SURFACE CLEANING EXTRACTOR
An extractor includes a body, a recovery tank coupled to the body, and a liquid tank coupled to the body. The liquid tank is configured to hold a liquid. The extractor includes a base pivotably coupled to the body and configured to support the body above a cleaning surface. The extractor includes a fluid distributor coupled to the base. The fluid distributor is in fluid communication with the liquid tank and configured to dispense the liquid from the liquid tank onto the cleaning surface. The extractor includes a brush roll removably coupled to the base and a nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank. The nozzle is coupled to the base to block access to the brush roll. The nozzle is moveable relative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to the brush roll and enabling removal of the brush roll from the base.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/928,689, filed Oct. 31, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to surface cleaning extractors, and more particularly to surface cleaning extractors including removable brush rolls.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, an extractor includes a body, a recovery tank coupled to the body, and a liquid tank coupled to the body. The liquid tank is configured to hold a liquid. The extractor also includes a base pivotably coupled to the body and configured to support the body above a cleaning surface. The extractor further includes a fluid distributor coupled to the base. The fluid distributor is in fluid communication with the liquid tank and configured to dispense the liquid from the liquid tank onto the cleaning surface. The extractor further includes a brush roll removably coupled to the base and a nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank. The nozzle is coupled to the base to block access to the brush roll. The nozzle is moveable relative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to the brush roll and enabling removal of the brush roll from the base.
In another embodiment, an extractor includes a liquid tank configured to hold a liquid, a fluid distributor configured to dispense the liquid from the liquid tank onto a cleaning surface, a base supporting the fluid distributor, a brush roll coupled to the base, and a cover coupled to the base to block access to the brush roll. The cover is moveable relative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to the brush roll.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Terms of degree, such as “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” etc. are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.
A surface cleaning extractor 10 (e.g., an upright-style carpet extractor) is illustrated in
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Once the brush rolls 65a, 65b are removed and cleaned, the brush rolls 65a, 65b are independently coupled to the base 30. In particular, when the cover 120 is removed from the base 30, the first brush roll 65a is insertable into the cavity 105 between the fluid distributor 175 and the lateral wall 90 in a downward vertical direction 190 from the top 75 to the bottom 70 of the base 30. The downward vertical direction 190 is opposite the upward direction 185. In other embodiments, the downward vertical direction 190 can be obliquely oriented relative to the forward and rearward directions 40, 45. The first dimension 180 of the base 30 is greater than the maximum dimension 170 of the first brush roll 65a allowing the first brush roll 65a to be inserted between the lateral wall 90 and the fluid distributor 175. In some embodiments, the first deformable brush members 145a can include a dimension greater than the first dimension 180 of the base 30 causing the first deformable brush members 145a to contact the lateral wall 90 and/or the fluid distributor 175 and deform while the first brush roll 65a is inserted into the cavity 105. In the illustrated embodiment, the first recess 155a receives the first drive protrusion 95a to provide a pivot point for the first brush roll 65a to then pivot the first base mount 160a into engagement with the first support 100a. The engagement between the first base mount 160a and the first support 100a can be a snap fit engagement, or the like, to hold the first brush roll 65a to the base 30. Accordingly, the first drive protrusion 95a is operable to drive the first brush roll 65a about a first rotational axis concentric with its longitudinal axis 165a while the first support 100a and the first base mount 160a support rotational movement of the first brush roll 65a.
The second brush roll 65b can be coupled to the base 30 in a similar manner as the first brush roll 65a. When the cover 120 is removed from the base 30, the second brush roll 65b is inserted into the cavity 105 between the fluid distributor 175 and the front opening 110 in the downward direction 190. The second brush roll 65b can also be coupled to the base 30 by inserting the second brush roll 65b through the front opening 110 in a rearward horizontal direction 195 perpendicular to the downward direction 190 (e.g., parallel to the rearward direction 45). In other embodiments, the second brush roll 65b can be inserted into the cavity 105 at any angle between the downward direction 190 and the horizontal direction 195. In the illustrated embodiment, the second recess 155b receives the second drive protrusion 95b to provide a pivot point for the second brush roll 65b to then pivot the second base mount 160b into engagement with the second support 100b. The engagement between the second base mount 160b and the second support 100b can be a snap fit engagement, or the like, to hold the second brush roll 65b to the base 30. Accordingly, the second drive protrusion 95b is operable to drive the second brush roll 65b about a second rotational axis concentric with its longitudinal axis 165b while the second support 100b and the second base mount 160b support rotational movement of the second brush roll 65b. In one embodiment, the steps to couple the first and second brush rolls 65a, 65b to the base 30 are reversed to remove the first and second brush rolls 65a, 65b from the base 30.
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Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modification exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. An extractor comprising:
- a body;
- a recovery tank coupled to the body;
- a liquid tank coupled to the body, the liquid tank configured to hold a liquid;
- a base pivotably coupled to the body and configured to support the body above a cleaning surface;
- a fluid distributor coupled to the base, the fluid distributor in fluid communication with the liquid tank and configured to dispense the liquid from the liquid tank onto the cleaning surface;
- a brush roll removably coupled to the base; and
- a nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank, the nozzle coupled to the base to block access to the brush roll, the nozzle moveable relative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to the brush roll and enabling removal of the brush roll from the base.
2. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the fluid distributor is fixed to the base.
3. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the fluid distributor is releasably coupled to the base.
4. The extractor of claim 3, wherein the fluid distributor is releasable from the base as the nozzle moves relative to the base.
5. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the nozzle disconnects from the base allowing access to the brush roll.
6. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is movable relative to the base to open a top of the base, and wherein the brush roll is removable from the base through the top of the base.
7. The extractor of claim 6, wherein the brush roll is positioned between the fluid distributor and a portion of the base such that the brush roll moves past the fluid distributor as the brush roll is removed from the base.
8. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the base includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a lateral wall extending between the first and second side walls, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the lateral wall define a cavity in which the brush roll is received when coupled to the base, and wherein the brush roll is inserted between the fluid distributor and the lateral wall to be coupled to the base.
9. The extractor of claim 8, wherein the base includes a top opposite a bottom, wherein the bottom is configured to face the cleaning surface, and wherein the brush roll is coupled to the base by inserting the brush roll into the cavity in a direction from the top toward the bottom.
10. The extractor of claim 9, wherein the brush roll is driven about a rotational axis and includes a plurality of deformable brush members coupled to a brush roll body, wherein a first dimension is measured in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis between the lateral wall and the fluid distributor, and wherein the first dimension is greater than a maximum dimension of the brush roll body measured parallel to the first dimension.
11. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the brush roll is driven about a rotational axis, and wherein the brush roll is coupled to the base for the rotational axis to be positioned behind the fluid distributor in a forward direction of travel of the extractor.
12. The extractor of claim 11, wherein the brush roll is a first brush roll and the rotational axis is a first rotational axis, wherein the extractor includes a second brush roll removably coupled to the base, wherein the second brush roll is driven about a second rotational axis, and wherein the second brush roll is coupled to the base for the second rotational axis to be positioned forward of the fluid distributor in the forward direction of travel of the extractor.
13. The extractor of claim 12, wherein the base includes a top opposite a bottom, wherein the bottom is configured to face the cleaning surface, wherein the first brush roll is coupled to the base by inserting the first brush roll in a vertical direction from the top toward the bottom, wherein the base includes a front opening, and wherein the second brush roll is coupled to the base by inserting the second brush roll in the vertical direction or a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction through the front opening.
14. An extractor comprising:
- a liquid tank configured to hold a liquid;
- a fluid distributor configured to dispense the liquid from the liquid tank onto a cleaning surface;
- a base supporting the fluid distributor;
- a brush roll coupled to the base; and
- a cover coupled to the base to block access to the brush roll, the cover moveable relative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to the brush roll.
15. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the fluid distributor is fixed to the base.
16. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the fluid distributor is releasably coupled to the base.
17. The extractor of claim 16, wherein the fluid distributor is releasable from the base as the cover moves relative to the base.
18. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the cover is a nozzle configured to direct the liquid from the cleaning surface to a recovery tank of the extractor.
19. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the cover disconnects from the base allowing access to the brush roll.
20. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the cover is movable relative to the base to open a top of the base, and wherein the brush roll is removable from the base through the top of the base.
21. The extractor of claim 20, wherein the brush roll is positioned between the fluid distributor and a portion of the base such that the brush roll moves past the fluid distributor as the brush roll is removed from the base.
22. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the brush roll is removably coupled to the base, and wherein the cover is moveable relative to the base allowing access to the brush roll and enabling removal of the brush roll from the base.
23. The extractor of claim 22, wherein the base includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a lateral wall extending between the first and second side walls, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the lateral wall define a cavity in which the brush roll is received when coupled to the base, and wherein the brush roll is inserted between the fluid distributor and the lateral wall to be coupled to the base.
24. The extractor of claim 23, wherein the base includes a top opposite a bottom, wherein the bottom is configured to face the cleaning surface, and wherein the brush roll is coupled to the base by inserting the brush roll into the cavity in a direction from the top toward the bottom.
25. The extractor of claim 24, wherein a first dimension is measured in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the brush roll between the lateral wall and the fluid distributor, wherein the brush roll includes a plurality of deformable brush members coupled to a brush roll body, and wherein the first dimension is greater than a maximum dimension of the brush roll body measured parallel to the first dimension.
26. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the brush roll is coupled to the base for a longitudinal axis of the brush roll to be positioned behind the fluid distributor in a forward direction of travel of the extractor.
27. The extractor of claim 26, wherein the brush roll is a first brush roll and the longitudinal axis is a first longitudinal axis, wherein the extractor includes a second brush roll coupled to the base, and wherein the second brush roll is coupled to the base for a second longitudinal axis of the second brush roll to be positioned forward of the fluid distributor in the forward direction of travel of the extractor.
28. The extractor of claim 27, wherein the base includes a top opposite a bottom, wherein the bottom is configured to face the cleaning surface, and wherein the first brush roll is selectively coupled to the base by inserting the first brush roll in a vertical direction from the top toward the bottom, wherein the base includes a front opening, and wherein the second brush roll is selectively coupled to the base by inserting the second brush roll in the vertical direction or a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction through the front opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 29, 2020
Publication Date: May 6, 2021
Inventors: Juan Aviles Quintero (Huntersville, NC), Tyler Clas (Greer, SC)
Application Number: 17/083,982