Abstract: A vacuum cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning attachment. A base has an outlet port configured to be attached to the cleaning attachment and draw air from a household surface through the attachment and exhaust the air through the outlet port. A handle is configured to have an installed position removably attached to the base for manually moving the base by the handle. The handle has an inlet port configured to be connected to a dirt receptacle and to move toward and into connection with the outlet port by movement of the handle toward and into the installed position, for the air exhausted through the outlet port to flow through the inlet port into the receptacle.

Abstract: A handle stem extends along an axis and has an axially extending slot. A handgrip extends circumferentially about the stem and the slot. A prong extends from the handgrip diametrically through the slot for the slot to channel movement of the prong relative to the stem along the axis.

Abstract: A base has wheels, including a drive wheel, for wheeling the base over a floor. A nozzle is fixed to the base for a fan in the base to draw air from the floor through the nozzle. A handle is connected to the base for propelling the base by manually applying a force to the handle. A drive assist motor, which is not configured to drive the fan, has an output shaft coupled to the drive wheel. The controller is operative in a driving mode to power the motor to rotate the drive wheel in a direction corresponding to a direction of the force applied to the handle. The controller is operative in a non-driving mode to refrain from powering the motor to rotate the drive wheel.

Abstract: A base has wheels, including a drive wheel, for wheeling the base over a floor. A handle, including a handgrip, is connected to the base for propelling the base by manually applying a force to the handgrip. A motor has an output shaft coupled to the drive wheel. A controller has different operative modes. They include a driving mode in which the controller powers the motor to rotate the drive wheel in a direction corresponding to a direction of the force applied to the handle, and a non-driving mode in which the controller refrains from powering the motor to rotate the drive wheel while a user grasps and applies force to the handgrip to propel the base.

Abstract: A fan includes a fan housing located on an axis. The apparatus has axially front and rear sections that together define a chamber. Air can enter the chamber through an inlet in the front section. An impeller in the chamber is configured to rotate about the axis to drive the air radially outward. A trough-shaped channel in the rear section extends circumferentially about the axis from a first end of the channel to a second end of the channel. The channel is configured to channel the air away from the first end circumferentially toward the second end. The axially extending depth of the channel increases from the first end toward the second end such that, over a 90° range, an increase in the depth is more than twice an increase in the radially extending width of the channel.

Abstract: A closet flange includes a body having a lower body portion containing a bore and an upper body portion containing an inlet opening in fluid communication with the bore. Within the body is a knockout for closing off the bore. The knockout has a frangible connection with an interior wall of the body and one or more portions that extend radially outwardly into a portion of the inlet opening that has a larger diameter than the bore to permit the knockout to be broken out of the body while preventing the knockout from passing all the way through the bore.

