EXTRACTION CLEANER

• US 20160353957A1
• Filed: 08/19/2016
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: DeJonge, Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• 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 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• 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 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• 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 7/0004 Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0014 with additional means or devices between nozzle and casing

Abstract

An extraction cleaner for a floor surface includes an extraction nozzle. The extraction nozzle that defines a fluid flow path having an elongated nozzle opening, and includes one or more stiffening elements that stiffens the walls around the nozzle opening to prevent collapsing or deformation of the extraction nozzle during use.

Claims

1. An extraction cleaner for a floor surface, comprising:

a housing having a base assembly for movement across the floor surface and a handle assembly pivotally mounted to a rearward portion of the base assembly for directing the base assembly across the floor surface;

a fluid recovery system supported by the housing, comprising;

a recovery tank for storing spent cleaning fluid and dirt that is recovered from the floor surface;

a suction source configured to generate a working airflow; and

an extraction nozzle extending towards a surface to be cleaned and in fluid communication with the recovery tank, comprising;

a forward wall and a rearward wall that form a fluid flow path therebetween having an elongated nozzle opening that is in fluid communication with the recovery tank;

a forward stiffening element provided with the forward wall and that substantially extends across the width of the extraction nozzle; and

a rearward stiffening element provided with the rearward wall and that substantially extends across the width of the extraction nozzle;

whereby the forward and rearward stiffening elements prevent deformation of the extraction nozzle during use.

2. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 and further comprising a fluid delivery system supported by the housing for storing cleaning fluid and delivering the cleaning fluid to the floor surface, the fluid delivery system comprising:

a fluid supply container for storing a supply of cleaning fluid; and

at least one fluid distributor in fluid communication with the supply container for depositing a cleaning fluid onto the floor surface.

3. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward stiffening element comprises an exterior stiffening element provided on an exterior-facing surface of the forward wall.

4. The extraction cleaner of claim 3, wherein the rearward ward stiffening element comprises an interior stiffening element provided on an interior-facing surface of the rearward wall.

5. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward and rearward stiffening elements are provided outside the fluid flow path formed between the forward and rearward walls.

6. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward and rearward stiffening elements are manufactured from plastic or metal.

7. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward stiffening element comprises a tubular brace provided on an exterior-facing surface of the forward wall, wherein the tubular brace comprises a hollow interior.

8. The extraction cleaner of claim 7, wherein the forward wall is provided with a sleeve on the exterior-facing surface which defines a hollow cavity in which the tubular brace is received.

9. The extraction cleaner of claim 8, wherein the sleeve comprises open ends and the open ends of the sleeve are covered by caps to enclose the tubular brace.

10. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the rearward stiffening element comprises a tubular brace provided on an interior-facing surface of the rearward wall, wherein the tubular brace comprises a hollow interior.

11. The extraction cleaner of claim 10, wherein the rearward wall is provided with a sleeve on the interior-facing surface which defines a hollow cavity in which the tubular brace is received.

12. The extraction cleaner of claim 11, wherein the sleeve comprises open ends and the open ends of the sleeve are covered by caps to enclose the tubular brace.

13. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward stiffening element comprises a first tubular brace provided on an exterior-facing surface of the forward wall and wherein the rearward stiffening element comprises a second tubular brace provided on an interior-facing surface of the rearward wall, wherein the first and second tubular braces comprise hollow interiors.

14. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first tubular brace comprises a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape and the second tubular brace comprises a generally semi-cylindrical cross-sectional shape.

15. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward stiffening element comprises a first brace provided on an exterior-facing surface of the forward wall and wherein the rearward stiffening element comprises a second brace provided on an interior-facing surface of the rearward wall.

16. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward and rearward stiffening elements are insert-molded with the forward and rearward walls, respectively.

17. The extraction cleaner of claim 16, wherein the forward and rearward stiffening elements are manufactured from metal.

18. The extraction cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forward and rearward stiffening elements are separate components that are mechanically attached to the forward and rearward walls, respectively, by welding, heat-staking or adhesion.