Abstract:
A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the surface. A solution container is mounted to the housing and contains a solution. A dispensing nozzle is provided on the housing and is fluidly connected to the solution container. The dispensing nozzle dispenses solution beyond the edge of the housing. In one aspect, an edge cleaner is provided at an edge of the housing and includes a plurality of pliable elements for agitating the surface, wherein the pliable elements contact the surface beyond the edge of said housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cleaning machine for cleaning a surface with edge cleaning capability. 
     2. Background Information 
     It is known to have cleaning machines for cleaning a surface. Generally, these machines utilize a suction nozzle and/or brush assembly to clean the surface. Yet, many of these cleaning machines due to their compact design cannot clean confined areas such as edges and corners and other difficult to reach areas of the surface. Such edge cleaning capability has been implemented in cleaning machines of the upright vacuum cleaner types such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,514,356 and 5,911,261. The present invention improves edge-cleaning performance on cleaning machines that distribute cleaning solution on the surface. The present invention also provides a cleaning machine that imparts movement or rotation to an edge cleaner connected thereto for improved edge cleaning performance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other facets of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. In one aspect of the invention, a portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The portable cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a distributor operatively connected to the housing for distributing cleaning solution to the surface. A solution container is removably mounted to the housing and fluidly connected to the distributor for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the distributor. A recovery tank is removably mounted to the housing and a suction nozzle is secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the recovery tank for transporting the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface into the recovery tank. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and recovery tank for drawing the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. An edge cleaner is provided at an edge of the housing and includes a plurality of pliable elements for agitating the surface, wherein the pliable elements contact the surface beyond the edge of said housing. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the surface. A solution container is mounted to the housing and contains a solution. A dispensing nozzle is provided on the housing and is fluidly connected to the solution container. The dispensing nozzle dispenses solution beyond the edge of the housing. 
     In still another aspect of the invention, a portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing. A recovery container is removably mounted to the housing and a suction nozzle, secured to the housing, is in fluid communication with the recovery container for transporting the dirt and particles from the surface into the recovery container. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and recovery container for drawing the dirt and particles from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery container. An edge cleaner, operatively connected to the housing, includes a brush rotatably connected to the housing. The brush includes a plurality of pliable elements for agitating the surface, wherein the pliable elements contact the surface beyond the edge of said housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carpet extractor embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the fluid distribution system of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematics view of the fluid distribution system of another embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarge top and left side perspective view of a portion of the base assembly of  FIG. 1  showing the spray nozzle and other nearby elements of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarge top and left side perspective view of a portion of the base assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  showing the spray nozzle and other nearby elements of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a portable cleaning apparatus in the form of an upright carpet extractor  60  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The upright carpet extractor  60  comprises an upright handle assembly  62  pivotally connected to the rear portion of the floor-engaging portion or base assembly  64  that moves and cleans along a surface  74  such as a carpet or bare floor. A supply or solution tank assembly  76  is removably mounted to the handle assembly  62  of the extractor  60 . 
     The base assembly  64  includes two laterally displaced wheels  66  (only the left wheel  66 L being shown) rotatably attached thereto. A combined air/water separator and recovery tank  80  with carrying handle  332  removably sets atop a motor/fan assembly  90  ( FIG. 3  from co-pending application having Ser. No. 10/165,731 and U.S. Publication No. 20030226230, which has subsequently gone abandoned, the disclosure being incorporated herein by reference) of base assembly  64  and is surrounded by a hood portion  82 . The base assembly  64  includes a frame  83  having a front body  92  defining a skirt that partially covers a brush assembly  70  ( FIG. 2 ). The front body  92  has translucent opposite side portions  251 R,  251 L for viewing the brush assembly  70  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     A floor suction nozzle assembly  124  is removably mounted to the hood portion  82  of the base assembly  64  and is in fluid communication with the recovery tank  80  for transporting air and liquid into the recovery tank  80 . The floor suction nozzle assembly  124  includes a front plate secured to a rear plate that in combination define dual side ducts  130 ,  132  separated by a tear drop shaped opening  134 . The inlet  138  of the suction nozzle assembly  124  extends around and slightly beyond the side portions  251  of the front body  92  defining side nozzle ends  245 L,  245 R of the inlet  138 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the base assembly  64  includes the brush assembly  70 , which has a plurality of rotating gear scrub brushes  201 ,  247  for scrubbing the surface  74 . In particular, the brush assembly  70  comprises brush support beam  22 . Rotatingly received within the brush support beam are gear brushes  201 ,  247 , which rotate generally along an axis perpendicular to the surface  74  upon which the base assembly  64  is positioned. Each gear brush is basically configured as a spur gear, which intermeshes with its adjacent gear brush such that when the center gear brush rotates all other gear brushes rotate accordingly. For gear brushes  201 , each gear tooth has a blind bore, extending to an offset, into which bristle bundles are compressively inserted and extend downwardly to the surface. For the outer gear brushes  247 L and  247 R, each gear tooth has a blind bore, extending to an offset, into which bristle bundles  241 L and  241 R are compressively inserted. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , these bristle bundles  241  extend downwardly and slope or flare outwardly beyond their respective side portions  251 . This orientation allows the bristle bundles  241  to access edges, corners and other difficult places to scrub. Other details of this brush assembly  70  are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,857, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Brush assembly  70  is operated by a suitable gear train (or other known means). A suitable air turbine driven gear train is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,362, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Other types of brush assemblies could be used instead such as, for example, a horizontal brush roll or fixed brush assembly with the outer bristle bundles extending downwardly and sloping or flaring outwardly beyond the edge of their respective side portions  251 . Also, other pliable elements can be used in lieu of the bristle bundles  241 . 
