Abstract: A deep cleaner for delivering cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned and removing the cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned includes a pivotal brush carriage assembly comprising a pair of support legs, a rotatable brushroll extending between the first and second support legs, a brush motor, and a belt operably coupling the rotatable brushroll to the brush motor, wherein the belt is provided within one of the support legs.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus (10) comprises a base assembly (12), an upright handle assembly (14) pivotally mounted to the base assembly (12), a fluid distribution system including a supply of cleaning fluid, and a fluid recovery system for drawing dirty cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned. The base assembly (12) comprises a fluid supply tank (22) mounted on a base platform (20), and a recovery tank (24) and lid (70) mounted on the supply tank (22). The nozzle (146) assembly is split into three separable sections, and the upper handle (300) is foldable to a storage position. The base assembly (12) further comprises a pivotal brush carriage (210) assembly. A method for renting extraction cleaning machines (10) utilizes a vending machine (600) that dispenses cleaning formulations packaged in single use packages (602).

Abstract: An extraction cleaner for a floor surface comprises a portable extractor and a base adapted to be moved to perform a cleaning operation on the floor surface when the portable extractor is operably mounted to the base. The portable extractor includes a suction hose for manually suctioning fluid from the floor surface, a recovery tank interconnected to the suction hose for receiving recovered fluid from the floor surface, and a fluid delivery system for dispensing a cleaning fluid onto the floor surface. One or more connections are made between the base and components of the portable extractor when the portable extractor is operably mounted to the base.

Abstract: An extraction cleaner for a floor surface comprises a portable extractor and a base adapted to be moved to perform a cleaning operation on the floor surface when the portable extractor is operably mounted to the base, wherein the portable extractor can be used as a standalone extractor when detached from the base. The portable extractor includes a suction hose for manually suctioning fluid from the floor surface, a recovery tank interconnected to the suction hose for receiving recovered fluid from the floor surface, and a fluid delivery system for dispensing a cleaning fluid onto the floor surface. One or more connections are made between the base and components of the portable extractor when the portable extractor is operably mounted to the base.

Abstract: An extraction cleaner for cleaning a floor surface includes a liquid distribution system and a liquid recovery system. The liquid recovery system includes a motor, and a motor cooling air pathway provides cooling air to the motor and removes heated cooling air from the motor. A duct system delivers heated motor cooling air to a supply tank of the extraction cleaner to heat liquid contained therein, and also drains liquid from the supply tank away from the motor.

Abstract: An extraction cleaner for cleaning a floor surface includes a liquid distribution system and a liquid recovery system. The liquid recovery system includes a motor, and a motor cooling air pathway provides cooling air to the motor and removes heated cooling air from the motor. A duct system delivers heated motor cooling air to a supply tank of the extraction cleaner to heat liquid contained therein, and also drains liquid from the supply tank away from the motor.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a base assembly pivotally connected to an upright assembly. The base assembly comprises housing, a support, and a ratchet-operated nozzle height adjustment mechanism for raising or lowering a suction nozzle on the base assembly relative to a surface to be cleaned. The ratchet-operated nozzle height adjustment mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism for raising and lowering the housing relative to the support.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus (10) comprises a base assembly (12), an upright handle assembly (14) pivotally mounted to the base assembly (12), a fluid distribution system including a supply of cleaning fluid, and a fluid recovery system for drawing dirty cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned. The base assembly (12) comprises a fluid supply tank (22) mounted on a base platform (20), and a recovery tank (24) and lid (70) mounted on the supply tank (22). The nozzle (146) assembly is split into three separable sections, and the upper handle (300) is foldable to a storage position. The base assembly (12) further comprises a pivotal brush carriage (210) assembly. A method for renting extraction cleaning machines (10) utilizes a vending machine (600) that dispenses cleaning formulations packaged in single use packages (602).

Abstract: An extraction cleaner for a floor surface comprises a portable extractor and a base adapted to be moved to perform a cleaning operation on the floor surface when the portable extractor is operably mounted to the base, wherein the portable extractor can be used as a standalone extractor when detached from the base. The portable extractor includes a suction hose for manually suctioning fluid from the floor surface, a recovery tank interconnected to the suction hose for receiving recovered fluid from the floor surface, and a fluid delivery system for dispensing a cleaning fluid onto the floor surface. One or more connections are made between the base and components of the portable extractor when the portable extractor is operably mounted to the base.

