Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS WITH DAMP CLEANING
[0001] This paragraph has been intentionally left blank.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Surface cleaning apparatuses such as vacuum cleaners are well-
known devices
for removing dirt and debris from a variety of surfaces such as carpets, hard
floors, or other
fabric surfaces such as upholstery. Such surface cleaning apparatuses
typically include a
recovery system including a recovery container, a nozzle adjacent the surface
to be cleaned and
in fluid communication with the recovery container through a conduit, and a
source of suction
in fluid communication with the conduit to draw debris-laden air from the
surface to be cleaned
and through the nozzle and the conduit to the recovery container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0003] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner,
having a base
assembly including a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to
provide damp
cleaning with a fluid supply container located on the base assembly, a hand-
held portion having
a hand grip and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction
nozzle and configured
for generating a working airstream, and a working air path from the suction
nozzle to an air
outlet in the hand-held portion and including the suction source.
[0004] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a surface
cleaning system,
comprising a first removable base assembly including a suction nozzle and a
fluid delivery
system adapted to provide a flow rate of 30 ml per minute or below to provide
damp cleaning,
a hand-held portion having a hand grip, a recovery container with a collector
axis defined
through a center thereof, and a suction source in fluid communication with the
suction nozzle
and the recovery container and configured for generating a working airstream,
and a wand
operably coupled to the hand-held portion and selectively coupled to the first
removable base
assembly, the wand defining at least a portion of a working air path extending
from the suction
nozzle to an air outlet in the hand-held portion and including the suction
source.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the drawings:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a surface cleaning apparatus
according to various
aspects described herein.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of
FIG. 1 in the
form of a hand-held vacuum cleaner including a base assembly and an upright
assembly
according to various aspects described herein.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partially-exploded view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG.
2.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base assembly of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a partially-exploded view of the base assembly of FIG.
4.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the base assembly of FIG. 6
illustrating a
recovery air flow path and a fluid delivery path.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a hand-held portion of the
upright assembly of
FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a partially-exploded view of an additional exemplary
base assembly
that can be selectively utilized with portions of the hand-held vacuum cleaner
of FIG. 2
according to various aspects described herein.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a brushroll that can be utilized
in the exemplary
base assembly of FIG. 9 according to various aspects described herein.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the exemplary base assembly of FIG.
9.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a partially-exploded view of the exemplary base
assembly of FIG. 9
illustrating a further exemplary brushroll that can be utilized in the base
assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present disclosure relates to a surface cleaning apparatus the
allows for
"damp" cleaning with a dry vacuum. By way of non-limiting example this can
include a surface
cleaner that generally cleans debris from the surface. In the illustrated
example, the surface
cleaner is in the form of a hand-held surface cleaner by way of non-limiting
example. Such
hand-held cleaners can be in the form of a stick vacuum or wand vacuum by way
of further
non-limiting examples. The surface cleaning apparatus can also include a hand
grip with a user
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interface for selective operation of components of the surface cleaning
apparatus. A base
assembly can include a recovery airflow path and a fluid delivery path, as
well as a fluid
delivery system and cleaning pad carried on the base assembly.
[0019] As used herein, the term "dry" vacuum cleaner is used to denote a
vacuum
cleaner that is not capable of fluid distribution or fluid recovery without
the accessory tool, and
may include, but is not limited to, upright, canister, stick-type, or hand-
held vacuum cleaners,
vacuum cleaners which are convertible between one or more of these types, or a
built-in central
vacuum cleaning system. It will be understood that dry vacuuming is different
from an
extraction of liquid wherein liquid is aspirated via a liquid recovery system.
As used herein,
the term "wet" surface cleaner is used to denote a surface cleaner that is
capable of fluid
distribution including liquid, steam, or a combination thereof, and/or fluid
recovery with or
without the accessory tool, and may include, but are not limited to, mops,
extractors and carpet
cleaners, including upright, canister, stick-type, or hand-held vacuum
cleaners, vacuum
cleaners which are convertible between one or more of these types, or a built-
in central vacuum
cleaning system. Further, the vacuum cleaner used with the accessory tool(s)
described herein
can be adapted to clean bare surfaces, such as hardwood, linoleum, and tile or
textile-covered
surfaces, such as carpets and upholstery.
[0020] Aspects of the present disclosure involve damp cleaning. The term
"damp" or
"damp cleaning" as used herein refers to a cleaning process including
relatively low moisture
levels when compared to conventional "wet" cleaning processes, such as
extraction or steam
cleaning for example, which use relatively higher moisture levels. "Damp" as
used herein
indicates a light to moderate flow rate, preferably in the range of 30 ml/min
and below,
including approximately 10 ¨ 30 ml/min. The flow rate could also include only
below 30
ml/min. It will be understood that the damp fluid flow rate can be applied
directly to a surface
to be cleaned or intermediately to an agitator, which then delivers the fluid
to the surface to be
cleaned. In contrast, the term "wet" as used herein refers to relatively high
moisture cleaning
including a moderate to heavy liquid flow rate applied to a surface to be
cleaned, typically in
the range of 30 ml/min and above or 30m1/min -100 ml/min for steam mops and
approximately
300 ¨ 1400 ml/min for extraction cleaners.
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[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of various functional systems of a
surface cleaning
apparatus in the form of an exemplary vacuum cleaner 10. The functional
systems of the
exemplary vacuum cleaner 10 can be arranged into any desired configuration
including as a
portable cleaner adapted to be hand carried by a user for cleaning relatively
small areas. The
vacuum cleaner 10 can be adapted to include a hose or other conduit, which can
form a portion
of the working air conduit between a nozzle and the suction source 18.
[0022] The vacuum cleaner 10 can include a fluid delivery system 12 for
storing
cleaning fluid and delivering the cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned,
as well as a recovery
system 14 for removing debris from the surface to be cleaned and storing the
debris. The fluid
delivery system 12 can include a fluid supply container 30 for storing
cleaning fluid, as well as
at least one fluid distributor 38 fluidly coupled to the fluid supply
container 30. The recovery
system 14 can include a suction inlet or suction nozzle 16, a suction source
18 in fluid
communication with the suction nozzle 16 for generating a working air stream,
and a recovery
container 20 for separating and collecting debris from the working airstream
for later disposal.
