Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a vacuum cleaner attachment which can be connected to a dry vacuum cleaner to convert the dry vacuum cleaner into a wet vacuum cleaner such that a liquid can be removed from a surface. The vacuum cleaner has a vacuum source for drawing an air stream through an inlet and exhausting the air stream through an outlet.

In one embodiment a floor cleaner is disclosed, the floor cleaner including a vacuum source, a suction inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum source, and a recovery tank in fluid communication with the vacuum source and the suction inlet. The recovery tank is configured to contain a fluid drawn by the vacuum source through the suction inlet from a surface to be cleaned. The recovery tank includes a tank body, a tank inlet, a suction air outlet, a shutoff float, and a float cage. The shutoff float includes a float body, a closure, and a first interconnecting member. The float cage has a first end and a second end, the second end surrounding the suction air outlet. The recovery tank further includes a second interconnecting member configured to engage the first interconnecting member. The shutoff float is positionable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the first interconnecting member engages the second interconnecting member to retain the closure a predetermined distance from the suction air outlet inhibiting movement of the shutoff float toward the suction air outlet. In the second position the closure is adjacent the second end of the float cage and is in communication with the suction air outlet. The shutoff float is movable between the first position and second position when the first interconnecting member disengages the second interconnecting member.

In another embodiment a floor cleaner is disclosed including a vacuum source, a suction inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum source, and a recovery tank in fluid communication with the vacuum source and the suction inlet. The recovery tank is configured to contain a fluid drawn by the vacuum source through the suction inlet from a surface to be cleaned. The recovery tank includes a tank body, a tank inlet, a suction air outlet, a float, and a float guide. The float includes a float body, a float closure, and a first interconnecting member. The float guide includes a second interconnecting member configured to engage the first interconnecting member. The float guide is configured to direct the float from a first position in which the first interconnecting member engages the second interconnecting member retaining the closure a predetermined distance from the suction air outlet inhibiting movement of the float toward the suction air outlet and enabling air flow through the outlet toward a second position in which the closure is in communication with the outlet inhibiting air flow through the outlet. The float is movable between the first position and the second position when the first interconnecting member disengages the second interconnecting member.

<FIG> illustrates a floor cleaner <NUM>. The floor cleaner <NUM> includes a supply tank <NUM>, a recovery tank <NUM>, a distribution nozzle <NUM>, a suction inlet <NUM>, and a vacuum source <NUM>. The distribution nozzle <NUM> is operable to dispense a fluid from the supply tank <NUM> onto a surface to be cleaned <NUM>. The vacuum source <NUM> generates a suction airflow to draw fluid from the surface to be cleaned <NUM>, through the suction inlet <NUM> and into the recovery tank <NUM>. The recovery tank <NUM> is configured to contain the fluid and includes an inlet <NUM>, a suction air outlet <NUM>, and a shutoff float <NUM>. The shutoff float <NUM> is positionable in a first position that allows air flow through the suction air outlet <NUM> when the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> is below a predetermined level, and a second position that inhibits suction air flow through the suction air outlet <NUM> when the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> is above a predetermined level.

