US 6,041,472 A · Upright water extraction cleaning machine

Abstract

A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose. A pump is fluidly connected between the mixing valve and the dispensing nozzle and includes a pump priming valve that operates on negative air pressure to clear air from the fluid lines during pump operation. A free floating brush is pivotally attached to the base for automatically adjusting to different surface conditions during cleaning operations.

Claims10

Dependent claims

In a portable surface cleaning apparatus having a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned, an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base, a recovery tank having an inner holding chamber, a first suction nozzle located at a lower portion of the base, a conduit extending between the inner chamber and the suction nozzle, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the inner chamber for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit and nozzle to thereby draw dirt and debris from a surface and deposit the dirt and debris in the recovery tank, the improvement comprising:

a brush assembly pivotally connected to the base and including an elongate member extending substantially parallel with, and in proximity to the suction nozzle;
the elongate member having a plurality of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom to contact a surface to be cleaned, the brush assembly further including at least one pivot arm with a first end mounted to the elongate member and a second end pivotally mounted to the base such that the height of the bristles can be varied to automatically adjust for different surface heights;
and
a catch projecting from one of the pivot arm and the base and a stop member projecting from the other of the pivot arm and the base toward the catch, the catch and stop member being mutually engageable to arrest downward travel of the elongate member beyond a predetermined limit when the bristles are disengaged from the surface.

1 more element

In a portable surface cleaning apparatus having a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned, a recovery tank having an inner chamber, a suction nozzle located at a lower portion of the base, a conduit extending between the inner chamber and the suction nozzle, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the inner chamber for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit and nozzle to thereby draw dirt and/or debris from a surface and deposit the dirt and/or debris in the inner chamber;

a brush assembly pivotally connected to the base and including an elongate, substantially cylindrical member extending substantially parallel with, and in proximity to the suction nozzle;
the elongate member having a plurality of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom to contact a surface to be cleaned, the brush assembly further including at least one pivot arm with a first end mounted to the elongate member for rotation of the elongate member with respect to the pivot arm and a second end pivotally mounted to the base, whereby the brush assembly is free floating to automatically adjust to different surface heights;
a motor mounted to the base and a drive member connected between a shaft of the motor and the elongate member for rotating the elongate member when the motor is actuated, the improvement comprising:
the at least one pivot arm comprising a sidewall with a support surface extending therefrom for mounting the elongate member for rotation about a longitudinal axis and a bottom wall integrally formed with the sidewall, the bottom wall being in vertical alignment with the drive member to thereby cover at least a lower portion of the drive member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Upright water extraction cleaning machine

Life of this patent

Upright water extraction cleaning machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10