Battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner with liquid spray

• US 5,970,572 A
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Thomas Metall- und Elektrowerke
• Original Assignee: Robert Thomas Metall- und Elektrowerke
• Inventors: Thomas, Paul-Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/988,318
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 15/344, 15/320, 15/321, 15/322, 15/401
• 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 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks

Abstract

A battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner includes a drive part which has a housing, wherein a handle is integrally formed onto the housing and the housing contains an electric motor for a blower, and an intake part with an air inlet, wherein the intake part is separable from the drive part. The drive part contains a tank for containing a liquid, the intake part is provided with a spray nozzle for the liquid, and separable means connecting the tank and the spray nozzle are provided for discharging the liquid.

Claims

1. A battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner comprising a drive part with a housing and a handle integrally formed on the housing, a tank for receiving a liquid and an electric motor for a blower mounted in the housing, an intake part separably attached to the drive part, the intake part having an air inlet and a spray nozzle for the liquid, further comprising separable means connecting the tank and the spray nozzle for discharging the liquid, wherein the means for discharging the liquid comprise a hose line with coupling elements located between the drive part and the intake part.

2. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the means for discharging the liquid comprise a pump for conveying the liquid.

3. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the pump is an electrically operated pump.

4. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the pump is a manually operated pump.

5. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the means for discharging the liquid comprise means for preventing continued flow of the liquid.

6. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements comprise means for preventing emptying of the tank when the coupling elements are uncoupled.

7. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the intake part comprises a housing defining a duct for receiving the hose line, and a cover for closing the duct, the cover comprising means for receiving one of the coupling elements arranged in the housing of the intake part and an opening for exchangeably receiving a spray nozzle arranged in a front part of the housing of the intake part and integrated in a nozzle holder.

8. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a spray opening for applying the liquid in a fan-shaped manner.

9. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a spray opening for applying the liquid in a point-like manner.

10. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a spray opening for applying the liquid in a conical manner.

11. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the tank is arranged in a portion of the drive part facing away from the air inlet, and wherein the tank is provided with a filler neck.

12. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the tank is arranged in the handle.

13. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, comprising a combined switching element for actuating the motor and the pump.

14. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, comprising two switching elements for actuating the motor and for actuating the pump.

15. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, comprising a switching element for actuating the motor and a mechanical actuating element for actuating the pump.

16. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, comprising a suction nozzle inserted in the air inlet, the suction nozzle being configured to be capable of taking in water in spite of a low negative pressure, so that only a small amount of residual moisture remains on a surface to be cleaned.

17. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the suction nozzle comprises an opening surrounded by rubber lips.

18. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a filler level indicator for the liquid.

19. The battery-operated hand vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the filler level indicator comprises a viewing window.