Hand-held extraction cleaner with turbine-driven brush

• US 6,658,693 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Reed, Charles A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/975,181
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 153/21, 153/44, 153/87, 153/20
• 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 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/26 with driven dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand-held extraction cleaner including a cleaning fluid supply system for supplying a cleaning fluid to a surface, a dirt recovery system including a source of suction fluidly connected to the surface through a cleaning fluid recovery tank assembly, and a rotary agitation brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned. The brush is driven by air-powered turbine assembly fluidly connected between ambient air and the suction source.

Claims

1. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, the extraction cleaner comprising;

a cleaner housing;

a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening;

a recovery tank having an inlet opening;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank; and

a vacuum source in open communication with the recovery tank, the suction conduit and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank into which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned; and

a supply conduit interconnecting the fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

a rotatably mounted agitation brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned; and

a motor operably connected to the agitation brush for rotatably driving the agitation brush;

wherein the motor is a turbine motor that is operably connected to the vacuum source for driving the turbine motor with the vacuum source and wherein the cleaner housing, the liquid extraction system, the liquid dispensing system, the agitation brush, and the motor constitute a unit that can be carried and operated by a single hand.

2. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a handle on the cleaner housing to facilitate carrying and operating the unit during use.

3. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the recovery tank is removably mounted to the cleaner housing.

4. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the recovery tank inlet opening is at an upper portion of the recovery tank.

5. A hand held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the agitator brush rotates about an axis parallel to the surface to be cleaned.

6. A band-held liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, the extraction cleaner comprising;

a cleaner housing;

a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening;

a recovery tank removably mounted to the cleaner housing and having an inlet opening;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank; and

a vacuum source in open communication with the recovery tank, the suction conduit and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank into which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one splay nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned; and

a supply conduit interconnecting the fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

a rotatably mounted agitation brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned;

a motor operably connected to the agitation brush for rotatably driving the agitation brush; and

a handle on the cleaner housing adapted for carrying and manipulating the extraction cleaner during use,

wherein the motor is a turbine motor that is operably connected to the vacuum source for driving the turbine motor with the vacuum source, and wherein the agitation brush is mounted to the recovery tank for rotation with respect thereto.

7. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 6 wherein the turbine motor is mounted to the recovery tank.

8. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, the extraction cleaner comprising;

a cleaner housing;

a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening;

a recovery tank having an inlet opening;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank; and

a vacuum source in open communication with the recovery tank, the suction conduit and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank into which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned; and

a supply conduit interconnecting the fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

a rotatably mounted agitation brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned; and

a motor operably connected to the agitation brush for rotatable driving the agitation brush;

wherein the motor is a turbine motor that is operably connected to the vacuum source for driving the turbine motor with the vacuum source, and wherein the turbine motor is mounted to the recovery tank.

9. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the agitation brush is mounted to the recovery tank for rotation with respect thereto.

10. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, the extraction cleaner comprising;

a cleaner housing;

a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening;

a recovery tank having an inlet opening;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank; and

a vacuum source in open communication with the recovery tank, the suction conduit and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank into which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned; and

a supply conduit interconnecting the fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

a rotatable mounted agitation brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned; and

a motor operably connected to the agitation brush for rotatable driving the agitation brush;

wherein the motor is a turbine motor that is operably connected to the vacuum source for driving the turbine motor with the vacuum source and wherein the agitation brush is mounted to the recovery tank for rotation with respect thereto.

11. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, the extraction cleaner comprising;

a cleaner housing;

a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening;

a recovery tank having an inlet opening;

a suction conduit in communication with the suction nozzle and the inlet opening to the recovery tank; and

a vacuum source in open communication with the recovery tank, the suction conduit and the suction nozzle, whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited;

a liquid-dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing and including;

a cleaning fluid supply tank;

at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned; and

a supply conduit interconnecting the fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle;

a rotatably mounted agitation brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned; and

a motor operably connected to the agitation brush for rotatably driving the same;

wherein the agitation brush is mounted to the recovery tank for rotation with respect thereto.

12. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the motor is mounted to the recovery tank.

13. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 12 and further comprising a handle on the cleaner housing adapted for carrying and manipulating the extraction cleaner during use.

14. A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner according to claim 11 and further comprising a handle on the cleaner housing adapted for use in carrying and manipulating the extraction cleaner during use.