BARE FLOOR CLEANER

• US 20080092325A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Vander Baan, Gabriel
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/328
• 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 11/4002 Installations of electric equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools

Abstract

The invention relates to a bare floor cleaner capable of wet pickup through a first nozzle opening with the aid of a squeegee, wet scrubbing with an agitator, and dry pickup through a second nozzle opening. The bare floor cleaner comprises a dual-path nozzle assembly having a wet suction path in communication with the first nozzle opening and a dry suction path in communication with the second nozzle opening. A diverter valve selectively controls fluid communication between a suction source and one of the first and second nozzle openings for conversion between wet and dry modes. The bare floor cleaner further comprises a single actuator that controls the positions of the agitator and of the diverter valve. As a result, the cleaning mode of the bare floor cleaner can be controlled with a single switch that is preferably located on the handle assembly for convenient access by a user.

Claims

1. In a floor cleaner capable of cleaning both wet and dry floor surfaces comprising:

a base having a dry suction opening and a wet suction opening;

a handle pivotally connected to the base;

a recovery tank mounted to one of the handle and the base;

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

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 floor suction opening and the wet floor suction opening and to the recovery tank; and

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 dry suction opening and the wet suction opening, respectively, to the recovery tank;

the improvement comprising;

an actuator mounted on at least one of the handle and the base and operably connected to the diverter for selectively positioning the diverter in the dry suction position and the wet suction position.

2. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising an agitator movably mounted to the base for movement between a first position wherein the agitator is adapted to agitate a surface to be cleaned and a second position wherein the agitator is spaced from the surface to be cleaned for selectively agitating the floor surface, wherein the actuator is operably coupled to the agitator for selectively positioning the agitator in the first position and the second position.

3. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is adapted to simultaneously position the diverter and the agitator in a preselected position.

4. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising a control element between the actuator and the diverter and between the actuator and the agitator for moving the diverter and agitator into:

a first mode wherein the diverter is in the dry suction position and the agitator is in the second position;

a second mode wherein the diverter is in the wet suction position and the agitator is in the first position; and

a third mode wherein the diverter is in the wet suction position and the agitator is in the second position.

5. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the control element is further adapted to control movement of the diverter and agitator into a fourth operating mode wherein the diverter is in the dry position and the agitator is in the first position.

6. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising a control element mounted on the base or handle and operably connected to the diverter, the agitator and the actuator for selective movement of the diverter and the agitator responsive to movement of the actuator.

7. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control element comprises a diverter cam member adapted to control the position of the diverter and an agitator cam member adapted to control the position the agitator.

8. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control element further comprises a wheel with two sides, and wherein the diverter cam member and the agitator cam member are disposed on opposite sides of the wheel.

9. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises a pull-pull cable operably mounted to the control element.

10. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is disposed on the handle.

11. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 6 and further comprising an agitator platform pivotally mounted to the base and mounting the agitator, and wherein the control element is operatively connected to the agitator platform for selective positioning the agitator in the first and second positions.

12. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 and further comprising an agitator motor for driving the agitator, wherein the agitator motor is mounted on the agitator platform.

13. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery tank is mounted on the handle and the motor/fan assembly is mounted on the handle above the recovery tank.

14. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a carry handle mounted on the handle.

15. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a supply tank mounted to the handle for storing a supply of cleaning fluid;

a dispenser mounted to the base for dispensing cleaning fluid onto the floor surface;

a supply conduit between the supply tank and the dispenser; and

a heater mounted in the supply conduit for heating the cleaning fluid as it flows from the supply tank to the dispenser.

16. A floor cleaner capable of cleaning both wet and dry floor surfaces comprising:

a base having a dry suction opening and a wet suction opening;

a handle connected to the base;

a recovery tank mounted to at least one of the handle and the base;

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

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

an agitator movably mounted to the base for movement between a first position wherein the agitator is adapted to agitate a surface to be cleaned and a second position wherein the agitator is spaced from the surface to be cleaned for selectively agitating the floor surface;

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 opening and the dry suction opening, respectively, to the recovery tank; and

an actuator on one of the handle and the base and operably connected to the diverter for selectively positioning the diverter in the dry suction position and the wet suction position and also connected to the agitator for selectively positioning the agitator in the first and second positions.

17. The floor cleaner according to claim 16 wherein the actuator is adapted to simultaneously position the diverter and the agitator in preselected positions.

18. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising a control element between the actuator and the diverter and between the actuator and the agitator for moving the diverter and agitator into:

a first mode wherein the diverter is in the dry suction position and the agitator is in the second position;

a second mode wherein the diverter is in the wet suction position and the agitator is in the first position; and

a third mode wherein the diverter is in the wet suction position and the agitator is in the second position.

19. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the control element is further adapted to selectively control movement of the diverter and agitator into a fourth operating mode wherein the diverter is in the dry suction position and the agitator is in the first position.

20. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising a control element mounted on the base or handle and operably connected to the diverter, the agitator and the actuator for selective movement of the diverter and the agitator responsive to movement of the actuator.

21. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the control element comprises a diverter cam member adapted to control the position of the diverter and an agitator cam member adapted to control the position the agitator.

22. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the control element further comprises a wheel with two sides, and wherein the diverter cam member and the agitator cam member are disposed on opposite sides of the wheel.

23. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the actuator comprises a pull-pull cable operably connected to the control element.

24. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the actuator is disposed on the handle.

25. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the base.

