US 5,287,587 AGranted

Self-contained, compact vacuum/extractor

OwnerRobert A. Yonkers, Brenda L. Reath +1inventors

InventorsRobert A. Yonkers, Brenda L. Reath, Michael R. Blase

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Abstract

A vacuum extractor has a tank assembly including an outer tank and a coaxial inner tank. The inner tank has an open top which is reversibly closed by a cover assembly which includes a vacuum source and a liquid pump. The cover assembly also includes a hose connection in communication with said inner tank and said vacuum source enabling said inner tank to receive either wet or dry materials. The outer tank is substantially closed having an input port closed by a closure member configured in the form of a measuring cup. The outer tank is used for containing a cleaning material which can be accessed through a hose which passes through an aperture in the outer wall of the tank. The hose has an external connector for supplying cleaning material to the liquid pump in the cover assembly which, in turn, supplies the cleaning material to a cleaning tool. The unit is supported by casters which are recessed into the bottom of the tank assembly. A pair of opposed caster recesses are shaped to provide handholds to assist in emptying the separate tanks. The inner tank can be emptied by pouring in a first direction while both inner and outer tanks can be emptied simultaneously by pouring in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A vacuum extractor, comprising:

a tank assembly comprising a solution tank for holding cleaning solution and a recovery tank for holding spent cleaning solution, dirt, and debris recovered from a surface being cleaned;
a cover assembly;
a vacuum source and a liquid pump in said cover assembly;
an input hose connection in communication with said recovery tank and said vacuum source providing a passage into said recovery tank for recovered cleaning solution, dirt, and debris;
an external quick connect/disconnect input connector on the outer surface of said cover assembly connected to said liquid pump for supplying cleaning solution from said solution tank to said liquid pump and an external output connector on said cover assembly for connecting the output of said liquid pump to an external cleaning device;
and
an extendable plug-in solution feed extending out of an aperture in a side of said solution tank for conveying the contents of said solution tank to said external quick connect/disconnect input connection for said liquid pump, said plug-in solution feed terminating in a quick connect/disconnect connector which is adapted to be reversibly and releasably connected to said external quick connect/disconnect input connector for said liquid pump on said cover assembly;
wherein said recovery tank can be emptied by tilting said tank assembly in a first direction and both said recovery and solution tanks can be emptied by tilting said tank assembly in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/757,249Filed 10 Sep 1991
Granted: 22 Feb 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 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 7/0009
Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners: with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the…
A47L 7/0038
Recovery tanks: with means for emptying the tanks
A47L 7/0042
Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners: gaskets; Sealing means