Abstract:
A three-tank carpet spot cleaning device having a cleaning fluid tank, a rinse water tank, and a recovery tank. In use, a user uses cleaning fluid to spot treat the spot, and then is able to rinse all residue of the cleaning fluid from the carpet using the rinse water.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to machinery used to clean carpets, and more particularly to a cleaning machines used to clean spots of soiled carpeting. 
     2. Background Information 
     The art of cleaning carpeting through applying a solution to soiled carpeting and then using a vacuum to remove said solution (and dissolved soil) from the carpeting. Such carpet cleaners typically have two tanks, one which contains a wash solution which is pumped onto the carpet, particularly where the carpet is soiled, and this solution (and dissolved soil) is sucked back out of the carpet by the carpet cleaner and into a second residual water tank. An example of such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,361 (Huffman). 
     Other carpet cleaners have three or more tanks, for instance U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,223 to Fiegel, discloses a cleaning apparatus having separate, modular dirt collection, cleaning solution, and rinse water tanks. 
     Another example of a three tank carpet cleaner is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,459 to Gilbert. Gilbert discloses a carpet cleaner having a residual tank, a steam solution tank and a detergent tank. Gilbert does not disclose a separate tank of rinse water. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a carpet spot removing device for cleaning spots of soiled carpeting. The invented device has a housing containing a cleaning solution supply reservoir containing a supply of cleaning solution to be applied to the carpeting. The housing also contains a rinse fluid supply reservoir containing a supply of a rinse fluid for rinsing the carpeting. The housing further contains a pumping means for generating a supply of pressurized cleaning solution from the cleaning solution supply reservoir and/or pressurized rinse fluid from the rinse fluid supply reservoir. 
     In the present invention, a user is able to select between applying pressurized cleaning solution and applying rinse fluid through a selection means, such as a toggle switch. At least one application means is then used by the present invention to apply the pressurized cleaning fluid solution and/or the pressurized rinse fluid to the carpeting. In this configuration, a user is able to apply a cleaning fluid to the soiled carpeting, suction extract the cleaning fluid and suspended soil matter, and then rinse the area with the rinse fluid. This rinse fluid (and any suspended/dissolved matter) would then be extracted as well. 
     Provided within the housing is a vacuum motor for generating a working air flow. This working air flow is used to extract the fluids from the carpeting. It is preferred that a power head or nozzle and hose be attached to the housing. This extracted fluid is then deposited in a recovery reservoir provided in the housing adapted to receive from the power head, the working air flow generated by the vacuum motor. After at least a portion of the extracted fluid is removed from working airflow, the working airflow is exhausted from the housing. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side, partial view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a rear end view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a front end view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
     The present invention is a carpet spot removing device  10 . Initially referring to FIG. 1, the device  10  is shown having a housing  12  comprising a top (first) housing  11  and a bottom (second) housing  13 . This housing  12  contains the various components of the present invention. The preferred embodiment utilizes separate top and bottom housings. The top housing  11  is latched to the bottom housing  13  through use of a latch  40  or other attachment means. 
     In this embodiment, able to attach to the housing  12  at an intake spout  28  is a vacuum hose  25  which preferably connects to a power head or cleaning tool  24 . A fluid hose  17  for carrying pressurized cleaning fluid and rinse fluid is also provided. Airflow exhausted from the housing  12  is exhausted through an exhaust port  30 . Operation of the vacuum means and selection of the pressurized fluid to be applied is controlled through control means  33  located on the housing  12 . 
     The housing  12  preferably has at least one handle means  36 ,  36 ′ for allowing a user to operate and use the device  10 . It is also preferred that at least one wheel means  38  be utilized to assist the maneuverability of the device  10 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a second view of the present invention  10  is shown. In this view, the housing  12  is comprised of a top housing  11  and a bottom housing  13 . The inventors prefer the use of separate housings  11 ,  13 , however the use of a solitary housing would also be possible and is considered within the scope of the invention. A seal means  41  may be utilized to make the housing  12  more air/fluid tight. 
     The bottom housing  13  shown in FIG. 2 has a cleaning solution supply reservoir  14  and a rinse fluid supply reservoir  16 . While the rinse fluid supply reservoir  16  is shown to the rear of the cleaning solution supply reservoir  14 , any location or arrangement of these reservoirs  14 ,  16  is also envisioned. The rinse fluid supply reservoir  16  is for containing a supply of rinse fluid  6 , such as water, for application to soiled carpeting. The cleaning solution supply reservoir  14  is for containing a supply of cleaning fluid  4 , such as detergent or other cleaning chemicals, also for application to soiled carpeting. 
     Also contained within the housing  12  is a vacuum means  26 , such as a vacuum motor. While it is preferred that the vacuum means  26  be located inside the housing  12 , it is also envisioned that the vacuum means  26  could be located outside the housing  12 . The vacuum means  26  is for creating a working airflow “A” in an intake spout  28  and out an exhaust port  30  of the housing  12 . The preferred vacuum means  26  is an electric motor which is electrically connected to a power source. 
     The device  10  further has at least one pump means  18 . This pump means  18  is preferably located within the housing  12  and is used to pump fluid from a valve  31  to a fluid hose connection  15  through use of solution lines  43 ,  43 ′. This pump means  18  is turned on and off through controls  33 . The pump means  18 , thus pressurizes fluid supplied to it from the valve  31 . 
     The valve  31  is controlled through a selection means  32 , such as a toggle switch. The valve  31  connects to a cleaning solution intake line  42  and a rinse fluid intake line  44  which are respectfully, fluidly connected with the cleaning solution reservoir  14 , and the rinse fluid reservoir  16 . The valve  31  thus allows a user to select which of the two fluids ( 4 ,  6 ) to be pumped by the pump means  18  through the fluid hose  17  and applied to the soiled carpeting. 
     As shown the top housing  11  contains the recovery  26 . As discussed above, working airflow “A” which contains fluids, solids, and dissolved soil, is drawn into the housing  12  through the intake spout  28  by the vacuum means  22 . The recovery reservoir  26  separates at least a portion of this airborme matter from the airflow “A”, and the airflow “A” exits the recovery reservoir  26  at a vent  29 . 
     When The user is trough using the device  10 , or when the recovery reservoir  26  becomes full enough of extracted fluid  8  that it needs to be emptied, the user will empty the recovery reservoir  26 . Emptying the recovery reservoir  26  is preferably done through the intake spout  28 . First, the top housing  1 I 1  is detached from the bottom housing  13 , and the vacuum hose  25  is detached from the intake spout. Then, the extracted fluid  8  is poured out of the intake spout  28 . Optionally, a cap  35  exists as an additional place where the user can dump the extracted fluid  8  from and also as providing access to the recovery reservoir  26 . Emptying of the device  10  is assisted through use of the handle  36 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the present invention. In this view, the latch  40  for holding the top housing  11  attached to the bottom housing  13  is shown. Other means of holding the housings  11 ,  13  together are also envisioned, as well as the use of a plurality of such latches  40 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the controls  33  of the device  10 . These controls  33  include an on-off means  34  and a fluid selection means  32 . The controls  33  could be located at other locations. The fluid selection means  32  allows the user to control which of the two fluids will be pumped by the pump. If two pumps are provided, then the selection means would control which pump is pumping. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a front view of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the present invention. 
     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.