CN215937239U

CN215937239U - Vacuum cleaner and surface cleaning system

Info

Publication number: CN215937239U
Application number: CN202120375694.2U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 詹森·W·普鲁伊特
Original assignee: Pizza Hut Inc
Current assignee: Pizza Hut LLC
Priority date: 2020-02-19
Filing date: 2021-02-18
Publication date: 2022-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-18
Also published as: AU2021201094A1; CA3109411A1; KR20210105836A; BR102021002991A2; CN113273934A; US20210251444A1; EP3868268A1; JP2021129987A

Abstract

The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner and a surface cleaning system, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises: a base assembly including a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to provide wet cleaning, the fluid delivery system having a fluid supply container located on the base assembly; a hand-held portion having a hand-held portion and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and configured to generate a flow of working air; and a working air path extending from the suction nozzle to an air outlet in the hand-held portion and including a suction source. The present invention enables wet cleaning of a surface while picking up debris using dry vacuum cleaning.

Description

Vacuum cleaner and surface cleaning system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner and a surface cleaning system.

Background

Surface cleaning apparatus such as vacuum cleaners are well known devices for removing dirt and debris from various surfaces such as carpets, hard floors or other fabric surfaces such as upholstery. Such surface cleaning apparatus typically include a recovery system comprising: a recovery vessel; a nozzle adjacent the surface to be cleaned and in fluid communication with the recovery tank through a conduit; and a suction source in fluid communication with the duct to draw debris laden air from the surface to be cleaned and through the nozzle and duct to the recovery tank.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising: a base assembly including a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to provide wet cleaning, the fluid delivery system having a fluid supply container located on the base assembly; a hand-held portion having a hand-held portion and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and configured to generate a flow of working air; and a working air path extending from the suction nozzle to an air outlet in the hand-held portion and including a suction source.

In a further aspect, the fluid delivery system comprises at least one agitator fluidly coupled to the fluid supply container, and wherein the agitator is adapted to provide wet cleaning.

In a further aspect, the agitator is a cleaning pad.

In a further aspect, the agitator is operatively coupled to a power source, and the agitator is rotatable.

In a further aspect, the fluid delivery system further comprises: a distributor arranged to supply fluid to the agitator; and a flow control system adapted to control the flow from the fluid supply container to the dispenser to a flow rate of 30ml per minute or less.

In a further aspect, the flow control system further includes an actuator and includes at least one of a pump or a flow control valve operably coupled to the actuator.

In a further aspect, the actuator is located on the base assembly.

In a further aspect, the fluid supply container has a volume of less than 500 ml.

In a further aspect, the working air path is defined at least in part by a wand (wand) operatively coupled between the base assembly and the hand-held portion.

In a further aspect, the vacuum cleaner further includes a swivel joint movably coupling a lower end of the wand to the base assembly.

In a further aspect, the handheld portion further includes a debris removal assembly including a recovery receptacle disposed in fluid communication with the suction source, the suction source including a motor and fan assembly operably coupled to the debris removal assembly to form a hand-holdable unit.

In a further aspect, the hand grip extends away from at least one of the motor and fan assembly or the recovery container to define a handle opening, and wherein the hand grip is adapted to be grasped by a user.

In a further aspect, the vacuum cleaner further comprises 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 tank.

In a further aspect, the debris removal assembly includes a cyclone chamber for separating contaminants from the working air path and a collection chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the cyclone chamber, the collection chamber being at least partially defined by the recovery receptacle.

In a further aspect, the base assembly further includes an agitator chamber located at the suction nozzle and a removable brush roll selectively located in the agitator chamber, and wherein the fluid delivery system supplies fluid to the removable brush roll at a flow rate of 30ml per minute or less during operation.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a surface cleaning system comprising: a first removable cartridge assembly comprising a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to provide a flow rate of 30ml per minute or less to provide wet cleaning; a handheld portion having a hand grip, a recovery receptacle defining a collector axis through a center of the recovery receptacle, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the recovery receptacle and configured to generate a working air flow; and a wand operably coupled to the hand-held portion and selectively coupled to the first removable susceptor 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.

In a further aspect, the surface cleaning system further includes 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.

In a further aspect, a wand axis is defined through the center of the wand, and wherein the wand axis and the collector axis are parallel, and wherein the suction source comprises a motor and fan assembly operably coupled to the recovery vessel to form a single hand-holdable unit, and the motor and fan assembly defines a motor axis that is parallel to the wand axis and the collector axis.

In a further aspect, a grip axis is defined through the center of the hand grip and forms an acute angle with respect to the collector axis.

In a further aspect, the surface cleaning system further comprises a battery pack located on the hand-held portion, and wherein a battery axis is defined through a center of the battery pack and intersects the grip axis at a right angle.

The present invention provides a number of benefits, including the ability to wet clean a surface while picking up debris using dry vacuum cleaning. In this way, cleaning of the surface can be accomplished in less time and with less effort; furthermore, the surface also remains cleaner and shinier than cleaning achieved with dry vacuum cleaning alone.

Drawings

In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a schematic view of a surface cleaning apparatus according to aspects described herein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of fig. 1 in the form of a handheld vacuum cleaner including a base assembly and an upright assembly, in accordance with aspects described herein.

