Recovery tank assembly having a pour spout for an extractor cleaning machine

• US 8,375,506 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Chaney, David
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/224,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20120047680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/272, 153/50, 153/52, 153/53, 154/10
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices

Abstract

An extractor cleaning machine includes a base or foot, a handle pivotally coupled to the foot, and a suction source in fluid communication with a suction nozzle on the foot. A distributor is in fluid communication with a distribution nozzle on the foot and is operable to distribute a cleaning fluid to the surface through the distribution nozzle. A recovery tank is removably coupled to the foot and is in fluid communication with the suction source. The recovery tank receives and stores the fluid and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle when the recovery tank is in an operating position. A recovery tank handle is formed as a single unitary component with a recovery tank lid to allow a user to uncouple the recovery tank from the foot to empty the recovery tank. The recovery tank also includes a pour spout.

Claims

1. An extractor cleaning machine comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned, the base including a distribution nozzle and a suction nozzle;

a handle pivotally coupled to the base to facilitate movement of the base along the surface;

a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the suction source operable to draw fluid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle;

a distributor in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle, the distributor operable to distribute a cleaning fluid to the surface through the distribution nozzle; and

a recovery tank removably coupled to the base and in fluid communication with the suction source to receive and store the fluid and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle when the recovery tank is in an operating position, the recovery tank including

a fluid vessel defining an internal volume into which the fluid and dirt are received,

a lid removably coupled to the fluid vessel to provide access to the internal volume,

a recovery tank handle formed as a single unitary component with the lid to allow a user to uncouple the recovery tank from the base to move the recovery tank from the operating position to an emptying position of the recovery tank, the recovery tank handle being accessible by the user to remove the recovery tank from the base when the recovery tank is in the operating position, and

a pour spout extending outwardly from an external surface of the fluid vessel.

2. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the recovery tank further includes a pour spout cap connectable to the pour spout to close off the pour spout.

3. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a generally L-shaped cross section and includes a generally upwardly-facing surface and a generally forwardly-facing surface, and wherein the recovery tank handle extends at an angle between the generally upwardly-facing surface and the generally forwardly-facing surface.

4. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the recovery tank handle is positioned on a forward portion of the recovery tank when the lid is coupled to the fluid vessel, and wherein the pour spout is positioned at a rearward portion of the recovery tank.

5. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the pour spout defines an opening surrounded by a substantially annular wall.

6. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 5, wherein when the recovery tank is in the operating position the annular wall is oriented at an angle between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees above a horizontal axis associated with the surface to be cleaned.

7. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 5, wherein the recovery tank handle defines a recovery tank handle axis that is fixed relative to the fluid vessel when the lid is coupled to the fluid vessel, and wherein an angle between the recovery tank handle axis and the annular wall is between about 90 degrees and about 130 degrees.

8. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the handle is moveable between an upright storage position and a plurality of inclined operating position, and wherein the pour spout is hidden from view when the recovery tank is in the operating position and the handle is in the upright storage position.

9. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the recovery tank handle defines a recovery tank handle axis, and wherein the pour spout is positioned and oriented such that when the recovery tank handle axis is substantially horizontal, the pour spout is approximately level with or below a lowest point of the internal volume.

10. An extractor cleaning machine comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned, the base including a distribution nozzle and a suction nozzle;

a handle pivotally coupled to the base to facilitate movement of the base along the surface;

a suction source coupled to one of the base and the handle and in fluid communication with the suction nozzle;

a distributor in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle, the distributor operable to distribute a cleaning fluid to the surface through the distribution nozzle; and

a recovery tank removably coupled to the base and in fluid communication with the suction source to receive material drawn through the suction nozzle when the recovery tank is in an operating position, the recovery tank including

a fluid vessel defining an internal volume into which the fluid and dirt are received,

a lid removably coupled to the fluid vessel to provide access to the internal volume, the lid including a generally forwardly-facing surface, a generally upwardly-facing surface, and an integrally-formed recovery tank handle that is fixed relative to the lid and that extends in a longitudinal direction between the forwardly-facing surface and the upwardly-facing surface, the recovery tank handle defining a recovery tank handle axis; and

a pour spout extending outwardly from an external surface of the fluid vessel and substantially laterally aligned with the recovery tank handle axis.

11. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the recovery tank handle extends at an angle between the generally upwardly-facing surface and the generally forwardly-facing surface.

12. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the recovery tank handle is positioned on a forward portion of the recovery tank when the lid is coupled to the fluid vessel, and wherein the pour spout is positioned at a rearward portion of the recovery tank.

13. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the pour spout defines an opening surrounded by a substantially annular wall.

14. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 13, wherein when the recovery tank is in the operating position the annular wall is oriented at an angle between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees above a horizontal axis associated with the surface to be cleaned.

15. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 13, wherein an angle between the recovery tank handle axis and the annular wall is between about 90 degrees and about 130 degrees.

16. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the handle is moveable between an upright storage position and a plurality of inclined operating positions, and wherein the pour spout is hidden from view when the recovery tank is in the operating position and the handle is in the upright storage position.

17. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the pour spout is positioned and oriented such that when the recovery tank handle axis is substantially horizontal, the pour spout is approximately level with or below a lowest point of the internal volume.

18. An extractor cleaning machine comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned, the base including a distribution nozzle and a suction nozzle;

a handle pivotally coupled to the base to facilitate movement of the base along the surface;

a suction source coupled to one of the base and the handle and in fluid communication with the suction nozzle;

a distributor in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle, the distributor operable to distribute a cleaning fluid to the surface through the distribution nozzle; and

a recovery tank removably coupled to the base and in fluid communication with the suction source to receive material drawn through the suction nozzle when the recovery tank is in an operating position, the recovery tank including

a fluid vessel defining an internal volume into which the fluid and dirt are received,

a lid removably coupled to the fluid vessel to provide access to the internal volume, the lid including a generally forwardly-facing surface, a generally upwardly-facing surface, and an integrally-formed recovery tank handle that is fixed relative to the lid and that extends at an angle and in a longitudinal direction between the forwardly-facing surface and the upwardly-facing surface, the recovery tank handle defining a recovery tank handle axis; and

a pour spout extending outwardly from an external surface of the fluid vessel and substantially laterally aligned with the recovery tank handle axis, the pour spout defining an opening surrounded by a substantially annular wall, wherein an angle between the recovery tank handle axis and the annular wall is between about 90 degrees and about 130 degrees.

19. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 18, wherein when the recovery tank is in the operating position the annular wall is oriented at an angle between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees above a horizontal axis associated with the surface to be cleaned.

20. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 18, wherein the handle is moveable between an upright storage position and a plurality of inclined operating position, and wherein the pour spout is hidden from view when the recovery tank is in the operating position and the handle is in the upright storage position.

21. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 18, wherein the recovery tank handle is positioned on a forward portion of the recovery tank when the lid is coupled to the fluid vessel, and wherein the pour spout is positioned at a rearward portion of the recovery tank.

22. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 18, wherein the pour spout is positioned and oriented such that when the recovery tank handle axis is substantially horizontal, the pour spout is approximately level with or below a lowest point of the internal volume.