A separator 21 can be formed in a portion of the recovery container 20 for
separating entrained
debris from the working air stream.
[0023] The suction nozzle 16 can be provided on a base or cleaning head
adapted to
move over the surface to be cleaned. At least one agitator 26 can be provided
adjacent to the
suction nozzle 16 for agitating the surface to be cleaned so that the debris
is more easily ingested
into the suction nozzle 16. Some examples of agitators 26 include, but are not
limited to, a
horizontally-rotating brushroll, dual horizontally-rotating brushrolls, one or
more vertically-
rotating brushrolls, a stationary brush, or a cleaning or mopping pad. The at
least one agitator
26 can also be configured to cling to or otherwise retain dirt or debris
removed from the surface
to be cleaned, such as a disposable cleaning pad, wherein such retained dirt
or debris is not
ingested into the suction nozzle 16.
[0024] The suction source 18 can be any suitable suction source, such as
a motor/fan
assembly, and is provided in fluid communication with the recovery container
20. The suction
source 18 can be electrically coupled to a power source 22, such as a battery
or by a power cord
plugged into a household electrical outlet (not shown). A suction power switch
24 between the
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suction source 18 and the power source 22 can be selectively closed by the
user, thereby
activating the suction source 18.
[0025] The fluid delivery system 12 can further include a flow control
system 36 for
controlling the flow of fluid from the fluid supply container 30 to the
distributor 38. In one
configuration, the flow control system 36 can include at least one pump 40
which pressurizes
the system 12, as well as a flow control valve 42 which controls the delivery
of fluid to the
distributor 38. In one example, the pump 40 can be coupled with the power
source 22. An
actuator 44 can be provided to actuate the flow control system 36 and dispense
fluid to the
distributor 38. The actuator 44 can be operably coupled to the valve 42 such
that pressing the
actuator 44 will open the valve 42. Additionally or alternatively, the valve
42 can be electrically
actuated, such as by providing an electrical switch 46 between the valve 42
and the power
source 22 that is selectively closed when the actuator 44 is pressed, thereby
powering the valve
42 to move to an open position. In one example, the valve 42 can be a solenoid
valve.
[0026] The fluid distributor 38 can include at least one distributor
outlet 48 for
delivering cleaning fluid from the fluid supply container 30. The at least one
distributor outlet
48 can include any structure, such as a nozzle or spray tip; multiple outlets
48 can also be
provided. More specifically, the distributor outlet 48 can deliver fluid
indirectly to the surface
to be cleaned, such as by delivering fluid onto the agitator 26. In the
example shown, the agitator
26 can include a cleaning pad 90 aligned with the at least one distributor
outlet 48 such that
cleaning fluid is delivered onto the cleaning pad 90, thereby wetting the
cleaning pad 90 for use
in damp cleaning a surface to be cleaned. It is further contemplated that the
at least one
distributor outlet 48 can deliver cleaning fluid directly to a surface to be
cleaned, for example
if the cleaning pad 90 is removed from the vacuum cleaner 10 or if the
cleaning pad 90 includes
a void or hole around the distributor outlet 48.
[0027] Optionally, a heater 50 can be provided for heating the cleaning
fluid prior to
delivering the cleaning fluid. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, an in-
line heater 50 can be
located downstream of the fluid supply container 30 and upstream of the pump
40. Other types
of heaters 50 can also be used. In yet another example, the cleaning fluid can
be heated using
exhaust air from a motor-cooling pathway for the suction source 18.
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[0028] The vacuum cleaner 10 as shown in FIG. 1 can be used to
effectively remove
debris from the surface to be cleaned in accordance with the following method.
The sequence
of steps discussed is for illustrative purposes only and is not meant to limit
the method in any
way as it is understood that the steps may proceed in a different logical
order, additional or
intervening steps may be included, or described steps may be divided into
multiple steps.
[0029] In operation, the vacuum cleaner 10 is prepared for use by
coupling the vacuum
cleaner 10 to the power source 22. During operation of the fluid delivery
system 12, cleaning
fluid is supplied from the fluid supply container 30 to the distributor 38 and
at least one
distributor outlet 48 to the cleaning pad 90. The flow of fluid onto the
cleaning pad 90 is such
that the surface to be cleaned, such as a bare floor surface, can be moistened
or dampened via
fluid delivered indirectly through the cleaning pad 90. The recovery system 14
can be operated
simultaneously with the damp cleaning pad 90 so that the vacuum cleaner 10
provides both dry
vacuuming and damp cleaning at the same time. More specifically, during
operation of the
recovery system 14, the vacuum cleaner 10 draws in debris-laden working air
through the
suction nozzle 16 and into the downstream recovery container 20 where the
debris is
substantially separated from the working air. The airstream then passes
through the suction
source 18 prior to being exhausted from the vacuum cleaner 10. The recovery
container 20 can
be periodically emptied of collected debris.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the vacuum
cleaner 10
according to various aspects described herein. For purposes of description
related to the figures,
the terms "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical,"
"horizontal," "inner,"
"outer," and derivatives thereof shall be described from the perspective of a
user behind the
vacuum cleaner 10, which defines the rear of the vacuum cleaner 10. However,
it is to be
understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations,
except where
expressly specified to the contrary.
[0031] In the illustrated example, the vacuum cleaner 10 is illustrated
as including an
upright assembly 62 and a base assembly 64. The upright assembly 62 can be
pivotally
connected to the base assembly 64 for directing the base assembly 64 across
the surface to be
cleaned. The various systems and components schematically described for FIG. 1
can be
supported by either or both the base assembly 64 and the upright assembly 62
of the vacuum
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
cleaner 10. For example, the power source 22 and the recovery container 20 can
be carried by
the upright assembly 62, and the fluid supply container 30 and flow control
system 36 can be
positioned on the base assembly 64.
