Abstract:
A method for cleaning surfaces having the steps of depositing a cleaning fluid onto the surface from a cleaning fluid reservoir on a wet extractor, contacting the surface with a hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner, applying ultrasonic vibrations to the surface using the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner to help release soil form the surface, and removing the cleaning fluid and soil using the wet extractor. A wet extractor having an ultrasonic cleaning component is also provided. Further provided is a combined cleaning system having a cleaning device and a hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner. The cleaning device has a dirt receptacle, a nozzle adapted to be positioned adjacent a surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum source adapted to generate a working air flow from the nozzle to the dirt receptacle. The hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner includes an ultrasonic wave generating source, an ultrasonic cleaning head adapted to be driven by the ultrasonic wave generating source, and a control switch adapted to selectively activate the ultrasonic wave generating source. Multiple variations thereof are also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to cleaning systems, and more specifically to devices and methods for cleaning floors, fabrics, carpets, clothing, upholstery, curtains, fabric, floors and various other hard and soft surfaces.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Many cleaning systems have been proposed for caring for carpeted and bare floors and various fabrics, such as clothing, upholstery and curtains. Examples of conventional cleaning systems include simple scrubbing tools, such as sponges and mops, and more complex vacuum devices, wet extraction devices (vacuums used in conjunction with a deposited fluid), steam cleaners (which use steam or hot water), and ultrasonic cleaning devices. Such devices are often used in conjunction with water, detergents and other chemicals that are useful in removing dirt, bacteria, stains or other undesired contaminants from the surface being cleaned.  
         [0003]     Although the known cleaning devices have been useful for performing particular cleaning operations, various shortcomings continue to affect the performance of these devices. For example, while wet extractors have been found to be useful for removing embedded dirt and stains, such devices are sometimes unable to restore carpets to their “as new” condition. In other cases, wet extractors are generally adequate at refurbishing the carpet, but are still unable to remove localized dirt concentrations or stains. As such, there remains a need to provide wet extractors and other types of cleaners that are better able to remove stubborn localized or widespread stains and dirt concentrations.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for cleaning surfaces. The method includes the steps of depositing a cleaning fluid onto the surface from a cleaning fluid reservoir on a wet extractor, contacting the surface with a hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner, applying ultrasonic vibrations to the surface using the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner to help release soil from the surface being cleaned, and removing the cleaning fluid and soil from the surface using the wet extractor. The method may also have variations that involve steps of: agitating the surface with a mechanical agitator on the wet extractor; depositing a rinsing fluid onto the surface from a rinsing fluid reservoir on the wet extractor and removing the rinsing fluid from the surface using the wet extractor; depositing a second fluid onto the surface from a second fluid reservoir separate from the wet extractor and the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner; and depositing a second fluid onto the surface from a second fluid reservoir on the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner.  
         [0005]     In another embodiment, the invention provides an ultrasonic wet extractor having a base assembly adapted to be moved on a surface to be cleaned, a handle assembly pivotally connected to the base assembly and adapted to be used to direct the movement of the base assembly, one or more fluid supply tanks, a fluid deposition system adapted to deposit at least a first fluid from the one or more fluid supply tanks onto the surface, a fluid recovery tank, an elongated extraction nozzle mounted on the base assembly and positioned to face the surface, and a vacuum source adapted to create a working air flow from the extraction nozzle to the fluid recovery tank. The device also includes an ultrasonic vibration device, mounted in the base assembly adjacent the surface and adapted to impart ultrasonic vibrations to the surface. In various embodiments, at least one of the one or more fluid supply tanks may be mounted on the base assembly, and may comprise a water supply tank and a detergent tank. The recovery tank may also be mounted on the base assembly. In another variation, the ultrasonic vibration device may include a laterally-extending carrier bar, a plurality of cleaning heads mounted to the carrier bar, and one or more ultrasonic drivers adapted to impart ultrasonic vibrations in the plurality of cleaning heads. The ultrasonic vibration device may also be movable, relative to the base assembly, in a direction perpendicular to the surface.  