     Spray nozzles  221 L and  221 R are affixed to their respective side portions  251 L,  251 R for spraying or distributing cleaning solution to the bristle bundles  241  of the outer gear brushes  247 . Each spray nozzle has a generally semicircular top with the sides tapering down to define a generally semifrustoconical shape. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the left spray nozzle  221 L is designed and constructed to spray cleaning solution in a fanning pattern down to the exposed portion  257  of the bristle bundles extending beyond the side portion thereby wetting them. Thus, as the wetted bristle bundles  241  scrub the surface, cleaning solution from them is distributed onto the surface. The right spray nozzle  221 R is of a similar design and sprays the cleaning solution in a similar pattern on the bristle bundles  241 R as the left spray nozzle. The spray nozzles  221  can also be designed to distribute the cleaning solution so that it cascades down the side portions  251  and wets the bristle bundles  241 . 
     The supply tank assembly  76  comprises a clean water supply tank  620  and a detergent supply tank  622  with cap  720  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) adhesively mounted to the clean water supply tank  620  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The supply tank assembly  76  includes a combination carrying handle and tank securement latch  78  providing a convenient means for carrying the tank and/or securing the tank to the extractor handle assembly  62 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the carpet extractor  60  includes a solution hose  794  that fluidly connects the clean water tank  620  to a shut off valve  800  used for selectively turning on and off the flow of clean water. Another solution hose  790  fluidly connects the water tank  620  to an inlet  812  of a pressure actuated shut off valve  804 . A solution hose  798  fluidly connects the detergent tank  622  to an inlet  523  of the mixing Tee  796 . A second shut off valve  820  is used for selectively turning on and off the flow of mixed water and detergent cleaning solution through distributor  792 . Both shut off valves  800 ,  820  are fluidly connected to the distributor  792  through their respective solution hoses  794 ,  876 . The shut off valves  800 ,  820  are in the form of solenoid valves, however, other types of valves could also be used. 
     The pressure actuated shut off valve  804  is fluidly connected between the clean water tank  620  and the mixing Tee  796  for turning off and on the flow of water. This shut off valve  804  is opened and closed by outside pressure via a conduit  806  connected between it and the outlet  807  of a pump  808  through a Tee  817 . The valve  804  includes a pressure port  822  fluidly connected to the outlet  807  of a pump  808 . The outlet  814  of the valve  804  is fluidly connected to an inlet  521  of the mixing Tee  796  via hose  815 . It should be known that clean water tank  620  could be fluidly connected to the outlet  814  of the valve  804  with the inlet  812  of the valve  804  being fluidly connected to the mixing Tee  796  so that fluid could flow in the opposite direction if desired. 
     In operation, when the pressure at the pressure port  822  is below a predetermined value such as between 7 to 10 psi, the valve  804  opens to allow water to flow in both directions. Such a pressure value at the pressure port  822  occurs when the main shut off valve  820  is opened and the pump  808  is turned on. The pump  808  also pressurizes the water mixed with detergent to draw it to the distributor  792 . When the pressure exceeds a second predetermined value such as between 20 to 30 psi, the valve  804  closes. This would occur if the main shut off valve  820  is closed and the pump is turned on. Thus, with the valve  804  closed, the cleaning solution is prevented from flowing through it. Various types of pumps can be used such as a piston pump, gear pump or centrifugal pump. 
     Outlet  525  of the mixing Tee  796  is fluidly connected via flexible hose  823  to the inlet of the pump  808 , which provides pressure to draw the cleaning solution to the distributor  792  when it is turned on. A relief valve  809  is fluidly connected across the pump  808  to limit the pressure at the outlet  807  of the pump  808  to a predetermined value. The outlet  807  of the pump  808  is fluidly connected to the main shut off valve  820  via flexible hoses  825 ,  874  and  876 . Both of the shut off valves  800 ,  820  are in the form of a solenoid valve; however, other electrical actuated valves could be also used. 
     The valves  800 ,  820  are operated by a trigger switch  821  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The trigger switch  821  is pivotally connected to the upper handle portion  358  approximately near a closed looped handgrip  824 . Slide switch  858  is used to select one of the shut off valves  800 ,  822  to be opened and closed by the trigger switch  821 . Slide switch  856  is the main power switch, which turns on and off the suction motor  90  (FIG. 3 from co pending application having Ser. No. 10/165,731 and U.S. Publication No. 20030226230) and pump  808 . 