Referring to <FIG>, the shutoff float <NUM> includes a first interconnecting member <NUM> that cooperates with a second interconnecting member <NUM> in the recovery tank <NUM> to retain the shutoff float <NUM> in the first position when the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> is below the predetermined level. The float <NUM> is retained inhibiting movement of the shutoff float toward the suction air outlet <NUM> such that the float <NUM> stays in place during movement of the floor cleaner <NUM>. For example, the movement of the floor cleaner <NUM> may include pushing and pulling the floor cleaner <NUM> across the surface <NUM> (<FIG>), steering the floor cleaner (e.g., pivotal movement of the handle portion <NUM> about axis <NUM>), and pivoting the handle portion <NUM> about axis <NUM>. The float <NUM> is retained in position until the fluid level rises in the recovery tank <NUM> to the predetermined level releasing the float <NUM> from its retained position to float on the fluid.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the floor cleaner <NUM> includes a user manipulatable handle portion <NUM> pivotally connected to a base <NUM> about a first axis <NUM> parallel to the surface to be cleaned <NUM> to allow the handle portion <NUM> to pivot between an upright position and an inclined use position. The recovery tank <NUM> is connected to the handle portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the shutoff float <NUM> comprises a float body <NUM>, a closure <NUM>, and a neck <NUM> that extends from the float body <NUM>. As air and fluid enter the recovery tank <NUM> through the tank inlet <NUM>, fluid is separated from the air by baffles forming an air/water separator <NUM> and collected in the recovery tank <NUM> such that the float body <NUM> floats on the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM>. As the fluid level in the recovery tank <NUM> rises, the shutoff float <NUM> is directed toward the suction air outlet <NUM>, and with continued fluid ingress the closure <NUM> is raised until the closure <NUM> is received in the suction air outlet <NUM> to close the suction air outlet <NUM> when the fluid reaches or exceeds a desired level. The float <NUM> can be directed toward the suction air outlet <NUM> by a float guide <NUM> such as one or more guiding ribs, a rod, a shaft, a sleeve, a bushing, a tube, a float cage, or other components or techniques that guide the float toward the suction air outlet as fluid rises in the tank.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the float guide <NUM> directs the float <NUM> toward the suction air outlet <NUM> by a float cage <NUM>. The float cage <NUM> has a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> opposite the first end <NUM>. The second end <NUM> surrounds the suction air outlet <NUM>. In one embodiment, the float cage <NUM> includes a screen <NUM> that filters suction air flow before the suction air outlet <NUM>. The screen <NUM> forms a peripheral surface of the float cage <NUM> between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>.

The shutoff float <NUM> is retained in the first position when the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> is below the predetermined level by engagement of a first interconnecting member <NUM> and a second interconnecting member <NUM>. Stated another way, the first interconnecting member <NUM> engages the second interconnecting member <NUM> in the first position retaining the closure <NUM> a predetermined distance from the suction air outlet, inhibiting movement of the shutoff float <NUM> toward the suction air outlet <NUM>. In this embodiment, the neck <NUM> of the float <NUM> includes the first interconnecting member <NUM>. The first end <NUM> of the float cage <NUM> includes the second interconnecting member <NUM> configured to engage the first interconnecting member <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the first interconnecting member <NUM> is a recess and the second interconnecting member <NUM> is a tab that engages the recess when the float <NUM> is in the first position. In one embodiment, the first interconnecting member <NUM> is a tab and the second interconnecting member <NUM> is a recess. In other embodiments, the interconnecting members may be other features or shapes configured to engage one interconnecting member with another interconnecting member in the first position, such as an abutment engaging a mating surface, a first protrusion engaging a second protrusion, a first contact surface engaging a second contact surface, or other interconnecting members. Engagement between the first and second interconnecting members may be by any connection or locking engagement, including by a surface on one member being in contact with a surface on the other member retained by sliding friction.

The shutoff float <NUM> is movable between the first position where the closure <NUM> is adjacent the first end <NUM> (<FIG>) and the second position where the closure <NUM> is adjacent the second end <NUM> (<FIG>). In one embodiment, the neck <NUM> extends through an aperture <NUM> in the first end <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) of the float cage <NUM> and the float body <NUM> is positioned external the float cage <NUM>. When fluid enters the recovery tank <NUM> and lifts the float body <NUM>, the shutoff float <NUM> moves from the first position to the second position, and the closure <NUM> moves within the float cage <NUM>. In the first position the shutoff float <NUM> is a predetermined distance away from the suction air outlet <NUM>, allowing air flow through the suction air outlet <NUM>. In the second position the closure <NUM> is adjacent to, and in communication with, the suction air outlet <NUM> (<FIG>) inhibiting air flow through the suction air outlet <NUM>.

