Patent Publication Number: US-2021161349-A1

Title: Floor cleaner having a removable nozzle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/942,356, filed Dec. 2, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to extractor cleaning machines, and more particularly, to removable nozzle configurations for extractor cleaning machines. 
     An extractor cleaning machine typically includes an agitator (e.g., a brushroll) for engaging a surface to be cleaned and a nozzle to extract fluid from the surface to be cleaned. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a floor cleaner including a body having a first end that is engaged by a user during operation and a second end spaced from the first end. A supply tank is connected to the body and stores a cleaning fluid. A cleaning head is pivotally connected to the second end of the body. The cleaning head has a bottom that faces the surface to be cleaned and a top spaced above the bottom. A distributor is fluidly connected to the supply tank to deliver the cleaning fluid from the supply tank. A suction nozzle has an inlet that draws fluid from the surface into the suction nozzle. The suction nozzle is releaseably connected the cleaning head and removable in a downward direction from the bottom of the cleaning head. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle to draw fluid into the suction nozzle. A recovery tank is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the suction source. The recovery tank stores fluid drawn through the suction nozzle. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a cleaning head for a cleaning machine that cleans a surface. The cleaning head includes a housing defining a bottom that faces the surface to be cleaned, and a top spaced above the bottom. A distributor receives cleaning fluid from a supply tank and delivers the cleaning fluid. A suction nozzle has an inlet to draw fluid from the surface into the suction nozzle. The suction nozzle is releaseably connected to the housing and is removable in a downward direction from the bottom of the housing. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a cleaning head for a cleaning machine that cleans a surface. The cleaning head includes a housing defining a bottom that faces the surface to be cleaned, and a top spaced above the bottom. A brushroll is positioned near the bottom of the housing to engage the surface during operation. The brushroll is releaseably connected to the housing and removable in an upward direction from the top of the housing. A suction nozzle has an inlet that draws debris from the surface into the suction nozzle. The suction nozzle is releaseably connected to the housing and removable in a downward direction from the bottom of the housing. 
     Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an extractor cleaning machine according to some embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cleaning head of the extractor cleaning machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cleaning head with a cover separated from the cleaning head. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cleaning head with the cover and a brushroll separated from the cleaning head. 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  in which the cover is shown in cross-section taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the cleaning head. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of a nozzle exploded from the cleaning head and a squeegee removed from the cleaning head. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a nozzle exploded from a portion of the cleaning head. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure 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 disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a floor cleaner  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the floor cleaner  10  includes a base  12  and a body  14  pivotally coupled to the base  12 . The body  14  is pivotal relative to the base  12  between an upright storage position ( FIG. 1 ) and an inclined operating position. The floor cleaner  10  further includes a supply tank  16 , a recovery tank  18 , and a vacuum source  20 . The supply tank  16  is configured to store a cleaning fluid and the floor cleaner  10  is operable to dispense the cleaning fluid onto a surface  22  to be cleaned. In some embodiments, the vacuum source  20  includes a motor and a fan that are operable to draw the cleaning fluid from the surface  22  into the recovery tank  18 . 
     The base  12  is movable over the surface  22  to be cleaned. In the illustrated embodiment, the base  12  includes wheels  24  to facilitate moving the base  12  over the surface  22 . The base  12  includes a suction nozzle  26  in fluid communication with the vacuum source  20  and the recovery tank  18 , the suction nozzle  26  being releaseably connected to the cleaning head  12 , such that the suction nozzle  26  is removable in a downward direction from the bottom of the cleaning head  12 . The cleaning fluid is drawn from the surface  22  through the suction nozzle  26  and into the recovery tank  18 . 
     The base  12  further includes a distributor including a spray or distribution nozzle  28  in fluid communication with the supply tank  16 . The distribution nozzle  28  dispenses the cleaning fluid toward the surface  22 . In some embodiments, the supply tank  16  and the distributor are omitted such that the suction nozzle  26  draws debris and optionally fluid from the surface  22 , but no fluid is added to the surface  22  by the floor cleaner  10 . The distributor could alternatively be a drip bar, could be fed pressurized or gravity fed cleaning fluid, and could distribute cleaning fluid directly or indirectly (e.g., through a cleaning implement) onto the floor internally or externally of the base. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the floor cleaner  10  includes a battery  30  that provides power to the vacuum source  20 . In one embodiment, the battery  30  is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The floor cleaner  10  further includes a handle  32 . The handle  32  includes a grip  34  and an actuator  36  adjacent the grip  34 . The grip  34  is grabbed by the user to move the floor cleaner  10  along the surface  22  and to pivot the body  14  relative to the base  12 . The actuator  36  controls the flow of cleaning fluid from the supply tank  16  through the distribution nozzle  28 . The handle  32  further includes an extension  40  that extends from the body  14 . The extension  40  includes a first end  42 , a second end  44 . The first end  42  is coupled to and adjacent the body  14 . The second end  44  is adjacent the grip  34 . 