Fig. 3 is a partially exploded view of the vacuum cleaner of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the base assembly of fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partially exploded view of the base assembly of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of fig. 2.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the susceptor assembly of FIG. 6 showing a reclamation airflow path and a fluid delivery path.

Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view of a hand-held portion of the stand assembly of figure 2.

Fig. 9 is a partially exploded view of other exemplary base assemblies that may be selectively used with portions of the handheld vacuum cleaner of fig. 2, in accordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a brushroll according to aspects described herein, which may be used in the exemplary base assembly of FIG. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary base assembly of fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a partially exploded view of the example base assembly of fig. 9, illustrating another example brushroll that may be used in the base assembly.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates to a surface cleaning apparatus that allows for "wet" cleaning with a dry vacuum cleaner. As a non-limiting example, this may include a surface cleaner that typically cleans debris from a surface. In the example shown, the surface cleaner is in the form of a hand-held surface cleaner, by way of non-limiting example. As another non-limiting example, such a hand-held cleaner may be in the form of a stick or stick vacuum cleaner. The surface cleaning apparatus may also include a hand grip having a user interface for selectively operating components of the surface cleaning apparatus. The susceptor assembly can include a reclamation airflow path and a fluid delivery path, as well as a fluid delivery system and a cleaning pad carried on the susceptor assembly.

As used herein, the term "dry" vacuum cleaner is used to refer to a vacuum cleaner that is incapable of fluid dispensing or fluid recovery without an auxiliary tool, and may include, but is not limited to, upright, horizontal, stick, or hand held vacuum cleaners, vacuum cleaners convertible between one or more of these types, or an in-built central vacuum cleaning system. It should be understood that dry vacuum processing is distinct from liquid extraction that draws liquid through a liquid recovery system. As used herein, the term "wet" surface cleaner is used to refer to surface cleaners capable of fluid dispensing including liquids, vapors or combinations thereof and/or fluid recovery with or without auxiliary tools, and may include, but is not limited to, mops, extractors (extractors), and carpet cleaners, including upright, horizontal, stick, or handheld vacuum cleaners, vacuum cleaners convertible between one or more of these types, or built-in central vacuum cleaning systems. Further, a vacuum cleaner for use with one or more of the auxiliary tools described herein may be adapted to clean bare surfaces, such as hardwood, linoleum, and tile or textile covered surfaces, such as carpet and upholstery.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wet cleaning. As used herein, the term "wet" or "wet cleaning" refers to a cleaning process that includes a relatively lower humidity level as compared to a conventional "wet" cleaning process (e.g., extraction or steam cleaning) that uses a relatively higher humidity level. "wetting" as used herein means low to moderate flow rates, preferably in the range of 30ml/min and less, including about 10ml/min to 30 ml/min. Flow rates may also include only below 30 ml/min. It will be appreciated that the wetting fluid flow rate may be applied directly to the surface to be cleaned, or may be applied intermediately to an agitator which then delivers the fluid to the surface to be cleaned. Conversely, the term "wet" as used herein refers to relatively high humidity cleaning, including moderate to high liquid flow rates applied to the surface to be cleaned, typically in the range of 30ml/min and above or 30ml/min to 100ml/min for a steam mop, and about 300ml/min to 1400ml/min for a suction cleaner.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of various functional systems of a surface cleaning apparatus in the form of an exemplary vacuum cleaner 10. The functional system of the exemplary vacuum cleaner 10 can be arranged in any desired configuration, including a portable cleaner adapted to be held by a user for cleaning relatively small areas. The vacuum cleaner 10 may suitably comprise a hose or other conduit which may form part of the working air conduit between the nozzle and the suction source 18.

Vacuum cleaner 10 may include a fluid delivery system 12 for storing and delivering cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and a recovery system 14 for removing debris from the surface to be cleaned and storing the debris. The fluid delivery system 12 may include a fluid supply vessel 30 for storing a cleaning fluid, and at least one fluid dispenser 38 fluidly coupled to the fluid supply vessel 30. Recovery system 14 may include: a suction inlet or suction nozzle 16; a suction source 18 in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 16 to generate a working air flow; and a recovery tank 20 for separating and collecting debris from the working air stream for subsequent disposal. A separator 21 may be formed in a portion of the recovery tank 20 for separating entrained debris from the working air stream.

The suction nozzle 16 may be provided on a base or cleaning head adapted to be moved over the surface to be cleaned. At least one agitator 26 may be provided adjacent the suction nozzle 16 for agitating the surface to be cleaned so that debris is more easily drawn into the suction nozzle 16. Some examples of agitators 26 include, but are not limited to, a horizontally rotating brush roll, a dual horizontally rotating brush roll, one or more vertically rotating brush rolls, a stationary brush, or a cleaning or scrubbing pad. The at least one agitator 26 may also be configured to adhere 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 drawn into the suction nozzle 16.

The suction source 18 may be any suitable suction source, such as a motor and fan assembly, and is disposed in fluid communication with the recovery tank 20. The suction source 18 may be electrically coupled to a power source 22, such as a battery, or plugged into a household electrical outlet (not shown) via a power cord. A suction power switch 24 between the suction source 18 and the power source 22 may be selectively closed by a user to activate the suction source 18.

