Patent ID: 7757342

Claim:
A cleaning machine for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it moves along the surface comprising: a) a base assembly for movement along the surface; b) a handle portion pivotally connected to said base assembly; c) a suction nozzle assembly mounted to said base assembly, said suction nozzle assembly including a front nozzle portion and a rear nozzle portion, said front nozzle portion defining a fluid flow path having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said rear nozzle defining a fluid flow path having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; d) an electrically powered suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface and through the suction nozzle assembly; e) a liquid distribution system associated with said base assembly for distributing the cleaning solution to the cleaning surface, the liquid distribution system further including a solution tank for holding the cleaning solution, said solution tank removably mounted to one of said base assembly and said handle portion, wherein the liquid distribution system includes at least one front distributor and one rear distributor fluidly connected to said solution tank for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface; and f) an agitator positioned intermediate the front and rear distributors, wherein one of said front distributor and said rear distributor distributes said cleaning solution in response to said base assembly moving in a forward direction and the other one of said front distributor and said rear distributor distributes said cleaning solution in response to said base assembly moving in a rear direction.