CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/391,450, filed July 22, 2022, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates to surface cleaners, and more particularly, to cordless wet surface cleaners.

SUMMARY

[0003] In one embodiment a surface cleaner is disclosed including a main body having a base that supports the surface cleaner on a surface. The main body includes a column extending from the base in a direction away from the surface and a handle positioned on an upper surface of the column opposite the base. A supply tank is removably coupled to and supported by the base. The supply tank extends around a first portion of the column when the supply tank is coupled to the base such that a first end of the supply tank is disposed on a first side of the column and a second end of the supply tank is disposed on a second side of the column. A recovery tank is removably coupled to and supported by the base. The recovery tank extends around a second portion of the column when the recovery tank is coupled to the base such that a first end of the recovery tank is disposed on the first side of the column and a second end of the recovery tank is disposed on the second side of the column. A battery is removably coupled to and supported by the main body. The battery extends along a third portion of the column. The first end of the supply tank is positioned adjacent the first end of the recovery tank, and the second end of the supply tank is spaced apart from the second end of the recovery tank. The battery is disposed between the second end of the supply tank and the second end of the recovery tank.

[0004] Other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. l is a perspective view of a surface cleaner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0006] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the surface cleaner of Fig. 1, with a battery hidden for clarity.

[0007] Fig. 3 is a side view of the surface cleaner of Fig. 2.

[0008] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the surface cleaner of Fig. 1.

[0009] Fig. 5 is a side view of the surface cleaner of Fig. 1, with the battery, a supply tank, and a recovery tank hidden for clarity.

[0010] Fig. 6 is a top view of the surface cleaner of Fig. 1.

[0011] Fig. 7 is a front view of the surface cleaner of Fig. 1.

[0012] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a surface cleaner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the surface cleaner of Fig. 8, showing a battery cover in an open position.

[0014] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the surface cleaner of Fig. 9, with the battery, the supply tank, and the recovery tank hidden for clarity.

[0015] Fig. 11 is a detail view of a portion of the surface cleaner of Fig. 10, illustrating a battery mount.

[0016] Before any embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the present disclosure 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. Example embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present disclosure relates to a surface cleaner, specifically a cordless wet surface cleaner, with a supply tank, a recovery tank, and a battery that are each removable from the cleaner. When the supply tank and the recovery tank are attached to the cleaner, the tanks form an outer wall that defines a majority of a perimeter of the cleaner. When the battery is attached to the cleaner, the battery is located between the supply tank and the recovery tank and forms a portion of the outer wall that defines the perimeter of the cleaner.

[0018] Figs. 1-7 illustrate a surface cleaner 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The surface cleaner 10 is a wet surface cleaner, such as a spot cleaner, carpet or hard floor extractor, or the like, that delivers a liquid to a surface to be cleaned. The surface cleaner 10 includes a main body 12 with a base 14 that supports the surface cleaner 10 on a surface, such as a surface to be cleaned. As described herein, the surface cleaner 10 includes a front side 22, a rear side 26 opposite the front side 22, a horizontal longitudinal axis Al extending between the front side 22 and the rear side 26 (Fig. 3), two opposite lateral sides 30, 34 disposed between the front side 22 and the rear side 26, and a top side 38 opposite the base 14. Extending from the base 14 in a direction away from the surface on which the base supports the surface cleaner 10 is a column 18 of the main body 12. The column 18 defines a vertical longitudinal axis A2 extending between the base 14 and the top side 38 (Fig. 3). In other words, the axis A2 defines a longitudinal axis of the column 18 and a vertical longitudinal axis of the main body 12. The horizontal longitudinal axis Al and the vertical longitudinal axis A2 are co-planar and define a plane Pl that bisects the surface cleaner 10. A supply tank 42 for providing a cleaning liquid is removably coupled to the base 14, and a recovery tank 46 for receiving and storing debris and/or liquid that is collected during use of the surface cleaner 10 is removably coupled to the base 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the supply tank 42 is disposed proximate the rear side 26 and the recovery tank 46 is disposed proximate the front side 22. In other embodiments, the recovery tank 46 is disposed proximate the rear side 26 and the supply tank 42 is disposed proximate the front side 22. The surface cleaner 10 further includes a suction inlet 50 (shown in Fig. 1 in a stowed position) in fluid communication with a suction source 52 (Fig. 5) and the recovery tank 46. In use, the suction source 52 generates a suction airflow to draw debris and/or liquid through the suction inlet 50 and into the recovery tank 46. In some embodiments, the surface cleaner 10 includes a cleaning tool 54 attached to the main body 12 or the base 14. The cleaning tool 54 may be an agitating brush, a static brush, a spot cleaning tool, or another type of accessory cleaning tool. The cleaning tool 54 may include the suction inlet 50 and may include a liquid distributor in fluid communication with the supply tank 42 to distribute liquid to the surface to be cleaned.

