Patent ID: 7904990

Claim:
A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising: a base module for movement along a surface to be cleaned, the base module including: a cleaning fluid dispensing system for applying a cleaning fluid to the surface; a suction nozzle associated with the module for removing soiled cleaning fluid from the surface; and one of a cleaning fluid reservoir and a vacuum source; wherein the cleaning fluid dispensing system includes a first fluid distribution system forward of the suction nozzle and a second fluid distribution system rearward of the suction nozzle; and wherein the vacuum source is fluidly connected to the suction nozzle for removing soiled cleaning fluid from the surface through the suction nozzle; and a control system for selectively controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the first and second fluid distribution systems and the removal of cleaning fluid through the suction nozzle so that cleaning fluid is deposited on the surface to be cleaned through the second fluid distribution system during forward movement of the base module and is removed through the suction nozzle during rearward movement of the base module, and cleaning fluid is deposited on the surface to be cleaned through the first fluid distribution system during rearward movement of the base module and is removed through the suction nozzle during forward movement of the base module.