Floor care appliance with a plurality of cleaning modes

• US 7,367,082 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Inventors: Louis, Jeffery S., Burchfield, Brent L., Scheifele, Kevin E., Gordon, Evan A., Morgan, Jeffery A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider; Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US11/088,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/21, 153/31, 153/34, 153/35
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• 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 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0653 with mechanical actuation, e.g. using a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A floor care appliance is provided for cleaning bare surfaces such as tile, marble, linoleum and wood. The floor care appliance includes a port for the connection of an accessory hose and wand for off the floor cleaning. A variety of cleaning implements can be attached to the wand for cleaning hard to reach bare surfaces such as tile and grout. The port includes a suction inlet, cleaning solution outlet, and an air turbine inlet for an air turbine pump which pressurizes the cleaning solution. A pivoting door seals the suction inlet, cleaning solution outlet, and air turbine inlet when the accessory hose and wand are not in use.

Claims

1. A floor care appliance, comprising:

a main body;

a suction nozzle;

a motor-fan assembly for creating cleaning suction originating at the suction nozzle

a cleaning solution dispensing system;

an air turbine for pressurizing the cleaning solution;

an accessory hose for off the floor cleaning; and

a port located on the main body for fluidly connecting the accessory hose to said air turbine and said motor-fan assembly, the port comprising;

a suction inlet fluidly connected to the motor-fan assembly;

a cleaning solution dispensing outlet fluidly connected to the air turbine; and

an air turbine inlet fluidly connected between the atmosphere and the air turbine.

2. The floor care appliance of claim 1, further including a pivoting door normally biased by a spring into the closed position for sealing the suction inlet, cleaning solution dispensing outlet and the air turbine inlet when the accessory hose is not in use.

3. The floor care appliance of claim 2, wherein opening said pivoting door causes said air turbine to pressurize cleaning solution at said cleaning solution dispensing outlet.

4. The floor care appliance of claim 1, wherein said accessory hose has a connector at one end including:

a solution connector; and

a suction connector;

wherein said solution connector is fluidly connected to said cleaning solution dispensing outlet of said port and said suction connector is fluidly connected to said suction inlet of said port when said accessory hose is connected to said port.

5. The floor care appliance of claim 1, wherein said accessory hose has a handgrip attached at one end, the handgrip comprised of:

a trigger for selectively dispensing cleaning solution;

a cleaning solution connector;

a suction connector; and

a latch.

6. A port for connecting an accessory hose to a floor care appliance, comprising:

a suction inlet;

a cleaning solution dispensing outlet; and

an air turbine inlet.

7. The port for connecting an accessory hose to a floor care appliance of claim 6, further including a pivoting door normally biased by a spring into the closed position for sealing the suction inlet, cleaning solution dispensing outlet and the air turbine inlet when the accessory hose is not in use.

8. The port for connecting an accessory hose to a floor care appliance of claim 7, wherein said pivoting door includes a projection for each of said suction inlet, cleaning solution dispensing outlet and the air turbine inlet for sealing.

9. The port for connecting an accessory hose to a floor care appliance of claim 7, wherein said pivoting door includes a hook for engaging a catch on said port for securing said door in the closed position.

10. The port for connecting an accessory hose to a floor care appliance of claim 7, wherein opening said pivoting door exposes said air turbine inlet to the atmosphere and causes an air turbine to pressurize cleaning solution at said cleaning dispensing solution outlet.