Handheld extraction cleaner

• US 6,125,498 A
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Shing, Ng Tat, Keung, Lau Wai, Simek, Diane M., Huffman, Eric C., Hall, Jeffrey A., Reed, Charles A. Jr., Roberts, Kenneth L., Meek, Steven K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/206,023
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/344, 15/352, 15/353, 15/338
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/08 with provision for supplying liquids, e.g. cleaning agents A47L1/095, A47L1/13, A47L1/15 take precedence
• 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 11/4088 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0063 External storing devices; Stands, casings or the like for the storage of suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/01 Rechargeable batter

Abstract

A handheld liquid extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank mounted to the forward end of a cleaner housing with a suction nozzle and conduit on a front face of the recovery tank connected to an inlet opening in the recovery tank. A vacuum source is connected to the recovery tank through an exhaust conduit, integrally formed in the recovery tank, for drawing liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and into the recovery tank A removable cleaning fluid supply tank is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing, an adjustable spray nozzle is mounted to the suction conduit and a pump is positioned in a supply conduit between the spray nozzle and the cleaning fluid supply tank for supplying pressurized cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid supply tank to the spray nozzle The pump includes an impeller which is positioned in an outlet opening of a reservoir in which the cleaning fluid is deposited from the cleaning fluid supply tank. Accessory tools are releasably mounted to the cleaner housing and the recovery tank housing. A scoop is removably mounted to the rear of the cleaner housing. A storage base for the cleaner has a retainer for removably supporting the handheld cleaner and a recess for releasably storing accessory tools in the storage base.

Claims

1. A liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface and having front and rear portions, the front portion having a front face, the extraction cleaner further comprising:

a liquid extraction system including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening at the front portion of the extraction cleaner;

a recovery tank including a tank housing having an inlet opening at an upper portion of the tank housing;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank;

a vacuum source;

a working air conduit in open communication with the vacuum source, the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

the improvement comprising;

the front portion of the extraction cleaner is formed by the recovery tank and the suction conduit, and the front face is formed by a front wall of the recovery tank; and

the spray nozzle is visibly mounted to the front face of the front portion so that the spray pattern is visible to the user as the cleaning fluid is being dispensed from the spray nozzle.

2. A liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a cleaner housing and wherein the liquid extraction system and the liquid dispensing system are mounted to the cleaner housing and are lightweight for hand held operation, and further comprising a handle mounted to an upper portion of the housing.

3. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the suction conduit is formed in the front wall of the tank housing and the suction nozzle, suction conduit and recovery tank are joined as a single unit.

4. A liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 2 and further comprising at least one of a scoop and a squeegee releasably retained to at least one of the cleaner housing and the recovery tank.

5. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 2 and further comprising a brush mounted to the recovery tank adjacent the suction nozzle.

6. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 5 and further comprising a brush holder mounted to the tank housing, and the brush is removably mounted to the brush holder.

7. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 2 and further comprising a scoop removably mounted to the cleaner housing.

8. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 7 wherein the scoop mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing.

9. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the scoop is pivotally mounted at one end to the cleaner housing and is secured at a second end to the cleaner housing through a latch.

10. A liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface and having a cleaner housing with front and rear portions, the front portion having a front face, a handle mounted to an upper portion of the cleaner housing, the extraction cleaner further comprising:

a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening at the front portion of the extraction cleaner;

a recovery tank including a tank housing having an inlet opening at an upper portion of the tank housing;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank;

a vacuum source;

a working air conduit in open communication with the vacuum source, the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle; and

the spray nozzle is visibly mounted to the front face of the front portion so that the spray pattern is visible to the user as the cleaning fluid is being, dispensed from the spray nozzle;

the improvement which comprises;

the at least one spray nozzle has an adjustable controller to vary the spray pattern therefrom.

11. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 10 wherein the adjustable controller comprises a collar mounted on the at least one spray nozzle for axial movement between a first and second positions relative to a nozzle outlet opening, and wherein the spray pattern from the at least one spray nozzle is more focused when the collar is in the second position than it is when the collar is in the first position.

12. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the cleaning solution spray pattern is focused.

13. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the cleaning solution spray pattern is relatively flat.

14. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface and having a cleaner housing with front and rear portions, the front portion having a front face, a handle mounted to an upper portion of the cleaner housing, the extraction cleaner further comprising:

a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening at the front portion of the extraction cleaner;

a recovery tank including a tank housing having an inlet opening at an upper portion of the tank housing;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank;

a vacuum source;

a working air conduit in open communication with the vacuum source, the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle; and

the spray nozzle is visibly mounted to the front face of the front portion so that the spray pattern is visible to the user as the cleaning fluid is being dispensed from the spray nozzle;

the improvement which comprises;

a receptacle formed in the cleaner housing and the receptacle is shaped to matingly receive the cleaning fluid supply tank;

the cleaning fluid supply tank includes an outlet opening at a lower portion thereof for dispensing cleaning fluid into the receptacle, and further comprising a valve assembly mounted in the outlet opening in the cleaning fluid supply tank, a coupling in the receptacle between the cleaning fluid supply tank and the valve assembly to open the valve assembly for the flow of cleaning fluid through the outlet opening and into the receptacle when the cleaning fluid supply tank is seated in the receptacle and to block the flow of cleaning fluid through the outlet opening when the cleaning fluid supply tank is unseated from the receptacle;

an outlet opening in the receptacle;

the cleaner further includes a pump with an impeller and the impeller is positioned in the outlet opening of the receptacle to pump fluid from the receptacle to the at least one spray nozzle.

