Upright water extraction cleaning machine with improved tank structure

• US 6,167,586 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• 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: Kelly, Luke E., Smith, Gary L., Metzger, Eric R., Reed, Charles A. Jr., Kasen, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOHANTY, BIBHU R
• Application Number:
  US09/072,446
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/21, 137/614.2, 137/854, 239/289, 239/302, 239/303, 239/304, 239/305, 239/306, 239/578
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• 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 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• 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 7/0004 Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88054 : Direct response normally closed valve limits direction of flow

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. Supply tanks are removably mounted to the handle or base while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle or base. An outlet in each supply tank includes a valve to close the outlet when the supply tank is removed from the base. A protrusion in a bottom surface of the supply tank defines a measuring volume for concentrated cleaning solution and is further adapted to stabilize the supply tank in the base or handle. The supply tank also includes an aperture through a lower portion selectively closed by a drain plug. A conduit connecting each supply tank to a dispensing nozzle includes a check valve restricting fluid flow to a direction from the tank and to the nozzle. Also, a float assembly in the recovery tank includes a first end for covering an air exit from the recovery tank and a second end, which is buoyant and elevated by the rising recovered fluid in the tank, for raising the first end to cover the air exit.

Claims

1. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base;

a liquid dispensing system comprising;

a liquid dispensing nozzle associated with the base for applying liquid to the surface;

a fluid supply tank on the base or the handle having an enclosed chamber for holding a predetermined amount of supply fluid;

a conduit fluidly connected to the fluid supply tank and to the dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid to the dispensing nozzle;

a fluid recovery system comprising;

a fluid recovery tank on the base or the handle having an enclosed chamber for holding recovered fluid;

a suction nozzle mounted to the base;

a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit, and nozzle to thereby draw liquid from the surface and deposit the liquid in the recovery tank;

the improvement comprising;

a protrusion extending downwardly from a bottom wall of the fluid supply tank and defining a well in the tank for receiving a measured amount of concentrated cleaning solution.

2. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the protrusion is received in a recess in the base or handle to stabilize the fluid supply tank within the base or handle.

3. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising over-center clamps between the base or handle and the fluid supply tank for removably mounting the fluid supply tank to the base or handle.

4. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the bottom wall further comprises an outlet opening and a valve mounted to the outlet opening to close the outlet opening when the fluid supply tank is removed from the base or handle.

5. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the conduit has an inlet opening connected to the fluid supply tank outlet opening and has a projection which extends into the valve to unseat the valve when the fluid supply tank is mounted to the base or handle.

6. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the conduit inlet opening further comprises a check valve to permit fluid to flow from the fluid supply tank to the dispensing nozzle and prevent the flow of fluid in an opposite direction.

7. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the check valve comprises an umbrella valve.

8. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising over-center clamps between the base or handle and the fluid supply tanks for removably mounting the fluid supply tank to the base or handle.

9. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base;

a liquid dispensing system comprising;

a liquid dispensing nozzle associated with the base for applying liquid to the surface;

a fluid supply tank on the base or the handle having an enclosed chamber for holding a predetermined amount of supply fluid;

a conduit fluidly connected to the fluid supply tank and to the dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid to the dispensing nozzle;

a fluid recovery system comprising;

a fluid recovery tank on the base or the handle having an enclosed chamber for holding recovered fluid;

a suction nozzle mounted to the base;

a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit, and nozzle to thereby draw liquid from the surface and deposit the liquid in the recovery tank;

the improvement comprising;

over-center clamps between the base or handle and the fluid supply tank for removably mounting the fluid supply tank to the base or handle.

10. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the fluid supply tank has a bottom wall with a protrusion which is received in a recess in the base or handle to stabilize the fluid supply tank within the base or handle.

11. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising over-center clamps between the base or handle and the recovery tank for removably mounting the recovery tank to the base or handle.

12. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base;

a liquid dispensing system comprising;

a liquid dispensing nozzle associated with the base for applying liquid to the surface;

a fluid supply tank on the base or the handle having an enclosed chamber for holding a predetermined amount of supply fluid and having an outlet opening;

a conduit fluidly connected to the fluid supply tank and to the dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid to the dispensing nozzle;

a fluid recovery system comprising;

a fluid recovery tank on the base or the handle having an enclosed chamber for holding recovered fluid;

a suction nozzle mounted to the base;

a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit, and nozzle to thereby draw liquid from the surface and deposit the liquid in the recovery tank;

the improvement comprising;

a valve mounted to the outlet opening in the fluid supply tank to close the outlet opening when the fluid supply tank is removed from the base or handle.

13. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 12 and further comprising an inlet opening in the conduit connected to the fluid supply tank outlet opening and a projection in the conduit which extends into the valve to unseat the valve when the fluid supply tank is mounted to the base or handle.

14. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the conduit inlet opening further comprises a check valve to permit fluid to flow from the fluid supply tank to the dispensing nozzle and prevent the flow of fluid on the opposite direction.

15. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the check valve comprises an umbrella valve.

16. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base;

a liquid dispensing system comprising;

a liquid dispensing nozzle associated with the base for applying liquid to the surface;

a fluid cleaning solution tank on the base or the handle having an enclosed chamber for holding a predetermined amount of cleaning solution and having an outlet opening;

a conduit fluidly connected to the fluid cleaning solution tank and to the dispensing nozzle for supplying cleaning solution to the dispensing nozzle;

the conduit having an opening connected to the fluid cleaning solution tank outlet opening;

a fluid recovery system comprising;

a fluid recovery tank on the base or the handle having an enclosed chamber for holding recovered fluid;

a suction nozzle mounted to the base;

a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit and nozzle to thereby draw liquid from the surface and deposit the liquid in the recovery tank;

the improvement comprising;

a check valve in the liquid dispensing system conduit opening to permit fluid to flow from the fluid cleaning solution tank to the dispensing nozzle and prevent the flow of fluid in an opposite direction.

17. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the check valve comprises an umbrella valve.

18. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the fluid cleaning solution tank is a concentrated cleaning solution supply tank.

19. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the fluid cleaning solution tank is a clean water supply tank.