Bare floor cleaner

• US 7,836,544 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Jansen, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US12/393,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20090151112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/22, 153/31, 153/32, 154/10, 154/16
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0028 Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0653 with mechanical actuation, e.g. using a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0666 with tilting, floating or similarly arranged brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0673 with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

A bare floor cleaner for wet and dry bare floor surfaces comprises a base with wet and dry suction nozzles and a handle pivotally connected to the base. A diverter mounted in the working air conduit between each of the dry suction nozzle and the wet suction nozzle to a recovery tank is movable by movement of the handle between a dry suction position and a wet suction position for selectively at least partially blocking working air flow from the wet suction nozzle and the dry suction nozzle, respectively, to the recovery tank.

Claims

1. A wet/dry bare floor cleaner comprising:

a base;

a fluid delivery system comprising;

a fluid tank;

a fluid distributor for dispensing fluid onto a surface to be cleaned; and

a fluid distribution conduit between the fluid tank and the fluid distributor;

a recovery system comprising;

a wet suction nozzle;

a dry suction nozzle;

a recovery tank for receiving wet and dry debris;

a working air conduit extending from each of the dry suction nozzle and the wet suction nozzle to the recovery tank;

a diverter mounted in the working air conduit and movable between a dry suction position and a wet suction position for selectively at least partially blocking working air flow from the wet suction nozzle and the dry suction nozzle, respectively, to the recovery tank; and

a motor/fan assembly mounted to one of the handle and the base and adapted to create a working air flow in the working air conduit from at least one of the dry suction nozzle and the wet nozzle and to the recovery tank; and

a handle pivotally connected to the base for movement between a dry suction position and a wet suction position that is different than the dry suction position;

the handle including a bi-directional grip having a first portion adapted to be conveniently gripped by a hand of the user when the handle is in the dry suction position and a second portion which is adapted to be conveniently gripped by the hand of the user in substantially the same relative position when the handle is in the wet suction position; and

at least one of the first portion and the second portion comprising a trigger coupled to the fluid delivery system for dispensing fluid onto the surface to be cleaned.

2. The wet/dry bare floor cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the first portion extends away from the handle in one direction, and the second portion extends away from the handle in an opposite direction.

3. The wet/dry bare floor cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the first portion and the second portion are bilaterally symmetric.

4. The wet/dry bare floor cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the trigger is mounted to the second portion and connected to the fluid distributor to distribute fluid to the surface to be cleaned.

5. The wet/dry bare floor cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the base has opposite end portions, and the dry suction nozzle and the wet suction nozzle are respectively positioned at the opposite end portions of the base.

6. The wet/dry bare floor cleaner according to claim 5 wherein when the handle is in the wet suction position, it overlies one end of the base, and when it is in the dry suction position, it overlies the opposite end of the base.