Carpet extractor with headlights

• US 6,253,414 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Bradd, Sidney H., Essex, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/552,327
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/24
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices

Abstract

A carpet extractor is disclosed having scrub brushes located behind a transparent suction nozzle, whereby the brushes are visible through the nozzle. A main frame of the extractor is formed with transparent portions adjacent to the ends of the brushes, so that he brushes are also visible from the sides of the extractor. Headlights are provided on either side of the suction nozzle for illuminating the floor adjacent to the suction nozzle. The headlights are formed so that a portion of the light emitted by the headlights passes through a transparent portion of the main frame adjacent to the brushes and illuminates the brushes for improved viewing of he brushes. The headlights are also formed so that a portion of the light emitted by the headlights passes through the edge walls of the suction nozzle and illuminates the soiled cleaning liquid traveling through the nozzle.

Claims

1. A carpet extractor having a floor engaging portion and a handle extending from said floor engaging portion for propelling said floor engaging portion along a floor, a cleaning liquid supply tank providing a source of cleaning liquid, a recovery tank, and a motor fan assembly, said floor engaging portion having a front portion and including a cleaning solution applicator in fluid communication with said supply tank for receiving cleaning liquid from said supply tank and distributing the cleaning liquid upon a floor surface and a suction nozzle in fluid communication with said motor fan assembly and said recovery tank for extracting soiled cleaning liquid from the floor surface and depositing said recovered liquid in said recovery tank, said suction nozzle having a front edge, and a side edge, wherein the improvement comprises:

a headlight on said front portion of said floor engaging portion adjacent to said side edge of said suction nozzle for illuminating a portion of said floor adjacent to said suction nozzle.

2. A carpet extractor according to claim 1, wherein said handle is pivotally attached to said floor engaging portion.

3. A carpet extractor according to claim 2, wherein said recovery tank is removably mounted to said floor engaging portion.

4. A carpet extractor according to claim 3, comprising two said headlights located one on each side of said suction nozzle.

5. A carpet extractor according to claim 3, wherein said supply tank is removably mounted to said handle.

10. A carpet extractor according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary brush mounted to said floor engaging portion for scrubbing the floor surface.

6. A carpet extractor having a floor engaging portion and a handle extending from said floor engaging portion for propelling said floor engaging portion along a floor, a cleaning liquid supply tank providing a source of cleaning liquid, a recovery tank, and a motor fan assembly, said floor engaging portion including a cleaning solution applicator in fluid communication with said supply tank for receiving cleaning liquid from said supply tank and distributing the cleaning liquid upon a floor surface and a suction nozzle in fluid communication with said motor fan assembly and said recovery tank for extracting soiled cleaning liquid from the floor surface and depositing said recovered liquid in said recovery tank, wherein the improvement comprises:

a headlight on said floor engaging portion for illuminating a portion of said floor adjacent to said suction nozzle;

wherein said suction nozzle is at least partially formed with a substantially transparent nozzle front plate and said headlight is located such that a portion of the light emitted by said headlight passes through said suction nozzle front plate and illuminates the soiled cleaning liquid traveling through said suction nozzle.

7. A carpet extractor according to claim 6, comprising two said headlights located one on each side of said suction nozzle.

8. A carpet extractor according to claim 6, wherein said headlight comprises an electric lamp mounted in a concave light housing mounted to said floor engaging portion adjacent to said suction nozzle;

and

wherein a cutout is formed in said light housing proximate said suction nozzle, whereby a portion of the light emitted by said lamp passes through said cutout for illuminating soiled cleaning liquid traveling through said suction nozzle.

9. A carpet extractor according to claim 8, comprising two said headlights located one on each side of said suction nozzle.

11. A carpet extractor having a floor engaging portion and a handle extending from said floor engaging portion for propelling said floor engaging portion along a floor, a cleaning liquid supply tank providing a source of cleaning liquid, a recovery tank, and a motor fan assembly, said floor engaging portion including a cleaning solution applicator in fluid communication with said supply tank for receiving cleaning liquid from said supply tank and distributing the cleaning liquid upon a floor surface and a suction nozzle in fluid communication with said motor fan assembly and said recovery tank for extracting soiled cleaning liquid from the floor surface and depositing said recovered liquid in said recovery tank, wherein the improvement comprises:

a headlight on said floor engaging portion for illuminating a portion of said floor adjacent to said suction nozzle;

a rotary brush mounted to said floor engaging portion for scrubbing the floor surface;

wherein at least a forward portion of said suction nozzle is formed of a substantially transparent nozzle front plate and a substantially transparent nozzle back plate; and

said rotary brush is mounted to an underside of said floor engaging portion behind said suction nozzle, whereby said brush is visible through said nozzle front and nozzle back plates.