[0032] The fluid supply container 30 as illustrated can include a
replaceable or refillable
container. In the illustrated example, the fluid supply container 30 is
illustrated as including a
small reservoir having an inlet that may be plugged via a selectively moveable
cap. It will be
understood that the fluid supply container 30 can be the only liquid supply on
the vacuum
cleaner 10. The fluid supply container 30 may define a small reservoir with a
volume below
1,000 ml including that the reservoir may be smaller than 200 ml. This is in
contrast to a larger
reservoir of a typical wet surface cleaner, which can often hold at least
3,000-4,000 ml of
cleaning liquid.
[0033] The flow control system 36 can include, among other things, a pump
40, a flow
control valve 42, an actuator 44, and an electrical switch 46 (FIG. 1), at
least some of which
can be contained within a housing 34 located on the base assembly 64. The pump
40, flow
control valve 42, and actuator 44 as described above for FIG. 1 may all be
provided on the base
assembly 64 and adapted to provided a flow rate suitable for damp cleaning. In
the illustrated
example, the housing 34 and fluid supply container 30 are positioned on
opposing sides of the
base assembly 64 although this need not be the case.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a partially-exploded view of the vacuum cleaner
10 of FIG. 2.
The upright assembly 62 includes a hand-held portion 66 supporting components
of the
recovery system 14, including, but not limited to, the suction source 18 and
the recovery
container 20. By way of non-limiting example, the suction source 18 can
includes a motor/fan
assembly 124 (FIG. 8).
[0035] The hand-held portion 66 can be coupled to a wand 70 having at
least one wand
connector 72. In the illustrated example, both a first end 74 of the wand 70
and a second end
76 of the wand 70 include a wand connector 72. The wand connector 72 at the
first end 74 of
the wand 70 can couple to a first wand receiver 75 provided with the hand-held
portion 66. The
wand connector 72 at the second end 76 of the wand 70 can be coupled to the
base assembly
64 via a second wand receiver 75. It is contemplated that the wand connectors
72 can be the
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same type of connector or can vary. Any suitable type of connector mechanism
can be utilized,
such as a quick connect mechanism or a tubing coupler in non-limiting
examples.
[0036] A pivotal connection between the upright assembly 62 and the base
assembly 64
can be provided by at least one pivoting mechanism. The pivoting mechanism can
include a
joint assembly 63 configured to pivot the upright assembly 62 in any suitable
manner including
front-to-back as illustrated. The joint assembly 63 is located between the
wand 70 and the base
assembly 64. More specifically, the joint assembly is provided between the
second wand
receiver 75 and the base assembly 64. The joint assembly 63 provides for
pivotal forward and
backward rotation between the wand 70 and the base assembly 64. Additionally
or alternatively,
the joint assembly 63 can be in the form of a multi-axis swivel joint assembly
for pivoting the
upright assembly 62 from front-to-back and side-to-side with respect to the
base assembly 64.
Wheels 52 (FIG. 5) can be coupled to either or both of the joint assembly 63
and the base
assembly 64 and adapted to move the base assembly 64 across the surface to be
cleaned.
[0037] The hand-held portion 66 can also include the recovery container
20, illustrated
herein as a dirt separation and collection module 80 fluidly coupled to the
suction source 18 via
an air outlet port (not shown). The dirt separation and collection module 80
can be removable
from the hand-held portion 66 by a release latch 82 as shown so that it can be
emptied of debris.
For example, the dirt separation and collection module 80 can include the
separator 21 enclosed
by the recovery container 20. It is contemplated that the recovery container
20 can be removable
from the hand-held portion 66 by the release latch 82. Alternatively, the
release latch 82 can
simultaneously release the recovery container 20 and the separator 21, and an
additional release
latch (not shown) can decouple the recovery container 20 and separator 21 for
emptying debris.
[0038] An upper end of the hand-held portion 66 can further include a
hand grip 67 for
maneuvering the vacuum cleaner 10 over a surface to be cleaned. At least one
user control
mechanism 68 is provided on the hand grip 67 and coupled to the power source
22 (FIG. 6) for
selective operation of components of the vacuum cleaner 10. In the
contemplated example, the
user control mechanism 68 is an electronic control that can form the suction
power switch 24.
[0039] The agitator 26 of the illustrated example includes the cleaning
pad 90. The
cleaning pad 90 can be positioned on any suitable portion of the base assembly
64 including
that it can be positioned on an underside of the base assembly 64. The
agitator 26 can further
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include a set of brushes 92 positioned along a perimeter of the base assembly
64. While not
illustrated the agitator can additionally or alternatively include a rotatable
brushroll.
[0040] Any or all of the agitator(s) can be in fluid communication with
the fluid supply
container 30. In the illustrated example, the cleaning pad 90 is fluidly
coupled with the fluid
supply container 30 such that the at least one distributor outlet 48 can
dampen the cleaning pad
90. While the at least one distributor outlet 48 is illustrated as delivering
fluid to dampen the
cleaning pad 90, which can be thought of as an unpowered manual damp pad, it
is also
contemplated that a manual brush, manual roller, powered brush, powered
roller, or powered
spinning pads or brush(es) could also be utilized for damp cleaning and that
the at least one
distributor outlet 48 could supply fluid thereto. In this manner the moisture
is indirectly applied
to the surface to be cleaned via the dampened article on the vacuum cleaner
10. It is also
contemplated that the ability to provide damp cleaning with the vacuum cleaner
10 could also
be included in an unpowered accessory connected to the vacuum hose or wand 70
or a powered
accessory connected to the vacuum hose or wand 70. In such a case, the fluid
supply container
30 could be contained entirely on the accessory and not on the upright
assembly 62 or the base
assembly 64 of the vacuum cleaner 10.
