# US 12,108,919 B2 · Wet dry appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,108,919 B2 - Document ID: US12108919B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/950,942 - Filed: 2022-09-22 - Published: 2023-06-08 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-03 - Assignees: SharkNinja Operating LLC - Applicants: Sharkninja Operating LLC - Inventors: Bartholomew Lampard; Lee Cottrell; Simon Wells; Fred Harrison; Simon Lewis Bilton; Rory Hawkins; Benedict William Flynn Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108919B2 ## CPC - A47L 9/2873: {Docking units or charging stations (for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02)} - A47L 11/4027: {Filtering or separating contaminants or debris} - A47L 7/0009: {with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid} - A47L 7/0023: {Recovery tanks (for cleaning machines A47L11/4013)} - A47L 7/0038: {with means for emptying the tanks} - A47L 7/0042: {Gaskets; Sealing means} - A47L 9/0063: {External storing devices; Stands, casings or the like for the storage of suction cleaners} - A47L 9/0477: {Rolls} - A47L 9/2884: {Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation} - A47L 9/325: {for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle} - A47L 11/302: {having rotary tools} - A47L 11/4005: {Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements} - A47L 11/4008: {Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like} - A47L 11/4016: {specially adapted for collecting fluids} - A47L 11/4025: {Means for emptying} - A47L 11/4041: {Roll shaped surface treating tools} - B01D 21/0042: {Baffles or guide plates} - B01D 29/01: with flat filtering elements (B01D29/39 takes precedence) - B01D 29/56: in series connection - B01D 35/30: Filter housing constructions - B01D 2201/184: Special form, dimension of the openings, pores of the filtering elements - B01D 2201/302: having inlet or outlet ports - B01D 2201/305: Snap, latch or clip connecting means - B01D 2201/316: Standpipes - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A cleaning device and methods for cleaning are provided. In one embodiment, the cleaning device includes a head assembly, a body assembly, and a handle assembly. The cleaning device also includes components that enable the cleaning device to operate in dry cleaning modes and wet cleaning modes. Dry cleaning modes can employ a vacuum assembly, including a motor, tubing, and a fluid recovery tank in order to draw in debris and waste into a fluid recovery tank. Wet cleaning modes can further employ a fluid supply tank, a pump, and tubing in order to supply fluid to a brushroll to aid in a cleaning process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning device, comprising: a housing body having an upright handle assembly and a head assembly coupled thereto, the housing body having a suction source therein; and a fluid recovery tank removably coupled to the housing body, the fluid recovery tank including a container having an inner chamber configured to hold a liquid therein, the inner chamber having an inlet formed therein and configured to receive fluid from the head assembly, a separator disposed within the container and configured to separate solid debris from fluid drawn into the inner chamber, and an outlet fluidly coupled to the suction source such that a suction force can be applied through the outlet, the chamber, and the inlet to the head assembly to draw fluid and debris into the inner chamber, and a pour spout formed in the separator and having an opening formed therethrough and in fluid communication with the inner chamber, wherein the separator is configured to allow fluid to be poured from the pour spout while retaining solid debris in the inner chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the separator includes a lower surface that is spaced from a bottom wall of the container, the lower surface of the separator having an opening formed therein to allow fluid to pass therethrough while substantially preventing solid debris from passing therethrough. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the lower surface of the separator is substantially V-shaped with opposed walls oriented at an angle relative to one another and mated along a lowermost end thereof, the opening being formed between the opposed walls at the lowermost end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the separator includes a sidewall having a channel formed therein and aligned with the pour spout to allow fluid to flow from the container out the pour spot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the separator separates the inner chamber into an upper portion for retaining solid debris, and a lower portion for retaining fluid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a removable filter disposed across the outlet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the removable filter comprises a first filter material having a first porosity and a second filter material having a second porosity that is different than the first porosity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a latch on the container and configured to engage the housing body to retain the fluid recovery tank on the housing body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the latch is positioned on a first side of the container and the pour spout is positioned on a second side of the container opposite the first side. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the inlet includes a hollow standpipe having an inner lumen therethrough for receiving fluid and debris from the head assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the hollow standpipe extends through an opening in the separator to deliver fluid and debris into the separator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the separator is removable from the container.