Abstract: An autonomous surface cleaner for cleaning a floor or other surface. The cleaner may include a body, a cleaning implement for cleaning a surface, a motorized drive system, a pair of wheels operable with the motorized drive system to assist moving the body relative to the surface, one or more actuators operable for controllably adjusting a height of the body, and/or a balancing system operable to self-balance the body.

Abstract: A suction nozzle for use with an extraction cleaner having a suction source includes a tool body and a front cover connected to the tool body. The tool body includes a rear wall. The tool body defines an exhaust port configured to connect to the suction source. The front cover and the rear wall together define an extraction nozzle volume having a suction inlet. The tool body defines a pair of air vents situated above the suction inlet. The front cover has a pair of side walls. In some embodiments, lateral edges of the side walls adjacent to the suction inlet define an arcuate notch for introducing a slipstream into the extraction nozzle volume.

Abstract: An accessory tool usable with an extraction cleaner having fluid delivery and recovery systems includes a conduit body, spray nozzle, and first and second valves. The conduit body contains a fluid delivery pathway and an airflow pathway. The fluid delivery pathway connects to the fluid delivery system at a hose end of a wand. The airflow pathway connects to the fluid recovery system at the same hose end. The spray nozzle is in fluid communication with the fluid delivery pathway. The second valve is operable for selectively directing a liquid stream, i.e., cleaning fluid provided by the extraction cleaner, to the spray nozzle when the hose end is attached to the extraction cleaner via an accessory hose. The first valve is operable for selectively diverting the liquid stream into the airflow pathway to clean the hose.

Abstract: An extraction cleaner for a floor surface includes an extraction nozzle. The extraction nozzle that defines a fluid flow path having an elongated nozzle opening, and includes one or more stiffening elements that stiffens the walls around the nozzle opening to prevent collapsing or deformation of the extraction nozzle during use.

Abstract: An extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank assembly with a recovery tank that has a removable cover assembly and a separator adapted to provide fluid separation between an inlet of the recovery tank assembly and an exhaust outlet of the recovery tank assembly. The recovery tank assembly also includes a float that is slidably arranged within the recovery tank proximate the cover assembly. A suction inlet is in fluid communication with the recovery tank assembly. A recovery duct assembly is interconnected with the recovery tank assembly and includes a vertical inlet conduit and a vertical exhaust duct.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is provided with a fluid delivery system for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned. The fluid delivery system includes one or more fluid supply tanks for storing a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid distributor for applying the cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned, and a fluid supply conduit for delivering the cleaning fluid from the fluid supply tank to the fluid distributor.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for conducting business over a network utilizing a graphical user interface. Initially, a request indicating a primary product or service is received utilizing a network. In response to the request, the primary product or service is displayed on a graphical user interface utilizing the network. Further in response to the request, at least one secondary product or service associated with the primary product or service is displayed utilizing the network. As such, a user may conveniently select the at least one secondary product or service utilizing the network. In one embodiment, the secondary products or services are intended to be used with the primary product or service.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner convertible between a hand-held vacuum and a stick-type vacuum including a housing having a rondure first end and narrowing to a generally oblate, low profile nozzle at a second end, defining an opening in fluid communication with an interior of the housing. A releasably extensible dirt cup is slidably disposed within the opening in the second end and adapted to move between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position from the housing. The free end of the dirt cup is adapted to detachably retain a floor cleaning tool having a pivoting cleaning head for use on floors or other surfaces to be cleaned. The housing contains a vacuum source for drawing high velocity air into the elongate dirt cup through the floor cleaning tool and/or free end of the elongate dirt cup so as to entrain dirt and debris and capture it within the dirt cup.

Abstract: The present invention is a surface cleaning liquid extractor for vacuum cleaning a surface. The extractor has an open top recovery tank, a housing which seats upon the recovery tank and a convenient carrying handle which latches the housing and the recovery tank together. The extractor also has a floating splash damper positioned within the recovery tank for floating upon the surface of liquid collected in the tank to minimize splashing of the liquid. The top surface of the floating splash damper includes a domed portion for engaging the suction opening of the extractor and sealing off the suction from the recovery tank when the recovery tank has filled with liquid.

