Upright extraction cleaning machine with unitary accessory hose duct

• US 6,609,269 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Kasper, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/138,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20020166193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/28, 153/34
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• 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 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• 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 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0028 Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/46 applying energy, e.g. irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0031 Carpet, upholstery, fur or leather cleansers
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/39 Organic or inorganic per-compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3905 Bleach activators or bleach catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3917 Nitrogen-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 : Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/3254 : Esters or carbonates thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/54 : with pinion and rack
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/00 : Ohmic-resistance heating

Abstract

An extraction cleaning apparatus including a base housing, a fluid recovery system including a tank having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid, a working air conduit, an above floor accessory hose mounted at one end to the housing for optional above floor cleaning, and a unitary duct mounted to the housing and connected at a first end to the accessory hose one end and, at another end, connected to the working air conduit at an accessory hose inlet a conversion valve in the working air conduit between the suction nozzle and the accessory hose inlet to selectively connect the vacuum source to either the suction nozzle or to the accessory hose. Portions of the unitary duct are flat and an intermediate portion of the unitary duct extends beneath the recovery tank.

Claims

1. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a housing adapted for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

a liquid dispensing system mounted to the housing and comprising;

a liquid dispenser for applying liquid to the surface to be cleaned;

a liquid supply tank for holding a supply of cleaning liquid;

a liquid supply conduit fluidly connected to the liquid supply tank and to the dispenser for supplying liquid to the dispenser;

a liquid recovery system mounted to the housing and comprising;

a recovery tank removably mounted in the housing and having a liquid recovery chamber for holding recovered liquid, the recovery tank further having an inlet opening;

a suction nozzle at a front portion of the housing, forwardly of the recovery tank and adapted to draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned;

a first working air conduit extending rearwardly from the suction nozzle to an inlet opening to the recovery chamber;

an accessory hose mounted at one end to a rear portion of the housing behind the recovery tank for optional above floor cleaning;

a second working air conduit connected at a first end to the accessory hose one end and, at another end forwardly of the recovery tank, connected to the inlet opening to the recovery chamber, the second working air conduit being formed of a unitary duct;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating a flow working air from the nozzle and the accessory hose through the first and second working air conduits and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle and accessory hose and the first and second working air conduits, and into the recovery chamber to thereby recover dirty liquid from the surfaces to be cleaned; and

a conversion valve mounted between the first and second working air conduits and the inlet to the recovery chamber to selectively connect the vacuum source to either the suction nozzle or to the accessory hose.

2. The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein portions of the unitary duct that extend beneath the recovery tank are flat.

3. The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of upper and lower portions of the unitary duct is flat.

4. The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes a base housing and an upright handle and the upright handle is pivotally mounted to the base housing.

5. The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the recovery tank is removably mounted in the base housing.

6. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second working air conduit is U-shaped and extends directly below the recovery tank.

7. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a housing adapted for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

a liquid dispensing stem mounted to the housing comprising;

a liquid dispenser for applying liquid to the surface to be cleaned;

a liquid supply tank for holding a supply of cleaning liquid;

a liquid supply conduit fluidly connected to the liquid supply tank and to the dispenser for supplying liquid to the dispenser;

a liquid recovery system mounted to the housing and comprising;

a recovery tank removably mounted in the housing and having a liquid recovery chamber for holding recovered liquid, the recovery tank further having an inlet opening;

a suction nozzle at a front portion of the housing, forwardly of the recovery tank and adapted to draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned;

a first working air conduit extending rearwardly from the suction nozzle to an inlet opening to the recovery chamber;

an accessory hose mounted at one end to a rear portion of the housing behind the recovery tank for optional above floor cleaning;

a second working air conduit connected at a first end to the accessory hose one end and, at another end, connected to the inlet opening to the recovery chamber, the second working air conduit having a central portion that lies directly beneath the recovery tank;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating flow of working air from the nozzle and the accessory hose through the firs and second working air conduits and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle and accessory hose and the first and second working air conduits, and into the recovery chamber to thereby recover dirty liquid from the surfaces to be cleaned; and

a conversion valve mounted between the first and second working air conduits and the inlet opening to the recovery chamber to selectively connect the vacuum source to either the suction nozzle or to the necessary hose.

8. A portable source cleaning apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the central portion of the second working air conduit has a relatively flat upper portion.

9. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the second working air conduit is formed of a unitary duct.

10. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the second working air conduit is U-shaped.

11. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the second working air conduit is U-shaped.