         [0006]     In a third embodiment, the present invention provides a combined cleaning system having a cleaning device and a hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner. The cleaning device has a dirt receptacle, a nozzle adapted to be positioned adjacent a surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum source adapted to generate a working air flow from the nozzle to the dirt receptacle. The hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner includes an ultrasonic wave generating source, an ultrasonic cleaning head adapted to be driven by the ultrasonic wave generating source, and a control switch adapted to selectively activate the ultrasonic wave generating source.  
         [0007]     Multiple variations of the embodiments are provided. For example, the combined cleaning system may have a mount to hold the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner on the cleaning device, such as a holster on the cleaning device adapted to receive the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner. The combined cleaning system may also have an electrical circuit adapted to provide electricity to the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner. Such an electrical circuit may be a flexible electrical cord connecting the cleaning device to the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner. The flexible electrical cord may be retractable on a cordreel in the cleaning device housing, and may be disconnectable from at least one of the cleaning device and the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner. The electrical circuit may also include electrical terminals that attach the cleaning device to the spot cleaner when the spot cleaner is inserted into a holster on the cleaning device.  
         [0008]     In other variations, the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner may have batteries, which may be rechargeable, or may have an electrical cord that powers the spot cleaner from a wall outlet. If the batteries are rechargeable, the device may have a charging circuit for recharging the batteries. Such a charging circuit may include an electrical circuit that attaches to a corresponding circuit in the cleaning device. The charging circuit may also include a visual indicator that indicates when the batteries are being charged. The charging circuit may also be an electrical cord adapted to engage a wall outlet, and this electrical cord may be selectively detachable from the spot cleaner. The charging circuit also may have electrical prongs that are located on the spot cleaner and adapted to selectively engage a wall outlet. Such electrical prongs may be selectively retractable into the spot cleaner.  
         [0009]     In still other variations of the third embodiment, the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner may also have an audible signal generator adapted to create a human-audible sound when the ultrasonic wave generating source is activated. The spot cleaner may also have a fluid supply reservoir mounted to it, or such a fluid supply reservoir may be stored on the cleaning device.  
         [0010]     In various configurations, the cleaning device may have a base assembly adapted to be moved on a surface to be cleaned and a handle assembly pivotally connected to the base assembly and adapted to be used to direct the movement of the base assembly. The cleaning device may also be a wet extractor having one or more fluid supply tanks and a fluid deposition system adapted to deposit at least a first fluid from the one or more fluid supply tanks onto a surface to be cleaned. In this configuration, the dirt receptacle is a recovery tank and the nozzle is an extraction nozzle. The cleaning device may instead be a vacuum cleaner, in which case the dirt receptacle is a vacuum bag or a dirt cup.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment, the present invention provides a combined cleaning system having a wet extractor and a hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner adapted to be selectively mounted on the wet extractor. The wet extractor includes one or more fluid supply tanks, a fluid deposition system adapted to deposit at least a first fluid from the one or more fluid supply tanks onto a surface to be cleaned, a recovery tank, an extraction nozzle adapted to be positioned adjacent the surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum source adapted to generate a working air flow from the extraction nozzle to the recovery tank. The hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner includes an ultrasonic wave generating source, an ultrasonic cleaning head adapted to be driven by the ultrasonic wave generating source, and a control switch adapted to selectively activate the ultrasonic wave generating source. The spot cleaner may be selectively electrically attachable to the wet extractor.  
         [0012]     In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a combined cleaning system having a vacuum cleaner and a hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner adapted to be selectively mounted on the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner has a dirt container, a nozzle adapted to be positioned adjacent the surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum source adapted to generate a working air flow from the nozzle to the dirt container. The hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner includes an ultrasonic wave generating source, an ultrasonic cleaning head adapted to be driven by the ultrasonic wave generating source, and a control switch adapted to selectively activate the ultrasonic wave generating source. The spot cleaner of this embodiment may be selectively electrically attachable to the vacuum cleaner. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a combined cleaning system of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  shows a second embodiment of a combined cleaning system of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a fragmented view of the holster arrangement and a first embodiment of the ultrasonic spot cleaner of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  shows an alternative embodiment of the ultrasonic spot cleaner of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  shows another alternative embodiment of the ultrasonic spot cleaner of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3A  shows a third embodiment of a combined cleaning system of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3B  shows a fragmented view of the holster and ultrasonic spot cleaner of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A .  
