Patent ID: 7356875

Claim:
A cleaning machine for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially extracted along with any dirt on the surface in a continuous operation comprising: a) an airflow source; b) an outlet associated with said airflow source for directing air generated by said airflow source out of said cleaning machine; c) a duct cover covering said outlet; and d) wherein the air flows across and out of said outlet, said duct cover including one of (i) a row of openings decreasing in size from the upstream to the downstream direction of the air flowing across said outlet such that the air is distributed evenly across said outlet, (ii) a row of openings that increase in size from the upstream to the downstream direction of the air flowing across said outlet such that the air is distributed evenly across said outlet, (iii) at least one opening that decreases in size from the upstream to the downstream end such that the air is distributed evenly across said outlet and (iv) at least one opening that increases in size from the upstream to the downstream end such that the air is distributed evenly across said outlet.