CN117320606A

CN117320606A - Surface cleaner

Info

Publication number: CN117320606A
Application number: CN202280035635.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·洛斯特-克洛斯; R·达维拉; J·汉森; D·加莱诺; A·费里尼奥; J·克雷格
Original assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-08
Filing date: 2022-04-08
Publication date: 2023-12-29
Also published as: AU2022255721A1; WO2022217044A1; EP4319611A1; US20220322896A1

Abstract

A wet surface cleaner operable in an upright cleaning mode, an auxiliary cleaning mode, and a lift-off cleaning mode is disclosed. The surface cleaner has a canister assembly coupled to the body in an upright cleaning mode and removed from the body in an auxiliary cleaning mode and a lift-off cleaning mode.

Description

Surface cleaner

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/172,347, filed 4/8 of 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Background

The present invention relates to surface cleaners, and more particularly to a wet surface cleaner having more than one cleaning mode.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, a surface cleaner is disclosed that includes a body; a base pivotally coupled to the body and configured to move over the cleaning surface; a suction nozzle; a handle; and a canister assembly coupled to the body. The body has a lower portion and an upper portion opposite the lower portion, the upper portion including a handle. The base is coupled to the lower portion of the body. The suction nozzle is positioned on the base adjacent to the cleaning surface. The canister assembly is removably coupled to the body. The tank assembly includes a housing, a supply tank, and a recovery tank. The surface cleaner further includes a hose having a first end coupled to the tank assembly fluidly connected to the recovery tank and a second end coupled to the base fluidly connected to the suction nozzle. A suction source is in fluid communication with the recovery tank and is operable to draw fluid and debris into the recovery tank through the hose. When the canister assembly is coupled to the body, the surface cleaner may operate in an upright cleaning mode. The surface cleaner is operable in an auxiliary cleaning mode when the canister assembly is uncoupled from the body. In the upright cleaning mode and the auxiliary cleaning mode, the suction nozzle is movable over the cleaning surface by a user gripping the handle such that in operation debris and fluid is drawn through the suction nozzle, through the hose, and into the recovery tank.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a surface cleaner according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the surface cleaner of FIG. 1, shown with the canister assembly in a removed position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surface cleaner of FIG. 1, shown with the canister assembly in a removed position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the body and base of the surface cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 5a is a side view of a canister assembly of the surface cleaner shown in fig. 1, according to one embodiment.

Fig. 5b is a side view of a canister assembly of the surface cleaner shown in fig. 1 in accordance with an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a surface cleaner according to one embodiment, shown with the canister assembly in a removed position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the surface cleaner of FIG. 7, shown with the canister assembly in a removed position.

Fig. 9 is a front view of a canister assembly and base of a surface cleaner according to one embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a surface cleaner according to an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the canister assembly of the surface cleaner of fig. 8, with the canister assembly in a removed position.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates to a surface cleaner, and in particular, to a surface cleaner configured to recover and/or dispense cleaning liquid, the surface cleaner having a plurality of different cleaning positions or modes. The surface cleaner includes an upright cleaning mode, an auxiliary cleaning mode, and a lift-off cleaning mode. It is beneficial for the user that one machine can be used for a variety of purposes. The surface cleaner includes a tank assembly removably coupled to the body, the tank assembly having a housing, a recovery tank, and a supply tank. When the canister assembly is coupled to the body, the surface cleaner operates in an upright cleaning mode. When the canister assembly is removed from the body, the surface cleaner operates in an auxiliary cleaning mode.

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a surface cleaner 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The surface cleaner 10 is a liquid-carrying surface cleaner such as an aspirator, hard floor cleaner, or the like. The surface cleaner 10 has a body 12 and a base 20 that supports the surface cleaner 10 on a cleaning surface. The body 12 includes a lower portion 14 and an upper portion 16 opposite the lower portion 14. The base 20 is pivotally coupled to the lower portion 14 and is configured to move over a cleaning surface. The upper portion 16 includes a handle 22 opposite the base 20. The base 20 is movable over the cleaning surface by a user gripping the handle 22 in an upright cleaning mode and in an auxiliary cleaning mode.