         [0020]      FIG. 4A  shows a fourth embodiment of a combined cleaning system of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4B  is a fragmented view of the holster and ultrasonic spot cleaner of the embodiment of  FIG. 4A .  
         [0022]      FIG. 5A  shows a fifth embodiment of a combined cleaning system of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5B  is a partially cutaway view of the circled portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 5A .  
         [0024]      FIG. 5C  is a partially exploded view of the circled portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 5A .  
         [0025]      FIG. 6A  is a cutaway front view of a sixth embodiment of a combined cleaning system of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6B  is a cutaway side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6A .  
         [0027]      FIG. 7A  is a front view of a seventh embodiment of a combined cleaning system of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7B  is a partially cutaway side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7A .  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows still another embodiment of a combined cleaning system of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     The present invention generally provides a combined cleaning device having a wet extractor cleaning component and an ultrasonic cleaning component. Alternatively, it is also preferred to replace the wet extractor component with a dry vacuum component, steam cleaner component, or other type of cleaning device. In various embodiments, the cleaning components can be separate, or permanently or removably attached to one another.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the combined cleaning device  100  includes a wet extractor  102  and an ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  (shown packaged and not to scale). The wet extractor  102  preferably comprises an upright, canister, or portable style wet extractor unit that applies a fluid to a surface to be cleaned, then recovers the fluid using a suction device. The wet extractor  102  may be corded to operate from a wall outlet, or may be battery operated. Exemplary wet extractors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,355,762; 5,075,920; 5,400,462; 5,933,912; 6,189,174; 6,286,180; 6,325,864, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0032]     The wet extractor  102  can comprise and operate like any wet extractor. For example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the wet extractor  102  comprises a base portion  105  that is adapted to move across a floor surface, preferably by the provision of wheels  106 . The base  105  has a vacuum source (not shown) and appropriate motor (not shown) housed therein. The base  105  also includes a water supply tank  108 , a detergent tank  110 , and a recovery tank  112 . Water and detergent are supplied from their respective tanks, mixed by a user-controllable mixing valve (not shown) and deposited on the surface being cleaned by a selectively operable fluid deposition system. Such mixing valves and fluid deposition systems are well-known in the art. The deposited fluid may be agitated by an agitator  114 , which is visible in this embodiment through a window  116  in the base  105 . The agitator  114 , which may comprise any kind of mechanical agitator, also is preferably selectively controlled by the operator.  
         [0033]     In operation, the deposited fluid and any dirt or debris entrained therein is recovered from the surface being cleaned by activating the vacuum source (also selectively activated by the operator), which creates a vacuum at an extraction nozzle  118 . The extraction nozzle  118  is fluidly connected to the vacuum source by way of the recovery tank  112 . The fluid path between the extraction nozzle  118  and the recovery tank  112  is defined, in part, by a cavity between the base  105  and a removable nozzle cover  120 . The fluid path between the recovery tank  112  and the vacuum source is defined by an enclosed passage that includes a shutoff mechanism, such as a float, that interrupts the fluid path when the liquid accumulated in the recovery tank  112  exceeds a predetermined level, to thereby prevent liquid from overflowing the recovery tank.  
         [0034]     The wet extractor  102  also comprises a handle  122 , which may be a foldable handle having a lower handle portion  124  and an upper handle portion  126 . A locking mechanism  128  holds the handle portions  124 ,  126  rigid relative to one another. Another locking mechanism (not shown) holds the lower handle portion  124  rigid relative to the base  105  to prevent the handle  122  from moving during non-use, and is releasable, such as by a foot switch (not shown), to allow the handle  122  to pivot towards the operator during use. Such handle locking mechanisms are known in the art. The handle  122  also has a set of hand-operable controls  130  that are wired to selectively control the vacuum source, agitator  114  and fluid deposition system. Such controls are known in the art.  