26. A floor cleaner capable of cleaning both wet and dry floor surfaces comprising:

a base having a dry suction opening and a wet suction opening adapted to remove debris from a surface to be cleaned;

a handle connected to the base;

a recovery tank carried by the handle;

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

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 floor suction opening and the wet floor suction opening and 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 opening and the dry suction opening, respectively, to the recovery tank; and

an actuator on at least one of the handle and the base and operably connected to the diverter for selectively positioning the diverter in the dry suction position and the wet suction position.

27. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the motor/fan assembly is mounted above the recovery tank.

28. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the base.

29. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 26 and further comprising an agitator mounted to the base and movable between a first position wherein the agitator contacts the floor surface and a second position wherein the agitator is spaced from the floor surface for selectively agitating the floor surface, wherein the actuator is operably mounted to the agitator for selectively positioning the agitator between the first position and the second position.

30. The floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the actuator is adapted to simultaneously position the diverter and the agitator in preselected positions.

31. A floor cleaner capable of cleaning both wet and dry floor surfaces comprising:

a base for movement along a floor surface;

a nozzle assembly mounted to the base and having a dry suction conduit with a dry suction opening at one end thereof adjacent to the floor surface and a wet suction conduit with a wet suction opening at one end thereof adjacent to the floor surface and different from the dry suction opening;

a handle connected to the base;

a recovery tank mounted on one of the handle and the base;

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

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 floor suction opening and the wet floor suction opening and to the recovery tank;

wherein the wet suction conduit and the dry suction conduit are vertically juxtaposed to each other.

32. The floor cleaner according to claim 31 wherein the wet and dry suction openings are horizontally juxtaposed to each other.

33. The floor cleaner according to claim 31 wherein at least a portion of one of the wet suction conduit and the dry suction conduit are made of a translucent material so that the working air flow therethrough is visible to a user.

34. The floor cleaner according to claim 31 wherein at least a portion of both of the wet suction conduit and the dry suction conduit are made of a translucent material so that the working air flow therethrough are visible to a user.

35. The floor cleaner according to claim 31, wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises a squeegee disposed in the wet suction opening.

36. The floor cleaner according to claim 31, wherein the nozzle assembly is removably mounted to the base.

37. The floor cleaner according to claim 31 and further comprising:

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 opening and the dry suction opening, respectively, to the recovery tank; and

an actuator on at least one of the handle and the base and operably connected to the diverter for selectively positioning the diverter in the dry suction position and the wet suction position.

38. A floor cleaner capable of cleaning both wet and dry floor surfaces comprising:

a base assembly including a nozzle assembly adapted to remove debris from a surface to be cleaned either in dry suction mode or a wet suction mode and further including a switch mechanism for selectively converting the nozzle assembly from the wet suction mode to the dry suction mode and visa versa;

a handle connected to the base assembly for manipulating the base assembly across a surface to be cleaned;

a recovery tank carried by the handle;

a working air conduit extending from nozzle assembly to the recovery tank;

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 the nozzle assembly and to the recovery tank; and

an actuator on the handle operably connected to the switch mechanism for selectively positioning the nozzle assembly in the dry suction mode or the wet suction mode.

39. The floor cleaner according to claim 38 wherein the base assembly further comprises an agitator movably mounted for movement between a first position wherein the agitator is adapted to agitate a surface to be cleaned and a second position wherein the agitator is spaced from the surface to be cleaned for selectively agitating the floor surface.

40. The floor cleaner according to claim 39 and further comprising an agitator mechanism for selectively controlling the movement of the agitator between the first and second positions.

41. The floor cleaner according to claim 40 wherein the actuator is connected to the agitator mechanism for selectively moving the agitator between the first and second positions.

42. The floor cleaner according to claim 41 wherein the actuator is a knob that is rotatably mounted to the handle.

43. The floor cleaner according to claim 42 wherein the actuator is connected to the agitator mechanism through a cable.

44. The floor cleaner according to claim 43 wherein the actuator is also connected to the switch mechanism through a cable.

45. The floor cleaner according to claim 41 wherein the agitator is a rotatable brush that is driven about an axis of rotation by a motor.

46. The floor cleaner according to claim 38 wherein the actuator is a knob that is rotatably mounted to the handle.

47. The floor cleaner according to claim 46 wherein the actuator is connected to the switch mechanism through a cable.

48. A floor cleaner for wet scrubbing and wet pick up comprising:

a base assembly including a nozzle adapted to remove moisture and debris from a surface to be cleaned, and an agitator for agitating the surface to be cleaned;

a handle connected to the base assembly for manipulating the base assembly across a surface to be cleaned;

a recovery tank;

a working air conduit extending from the nozzle to the recovery tank;

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 the nozzle and to the recovery tank; and

the agitator is movable between a first position wherein the agitator is spaced from the surface to be cleaned and a second position wherein the agitator is adapted to agitate a surface to be cleaned;

an actuator mechanism for selectively controlling the movement of the agitator between the first and second positions.

an actuator knob rotatably mounted on the handle and operably connected to the agitator mechanism for selectively moving the agitator between the first and second positions.

49. The floor cleaner according to claim 48 wherein the actuator is connected to the agitator mechanism through a cable.

50. The floor cleaner according to claim 48 wherein the agitator is a rotatable brush that is driven about an axis of rotation by a motor.

51. The floor cleaner according to claim 49 wherein the actuator knob is rotatable between first and second positions to move the agitator between first and second positions.

52. The floor cleaner according to claim 51 wherein the actuator knob is also movable to a third position to move the agitator to the first position.

53. The floor cleaner according to claim 48 wherein the actuator knob is rotatable between first and second positions to move the agitator between first and second positions.

54. The floor cleaner according to claim 53 wherein the actuator knob is also movable to a third position to move the agitator to the first position.