[0019] The top side 38 of the surface cleaner 10 is formed in part by an upper surface 58 of the column 18. The upper surface 58 is located opposite the base 14 along the vertical longitudinal axis A2 and is smaller in cross-sectional area than the base 14 when viewed along the vertical longitudinal axis A2. Extending from the upper surface 58 of the column 18 is a handle 62. As used herein, the upper surface 58 is not necessarily the top-most surface of the cleaner 10; instead, it includes positions toward the upper side of the cleaner 10 and may be recessed from the top-most surface as desired for the application. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 62 extends above the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46 to allow a user to carry and operate the surface cleaner 10 (Fig. 3). The handle 62 includes a user graspable portion 66 spaced above the upper surface 58 and defining a longitudinal axis A3 along the user graspable portion 66. In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal axis A3 extends parallel to the horizontal longitudinal axis Al, perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal axis A2 (Fig. 3), and is co-planar with the horizontal and vertical longitudinal axes Al, A2 (e.g., contained within plane Pl). In other words, the user graspable portion 66 of the handle 62 extends between the front side 22 and the rear side 26 of the surface cleaner 10 transverse to the longitudinal axis A2 of the column 18. In other embodiments, the handle and the longitudinal axis A3 extend across the main body transverse to the horizontal longitudinal axis Al, and may be perpendicular to the horizontal longitudinal axis Al. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 62 includes an interface 70 proximate the front side 22 of the surface cleaner 10 for operating the surface cleaner 10, and the interface 70 intersects the longitudinal axis A3. Other embodiments may include the interface 70 positioned in a different orientation and/or on a different portion of the handle 62 or the surface cleaner 10. With reference to Fig. 7, the interface 70 may include a power button 71 for turning the surface cleaner 10 on and off, a power level adjustment button 72 for adjusting an amount of suction generated by the suction source 52 when the surface cleaner 10 is on, and a status indicator 73 (e g , LED) for indicating a status of the surface cleaner 10 to a user. For example, the status indicator 73 may turn on or off based with the surface cleaner 10, or may change color based on the status of the surface cleaner 10.

[0020] With reference to Figs. 4-5, the base 14 includes a supply tank support surface 74 at the rear side 26 of the surface cleaner 10 and a recovery tank support surface 78 at the front side 22 of the surface cleaner 10. The supply tank support surface 74 is oriented transverse to the vertical longitudinal axis A2 of the surface cleaner 10. In other words, the supply tank support surface 74 is oriented generally along the surface to be cleaned when the base 14 is positioned on the surface to be cleaned and may be at an oblique angle to the surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, the supply tank support surface 74 is positioned between a lowermost portion of the base 14, which may be positioned on the surface to be cleaned, and the upper surface 58 of the column 18. Similarly, the recovery tank support surface 78 is oriented transverse to the vertical longitudinal axis A2 of the surface cleaner 10 and generally along the surface to be cleaned when the base 14 is positioned on the surface to be cleaned and may be at an oblique angle to the surface to be cleaned. The recovery tank support surface 78 is also positioned between the lowermost portion of the base 14 and the upper surface 58 of the column 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the recovery tank support surface 78 is positioned closer to the surface to be cleaned, along the vertical longitudinal axis A2, than the supply tank support surface 74.