         [0035]     The wet extractor  102  is also provided with a connection system, shown covered by door  132 , for attaching a remote cleaning tool. Such remote cleaning tools and other accessory tools are well-known in the art, and are useful for cleaning upholstery and other fabrics, such as curtains and even clothing. Other features, variations and details of the wet extractor  102  will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0036]     The ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  comprises any ultrasonic wave generating source having a horn or head that can be contacted against a target surface. Examples of ultrasonic cleaning devices are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,032,803, 5,247,716, 5,309,590, 6,376,444; U.S. Application Publication No. 2001/0037537, and Japanese Publication Nos. 61-249500, 2001-113087, 2002-186921, 2002-191893, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0037]     The ultrasonic spot cleaner generally comprises a power supply (either a battery or a remotely-accessed outlet supply) that drives an ultrasonic frequency generator. Such frequency generators are well known, and may include a solid-state (e.g., MOSFET circuit) operated system or other feedback or feedforward control systems. The frequency generator drives a transducer (such as a langevin-type device) that, in turn, drives a horn or cleaning head to convey the ultrasonic vibrations to the target surface. The electronics are preferably stored in a water-tight hand-held case, and a protective shroud is preferably arranged around the horn to prevent unwanted contact.  
         [0038]     The ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  may be corded or battery-operated (either disposable or rechargeable). In one embodiment, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  is provided with a recharging stand or plug. The ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  also may have any number of cleaning heads or cleaning head shapes (e.g., rectangular, pointed, rounded, bristled, etc.). The cleaning head also may be replaceable for cleaning different surfaces. In still other embodiments, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  may have multiple or variable amplitude, power and/or frequency settings to tune the device for cleaning particular surfaces. In one exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic cleaning device operates at above 20 kHz (cycles per second), has an amplitude of about 1 to about 1000 micrometers, and operates at room temperature up to about the boiling point of the fluid (if any) desired to be used as the cleaning fluid. Any electronic control system may be used to control the ultrasonic spot cleaner. For example a feedback system and/or cutoff sensor and switch may be provided to ensure that the desired operating parameters are not exceeded.  
         [0039]     While the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  is described herein as being “ultrasonic” (i.e., operating above the normal range of human hearing, which typically does not exceed 20 kHz) it will be understood that the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  may also operate well below 20 kHz and/or within the range of human hearing.  
         [0040]     In a preferred method of use, the operator uses the wet extractor  102  to apply a cleaning fluid to a surface being cleaned, optionally agitates the fluid, and removes the fluid with the extraction nozzle  118 . When the operator is unable to remove a stain or clean a particularly dirty portion of the surface, the operator applies cleaning fluid to that portion of the surface (the target area) using the wet extractor  102  and/or a separate fluid reservoir (which may be separate or stored on the wet extractor  102  or ultrasonic spot cleaner  104 ), removes the wet extractor  102  from the target area, activates the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104 , and contacts the target area with the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  to provide additional cleaning at that location. The ultrasonic cleaner helps remove the soil. As used herein, the term “soil” includes any type of unwanted stain, debris, dirt or other contamination, whether caused by dirt, liquids, chemicals or any other medium. The operator can use the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  in a number of ways, such as by pressing the spot cleaner into the target area, wiping the spot cleaner across the target area, and so on. Once the operator has finished agitating the target area with the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104 , the operator uses the wet extractor  102  to remove the cleaning fluid and any soil entrained therein from the target area. The operator may optionally use the wet extractor to add additional cleaning fluid and perform more agitation to the target surface before the final fluid removal step.  
         [0041]     In order to obtain the improved cleaning performance provided by this cleaning method, in the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , the wet extractor  102  and ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  are provided together as a kit. The kit is also preferably provided with instructions to use the ultrasonic spot cleaner  104  to spot clean particular areas during cleaning with the wet extractor  102 . Such instructions preferably include the cleaning steps as described above or similar instructions.  
         [0042]     In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS.  2 A-D, a wet extractor  202  such as that described above or of similar construction is provided with an ultrasonic spot cleaner  204 , also as described above. In this embodiment, however, the wet extractor  202  is additionally provided with a holster  206  or other enclosed or open holding chamber in which the ultrasonic spot cleaner  204  can be stored. The holster may also be replaced with any type of mounting system that allows the ultrasonic spot cleaner  204  to be stored on or in the wet extractor  202 , such as a hook-and-loop (e.g. VELCRO) mount, a magnetic mount, a spring clip, or a simple hook. In embodiments in which the ultrasonic spot cleaner  204  is cord-operated, the holster  206  preferably holds the cord  208  as well, as shown in  FIG. 2A . Furthermore, while the holster  206  of the embodiment of FIGS.  2 A-D is shown being located in the wet extractor&#39;s handle  203 , the holster may instead be located in the wet extractor&#39;s base  205 .  
