US20240000284A1

US20240000284A1 - Floor cleaning device with attachable floor engaging units

Info

Publication number: US20240000284A1
Application number: US18/215,348
Authority: US
Inventors: William R. Hachtmann; Jeremy N. Wheeler
Original assignee: Better Cleaning Systems Inc
Current assignee: Better Cleaning Systems Inc
Priority date: 2022-06-29
Filing date: 2023-06-28
Publication date: 2024-01-04

Abstract

A vacuum head of a floor cleaning device is configured so as to receive differing floor engaging and cleaning units thereto. The floor engaging and cleaning unit may be securely connected to the vacuum head using a manually actuated locking mechanism.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/356,875, filed on Jun. 29, 2022.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to floor cleaning and restoration devices and systems. More particularly, the present invention is related to a floor cleaning device having detachable floor engaging units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various floor cleaning devices, such as those used in combination with wet vacuum systems, have been in use for decades. There are numerous styles and designs of vacuum floor cleaning devices which are useful for removing liquid and debris from various flooring surfaces, such as carpeted and hard surface floors. While these various vacuum floor cleaning devices have operated with varying degrees of success, they also have shortcomings which have detracted from their usefulness.
At present, cleaning and restoration companies must carry three different floor cleaning devices, often referred to as wands, to accomplish the services they offer. These services include (1) carpet cleaning; (2) extraction of large quantities of water from hard or soft surfaces caused by pipe breakage, natural disasters, or other sources of flooding; and (3) hard surface cleaning. All three of the devices require connection to a vacuum source and two of them require a solution source. However, having to carry three cleaning devices or wands takes up a considerable amount of transportation and storage space in the cleaning company's vans and trucks. Moreover, purchasing, maintaining, and replacing these cleaning wands is very expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,382 discloses a floor cleaning wand. However, an attachment edge of the wand is coupled to a vacuum head with a coupling member which increases the complexity, cost, and weight of the cleaning wand. Moreover, the coupling member is made of metal, such as aluminum, and has the tendency to corrode which makes the removal of the glide difficult when it is necessary to replace a glide that has worn out. This design also requires tools to attach and remove the single purpose glide. However, once again, the fasteners which hold the glide in place can become corroded, making removal of the glide difficult even when the user has the necessary tools.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need for a floor cleaning device which avoids the need for a floor cleaning or restoration crew to carry multiple cleaning devices or wands to various jobsites. There is also a continuing need for a floor cleaning device which enables selective attachment of floor engaging units manually without the need for tools. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a floor cleaning device for use in floor cleaning and restoration services and the like. The floor cleaning device of the present invention avoids the need for cleaning and restoration personnel to carry multiple cleaning devices or wands from jobsite to jobsite to perform their services.
The floor cleaning device generally comprises a vacuum head having a fluid inlet at a first end thereof. A fluid outlet of the vacuum head is at a second end thereof generally opposite the first end. The fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are in fluid communication with one another. The fluid outlet is attachable to or extending from an end of a hollow cleaning wand capable of being coupled to a vacuum source.
An elongated rail extends from the vacuum head. Preferably, the rail is rotationally molded with the vacuum head. The rail may at least partially define the fluid inlet of the vacuum head.
A floor engaging and cleaning unit is detachably connected to the rail. The floor engaging and cleaning unit has a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum head fluid inlet. The floor engaging and cleaning unit may have a portion that mates with the rail of the vacuum head. The floor engaging and cleaning unit may be slidably connected to the rail. For example, the floor engaging and cleaning unit may comprise an open-ended and open-faced channel into which the rail is slidingly received. The channel may include at least one inwardly extending lip. The rail may define at least one elongated slot that receives the at least one lip of the channel therein.
The floor engaging and cleaning unit comprises at least a plurality of a carpet cleaning unit, a water extraction unit and/or a hard surface cleaning unit, whereby different floor engaging units may be selectively detachably connected to the vacuum head. The carpet cleaning unit may comprise an elongated fluid inlet or a series of fluid inlets. The water extraction unit may include a squeegee. The hard surface cleaning unit may include a scrubbing brush.
A locking mechanism securely connects the floor engaging and cleaning unit and the rail of the vacuum head. Preferably, the locking mechanism is manually actuated. The locking mechanism may comprise a plunger mechanism associated with the vacuum head and comprising a spring biased pin extendable into a corresponding aligned aperture of the floor engaging and cleaning unit.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a floor cleaning device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a vacuum head of the floor cleaning device, used in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 and rear perspective view of the vacuum head of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 , illustrating a plunger locking mechanism used in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, illustrating a carpet cleaning floor engaging and cleaning unit connectable to a rail of the vacuum head, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view illustrating the floor engaging and cleaning unit securely connected to the vacuum head;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 , illustrating the floor engaging and cleaning unit locked to the rail of the vacuum head;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of various component parts of the cleaning device;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 6 , and diagrammatically illustrating operation of the cleaning device;