[0021] The supply tank 42 is removable from the surface cleaner 10 to allow for filling, cleaning, and maintenance of the supply tank 42. Therefore, the supply tank 42 is movable between an in-use position in which the supply tank 42 is coupled to and supported by the base 14 and a removed position in which the supply tank 42 is not coupled to the surface cleaner 10. The supply tank 42 includes a lid or cap (not shown) that is openable to allow for filling, cleaning, and maintenance of the supply tank 42. When the supply tank 42 is coupled to the base 14, the supply tank support surface 74 supports a lowermost surface of the supply tank 42. The recovery tank 46 is also removable from the surface cleaner 10 to allow for emptying, cleaning, and maintenance of the recovery tank 46. Therefore, the recovery tank 46 is movable between an in-use position in which the recovery tank 46 is coupled to and supported by the base 14 and a removed position in which the recovery tank 46 is not coupled to the surface cleaner 10. Similar to the supply tank 42, when the recovery tank 46 is coupled to the base 14, the recovery tank support surface 78 supports a lowermost surface of the recovery tank 46. In some embodiments, the recovery tank 46 includes a lid 86 defining a top surface of the recovery tank 46. The recovery tank lid 86 is openable to allow for emptying, cleaning, and maintenance of the recovery tank 46.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46 include outer tank walls that form at least a portion of an outer side wall of the surface cleaner 10. The supply tank 42 forms an outer rear wall 90 of the surface cleaner 10, and the recovery tank 46 forms an outer front wall 94 of the surface cleaner 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46 form at least 85% of the perimeter of the surface cleaner 10. Furthermore, each of the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46 extend around or encompass a portion of the column 18 when coupled to the base 14. The supply tank 42 extends around a rear portion of the column 18, and the recovery tank 46 extends around a front portion of the column 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46 are adjacent on one lateral side 30 of the surface cleaner 10 and are spaced apart from one another on the second, opposite, lateral side 34 of the surface cleaner 10. In other words, the supply tank 42 includes a first end 43 and a second end 44, and the recovery tank 46 includes a first end 47 and a second end 48. The supply tank 42 extends around the column 18 in such a way that the first end 43 of the supply tank 42 is closer to a center of the column 18 than the second end 44 of the supply tank 42, when measured along the horizontal longitudinal axis Al. Similarly, the recovery tank 46 extends around the column 18 in such a way that the first end 47 of the recovery tank 46 is closer to a center of the column 18 than the second end 48 of the recovery tank 46, when measured along the horizontal longitudinal axis Al . The supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46 are oriented such that the first ends 43, 47 are positioned adjacent one another and the second ends 44, 48 are spaced apart from one another in a direction parallel to the horizontal longitudinal axis Al.

[0023] The surface cleaner 10 is a cordless surface cleaner including a battery 98. The battery 98 is a rechargeable battery and provides power to the surface cleaner 10, including the suction source 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery 98 is a slide type battery that is removably coupled to and supported by the main body 12 by coupling to a battery mount 100. However, in other embodiments, the cleaner may utilize a stem type battery including a base having a plurality of battery cells therein and a stem extending from the base. The stem is removably receivable within a battery receptacle to be coupled to the cleaner, rather than the battery mount 100 of the slide type battery 98. With reference to Figs. 2-5, the base 14 includes a battery facing surface 102 disposed below a lowermost surface of the battery 98. In one embodiment, the battery facing surface 102 engages a portion of the battery 98 to support the battery 98 in its coupled position. In another embodiment, the battery mount 100 and/or a battery terminal 106 are configured to support the battery 98 in its coupled position. The battery facing surface 102 is disposed between the lowermost portion of the base 14 and the upper surface 58 of the column 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery facing surface 102 is adjacent the supply tank support surface 74 and farther from the lowermost portion of the base 14, along the vertical longitudinal axis A2, than the recovery tank support surface 78. Unlike the supply tank support surface 74 and the recovery tank support surface 78, the battery facing surface 102 is sloped toward the column 18. The slope of the battery facing surface 102 is configured to aid in directing fluid that may have collected during operation of the surface cleaner 10 toward the recovery tank support surface 78 and, therefore, away from electrical components of the battery 98. The battery facing surface 102 also includes an edge 104 that is rounded-over to further aid in directing fluid toward the recovery tank support surface 78. In some embodiments, the battery facing surface 102 is sloped toward the recovery tank support surface 78, and in some embodiments, the battery facing surface 102 is sloped toward the recovery tank support surface 78 and the column 18. The recovery tank support surface 78 may include drainage features and a reservoir to collect the fluid directed toward the recovery tank support surface 78.

