Surface cleaning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12048402-B2
Application number	US-202318140020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2023
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus includes include at least a recovery system for removing the spent cleaning fluid and debris from the surface to be cleaned and storing the spent cleaning fluid and debris. The recovery system includes a recovery tank having a strainer that is configured to strain large debris and hair out of the recovery tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a suction source;
a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source;
a recovery tank container having a bottom wall and a standpipe extending from the bottom wall, the standpipe forming a flow path between an inlet formed at a lower end of the standpipe and an outlet at an upper end of the standpipe;
a removable lid assembly at least partially enclosing an open top of the recovery tank container and defining an air outlet of the recovery tank container in fluid communication with the suction source;
a filter assembly provided fluidly upstream of the air outlet and wherein the filter assembly is carried by and removable with the removable lid assembly; and
a strainer configured to strain debris and hair out of the recovery tank container, wherein the strainer is removably mounted within the recovery tank container and comprises a portion surrounding the standpipe.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strainer is below the removable lid assembly.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the standpipe is tapered, and wherein the strainer abuts the standpipe between the lower and upper ends of the standpipe.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the standpipe at the lower end of the standpipe is greater than an outer diameter of the standpipe at the upper end of the standpipe.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 , wherein an inner diameter of the strainer abuts an outer diameter of the standpipe between the lower and upper ends of the standpipe.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a collection chamber defined by an interior side of the recovery tank container and an exterior side of the standpipe, wherein the strainer divides the collection chamber into an upper area and a lower area, wherein the lower area is closed to an interior of the standpipe, such that liquid must pass through the strainer to reach the lower area of the collection chamber.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the strainer abuts the standpipe between the lower and upper ends of the standpipe.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the recovery tank container comprises a side wall extending from the bottom wall toward the open top and wherein the strainer is spaced from the bottom wall of the recovery tank container.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is formed in the bottom wall of the recovery tank container.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the standpipe is integrally formed with the recovery tank container and extends upwardly from the inlet formed in the bottom wall of the recovery tank container.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strainer comprises a base with a plurality of drain holes and a handle coupled with the base, wherein the handle is offset from the standpipe.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the base comprises an opening and the standpipe passes through the opening.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strainer comprises a base with a plurality of drain holes, a rim on the base, and a plurality of spacer ribs on an outer surface of the rim, wherein the spacer ribs are in engagement with an inner surface of the recovery tank container and space the base away from the inner surface of the recovery tank container.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a shut-off valve configured to interrupt suction when fluid in the recovery tank container reaches a predetermined level, wherein the strainer comprises a handle disposed on one side of the standpipe and the shut-off valve is disposed on another side of the standpipe.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the handle and shut-off valve are disposed on substantially opposing sides of the standpipe.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the shut-off valve comprises a float assembly carried by the removable lid assembly and removable from the recovery tank container with the removable lid assembly.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strainer comprises a base with a plurality of drain holes, wherein a diameter of the drain holes is 0.5 mm to 6 mm.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strainer comprises a base with a plurality of drain holes, wherein a diameter of the drain holes is 3 mm to 4 mm.

19. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a suction source;
a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source;
a recovery tank container having a bottom wall and a standpipe extending from the bottom wall, the standpipe forming a flow path between an inlet formed at a lower end of the standpipe and an outlet at an upper end of the standpipe, wherein an outer diameter of the standpipe at the lower end of the standpipe is greater than an outer diameter of the standpipe at the upper end of the standpipe;
a removable lid assembly at least partially enclosing an open top of the recovery tank container and defining an air outlet of the recovery tank container in fluid communication with the suction source;
a filter assembly provided fluidly upstream of the air outlet and wherein the filter assembly is carried by and removable with the removable lid assembly; and
a strainer configured to strain debris and hair out of the recovery tank container, wherein the strainer is removably mounted within the recovery tank container and comprises a portion surrounding the standpipe;
wherein an inner diameter of the strainer abuts an outer diameter of the standpipe between the lower and upper ends of the standpipe.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the strainer comprises a base with a plurality of drain holes and a handle coupled with the base, wherein the handle is offset from the standpipe.

Assignees

• Bissell Inc

Inventors

• Luyckx Michael
• Resch Jacob

Classifications

• A47L11/4088

  Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits · CPC title

• A47L11/4083

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

• A47L11/4027

  Filtering or separating contaminants or debris · CPC title

• A47L11/305

  the tools being disc brushes · CPC title

• A47L9/16

  Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action · CPC title