Abstract: An accessory tool according to the present invention comprises a recovery tank assembly for removing fluid and dirt from a surface to the cleaned and storing the recovered fluid and dirt. The recovery tank assembly comprises a suction nozzle in fluid communication with a recovery tank. The accessory tool further comprises a fan/turbine assembly including a turbine-driven suction fan for generating suction at the suction nozzle, which draws liquid and air into and through the accessory tool. The turbine-driven suction fan can be magnetically coupled with the turbine. The accessory tool can further comprise a fluid dispensing assembly for storing and distributing fluid to the surface to the cleaned. The fluid dispensing assembly can comprise a turbine-driven fluid pump.

Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner according to the invention comprises a housing, a dirt cup, a latch coupled between the dirt cup and the housing for selectively joining the dirt cup to the housing, a filter positioned in the dirt cup between the inlet and the outlet, and a plurality of different nozzle assemblies, each having at least one nozzle opening and each having an outlet opening at a back end thereof that is removable coupled to the dirt cup front end.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a base assembly pivotally connected to an upright assembly. The base assembly comprises housing, a support, and a foot-actuated belt drive disengaging mechanism and a ratchet ratchet-operated nozzle height adjustment mechanism for raising or lowering a suction nozzle on the base assembly relative to a surface to be cleaned. The ratchet-operated nozzle height adjustment mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism for raising and lowering the housing relative to the support.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a hair collection assembly having a hair collection element adapted to collection hair from a surface. The hair collection assembly can be mounted to the cleaning head of the vacuum cleaner for movement between a use position in which the hair collection element is in contact with the surface and a second position in which the hair collection element in spaced from the surface. The hair collection element can further be configured to collect hair from the surface when the cleaning head is moved in a first direction and to not collect hair from the surface when the cleaning head is moved in a second direction. A method of removing hair from a surface is also described.

Abstract: A method of removing hair from a surface laden with hair comprising moving a hair collection element along the surface in a first direction to collect hair, depositing the collected hair at a first location, gliding the hair collection element along the surface in a second direction away from the first location and removing the collection hair from the first location.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a cyclone module assembly comprises a cyclone separation chamber for separating dust and debris from air, a dirt cup for collecting dust and debris that is separated from the air in the cyclone separation chamber, and a vortex stabilizer. The vortex stabilizer can be pivotally mounted to the cyclone separation chamber to allow access to the cyclone separation chamber when the dirt cup is removed from the cyclone module assembly.

Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner according to the invention comprises a housing, a dirt cup, a latch coupled between the dirt cup and the housing for selectively joining the dirt cup to the housing, a filter positioned in the dirt cup between the inlet and the outlet, and a plurality of different nozzle assemblies, each having at least one nozzle opening and each having an outlet opening at a back end thereof that is removably coupled to the dirt cup front end.

Abstract: A method of removing hair from a surface laden with hair comprising moving a hair collection element along the surface in a first direction to collect hair, depositing the collected hair at a first location, gliding the hair collection element along the surface in a second direction away from the first location and removing the collection hair from the first location.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a base assembly pivotally connected to an upright assembly. The base assembly comprises housing, a support, and ratchet-operated nozzle height adjustment mechanism for raising or lowering a suction nozzle on the base assembly relative to a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a base assembly pivotally connected to an upright assembly. The base assembly comprises a foot-actuated belt drive disengaging mechanism and a ratchet operated nozzle height adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: An accessory tool according to the present invention comprises a recovery tank assembly for removing fluid and dirt from a surface to the cleaned and storing the recovered fluid and dirt. The recovery tank assembly comprises a suction nozzle in fluid communication with a recovery tank. The accessory tool further comprises a fan/turbine assembly including a turbine-driven suction fan for generating suction at the suction nozzle, which draws liquid and air into and through the accessory tool. The turbine-driven suction fan can be magnetically coupled with the turbine. The accessory tool can further comprise a fluid dispensing assembly for storing and distributing fluid to the surface to the cleaned. The fluid dispensing assembly can comprise a turbine-driven fluid pump.