The Hoover Comapny

Healthy Gain Investments Limited

Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited

Vincent L Weber

Jeffery A Morgan

Charles A Lang

Kevin L Thomas

Adam C Sclafani

Douglas E Gerber

Robert S Wilson

Edgar A Maurer

Greg A Bilek

Glenn E Specht

Kenneth L Symensma

David A Bradshaw

Siu Wai Hui

Wing Leung Ng

Daniel R Miller

Charles R Morrow

Christopher J Fawcett

Jeffrey S Louis

Douglas C Barker

Nick M Bosyj

Darwin S Crouser

Timothy T Hertrick

Ryan S Steiner

John A Leonatti

Jeffrey A Morgan

Robert W Hecht

Kam Hoi Ma

Joseph W Clifford

Tak On Yip

William J Chess, Sr

Gregory P Wagner

Roland J Knouff

A floor cleaning device including a base assembly for movement along a surface, a handle, a nozzle, a nozzle lifting mechanism, a brush, a brush lifting mechanism, a recovery tank, and a liquid distribution system. The nozzle lifting mechanism moving the nozzle relative to the base assembly and the surface and the brush lifting mechanism moving the brush relative to the base assembly and the surface.

Wet/dry floor cleaning unit

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation. The cleaning apparatus comprises a first source for distributing a first liquid onto said surface. An activating device operatively connected to the first source to activate the first source to distribute the first liquid onto the surface. A pump operatively connected to the first source to draw under pressure the first liquid to the surface. A second source for distributing a second liquid onto the surface, wherein the second liquid from the second source is drawn to the cleaning surface by gravity alone.

Liquid distribution system for a cleaning machine

A floor cleaning device comprises a base portion for movement along a surface and a handle portion pivotally connected to the base. The base portion further includes a suction nozzle and a brush assembly for agitating the surface, wherein the brush assembly and the nozzle assembly are in a first position raised off of the surface for vacuuming the surface, and the nozzle assembly is lowered to a second position contacting the surface for collecting and picking up liquid and dirt from the surface. A method of cleaning a surface by first dry vacuuming the surface using a cleaning unit in which the nozzle assembly is raised to pick up particles and then wet vacuuming the floor with the nozzle assembly lowered to collect and pick up dirt from the floor mixed with cleaning solution distributed on the floor.

Wet/dry floor cleaning unit and method of cleaning

The present invention is a floor care appliance having a filter member that has one portion being cleaned at all times. The filter is utilized for separating fine particles from a dirt laden airstream that has been previously cleaned of larger particles. The hollow interior of the filter is divided radially into equally sized elongated portions. The filter is rotated so that one elongated portion of the filter is rotated past a port located at one end of the filter which introduces reverse airflow through the filter to clean the surface of the filter. The entire filter is cleaned with each complete revolution of the filter.

Floor care appliance with filter cleaning system

A vacuum cleaner is provided having a suction nozzle comprised of a transparent agitator housing and an opaque suction nozzle body. The agitator housing forms a downwardly disposed nozzle chamber divided into a right and left agitator chamber. The right and left agitator chambers each have a forward or front suction duct adjacent the front edges of the respective agitator chambers. The right and left agitator chambers also each have a rearward or rear suction duct adjacent the rear edges of the respective agitator chambers. A nozzle liner is also disposed within the nozzle chamber partially forming a right and left dirt and air passage over the right and left agitator chambers, respectively, to fluidly connect the respective front suction ducts with the rear discharge ports located in the rear of each of the right and left agitator chambers. The rear suction ducts are also fluidly connected to respective rear discharge ports to remove dirt particles. The front and rear stringers of bottom plate of the foot serve as ledges or bottom walls of the respective front and rear suction ducts. Dirt particles flung onto the ledges by the front and rear agitators are momentarily captured on the ledges before being removed by the respective front or rear suction duct.

Multiple chamber suction nozzle configuration

A suction nozzle for a floor care appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner having at least a first channel located above an agitator to carry air and dirt to a suction passageway. The cleaner has several embodiments, one of which has a single channel and a single agitator. Another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and a single agitator. Yet another embodiment has the single channel and dual agitators. Still yet another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts and dual agitators. Further yet still, another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and dual agitators. Several embodiments of an agitator drive assembly are provided using various means to provide rotary power to the agitator(s).

