公开(公告)号：US06412141B1

公开(公告)日：2002-07-02

申请号：US09753349

申请日：2001-01-02

Applicant: Gary A. Kasper ,  Jonathan A. Miner ,  Timothy E. Kasen ,  Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz ,  Eric C. Huffman ,  Luke E. Kelly

Inventor： Gary A. Kasper ,  Jonathan A. Miner ,  Timothy E. Kasen ,  Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz ,  Eric C. Huffman ,  Luke E. Kelly

IPC: A47L700

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment the tank has an outlet opening in a bottom portion thereof and a drain plug is removably mounted in the outlet opening. In another embodiment a lid mounted on the tank defines an expansion chamber having an inlet opening, an outlet passage, and first and second diverters against which the working air flow reverses direction twice between the inlet opening of the expansion chamber and the tank. In another embodiment the working air conduit includes a manual actuator knob having an over-center linkage mechanism connected to a conversion valve for movement between first and second positions and thereby selectively moving the conversion valve between open and closed positions, whereby fluid communication between the tank and the suction nozzle is selectively opened and closed. In a further embodiment, a flow indicator is mounted to the base module and has a visibility window observable to a user and the flow indicator is disposed in the fluid supply conduit and is responsive to the flow of fluid through the fluid supply conduit to visually indicate the flow of fluid through the supply conduit to the user. Another embodiment includes a pump primer connected to the pump and having a housing defining a priming chamber with a valved opening connected to the vacuum source, an inlet opening connected to the fluid supply chamber, and an outlet opening connected to an inlet for the pump. A further embodiment includes a first mechanical connector extending between the motor drive shaft and the pump drive shaft, whereby the motor drives both the agitation brush and the pump. In a further embodiment, the base module includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion and an upright handle is pivotably mounted to the rear portion of the base module through at least one bearing for rotatable reception in the housing. In another embodiment, an elevator assembly is reciprocally mounted to the base module and movable in response to movement of the upright handle from an operative position to the upright position for upwardly pivoting a pivot arm mounting an agitation brush.

公开(公告)号：US06286180B1

公开(公告)日：2001-09-11

申请号：US09535850

申请日：2000-03-27

Applicant: Gary Kasper ,  Eric C. Huffman ,  Gary L. Smith ,  Timothy E. Kasen ,  Luke E. Kelly ,  Charles A. Reed

Inventor： Gary Kasper ,  Eric C. Huffman ,  Gary L. Smith ,  Timothy E. Kasen ,  Luke E. Kelly ,  Charles A. Reed

IPC: A47L700

CPC classification number: H05B3/00 ,  A47L5/28 ,  A47L5/30 ,  A47L5/32 ,  A47L7/0009 ,  A47L7/0028 ,  A47L7/0038 ,  A47L7/0042 ,  A47L9/0009 ,  A47L9/0036 ,  A47L9/02 ,  A47L11/03 ,  A47L11/30 ,  A47L11/305 ,  A47L11/34 ,  A47L11/4016 ,  A47L11/4083 ,  B01F3/088 ,  B01F5/0077 ,  B01F15/0404 ,  C11D3/0031 ,  C11D3/39 ,  C11D3/3905 ,  C11D3/3917 ,  C11D3/3947 ,  C11D7/3254 ,  C11D11/007 ,  F16K31/54

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.

Abstract translation: 便携式表面清洁装置具有用于沿待清洁的表面移动的基座和可枢转地附接到基部的后部的直立手柄。 用于将流体施加到表面的流体分配喷嘴和用于从表面拾取流体和碎屑的吸嘴与基座相关联。 清洁水容器和洗涤剂储存罐可移除地安装到手柄上，而回收罐可拆卸地安装到基座上。 混合阀流体连接在保持罐和喷嘴之间，用于改变洗涤剂相对于水的混合比例。 流体回收罐包括从吸嘴延伸的整体模制的管道和用于附件软管的安装件，其中断管道中的吸嘴的流体路径，并且使流体流动通过软管。 泵在流体上连接在混合阀和分配喷嘴之间，并且包括泵启动阀，其在负压气压下操作以在泵操作期间从流体管线清空空气。 自由浮动刷可枢转地附接到基座，用于在清洁操作期间自动调整到不同的表面状态。

公开(公告)号：US5799362A

公开(公告)日：1998-09-01

申请号：US693406

申请日：1996-08-07

Applicant: Eric C. Huffman

Inventor： Eric C. Huffman

IPC: A47L1/08 ,  A47L11/34 ,  A47L7/00

CPC classification number: A47L11/4016 ,  A47L1/08 ,  A47L11/34 ,  A47L11/4083

Abstract: The invention comprises a cleaning apparatus having interchangeable cleaning solution supply reservoirs, a fluid pump, a vacuum fan, and a removable recovery tank, all cooperatively arranged in a housing of a unique compact design. The cleaning apparatus also includes a hose having separate hand tools which can be adapted for use on appropriate surfaces. Because different cleaning applications require a different cleaning solution to be supplied through the cleaning solution supply reservoir, each interchangeable cleaning solution bottle contains a cleaning solution appropriate for a particular cleaning application. The supply bottles can be quickly and easily changed so that the user may conveniently and efficiently switch between various cleaning applications. This process has the advantage that unused cleaning solution does not need to be disposed of or stored when switching to a cleaning application that requires a different cleaning solution.

Abstract translation: 本发明包括具有可互换的清洁溶液供应储存器的清洁装置，流体泵，真空风扇和可移除的回收罐，所有这些都协同地布置在独特的紧凑设计的外壳中。 清洁装置还包括具有单独的手动工具的软管，其可以适于在适当的表面上使用。 由于不同的清洁应用需要通过清洁溶液供应储存器供应不同的清洁溶液，每个可互换的清洁溶液瓶包含适合于特定清洁应用的清洁溶液。 供应瓶可以快速和容易地改变，以便用户可以方便和有效地在各种清洁应用之间切换。 该方法的优点在于，当切换到需要不同清洁溶液的清洁应用时，不需要处理或存储未使用的清洁溶液。