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: The invention relates to a water extraction cleaning machine having a variable solution mixing valve adapted to create cleaning solution mixtures of variable constituent ratios. Clean water and detergent are provided from tanks supported on the water extraction cleaning machines. The size of the detergent inlet opening can be altered through rotation of a control knob provided on the outside of the water extraction cleaning machine. The knob is interconnected to at least one member which is adapted to vary the size of one of the detergent fluid inlet and the clean water inlet so that the ratio of constituent elements can be altered depending upon the cleaning application.

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 handheld liquid extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank mounted to the forward end of a cleaner housing with a suction nozzle and conduit on a front face of the recovery tank connected to an inlet opening in the recovery tank. A vacuum source is connected to the recovery tank through an exhaust conduit, integrally formed in the recovery tank, for drawing liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and into the recovery tank A removable cleaning fluid supply tank is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing, an adjustable spray nozzle is mounted to the suction conduit and a pump is positioned in a supply conduit between the spray nozzle and the cleaning fluid supply tank for supplying pressurized cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid supply tank to the spray nozzle The pump includes an impeller which is positioned in an outlet opening of a reservoir in which the cleaning fluid is deposited from the cleaning fluid supply tank.

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: The invention relates to a water extraction cleaning machine having a variable solution mixing valve adapted to create cleaning solution mixtures of variable constituent ratios. Clean water and detergent are provided from tanks supported on the water extraction cleaning machines. The size of the detergent inlet opening can be altered through rotation of a control knob provided on the outside of the water extraction cleaning machine. The knob is interconnected to at least one member which is adapted to vary the size of one of the detergent fluid inlet and the clean water inlet so that the ratio of constituent elements can be altered depending upon the cleaning application.

Abstract: An upright water extraction cleaning machine having an assembly of tanks efficiently stored on and interconnected to the machine is shown. The tank assembly has at least two tanks nested with one another and having one-way valve mechanisms on the bottom thereof. The two tanks are slidably mounted to one another and the tank assembly is slidably mounted and operatively connected to the machine. With this structure, the user can quickly and easily remove and refill the tanks and continue operation of the machine with a minimum amount of interruption and delay.

Abstract: A water extraction cleaning machine has a suction nozzle assembly with two suction nozzle openings incorporated. The suction nozzle openings are preferably positioned one on each side of the cleaning solution spray nozzles so that the cleaning machine can be used for simultaneous application and removal of cleaning fluid regardless of whether the user is pushing or pulling the cleaning machine. In another aspect, a plate member is slidably mounted to the bottom of the suction nozzle assembly. The plate member has a pair of suction nozzle openings which are spaced to seal one of the two suction nozzles of the suction nozzle assembly depending upon the direction of travel of the suction nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A floor cleaning appliance having a pivotally mounted bracket for selectively tensioning an agitation motor drive belt is disclosed. The appliance includes a housing and a bracket pivotally mounted to the housing about a first axis of rotation. The bracket is supported in an operating position and a belt replacement position. An agitation member is selectively mounted to the bracket for rotation about a second axis of rotation. A drive motor is mounted in the housing having a drive shaft which rotates about a third axis of rotation. The drive belt is selectively mounted to the agitation member and the drive shaft when the bracket is mounted in the operating position. In this position the first axis of rotation lies on one side of a plane extending between the second and third axes of rotation whereas in the belt replacement position the first axis of rotation lies on the other side of the plane extending between the second and third axes of rotation.

Abstract: A hand-held vacuum cleaner including a housing having mating first and second half housing elements. The housing has a handle and a nozzle. A motor is mounted within the housing for driving a shaft. A fan is mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. A selectively separable bag assembly is mounted on the housing. A working air channel is defined within the housing communicating the nozzle with the bag assembly. The bag assembly includes a collar, a dirty air collector bag attached to the collar, and a combination latch and handle member pivotally connected to the collar. The housing includes a wall member for receiving the collar of the bag assembly and a detent member for holding the latch and handle member in a locking position when the member is pivoted into engagement therewith for securing the bag assembly onto the wall member of the housing.

Abstract: A hand-held vacuum cleaner includes a housing having first and second half housing elements. The housing has a handle and a nozzle. A motor is mounted within the housing for driving a shaft. A fan is mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. A selectively separable bag assembly is mounted on the housing. A working air channel is formed within the housing for communicating the nozzle with the bag assembly. The air channel terminates in a working air outlet chute positioned within the bag assembly at its open upper end. The shaft is positioned within the housing generally normal to the direction of air flow within the working air channel.