Abstract: A multi-functional cleaning and floor care system may have: a fresh liquid reservoir; a vacuum assembly including a vacuum recovery tank and a vacuum motor assembly; a wheeled chassis configured to support at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir and the vacuum recovery tank; and a spigot fluidly connected to the fresh liquid reservoir, with the spigot adjustable between a fully open position and a fully closed position. The system also may have: a liquid spreader assembly connected to at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir, the vacuum assembly, and the wheeled chassis, with the liquid spreader assembly including a frame and a spreader pad; and a squeegee head assembly connected to at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir, the vacuum assembly, and the wheeled chassis, with the squeegee head assembly fluidly connectable to the vacuum recovery tank.

Abstract: A multi-functional cleaning and floor care system may have: a fresh liquid reservoir; a vacuum assembly including a vacuum recovery tank and a vacuum motor assembly; a wheeled chassis configured to support at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir and the vacuum recovery tank; and a spigot fluidly connected to the fresh liquid reservoir, with the spigot adjustable between a fully open position and a fully closed position. The system also may have: a liquid spreader assembly connected to at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir, the vacuum assembly, and the wheeled chassis, with the liquid spreader assembly including a frame and a spreader pad; and a squeegee head assembly connected to at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir, the vacuum assembly, and the wheeled chassis, with the squeegee head assembly fluidly connectable to the vacuum recovery tank.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a portable floor care system with manually interchangeable AC and DC vacuum motor head assemblies for use in cleaning hard surface flooring may include: a reservoir defining an interior space operable to hold a cleaning liquid; a spigot fluidly connected to the reservoir interior space, the spigot manually adjustable through a range between a fully open position and a fully closed position, whereby when the reservoir contains a cleaning liquid, a user may dispense and regulate the flow of the cleaning liquid from the reservoir through the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot; a vacuum recovery tank; an AC vacuum motor head assembly and a DC vacuum motor head assembly manually and interchangeably fluidly connectable to the vacuum recovery tank; and a DC power supply assembly.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a portable floor care system with manually interchangeable AC and DC vacuum motor head assemblies for use in cleaning hard surface flooring may include: a reservoir defining an interior space operable to hold a cleaning liquid; a spigot fluidly connected to the reservoir interior space, the spigot manually adjustable through a range between a fully open position and a fully closed position, whereby when the reservoir contains a cleaning liquid, a user may dispense and regulate the flow of the cleaning liquid from the reservoir through the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot; a vacuum recovery tank; an AC vacuum motor head assembly and a DC vacuum motor head assembly manually and interchangeably fluidly connectable to the vacuum recovery tank; and a DC power supply assembly.

Abstract: A particular wide-area vacuum/squeegee-head floor cleaning tool, in accordance with the principles of the invention, includes: an elongated frame including a top, a front, a back, a first end, a second end, and a soil uptake opening positioned between the first and second ends; at least one squeegee blade at the front and extending between the first and second ends; at least one squeegee blade at the back and extending between the first and second ends; a first wheel at the first end; a second wheel at the second end; and a third wheel at the soil uptake opening. The first, second, and third wheels are constructed and arranged to support the elongated frame above a floor surface when the squeegee blades at the front and back are in contact with the floor surface in a deflected orientation and vacuum suction is applied to the floor cleaning tool by the vacuum source.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cleaning cart system of the invention includes a reservoir assembly, an upwardly extending handle releasably connectable to the reservoir assembly, and at least two modular cleaning bins. The reservoir assembly includes a liquid reservoir and an integral wheeled chassis. The liquid reservoir includes a circumferential sidewall and an integral top wall, with the top wall including a plurality of openings. The two modular cleaning bins may be: positioned within the liquid reservoir; positioned on the liquid reservoir top wall with a leg of one bin positioned in one of the top-wall openings, and with a leg of the other bin positioned in another of the top-wall plurality of openings; and alternatively releasably interconnected to one another in a side-by-side orientation, with one of the bins supported on the upwardly extending handle by one or more of a plurality of handle brackets.

Abstract: A multi-functional cleaning and floor care system may have: a fresh liquid reservoir; a vacuum assembly including a vacuum recovery tank and a vacuum motor assembly; a wheeled chassis configured to support at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir and the vacuum recovery tank; and a spigot fluidly connected to the fresh liquid reservoir, with the spigot adjustable between a fully open position and a fully closed position. The system also may have: a liquid spreader assembly connected to at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir, the vacuum assembly, and the wheeled chassis, with the liquid spreader assembly including a frame and a spreader pad; and a squeegee head assembly connected to at least one of the fresh liquid reservoir, the vacuum assembly, and the wheeled chassis, with the squeegee head assembly fluidly connectable to the vacuum recovery tank.

Abstract: An embodiment of the cleaning and floor care system has a reservoir assembly and a wet/dry vacuum assembly. The reservoir assembly has a wheeled chassis and an integral reservoir. The reservoir has a circumferential sidewall and an upper end. The reservoir defines an interior space for holding a fresh cleaning liquid; and the reservoir upper end defines an opening. The reservoir assembly further has a spigot fluidly connected to the reservoir interior space, with the spigot having a valve adjustable between a fully open and a fully closed position. The vacuum assembly has a recovery tank and a motor assembly. The vacuum assembly is removably positionable on top of the reservoir, and is transportable on the reservoir. Each of the reservoir assembly and the vacuum assembly is operable both when the vacuum assembly is positioned on top of the reservoir, and when the vacuum assembly is separated from the reservoir.

Abstract: A multi-level thermal management system and method are provided for cooling a plurality of vertically spaced electrical components, including a lower electrical component and an upper electrical component. The system includes a rigid support securing the upper electrical component in a fixed position above the lower electrical component. A duct, having an upper end and a lower end, an inlet defined in the lower end of the duct and an outlet defined in the upper end of the duct, is mounted adjacent to the upper electrical component with the inlet being located above the lower electrical component to direct air heated by the lower electrical component through the duct without substantially contacting the upper electrical component.

Abstract: A device for deactivating a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance marker includes first, second, third and fourth rectangular coils arranged in a two-by-two array in a common plane. Drive circuitry energizes the coils according to an operating cycle which includes three modes. In the first mode, all four coils are driven with respective alternating currents in phase with each other. In the second mode, the first and second coils are driven in phase with each other and the third and fourth coils are driven substantially in phase with each other and substantially 180.degree. out of phase with the first and second coils. In the third mode, the first and third coils are driven in phase with each other and the second and fourth coils are driven in phase with each other and 180.degree. out of phase with the first and third coils.

Abstract: A cooking surface for use with cooking kettles, such as outdoor grills, is disclosed. The cooking surface is made from a single sheet of stainless steel of sufficient thickness to prevent warping under normal cooking temperatures. The cooking surface has a grill section with a plurality of parallel slots cut into the stainless steel to emulate a rack type cooking surface and a griddle section that is substantially solid. Two embodiments of the combination griddle and grill cooking surface are disclosed, one directed to a rectangular kettle and one directed to a circular kettle. An adaptable embodiment of the rectangular cooking surface having extendable slide bars to fit various size cooking kettles is also disclosed.