Upright water extraction cleaning machine

• US 6,279,196 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2001
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• 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: Metzger, Eric R., Kelly, Luke E., Smith, Gary L., Reed, Charles A. Jr., Kasen, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/753,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/21, 153/53, 154/12
• 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 11/4008 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. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a base housing adapted for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

an upright handle pivotally mounted to the base housing;

a liquid dispensing system comprising;

a liquid dispenser associated with the base housing for applying liquid to a surface to be cleaned;

a liquid supply tank for holding a supply of cleaning liquid;

a liquid supply conduit liquidly connected to the liquid supply tank and to the dispenser for supplying liquid to the dispenser;

a liquid recovery system comprising;

a recovery tank removably mounted on the base housing having a liquid recovery chamber for holding recovered liquid;

a suction nozzle associated with the base housing and adapted to draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned;

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

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating a flow of working air from the nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle and working air conduit, and into the recovery chamber to thereby recover the dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned;

the improvement comprising;

the base housing including a socket for selectively receiving the recovery tank and a cavity located rearwardly of the socket and receiving the vacuum source.

2. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the socket includes a pair of opposed walls and a rear wall, and the rear wall separates the socket from the cavity.

3. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising a brushroll mounted in the housing, and wherein the housing further comprises a pocket for receiving a motor for rotatably driving the brushroll.

4. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising a motor mounted in the pocket drivingly connected to the brushroll.

7. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a first locking member for selectively engaging a second locking member on the recovery tank to lock the recovery tank to the housing.

5. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to 4 wherein the pocket is located longitudinally of the socket.

6. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the housing further comprises a first locking member for selectively engaging a second locking member on the recovery tank to selectively lock the recovery tank to the housing.