Surface cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11910971-B2
Application number	US-202218259793-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2022
Priority date	Jan 7, 2021
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A surface cleaner configured to distribute a liquid to a surface to be cleaned. The surface cleaner includes a supply tank, a fluid distributor, a suction inlet aperture, a recovery tank and a tool removably connectable to the surface cleaner and configured to direct fluid from the fluid distributor into the suction inlet aperture to rinse the suction inlet aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surface cleaner comprising:
a supply tank configured to store a fluid;
a fluid distributor in fluid communication with the supply tank;
an actuator to selectively dispense the fluid from the supply tank through the fluid distributor;
a duct having sidewalls forming a suction inlet aperture;
a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet aperture;
a recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction inlet aperture and the suction source, the recovery tank configured to receive recovered fluid and debris drawn through the suction inlet aperture;
a tool selectively connectable to the surface cleaner configured to direct the fluid dispensed from the supply tank to the duct for rinsing the duct, the tool having a housing forming a passageway, the passageway having
a passageway inlet configured to receive a portion of the fluid distributor; and
a passageway outlet;
wherein the passageway outlet is positionable within the suction inlet aperture when the passageway inlet receives a portion of the fluid distributor; and
wherein the passageway outlet of the tool is spaced from the duct sidewall inside the suction inlet aperture enabling airflow into the suction inlet aperture between the passageway outlet and the duct sidewall sufficient to draw dispensed fluid from the passageway into the duct when the actuator selectively dispenses fluid from the fluid dispenser into the passageway inlet.

2. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the fluid distributor is disposed adjacent the suction inlet aperture.

3. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the duct is disposed at an end of a hose.

4. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the suction inlet aperture is formed at the end of the duct, the sidewalls of the duct forming a perimeter of the suction inlet aperture.

5. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a hose, wherein the hose includes the duct, and wherein the suction inlet aperture is formed by an end of the hose.

6. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the passageway outlet of the tool is spaced from the duct sidewall around at least 40% of a perimeter of the suction inlet aperture.

7. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the passageway outlet of the tool is spaced from the duct sidewall around substantially all of a perimeter of the suction inlet aperture.

8. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the passageway outlet of the tool is spaced from the duct sidewall by a gap, wherein the gap provides an area between 3% and 10% of a cross-sectional area of the suction duct.

9. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the tool is movable between an attached position where the passageway inlet is over the fluid distributor and the passageway outlet is within the suction inlet aperture and a removed position where the tool is spaced from the fluid distributor and the suction inlet aperture.

10. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , where the surface cleaner includes a main body, the main body having a recessed portion, wherein the tool is storable in the recessed portion when the tool is in the removed position.

11. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , where the recovery tank includes a recessed portion, wherein the tool is storable in the recessed portion when the tool is in the removed position.

12. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the passageway inlet further includes a sealing portion to sealingly engage the fluid distributor in the attached position.

13. The surface cleaner of claim 1 , wherein one of the tool passageway inlet and the fluid distributor further includes a sealing portion to sealingly engage the other of the tool passageway inlet and the fluid distributor in the attached position.

14. A surface cleaner comprising:
a suction source;
a suction duct having a suction inlet aperture in fluid communication with the suction source;
a supply tank configured to store a fluid;
a fluid distributor disposed adjacent the suction inlet aperture in fluid communication with the supply tank;
an actuator to selectively dispense the fluid from the supply tank through the fluid distributor;
a recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction inlet aperture and the suction source, the recovery tank configured to receive recovered fluid and debris drawn through the suction airflow from the suction inlet aperture;
a tool selectively connectable to the fluid distributor, the tool configured to direct the fluid dispensed from the supply tank to the suction duct to rinse the suction duct, the tool including a housing with
a fluid inlet configured to receive a portion of the fluid distributor; and
a fluid outlet configured to direct fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the suction inlet aperture, wherein the fluid outlet is positioned adjacent the suction inlet aperture and the tool covers less than 50% of the suction inlet.

15. The surface cleaner of claim 14 , wherein the tool is movable between an attached position in which the tool is positioned over the fluid distributor and a removed position in which the tool is spaced from the fluid distributor.

16. The surface cleaner of claim 14 , wherein the tool is connectable to the fluid distributor by a friction fit engagement between the fluid distributor and the fluid inlet sufficient to retain the tool onto the fluid distributor.

17. The surface cleaner of claim 14 , wherein the outlet of the tool is spaced from the suction inlet aperture.

Assignees

• Techtronic Floor Care Tech Ltd

Inventors

• Hoffman Eric
• Davila Rafael
• Dawson Michael
• Galleno Daniel

Classifications

• A47L11/201 Primary

  with supply of cleaning agents · CPC title

• A47L11/4016

  specially adapted for collecting fluids · CPC title

• A47L11/4083

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

• A47L11/4088

  Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits · CPC title

• A47L11/4075

  Handles; levers · CPC title