Apparatus and method for cleaning a surface
AssigneeThe Hoover Company
InventorsDonald A. Coates, Robert W. Bauman, Michael A. Durbin, Evan A. Gordon, Adam C. Sclafani, Aaron P. Tondra, William H. Theiss, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cleaner for cleaning a surface comprises a floor-engaging portion for moving along the surface. A source supplies a liquid to a distributor, which distributes the liquid from the source on the surface wherein an activating device is operatively connected to the source to activate the source to supply liquid to the distributor to distribute liquid on the surface in response to a force moving the floor engaging portion in a first direction.
Claims24
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:
- a) a floor-engaging portion for moving along said surface;
- b) a distributor;
- c) a first source for supplying a first liquid to said distributor, said distributor being operatively connected to said floor-engaging portion for distributing said first liquid from said first source onto said surface;
- d) an activating device operatively connected to said first source to activate said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said floor-engaging portion being moved in a first direction;
- e) a handle pivotally connected to said floor-engaging portion;
- f) said activating device including a hand grip reciprocally mounted on said handle;
- and
- g) said hand grip being moved a distance along said handle in said first direction to activate said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor in response to said floor-engaging portion being moved in said first direction.
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said hand grip includes a locking device, said hand grip selectively locking said hand grip to said handle such that said hand grip is prevented from moving along said handle said distance in said first direction and said distance in said second direction.
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:
- a) a floor-engaging portion for moving along said surface;
- b) a distributor;
- c) a first source for supplying a first liquid to said distributor, said distributor being operatively connected to said floor-engaging portion for distributing said first liquid from said first source onto said surface;
- d) an activating device operatively connected to said first source to activate said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor to distribute said first liquid onto said surface in response to said floor-engaging portion being moved in a first direction;
- and
- wherein said activating device includes an engaging member rotatably connected to said floor-engaging portion and extending to said surface, said engaging member bearing against said surface and causing said engaging member to rotate in one direction to activate said first source to supply said first liquid to said distributor upon said floor-engaging portion being moved in said first direction.
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising:
- a) a floor-engaging portion for movement along the surface;
- b) a liquid distribution system operatively connected to said floor-engaging portion, said liquid distribution system including a distributor for dispensing liquid on said cleaning surface, said liquid distribution system supplying at least a first liquid and a second liquid to said distributor;
- c) an activating device operatively connected to said liquid distribution system to activate said liquid distribution system to supply at least one of said first liquid and said second liquid to said distributor;
- and
- d) wherein moving the floor-engaging portion in a first direction places said activating device in a first state which activates said liquid distribution system to supply said first liquid to said distributor and moving the floor-engaging portion in a second direction opposite said first direction places said activating device in a second state which activates said liquid distribution system to supply said second liquid to said distributor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.