Cleaning apparatus

• US 5,237,719 A
• Filed: 10/17/1991
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald J. Dwyer Sr
• Original Assignee: Donald J. Dwyer Sr
• Inventors: Dwyer, Donald J. Jr., Head, Jesse G.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/778,494
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/321, 15/353, 15/410
• US Class Current: 15/321
• 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 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices

Abstract

An improved cleaning apparatus for cleaning carpet, upholstery and the like includes a housing, a first storage tank removably carried in the housing for storing a liquid cleaning solution, a dispensing pump for dispensing the cleaning solution to an area to be cleaned, a vacuum motor for suctioning excess cleaning solution and other material extracted from the area, and a second storage tank removably carried in the housing for accumulating excess cleaning fluid and other material extracted from the area. Respective upper portions of the first and second storage tanks extend above the housing when the first and second storage tanks are carried therein. The first and second storage tanks are each equipped with a pair of handles to facilitate removal and replacement of the respective tanks. A quick disconnect fitting is provided for locating the first storage tank so that the first storage tank is in fluid communication with the dispensing pump. The quick disconnect fitting enables rapid removal of the first storage tank from the housing and facilitates reinstallation thereof.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a housing;

a first storage tank removably carried in said housing for storing a cleaning liquid, said first storage tank being positionable within said housing such that a portion extends above said housing;

dispensing means for dispensing cleaning liquid from said first storage tank to an area to be cleaned;

suction means for suctioning material from the area to be cleaned;

a second storage tank removably carried in said housing for accumulating material suctioned from the area to be cleaned, said second storage tank being positionable within said housing such that a portion of said second storage tank extends above said housing; and

at least one of said first and second storage tanks having a cover member with opposed first and second structural members protruding therefrom and first and second handles attached to said at least one of said first and second storage tanks, said first and second structural members having respective first and second seating surfaces sloping downwardly and away from said cover member for urging the respective first and second handles into pressure engagement with the respective first and second structural members when said first and second handles are moved upwardly along the respective first and second seating surfaces, to retain said cover member in a closed position, said first and second handles being disengageable from the respective first and second structural members by moving said first and second handles downwardly along the respective first and second seating surfaces, to allow said cover member to be removed from said at least one of said first and second storage tanks.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second storage tanks have respective first and second bottom recesses, said housing having first and second raised portions on a bottom surface thereof, said first and second raised portions being adapted to matingly engage the respective first and second recesses for locating the respective first and second storage tanks within said housing.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 further including a male member projecting upwardly from said housing and a female member depending downwardly from an external surface of said first storage tank, said female member being positioned in mating engagement with said male member when said first storage tank is located in said housing with said first raised portion in mating engagement with said first recess, a portion of said first storage tank extending above said housing when said male and female members are in mating engagement, said apparatus further including first conduit means located in said first storage tank and being coupled to said female member and second conduit means located outside said first storage tank and being coupled to said male member, the mating engagement between the male and female members effecting fluid communication between said first and second conduit means.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said dispensing means includes a pump for suctioning cleaning liquid from said first storage tank through said first and second conduit means and for discharging said cleaning liquid to be dispensed to said area.

5. Apparatus of claim 3 further including a locking ring for normally retaining said male and female members in mating engagement, said locking ring being manually operable for releasing said male member to be disengaged from said female member.

6. A cleaning apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a housing having first and second top openings, said housing having a removable cover plate adjacent said second top opening;

a first storage tank removably carried in said housing for storing a cleaning liquid, said first storage tank being removable from and insertable into said housing through said first top opening;

dispensing means for dispensing cleaning liquid from said first storage tank to an area to be cleaned;

suction means for suctioning material from the area to be cleaned, said suction means being mounted on a lower surface of said cover plate and said dispensing means being located below said cover plate such that said suction means and said dispensing means are accessible when said cover plate is removed; and

a second storage tank removably carried in said housing for accumulating material suctioned from the area to be cleaned, said second storage tank being removable from and insertable into said housing through said second top opening.