     The floor cleaner  10  further includes an upper end  50  and a lower end  52  opposite the upper end  50 . The handle  32  is adjacent the upper end  50  and the base  12  is adjacent the lower end  52 . The floor cleaner  10  further include a front side  54  and a back side  56  opposite the front side  54 . The suction inlet  26  is adjacent the front side  54 . 
     The floor cleaner  10  further includes a suction conduit  58  having a first end fluidly connected to the suction nozzle  26  and a second end fluidly connected to the recovery tank  18 . The suction conduit  58  directs fluid from the suction nozzle  26  into the recovery tank  18 . 
     The recovery tank  18  is removably connected to the body  14  such that when the recovery tank  18  is full, a user can remove the recovery tank  18  from the body  14  and empty the recovery tank  18  before reconnecting the recovery tank  18  to the body. The recovery tank  18  includes an air outlet positioned on an upper surface of the recovery tank  18  to permit air to exit the recovery tank  18 . In some embodiments, one or more filters remove particles from the air before the air exits the floor cleaner  10 . The recovery tank  18  also includes a float valve that closes the air outlet as the fluid level in the recovery tank  18  reaches a maximum level to inhibit the fluid from leaking out of the air outlet on the upper surface of the recovery tank  18 . The recovery tank  18  is connected to the body  14  by any suitable latching mechanism. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the base  12  in greater detail. The base  12  is a cleaning head having a housing defining a bottom  60  and a top  62 . The bottom  60  faces the surface  22  and the top  62  is spaced above the bottom  60 . The base  12  includes a cover  64  that forms part of the top  62  of the housing and is removable from the base  12 . The cover  64  can be connected to the base  12  by latches, screws, inter-engaging components or features, or any suitable fastener(s). In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  64  is connected by screws. The distribution nozzle  28  is connected to the cover  64  and is removed from the base  12  with the cover. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the cover  64  removed from the base  12 . The illustrated cover  64  includes two notches  66  sized to receive one or more fingers of a user to permit a user to remove the cover  64  from the base  12 . The cover  64  also includes two fastener openings  68  and the base  12  includes two fasteners  70  configured to connect the cover  64  to the base  12 . In other embodiments, one or more latches can be used to connect the cover  64  to the base  12 . 
     When the cover  64  is removed from the base  12 , an agitator roll or brushroll  72  is accessible. The brushroll  72  is positioned near the bottom  60  of the base  12  adjacent the suction nozzle  26 . The brushroll  72  is configured to engage the surface  22  during operation. The brushroll  72  is rotatable about an axis to agitate, wipe, scrub, etc. the surface  22  that is being cleaned. The floor cleaner  10  includes a motor that rotates the brushroll  72  about the axis. The brushroll  72  is operably connected to the motor by a transmission that may include a belt, pulleys, gears, and the like. 
     The brushroll  72  can include a tufted pile formed of microfibers covering substantially all of the brushroll  72 . In another embodiment, the tufted pile covers a portion of the brushroll  72 . The fiber may be yarn or may be monofilament fiber. The brushroll  72  may include an absorbent material, such as a mop roll. Optionally, the brushroll  72  may include a hydrophobic textile material. In one embodiment, the tufted textile material is formed by a tufted pile of fine hydrophobic fibers, such as hydrophobic nylons, polyesters, polyolefins, or other hydrophobic fibers arranged on the brushroll  72 . The fibers can be made from any hydrophobic materials such as a flouropolymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the fibers are coated with a hydrophobic coating or otherwise treated to be hydrophobic. In some embodiments, the brushroll includes tufted bristles arranged in a desired pattern, such a chevron or helical arrangement. 