Suction nozzle configuration

A suction nozzle for a floor care appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner having at least a fist channel located above an agitator to carry air and dirt to a suction passageway. The cleaner has several embodiments, one of which has a single channel and a single agitator. Another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and a single agitator. Yet another embodiment has the single channel and dual agitators. Still yet another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts and dual agitators. Further yet still, another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and dual agitators. Several embodiments of an agitator drive assembly are provided using various means to provide rotary power to the agitator(s).

A floor cleaning device includes a base portion for movement along a surface. The base portion further includes a suction nozzle and a brush assembly driven by a brush motor for agitating the surface. The brush assembly includes a lifting mechanism for moving the brush assembly from a first position wherein the brush is off the surface to a second position wherein the brush assembly is on the surface. A switching assembly is responsive to the brush lifting mechanism to energize the brush motor when the brush assembly is in the second position.

Floor cleaning unit with a brush assembly

A self-propelled vacuum cleaner is provided having an upper handle portion and a carriage pivotally mounted to a lower end of the handle portion for pivotal motion relative the handle portion about a horizontally extending carriage axis. A transmission drivingly connected to at least one drive wheel mounted on the carriage, whereby the at least one drive wheel propels the vacuum cleaner over a floor surface. A nozzle body pivotally mounted to the carriage for pivotal motion relative the carriage about a generally horizontally extending nozzle axis, the nozzle body having a downward facing suction opening. The nozzle axis being generally horizontally offset from the carriage axis.

Vacuum cleaner agitator control

Self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner with offset agitator and motor

A self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner is provided having a lower portion and an upright handle portion pivotally attached to the floor engaging portion for a pivotal motion between an upright storage position and a pivotal operating position. A drive wheel mounted to the floor engaging portion. A transmission operatively connected to the drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to the transmission for driving the drive wheel in forward and reverse. A transmission actuator arm pivotally mounted to the floor engaging portion adjacent to the transmission for pivotal motion about a pivot axis located at a central portion of the actuator arm. A manual actuator mounted to the handle portion. The manual actuator is operatively connected to the actuator arm, whereby when an operator actuates the manual actuator actuator arm pivots in first and second directions, respectively, from a neutral position, such that the actuator arm actuates the transmission to place the transmission in forward and reverse, respectively. First and second cams extend from the handle portion and are located to engage the actuator arm at two locations spaced to either side of the pivot axis of the actuator arm when the handle is raised to the upright storage position, whereby the cams place and lock the actuator arm in the neutral position when the handle portion is pivoted to the upright storage position.

Transmission neutral locking arrangement for a self-propelled vacuum

A wheel driven suction nozzle having an upper body attached to an under body. An opening is formed at a front of the upper body which provides access to a suction cavity. An agitator covered with a fluff material is removably rotatably mounted within the cavity and extends partially out a bottom of the under body to clean and shine bare floors. A cover is hingedly mounted to the upper body and movable between an open position which provides access to the cavity and allows for removal of the agitator, and a closed position which covers the cavity and prevents removal of the agitator. A cogged front pulley is attached to one end of the agitator. A cogged belt is driven by a rear cogged pulley and engages the front pulley whereby rotation of the rear pulley rotates the agitator. A front gear is rigidly connected to the rear pulley and engages a rear gear which is rigidly connected to an axle shaft. A pipped wheel is attached to each end of the axial shaft whereby rotation of the wheels rotates the rear gear which, in turn, rotates the front gear, the rear pulley and thus the agitator.

Wheel driven suction nozzle

Tool caddy for attachment to a carpet extractor

A vacuum cleaner includes a pivoting rollered link which insures proper belt tensioning for the agitator belt of the cleaner. This link is abuttingly moved to disengaged non belt tensioning position by engagement of it by the cleaner handle as the handle is moved to upper, storage position.

Vacuum cleaner belt drive release

Growing community of inventors

North Lawrence, OH, United States of America

Vincent L Weber