Floor cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10986975-B2
Application number	US-201916712024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2019
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A floor cleaner includes an electrically powered component and a power switch. The power switch includes a button including an actuator surface and a wall that extends away from the actuator surface. The power switch further includes a frame, the button movable relative to the frame to operate the power switch. The frame includes an inner wall that defines a button aperture, the button extending into the button aperture, an outer wall, a fluid outlet, and a fluid collection surface between the inner wall and the outer wall that directs fluid on the fluid collection surface toward the fluid outlet. The wall of the button is received in a gap between the inner wall and the outer wall of the frame so that fluid is directed along the wall of the button to the fluid collection surface and inhibited from passing through the button aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A floor cleaner comprising:
a supply tank configured to store a fluid;
a distribution nozzle in fluid communication with the supply tank, the distribution nozzle configured to spray the fluid onto a surface to be cleaned;
an electrically powered component; and
a power switch operable to control a supply of electrical power to the electrically powered component, the power switch including,
a button including,
an actuator surface pressed by a user to operate the power switch, and
a wall that extends away from the actuator surface,

a frame, the button movable relative to the frame to operate the power switch to control the supply of electrical power, the frame including,
an inner wall that defines an inner button aperture, the button extending into the inner button aperture,
an outer wall,
a fluid outlet, and
a fluid collection surface between the inner wall and the outer wall that directs fluid on the fluid collection surface toward the fluid outlet,

wherein the wall of the button is received in a gap between the inner wall and the outer wall of the frame so that fluid is directed along the wall of the button to the fluid collection surface and inhibited from passing through the inner button aperture.

2. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes a cover, the cover including an outer button aperture, the button located within the outer button aperture, the cover further includes a cover wall that is between the wall of the button and the outer wall of the frame, and wherein fluid is directed between the wall of the button and the cover wall to the fluid collection surface.

3. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is formed by a gap in the outer wall of the frame.

4. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a drain in fluid communication with the fluid outlet, wherein the drain directs fluid from the fluid outlet toward the surface to be cleaned.

5. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the frame extends from the fluid collection surface and the outer wall of the frame extends from the fluid collection surface.

6. The floor cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the inner wall of the frame is parallel to the outer wall of the frame.

7. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the frame includes a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent the fluid collection surface, and wherein the wall of the button includes a first end adjacent the actuator surface and a second end opposite the first end of the wall of the button, and wherein the second end of the wall of the button is between the first end of the inner wall of the frame and the second end of the inner wall of the frame to inhibit fluid from passing through the inner button aperture.

8. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a handle, the handle configured to be grabbed by a user to move the floor cleaner, wherein the power switch is adjacent the handle.

9. The floor cleaner of claim 8 , wherein the floor cleaner includes a body, the body includes a base configured to support the floor cleaner on the surface, wherein the body further includes a top surface opposite the base, and wherein the handle extends from the top surface.

10. The floor cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the actuator surface forms a portion of the top surface of the body.

11. The floor cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the fluid collection surface is sloped toward the fluid outlet when the base is on a horizontal surface.

12. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the power switch includes an electronic switch, wherein the button actuates the electronic switch when the actuator surface is pressed by the user to control the supply of power to the electrically powered component.

13. The floor cleaner of claim 12 , further comprising a circuit board, wherein the electronic switch is coupled to the circuit board.

14. The floor cleaner of claim 12 , wherein the button includes a projection that extends into the inner button aperture to contact the electronic switch.

15. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the electrically powered component includes one or more selected from the group consisting of a suction source, a heating element, a pump, a supply valve, and a control system.

16. The floor cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the floor cleaner further comprises a suction nozzle, a recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, and a suction source in fluid communication with the recovery tank, the suction source operable to draw the cleaning fluid from the surface, through the suction nozzle, and into the recovery tank.

17. A floor cleaner comprising:
a body including an outer surface;
an electrically powered component disposed within the body; and
a power switch positioned on the outer surface operable to control a supply of electrical power to the electrically powered component, the power switch including
a button including
an actuator surface pressable by a user to operate the power switch, and
a perimeter wall that extends away from the actuator surface into the power switch,

a frame, the button movable relative to the frame to operate the power switch to control the supply of electrical power, the frame including
a fluid channel formed by a fluid collection surface below the button and an outer wall extending upwardly from the fluid collection surface, the fluid channel having a fluid outlet,
an inner button aperture through the fluid collection surface and an inner wall extending upwardly from the fluid collection surface around a perimeter of the inner button aperture inhibiting flow of fluid from the fluid channel through the inner button aperture, the inner wall and the inner button aperture forming a bushing through the fluid channel,

wherein the button extends into the bushing, and
wherein the perimeter wall of the button is received in a gap between the inner wall and the outer wall of the frame above the fluid collection surface so that fluid entering the power switch is directed along the perimeter wall of the button to the fluid channel.

18. The floor cleaning machine of claim 17 , wherein the frame further includes a cover, the cover including an outer button aperture, the button located within the outer button aperture, the cover further includes a cover wall extending into the power switch around a perimeter of the outer button aperture between the perimeter wall of the button and the outer wall of the frame, and wherein the fluid entering the power switch is directed between the perimeter wall of the button and the cover wall to the fluid channel.

19. The floor cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the fluid outlet is formed by a gap in the outer wall of the fluid channel frame.

20. The floor cleaner of claim 17 , further comprising a drain in fluid communication with the fluid outlet, wherein the drain directs fluid from the fluid outlet to outside of the body.

21. The floor cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the inner wall includes a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent the fluid collection surface, and wherein the perimeter wall of the button includes a first end adjacent the actuator surface and a second end opposite the first end of the perimeter wall of the button, and wherein the second end of the perimeter wall of the button is between the first end of the inner wall and the second end of the inner wall to inhibit fluid from passing through the inner button aperture.

22. The floo

Assignees

• Tti Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd
• Techtronic Floor Care Tech Ltd

Inventors

• Rukavina Douglas M
• Bode Donovan
• Quintero Juan Aviles

Classifications

• A47L11/4083

  Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices · CPC title

• A47L11/4077

  Skirts or splash guards · CPC title

• A47L11/4008 Primary

  Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like · CPC title

• A47L11/4094

  Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices · CPC title

• A47L11/30

  by suction · CPC title