         [0043]     While the embodiment of FIGS.  2 A-D shows the ultrasonic spot cleaner being operated by a conventional wall outlet  210  ( FIG. 2D ) (which may be the same outlet that powers the wet extractor  202 ), the corded ultrasonic spot cleaner  204  may instead be operated by being plugged into an outlet integrated into the wet extractor housing (see FIGS.  4 A-B). Such an auxiliary outlet is preferably GFCI (ground fault current interrupt) protected and/or fused to protect the operator from electrocution caused by short circuits or other wiring problems.  
         [0044]     It will also be seen that two examples of cordless ultrasonic spot cleaners are shown in  FIGS. 2C and 2D . Of course, such cordless versions may be used with other embodiments of the invention. In a first cordless ultrasonic spot cleaner  212 , shown in  FIG. 2D , the device includes a main body  218  that contains a battery or batteries, and also houses the recharging circuitry (wiring, voltage regulators, transformers, fuses, etc.) necessary to recharge the internal battery or batteries. The device  212  is also provided with a pair of folding male electrical prongs  214  that are normally shielded by the main body  218 , but fold out to fit into an outlet  210  to recharge the device. The device  212  also includes a bar-shaped cleaning head  220  and a trigger  216  to operate the device. The trigger  216  may comprise a momentary switch that only activates the device when it is being actuated by the operator, or may comprise a toggle switch that remains on after being actuated. Other controls (not shown) may be provided to modify or select the operating amplitude and/or frequency of the device.  
         [0045]     In a second embodiment of a cordless ultrasonic spot cleaner, shown in  FIG. 2C , the spot cleaner  222  comprises a separate recharging cord  224 . In this embodiment, the device  222  has battery charging circuitry that is contained either the device  222  or in the recharging cord  224 , or partially in both. In this embodiment, the device  222  is removably attached to the recharging cord  224  by way of a plug receptacle  226  (male or female) in the device  222 . The receptacle  226  is preferably provided with a cover (not shown) for sealing the receptacle against fluid entry. A standard male wall outlet plug  228  is provided to attach the recharging cord  224  to a wall outlet  210  ( FIG. 2D ).  
         [0046]     Referring now to FIGS.  3 A-B, still another embodiment of the present invention is described. In this embodiment, the present invention comprises a combined cleaning device  300  having a wet extractor  302  and a rechargeable battery operated ultrasonic spot cleaner  304  that is adapted to be recharged when it is installed in a holster  306  in the wet extractor  302 . As explained previously, the holster  306  may be located anywhere in the wet extractor  302 , and may be exposed for direct access, or may be covered. In this embodiment, the holster  306  is provided with a charging port  310  having positive and negative charging terminals. The ultrasonic spot cleaner  304  is provided with a charging plug  308  having positive and negative terminals that fit into the charging port in a complementary manner to thereby electrically connect the device for charging. In this embodiment, the charging circuitry may be located in either the ultrasonic spot cleaner  304  or the wet extractor  302 , or partially in each, and appropriate fuses and/or protection circuits (not shown) are preferably provided.  
         [0047]     An additional feature of the embodiment of FIGS.  3 A-B is the inclusion of a visual indicator  314  on the wet extractor handle or base to indicate the operating status of the ultrasonic spot cleaner  304 . Such an indicator  314  may indicate various types of information, such as: whether the ultrasonic spot cleaner is being charged; whether the charge is complete; the level of charge or remaining battery life; whether any fault conditions exist (either with respect to the battery or any other feature of the spot cleaner  304  and/or wet extractor  302 ); and so on. The visual indicator  314  may comprise one or more lights, liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, or any other visible device that provides the user with information regarding the charging status or operational state of the ultrasonic spot cleaner  304  and/or wet extractor  302 . It may also be desirable in this or other embodiments to provide such a visual indicator on the ultrasonic spot cleaner  304  itself, as shown by visual indicator  312  (either in addition to or in lieu of visual indicator  314 ). Such an indicator also may indicate the aforementioned information, and may also indicate when the device is on or off, which is particularly useful when the device operates outside the range of human hearing. Such a visual indicator  312  may also indicate other information relating to the operational state of the ultrasonic spot cleaner  304 , such as the frequency or amplitude of the ultrasonic vibrations or the cleaning mode currently being used. The ultrasonic spot cleaner  304  also may be equipped with a tone generator (e.g., a speaker) that emits an audible tone when the device is emitting ultrasonic waves to indicate when the device is on.  