     The cleaning solution containing the clean water or water mixed with detergent flows to their associated shut off valves  800 ,  820 . The cleaning liquid distributor  792  evenly distributes the cleaning solution to each of the rotary scrub brushes  72 . The scrub brushes  72  then spread the cleaning solution onto the carpet (or bare floor), scrub the cleaning liquid into the carpet and dislodge embedded soil. A solution discharge valve  877  allows the mixed detergent and clean water to flow through an integrally formed nipple  218  and a detachable solution tube  216  to a hand-held cleaning attachment (not shown) and dispense by typical spray means. 
     The spray nozzles  221 R,  221 L are fluidly connected via solution tubes  217 ,  219  through respective outputs  213 ,  215  of a solenoid shut off valve  211 . The solenoid shut off valve is fluidly connected to the solution discharge valve  877 , which always allows cleaning solution to flow to the solenoid shut off valve  211 . The valve  211  is electrically coupled to the power source  842  and microswitch  836  (FIG. 34 from co pending application having Ser. No. 10/165,731 and U.S. Publication No. 20030226230) and is operated by the trigger switch  821 . Squeezing the trigger switch  821  causes the microswitch  836  to close the circuit between power source  842  and solenoid shutoff valve  211 , which in turn energizes and opens the solenoid shut off valve  211  in a similar manner as that for the shutoff valves  800 ,  820 . Thus, with the shut valve open, cleaning solution flows to the spray nozzles  221 . Other types of shut off valves could be used such as, for example, a pressure actuated valve. Alternatively, an additional switch can be incorporated in the circuit between the solenoid shut off valve  211  and power source to operate the solenoid shutoff valve  211  instead of the trigger switch  821 . Also, a switch can be electrically connected between the trigger switch and power source to selectively electrically connect and disconnect the trigger switch  821  from the circuit. In this manner, the user has the option to prevent the spray nozzles from spraying the cleaning solution onto the bristle bundles  237  when squeezing the trigger switch  821 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 5  show another embodiment of the invention. The carpet extractor  60  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, similar reference numbers are used for common elements. In this embodiment, the pump is removed so that the cleaning solution flows by gravity to the spray nozzles and distributor. Also, the brush assembly  700  includes additional edge cleaning gear brushes  235 L,  235 R rotatably connected to the support beam  22  and rotate generally along an axis perpendicular to the surface  74  upon which the base assembly  64  is positioned. Each of these gear brushes  235  is basically configured as a spur gear, which intermeshes with its adjacent gear brush  201  such that when the center gear brush  201  rotates all other gear brushes including the edge brushes rotate accordingly. For gear brushes  201 , each gear tooth has a blind bore, extending to an offset, into which bristle bundles are compressively inserted and extend downwardly to the surface. For the outer gear brushes  235 L and  235 R, each gear tooth has a blind bore, extending to an offset, into which bristle bundles  237 L and  237 R are compressively inserted. As seen in  FIG. 5 , these bristle bundles  237  extend downwardly and slope or flare outwardly beyond their respective side portions  251 . This orientation allows the bristle bundles  237  to access edges, corner and other difficult places to scrub. Other details of this brush assembly  700  is taught in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,857. 
     Also, in this embodiment, the pump is removed so that the cleaning solution flows by gravity to the spray nozzles and distributor. Further, as seen in  FIG. 3 , a check valve, fluidly connected between the solution tubes  790  and  815 , has been substituted for the pressure actuated shut off valve. Also, solution tube  806  and Tee  817 , used to facilitate the operation of the shut off valve, have been removed. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the cleaning solution in this embodiment flows by gravity to the spray nozzle  221 L. The spray nozzle  221 L distributes the slower moving cleaning solution to the side portion  251 L such that the solution cascades down the side portion  251 L and wets the exposed portions  239  of the bristle bundles  237 . In all other respects, the solution distribution system and common elements function the same as that for the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 . 
     As is commonly known, a user turns on the carpet extractor  60  and pivots the handle  62  in an incline position while moving the carpet extractor  60  over the surface to clean it. The user squeezes the trigger switch  821  so that the carpet extractor  60  distributes the cleaning solution to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracts it along with the dirt on surface in a continuous operation. In particular, soiled cleaning solution is extracted from the surface by the suction nozzle  124  and transported into the recovery tank  80  where the liquid and air are separated. A vacuum is created in the recovery tank  80  by the suction motor, which draws air from the recovery tank  80  and exhausts the air to the surface  74 . Further details of the carpet extractor are disclosed in co pending application having Ser. No. 10/165,731 and U.S. Publication No. 20030226230; the disclosure being incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention has been described by way of example using the illustrated embodiments. Upon reviewing the detailed description and the appended drawings, various modifications and variations of the embodiments will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. All such obvious modifications and variations are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention and of the claims appended hereto. 
     In view of the above, it is intended that the present invention not be limited by the preceding disclosure of the embodiments, but rather be limited only by the appended claims.