The surface cleaner 10 includes a canister assembly 28 that is removably coupled to the body 12. Tank assembly 28 includes a housing 30, a suction source or motor 32, a supply tank 34, and a recovery tank 36. The canister assembly 28 is movable between a coupled position as shown in fig. 1 and 10 and an uncoupled position as shown in fig. 2,3, 7, 8, and 11. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1-3 and 7-11, the handle 48 is positioned on the housing 30. Handle 48 provides a user gripable portion to move canister assembly 28 between the coupled and removed positions.

As shown in fig. 5a and 5b, the motor 32, supply tank 34, and recovery tank 36 of the tank assembly 28 may have different internal layouts. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the supply tank 34 and the recovery tank 36 are oriented side-by-side. Side-by-side includes an orientation in which the supply and recovery tanks 34, 36 are adjacent and in contact, and an orientation in which the supply and recovery tanks 34, 36 are separated by a frame portion 72, such as the housing 30 illustrated in fig. 1. In one embodiment, the top end of the supply tank and the top end of the recovery tank are substantially at the same level. In the side-by-side embodiment shown in fig. 1, the motor 32 is located at a height below the supply 34 and recovery 36 tanks. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 5a and 5b, the supply tank 34 is positioned above the recovery tank 36. In the embodiment shown in fig. 5a, when the tank assembly 28 is coupled to the body 12 and the upper portion 16 of the body is positioned above the lower portion 14, the motor 32 is positioned at a height above the recovery tank 36 and adjacent to the supply tank 34. In the embodiment shown in fig. 5b, when the tank assembly 28 is coupled to the body 12 and the upper portion 16 of the body is positioned above the lower portion 14, the motor 32 is positioned at a height below both the recovery tank 36 and the supply tank 34. Based on the cleaning requirements of the surface cleaners, the different orientations help optimize factors such as tank size, weight distribution, and user experience.

The surface cleaner 10 includes a suction nozzle 24 positioned on the base 20. The suction nozzle 24 is in fluid communication with the suction motor 32 and the recovery tank 36. The suction motor 32 generates a working air flow along an air path extending from the suction inlet 52 to the discharge outlet 58 on the suction nozzle 24, operable to draw debris and fluid from the cleaning surface through the suction inlet 52. The working air flow extends through hose 40 and into recovery tank 36. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1, 2, 7, and 10, the hose 40 is coupled directly to the base 20 and in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 24, allowing the suction motor 32 to draw fluid and debris from the suction nozzle 24 through the hose 40 into the recovery tank 36. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 3, hose 40 is configured to be uncoupled from base 20.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, surface cleaner 10 includes a fluid dispenser 50 positioned on base 20. As illustrated in fig. 2, the fluid dispenser 50 is in fluid communication with the supply tank 34 via a fluid line 54, and the fluid dispenser 50 is configured to provide cleaning fluid to a cleaning surface. A fluid line 54 extends along hose 40. Fluid flows from the supply tank 34 through the fluid line 54 and out of the fluid dispenser 50 to the cleaning surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid dispenser 50 delivers fluid in front of the suction nozzle 24. In one embodiment, a fluid dispenser is provided to deliver fluid to the rear of the suction nozzle 24, underneath the base 20.

The surface cleaner 10 includes a hose 40 having a first end 42 coupled to the recovery tank 36 and a second end 44 for drawing debris and fluid from the cleaning surface to the recovery tank 36. As illustrated in fig. 1 and 10, the surface cleaner 10 can operate in an upright cleaning mode when the canister assembly 28 is coupled to the body 12 and the second end 44 of the hose is coupled directly to the base 20 in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 24. As illustrated in fig. 2, when the canister assembly 28 is removed from the body 12 and the second end 44 of the hose is directly coupled to the base 20, the surface cleaner 10 may operate in an auxiliary cleaning mode. In both the upright cleaning mode and the auxiliary cleaning mode, debris and fluid are vacuum drawn into the suction nozzle 24, through the hose 40, and into the recovery tank 36. The recovery tank 36 is configured to hold debris and/or fluid collected from the cleaning surface.