         [0048]     In yet another embodiment, shown in FIGS.  4 A-B, the invention comprises a combined cleaning device  400  having a wet extractor  402  and an ultrasonic spot cleaner  404  that is directly powered by the wet extractor  402 . As with previous embodiments, a holster  406  may optionally be provided to hold the ultrasonic spot cleaner  404 , and the holster may be in the wet extractor&#39;s handle or base or otherwise located on the wet extractor, and may be directly accessible or covered. However, the holster  406  is not required. In the embodiment of FIGS.  4 A-B, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  404  is permanently or removably wired to the wet extractor  402  by way of an electrical cord  408 . In this embodiment, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  404  also may comprise internal batteries to allow unplugged use, or may not be operable without the use of the cord  408 . The cord  408  may be removably inserted into appropriate plugs in one or both of the wet extractor  402  and the ultrasonic spot cleaner  402 , and may also be retractable into the wet extractor or ultrasonic spot cleaner housing to minimize the possibility of the cord  408  becoming entangled when the ultrasonic spot cleaner  404  is not in use. Any retraction device (not shown) may be used with the invention, but it is preferably spring-loaded to minimize the operator&#39;s effort to retract the cord  408 . When a retractor is not used, the cord may be coiled, as shown, to minimize the cord length when not in use.  
         [0049]     Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS.  5 A-C. In this embodiment, the invention comprises a combined cleaning device  500  having a wet extractor  502  and an ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  that is integrated into the wet extractor  502 . The ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  may be provided in addition to, or in lieu of the wet extractor&#39;s regular agitator (if a regular agitator is provided), and may be operated by its own control circuit having a separate switch  506 , or by the regular agitator&#39;s control circuit and switch.  
         [0050]     As shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  comprises a number of cleaning heads  508  that are attached to a common carrier bar  510 . Each cleaning head  508  may have its own ultrasonic driver, or they may share common drivers. Also, a single cleaning head  508 , having one or more drivers, may be used instead. Still further, the cleaning heads  508  may instead be located individually or in groups on separate carrier bars. The individual cleaning heads  508  or groups of cleaning heads may be flexibly mounted to the carrier bar  510  to allow them to move independently to a limited degree to thereby allow them to conform to uneven surfaces and provide enhanced cleaning performance. While the cleaning heads  508  of FIGS.  5 B-C are shown in a generally linear pattern, other patterns may be used, such as overlapping patterns and the like. Such patterns may be tailored to clean particular surfaces, fabric types or depths of carpets, and may be adapted to clean uneven surfaces.  
         [0051]     The ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  is retained in the wet extractor  502  such that it is contactable with the surface to be cleaned. In the shown embodiment several clips  512  and posts  514  serve to locate and retain the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  in the proper location, in which it is suspended with the cleaning heads  508  in contact with the surface upon which the wet extractor  502  rests. The cleaning heads  508  are vertically displaceable to move up and down to follow the contours of the surface being cleaned.  
         [0052]     While the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  may be permanently installed in the wet extractor  502  (i.e., not intended to be removed during regular use), in the embodiment of FIGS.  5 A-C, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  is selectively removable from the wet extractor  502 . In this embodiment, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  may actually be installed in a cradle (not shown) that normally retains a conventional agitator (not shown), such as a bristle brush or foam scrubbing pad. Such a cradle may be adapted to vibrate or otherwise move to provide the conventional agitator with an agitating motion. When the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  is installed, the cradle&#39;s agitating motion may be disabled or, alternatively, may be activated to give the ultrasonic spot cleaner additional mechanical agitating motion.  