FIG. 10 is an exploded side perspective view illustrating a water extraction floor engaging and cleaning unit attachable to a rail of the vacuum head, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view illustrating the floor engaging and cleaning unit securely connected to the vacuum head;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 12-12 of FIG. 11 , and diagrammatically illustrating operation of the floor cleaning device of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a hard surface cleaning floor engaging and cleaning unit and vacuum head;

FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the floor cleaning device of FIG. 13 , in an assembled state; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 , and illustrating operation of the floor cleaning device of FIG. 14 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, the present invention is directed to a floor cleaning device, generally referred to by the reference number 100. In accordance with the present invention, a vacuum head 102 of the device 100 is configured so as to detachably receive one of a plurality of differing floor engaging and cleaning units 104. As will be more fully explained herein, the floor engaging and cleaning units 104 may be quickly and easily manually attached and detached from the vacuum head 102 without the need for tools. Moreover, the vacuum head 102 does not have a metallic coupling member which can corrode.
With reference now to FIG. 1 , a floor cleaning device 100 embodying the present invention is shown attached to or extending from an end 14 of an elongated hollow tube 12 of what is often referred to as a “wand” 10. As illustrated, the wand 10 is bent, typically at an upper end thereof, as illustrated, to facilitate an ergonomic placement of the vacuum head 102 on the floor surface to be cleaned, as is well known in the art. A generally opposite end 16 of the wand 10 is typically attached to a vacuum source (not shown), such as flexible tubing extending from a wet/dry vacuum or the like, as is well known in the art. A cushion handle 18 may be provided at one end of the wand and a grip handle 20 intermediate ends 14 and 16 for the operator to grasp and move the wand 10 in a controlled manner along the floor surface.
A valve mechanism 22 is typically attached to the wand 10, such as at an upper end thereof near handle 18. A connection, such as a quick connect/disconnect 24 member may extend from the valve mechanism 22 for removable attachment of a fluid line extending to a solution tank, such as a tank of cleaning solution or the like. A trigger 26 may be disposed on the wand 10, typically below handle 18 for opening or actuating the valve mechanism 22, so as to cause solution to pass through solution tube 28 towards the vacuum head 102, as illustrated. This will be used, for example, in spraying cleaning solution to carpet or other floor surfaces.
It will be understood that the wand 10 and its vacuum and solution lines and attachments, as described above, may be offered as part of the cleaning device 100 of the present invention, or the vacuum head 102 and detachable floor engaging wand cleaning units 104 which are detachably connected to the vacuum head 102 may instead be used in connection with existing wands and their attachments. The vacuum head 102 may be attachable to or extend from the end 14 of the hollow cleaning wand tube 12 through which a vacuum is applied, such as end 16 being attached to a vacuum source, as described above. The cleaning device 100, particularly the vacuum head 102 could be permanently attached to the wand 10 so as to extend therefrom or detachably connected to the wand 10.
With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the vacuum head 102 is preferably comprised of thermal plastic or other suitable plastic-based material or the like. Preferably, the vacuum head 102 is rotationally molded. The vacuum head 102 has a fluid inlet 106, typically with a substantially elongated cross-sectional shape. A fluid outlet 108 of the vacuum head 102 has a substantially similar cross-sectional shape as the hollow wand tube 12, typically substantially circular in cross-sectional shape so as to mate with end 14 or provide a fluid coupling thereto to the end 14 of the wand 10. An intermediate cross-sectional shape transitions between the fluid inlet 106 to the fluid outlet 108 so as to provide a flow of the fluid between the ends 106 and 108. Internal of the vacuum head 102 is defined a vacuum chamber between ends 106 and 108 which has width dimension which gradually or smoothly diminishes therebetween so as to preferably provide a substantial laminar flow of air and water, which is passing therethrough as it enters the fluid inlet 106 and exits the fluid outlet 108.
An elongated rail 110 extends from the vacuum head 102. The rail 110, as more fully described below, is of a configuration so as to quickly and easily have one or more floor engaging and cleaning units 104 detachably connected thereto. Typically, the rail 110 and the floor engaging and cleaning units 104 are configured so as to mate with one another, such as being slidably connectable to one another. As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the fluid inlet apertures 106 extend through the rail 110. Continuous apertures or chambers are formed between the one or more fluid inlets 106 and the fluid outlet 108 of the vacuum head 102.