12. A carpet extractor according to claim 11, wherein said headlight is located such that a portion of the light emitted by said headlight illuminates at least a portion of said rotary brush.

13. A carpet extractor according to claim 12, wherein said headlight comprises an electric lamp mounted in a concave light housing mounted to said floor engaging portion;

and

wherein a cutout is formed in said light housing proximate said rotary brush, whereby a portion of the light emitted by said lamp passes through said cutout for illuminating at least a portion of said rotary brush.

14. A carpet deep cleaning machine comprising:

a floor engaging portion having a wet pickup suction nozzle mounted thereto for extracting soiled cleaning solution and other debris from a carpet, said suction nozzle having a transparent front wall joined to a rear wall by edge walls, said front, rear and edge walls enclosing a working airflow path; and

an electric lamp mounted to said floor engaging portion, said lamp being located such that at least a portion of soiled cleaning solution and other debris traveling through said working airflow path is illuminated by said lamp.

15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein said lamp is mounted adjacent to one of said edge walls and said one edge wall is translucent, such that a portion of the light emitted by said lamp passes through said one edge wall.

16. A machine according to claim 15, comprising two said lamps located one on each side of said suction nozzle.

17. A machine according to claim 16, wherein said lamps are headlights located such that a portion of the light emitted by said lamps illuminates a portion of the carpet in front of said floor engaging portion.

18. A carpet extractor having a floor engaging portion, said floor engaging portion having a cleaning liquid applicator for applying cleaning liquid to a surface to be cleaned, at least one rotary scrub brush for scrubbing said applied cleaning liquid into a surface being cleaned, and a floor engaging suction nozzle for extracting soiled cleaning liquid from a surface being cleaned, wherein the improvement comprises:

said suction nozzle comprising a transparent front wall, a transparent rear wall spaced from and parallel to said front wall, and edge walls joining said front wall to said rear wall thereby enclosing an airflow passage within said front, rear and edge walls, said at least one scrub brush being located behind said suction nozzle in a location that provides visual observation of said scrub brush through said transparent front and rear walls of said suction nozzle; and

,

a lamp mounted to said floor engaging portion such that a portion of light emitted by said lamp illuminates at least a portion of said scrub brush.

19. An extractor according to claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said floor engaging portion located between said lamp and said scrub brush is formed of transparent material and said portion of light passes through said transparent portion of said floor engaging portion.

20. An extractor according to claim 19, wherein said lamp is a headlight located to illuminate a portion of the surface being cleaned in front of said suction nozzle.

21. An extractor according to claim 20, comprising two said headlights located one on each side of said suction nozzle.

22. A carpet extractor having a floor engaging portion and a handle extending from said floor engaging portion for propelling said floor engaging portion along a floor, a cleaning liquid supply tank providing a source of cleaning liquid, a recovery tank, and a motor fan assembly, said floor engaging portion including a cleaning solution applicator in fluid communication with said supply tank for receiving cleaning liquid from said supply tank and distributing the cleaning liquid upon a floor surface and a suction nozzle in fluid communication with said motor fan assembly and said recovery tank for extracting soiled cleaning liquid from the floor surface and depositing said recovered liquid in said recovery tank, said suction nozzle having a translucent front section and a side edge, wherein the improvement comprises:

a headlight on said floor engaging portion adjacent to said side edge of said suction nozzle for illuminating a portion of said floor adjacent to said suction nozzle.

23. A carpet extractor according to claim 22 wherein said suction nozzle has a second side edge opposite from said first mentioned side edge;

and

a second headlight located adjacent said second side edge.

24. A carpet extractor according to claim 22 wherein said floor engaging portion has a front portion, said headlight being located on said front portion.

25. A carpet extractor according to claim 22 wherein said floor engaging portion comprises a hood portion and a frame portion connected to said hood portion, said headlight being seated between said hood portion and said frame portion.