The fluid delivery system 12 may also include a flow control system 36 for controlling the flow of fluid from the fluid supply container 30 to the dispenser 38. In one configuration, flow control system 36 may include at least one pump 40 that pressurizes fluid delivery system 12 and a flow control valve 42 that controls the delivery of fluid to dispenser 38. In one example, the pump 40 may be coupled to the power source 22. An actuator 44 may be provided to actuate the flow control system 36 and dispense fluid to the dispenser 38. The actuator 44 is operatively coupled to the flow control valve 42 such that depressing the actuator 44 will open the flow control valve 42. Additionally or alternatively, the flow control valve 42 may be electrically actuated, such as by providing an electrical switch 46 between the flow control valve 42 and the power source 22 that is selectively closed when the actuator 44 is depressed, thereby energizing the flow control valve 42 to move to the open position. In one example, the flow control valve 42 may be a solenoid valve.

The dispenser 38 of fluid may include at least one dispenser outlet 48 for delivering cleaning fluid from the fluid supply container 30. The at least one dispenser outlet 48 may include any structure, such as a nozzle or spray tip; multiple dispenser outlets 48 may also be provided. More specifically, the dispenser outlet 48 may deliver fluid to the surface to be cleaned indirectly, such as by delivering fluid to the agitator 26. In the illustrated example, the agitator 26 can include a cleaning pad 90 aligned with the at least one dispenser outlet 48 such that cleaning fluid is delivered to the cleaning pad 90 to wet the cleaning pad 90 for wet cleaning of the surface to be cleaned. It is also contemplated that at least one dispenser outlet 48 can deliver cleaning fluid directly to the 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 voids or holes around the dispenser outlets 48.

Optionally, a heater 50 may be provided for heating the cleaning fluid prior to delivery of the cleaning fluid. In the example shown in fig. 1, an in-line heater 50 may be located downstream of the fluid supply vessel 30 and upstream of the pump 40. Other types of heaters 50 may also be used. In yet another example, the cleaning fluid may be heated using exhaust air from a motor cooling path for the suction source 18.

The vacuum cleaner 10 shown in fig. 1 can be used to effectively remove debris from a surface to be cleaned according to the following method. The order of the 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 be performed in a different logical order, additional or intervening steps may be included, or the steps described may be divided into multiple steps.

In operation, the vacuum cleaner 10 is prepared for use by coupling the vacuum cleaner 10 to the power source 22. During operation of fluid delivery system 12, cleaning fluid is supplied from fluid supply container 30 to dispenser 38 and from at least one dispenser outlet 48 to cleaning pad 90. The flow of fluid onto the cleaning pad 90 allows the surface to be cleaned, such as a bare floor surface, to be wetted or moistened via the fluid delivered indirectly through the cleaning pad 90. Recovery system 14 can be operated simultaneously with wetted cleaning pad 90 such that vacuum cleaner 10 provides both dry vacuum cleaning and wet cleaning simultaneously. 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 draws this working air downstream into a recovery tank 20 where the debris is substantially separated from the working air. The air flow then passes through a suction source 18 before being exhausted from the vacuum cleaner 10. The recovery tank 20 may be periodically emptied of collected debris.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a vacuum cleaner 10 in accordance with aspects described herein. For purposes of description with respect to the drawings, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "rear", "front", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", and derivatives thereof are described from the perspective of a user positioned behind the vacuum cleaner 10, which defines the rear of the vacuum cleaner 10. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary.

In the illustrated example, the vacuum cleaner 10 is shown to include an upright assembly 62 and a base assembly 64. The upright assembly 62 can be pivotally connected to the base assembly 64 to guide the base assembly 64 over a surface to be cleaned. The various systems and components schematically depicted in fig. 1 may be supported by either or both of the base assembly 64 and upright assembly 62 of vacuum cleaner 10. For example, the power source 22 and recovery tank 20 may be carried by the upright assembly 62, while the fluid supply tank 30 and flow control system 36 may be located on the base assembly 64.

The fluid supply container 30 as shown may comprise a replaceable or refillable container. In the example shown, the fluid supply container 30 is shown as including a small reservoir having an inlet that may be plugged via a selectively removable cap. It should be understood that the fluid supply container 30 may be the only liquid supply on the vacuum cleaner 10. The fluid supply container 30 may define a small reservoir having a volume of less than 1000ml, including a reservoir that may be less than 200 ml. This is in contrast to the larger reservoirs of conventional wet surface cleaners, which typically can hold at least 3000ml to 4000ml of cleaning liquid.

The flow control system 36 may include, among other components, a pump 40, a flow control valve 42, an actuator 44, and an electrical switch 46 (FIG. 1), at least some of which may be contained within the housing 34 on a base assembly 64. The pump 40, flow control valve 42, and actuator 44 as described above with respect to fig. 1 may all be disposed on the base assembly 64 and adapted to provide a flow rate suitable for wet cleaning. In the example shown, the housing 34 and the fluid supply container 30 are positioned on opposite sides of the base assembly 64, although this is not required.