The rail 110 may be molded into the vacuum head 102, such as by rotational molding when the vacuum head 102 is molded. Without an interconnecting coupling member, the rail 110 and/or vacuum head 102 may become flexible, which is undesirable. To achieve rigidity, one or more support tubes or pins 112 may be molded into the rail 110, as illustrated in FIG. 3 . This provides an increased amount of rigidity to the rail 110 in the event that such rigidity is necessary or desired.
With reference now to FIGS. 2-7 , the vacuum head 102 includes a locking mechanism for securely connecting a floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 to the vacuum head 102, and more particularly the rail 110. The locking mechanism may be manually actuated, preferably without the need for tools. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a tube or aperture is formed in the rail 110 which receives a plunger mechanism 116. For example, internal threads 118 may be tapped in the center tube or aperture 114 for threadedly receiving the external threads 120 of the plunger mechanism 116.
With reference now to FIG. 4 , the plunger mechanism 116, in a particularly preferred embodiment, includes a pin 122 which is biased outwardly by spring 124, which can be retracted into chamber 126 of the plunger mechanism 116 when force is applied thereto. The compression spring 124 acts upon pin 122 to push it outwardly so as to partially extend from the chamber 126 of the plunger mechanism 116 and outside of the outer surface of rail 110. However, when force is applied thereto, such as when the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 is attached to the rail 110 and the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 contacts the pin 122 which may have a rounded configuration, pin 122 is pushed into the chamber 126 so as to enable the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 to move past the now recessed pin 122, until an aperture 128 of the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 becomes aligned with pin 122, wherein pin 122 will be pushed by spring 124 outwardly and into the aperture 128 so as to lock the floor engaging and cleaning unit in place on the rail 110, as illustrated in FIG. 7 .
In this manner, the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 may be attached to the rail 110 and the vacuum head 102 manually and typically without tools in a quick and easy manner. Manual depression of pin 122, such as by a user's finger or if necessary an object such as a pen, will release the lock and enable the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 to be removed from the rail 110. Although a plunger mechanism 116, as illustrated and described above, may be used as the locking mechanism, it is contemplated that other locking mechanisms, which are preferably manual and without the requirement of tools, may also be incorporated into the invention to secure the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 to the rail 110 of the vacuum head 102.
With reference now to FIGS. 5-7 , the floor engaging and cleaning unit in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 is a carpet cleaning unit. Such a floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 is sometimes referred to in the industry as a “glide”. The carpet cleaning unit 104 has a bottom body portion 130, which is preferably rounded so as to more easily glide across the carpet, and one or more fluid intake apertures 132 formed through the lower body 130. These apertures 132 may comprise a series of apertures along a substantial length of the carpet cleaning unit 104 or an elongated intake aperture. The one or more intake fluid apertures or fluid inlet 132 is in fluid communication with the vacuum head fluid inlet 106 when attached to the rail 110.
The floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 is configured so as to be attached to, preferably in mating arrangement, with the rail 110 of the vacuum head 102. In the illustrated embodiments, the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 includes a channel 134 which receives the rail 110 therein. The channel 134 may be formed in the body or by walls 136 and 138 extending upwardly from the lower body 130 to define the channel 134. Preferably, as illustrated, the channel 134 is open-ended and open-faced such that an end 140 of the rail 110 may be slidingly received therein and the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 slidably attached to the rail 110, as illustrated in FIG. 6 . The floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 may be securely connected to the rail 110 by means of a locking mechanism, such that previously described and illustrated. When incorporating the plunger mechanism 116, the pin 122 is depressed as the carpet cleaning unit 104 comes into contact therewith, but extends outwardly through aperture 128 when aperture 128 of the carpet cleaning unit 104 comes into alignment with pin 122, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 .