7. A cleaning apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a housing;

first storage means removably carried in said housing for storing a cleaning liquid;

dispensing means for dispensing said cleaning liquid to an area to be cleaned, said dispensing means including a pump;

suction means for suctioning material from the area to be cleaned;

second storage means removably carried in said housing for accumulating material suctions from the area to be cleaned; and

locating means for locating said pump in said housing, said locating means including a base member secured to said pump and a plurality of mounting members projecting upwardly from a bottom surface of said housing, said mounting members having respective pins defining respective top portions of said mounting members, said base member having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive the respective pins, respective lower portions of said mounting members being enlarged relative to the respective pins to define respective support surfaces for supporting said base member when said pins are received within the respective apertures.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 further including securing means for securing said pump in a fixed position in said housing, said securing means including a flexible strap attached to said bottom surface intermediate opposed first and second ends of said strap, said strap further including complementary first and second attachment members located adjacent the respective first and second ends, said strap being adapted to be wrapped around said pump and to be secured by the engagement of the first and second attachment members.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first and second attachment members are complementary hook and loop fasteners, said hook fasteners being located on a first major surface of said strap adjacent said first end and said loop fasteners being located on a second major surface of said strap, opposite from said first major surface, adjacent said second end, one of said first and second ends being adapted to be secured in overlapping relationship with the other one of said first and second ends by the engagement of the hook and loop fasteners.

10. A cleaning apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a housing having a raised portion on a bottom surface thereof;

a first storage tank removably carried in said housing for storing a cleaning liquid, a portion of said first storage tank extending above said housing when said first storage tank is carried therein, said first storage tank having a bottom recess adapted for mating engagement with said raised portion for locating said first storage tank within said housing;

dispensing means for dispensing cleaning fluid from said first storage tank to an area to be cleaned;

suction means for suctioning material from the area to be cleaned;

a second storage tank removably carried in said housing for accumulating material suctioned from the area to be cleaned, a portion of said second storage tank extending above said housing when said second storage tank is carried therein; and

a male member projecting upwardly from said housing and a female member depending downwardly from an external surface of said first storage tank, said female member being positioned in mating engagement with said male member when said first storage tank is positioned in said housing with said bottom recess in mating engagement with said raised portion, said apparatus further including first conduit means located in said first storage tank and being coupled to said first female member and second conduit means located outside said first storage tank and being coupled to said male member, the mating engagement between said male and female members effecting fluid communication between said first and second conduit means, whereby fluid is dispensable from said first storage tank.

11. Apparatus of claim 10 further including a locking ring for normally retaining said male and female members in mating engagement, said locking ring being manually operable for releasing said male member to be disengaged from said female member.

12. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said suction means includes vacuum means for drawing air from said second storage tank to maintain a vacuum therein, said second storage tank having a partition for dividing an interior portion of said second storage tank into first and second chambers, said suction means being in fluid communication with said first chamber, said vacuum means being operable to draw material extracted from the area to be cleaned into said second chamber, said partition substantially inhibiting said material from penetrating into said first chamber and from being suctioned into said vacuum means.

13. Apparatus of claim 12 further including conduit means in fluid communication between said second storage tank and said vacuum means, said apparatus further including means for interrupting said fluid communication when a level of liquid within said second storage tank reaches a predetermined maximum level, said means for interrupting said fluid communication including a buoyant member adapted to substantially block said conduit means when said level of liquid reaches said predetermined maximum level, whereby the fluid communication between said vacuum means and said second storage tank is interrupted.

14. Apparatus of claim 13 further including filter means attached to a suction end of said conduit means within said second storage tank for substantially inhibiting the passage of solid material into said conduit means, said buoyant means including a ball member carried in said filter means, said ball member being located in a bottom portion of said filter means when the level of liquid in said second storage tank is below said bottom portion of said filter means, said ball member being supported by the liquid in said second storage tank when the level of liquid in said second storage tank is above the bottom portion of said filter means, said ball member being adapted to substantially the block said conduit means when said level of liquid reaches said predetermined maximum level.

15. A cleaning apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a housing;

first storage means removably carried in said housing for storing a cleaning liquid;

dispensing means for dispensing cleaning liquid from said first storage means to an area to be cleaned;

suction means for suctioning material from the area to be cleaned;

second storage means removably carried in said housing for accumulating material suctioned from the area to be cleaned, said suction means including vacuum means for sucking air from said second storage means to maintain a vacuum therein, said vacuum means being operable to suction excess cleaning liquid and other material extracted from the area to be cleaned into said second storage means;

a duct for discharging air suctioned from said second storage means to the area to be cleaned exterior to said housing, the air discharged through said duct being heated by said vacuum means to a temperature greater than the temperature of the air in said second storage means; and

swivelable means for mounting said duct on a bottom portion of said housing for swiveling movement to allow the direction in which air is discharged through said duct to be changed.