Fig. 3 shows a partially exploded view of the vacuum cleaner 10 of fig. 2. The upright assembly 62 includes a hand-held portion 66 that supports components of the recovery system 14, including but not limited to the suction source 18 and the recovery tank 20. By way of non-limiting example, the suction source 18 may include a motor and fan assembly 124 (FIG. 8).

The hand-held portion 66 may be coupled to a wand 70 having at least one wand connector 72. In the example shown, both the first end 74 of the rod 70 and the second end 76 of the rod 70 include the rod connector 72. The wand connector 72 at the first end 74 of the wand 70 may be coupled to a first wand receiver 75 provided with the hand-held portion 66. The rod connector 72 at the second end 76 of the rod 70 may be coupled to the base assembly 64 via a second rod receiver 77. It is contemplated that the wand connector 72 may be the same type of connector or may vary. Any suitable type of connector mechanism may be used, such as a quick connect mechanism or a pipe coupling in non-limiting examples.

The pivotal connection between the upright assembly 62 and the base assembly 64 may be provided by at least one pivot mechanism. The pivoting mechanism may include a joint assembly 63 configured to pivot upright assembly 62 in any suitable manner, including back and forth as shown. The joint assembly 63 is located between the wand 70 and the base assembly 64. More specifically, the joint assembly is disposed between the second rod receiver 77 and the base assembly 64. The joint assembly 63 provides forward pivoting and rearward rotation between the wand 70 and the base assembly 64. Additionally or alternatively, the joint assembly 63 may be in the form of a multi-axis swivel joint assembly for pivoting the upright assembly 62 back and forth and side to side relative to the base assembly 64. A plurality of wheels 52 (fig. 5) may be coupled with one 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.

The handheld portion 66 may also include a recovery tank 20, shown here 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 is removable from the handle portion 66 by releasing the latch 82 as shown so that the debris can be emptied. For example, the dirt separation and collection module 80 may include a separator 21 surrounded by the recovery tank 20. It is contemplated that recovery tank 20 may be removable from hand-held portion 66 by releasing latch 82. Alternatively, the release latch 82 may release the recovery tank 20 and the separator 21 simultaneously, and other release latches (not shown) may separate the recovery tank 20 and the separator 21 to empty the debris.

The upper end of the hand-held portion 66 may also include a hand grip 67 for maneuvering the vacuum cleaner 10 over a surface to be cleaned. At least one user control 68 is provided on hand grip 67 and is coupled to power source 22 (fig. 6) for selective operation of the components of vacuum cleaner 10. In the contemplated example, the user control 68 is an electronic control that may form the suction power switch 24.

The agitator 26 of the illustrated example includes a cleaning pad 90. The cleaning pad 90 can be positioned on any suitable portion of the base assembly 64, including the cleaning pad can be positioned on the underside of the base assembly 64. The agitator 26 may also include a set of brushes 92 positioned along the periphery of the base assembly 64. Although not shown, the agitator may additionally or alternatively include a rotatable brush roll.

Any or all of the one or more agitators may be in fluid communication with the fluid supply reservoir 30. In the example shown, the cleaning pad 90 is fluidly coupled with the fluid supply container 30 such that the at least one dispenser outlet 48 can wet the cleaning pad 90. While the at least one dispenser outlet 48 is shown as delivering fluid to wet the cleaning pad 90, the cleaning pad may be considered an unpowered manual wetting pad, although it is also contemplated that a manual brush, a manual roller, a powered brush, a powered roller, or a powered spinning pad or brush(s) may also be used for wet cleaning and the at least one dispenser outlet 48 may supply fluid thereto. In this manner, moisture is applied indirectly to the surface to be cleaned via the wetted articles on the vacuum cleaner 10. It is also contemplated that the ability to provide wet cleaning with the vacuum cleaner 10 may also be included in an unpowered accessory connected to the vacuum hose or wand 70, or in a powered accessory connected to the vacuum hose or wand 70. In this case, the fluid supply container 30 may be completely contained on the attachment, rather than on the upright assembly 62 or the base assembly 64 of the vacuum cleaner 10.

The wand 162 may surround the wand conduit 71. In one example, the body 162 may be formed from an extrusion of aluminum and is shown as having an outer rounded triangular geometric profile defining an outer periphery. The rod connector 72 may be coupled to the rod 162 at the first end 74 and the second end 76. A first rod connector 72 may couple the rod 162 to the base assembly 64 and a second rod connector 72 may couple the rod 162 to the hand-held portion 66.

The decorative insert 166 may be coupled to at least a portion of the body 162. In the example shown, the decorative insert 166 may be in the form of a flat plate and configured to be coupled to a recessed portion of one face of the bar 162 defining a triangular shape. Optionally, the decorative insert 166 may include rounded edges to form a smooth surface transition between the outer surface of the decorative insert and the second face of the barrel. It is contemplated that the decorative insert 166 may be formed of plastic, including transparent or translucent plastic. Optionally, the decorative insert 166 may include a logo or other indicia or indicator for the operation of the vacuum cleaner 10 or a locating feature to, for example, couple the correct end of the wand 162 to one of the base assembly 64 or the hand-held portion 66 of the upright assembly 62.