Gravity causes the shutoff float <NUM> to move downwardly in the absence of fluid in the recovery tank <NUM>. When the shutoff float <NUM> moves to the first position by gravity, the position and weight of the float <NUM> cause the first and second interconnecting members <NUM> and <NUM> to engage and retain the float <NUM> in the first position. Once the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> reaches or exceeds a predetermined level, buoyancy exerted by the fluid on the float body <NUM> causes the first interconnecting member <NUM> to disengage the second interconnecting member <NUM>, enabling the float body <NUM> to float on the fluid. As the fluid level rises in the recovery tank <NUM>, the shutoff float <NUM> is guided into the second position in which the closure <NUM> of the shutoff float <NUM> is in communication with the suction air outlet <NUM> when the fluid reaches the predetermined level. When the shutoff float <NUM> is in the second position, the closure <NUM> reduces or inhibits airflow through the suction air outlet <NUM> when the fluid reaches the predetermined level, thereby reducing or inhibiting the suction airflow through the floor cleaner <NUM> to reduce additional fluid from entering the recovery tank <NUM> and to inhibit fluid from passing through the suction air outlet <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, a gasket <NUM> at least partially closes a gap between the shutoff float <NUM> and an edge of the aperture <NUM> in the first end <NUM> of the float cage <NUM> to inhibit debris entering the float cage <NUM> through the aperture <NUM>. The gasket <NUM> may be provided around the neck <NUM>, closure <NUM>, or other portion of the float <NUM> to at least partially close the aperture <NUM> when the shutoff float <NUM> is in the first position. In one embodiment, the first end <NUM> of the float cage <NUM> includes the gasket <NUM> at least partially closing the aperture <NUM> configured to engage the shutoff float <NUM> to inhibit debris entering the float cage <NUM> when the shutoff float <NUM> is in the first position. In one embodiment, the gasket <NUM> at least partially closes the aperture <NUM> to inhibit debris entering the float cage <NUM> when the shutoff float <NUM> moves from the first position to the second position.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the floor cleaner <NUM> includes a recovery tank <NUM> having an alternative arrangement in fluid communication with the vacuum source <NUM> and the suction inlet <NUM>. The recovery tank <NUM> includes an inlet <NUM>, an air outlet <NUM> with an outlet passageway <NUM>, and a shutoff float <NUM>. The float <NUM> includes a float body <NUM>, a closure <NUM>, and a neck <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the shutoff float <NUM> is supported in the recovery tank <NUM> by the neck <NUM> engaging a float guide <NUM>. The float guide <NUM> forms a bushing or sleeve portion <NUM>, and the float neck <NUM> is positioned such that it extends from the float body <NUM> through the sleeve portion of the guide <NUM>. The neck includes a stop <NUM> at the end of the neck sized such that the stop will not slide through the sleeve portion so that the neck <NUM> remains in the float guide <NUM>.

The float <NUM> is positionable in a first position in which the float <NUM> is a predetermined distance from the outlet <NUM> enabling air flow through the outlet <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) and a second position in which the float <NUM> is in communication with the outlet <NUM> inhibiting air flow through the outlet <NUM> (<FIG>). When the handle portion <NUM> and the recovery tank <NUM> are tilted (e.g., about axis <NUM> of <FIG>) to the inclined use position, gravity causes the shutoff float <NUM> to drop and the neck <NUM> to orient traverse the float guide <NUM> in the first position such that a first interconnecting member <NUM> engages a second interconnecting member <NUM> to retain the float <NUM> in the first position when the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> is below a predetermined level. In this embodiment, the neck <NUM> and/or the stop <NUM> of the float includes the first interconnecting member <NUM>. The float guide <NUM> includes the second interconnecting member <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the first interconnecting member <NUM> is an abutment and the second interconnecting member <NUM> is a mating surface. The abutment <NUM> engages the mating surface <NUM> when the float <NUM> is in the first position. When the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> is below the predetermined level, the float <NUM> is retained in a first position by engagement of the first interconnecting member <NUM> and the second interconnecting member <NUM>.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the first interconnecting member <NUM> is positioned at an end of the neck <NUM>, and the neck <NUM> extends as a cantilever from the second interconnecting member <NUM> in the first position. In one embodiment, the first interconnecting member <NUM> connects to the second interconnecting member <NUM> in a swivel engagement. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the float guide <NUM> is a cylindrical sleeve along a sleeve axis, and the neck <NUM> extends along a neck axis that is transverse to the sleeve axis in the first position such that the first interconnecting member <NUM> engages the second interconnecting member <NUM>. The cylindrical sleeve of the float guide <NUM> and the neck <NUM> and stop <NUM> form rolling surfaces such that the first interconnecting member <NUM> of the neck and/or stop rolls along the second interconnecting member <NUM> of the float guide <NUM> in the first position as the floor cleaner moves in the inclined use position. Stated another way, the neck <NUM> is configured to rotate within the float guide <NUM> in the first position.