The upright cleaning mode enables a user to use the surface cleaner 10 in a familiar manner, similar to a conventional upright hard floor cleaner or upright extractor. Canister assembly 28 is coupled to body 12 and base 20 is moved over a surface by handle 22. The auxiliary cleaning mode illustrated in fig. 2 provides a different cleaning experience than in the upright cleaning mode. In the auxiliary cleaning mode, the canister assembly 28 is removed and the second end 44 of the hose remains coupled to the base 20. This allows the user to use the handle 22 to guide the base 20 along the cleaning surface in the same manner as in the upright cleaning mode. However, as the canister assembly 28 is removed, the body 12 has a lower profile and a lighter weight. This lower profile operation is similar to a conventional canister cleaner, allowing the surface cleaner 10 to reach difficult to reach areas such as a sofa or under a coffee table.

As illustrated in fig. 3, 8 and 11, the surface cleaner 10 can operate in a lift-off cleaning mode when the tank assembly 28 is removed from the body 12 and the hose 40 is uncoupled from the base 20. In one embodiment, the suction nozzle 24 is configured to be removed from the base 20 and the second end 44 of the hose is directly coupled to the suction nozzle 24. The lift-off cleaning mode allows a user to operate the surface cleaner 10 for localized cleaning or above-the-floor cleaning.

The surface cleaner 10 can include an accessory cleaning tool 70 that can be connected to the second end 44 of the hose 40 in a lift-off cleaning mode. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 6, the cleaning tool 70 includes a fluid dispenser 50'. The fluid dispenser 50' is in fluid communication with the supply tank 34 via a fluid line 54', and the fluid dispenser 50' is configured to provide cleaning fluid to the cleaning surface. A fluid line 54' extends along hose 40. Fluid flows from the supply tank 34 through the fluid line 54', to the cleaning tool 70 and out of the fluid dispenser 50', to the cleaning surface. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the cleaning tool 70 includes an actuator 56 in fluid communication with the supply tank 34, the fluid line 54', and the fluid dispenser 50'. The fluid dispenser 50' is activated by an actuator 56, such as a user-graspable trigger. The cleaning tool 70 can be connected to the second end 44 of the hose to fluidly connect the cleaning tool suction nozzles 52', 52″ to the hose 40 and to fluidly connect the cleaning tool fluid dispenser 50' to the fluid line 54'. In one embodiment, the hose 40 is configured to be uncoupled from the base 20 while the canister assembly 28 is coupled to the body 12, and the second end 44 of the hose 40 is connectable to the cleaning tool 70 for above-the-floor cleaning.

One advantage of the direct connection of the hose 40 to the base 20 or cleaning tool 70 is that the hose 40 creates a shorter and more direct air path to retrieve debris and fluid from the cleaning surface. Second, it allows for different configurations of the body 12, which allows for a more compact and space-saving surface cleaner 10.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the body 12 is collapsible such that the lower portion 14 and the upper portion 16 are adjacent in a collapsed position. This may be accomplished by telescoping the upper portion 16 and lower portion 14 of the body 12 together. The construction of the telescopic body is simplified, since the air flow in the body 12 is not taken into account. In one embodiment, not shown, the body 12 is collapsible by folding such that the upper portion 16 and the handle 22 fold adjacent to the lower portion 14 at a junction. The contractibility of the body 12 reduces the storage size of the surface cleaner 10.