[0024] With reference to Figs. 2-3, the column 18 includes the battery mount 100 and a battery terminal 106 for electrically and mechanically coupling the battery 98 to the second lateral side 34 of the surface cleaner 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery mount 100 is proximate the second lateral side 34 of the surface cleaner 10 between the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46, and the battery 98 is coupled to the column 18 by the battery mount 100. In other words, the battery 98 forms a portion of the outer side wall (e.g., perimeter) of the surface cleaner 10 between the second ends 44, 48 of the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46. Due to the battery 98 being coupled to the column 18 and forming a portion of the outer side wall, the battery 98 is not intersected by the plane Pl and is not intersected by either the horizontal longitudinal axis Al or the vertical longitudinal axis A2 (Fig. 6). The portion of the outer side wall formed by the battery 98 is oriented transverse to the outer rear wall 90 and to the outer front wall 94 and is between the outer rear wall 90 and the outer front wall 94. The battery terminal 106 is oriented such that the battery 98 is selectively coupled to the surface cleaner 10 by movement in a direction parallel to the vertical longitudinal axis A2. More particularly, the movement of the battery 98 in a direction from the top side 38 toward the battery facing surface 102 couples the battery 98 to the surface cleaner 10, and movement of the battery 98 away from the battery facing surface 102 and toward the top side 38 disengages the battery 98 from the surface cleaner 10. When the battery 98 is coupled to the surface cleaner 10, electrical terminals 110 engage the battery 98 to transmit power from the battery 98 to the surface cleaner 10. The battery mount 100 and the battery terminal 106 are configured to cooperate with corresponding features to mechanically and electrically couple the battery to the cleaner. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery mount 100 includes securement rails 114 configured to engage the battery 98 to couple the battery 98 to the surface cleaner 10. The securement rails 114 align the battery 98 with the electrical terminals 110 and provide a structure for the battery 98 to be secured to. A user slides the battery 98 along the securement rails 114 when removing the battery 98 from the surface cleaner 10. In other embodiments, the battery mount 100 and the battery terminal 106 are configured to couple the battery 98 to the surface cleaner 10 by movement in a direction that is not parallel to the vertical longitudinal axis A2, such as, for example, transverse or perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal axis A2, in a pivotal movement toward the cleaner, or other mounting configurations adapted to couple the battery selected for the application.

[0025] With reference to Fig. 1, the battery 98 includes an actuator 118 graspable by a user to allow the battery 98 to move along the securement rails 114. The illustrated actuator 118 includes two opposed buttons that, when depressed, disengage from the securement rails 114 of the battery terminal 106. In some embodiments, the actuator 118 may be a single button or a rotational handle, rather than dual opposed buttons. When the battery 98 is coupled to the main body 12, the battery 98 is oriented such that the actuator 118 is closer to the handle 62 than the base 14, and the opposed buttons of the actuator 118 are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the horizontal longitudinal axis Al. Furthermore, the battery 98 is positioned such that the longitudinal axis A3 of the user graspable portion 66 does not intersect with the battery 98. [0026] With continued reference to Fig. 1 , the battery 98 is positioned between the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46 when the battery 98, the supply tank 42, and the recovery tank 46 are coupled to the surface cleaner 10. The battery 98, the supply tank 42, and the recovery tank 46 are each individually removable from the surface cleaner 10. To accommodate removal of the battery 98 while the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46 are coupled to the surface cleaner 10, relief openings 122 are provided between the column 18 and the supply tank 42 and the column 18 and the recovery tank 46. The openings 122 provide space for a user to grasp the actuator 118 of the battery 98 to slide the battery 98 along the securement rails 114 and remove battery 98 from the surface cleaner 10 without requiring removal of the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46.