Air and fluid enter the recovery tank <NUM> through the tank inlet <NUM> and are collected in the recovery tank <NUM>. Once the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> reaches or exceeds the predetermined level, the fluid causes the first interconnecting member <NUM> to disengage the second interconnecting member <NUM> as the float body <NUM> floats on the fluid and the neck <NUM> orients along the sleeve axis. As the fluid level rises in the recovery tank <NUM>, the float <NUM> is guided toward the suction air outlet <NUM> and the second position as the neck <NUM> passes through the float guiding sleeve <NUM>. With continued fluid ingress the closure <NUM> is raised until the closure <NUM> is received in the suction air outlet <NUM> to close the suction air outlet <NUM> when the fluid reaches or exceeds a desired level.

In one embodiment, a gasket <NUM> at least partially closes a gap between the float <NUM> and an edge of an aperture <NUM> on a first side of the guiding sleeve <NUM> to inhibit debris entering the outlet passageway <NUM> when the float <NUM> is in the first position. In one embodiment, the first side of the guiding sleeve <NUM> includes the gasket <NUM> at least partially closing the aperture <NUM> configured to engage the float <NUM> to inhibit debris entering the guiding sleeve <NUM> when the float <NUM> moves from the first position to the second position.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the recovery tank is oriented in a horizontal orientation. This orientation may be used for floor cleaners having the recovery tank <NUM> mounted on a foot or base portion of the floor cleaner. In this embodiment, a float <NUM> includes a float body <NUM> and a float closure <NUM>. The float <NUM> is guided by a shaft <NUM> in a substantially horizontal direction.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first interconnecting member <NUM> is a first protrusion and the second interconnecting member <NUM> is a second protrusion. The first protrusion <NUM> engages the second protrusion <NUM> to retain the float <NUM> in a first position (<FIG>) when the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> is below a predetermined level. The first protrusion <NUM> and second protrusion <NUM> are positioned inside of the guiding shaft <NUM>. Once the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> reaches or exceeds the predetermined level, the float body <NUM> floats on the fluid and the first protrusion <NUM> disengages the second protrusion <NUM>. The float <NUM> is then directed by the guiding shaft <NUM> towards the suction air outlet <NUM>, to a second position (<FIG>). In the second position, the closure <NUM> is in communication with the suction air outlet <NUM>, thus preventing air flow through the outlet <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a gasket <NUM> is located around the closure <NUM>. The gasket <NUM> communicates with an end of the guiding shaft <NUM> to inhibit debris from entering the outlet passageway <NUM> when the float <NUM> is in the second position (<FIG>). In one embodiment, the gasket <NUM> is located on the end of the guiding shaft <NUM> and communicates with the closure <NUM> to inhibit debris from entering the outlet passageway <NUM> in the second position.