         [0053]     While the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  may be battery-powered, it is preferred for the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  to be electrically connected to the wet extractor&#39;s electrical system. In the embodiment of FIGS.  5 A-C, this electrical connection is provided by plug-type electrical contacts  516  that insert into corresponding receptacles (not shown) in the wet extractor  502  to complete the electrical circuit. These electrical contacts  516  conveniently engage when the removable ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  is inserted into the wet extractor  502 , and are preferably shielded to prevent contact by cleaning fluids. Alternatively, in another embodiment (see  FIG. 6A ), the electrical contacts  516  may be placed at the end of an electrical cord that extends from the carrier bar  510  to be inserted into a corresponding outlet located on the wet extractor  502  (or a wall outlet) away from the areas where liquid may be present, to further ensure that the electrical contacts  516  are not exposed to contact by cleaning fluids.  
         [0054]     The embodiment of FIGS.  5 A-C may be operated somewhat differently from the previous embodiments. For example, in a preferred method of use, the operator uses the wet extractor  502  to apply a cleaning fluid to a surface being cleaned, optionally agitates the fluid, and removes fluid through the extraction nozzle. When the operator is unable to remove a stain or clean a particularly dirty portion of the surface being cleaned, the operator activates the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504 , and contacts the target area with the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  to provide increased cleaning at that location. Alternatively, when no other agitator is provided, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  may be operated as the primary agitator to clean the entire surface being cleaned, rather than just target areas having stubborn stains. Instructions to operate the combined cleaning device  500  may optionally be provided with the device.  
         [0055]     A number of additional features can be added to the combined cleaning device  500  to optimize cleaning performance. One additional feature is a self-propelled drive system that moves the wet extractor  502  across the surface being cleaned at a specific speed to provide optimal cleaning performance. The drive control system may have pre-selected or adjustable speed settings for various surfaces, and/or may include a feedback system that senses cleaning performance and adjusts the speed accordingly. Additional safety and convenience features also may be provided, such as control circuitry that turns off the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  when no cleaning fluid is present, or turns off the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504  if its temperature exceeds a threshold value, if it meets excessive resistance from the surface or is pressed against the surface too hard, or if it remains in one location for more than a predetermined period of time. The fluid deposition system of the wet extractor  502  also may be adapted to have different spray nozzle positions and configurations and spray patterns to optimize the ultrasonic spot cleaner performance. In still another embodiment, the wet extractor  502  may be provided with a separate detergent deposition system, in addition to a conventional detergent deposition system, that deposits an ultrasonic-specific cleaning solution mixture during use of the ultrasonic spot cleaner  504 . An additional detergent reservoir (not shown) may be provided on the wet extractor  502  as part of this embodiment.  
         [0056]     Referring now to FIGS.  6 A-B, cutaway front ( FIG. 6A ) and side ( FIG. 6B ) views of a variation of the embodiment of FIGS.  5 A-C are shown. In the embodiment of FIGS.  6 A-B, an ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  is retained in a wet extractor housing  602  in a permanent fashion—that is, in a manner that does not encourage or allow removing or inserting the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  during regular use. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  comprises a number of cleaning heads  608  that are carried by a common carrier bar  610 . The ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  is powered by electrical wires  612  that are permanently or removably wired to the wet extractor&#39;s electrical system to allow selective operation thereof.  
         [0057]     In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  is retained in the wet extractor housing  602  in such a manner that it allows some vertical displacement to help the device float over the contours of the surface being cleaned  624 . For example, as shown in the front cutaway view, the carrier bar  610  is held in the wet extractor housing  602  by two or more posts  614 . In this embodiment, springs  618  are provided to carry a portion of the weight of the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604 , and thereby reduce the amount of force applied by the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  against the surface being cleaned  624 . Of course, such springs need not be applied if the weight of the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  is not determined or found to be too great to provide good cleaning operation. Alternatively, if the ultrasonic spot cleaner requires more downward force than its own weight can provide to give optimal cleaning, springs may be located between the carrier bar  610  and the wet extractor housing  602  to bias the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  downward into the surface being cleaned  624 . In either case, the springs may be placed on moveable perches (not shown) to adjust their preload to increase or decrease the force applied to the surface being cleaned  624 . It is also envisioned that the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  can be mounted such that it can be lifted entirely from the surface being cleaned  624  to prevent its use.  
