US 2024/0032758 A1Published application

Surface cleaning apparatus

AssigneeBISSELL Inc.

InventorsGeorge Moyher, JR., Michael Graham

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Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a recovery tank with a lower portion with a bottom wall that defines an opening and an extraction nozzle that is in fluid communication with the recovery tank. A motor/fan assembly is in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and the recovery tank to generate a working airflow to transport debris-containing fluid including air and liquid from the extraction nozzle into the recovery tank. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes an air/liquid separator assembly that is selectively insertable into the recovery tank. The air/liquid separator assembly includes a riser tube with a liquid conduit integrally formed with an air conduit and a float assembly that is operably coupled with the air conduit. A coupling joins the air/liquid separator assembly with the recovery tank.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:

a recovery tank having a bottom wall defining an opening into an interior of the recovery tank;
an extraction nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank;
a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and the recovery tank to generate a working airflow to transport debris-containing fluid including air and liquid from the extraction nozzle into the recovery tank;
an air/liquid separator assembly for separating liquid from air in the debris-containing fluid and comprising:
a liquid conduit defining an inlet pipe that is in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle;
an air conduit defining an outlet pipe that is in fluid communication with the recovery tank;
and
a float assembly configured to close an inlet of the air conduit, wherein the liquid conduit, the air conduit, and the float assembly are integrally connected to and removable from the recovery tank as a single integral unit;
and
a mechanical coupling removably coupling the air/liquid separator assembly to the bottom wall of the recovery tank, the mechanical coupling including an alignment feature that properly aligns the air/liquid separator assembly within the recovery tank.

7 more elements

A surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:

a recovery tank having a lower portion with a bottom wall defining an opening;
an extraction nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank;
a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and the recovery tank to generate a working airflow to transport debris-containing fluid including air and liquid from the extraction nozzle into the recovery tank;
an air/liquid separator assembly for separating liquid from air in the debris-containing fluid and selectively insertable into the recovery tank through the opening defined by a circular neck of the recovery tank, the air/liquid separator assembly comprising:
a liquid conduit having a lower end in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and an upper end having an outlet in fluid communication with an interior of the recovery tank;
and
an air conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the recovery tank and including an inlet facing away from the liquid conduit;
and
a mechanical coupling removably coupling the air/liquid separator assembly to the bottom wall of the recovery tank, wherein the mechanical coupling can be operated to selectively detach the air/liquid separator assembly from the recovery tank for removal of the air/liquid separator assembly from the bottom wall of the recovery tank.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/375,059Filed 29 Sep 2023
Priority: 1 Jun 2012
Published: 1 Feb 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

A47L 11/34
Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings: machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour,…
A47L 5/362
Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back: of the…
A47L 5/365
Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back: of the…
A47L 7/0023
Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners: recovery tanks

Family

Application61/654,281Us provisional application · filed 1 Jun 2012
Application13/896,848Continuation · filed 17 May 2013
Application14/220,595Continuation · filed 20 Mar 2014
Application15/443,211Continuation · filed 27 Feb 2017
Application16/426,474Continuation · filed 30 May 2019
Application17/583,717Continuation · filed 25 Jan 2022
Application18/375,059Continuation
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US 2024/0032758 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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