The surface cleaner 10 can also include an agitator 26 operatively positioned to engage the cleaning surface. In one embodiment, the agitator 26 is driven by an agitator motor 64. The agitator 26 is configured to agitate the cleaning surface in both the upright cleaning mode and the auxiliary cleaning mode. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the agitator 26 is operatively positioned in the base 20. In this embodiment, the agitator 26 is operable in an upright cleaning mode and an auxiliary cleaning mode. In the lift-off cleaning mode, the cleaning tool 70 of fig. 6 includes suction to draw debris and fluid through the suction nozzle 52, but does not include a rotatable agitation feature. In one embodiment, the cleaning tool 70 includes bristles to enable manual agitation of the surface.

In the embodiment of fig. 1-4, the surface cleaner 10 is powered by household electricity connected to the tank assembly 28 by a power cord 65. An Alternating Current (AC) is supplied to the suction motor 32 via a power cord 65 to power the suction motor 32 and controls of the surface cleaner 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the power cord 65 provides power to the suction motor 32 when the canister assembly 28 is coupled to (fig. 1) and decoupled from the body 12 (fig. 2). The power cord runs along or within the hose 40 to supply power from the tank assembly 28 to the agitator motor 64 via the power cord 65.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in fig. 7 and 8, the base 20 'includes a battery 62 that provides power to the agitator motor 64 when the tank assembly 28 is uncoupled from the body 12' (fig. 7). The battery 62 is rechargeable. Body 12' includes electrical contacts 67 and canister assembly 28 includes corresponding electrical contacts that mate with electrical contacts 67 of body 12' when canister assembly 28 is coupled to body 12 '. When canister assembly 28 is coupled to body 12', power is supplied to canister assembly 28 from power cord 65 and to battery 62 via contacts 67 to charge the battery. Likewise, when the tank assembly 28 is coupled to the body 12', power is supplied from the power cord 65 to the tank assembly 28 and to the agitator motor 64 via the contacts 67 to power the agitator motor 64. In one embodiment, the agitator motor 64 is a Direct Current (DC) motor and the surface cleaner 10' includes an AC to DC converter. In another embodiment, the agitator motor 64 is powered by the battery 62 when the tank assembly 28 is uncoupled from and coupled to the body 12'. In such an embodiment, when the canister assembly 28 is coupled to the body 12', the battery 62 is charged.

In the embodiment of fig. 7 and 8 including the battery 62, powering the agitator motor 64 with the battery 62 (as described above) allows for the omission of a power cord running along or within the hose 40. Omitting the power cord from hose 40 provides a more flexible hose and makes manufacture less expensive.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 9, the surface cleaner 10 "includes a first or primary battery 60, and the battery 62 of the base 20 is a secondary battery. The first battery 60 supplies power to the suction motor 32 and the secondary battery 62 supplies power to the agitator motor 64. When the canister assembly 28 is attached to the body 12', the contacts on the canister assembly 28 connect to the contacts 67 on the body 12' to deliver power to the agitator motor 64 and charge the secondary battery 62. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 9, the surface cleaner 10 "includes a main battery 60 coupled to the tank assembly 28 to operate the suction motor 32, rather than operating on household electricity.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 10, the surface cleaner 10 includes a suction nozzle 24 "positioned on the base 20 in front of the agitator 26". The suction nozzle 24 "includes a suction inlet 52" in fluid communication with the suction motor 32 to vacuum the debris and fluid. In this arrangement, the surface cleaner 10 is configured to operate in either an upright cleaning mode or an auxiliary cleaning mode. In the embodiment shown in fig. 11, in the lift-off cleaning mode, the cleaning tool 70' may be connected to the second end 44 of the hose 40. The cleaning tool 70 'includes a suction inlet 52' "to vacuum suction debris and liquid from the surface. The cleaning tool 70 'further includes an agitator 26' "to agitate the surface in the lift-off cleaning mode.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A surface cleaner, comprising:

a body having a lower portion and an upper portion opposite the lower portion, the upper portion including a handle;

a base pivotably coupled to a lower portion of the body and configured to move over a cleaning surface;