         [0058]      FIG. 6B  also shows one possible location of the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  relative to other wet extractor components. (The front of the wet extractor is to the left in this view.) In this embodiment, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604  is located between the spray nozzle(s)  620  and the extraction nozzle(s)  622 . As the device is moved forward (i.e., to the left in  FIG. 6B ), cleaning fluid is deposited on the surface being cleaned  624 , agitated by the ultrasonic spot cleaner  604 , then recovered by the extraction nozzle  622 . Other configurations, such a reversed configuration or a configuration having spray nozzles or extraction nozzles located on both sides of the ultrasonic spot cleaner (or multiple ultrasonic spot cleaners) may also be used.  
         [0059]     In still another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS.  7 A-B, an ultrasonic spot cleaner  704  may be permanently or removably integrated into a wet extractor remote accessory tool  702 . In this embodiment, the accessory tool is provided with an ultrasonic spot cleaner  704 , a cleaning fluid spray nozzle  720 , and an extraction nozzle  722 . A grip  706  is provided for the operator to grasp, and a trigger  708  is provided for activating the spray nozzle  720  to deposit fluid. A switch  710  is provided to activate the ultrasonic spot cleaner  702 .  
         [0060]     The accessory tool  702  is attached to a wet extractor (not shown) by way of a flexible hose  712 , which houses electrical wires to supply power to the ultrasonic spot cleaner  704 , a fluid hose to provide fluid to the nozzle  720 , and a vacuum passage that leads to the extraction nozzle  722 . Alternatively, the ultrasonic spot cleaner  704  may be provided as a removable unit, as described with reference to FIGS.  5 A-C, that is powered by the wet extractor electrical system, by separate attachment to a power outlet, or by batteries. The use of a battery-powered ultrasonic spot cleaner in the accessory tool  702  is particularly desirable if there is concern that running electrical wires to power the ultrasonic spot cleaner  704  through or along the hose  812  might result in an electrocution hazard. Naturally, the other variations described above with reference to FIGS.  5 A-C and elsewhere herein may be employed with the embodiments of FIGS.  6 A-B and  7 A-B.  
         [0061]     As explained previously herein, the wet extractor of the invention can be replaced by a vacuum. Such a vacuum can be any type of vacuum, such as a bag vacuum, a bagless vacuum, a cyclonic vacuum, and the like.  FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of a combined cleaning system  800  of the invention in which the wet extractor has been replaced by a conventional bag vacuum  802 . The vacuum  802  is of the upright variety having a base  804  adapted to move on a surface being cleaned and a rear housing  806  pivotally attached to the base  804 . The rear housing  806  has a covered vacuum bag storage compartment  810  (or dirt cup, which may surround or be below a cyclonic separator), and an operating handle  812 . In this embodiment, an ultrasonic spot cleaner  814  is provided to fit into a holster  816  on the side of the rear housing  806 .  
         [0062]     The combined cleaning system  800  also may have a separate fluid reservoir  818  stored thereon, as described above with reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . Clips  820  or other mounting devices are provided to securely hold the fluid reservoir  818 , which in this case is a simple spray bottle as are known in the art. The fluid reservoir  818  is provided to contain a cleaning fluid for use with the ultrasonic spot cleaner  814 , if desired. It will also be appreciated that the ultrasonic spot cleaner  814  may alternatively be provided with its own fluid reservoir, as also noted above with respect to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . It will also be appreciated that the ultrasonic spot cleaner  814  and/or fluid reservoir  818  may be located elsewhere on the vacuum cleaner  802 .  
         [0063]     While the foregoing embodiments have described a combined cleaning device having a upright wet extractor or vacuum cleaner and an ultrasonic spot cleaner, in other embodiments the combined cleaning device may instead comprise a steam cleaner, or other type of cleaner used in conjunction with an ultrasonic spot cleaner. It will also be understood that the present invention is also applicable for use with non-upright (e.g., portable or canister) cleaners. It will also be understood that many other variations can be used with the present invention, for example, the ultrasonic spot cleaner may be mounted on a handle that allows it to be used to clean stubborn spots on a floor without requiring the user to bend over. Moreover, it will be understood that any permutations of the invention that are described herein with reference one embodiment of the invention may also be practiced with other embodiments.