The channel 134 may include one or more inwardly extending lips 142 and 144 which are insertable into and receivable within elongated slots 146 and 148 of the rail 110. The lips 142 and 144 and corresponding slots 146 and 148 serve to assist in aligning the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 with the rail 110, facilitate slidable connection therebetween, as well as provide a more secure fit and connection between the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 and rail 110.
Since the rail 110 is formed by the rotationally molded plastic, it slides effortlessly into the channel 134 of the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104. Moreover, since the rail 110 is produced when the vacuum head is rotationally molded, it eliminates any need for a separate coupling member which reduces cost, complexity, weight, and a connector that corrodes.
With reference now to FIGS. 3, 8 and 9 , one or more retaining studs 150 may be molded or otherwise attached to the vacuum head 102, such as on the back surface of the vacuum head 102, as illustrated. These may be in the form of threaded bolts or the like. A fluid manifold 152 is attached to the retaining studs by means of fasteners, such as threaded nuts 154 and washers 156. The manifold 152 is at least partially hollow and defines a fluid pathway between a coupler 158 of the solution tube 28, which may include a quick connect 160 for connection to an end of the solution tubing 28. One or more spray jets 162 are operably connected to and/or extend from the fluid manifold 152 for spraying a solution 2, such as a cleaning solution and water mixture, onto the carpet or other flooring material 4, as is well known in the industry. With the wand connected to the vacuum source, as the floor cleaning device 100 is moved across the carpet or other flooring 4 that has been sprayed with cleaning solution 2, the mixture of debris and cleaning solution 6 is able to be suctioned up through inlet 132 of the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104 and through inlet 106 of the rail 110 and vacuum head 102 up through the hollow tube 12 of the wand 10 and to a receiving receptacle (not illustrated).
With reference now to FIGS. 10-12 , as mentioned above the floor cleaning device 100 of the present invention enables the attachment of differing types of floor engaging and cleaning units to the vacuum head 102, and more particularly to the rail 110 of the vacuum head 102. In FIGS. 10-12 , the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104′ comprises a water extraction unit. This water extraction unit 104′ is similar to the carpet cleaning unit 104 in that it has a body portion 164 with a fluid intake or inlet aperture or apertures 132 formed therethrough, and a channel 134 into which the rail 110 is insertable. Typically, as illustrated, the channel 134 is open-faced and may be open-ended so as to receive an end 140 of rail 110 therein. One or more lips 142 and 144 may extend inwardly into the channel 134 and into elongated slots 146 and 148, as described above. Moreover, an aperture 128 is formed in the unit 104′ such as through wall 138 for receiving push pin 122 therein so as to lock the extraction unit 104′ to the rail 110, as previously described and as illustrated in FIG. 11 .
Instead of having a rounded, or otherwise appropriately configured solid body portion 130, as in the carpet cleaner illustrated in FIGS. 3-9 , this floor engaging and cleaning unit 104′ includes a squeegee member 166 extending downwardly from body 164. The squeegee member 166 is comprised of an appropriate material, such as rubber or the like. With reference to FIG. 12 , typically, the extraction floor engaging and cleaning unit 104′ is used to extract water or other fluid, such as during flooding or the like. In this case, the squeegee material 166 can serve to move the water or other fluid across the hard surface floor 4 such that it can be captured, such as through the apertures 132 and 106, etc. It is also contemplated that no vacuum be applied to the floor cleaning device 100, and instead the extraction unit 104′ have its squeegee member 166 in contact with the hard floor surface 4 so as to enable the operator to push the fluid towards a desired area for removal. As such, the squeegee member 166 may either be of a configuration or of a material which enables the fluid to be collected through the one or more apertures 132, so as to be suctioned up through the squeegee head attachment unit 104′ and into the vacuum head 102 and through the wand 10 or other evacuation tube into a wet vac system or the like for disposal, or the squeegee member 166 be used to push and direct the water or other fluid across the surface of the floor 4. As such, no solution may be consumed when using this attached water extraction unit 104′ and the manifold and spray jet assembly (152-162) may not be required or needed.