[0041] A wand body 162 can enclose a wand conduit 71. In one example, the
wand
body 162 can be formed from an extrusion of aluminum, and is illustrated as
having an exterior
rounded triangular geometric profile defining an outer periphery. Wand
connectors 72 can
couple to the wand body 162 at each end 74 and 77. A first wand connector 72
can couple the
wand body 162 to the base assembly 64 and a second wand connector 72 can
couple the wand
body 162 to the hand-held portion 66.
[0042] A decorative insert 166 can be coupled to at least a portion of
the wand body
162. In the illustrated example, the decorative insert 166 can be in the form
of a flat plate and
configured to couple to a recessed portion defining a face of the triangular
shaped wand body
162. Optionally, the decorative insert 166 can included rounded edges to form
smooth surface
transitions between an outer surface of the decorative insert and a second
face of the wand body.
It is contemplated that the decorative insert 166 can be formed of plastic,
including transparent
or translucent plastic. Optionally, the decorative insert 166 can include
logos or other markings
or indicators for operations of the vacuum cleaner 10, or locating features so
as to couple a
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
correct end of the wand body 162 to one of the base assembly 64 or hand-held
portion 66 of the
upright assembly 62, for example.
[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates the base assembly 64 in further detail
including that the brushes
92 can be positioned on opposing sides of the base assembly 64 and also
located forward, or in
front of, the cleaning pad 90. The suction nozzle 16 can include multiple
openings 17 positioned
along a front edge of the base assembly 64 to direct dirt to a suction nozzle
inlet 16a (FIG. 5)
that generally extends long a length of the base assembly 64. From the suction
nozzle inlet 16a,
the debris travels through a working air path into the recovery container 20
(FIG. 3).
[0044] The fluid supply container 30 can include an aperture 31 and a
closure 32 for
selectively opening and closing the fluid supply container 30. For example, a
user can fill the
fluid supply container 30 with cleaning fluid via the aperture 31 and seal the
fluid supply
container 30 via the closure 32. The cleaning fluid can be a liquid such as
water or a cleaning
solution specifically formulated for hard surface cleaning. In one non-
limiting example, the
fluid supply container 30 can be in the form of a reservoir having a volume
below 1,000 ml
including that the reservoir may be smaller than 200 ml. By way of further
example, the
reservoir can include a volume ranging from 60 mL to 120 mL. In addition, the
actuator 44 in
the illustrated example is in the form of an on/off switch, whereby switching
the actuator 44 to
its "on" position causes the pump 40 (FIG. 1) to operate and generate a fluid
flow from the fluid
supply container 30 to the cleaning pad 90. Alternatively or additionally, a
fluid actuator 45 can
be provided on the hand grip 67 for operating the pump 40. It will be
understood that either or
both of the actuator 44 and the fluid actuator 45 can be provided. For
example, either or both
of the actuator 44 and fluid actuator 45 can be in the form of a rocker
switch, a push button, a
toggle, or any other suitable mechanism for operating the pump 40 to generate
a fluid flow from
the fluid supply container 30 to the cleaning pad 90.
[0045] The flow rate of the supply of fluid to the cleaning pad 90 of the
vacuum cleaner
can be <1% to about 10% of the flow rate for typical extraction cleaners. It
will be understood
that the application of fluid to the surface to be cleaned is indirect through
the cleaning pad and
that the at least one distributor outlet 48 does not apply the fluid directly
to the surface to be
cleaned. The flow rate is low enough that the transfer of fluid to the surface
to be cleaned via
the cleaning pad 90 would leave the surface damp to the user's touch. In
comparison, typical
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
extraction cleaners and other liquid-delivering floor cleaners, such as steam
mops or wet/dry
vacuum cleaners, purposefully wet the surface to be cleaned itself and even if
an intermediate
brush or agitator is used the surface, typically a surface is wetted to the
point that the surface
would be perceived as wet or saturated to the user's touch. In one specific
example, the flow
rate to the cleaning pad can range from approximately 10 ml/min to 20 ml/min.
In comparison,
a typical extraction cleaner has a liquid flow rate of approximately 300
ml/min - 1400 ml/min
and a typical steam mop has a flow rate of approximately 30 ml/min - 100
ml/min.
[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates the underside of the base assembly 64 with the
cleaning pad
90 removed. In this view, the distributor 38 is visible with multiple
distributor outlets 48
extending at least partially along a width of the base assembly 64. The
distributor 38 is fluidly
coupled with the fluid supply container 30 such that cleaning fluid can flow
from the fluid
supply container 30 to the cleaning pad 90 via the distributor 38.
[0047] Furthermore, while the cleaning pad 90 is schematically
illustrated as having a
rectangular profile, it will be understood the cleaning pad 90 can have any
suitable shape, form,
or geometric profile. In non-limiting examples, the cleaning pad 90 can
include a square profile,
a circular profile, a microfiber cloth, a set of polishing brushes or tassels,
a set of bristles, or a
set of scrubbing brushes. In another non-limiting example, the cleaning pad 90
can include
multiple layers such as a scrubbing layer, a polishing layer, or a layer
containing a cleaning
composition. In still other examples, the cleaning pad 90 can include multiple
cleaning pads
each secured on an underside of the base assembly 64, or the cleaning pad 90
can include a
removable or re-usable cloth pad secured around a rigid frame within the base
assembly 64.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 6, a recovery airflow path 94 can be formed
between the
base assembly 64 and the dirt separation and collection module 80. For
example, the wand 70
can include the wand conduit 71 that is fluidly connected to both the suction
nozzle 16 as well
as the dirt separation and collection module 80. A fluid delivery path 96 is
also illustrated within
the base assembly 64 between the fluid supply container 30 and cleaning pad
90.
[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates additional details of the recovery airflow path
94 and fluid
delivery path 96 within the base assembly 64. It will be understood that the
recovery airflow
path 94 is fluidly separated from the fluid delivery path 96. More
specifically, the recovery
airflow path 94 begins at the suction nozzle inlet 16a, which is located
forward of the cleaning
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
pad 90. The recovery airflow path extends from the suction nozzle inlet 16a
through a conduit
65 within the base assembly 64, through the joint assembly 63, and into the
wand conduit 71.