     When the cover  64  is removed from the base  12  a first distribution coupling  74  is exposed. The first distribution coupling  74  is fluidly connected to the supply tank  16  and to the distribution nozzle  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the brushroll  72  is removable from the base  12  in an upward direction (shown as arrow U). The brushroll  72  may include a tab  76  that is graspable by a user to remove the brushroll  72  in the upward direction U from the base  12  without the use of tools. In other embodiments, one or more fasteners is utilized to connect the brushroll  72  to the base  12 . To reinstall the brushroll  72  in the base  12 , the user inserts the end of the brushroll  72  without the tab  76  and presses downward on the brushroll  72  to pivot the brushroll into place. The end of the brushroll  72  without the tab  76  includes a female splined driven end that engages with a corresponding male drive spline on the base  12 . The drive spline is coupled to the brushroll motor when the brushroll  72  is installed in the base  12  to cause the brushroll to rotate about its longitudinal axis extending between its two ends. Other brushroll configurations can be utilized in place of the illustrated brushroll. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the brushroll  72  removed from the base  12  in the upward direction U. The cover  64  removed from the base  12  and is shown in cross-section to reveal a distribution conduit  78 . The cover  64  includes a second distribution coupling  80  that is configured to engage the first distribution coupling  74  while the cover  64  is installed on the base  12  and is configured to disengage from the first distribution coupling  74  while the cover  64  is removed from the base  12 . The distribution conduit  78  is a flexible tube having a first end and a second end. The first end connects to the distribution nozzle  28  and the second end connects to the second distribution coupling  80  to fluidly connect the second distribution coupling  80  to the distribution nozzle  28 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the suction nozzle  26  having a suction inlet  82 , a first end  84  and a second end  86  spaced from the first end  84 . The first end  84  is positioned near the surface  22  to draw fluid and debris from the surface  22  into the suction inlet  82 . The first end  84  is also positioned near the brushroll  72  to draw fluid and debris from the brushroll  72  into the suction inlet  82 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first end  84  of the suction nozzle  26  includes a flange  88  that contacts the brushroll  72  to wipe fluid and debris from the brushroll  72  such that the fluid and debris wiped from the brushroll  72  is drawn into the suction inlet  82 . In the illustrated embodiment, the housing includes a flange  94  that engages the brushroll  72  adjacent the first end  84  of the suction nozzle  26  to wipe fluid and debris from the brushroll  72  and direct the fluid and debris toward the suction inlet  82 . In some embodiments, the flange  94  on the housing engages the brushroll  72  adjacent the first end  84  of the suction nozzle  26  and the flange  88  on the nozzle does not contact the brushroll  72 . In some embodiments, the flange  88  on the nozzle engages the brushroll  72  adjacent the first end  84  of the suction nozzle  26  and the flange  94  on the housing does not contact the brushroll  72 . 
     The second end  86  of the suction nozzle  26  is configured to connect to the suction conduit  58  which directs fluid and debris into the recovery tank  18 . The suction nozzle  26  can be connected to the base  12  by latches, screws, inter-engaging components or features, or any suitable fastener(s). In the illustrated embodiment, the suction nozzle  26  is connected by screws. To this end, the suction nozzle  26  may include one or more embossments for receiving a screw or other fastener, such as a first upwardly extending protrusion  90  and the housing includes a first upwardly extending recess  92  configured to receive the first upwardly extending protrusion  90 . A fastener can extend through the first upwardly extending protrusion  90  and the first upwardly extending recess  92  to retain the suction nozzle  26  on the housing of the base  12 . In other embodiments, the suction nozzle  26  includes a recess and the housing includes a protrusion. In one embodiment, the first upwardly extending protrusion  90  is provided for alignment of the nozzle to the base. In some embodiments, the recess  92  and the corresponding protrusion  90  are omitted. In other embodiments, the suction nozzle  26  and the housing include mating components that snap together or otherwise inter-engage to retain the suction nozzle  26  on the housing of the base  12 . In some embodiments, no fastener is used to connect the first upwardly extending protrusion  90  in the first upwardly extending recess  92  because the suction nozzle  26  can be connected to the housing of the base  12  by other fasteners, latches, and/or inter-engaging components. 
       FIG. 6  also illustrates the distribution conduit  78  fluidly connecting the second distribution coupling  80  to the distribution nozzle  28 . The first distribution coupling  74  receives the second distribution coupling  80  to fluidly connect the first distribution coupling  74  and the second distribution coupling  80 . 