Fig. 4 shows the base assembly 64 in more detail, including brushes 92, which may be located on opposite sides of the base assembly 64 and also located in front or front of the cleaning pad 90. The suction nozzle 16 may include a plurality of openings 17 positioned along the front edge of the base assembly 64 to direct dirt to a suction nozzle inlet 16a (fig. 5) that extends generally along the length of the base assembly 64. Debris enters the recovery tank 20 (fig. 3) from the suction nozzle inlet 16a through the working air path.

The fluid supply container 30 may include an aperture 31 and a closure 32 for selectively opening and closing the fluid supply container 30. For example, a user may 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 may 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 may be in the form of a reservoir having a volume of less than 1000ml, including a reservoir that may be less than 200 ml. As another example, the reservoir may comprise a volume ranging from 60ml to 120 ml. Additionally, in the example shown, actuator 44 is in the form of an on-off switch, whereby actuator 44 is switched to its "on" position, causing pump 40 (fig. 1) to operate and generate a flow of fluid from fluid supply container 30 to cleaning pad 90. Alternatively or additionally, a fluid actuator 45 may be provided on hand grip 67 for operating pump 40. It is understood that either or both of the actuator 44 and the fluid actuator 45 may be provided. For example, either or both of the actuator 44 and the fluid actuator 45 may be in the form of a rocker switch, button, toggle key, or any other suitable mechanism for operating the pump 40 to generate a flow of fluid from the fluid supply container 30 to the cleaning pad 90.

The flow rate of the fluid supplied to the cleaning pad 90 of the vacuum cleaner 10 can be from < 1% to about 10% of the flow rate of a typical suction cleaner. It should be understood that the fluid is applied to the surface to be cleaned indirectly through the cleaning pad and that the at least one dispenser outlet 48 does not apply the fluid directly to the surface to be cleaned. The flow rate is sufficiently low that the transfer of fluid through the cleaning pad 90 to the surface to be cleaned will cause the surface to be wetted by the user's touch. In contrast, conventional extractor cleaners and other liquid-delivery floor cleaners (e.g., steam mops or wet/dry vacuum cleaners) purposefully wet the surface to be cleaned itself, and even with the use of an intermediate brush or agitator, the surface is typically wetted to the extent that the user feels the surface wet or saturated to the touch. In one particular example, the flow rate to the cleaning pad can be in a range of about 10ml/min to 20 ml/min. In contrast, typical extractor cleaners have liquid flow rates of about 300ml/min to 1400ml/min, and typical steam mops have flow rates of about 30ml/min to 100 ml/min.

Fig. 5 shows the underside of the base assembly 64 with the cleaning pad 90 removed. In this view, the distributor 38 is visible with the plurality of distributor outlets 48 extending at least partially along the width of the base assembly 64. The dispenser 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 dispenser 38.

Further, although cleaning pad 90 is schematically illustrated as having a rectangular profile, it should be understood that cleaning pad 90 may have any suitable shape, form, or geometric profile. In a non-limiting example, cleaning pad 90 can comprise a square profile, a circular profile, a microfiber cloth, a set of polishing brushes or spikes, 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 other examples, the cleaning pad 90 can comprise a plurality of cleaning pads, each secured to the underside of the base assembly 64, or the cleaning pad 90 can comprise a removable or reusable cloth pad secured within the base assembly 64 about a rigid frame.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a recovery airflow path 94 may be formed between the base assembly 64 and the dirt separation and collection module 80. For example, the wand 70 may include a wand conduit 71 fluidly connected to both the suction nozzle 16 and the dirt separation and collection module 80. Also shown is a fluid delivery path 96 within the base assembly 64 between the fluid supply container 30 and the cleaning pad 90.

Fig. 7 shows additional details of the recovery airflow path 94 and the fluid delivery path 96 within the base assembly 64. It should be appreciated that the reclaim gas flow 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 in front of the cleaning pad 90. The recovery airflow path extends from the suction nozzle inlet 16a through a conduit 65 within the base assembly 64, through the adapter assembly 63, and into the wand conduit 71.

Instead, the fluid delivery path 96 extends from the fluid supply container 30 to the dispenser 38, through the at least one dispenser outlet 48, and to the cleaning pad 90. Moisture can be transferred to the surface to be cleaned via the wetted cleaning pad 90 for wet cleaning.

Turning to fig. 8, the hand-held portion 66 is shown in greater detail. In the example shown, the power source 22 is in the form of a battery pack containing one or more batteries, such as lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries. Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner 10 may include a power cord (not shown) that connects to a wall outlet. In yet another example, the power source 22 may include a rechargeable battery pack, such as by connecting to an external power source to recharge an included battery. The user control 68 may be in the form of a user interface printed circuit board located within the hand grip 67, as shown. Additionally, a main controller 69, such as a main control printed circuit board, may be adjacent the suction source 18, as shown.

Suction source 18 may be in the form of a crossflow suction fan connected to a motor 100, such as a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor with an integrated motor controller. A pre-motor filter 102 may be disposed within the recovery airflow path 94 (fig. 6) upstream of the motor 100 to prevent debris from entering the motor 100 during operation. Alternatively, suction source 18 may include a bypass suction fan connected to motor 100. In the example shown, the separator 21 is coupled to the recovery vessel 20 and includes a cyclone separator 84 and a bulk separator screen 86.