The handle portion <NUM> may be provided to rotate about the first axis <NUM> parallel to the surface to be cleaned to an inclined use position. In some embodiments, such as shown in <FIG>, the handle assembly <NUM> also pivots about a second axis <NUM> transverse to the first axis to facilitate steering the floor cleaner <NUM> while in the inclined use position. We have found that steering in certain uses of floor cleaners in the prior art can cause movement of a shutoff float separate from movement of the float by buoyancy. The floor cleaner <NUM> provided with the first interconnecting member <NUM>, <NUM> configured to engage the second interconnecting member <NUM>, <NUM> during a steering motion of the handle portion <NUM> retains the shutoff float <NUM>, <NUM> in the first position when the fluid is below a predetermined level. This reduces instances of the float <NUM>, <NUM> inhibiting air flow through the outlet <NUM> while the floor cleaner is in the inclined use position and the fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> is below the predetermined level. When the fluid reaches the predetermined level, the buoyancy of the float body <NUM>, <NUM> causes the float <NUM>, <NUM> to rise, disengaging the first interconnecting member <NUM>, <NUM> from the second interconnecting member <NUM>, <NUM> and the float body <NUM>, <NUM> floats on the fluid. Additional fluid causes the float <NUM>, <NUM> to move from the first position to the second position.

The base <NUM> is movable over the surface <NUM> to be cleaned. The base <NUM> includes a suction inlet <NUM> in fluid communication with the vacuum source <NUM> and the recovery tank <NUM>. The fluid is drawn from the surface <NUM> by the vacuum source <NUM> through the suction inlet <NUM> and into the recovery tank <NUM>. The base <NUM> further includes a distribution nozzle <NUM> in fluid communication with the supply tank <NUM>. The floor cleaner is configured to selectively deliver fluid from the supply tank <NUM> through the distribution nozzle <NUM> toward the surface <NUM>.

In use, when there is no fluid in the recovery tank <NUM>, the float <NUM>, <NUM> will be in the first position. When there is an amount of fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> below the predetermined level, the float <NUM>, <NUM> will remain in the first position. The float <NUM>, <NUM> will be retained in the first position by the first and second interconnecting members <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>,<NUM> when the floor cleaner <NUM> is in the inclined use position and the fluid is below the predetermined level. When the amount of fluid in the recovery tank <NUM> exceeds the predetermined level, the buoyancy of the float <NUM>, <NUM> will float on the fluid surface, the first interconnecting member <NUM>, <NUM> will disengage the second interconnecting member <NUM>, <NUM> and the float <NUM>, <NUM> will be guided to the second position. In the second position, the closure inhibits airflow through the outlet <NUM> to reduce additional fluid from entering the recovery tank <NUM> and to inhibit fluid from passing through the suction air outlet <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A floor cleaner (<NUM>) comprising:
a vacuum source (<NUM>);
a suction inlet (<NUM>) in fluid communication with the vacuum source (<NUM>); and
a recovery tank (<NUM>) in fluid communication with the vacuum source (<NUM>) and the suction inlet (<NUM>), the recovery tank (<NUM>) configured to contain a fluid drawn by the vacuum source (<NUM>) through the suction inlet (<NUM>) from a surface to be cleaned (<NUM>), the recovery tank (<NUM>) including,
a tank body, a tank inlet (<NUM>), and a suction air outlet (<NUM>),
a shutoff float (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a float body (<NUM>, <NUM>) and a closure (<NUM>, <NUM>), the shutoff float (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a first interconnecting member (<NUM>, <NUM>),
a float guide (<NUM>) including a second interconnecting member (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to engage the first interconnecting member (<NUM>, <NUM>), the float guide (<NUM>) configured to direct the shutoff float (<NUM>, <NUM>) from a first position in which the first interconnecting member (<NUM>, <NUM>) engages the second interconnecting member (<NUM>, <NUM>) retaining the closure (<NUM>, <NUM>) a predetermined distance from the suction air outlet (<NUM>) inhibiting movement of the shutoff float (<NUM>, <NUM>) toward the suction air outlet (<NUM>) and enabling air flow through the outlet (<NUM>), toward a second position in which the closure is in communication with the outlet (<NUM>) inhibiting air flow through the outlet (<NUM>),
wherein the shutoff float (<NUM>, <NUM>) is movable between the first position and the second position when the first interconnecting member (<NUM>, <NUM>) disengages the second interconnecting member (<NUM>, <NUM>).