Stacked tank arrangement for a cleaning apparatus

• US 7,870,637 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Parr, Richard S., Durbin, Michael A., O'Neal, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller; Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US11/009,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20
• 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 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/244 for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. A solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface is removably mounted to the handle. A recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle. A suction nozzle is secured to the base portion and in fluid communication with the recovery tank. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. The recovery tank and solution tank are in an aligned stack arrangement when the handle is in both the upright and working positions.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with dirt on the surface in a continuous operation, said cleaning apparatus comprising:

a base portion for movement along the surface, said base portion including a suction nozzle;

a handle including,

an upper handle assembly including a generally planar front portion; and

a separate lower handle assembly including a first end pivotally connected to said base portion such that said handle rotates relative to said base portion between an upright position and a working position, a second end spaced from said first end and coupled to said upper handle assembly, a generally planar support shelf positioned between said first end and said second end, a front lower faceplate, and a tongue shaped protrusion including a top surface and a side surface, said tongue shaped protrusion extending from the front lower faceplate in a substantially perpendicular direction from the portion of the front lower faceplate from which the tongue shaped protrusion extends and is spaced from said first end;

a solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface, said solution tank removably mounted to said generally planar support shelf of said handle;

a recovery tank removably mounted to said tongue shaped protrusion of said handle for removal separate from the removal of said solution tank, said suction nozzle in fluid communication with said recovery tank; and

a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through said suction nozzle and into said recovery tank;

wherein said recovery tank and said solution tank are in an aligned stack arrangement when said handle is in the upright position and said recovery tank and said solution tank are in an aligned stack arrangement when said handle is in the working position.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recovery tank is slidably mounted to said handle to substantially minimize side by side movement of said recovery tank.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said suction source is mounted to said base portion.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a shroud on top of said base portion between said suction source and the recovery tank, wherein said recovery tank has one of the positions of upon said shroud or spaced apart above said shroud.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recovery tank comprises a bottom wall, an upstanding sidewall, and a top wall extending from an upper end of the sidewall, and lid, wherein the sidewall has opposing recesses formed in the sidewall to allow for grasp opposite side portions of the top wall.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recovery tank includes a bottom wall and an upstanding sidewall, said bottom wall including a complimentary shaped recess formed on an underside of said bottom wall to slidably receive and rest upon said tongue shaped protrusion such that said top surface and said side surface may engage said complementary shaped recess and said upstanding sidewall abuts said front lower faceplate.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solution tank includes a corresponding rear portion that abuts said generally planar front portion and a corresponding relatively planar bottom plate supported on said generally planar support shelf.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein said tongue shaped protrusion guides said recovery tank to said front lower faceplate and in combination with said recess laterally supports said recovery tank to substantially minimize side by side movement.

8. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with dirt on the surface in a continuous operation, said cleaning apparatus comprising:

a base portion for movement along the surface, said base portion including a suction nozzle;

a handle pivotally connected to said base portion for rotation relative thereto and including an upper handle assembly with a generally planar upper front portion, a separate lower handle assembly including a generally planar support shelf, a front lower faceplate, and a tongue shaped protrusion formed as a single piece with said front lower faceplate, said tongue shaped protrusion including a top surface and a side surface and extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from the portion of the front lower faceplate from which the tongue shaped protrusion extends;

a solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface, said solution tank removably mounted to said handle and including corresponding rear portion that abuts said generally planar front portion and a corresponding relatively planar bottom plate supported on said generally planar support shelf;

a recovery tank removably mounted to said handle for removal separate from the removal of said solution tank and including a bottom wall and an upstanding sidewall, said bottom wall includes a complimentary shaped recess formed on an underside of said bottom wall to slidably receive and rest upon said tongue shaped protrusion such that said top surface and said side surface may engage said complementary shaped recess and said upstanding sidewall abuts said front lower faceplate, wherein said tongue shaped protrusion guides said recovery tank to said front lower faceplate and in combination with said recess laterally supports said recovery tank to substantially minimize side by side movement of said recovery tank, said suction nozzle in fluid communication with said recovery tank; and

a suction source mounted to said base portion and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through said suction nozzle and into said recovery tank;

wherein said recovery tank and said solution tank are in an aligned stack arrangement when said handle is in an upright position and said recovery tank and said solution tank are in an aligned stack arrangement when said handle is in a working position.