As shown, a rod axis 126 may be defined through the center of the rod 70 (fig. 3) and the rod connector 72. In the drawings, the rod 70 is held upright so that the rod axis 126 is upright. In this example, reference to a "vertical axis" will be understood to also refer to the rod axis 126. It should be appreciated that the rod 70 may be oriented in any suitable manner during use, including at an angle relative to a vertical axis.

A collector axis 128 may be defined through the center of the dirt separation and collection module 80 and a motor axis 130 may be defined through the center of the motor and fan assembly 124. It is contemplated that the rod axis 126, collector axis 128, and motor axis 130 may all be parallel to one another, as shown. In other words, 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.

As shown, grip axis 132 may be defined through the center of hand grip 67. The grip axis 132 forms a grip angle 134 with respect to vertical, such as 60 degrees in a non-limiting example. Further, a battery axis 136 may be defined through the center of the power source 22 (e.g., battery pack) and intersecting the grip axis 132. The battery axis 136 may also define a battery angle 138, such as 30 degrees in a non-limiting example, relative to vertical. Alternatively, the grip axis 132 may be orthogonal to the battery axis 136.

The dirt separation and collection module 80 may include a dirt cup in the form of a recovery container 20 having an inlet port in the form of a dirt inlet (not shown) and a separator assembly 140 coupled to the recovery container 20. The process air may enter through a dirt inlet (not shown) and swirl around first stage separator assembly chamber 144 for centrifugally separating debris from the process air stream. The separator assembly 140 includes a first stage separator 142, such as a grate, that in combination with the swirling working air removes relatively large debris from the working air that collects in a lower portion of the recovery tank 20 defining a first stage collection area 146.

The working air moves through an inlet to a bulk separator screen 86, such as a grate or mesh configured to filter smaller debris, in a second stage separator or separator assembly 140 and into a second stage separation chamber 150, shown herein as a cyclone separator 84. The smaller debris removed from the working air is collected in a second stage collection area 152 near the bottom of the recovery tank 20. The first stage collection area 146 may surround the second stage collection area 152, as shown.

With additional reference to FIG. 8, an exhaust outlet 154 and a filter housing 158 are fluidly coupled to an upper portion of the second stage separation chamber 150. The working air exits the second stage separation chamber 150 through an exhaust outlet 154 and at least one filter in a filter housing 158, shown here as pre-motor filter 102 of the motor and fan assembly 124. The filtered working air flows into the motor and fan assembly 124 whereupon it may be exhausted to the ambient atmosphere through an exhaust filter (i.e., post-motor filter 156) and through an air outlet of the working air path of the vacuum cleaner 10, which is shown here as being formed by an exhaust grill 153.

The outer surface of first stage separator 142 may accumulate debris, such as hair, lint, etc., that may become stuck to the outer surface and may not fall into first stage collection area 146.

The separator assembly 140 may also include a ring 161 slidably coupled to the recovery tank 20. The ring 161 may be coupled to a wiper 160, such as an annular wiper, configured to contact the first stage separator 142. The separator assembly 140 may be lifted upward relative to the ring 161 and recovery vessel 20. During this lifting, the ring 161 remains coupled to the recovery tank 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 grate, which falls into the first stage collection area 146.

When the separator assembly 140 has been raised to a predetermined height, it can be lifted away from the recovery tank 20, along with the ring 161 and wiper 160. The recovery tank 20 may then be inverted to remove dirt and debris from the first stage collection area 146 and the second stage collection area 152. After evacuation, the separator assembly 140 can be repositioned within the recovery tank 20 and the ring 161 can be coupled to the recovery tank 20 again for additional use of the vacuum cleaner 10.

Additional details of the dirt separation and collection module 80 are described in PCT application No. PCT/US19/39424, filed 2019, 27/6, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Working air along the recovery airflow path 94 (fig. 6) may enter the dirt separation and collection module 80 and flow through the mass separator screen 86 before entering the cyclone separator 84, thereby removing relatively larger debris from the working air before centrifugally removing smaller debris from the working air upstream of the electric machine 100. Dirt, dust and debris removed from the working air stream may be collected in the recovery tank 20. In this manner, during operation, the working air flowing through the motor 100 and out of the vacuum cleaner 10 may be filtered using the bulk separator screen 86, the cyclonic separator 84, and the pre-motor filter 102.

Additionally, as shown, a moisture barrier 110 may be provided within the hand-held portion 66. The moisture barrier 110 may surround portions of the vacuum cleaner 10 including the power source 22, the user control mechanism 68, or the main controller 69 to prevent liquid from contacting undesired or inappropriate 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 may be in the form of a film, strip, insulation panel, or other suitable form. While the suction or wicking of liquid by the vacuum cleaner 10 is not a concern and moisture from the cleaning pad 90 should not create any free liquid, if liquid is sucked in for some reason, such a moisture barrier 110 will ensure that any liquid escaping from the recovery airflow path 94 and dirt separation and collection module 80 will not damage other components of the vacuum cleaner 10 within the moisture barrier 110.

