US 5,398,373 AGranted

Combination vacuum cleaner and water extractor power foot

AssigneeBISSELL Inc.

InventorsMichael Blase, Steven K. Meek, Brenda L. Reath, Richard L. Norwood

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Abstract

A multi-use power foot suitable for use for both dry vacuum cleaning and water extraction procedures is disclosed. The power foot has a dry suction chamber in fluid communication with an outlet and a water suction chamber in fluid communication with the outlet. A diverter valve member is mounted within the housing to selectively restrict the air flow from one of the chambers to the outlet. A rotating brush is mounted in the opening of the dry suction chamber to agitate the surface to be cleaned in both the dry vacuum cleaning and water extraction modes. Spray nozzles are mounted to the underside of the power foot to direct a water based cleaning solution to the surface to be cleaned.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A combination vacuum cleaner and liquid extractor foot for cleaning a surface comprising:

a housing having a front edge, a rear edge opposite the front edge and a bottom surface extending between the front and rear edges;
forward and rear wheels mounted to the housing adjacent the front and rear edges, respectively;
a first suction opening formed in the housing bottom surface;
a second suction opening formed in the housing bottom surface a spaced distance rearwardly of the first suction opening;
a vacuum source;
an outlet suction conduit mounted to the housing between the forward and rear wheels so that an operator can apply downward force to the housing by applying downward force to the outlet conduit;
a connecting conduit between the first and second suction openings and the outlet suction conduit;
and
a diverter valve mounted in the connecting conduit, the diverter valve selectively connecting one of the first and second suction openings and the outlet suction conduit while at the same time selectively occupying a portion of the connecting conduit thereby at least partially blocking suction communication between the other of the first and second suction openings and the outlet suction conduit, and vice versa.

6 more elements

A combination vacuum cleaner and liquid extractor foot for cleaning a surface comprising:

a housing having a front edge, a rear edge opposite the front edge and a bottom surface extending between the front and rear edges;
a first suction opening formed in the housing bottom surface;
a second suction opening formed in the housing bottom surface a spaced distance rearwardly of the first suction opening;
a vacuum source;
an outlet suction conduit mounted to the housing;
a first branch conduit extending between the first suction opening and the outlet suction conduit;
a second branch conduit extending between the second suction opening and the outlet suction conduit;
a diverter valve comprising a partially cylindrical body rotatably mounted in the housing for movement between first and second positions, the diverter valve selectively connecting one of the first and second branch conduits and the outlet suction conduit while at the same time selectively occupying a portion of the other of the branch conduits thereby at least partially blocking suction communication between the other of the branch conduits and the corresponding first and second suction opening and the outlet suction conduit, and vice versa;
and
a diverter valve control switch mounted on an exterior surface of the housing for access by a user and connected to the diverter valve for controlling the movement of the diverter valve within the housing between the first and second positions, the movement of the switch being substantially along a longitudinal axis of the housing, the axis extending between the front and rear edges of the housing.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.