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Extraction cleanerRelated Patent Categories: Brushing, Scrubbing, And General Cleaning, Machines, With Air Blast Or Suction, With Liquid Or Other Cleaning Material Application To Work, Manipulatable Nozzle With Flexible Conduit Connection To Portable Power And/or Material Supply Unit, E.g., Window WasherExtraction cleaner description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060272120, Extraction cleaner. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to extraction cleaning devices for floor, upholstery and fabric care. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Many types of cleaning devices are available for commercial and consumer cleaning needs. While conventional vacuums are popular for general floor cleaning, various types of extraction cleaners have been developed to provide deeper or more problem-specific cleaning operations. Extraction cleaners generally use a liquid or dry composition depositing system in conjunction with a vacuum source to deposit a cleaning substance on the surface being treated, then recover the deposited cleaning substance and any entrained dirt or debris back into the extractor. Extractors can also be used or adapted to deposit other types of compound on the surface, such as sealers and protectants. Like vacuums, extractors are provided in many different forms, such as upright, portable, canister, and handheld. [0003] Typical wet extractors use a fluid dispensing system having a fluid reservoir to store a detergent mixture, a pump to pressurize the mixture, and a fluid conduit to convey the pressurized fluid mixture to the surface to be cleaned. Many variations on this design have been produced. For example, some wet extractors store concentrated detergent and water in two separate reservoirs, and mix the two at some point in the process of conveying it to the surface to be cleaned. It is also known in upright extractors to supply the cleaning fluid by gravity. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,082,376, 4,458,377, 6,125,498, 6,378,162, 4,809,396, 6,167,586, and 5,615,448, which are incorporated by reference herein, show these and various other wet extractor configurations and features. [0004] The cleaning fluid, along with any entrained dirt or debris, is recovered by applying a vacuum to the surface. The vacuum is generated by a vacuum pump, such as a conventional fan and motor assembly, that creates a working airflow within the extractor that extends from the inlet nozzle (typically a narrow slit) to a recovery tank. The recovery tank is usually positioned, in a fluid sense, between the inlet nozzle and the vacuum source to prevent fluid and dirt from contaminating the vacuum fan or motor, but it is also known to locate the recovery tank fluidly downstream of the vacuum source. Typical recovery tanks comprise a removable chamber having a float and valve arrangement that closes the path to the vacuum source when the tank reaches a predetermined fill level to prevent fluid from entering the suction source. [0005] Wet extractors are often operated in a two-step process. In the first step, the cleaning step, the cleaning fluid is deposited on the surface being cleaned, then recovered along with any entrained dirt and debris. In the second step, the rinsing step, the cleaning fluid is replaced with clean water, which is deposited on and recovered from the surface to rinse away any remnants of the cleaning fluid. While known extractors have proved useful for cleaning carpets, upholstery and other fabrics and textiles, this second rinsing step has been found to be inconvenient and time consuming because remnants of the cleaning fluid often remain in the fluid conduit between the fluid reservoir (or reservoirs) and the conduit outlet. As such, operators typically must flush the fluid that remains in the fluid conduit before beginning the clean water rinse cycle, and may also need to remove the pre-mixed cleaning solution from the reservoir and replace it with clean water for rinsing. Such flushing may be inconvenient, and may waste cleaning solution. Similar problems may arise when using dry chemical extraction devices. [0006] In view of these and other problems with the known extraction cleaning devices, there remains a need to provide an improved extraction cleaning device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank and a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet. The cleaning head is connected to the distal end of the hose assembly, and has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system has a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a fluid mixer adapted to mix the first fluid with the second fluid, and a first fluid sprayer located downstream from the fluid mixer. The second supply tank is selectively removable from the cleaning head and has a dry-break valve that automatically seals the second supply tank upon removal of the second supply tank from the cleaning head. [0008] In another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank and a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet. The cleaning head is connected to the distal end of the hose assembly, and has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system has a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a tank receptacle, a fluid mixer adapted to mix the first fluid with the second fluid, and a first fluid sprayer, located downstream from the fluid mixer. The second supply tank is selectively removable from the cleaning head, and the tank receptacle is adapted to receive substantially the entire second supply tank. The tank receptacle has an open portion through which at least a portion of the second supply tank is visible. [0009] In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end that is freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank, a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet, and a hose cuff located at the distal end. The cleaning head has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system includes a flow valve adapted to block the flow of the first fluid in an off position, and allow the flow of the first fluid in at least one operating position, a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a fluid mixer adapted to mix the first fluid with the second fluid, and a first fluid sprayer, located downstream from the fluid mixer. The cleaning head is selectively connectable to the hose cuff such that the cleaning head can be simultaneously connected to the vacuum hose and the fluid hose. [0010] In still another aspect, the invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head comprising. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank and a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet. The cleaning head is connected to the distal end of the hose assembly, and has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose, a handle, and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system includes a flow valve adapted to block the flow of the first fluid in an off position, and allow the flow of the first fluid in at least one operating position, a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a fluid mixer adapted to mix the first fluid with the second fluid, a first fluid sprayer, located downstream from the fluid mixer, and a diverter valve adapted to create a rinse flow path from the fluid hose to a second fluid sprayer, such that the rinse flow path bypasses the fluid mixer. The flow valve and the diverter valve are positioned proximal to the handle such that a user can grip the handle in one hand and operate the flow valve and the diverter valve with the one hand without releasing the handle. [0011] In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank and a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet. The cleaning head is connected to the distal end of the hose assembly, and has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system has a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a third supply tank connected to the second supply tank and adapted to contain a third fluid, a fluid mixer adapted to selectively mix the first fluid with the second fluid in a first mixer position, and with the third fluid in a second mixer position, and a first fluid sprayer located downstream from the fluid mixer. [0012] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a fluid supply hose connected to the pump outlet, and a bypass valve fluidly positioned between the pump inlet and the fluid supply hose. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The cleaning device also has a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid supply hose. The fluid deposition system has a flow valve adapted to block the flow of the first fluid in an off position, and allow the flow of the first fluid in at least one operating position, and a first fluid sprayer located downstream from the flow valve. The bypass valve is adapted to open when the flow valve is in the off position. [0013] In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing with an air inlet, an air outlet and a motor cooling path therebetween. A first supply tank is selectively removable from the housing and is adapted to contain a first fluid. A recovery tank is also provided and is selectively removable from the housing. A vacuum fan is located within the housing, and a fan motor is located within the motor cooling path and adapted to drive the vacuum fan to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank. A motor cooling fan is located within the motor cooling path and adapted to generate a cooling air flow along the motor cooling path that enters the housing through the air inlet, is heated by the fan motor, and exits the housing through the air outlet. The device also includes a fluid deposition system that is fluidly connected to the first supply tank, and adapted to deposit the first fluid on a surface to be cleaned. The first supply tank is located adjacent at least a portion of the motor cooling path between the fan motor and the air outlet, and the first fluid is adapted to be heated by the cooling air flow. [0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a supply tank selectively removable from the housing and adapted to contain a fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor has a first element attached to the supply tank, a second element attached to the housing, and a display positioned to indicate the thermal condition of the fluid to an operator. [0015] In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a supply tank selectively removable from the housing and adapted to contain a fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a temperature sensor attached to the supply tank and adapted to indicate the thermal condition of the fluid to an operator. [0016] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a fluid supply system, a fluid recovery system, and one or more ultraviolet lights adapted to irradiate the fluid supply system and/or the fluid recovery system. The fluid supply system has a first supply tank for containing a fluid, and a fluid deposition system, associated with the first supply tank and adapted to deposit the fluid on a surface to be cleaned. The fluid recovery system has a recovery tank, an inlet nozzle, and a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow from the inlet nozzle to the recovery tank. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of an embodiment of an extractor of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of the extractor of FIG. 1. [0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the extractor base assembly of FIG. 1. [0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the main supply tank of FIG. 1. Continue reading about Extraction cleaner... Full patent description for Extraction cleaner Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Extraction cleaner patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Extraction cleaner or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Windscreen wiper device Next Patent Application: Rotating brush attachment for use with a vacuum Industry Class: Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Extraction cleaner patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.1765 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
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