15. A hand held liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, the extraction cleaner comprising:

a liquid extraction system including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening;

a recovery tank including a tank housing having an inlet opening at an upper portion of the tank housing;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank;

a vacuum source;

a working air conduit in open communication with the vacuum source, the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

the improvement comprising;

the spray nozzle has an adjustable controller to vary the spray pattern therefrom.

16. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 15 wherein the adjustable controller comprises a collar mounted on the spray nozzle for axial movement between a first and second positions relative to the nozzle outlet opening, and wherein the spray pattern from the spray nozzle is more focused when the collar is in the second position than it is when the collar is in the first position.

17. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 16 wherein the cleaning solution spray pattern is conical.

18. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 16 and further comprising a cleaner housing and a handle on the cleaner housing for manipulating the extraction cleaner.

36. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 15 wherein the extraction cleaner comprises a front portion having a front face and the spray nozzle is visibly mounted to the front face of the front portion of the extraction cleaner so that the spray pattern is visible to the user as the cleaning fluid is being dispensed from the spray nozzle.

19. A liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, comprising:

a cleaner housing including;

a liquid extraction system including;

a recovery tank including a tank housing and an inlet opening at an upper portion of the tank housing;

a suction conduit having a suction nozzle opening and connected to the inlet opening of the tank housing;

a vacuum source;

a working air conduit in open communication with the vacuum source, the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

a spray nozzle;

a supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

the improvement comprising;

the working air conduit between the vacuum source and the recovery tank comprises a tube formed integrally with the recovery tank housing.

20. A liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 19 and further comprising a cleaner housing and a handle mounted to the cleaner housing for manually manipulating the extraction cleaner.

21. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 19 wherein the working air conduit tube is inside the recovery tank.

22. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 21 wherein the tube has an inlet opening in the recovery tank at the upper portion thereof so positioned that the liquid and debris in the recovery tank is normally below the inlet opening when the extraction cleaner is in position for cleaning a horizontal surface and when the extraction cleaner is in position for cleaning a vertical surface.

23. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 21 and further comprising a deflector in the recovery tank at the inlet opening to deflect the air, liquid and debris entering the recovery tank downwardly into a lower portion of the recovery tank.

24. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 23 wherein the deflector has an arcuate upper portion adjacent the inlet opening to the recovery tank and a depending portion extending downwardly into the tank.

25. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 24 and further comprising a horizontal baffle in the lower portion of the recovery tank below the depending portion of the deflector to reduce foam in the recovery tank.

26. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 23 and further comprising a horizontal baffle in the lower portion of the recovery tank below the deflector to reduce foam in the recovery tank.

27. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface and having a cleaner housing, the extraction cleaner further comprising:

a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening;

a recovery tank including a tank housing having an inlet opening at an upper portion of the tank housing;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank;

a vacuum source;

a working air conduit in open communication with the vacuum source, the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

a handle mounted to an upper portion of the cleaner housing;

the improvement comprising;

at least one of a scoop and a squeegee releasably retained to at least one of the cleaner housing and the recovery tank.

28. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 27 and further comprising a brush that is mounted to the recovery tank adjacent the suction nozzle.

29. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 28 and further comprising a brush holder mounted to the tank housing, and the brush is removably mounted to the brush holder.

30. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 27 wherein the accessory tool is a scoop removably mounted to the cleaner housing.

31. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 30 wherein the scoop is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing.

32. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 31 wherein the scoop is pivotally mounted at one end to the cleaner housing and is secured at a second end to the cleaner housing through a latch.

33. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 32 wherein the scoop includes a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, and an end wall and an open front.

34. A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 33 wherein the bottom wall of the scoop is visually integrated with the bottom portion of the cleaner housing, the sidewalls of the scoop are visually integrated with the sides of the cleaner housing, and the end wall of the scoop is visually integrated with the rear portion of the cleaner housing when the scoop is mounted to the cleaner housing.

35. A hand held liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, the extraction cleaner comprising:

a liquid extraction system including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening;

a recovery tank including a tank housing having an inlet opening at an upper portion of the tank housing;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank;

a vacuum source;

a working air conduit in open communication with the vacuum source, the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned;

a supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

a pump in the supply conduit for supplying pressurized cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid supply tank to the at least one spray nozzle;

the improvement comprising;

a motor having a pair of output shafts;

the pump is operably connected to one of the output shafts and the vacuum source is operably connected to the other output shaft.