[0050] Conversely, the fluid delivery path 96 extends from the fluid
supply container
30 to the distributor 38, through at least one distributor outlet 48, and to
the cleaning pad 90.
Moisture can be transferred to the surface to be cleaned via the dampened
cleaning pad 90 for
damp cleaning.
[0051] Turning to FIG. 8, the hand-held portion 66 is shown in further
detail. In the
illustrated example, the power source 22 is in the form of a battery pack
containing one or more
batteries, such as lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries. Optionally, the vacuum
cleaner 10 can include
a power cord (not shown) to connect to a wall outlet. In still another
example, the power source
22 can include a rechargeable battery pack, such as by connecting to an
external source of power
to recharge batteries contained therein. The user control mechanism 68 can be
in the form of a
user interface printed circuit board located within the hand grip 67 as shown.
In addition, a main
controller 69, such as a main control printed circuit board, can be located
adjacent the suction
source 18 as shown.
[0052] The suction source 18 can be in the form of a through-flow
suction fan connected
to a motor 100, such as a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor having an
integrated motor
controller. A pre-motor filter 102 can be provided within the recovery airflow
path 94 (FIG. 6)
upstream of the motor 100 to prevent debris from entering the motor 100 during
operation.
Alternatively, the suction source 18 can include a bypass suction fan
connected to a motor 100.
In the illustrated example, the separator 21 is coupled to the recovery
container 20 and includes
a cyclonic separator 84 as well as a bulk separator screen 86.
[0053] As illustrated, a wand axis 126 can be defined through the center
of the wand 70
(FIG. 3) and wand connector 72. In the figure, the wand 70 is held upright,
and thus the wand
axis 126 is vertical. In this example, references to "a vertical axis" will be
understood to also
refer to the wand axis 126. It will be understood, that during use the wand 70
may be oriented
in any suitable manner including angled with respect to the vertical axis.
[0054] A collector axis 128 can be defined through the center of the
dirt separation and
collection module 80, and a motor axis 130 can be defined through the center
of the motor/fan
assembly 124. It is contemplated that the wand axis 126, the collector axis
128, and the motor
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axis 130 can all be parallel to one another as shown. Put another way, when
the wand 70 is held
upright such that the wand axis 126 is vertical, the collector axis 128 and
the motor axis 130
are also vertical.
[0055] A grip axis 132 can be defined through the center of the hand grip
67 as shown.
The grip axis 132 forms a grip angle 134 with respect to a vertical direction,
such as 60 degrees
in a non-limiting example. Further, a battery axis 136 can be defined through
the center of the
power source 22 (e.g., the battery pack) and intersect the grip axis 132. The
battery axis 136
can also define a battery angle 138 with respect to a vertical direction, such
as 30 degrees in a
non-limiting example. Optionally, the grip axis 132 can be orthogonal to the
battery axis 136.
[0056] The dirt separation and collection module 80 can include a dirt
cup in the form
of recovery container 20 with an inlet port in the form of the dirt inlet (not
shown), and a
separator assembly 140 coupled to the recovery container 20. Working air can
enter through
the dirt inlet (not shown) and swirls around a first stage separator assembly
chamber 144 for
centrifugally separating debris from the working air flow. The separator
assembly 140 includes
a first stage separator 142, such as a grill, that, in combination with the
swirling working air,
removes relatively large debris out of the working air which collects at a
lower portion of the
recovery container 20 defining a first stage collection area 146.
[0057] The working air moves through an inlet to a second stage separator
or the
separator screen 86 in the separator assembly 140, such as a grill or a mesh
configured to filter
smaller debris, and enters a second stage separation chamber 150, which is
shown as the
cyclonic separator 84 herein. Smaller debris removed from the working air
collects in a second
stage collection area 152 near the bottom of the recovery container 20. The
first stage collection
area 146 can surround the second stage collection area 152 as shown.
[0058] With additional reference to FIG. 8, an exhaust outlet 154 and
filter housing 158
are fluidly coupled to an upper portion of the second stage separation chamber
150. Working
air exits the second stage separation chamber 150 through the exhaust outlet
154 and at least
one filter in the filter housing 158 and which is shown herein as a pre-motor
filter 102 of the
motor/fan assembly 124. The filtered working air flows into the motor/fan
assembly 124
whereupon it can be exhausted into the surrounding atmosphere through an
exhaust filter, i.e. a
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
post-motor filter 156, and an air outlet of the working air pathway through
the vacuum cleaner
10, which is shown herein as formed by an exhaust grill 153.
[0059] The outer surface of the first stage separator 142 can accumulate
debris, such as
hair, lint, or the like that may become stuck thereon and may not fall into
the first stage
collection area 146.
[0060] The separator assembly 140 can further include a ring 161 slidably
coupled to
the recovery container 20. The ring 161 can be coupled to a wiper 160, such as
an annular wiper,
configured to contact the first stage separator 142. The separator assembly
140 can be lifted
upwards with respect to the ring 161 and recovery container 20. During this
lifting, the ring 161
remains coupled to the recovery container 20, and the wiper 160 slides or
scrapes along the first
stage separator 142 to remove accumulated debris from the outer surface of the
first stage
separator 142 or grill, which falls down to the first stage collection area
146.
[0061] When the separator assembly 140 has been raised to a predetermined
level, it
can lift away from the recovery container 20 along with the ring 161 and wiper
160. The
recovery container 20 can then be inverted to remove dirt and debris from the
first and second
stage collection areas 146 and 152. After emptying, the separator assembly 140
can be
repositioned within the recovery container 20 and the ring 161 can once again
be coupled to the
recovery container 20 for additional use of the vacuum cleaner 10.