With reference now to FIGS. 13-15 , a floor cleaning device 100 is illustrated having a hard surface cleaning unit 104″ as the floor engaging and cleaning unit attached to the vacuum head 102, and more particularly the rail 110 of the vacuum head 102. This hard surface cleaning unit 104″ is configured similarly to the other floor engaging and cleaning units described above and illustrated herein so that it can be detachably connected, preferably in a mating arrangement, with the rail 110 of the vacuum head 102. This includes providing a channel 134 which receives the rail 110 therein. Inwardly directed lips 142 and 144 may extend into elongated slots 146 and 148, as discussed above. Moreover, a fluid inlet 132 is formed through body 168 for suctioning water, cleaning solution, other fluid and debris therein and into the vacuum head 102.
In this case, however, the hard surface cleaning unit 104″ includes a brush or other scrubbing member 170 at a lower end thereof. The scrubbing brush 170 is capable of scrubbing a hard surface, typically, so as to remove debris therefrom. This may be in the case of when a cleaning solution is applied to the area of the floor 104 for removing such debris, or even in other cases where there may be water or other fluid on the floor and it is desired to also utilize a scrubbing brush 170 or the like to dislodge and remove dirt and other debris from the floor. This may be done, for example, by moving the brush member 170 back and forth for agitation so as to remove debris from the floor or other hard surface.
With continuing reference to FIGS. 13-15 , the end of the solution tube 28 may be coupled, such as by means of a quick connect/disconnect assembly 172 to a spray manifold 174, such as through internally threaded aperture 176. One or more spray jets 178 extend from the spray manifold 174, which may have gaskets 180 for a fluid-tight connection, and into apertures or ports 182 formed in the body 168 of the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104″. As illustrated in FIG. 15 , cleaning solution 2 may be emitted from the spray jets 178 onto the floor 4, such as in the area surrounded by the brush member 170. As the brush member 170 is moved back and forth to agitate the debris 6, the debris and cleaning solution is suctioned up through aperture 132, into chamber 184 and into the fluid inlet 106 of the vacuum head 102 and to the hollow tube 12 of wand 10 for disposal, such as a wet vac system or other disposal container. As illustrated, there are four spaced apart spray jets 178 extending from the spray manifold 174. The spray jets are sealed with gaskets or other sealing members 180 to prevent air leakage or fluid leakage between the vacuum chamber 184 and the spray jet 178. It will be understood that the number of spray jets 178 and their position relative to the brush member 170 and floor surface 4 can be varied as desired.
In operation, any of the floor engaging and cleaning units 104-104″ can be selectively attached or detached to the vacuum head 102, and more particularly the rail 110 to achieve a desired cleaning methodology, whether it be carpet cleaning, water or other fluid extraction, hard surface cleaning, etc. While three common examples of different types of floor engaging and cleaning units 104-104″ have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that other floor engaging and cleaning units having different purposes or functionality could also be used and incorporated into the invention. When a floor engaging and cleaning unit 104-104″ is to be attached to the vacuum head 102, it is merely slid onto rail 110, as described above, until it is locked into place. In order to be removed, such as either to be replaced when broken or worn out or when it is desired to be replaced with a different type of floor engaging and cleaning unit, the locking mechanism is unlocked, such as by depressing pin 122 with one's finger and pulling the floor engaging and cleaning unit 104-104′ off the rail 110.
Thus, a single vacuum head 102, which may be integrally formed, permanently attached, or detachably connected to a wand 10 may be used for a plurality of differing floor cleaning or water extraction projects. In this manner, a single wand 10 and vacuum head 102 may be placed in a cleaning crew's vehicle with a number of desired floor engaging and cleaning units 104-104″ which differ from one another and serve different purposes with respect to cleaning, water extraction or the like. As these floor engaging and cleaning units are relatively small and lightweight, this saves a tremendous amount of space within the vehicle and provides a great degree of convenience to the cleaning crew. When performing carpet cleaning, the carpet cleaning floor engaging and cleaning unit may be attached to the vacuum head 102. When performing hard surface cleaning, the hard surface floor engaging and cleaning unit 104″ may be attached to the vacuum head 102. However, when extraction of large quantities of water or other fluid is required, the water extraction floor engaging and cleaning unit 104′ may be attached to the vacuum head 102. The floor engaging and cleaning units 104-104″ are easily attachable and detachable manually and typically without requiring any tools.
Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A floor cleaning device, comprising:

a vacuum head having a fluid inlet at a first end thereof, a fluid outlet at a second end thereof generally opposite the first end, the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet attachable to or extending from an end of a hollow cleaning wand capable of being coupled to a vacuum source, and an elongated rail extending from the vacuum head; and

a floor engaging and cleaning unit detachably connected to the rail, the floor engaging and cleaning unit having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum head fluid inlet and comprising at least a plurality of a carpet cleaning unit, a water extraction unit and/or a hard surface cleaning unit, whereby differing floor engaging units may be selectively detachably connected to the vacuum head.

2. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the rail is rotationally molded with the vacuum head.

3. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the rail at least partially defines the fluid inlet of the vacuum head.

4. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit has a portion that mates with the rail of the vacuum head.

5. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit is slidably connected to the rail.

6. The floor cleaning device of claim 5, wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit comprises an open-ended and open-faced channel into which the rail is slidingly received.

7. The floor cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the channel includes at least one inwardly extending lip.

8. The floor cleaning device of claim 7, wherein the rail defines at least one elongated slot the receives the at least one lip of the channel therein.

9. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet of the carpet cleaning unit comprises an elongated fluid inlet or a series of fluid inlets.

10. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the water extraction unit includes a squeegee.

11. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the hard surface cleaning unit includes a scrubbing brush.

12. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, including a locking mechanism that securely connects the floor engaging and cleaning unit and the rail of the vacuum head.

13. The floor cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism is manually actuated.

14. The floor cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plunger mechanism associated with the vacuum head and comprising a spring biased pin extendible into a corresponding aligned aperture of the floor engaging and cleaning unit.

15. A floor cleaning device, comprising:

a vacuum head having a fluid inlet at a first end thereof, a fluid outlet at a second end thereof generally opposite the first end, the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet attachable to or extending from an end of a hollow cleaning wand capable of being coupled to a vacuum source, and an elongated rail extending from the vacuum head;

a floor engaging and cleaning unit detachably connected to the rail, the floor engaging and cleaning unit having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum head fluid inlet; and

a locking mechanism that securely connects the floor engaging and cleaning unit to the rail of the vacuum head, wherein the locking mechanism is manually actuated.

16. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the rail is rotationally molded with the vacuum head.

17. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the rail at least partially defines the fluid inlet of the vacuum head.

18. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit has a portion that mates with the rail of the vacuum head.

19. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit is slidably connected to the rail.

20. The floor cleaning device of claim 19, wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit comprises an open-ended and open-faced channel into which the rail is slidingly received.

21. The floor cleaning device of claim 20, wherein the channel includes at least one inwardly extending lip.

22. The floor cleaning device of claim 21, wherein the rail defines at least one elongated slot the receives the at least one lip of the channel therein.

23. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit comprises at least a plurality of a carpet cleaning unit, a water extraction unit and/or a hard surface cleaning unit, whereby differing floor engaging units may be selectively detachably connected to the vacuum head.

24. The floor cleaning device of claim 23, wherein the fluid inlet of the carpet cleaning unit comprises an elongated fluid inlet or a series of fluid inlets.

25. The floor cleaning device of claim 23, wherein the water extraction unit includes a squeegee.

26. The floor cleaning device of claim 23, wherein the hard surface cleaning unit includes a scrubbing brush.

27. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plunger mechanism associated with the vacuum head and comprising a spring biased pin extendible into a corresponding aligned aperture of the floor engaging and cleaning unit.