[0027] With reference to Figs. 2 and 5, the openings 122 are defined in part by wells 126 on the column 18. The column 18 includes a well 126 proximate each button of the actuator 118 to provide space between the column 18 and the actuator 118. Each well 126 is formed as a depression or concavity extending into the column 18 in a direction away from the battery 98 (e.g., away from the second lateral side 34 of the surface cleaner 10). Furthermore, each well 126 extends into the upper surface 58 of the column 18 towards the base 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the wells 126 are connected by a shallow depression 130 that extends into the column 18, in a direction away from the battery 98, less than the wells 126.

[0028] With reference to Fig. 2, the openings 122 are defined in part by notches on the supply tank 42 and the recovery tank 46. The supply tank notch 134 extends into the supply tank 42 adjacent one of the wells 126 in the column 18. Similarly, the recovery tank notch 136 extends into the recovery tank 46 adjacent the other well 126 in the column 18. Each notch 134, 136 forms a concavity in a corner of the respective tanks 42, 46 proximate the wells 126 when the tanks 42, 46 are coupled to the surface cleaner 10. Together, a notch 134, 136 and a well 126 form an opening 122.

[0029] With reference to Fig. 7, the surface cleaner 10 includes a task light 140 to illuminate forward of the outer front wall 94. The task light 140 includes at least one LED that, when illuminated, emits light forward of the surface cleaner 10 to illuminate the surface to be cleaned. In the illustrated embodiment, the task light 140 is disposed on the main body 12 and below the recovery tank 46 (e g., closer to the surface than the recovery tank 46). Furthermore, the task light 140 is positioned to be intersected by the plane Pl containing the horizontal longitudinal axis Al and the vertical longitudinal axis A2. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the surface cleaner 10 includes an accessory flashlight 144 that is removably coupled to the surface cleaner 10.

[0030] Figs. 8-11 illustrate another embodiment of a surface cleaner according to the present disclosure, with like features having like reference numerals plus the letter “b” appended thereon and the following differences explained below. The surface cleaner 10b further includes a battery cover 200 coupled to the main body 12b to selectively enclose the battery 98b. The battery cover 200 is rotatable between a closed position (Fig. 8) in which the battery 98b is inaccessible by a user and an open position (Fig. 9) in which the battery 98b is accessible by a user. More particularly, the battery cover 200 is rotatable about an axis A4 (Fig. 8) oriented parallel to the horizontal longitudinal axis Alb. A lower portion of the battery cover 200 includes a hinge 204 that is coupled to the main body 12b below the battery facing surface 102b to allow for rotation of the battery cover 200 relative to the main body 12b. Therefore, when the battery cover 200 is rotated to the open position, the battery cover 200 exposes the battery 98b from the top to allow the battery 98b to be removed from the surface cleaner 10b. The surface cleaner 10b further includes a cover engagement member 208 disposed behind the battery mount 100b (e g., closer to a center of the column 18 than the battery mount 100b) that selectively secures the battery cover 200 in the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery cover 200 includes a plurality of projections 212 that engage the cover engagement member 208 to secure the battery cover 200 relative to the cover engagement member 208.

[0031] With reference to Figs. 10 and 11, the battery mount 100b includes an upwardly extending inner surface 216 including outwardly extending side walls 220. The inner surface 216 faces the battery 98b when the battery 98b is coupled to the cleaner 10b and is spaced apart from the cover engagement member 208. The space between the inner surface 216 and the cover engagement member 208 defines a channel 224 that aids in directing fluid that may have bypassed the closed battery cover 200 and collected during operation of the surface cleaner 10 away from electrical components of the battery 98b. The channel 224 extends along a direction parallel to the horizontal longitudinal axis Alb to direct the fluid towards sides of the battery 98b. The outwardly extending side walls 220 also aid in directing fluid away from electrical components of the battery 98b. As fluid exits the channel 224, the outwardly extending side walls 220 direct the fluid downward and toward the battery facing surface 102b while maintaining the fluid outside of the battery mount 100b.

[0032] While the battery mount 100b has been described in relation to the surface cleaner 10b having a battery cover 200, the battery mount 100b including the upwardly extending surface 216 and outwardly extending sidewalls 220 that direct fluid away from electrical components of the battery 98 may also be applied to embodiments of a surface cleaner 10 that do not include a battery cover 200.

[0033] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the present disclosure as described.

[0034] Various features and advantages of the present disclosure are set forth in the following claims.