the module housing.

23. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 22 wherein the foot housing includes a working air actuator provided thereon, the actuator being adapted to bias the working air valve member to the first position when the module is mounted to the foot housing.

24. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 23 wherein the foot housing includes a solution actuator provided thereon, the solution actuator being adapted to bias the solution valve member to the first position when the module is mounted to the foot housing.

25. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 and further comprising:

a solution member provided in the foot housing and fluidly connected to the pump by the solution conduit, the solution member being adapted to selectively direct cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a cleaning tool mounted to the distal end of the accessory hose, the tool including a solution member which is fluidly connected to the pump by the solution conduit, the solution member being adapted to selectively direct cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned; and

a solution valve member provided in the solution conduit, the solution valve member being moveable between first and second positions;

in the first position, the solution valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the pump and the cleaning tool and in the second position, the valve member substantially blocks fluid communication between the solution pump and the solution member of the foot housing.

26. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 wherein the module housing further comprises a pair of mounting members, each of which are adapted to receive one end of a carrying strap.

27. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 wherein the module housing comprises a first electrical connector which is electrically connected to a suitable source of electricity, and the foot housing further comprises an agitation member rotatably mounted therein, an agitation member motor adapted to rotate the agitation member, and a second electrical connector which is electrically connected to the agitation member motor, the first and second electrical connectors being adapted to be connected to one another to create a closed electrical circuit between the source of electricity and the motor when the module is mounted to the foot housing in the operative position.