     The brushroll  72  protrudes from the bottom  60  of the base  12  so that the brushroll  72  contacts the surface  22  being cleaned. Also, although the illustrated cleaning machine  10  includes only a single brushroll  72 , in other embodiments, the cleaning machine  10  may include additional brushrolls parallel to the brushroll  72  and formed from the same or different materials. The brushroll  72  has an outer cleaning medium that contacts the surface  22 . The cleaning medium includes a hydrophobic textile material in one embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  also illustrates a squeegee  96  that contacts the surface  22  to be cleaned. When the base  12  is moved along the surface  22  to be cleaned in a forward direction (to the left in  FIG. 6 ), the squeegee  96  pushes fluid along the surface in the forward direction, including cleaning fluid, toward the suction inlet  82 . This reduces the amount of fluid that remains on the surface  22 . The squeegee  96  extends from the bottom  60  of the base  12  between the suction inlet  82  and the second end  86  of the suction nozzle  26 . The squeegee  96  extends behind and adjacent the suction inlet  82  to wipe fluid toward the suction nozzle  26 . The squeegee  96  also extends substantially parallel to the brushroll. The brushroll  72  extends beyond the bottom  60  of the base  12  and the suction inlet  82  is between the squeegee  96  and the location at which the brushroll  72  extends beyond the bottom  60  of the base  12 . In one embodiment, the squeegee  96  is removably coupled to the bottom  60  of the base  12  on a squeegee bracket  98 . In one embodiment, the squeegee  96  is connected to the suction nozzle  26  rearward of the suction inlet  82 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the lower end  52  of the base  12  in greater detail. The first end  84  and the inlet  82  of the suction nozzle  26  are positioned between the brushroll  72  and the squeegee  96 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second end  86  of the suction nozzle  26  is positioned between the squeegee  96  and the wheels  24 . The base  12  also includes two rollers  100  that extend from the bottom  60  of the base  12  to support the base  12  and the cleaning machine  10  on the surface  22 . The rollers  100  are adjacent the squeegee  96 , but could be positioned on other locations of the bottom  60  of the base  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the squeegee  96  and the rollers  100  are retained on the squeegee bracket  98 , such that the squeegee  96  and the rollers  100  can be removed from the base  12  together upon removal of the squeegee bracket  98 . The suction nozzle  26  and the brushroll  72  both have an axial length L and are substantially aligned such that the suction nozzle axial extends the length of the brushroll  72 . The suction nozzle  26  includes a first end wall  102  aligned with a first end of the brushroll  72  and a second end wall  104  aligned with a second end of the brushroll  72 . The illustrated first and second end walls  102 ,  104  are parallel. In other embodiments, the first and second end walls  102 ,  104  are non-parallel such that the suction nozzle inlet  82  has a varying height and/or width across the axial length L. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the suction nozzle  26  removed from the bottom  60  of the base  12  in a downward direction D. The squeegee  96 , the squeegee bracket  98  and the rollers  100  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) have been removed to permit removal of the suction nozzle  26 . The suction nozzle  26  is removable from the cleaning head base  12  in the downward direction D from the bottom  60  of the cleaning head base  12 . In some embodiments, the suction nozzle  26  is connected to the base  12  by the squeegee bracket  98 . In other embodiments, one or more fasteners are used to releasably connect the suction nozzle  26  to the base  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the suction nozzle  26  is connected by screws. To this end, the suction nozzle  26  may include one or more embossments for receiving a screw or other fastener, such as a second upwardly extending protrusion  106  and a third upwardly extending protrusion  108 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the base  12  further includes a second recess  110  and a third recess  112 . The second recess  110  is sized and positioned to receive the second upwardly extending protrusion  106  when the suction nozzle  26  is connected to the base  12 . The third recess  112  is sized and positioned to receive the third upwardly extending protrusion  108  when the suction nozzle  26  is connected to the base  12 . In some embodiments, the recesses  106  and  108  are formed on the suction nozzle  26  and the protrusions  102  and  104  are formed on the base  12 . In one embodiment, the second upwardly extending protrusion  106  and the third upwardly extending protrusion  108  are provided for alignment of the nozzle to the base. In some embodiments, the recesses  106  and  108  and the corresponding protrusions  102  and  104  are omitted. Other shapes, sizes and locations of recesses and protrusions can be utilized to properly position the suction nozzle  26  on the base  12 . 
     In some embodiments, fasteners are configured to connect the second upwardly extending protrusion  106  to the second recess  110 , and to connect the third upwardly extending protrusion  108  to the third recess  112 . In some embodiments, each of the fasteners is screw that requires a tool to separate the suction nozzle  26  from the base  12 . In other embodiments, each of the fasteners is a bayonet coupling, or a quick connect coupling that do not require a tool to separate the suction nozzle  26  from the base  12 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the suction nozzle  26  removed from the bottom  60  of the base  12 . The suction nozzle  26  includes the first end  84 , the second end  86 , the flange  88 , the first upwardly extending protrusion  90 , the second upwardly extending protrusion  106  and the third upwardly extending protrusion  108 . The bottom  60  of the base  12  includes the flange  94 , the first recess  92 , the second recess  110  and the third recess  112 . The first recess  92 , the second recess  110 , and the third recess  112  are sized to receive the respective one of the first upwardly extending protrusion  90 , the second upwardly extending protrusion  106  and the third upwardly extending protrusion  108  to properly position the suction nozzle  26  on the base  12 . The sizes, locations and quantities of recesses and protrusions can be changed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, one or more fasteners connect the suction nozzle  26  to the base  12 . In some embodiments, the suction nozzle  26  is connected to the base  12  by one or more clips, a bayonet coupling, or a latch or quick connect coupling that does not require a tool to separate the suction nozzle  26  from the base  12 . In some embodiments, the suction nozzle  26  is connected to the base  12  by one or more screws or bolts that can be removed with the use of a tool. 
     The present disclosure is directed to the cleaning head base  12  having a brushroll  72  that is removable from the top  62  of the cleaning head base in the upward direction U and the suction nozzle  26  that is removable from the bottom  60  of the cleaning head base  12  in the downward direction D.