Upright water extraction cleaning machine

• US 6,041,472 A
• Filed: 01/20/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Metzger, Eric R., Kelly, Luke E., Smith, Gary L., Reed, Charles A. Jr., Kasen, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oleksa, Diana
• Application Number:
  US09/009,155
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 15/355, 15/359, 15/391
• US Class Current: 15/355
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• 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 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4019 Fill level sensors; Security means to prevent overflow, e.g. float valves
• 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 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• 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 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• 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 9/0009 : Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 : specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 : Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 : Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/105 : Mixing heads, i.e. compact mixing units or modules, using mixing valves for feeding and mixing at least two components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/718051 : being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/81 : Forming mixtures with changing ratios or gradients

Abstract

A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose. A pump is fluidly connected between the mixing valve and the dispensing nozzle and includes a pump priming valve that operates on negative air pressure to clear air from the fluid lines during pump operation. A free floating brush is pivotally attached to the base for automatically adjusting to different surface conditions during cleaning operations.

Claims

1. In a portable surface cleaning apparatus having a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned, an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base, a recovery tank having an inner holding chamber, a first suction nozzle located at a lower portion of the base, a conduit extending between the inner chamber and the suction nozzle, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the inner chamber for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit and nozzle to thereby draw dirt and debris from a surface and deposit the dirt and debris in the recovery tank, the improvement comprising:

a brush assembly pivotally connected to the base and including an elongate member extending substantially parallel with, and in proximity to the suction nozzle;

the elongate member having a plurality of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom to contact a surface to be cleaned, the brush assembly further including at least one pivot arm with a first end mounted to the elongate member and a second end pivotally mounted to the base such that the height of the bristles can be varied to automatically adjust for different surface heights; and

a catch projecting from one of the pivot arm and the base and a stop member projecting from the other of the pivot arm and the base toward the catch, the catch and stop member being mutually engageable to arrest downward travel of the elongate member beyond a predetermined limit when the bristles are disengaged from the surface.

2. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member is substantially cylindrical and rotatably mounted to the at least one pivot arm;

and further comprising a motor mounted to the base and a transmission member connected between a shaft of the motor and the elongate member for rotating the elongate member when the motor is actuated.

3. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the transmission member is a flexible belt and the at least one pivot arm comprises a sidewall with a bearing surface projecting from one of the sidewall and the elongate member for rotatable engagement with the other of the sidewall and the elongate member and a bottom wall integrally formed with the sidewall, the bottom wall being in vertical alignment with the belt to thereby cover at least a lower portion of the belt.

4. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one pivot arm comprises two pivot arms with the first end of each pivot arm mounted to an end of the elongate member and the second end of each pivot arm pivotally mounted to the base.

5. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one pivot arm comprises two pivot arms with the first end of each pivot arm mounted to an end of the elongate member and the second end of each pivot arm pivotally mounted to the base.

6. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member is rigidly attached to the at least one pivot arm.

7. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the catch is deflectable away from the stop to thereby rotate the brush assembly below the predetermined limit for removal of the brush assembly from the pivot arm.

8. In a portable surface cleaning apparatus having a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned, a recovery tank having an inner chamber, a suction nozzle located at a lower portion of the base, a conduit extending between the inner chamber and the suction nozzle, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the inner chamber for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit and nozzle to thereby draw dirt and/or debris from a surface and deposit the dirt and/or debris in the inner chamber;

a brush assembly pivotally connected to the base and including an elongate, substantially cylindrical member extending substantially parallel with, and in proximity to the suction nozzle;

the elongate member having a plurality of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom to contact a surface to be cleaned, the brush assembly further including at least one pivot arm with a first end mounted to the elongate member for rotation of the elongate member with respect to the pivot arm and a second end pivotally mounted to the base, whereby the brush assembly is free floating to automatically adjust to different surface heights;

a motor mounted to the base and a drive member connected between a shaft of the motor and the elongate member for rotating the elongate member when the motor is actuated, the improvement comprising;

the at least one pivot arm comprising a sidewall with a support surface extending therefrom for mounting the elongate member for rotation about a longitudinal axis and a bottom wall integrally formed with the sidewall, the bottom wall being in vertical alignment with the drive member to thereby cover at least a lower portion of the drive member.

9. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the bristles spiral around the elongate member.

10. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one pivot arm comprises two pivot arms with the first end of each pivot arm mounted to an end of the elongate member and the second end of each pivot arm pivotally mounted to the base.