[0062] Additional details of the dirt separation and collection module 80
are described
in PCT Application No. PCT/US19/39424, filed June 27, 2019, which is
incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
[0063] Working air along the recovery airflow path 94 (FIG. 6) can enter
the separation
and collection module 80 and flow through the bulk separator screen 86 before
entering the
cyclonic separator 84, thereby removing relatively large debris from the
working air prior to
centrifugally removing smaller debris from the working air upstream of the
motor 100. Dirt,
dust, and debris removed from the working air flow can collect in the recovery
container 20. In
this manner, the bulk separator screen 86, cyclonic separator 84, and pre-
motor filter 102 can
be utilized to filter the working air flowing through the motor 100 and out of
the vacuum cleaner
during operation.
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
[0064] In addition, a moisture barrier 110 can be provided within the
hand-held portion
66 as shown. The moisture barrier 110 can surround portions of the vacuum
cleaner 10,
including the power source 22, user control mechanism 68, or main controller
69 to prevent
liquid contact with undesired or unsuitable portions of the vacuum cleaner 10.
Examples of
moisture barriers 110 include, but are not limited to, waterproof materials
such as rubber,
plastic, or silicone, and can be in the form of a membrane, strip, insulating
panel, or other
suitable forms. While the vacuum cleaner 10 is not contemplated for liquid
ingestion or
aspiration of liquid and the dampness from the cleaning pad 90 should not
create any free liquid,
if for some reason liquid is ingested, such a moisture barrier 110 would
ensure that any liquid
that escapes the recovery airflow pathway 94 and dirt separation and
collection module 80 will
not harm other components of the vacuum cleaner 10 located within the moisture
barrier 110.
[0065] With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated
in a variety
of ways. In one example of operation, the power source 22 can supply power for
the suction
source 18 to provide suction through the recovery airflow path 94. Debris
removed from the
surface can be entrained within working air along the recovery airflow path 94
through the base
assembly 64 and wand conduit 71 before flowing into the dirt separation and
collection module
80. Such dirt and debris can be removed from the working air and collected
within the recovery
container 20, and cleaned working air can flow through the suction source 18
as shown. In this
manner, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated in a "dry mode" whereby the
suction source 18
is utilized to remove dirt or debris from a surface with the cleaning pad 90
removed from the
base assembly 64.
[0066] In another example of operation, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be
operated with
the suction source switched on as well as the cleaning pad 90 attached to the
base assembly 64
without operation of the fluid delivery system 12. As the base assembly 64 is
directed over a
surface, dirt and debris is removed from the surface via the suction nozzle
16, while the dry
cleaning pad 90 can trap additional dirt or debris that may remain on the
surface. In this manner,
the vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated in a "polish mode" whereby the suction
source 18 is
utilized along with the dry cleaning pad 90 to remove dirt and debris from a
surface, and provide
additional cleaning or polishing via the cleaning pad 90.
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
[0067] In still another example of operation, the base assembly 64 can be
directed over
a surface while cleaning fluid is delivered from the fluid supply container 30
to the cleaning
pad 90. The cleaning fluid can be automatically delivered, such as by gravity,
or selectively
delivered, such as via the actuator 44, thereby dampening the cleaning pad 90
as the base
assembly 64 is moved over the surface to be cleaned and transferring moisture
from the cleaning
pad 90 to the surface. In this manner, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated
in a "damp" mode
whereby the cleaning pad 90 is utilized with cleaning fluid to clean the
surface. It has been
determined that an appropriate flow rate for damp cleaning is 30 ml/min or
less.
[0068] In still another example of operation, the vacuum cleaner 10 can
operate the
suction source 18 simultaneously with supplying fluid to the surface via the
cleaning pad 90.
This can be considered "damp with suction" mode. It will be understood that
this includes the
fluid delivery system 12 being operated in concert with the recovery system 14
to clean a
surface. It will further be understood that the fluid delivery system 12 may
not require actuation
for the same amount of time as the recovery system 14. For example, once a
predetermined
amount of liquid is applied to the cleaning pad 90 the vacuum cleaner 10 can
continue to provide
damp with suction until the cleaning pad 90 dries.
[0069] During the damp with suction mode, as the base assembly 64 is
moved over a
surface, dirt and debris can be removed from the surface by the suction nozzle
16 while moisture
is simultaneously applied to the surface via the cleaning pad. In the instance
where the base
assembly 64 is only being moved in a forward direction this would include the
suction nozzle
16 removing debris from the surface immediately prior to damp-cleaning the
surface via the
cleaning pad 90, which has been dampened via the fluid from the fluid supply
container 30.
[0070] After cleaning the debris, which is considered dry debris, can be
emptied from
the dirt bin and the dirty cleaning pad 90 can be removed. It is contemplated
that the cleaning
pad can be reusable such that it can be laundered and reused in a subsequent
cleaning process
or replaceable such that it can be removed after one or more uses and replaced
with a new
cleaning pad. Further, if the vacuum cleaner 10 is rechargeable the vacuum
cleaner 10 can be
recharged for the next use.
[0071] It will be understood that features or aspects of the various
modes described
above can be utilized in combination with one another. Such examples are given
for illustration
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. The fluid delivery system
12 and recovery
system 14 can each be operated independently or in concert with one another.
[0072] Further still, it will be understood that the vacuum cleaner 10 as
thus far
described can further be utilized with alternative base assemblies to further
provide additional
functionality. For example, the wand 70 can be adapted to operably couple with
one or more
alternative base assemblies. FIG. 9 illustrates one example of an exemplary
base assembly 164.
It will be appreciated that the base assembly 164 is similar to the base
assembly 64 but does not
include damp cleaning functionality and instead is a true dry vacuum. As a non-
limiting
example, the agitator of the illustrated example includes a brushroll 168
configured to rotate
about a horizontal axis and operatively coupled to a drive shaft of a drive
motor via a
transmission, which can include one or more belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, or
combinations
thereof. An agitator housing 73 is provided around the suction nozzle 16 and
defines an agitator
chamber 79 for the brushroll 168.
