Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment the tank has an outlet opening in a bottom portion thereof and a drain plug is removably mounted in the outlet opening.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a handle pivotally mounted to a base module, a lower portion of the handle mounts a lamp assembly which is hidden from view by the base module when the handle is in an upright, storage position and is visible above the base module when the handle is rotated to a use position. Between the front and back of the base module, a set of wheels or other projections that support the base module are mounted. The handle likewise has at a lower portion a set of wheels that mobilize the vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the pivot axis of the handle with respect to the base is selected so that rotation of the handle assembly from a use position to a storage position pivots a front end of the base module about the base wheels and thereby raises an agitation brush from contact with a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: Molding of relatively large articles such as automobile body parts by gas-assisted injection molding with sequential gating of injected thermoplastic resin into the mold cavity. Elongated ribs in the parts form gas channels and strengthening ribs for the parts. Structural parts are made by adhesively joining two such parts made by gas-assisted injection molding through a combination of hollow ribs and joining flanges at sides of the parts.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. Supply tanks are removably mounted to the handle or base while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle or base. An outlet in each supply tank includes a valve to close the outlet when the supply tank is removed from the base. A protrusion in a bottom surface of the supply tank defines a measuring volume for concentrated cleaning solution and is further adapted to stabilize the supply tank in the base or handle. The supply tank also includes an aperture through a lower portion selectively closed by a drain plug. A conduit connecting each supply tank to a dispensing nozzle includes a check valve restricting fluid flow to a direction from the tank and to the nozzle.

Abstract: A dash mat for a vehicle comprising a passenger compartment and an engine compartment separated by a firewall. The dash mat comprises a decoupling layer with multiple openings and a sound barrier layer with integrally molded fasteners that are received within the decoupling layer openings to secure together the decoupling and sound barrier layers. The fasteners have at least one flange portion that overlies the sound barrier to capture a portion of the decoupling layer between the flange and the sound barrier.

Abstract: A hinge and roller assembly for use in a roll-up door including a pair of leaves each forming a portion of a bearing socket, a bushing mounted in the bearing socket, a shaft slidably mounted in the bushing. The shaft mounts a roller on one end and the roller is adapted to roll in a track. A spring is mounted between the shaft and the bushing to bias the shaft axially toward the track. A releasable retainer on the bushing removably retains the bushing in the socket. Preferably, each of the leaves includes a plate through which the hinge is mounted to the door and an integral strap which is bent into a circular shape to define a portion of the socket and is attached at a distal end to the plate.