a suction nozzle positioned on the base adjacent to the cleaning surface;

a canister assembly removably coupled to the body, the canister assembly including a housing, a supply tank, and a recovery tank;

a hose having a first end coupled to the tank assembly and fluidly connected to the recovery tank and a second end coupled to the base and fluidly connected to the suction nozzle; and

a suction source in fluid communication with the recovery tank, the suction source operable to draw fluid and debris into the recovery tank through the hose;

wherein the surface cleaner is operable in an upright cleaning mode when the canister assembly is coupled to the body and in an auxiliary cleaning mode when the canister assembly is uncoupled from the body; and is also provided with

Wherein in the upright cleaning mode and the auxiliary cleaning mode, the suction nozzle is movable over the cleaning surface by a user gripping the handle such that in operation debris and fluid is drawn through the suction nozzle, through the hose, and into the recovery tank.

2. The surface cleaner of claim 1, wherein the second end of the hose is configured to be uncoupled from the base, and wherein the surface cleaner is operable in a lift-off cleaning mode when the canister assembly is uncoupled from the body and the second end of the hose is uncoupled from the base.

3. The surface cleaner of claim 1 or 2, wherein the body is collapsible to a collapsed position such that the lower portion and the upper portion are adjacent in the collapsed position.

4. The surface cleaner of claim 3 wherein the upper portion and the lower portion telescope together.

5. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply tank is fluidly connected to a fluid line extending along the hose to a fluid dispenser positioned on the base, the fluid dispenser configured to dispense fluid to the cleaning surface.

6. The surface cleaner of claim 5, wherein the surface cleaner includes an actuator in fluid communication with the fluid line to selectively dispense fluid from the supply tank through the fluid dispenser.

7. The surface cleaner as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing includes a handle.

8. The surface cleaner as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second end of the hose is configured to be uncoupled from the base, and wherein the suction nozzle is removable from the base and connectable to the second end of the hose.

9. The surface cleaner of claim 8, wherein the suction nozzle is coupled to the base in the upright cleaning mode and the auxiliary cleaning mode, and the suction nozzle is removed from the base and connected to the second end of the hose in the lift-off cleaning mode.

10. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims 5 to 9, wherein the second end of the hose and the fluid line are configured to be decoupled from the base, and wherein the surface cleaner further comprises a cleaning tool having a cleaning tool suction nozzle and a cleaning tool fluid dispenser, wherein the cleaning tool is connectable to the second end of the hose, thereby fluidly connecting the cleaning tool suction nozzle to the hose and the cleaning tool fluid dispenser to the fluid line.

11. The surface cleaner as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply tank and the recovery tank are oriented side-by-side.

12. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor is positioned at a height below the supply tank when the tank assembly is coupled to the body and an upper portion of the body is positioned above the lower portion.

13. The surface cleaner of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the supply tank is positioned at a height above the recovery tank when the tank assembly is coupled to the body and an upper portion of the body is positioned above the lower portion.

14. The surface cleaner of claim 13, wherein the motor is positioned at a height below the supply tank.

15. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor is positioned at a height above the recovery tank when the tank assembly is coupled to the body and an upper portion of the body is positioned above the lower portion.

16. The surface cleaner of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the motor is positioned at a height below the recovery tank when the tank assembly is coupled to the body and an upper portion of the body is positioned above the lower portion.

17. The surface cleaner as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction source is operable to generate a working air flow along an air path extending from the suction inlet to the discharge outlet, wherein the air path is external to the upper portion of the body.

18. The surface cleaner of claim 17 wherein the air path is external to the lower portion of the body.

19. The surface cleaner as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hose is flexible.

20. The surface cleaner as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes an agitator driven by an agitator motor.

21. The surface cleaner of claim 20 wherein the agitator motor is powered by a battery positioned on the base.

22. The surface cleaner of claim 20, further comprising a power cord configured to provide ac power to the suction source.