[0073] As yet another non-limiting example, a pivotal connection between
the upright
assembly 62 and the base assembly 164 can be provided by at least one pivoting
mechanism.
In the illustrated example, the pivoting mechanism can include a multi-axis
swivel joint
assembly 170 configured to pivot the upright assembly 62 from front-to-back
and side-to-side
with respect to the base assembly 164. A lower portion 172 of the swivel joint
assembly 170 is
located between the wand 70 and the base assembly 164. The lower portion 172
of the swivel
joint assembly 170 provides for pivotal forward and backward rotation between
the wand 70
and the base assembly 164. An upper portion 174 of the swivel joint assembly
170 is also
located between the wand 70 and the base assembly 164 and provides for lateral
or side-to-side
rotation between the wand 70 and base assembly 164. More specifically, the
lower portion 172
of the swivel joint assembly 170 is coupled between the base assembly 164 and
the upper
portion 174 of the swivel joint assembly 170. The upper portion 174 of the
swivel joint
assembly 170 is coupled to the wand receiver 77 at the second end 76 of the
wand 70. Wheels
52 can be coupled to the lower portion 172 of the swivel joint assembly 170 or
directly to the
base assembly 164, and are adapted to move the base assembly 164 across the
surface to be
cleaned. As yet another non-limiting example, a recovery airflow conduit 176
can be formed
between the agitator housing 73 and the dirt separation and collection module
80. For example,
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
a wand conduit 71 in the base assembly 164 can be fluidly coupled to a wand
conduit 71 within
the wand 70. The wand conduit 71 can be flexible to facilitate pivoting
movement of the swivel
joint assembly 170 about multiple axes. The wand conduit 71 is fluidly
connected to a dirt inlet
(not shown) on the dirt separation and collection module 80 via the air outlet
port (not shown).
[0074] The base assembly 164 can extend between a first side 180 and a
second side
182 and a removable cover 184 can at least partially define the agitator
chamber 79
therebetween. An aperture 186 is located in a portion of the second side 182
and allows for
insertion and removal of the brushroll 168. A front bar 188 extends between
the first side 180
and the second side 182 along a lower portion of the base assembly 164. The
front bar 188 is
configured to be located behind the removable cover 184 when the removable
cover 184 is
mounted. A headlight array 190 is illustrated as being located on the front
bar 188 and extending
along the width of the base assembly 164 between the first side 180 and the
second side 182.
The headlight array 190 can be any suitable illumination assembly including an
LED headlight
array. Even though the headlight array 190 is positioned under the removable
cover 184 it can
be considered to be positioned along an outer portion of the base assembly
164. In one example,
the removable cover 184 can include a transparent portion such that when
installed, the
transparent portion covers and protects the headlight array 190 and permits
emitted light to
shine through to the surface to be cleaned. In another example, the removable
cover 184 can
leave the headlight array 190 uncovered so as not to block emitted light from
the headlight array
190.
[0075] A brushroll 168 can be positioned within the agitator chamber 79
by sliding a
first end through the aperture 186 located at the second side 182 of the base
assembly 164.
When fully inserted, a second end 168b of the brushroll 168 can be flush with
the aperture 186.
In addition, the wand conduit 71 can fluidly couple the agitator chamber 79 to
the wand conduit
71.
[0076] The base assembly 164 can include a brush drive assembly 192
positioned
opposite the aperture 186 and configured to drive rotational motion of the
agitator 26 (e.g.
brushroll 168) within the agitator chamber 79. The brush drive assembly 192
can have
components including, but not limited to, a brush motor 226, a belt 228 within
a belt housing
227, and a brush drive gear 220.
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
[0077] Additional details of the brushroll 168 are shown in FIG. 10. The
first end of the
brushroll 168 can include an end plate 194 having projections 196, such as
teeth, configured to
engage a portion of the brush drive assembly 192 (FIG. 15). The brushroll 168
further includes
a central shaft 222 coupled to brush bearings 224 at each end. In the
illustrated example, the
brushroll 168 includes a bristled brushroll 168 with offset, swept tufts 202
extending along an
outer surface of the brushroll 168. The bristle tufts 202 can be positioned
offset from a center
line 204 of a tufting platform 206, and the tufts 202 can also be non-
orthogonal to the tufting
platform 206. In this manner, the bristled brushroll 168 can be configured to
prevent hair from
wrapping around the brushroll 168 during operation. Additional details of a
similar brushroll
are described in U.S. Publication No. 2018-0125315, which is incorporated
herein by reference
in its entirety.
[0078] The assembled base assembly 164 is shown in FIG. 11, where the
projections
196 of the end plate are coupled with the brush drive gear 220. In this manner
the brush drive
gear 220 is also coupled to the central shaft 222 by way of a drive gear
bearing 229. As the
brush motor 226 drives rotation of the belt 228 and brush drive gear 220, the
brushroll 168 can
be rotated at a variety of speeds depending on the selected suction mode. A
brush removal
endcap 230 at the second end of the brushroll 168 provides for unlocking or
removal of the
brushroll 168 from the agitator chamber 79, such as for cleaning of the
bristles tufts 202.
[0079] It is contemplated that a variety of agitators 26 and brushrolls
168 can be utilized
within the agitator chamber 79. FIG. 12 illustrates a microfiber brushroll 210
that can be
utilized. The microfiber brushroll 210 is similar to the bristled brushroll
168; one difference is
the outer surface includes a microfiber layer instead of bristles. Whereas
bristles can be utilized
to lift hair and debris from carpet fibers, the microfiber layer can lift dirt
and debris from hard
surfaces such as wood or tile. Each of the brushrolls can include a brush
removal endcap 198
including fasteners 212. In the illustrated example, the fasteners 212 include
bayonet fasteners
wherein a given brushroll is inserted through the aperture 186 and rotated,
for example by 30
degrees, to lock the brushroll into place within the agitator chamber 79 via
corresponding
fastener receivers 214. It will be understood that other brushroll types not
explicitly described
can be utilized in the vacuum cleaner 10.