Referring to fig. 1-8, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated in a variety of ways. In one example of operation, power source 22 may power suction source 18 to provide suction through recovery airflow path 94. Debris removed from the surface may be entrained within the working air along the recovery airflow path 94 through the base assembly 64 and the wand conduit 71 before flowing into the dirt separation and collection module 80. Such dirt and debris may be removed from the working air and collected within the recovery tank 20, and the cleaned working air may flow through the suction source 18, as shown. In this manner, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated in a "dry mode" whereby dirt or debris is removed from the surface with the suction source 18 with the cleaning pad 90 removed from the base assembly 64.

In another example of operation, vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated without operating fluid delivery system 12 by turning on the suction source and attaching cleaning pad 90 to base assembly 64. When the base assembly 64 is directed over a surface, dust and debris is removed from the surface via the suction nozzle 16, while the dry cleaning pad 90 can capture other dust or debris that may remain on the surface. In this manner, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated in a "polishing mode," whereby the suction source 18 is used 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.

In yet another example of operation, the base assembly 64 can be directed over a surface while cleaning fluid is being delivered from the fluid supply container 30 to the cleaning pad 90. The cleaning fluid can be delivered automatically, such as by gravity, or selectively, such as via actuator 44, to wet the cleaning pad 90 as the base assembly 64 is moved over the surface to be cleaned and transfer moisture from the cleaning pad 90 to the surface. In this manner, vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated in a "wet" mode whereby cleaning pad 90 is used with a cleaning fluid to clean a surface. A suitable flow rate for wet cleaning has been determined to be 30ml/min or less.

In yet another example of operation, vacuum cleaner 10 can operate suction source 18 while supplying fluid to a surface via cleaning pad 90. This can be considered a "wet and suck" mode. It should be understood that this includes the fluid delivery system 12 operating in conjunction with the recovery system 14 to clean the surface. It should also be understood that fluid delivery system 12 may not need to be activated for the same amount of time as recovery system 14. For example, once a predetermined amount of liquid is applied to cleaning pad 90, vacuum cleaner 10 can continue to provide wetting and suction until cleaning pad 90 dries.

During use of the wetting and suction mode, as the base assembly 64 is moved across the surface, dirt and debris can be removed from the surface by the suction nozzle 16 while moisture is applied to the surface via the cleaning pad. In the case where the base assembly 64 is moved in the forward direction only, this would include the suction nozzle 16 removing debris from the surface immediately prior to wet cleaning of the surface via the cleaning pad 90, which has been wetted via fluid from the fluid supply container 30.

After cleaning debris, which is considered dry debris, the debris can be emptied from the dirt box and the dirty cleaning pad 90 can be removed. It is contemplated that the cleaning pad may be reusable such that it may be washed and reused in subsequent cleaning processes such that it may be removed and replaced with a new cleaning pad after one or more uses. Further, if the vacuum cleaner 10 is rechargeable, the vacuum cleaner 10 may be recharged for the next use.

It should be understood that the features or aspects of the various modes described above may be used in combination with each other. These examples are given for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Fluid delivery system 12 and recovery system 14 may each operate independently or in conjunction with one another.

Still further, it should be understood that the vacuum cleaner 10 described thus far may also be used with alternative base assemblies to further provide additional functionality. For example, the wand 70 may be adapted to operatively couple with an alternative base assembly or assemblies. Fig. 9 illustrates one example of an exemplary base assembly 164. It should be understood that the base assembly 164 is similar to the base assembly 64, but does not include a wet cleaning function, but rather is a true dry vacuum cleaning. As a non-limiting example, the agitator of the illustrated example includes a brush roll 168 configured to rotate about a horizontal axis and operatively coupled to a drive shaft of a drive motor via a transmission that may include one or more belts, a plurality of gears, a plurality of shafts, a plurality of pulleys, or a combination thereof. The agitator housing 73 is disposed about the suction nozzle 16 and defines an agitator chamber 79 for the brush roll 168.

As another non-limiting example, the pivotal connection between the upright assembly 62 and the base assembly 164 may be provided by at least one pivot mechanism. In the example shown, the pivot mechanism may include a multi-axis revolute joint assembly 170 configured to pivot the upright assembly 62 back and forth and side to side relative to the base assembly 164. The 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 forward pivoting and rearward rotation between the wand 70 and the base assembly 164. The 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 the base assembly 164. More specifically, a lower portion 172 of swivel joint assembly 170 is coupled between base assembly 164 and an upper portion 174 of swivel joint assembly 170. The upper portion 174 of the swivel joint assembly 170 is coupled to the second rod receiver 77 at the second end 76 of the rod 70. The plurality of wheels 52 may be coupled to a lower portion 172 of the swivel joint assembly 170 or directly to the base assembly 164 and adapted to move the base assembly 164 across a surface to be cleaned. As yet another non-limiting example, a recovery airflow conduit 176 may be formed between agitator housing 73 and dirt separation and collection module 80. For example, the wand conduit 71 in the base assembly 164 may be fluidly coupled to the wand conduit 71 within the wand 70. The rod guide 71 may be flexible to facilitate pivotal movement of the swivel joint assembly 170 about multiple axes. The wand conduit 71 is fluidly connected to a dirt inlet (not shown) located on the dirt separation and collection module 80 via an air outlet port (not shown).

