Surface cleaning apparatus and tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11147426-B2
Application number	US-202017122690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2020
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned. The surface cleaning apparatus can dock within a storage tray and charge a power supply. Electrical contacts on the surface cleaning apparatus and the storage tray can be shielded when the surface cleaning apparatus is not docked within the storage tray. Furthermore, the storage tray can include a reservoir for a self-cleaning mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
an upright body comprising a handle and a frame, the frame comprising a main support section supporting a selectively removable supply tank and a selectively removable recovery tank, the handle defining an upper distal end;
a base operably coupled with a lower end of the upright body, a suction nozzle provided with the base at a forward portion;
a recovery system comprising the suction nozzle, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream, and the selectively removable recovery tank;
a fluid delivery system comprising the selectively removable supply tank and a fluid distributor provided on the base;
an agitator selectively receivable within the base;
a first wiper configured to interface with a portion of the agitator;
a second wiper mounted to the base behind the agitator and adapted to at least selectively contact a surface as the base moves across the surface to be cleaned in an operational position; and
a rechargeable battery provided at a rearward portion of the upright body, the rechargeable battery configured to selectively supply power to the suction source.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upright body further comprises a battery housing provided on a rear side of the frame and the rechargeable battery is provided within the battery housing.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the battery housing is integral with the frame.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the rechargeable battery is selectively removable from the battery housing.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a cover disposed on top of the rechargeable battery and adapted to provide protection thereof.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the rechargeable battery is rechargeable when located within the battery housing.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selectively removable recovery tank is located on a forward side of the main support section.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the rechargeable battery is located rearwardly of the selectively removable recovery tank.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upright body is pivotally coupled to the base.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base further comprises a base housing and a removable nozzle assembly selectively coupled to the base housing, the removable nozzle assembly defining the forward portion and the removable nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle housing at least partially defining a brush chamber.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a nozzle latch releasably securing the removable nozzle assembly to the base housing, wherein the nozzle latch is selectively received in a latch receiver on the base housing and biased to a latched position.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the agitator is a brushroll selectively receivable within the brush chamber, the brushroll rotatable therein about a brushroll axis.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a brushroll motor provided in the base and operably coupled to the brushroll and electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery, the brushroll motor adapted to provide a driving force to rotate the brushroll about the brushroll axis.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises a pump fluidly coupling the selectively removeable supply tank and the fluid distributor and the pump is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction nozzle is in fluid communication with the selectively removable recovery tank through a conduit and the conduit is flexible to accommodate movement of the upright body in relation to the base.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selectively removable recovery tank comprises:
a container forming a collection chamber for the recovery system, the container defining an open top;
a tank inlet formed at a lower end of the container;
a hollow standpipe extending upwardly from the tank inlet and comprising a pipe outlet at an upper end thereof; and
a lid assembly sized for receipt on the container and at least partially enclosing the open top, the lid assembly including an air outlet and supporting a filter at the air outlet.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a latch assembly provided on a forward side of the lid assembly, the latch assembly including a latch body biased via a spring toward a latched position wherein a protrusion of the latch body is received in a recess of the upright body.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a handle pipe having a lower end received in main support section and a hand grip including at least one input control adapted to control a supply of power to one or more electrical components and a fluid dispenser actuator located on the hand grip and operably coupled to the fluid delivery system to control a dispensing of fluid.

19. A cleaning system, comprising:
a surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 ; and
a cleaning tray, comprising a tray body configured to at least partially underlie at least a portion of the housing.

20. The cleaning system of claim 19 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises charging contacts electrically coupled with the rechargeable battery and the cleaning tray further comprises a charging unit operably coupled to the cleaning tray and electrically couplable to a power source configured to operably couple and charge the rechargeable battery of the surface cleaning apparatus, the charging unit comprising at least one tray charging contact located on a portion of the tray body and a moveable tray cover operably coupled to the tray body and configured to move between a covered position wherein the at least one tray charging contact is covered and an opened position wherein the at least one tray charging contact is accessible.

21. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
an upright body comprising a handle and a frame, the frame comprising a main support section supporting a selectively removable supply tank and a selectively removable recovery tank, the handle defining an upper distal end;
a base operably coupled with a lower end of the upright body, wherein the upright body is pivotally coupled to the base, a suction nozzle provided with the base at a forward portion;
a recovery system comprising the suction nozzle, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream, and the selectively removable recovery tank, wherein the suction nozzle is in fluid communication with the selectively removable recovery tank through a conduit and the conduit is flexible to accommodate pivotal movement of the upright body in relation to the base;
a fluid delivery system comprising the selectively removable supply tank and a fluid distributor provided on the base;
an agitator selectively receivable within the base; a first wiper configured to interface with a portion of the agitator;
a second wiper mounted to the base behind the agitator and adapted to at least selectively contact a surface as the base moves across the surface to be cleaned in an operational position;

Assignees

• Bissell Inc

Inventors

• Nguyen Tom Minh
• Boles Jacob S
• Resch Jacob
• Wong Ying Chun
• Tang Jian Hua
• Wang Yunfu

Classifications

• A47L11/305

  the tools being disc brushes · CPC title

• A47L11/22

  Floor-sweeping machines, hand-driven · CPC title

• A47L9/2884

  Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation · CPC title

• A47L11/185

  with supply of cleaning agents · CPC title

• A47L2201/022

  Recharging of batteries · CPC title