Abstract: A wall mountable vacuum accessories caddy has a generally planar front surface with a rearwardly projecting perimeter flange and forwardly projecting arms for releasably receiving and supporting vacuum accessories. In one aspect of the invention, the caddy is a one-piece injection molding, moldable in a simple two-piece mold.

Abstract: A floor sweeper for sweeping and collecting dirt and debris from a floor surface includes a rotative brush element and a cooperatively associated pivotal dust bin. The bin is pivotally mounted for movement between a generally horizontal operative position and a generally vertical dumping position. The bin further includes an opening along its forward wall which is adapted to receive the debris from the brush when the bin is in its operative position, and which is directed downwardly to release the debris when the bin is moved to its dumping position. To facilitate easy dumping and release of the debris contained within the bin, the housing is constructed with a stop face which permits the bin to be rocked about its vertical position and thereby knock against the housing to jar loose the debris contained therein and effect easy release thereof.

Abstract: A liquid extraction surface cleaning apparatus has an upwardly opening recovery tank and a top for the tank which contains a suction fan having a suction inlet opening into the tank. A wand connects to a source of cleaning liquid and has a dispensing and pickup head that deposits liquid on the surface to be cleaned in response to actuation of a control valve and picks up dirty fluid. A water and air separator has an arcuate surface transverse of the flow path of the air and spent liquid which gently separates them into separate streams by diverting the cleaning liquid laterally away from the air stream. A shutoff valve for preventing recovered liquid in the tank from entering the suction fan is mounted in the recovery tank rather than to the suction inlet to avoid dripping dirty liquid onto the floor when the cover is removed. A handle is mounted internal the tank and additionally serves to strengthen the tank sidewalls.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve according to the invention includes a base, a valve member, a trigger member and attachment means for attaching the trigger member to the valve member. The base includes a generally horizontal throat and a flange having an upwardly facing surface. The valve member has a stem, a flow level establishing member associated with the stem and biasing means for biasing the stem in a direction opposite to that in which the throat extends. The trigger member includes a pin configured to rotate against an inner end portion of the throat, a flange having a downwardly facing surface and an actuating portion. The biasing means acts in a direction through the attachment means to pull the actuating portion downwardly such that the flanges engage in order to retain the pin in the throat. In this manner, the valve may be assembled without the use of fasteners.

Abstract: A liquid extraction surface cleaning apparatus has an upwardly opening recovery tank and a top for the tank which contains a suction fan having a suction inlet opening into the tank. A wand connects to a source of cleaning liquid and has a dispensing and pickup head that deposits liquid on the surface to be cleaned in response to actuation of a control valve and picks up dirty fluid. A water and air separator has an arcuate surface transverse of the flow path of the air and spent liquid which gently separates them into separate streams by diverting the cleaning liquid laterally away from the air stream. A shutoff valve for preventing recovered liquid in the tank from entering the suction fan is mounted in the recovery tank rather than to the suction inlet to avoid dripping dirty liquid onto the floor when the cover is removed. A handle is mounted internal the tank and additionally serves to strengthen the tank sidewalls.

Abstract: A liquid extraction surface cleaning apparatus has an upwardly opening recovery tank and a top for the tank which contains a suction fan having a suction inlet opening into the tank. A wand connects to a source of cleaning liquid and has a dispensing and pickup head that deposits liquid on the surface to be cleaned in response to actuation of a control valve and picks up dirty fluid. A water and air separator has an arcuate surface transverse of the flow path of the air and spent liquid which gently separates them into separate streams by diverting the cleaning liquid laterally away from the air stream. A shutoff valve for preventing recovered liquid in the tank from entering the suction fan is mounted in the recovery tank rather than to the suction inlet to avoid dripping dirty liquid onto the floor when the cover is removed. A handle is mounted internal the tank and additionally serves to strengthen the tank sidewalls.