Abstract: A closet flange includes a body having a lower body portion containing a bore and an upper body portion containing an inlet opening in fluid communication with the bore. Within the body is a knockout for closing off the bore. The knockout has a frangible connection with an interior wall of the body and one or more portions that extend radially outwardly into a portion of the inlet opening that has a larger diameter than the bore to permit the knockout to be broken out of the body while preventing the knockout from passing all the way through the bore.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a solution distributor, such as a spray bar 90, which delivers cleaning solution to a floor surface. A housing 10 selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning solution from the floor. A first tank 14 for concentrated cleaning fluid and a second tank 15 for clean water supply cleaning fluid and water to a reciprocating pump 420 through first and second fluid lines 412, 410. The pump includes a piston 428, which reciprocates between first and second ends of a cylindrical bore 430. A fluid line 432 interconnects the first and second fluid lines. As the pump reciprocates, a portion of the water is drawn into the interconnecting line during a downward stroke, where it mixes with the entering cleaning solution. As the pump moves on its upward stroke, the mixture is drawn back into the water line and is pushed onward by the pump toward the spray bar with each successive downward stroke.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a base assembly 1 including a housing 10 which selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning fluid. A nozzle assembly 67 is mounted to the base housing and provides a fluid flowpath 182 for dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface to the recovery tank. The nozzle assembly is pivotable from a first position, in which the fluid flowpath communicates with the recovery tank, to a second position, in which the nozzle assembly is spaced from the recovery tank to allow the recovery tank to be removed from the base housing. A second flowpath 138 is formed on the recovery tank between the tank and a nozzle plate 136. The flowpaths have openings 218, 140, respectively, at their lower ends, which are located either side of two longitudinally spaced brushrolls 60, 62. A flap valve 474 selectively closes both flowpaths during above floor cleaning.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a solution distributor, such as a spray bar 90, which delivers cleaning solution to a floor surface. A housing 10 selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning solution from the floor. A first tank 14 for concentrated cleaning fluid and a second tank 15 for clean water supply cleaning fluid and water to a reciprocating pump 420 through first and second fluid lines 412, 410. The pump includes a piston 428, which reciprocates between first and second ends of a cylindrical bore 430. A fluid line 432 interconnects the first and second fluid lines. As the pump reciprocates, a portion of the water is drawn into the interconnecting line during a downward stroke, where it mixes with the entering cleaning solution. As the pump moves on its upward stroke, the mixture is drawn back into the water line and is pushed onward by the pump toward the spray bar with each successive downward stroke.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a base assembly 1 including a housing 10 which selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning fluid. A first supply tank 14 for concentrated cleaning fluid and a second supply tank 15 for clean water are mounted on an inverted Y-shaped handle assembly 12. The handle assembly includes a central member 334 with a hand grip 336 at its upper end and two splayed leg members 338, 342, 340, 344, which define a triangular shaped gap therebetween. The two tanks are removably mounted in the gap. The cleaning fluid tank is supported on a shelf 346, which spans the gap between the leg members. The water tank is pivotally mounted on two projections 374 on the leg members to allow for easy removal and replacement on the handle. The arrangement of tanks in the gap allows for large capacity tanks, a well-balanced handle, ease of removal of the recovery tank without the need for removing either of the two supply tanks, and ease of refill of the supply tanks.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a base assembly 1 including a housing 10 which selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning fluid. A nozzle assembly 67 is mounted to the base housing and provides a fluid flowpath 182 for dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface to the recovery tank. The nozzle assembly is pivotable from a first position, in which the fluid flowpath communicates with the recovery tank, to a second position, in which the nozzle assembly is spaced from the recovery tank to allow the recovery tank to be removed from the base housing. A second flowpath 138 is formed on the recovery tank between the tank and a nozzle plate 136. The flowpaths have openings 218, 140, respectively, at their lower ends, which are located either side of two longitudinally spaced brushrolls 60, 62. A flap valve 474 selectively closes both flowpaths during above floor cleaning.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a base assembly 1 including a housing 10 which selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning fluid. A nozzle assembly 67 is mounted to the base housing and provides a fluid flowpath 182 for dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface to the recovery tank. The nozzle assembly is pivotable from a first position, in which the fluid flowpath communicates with the recovery tank, to a second position, in which the nozzle assembly is spaced from the recovery tank to allow the recovery tank to be removed from the base housing. A second flowpath 138 is formed on the recovery tank between the tank and a nozzle plate 136. The flowpaths have openings 218, 140, respectively, at their lower ends, which are located either side of two longitudinally spaced brushrolls 60, 62. A flap valve 474 selectively closes both flowpaths during above floor cleaning.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a solution distributor, such as a spray bar 90, which delivers cleaning solution to a floor surface. A housing 10 selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning solution from the floor. A first tank 14 for concentrated cleaning fluid and a second tank 15 for clean water supply cleaning fluid and water to a reciprocating pump 420 through first and second fluid lines 412, 410. The pump includes a piston 428, which reciprocates between first and second ends of a cylindrical bore 430. A fluid line 432 interconnects the first and second fluid lines. As the pump reciprocates, a portion of the water is drawn into the interconnecting line during a downward stroke, where it mixes with the entering cleaning solution. As the pump moves on its upward stroke, the mixture is drawn back into the water line and is pushed onward by the pump toward the spray bar with each successive downward stroke.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a base assembly 1 including a housing 10 which selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning fluid. A nozzle assembly 67 is mounted to the base housing and provides a fluid flowpath 182 for dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface to the recovery tank. The nozzle assembly is pivotable from a first position, in which the fluid flowpath communicates with the recovery tank, to a second position, in which the nozzle assembly is spaced from the recovery tank to allow the recovery tank to be removed from the base housing. A second flowpath 138 is formed on the recovery tank between the tank and a nozzle plate 136. The flowpaths have openings 218, 140, respectively, at their lower ends, which are located either side of two longitudinally spaced brushrolls 60, 62. A flap valve 474 selectively closes both flowpaths during above floor cleaning.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a base assembly 1 including a housing 10 which selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning fluid. A first supply tank 14 for concentrated cleaning fluid and a second supply tank 15 for clean water are mounted on an inverted Y-shaped handle assembly 12. The handle assembly includes a central member 334 with a hand grip 336 at its upper end and two splayed leg members 338, 342, 340, 344, which define a triangular shaped gap therebetween. The two tanks are removably mounted in the gap. The cleaning fluid tank is supported on a shelf 346, which spans the gap between the leg members. The water tank is pivotally mounted on two projections 374 on the leg members to allow for easy removal and replacement on the handle. The arrangement of tanks in the gap allows for large capacity tanks, a well-balanced handle, ease of removal of the recovery tank without the need for removing either of the two supply tanks, and ease of refill of the supply tanks.

Abstract: A carpet extractor includes a solution distributor, such as a spray bar 90, which delivers cleaning solution to a floor surface. A housing 10 selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning solution from the floor. A first tank 14 for concentrated cleaning fluid and a second tank 15 for clean water supply cleaning fluid and water to a reciprocating pump 420 through first and second fluid lines 412, 410. The pump includes a piston 428, which reciprocates between first and second ends of a cylindrical bore 430. A fluid line 432 interconnects the first and second fluid lines. As the pump reciprocates, a portion of the water is drawn into the interconnecting line during a downward stroke, where it mixes with the entering cleaning solution. As the pump moves on its upward stroke, the mixture is drawn back into the water line and is pushed onward by the pump toward the spray bar with each successive downward stroke.