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
[0080] Dry vacuum cleaners can clean different surface types but do not
generally
dispense or recover fluid. The present disclosure provides a variety of
benefits including the
ability to damp clean a surface, including by way of non-limiting example a
bare floor surface,
while using the dry vacuum to pick up debris. In this manner, cleaning of the
surface can be
done in a shorter time and with less effort; further the surface is also left
cleaner and shinier
than would be accomplished with just a dry vacuum.
[0081] To the extent not already described, the different features and
structures of the
various examples of the present disclosure may be used in combination with
each other as
desired. Thus, the various features of the different examples may be mixed and
matched as
desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are
expressly
described.
[0082] For example, various characteristics, aspects, and advantages of
the present
disclosure may also be embodied in the following technical solutions defined
by the following
clauses and may include any combination of the following concepts:
[0083] A vacuum cleaner, having a base assembly including a suction
nozzle and a fluid
delivery system adapted to provide damp cleaning with a fluid supply container
located on the
base assembly, a hand-held portion having a hand grip and a suction source in
fluid
communication with the suction nozzle and configured for generating a working
airstream, and
a working air path from the suction nozzle to an air outlet in the hand-held
portion and including
the suction source.
[0084] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the fluid
delivery system
comprises at least one agitator fluidly coupled to the fluid supply container,
and wherein the
agitator is adapted to provide damp cleaning.
[0085] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the agitator is
a cleaning
pad.
[0086] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the agitator is
operably
coupled to a power source and the agitator is at least one of rotatable or
spinning.
[0087] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the fluid
delivery system
further comprises a distributor provided to supply fluid to the agitator and a
flow control system
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
adapted to control a flow to the distributor from the fluid supply container
at a flow rate of 30
ml per minute or less.
[0088] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the flow
control system
further comprises an actuator and at least one of a pump or a flow control
valve operably
coupled to the actuator.
[0089] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the actuator is
located on
the base assembly.
[0090] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the fluid
supply container
is less than 500 ml in volume.
[0091] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the headlight
array
includes a plurality of LEDs spaced along a width of the base assembly.
[0092] The vacuum cleaner of any permutation of any preceding clause
wherein the
beam is at a zero-degree beam angle.
[0093] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the working air
path is at
least partially defined by a wand operably coupled between the base assembly
and the hand-
held portion.
[0094] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the wand
includes an outer
periphery having a triangular profile.
[0095] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the wand
includes a
decorative insert operably coupled to a recess within a wand body and the
decorative insert and
the wand body together form the outer periphery or wherein the wand includes a
tubular insert
operably coupled within a recess of a wand body and the tubular insert and the
wand body
together form the outer periphery.
[0096] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, further comprising a
swivel joint
moveably coupling a lower end of the wand to the base assembly.
[0097] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the hand-held
portion
further comprises a debris removal assembly including a recovery container
provided in fluid
communication with the suction source.
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
[0098] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the suction
source includes
a motor/fan assembly operably coupled to the debris removal assembly to form a
single, hand-
carri able unit.
[0099] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the hand grip
extends away
from at least one of the motor/fan assembly or the recovery container to
define a handle opening
and where the handle grip is adapted to be gripped by a user.
[00100] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, further comprising a
pre-motor
filter assembly mounted to the hand-held portion and defining a portion of the
working air path,
the pre-motor filter assembly comprising at least one pre-motor filter
received within a filter
chamber at an upper end of the recovery container.
[00101] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the debris
removal
assembly comprises a cyclonic separator chamber for separating contaminants
from the
working air path and a collection chamber for receiving contaminants separated
in the separator
chamber, the collection chamber defined at least in part by the recovery
container.
[00102] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the debris
removal
assembly further comprises a second downstream cyclonic separator chamber and
a second
collection chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the second
separator chamber.
[00103] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the second
downstream
cyclonic separator chamber is located concentrically within the cyclonic
separator chamber.
[00104] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein an inner
housing is
selectively receivable within the recovery container and the inner housing
defines the second
downstream cyclonic separator chamber and the second collection chamber.
[00105] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, further comprising an
annular
wiper configured to slidably contact a portion of the inner housing.
[00106] The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the base
assembly further
comprises an agitator chamber at the suction nozzle and a removable brushroll
selectively
located therein.
[00107] A surface cleaning system, comprising a first removable base
assembly
including a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to provide a
flow rate of 30 ml
per minute or below to provide damp cleaning, a hand-held portion having a
hand grip, a
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Date recue/Date Received 2021-02-17
recovery container with a collector axis defined through a center thereof, and
a suction source
in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the recovery container and
configured for
generating a working airstream, and a wand operably coupled to the hand-held
portion and
selectively coupled to the first removable base assembly, the wand defining at
least a portion
of a working air path extending from the suction nozzle to an air outlet in
the hand-held portion
and including the suction source.
[00108] The surface cleaning system of any preceding clause further
comprising a
second removable base assembly including a second suction nozzle and wherein
the first
removable base assembly and the second removable base assembly are
interchangeable.
[00109] The surface cleaning system of any preceding clause wherein the
suction source
includes a motor/fan assembly operably coupled to the recovery container to
form a single,
hand-carriable unit and the motor/fan assembly defines a motor axis that is
parallel to the wand
axis and the collector axis.
[00110] The surface cleaning system of any permutation of any preceding
clause wherein
a grip axis is defined through a center of the handle grip and forms an acute
angle with respect
to the collector axis.
[00111] The surface cleaning system of any preceding clause, further
comprising a
battery pack located on the hand-held portion and wherein a battery axis is
defined through the
center of the battery pack and intersects the grip axis at an orthogonal
angle.
[00112] While aspects of the present disclosure have been specifically
described in
connection with certain specific examples thereof, it is to be understood that
this is by way of
illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are
possible within the
scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the
spirit of the present
disclosure which is defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions
and other
physical characteristics relating to the examples disclosed herein are not to
be considered as
limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
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