Floor cleaner with vacuum dryer

• US 6,076,228 A
• Filed: 07/02/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Aiken
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Aiken
• Inventors: Aiken, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/109,694
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/339, 15/353, 15/355, 15/373
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• 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 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4052 Movement of the tools or the like perpendicular to the cleaning surface
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used

Abstract

A floor cleaner is provided including a housing having a grip extending from a top portion thereof for gripping purposes. Also included is a scrub assembly mounted on a bottom portion of the housing for cleaning a floor. Next provided is a vacuum port mounted on the bottom portion of the housing and connected to a recovery tank for suctioning water from the floor.

Claims

1. A floor cleaner comprising, in combination:

a housing including an intermediate portion with a constant rectangular horizontal cross-section along a height thereof and including an angled front face, an angled rear face and a pair of angled side faces for defining an interior space, the housing further including a bottom portion with a horizontally oriented bottom face having an area greater than that encompassed by the horizontal cross-section of the intermediate portion and a top portion mounted on a top face of the intermediate portion and extending rearwardly therefrom, the top portion having at least one cylindrical grip coupled thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom for maintaining the housing in a generally upright orientation, the front face of the intermediate portion of the housing having a first compartment formed therein for containing a cleaning solution tank, the rear face of the intermediate portion of the housing having a second compartment formed therein for containing a recovery tank;

a scrub assembly including a cylindrical brush having a pair of vertically oriented arms rotatably coupled to opposite ends of the brush and extended upwardly therefrom for slidably coupling within a recess formed in the bottom face of the bottom portion of the housing, the scrub assembly further including a toggle switch mounted on an inboard end of the grip of the housing and having a first orientation for lowering the cylindrical brush from the associated recess such that the same may be rolled about a floor to be cleaned, the toggle switch further having a second orientation for raising the cylindrical brush within the associated recess such that the same is stored therein;

a water sprayer mounted on the bottom face of the bottom portion of the housing in front of the cylindrical brush of the scrub assembly and connected to the cleaning solution tank for dispensing water downwardly and forwardly toward the floor at various pressures upon the actuation thereof;

a vacuum port mounted on the bottom face of the bottom portion of the housing to the rear of the cylindrical brush of the scrub assembly and connected to the recovery tank for suctioning water from the floor upon the actuation thereof;

a spherical ball rotatably mounted on the bottom face of the bottom portion of the housing between the vacuum port and the scrub assembly for maintaining the vacuum port a slight predetermined distance from the floor when the cylindrical brush is situated within the recess of the housing; and

an indicator panel coupled to the inboard end of the grip for indicating a current level of fluid within the tanks and further allowing control of the pressure at which the water is dispensed by the water sprayer.

2. A floor cleaner comprising:

a housing including a grip extending from a top portion thereof for gripping purposes;

a scrub assembly mounted on a bottom portion of the housing for cleaning a floor upon the actuation thereof; and

a vacuum port mounted on the bottom portion of the housing and connected to a recovery tank for suctioning water from the floor upon the actuation thereof;

wherein the scrub assembly is retractable within the housing; and

wherein a toggle switch is mounted on the housing for controlling the raising and lowering of the scrub assembly.

3. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein an intermediate portion of the housing is angled rearwardly from bottom to top.

4. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein a rolling means is mounted on the bottom portion of the housing for positioning the vacuum port at a slight predetermined elevation with respect to the floor upon the scrub assembly being fully raised.

5. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein the scrub assembly includes a rotatable cylindrical brush.

6. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein a cleaning solution tank is mounted on the housing and connected to a water sprayer on the housing for spraying water on the floor to be cleaned.

7. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 6 and further including control means for controlling a pressure at which the water is dispensed by the water sprayer.

8. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 2 and further including an indicator panel coupled to the inboard end of the grip for indicating a current level of fluid within the recovery tank.

9. A floor cleaner comprising:

a housing including a grip extending from a top portion thereof for gripping purposes;

a scrub assembly mounted on a bottom portion of the housing for cleaning a floor upon the actuation thereof; and

a vacuum port mounted on the bottom portion of the housing and connected to a recovery tank for suctioning water from the floor upon the actuation thereof;

wherein the scrub assembly is retractable within the housing; and

wherein a rolling means is mounted on the bottom portion of the housing for positioning the vacuum port at a slight predetermined elevation with respect to the floor upon the scrub assembly being fully raised.

10. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 9 wherein an intermediate portion of the housing is angled rearwardly from bottom to top.

11. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 9 wherein a rolling means is mounted on the bottom portion of the housing for positioning the vacuum port at a slight predetermined elevation with respect to the floor upon the scrub assembly being fully raised.

12. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 9 wherein the scrub assembly includes a rotatable cylindrical brush.

13. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 9 wherein a cleaning solution tank is mounted on the housing and connected to a water sprayer on the housing for spraying water on the floor to be cleaned.

14. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 13 and further including control means for controlling a pressure at which the water is dispensed by the water sprayer.

15. A floor cleaner as set forth in claim 9 and further including an indicator panel coupled to the inboard end of the grip for indicating a current level of fluid within the recovery tank.