The base assembly 164 may extend between a first side 180 and a second side 182, and the removable cover 184 may at least partially define the agitator chamber 79 between the first and second sides. An aperture 186 is located in a portion of the second side 182 and allows insertion and removal of the brush roll 168. A front bar 188 extends along a lower portion of the base assembly 164 between the first side 180 and the second side 182. The front bar 188 is configured to be positioned behind the removable cover 184 when the removable cover 184 is installed. The headlight array 190 is shown positioned on the front bar 188 and extends between the first side 180 and the second side 182 along the width of the base assembly 164. The headlight array 190 may be any suitable lighting assembly including an array of LED headlights. Even if the headlight array 190 is positioned below the removable cover 184, the headlight array may be considered to be positioned along an exterior portion of the base assembly 164. In one example, the removable cover 184 can include a transparent portion such that, upon installation, the transparent portion covers and protects the headlamp array 190 and allows emitted light to strike the surface to be cleaned. In another example, the removable cover 184 may leave the headlamp array 190 uncovered so as to not block light emitted from the headlamp array 190.

The brush roll 168 may be positioned within the agitator chamber 79 by sliding the first end 168a of the brush roll through an aperture 186 located at the second side 182 of the base assembly 164. When fully inserted, the second end 168b of the brushroll 168 may be flush with the aperture 186. Additionally, a rod conduit 71 may fluidly couple the agitator chamber 79 to the rod conduit 71.

The base assembly 164 may include a brush drive assembly 192 positioned opposite the aperture 186 and configured to drive rotational movement of the agitator 26 (e.g., the brush roll 168) within the agitator chamber 79. The components of the brush drive assembly 192 may include, but are not limited to, a brush motor 226, a belt 228 within a belt housing 227, and a brush drive gear 220.

Additional details of the brushroll 168 are shown in FIG. 10. The first end of the brushroll 168 may include an end plate 194 having projections 196, such as teeth, configured to engage a portion of the brush drive assembly 192 (fig. 11). The brushroll 168 also includes a central shaft 222 coupled at each end to a brush bearing 224. In the illustrated example, the brush roll 168 includes a bristled brush roll 168 having offset bristle tufts 202 extending along an outer surface of the brush roll 168. These bristle tufts 202 may be positioned off-center from the centerline 204 of the tufting table 206, and the bristle tufts 202 may also be non-orthogonal to the tufting table 206. In this manner, the bristled brush roll 168 may be configured to prevent hair from wrapping around the brush roll 168 during operation. Additional details of similar brush rolls are described in U.S. publication No. 2018-0125315, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The assembled base assembly 164 is shown in fig. 11, with the boss 196 of the end plate coupled to the brush drive gear 220. In this manner, the brush drive gear 220 is also coupled to the central shaft 222 through the drive gear bearing 229. As the brush motor 226 drives the belt 228 and the brush drive gear 220 to rotate, the brush rolls 168 may rotate at different speeds depending on the suction mode selected. A brush removal end cap 230 at a second end of the brush roll 168 unlocks or removes the brush roll 168 from the agitator chamber 79, for example, for cleaning the bristle tufts 202.

It is contemplated that various agitators 26 and brush rolls 168 may be used within agitator chamber 79. Figure 12 shows a microfiber brush roller 210 that may be used. The microfiber brush roll 210 is similar to the brushed brush roll 168; one difference is that the outer surface comprises a microfiber layer rather than bristles. While bristles may be used to lift hair and debris from carpet fibers, the microfiber layer may lift dirt and debris from hard surfaces such as wood or ceramic tiles. Each brushroll may include a brush removal end cap 198 with fasteners 212. In the example shown, the fasteners 212 comprise bayonet fasteners, wherein a given brush roll is inserted through the aperture 186 and rotated, for example, 30 degrees to lock the brush roll in place within the agitator chamber 79 via the corresponding fastener receiver 214. It should be understood that other brushroll types not specifically described may be used in the vacuum cleaner 10.

Dry vacuum cleaners can clean different surface types, but generally do not dispense or recover fluid. The present disclosure provides a number of benefits, including the ability to wet clean a surface, including a bare floor surface, as a non-limiting example, while picking up debris using dry vacuum cleaning. In this way, cleaning of the surface can be accomplished in less time and with less effort; furthermore, the surface also remains cleaner and shinier than cleaning achieved with dry vacuum cleaning alone.

To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various examples of the present disclosure can 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 explicitly described.

For example, the various features, 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:

a vacuum cleaner having: a base assembly including a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to provide wet cleaning, the fluid delivery system having a fluid supply container located on the base assembly; a hand-held portion having a hand-held portion and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and configured to generate a flow of working air; and a working air path extending from the suction nozzle to an air outlet in the hand-held portion and including a suction source.

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 wet cleaning.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the agitator is a cleaning pad.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the agitator is operatively coupled to a power source and the agitator is at least one of a rotatable agitator and a spin-on agitator.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises: a distributor arranged to supply fluid to the agitator; and a flow control system adapted to control the flow from the fluid supply container to the dispenser to a flow rate of 30ml per minute or less.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the flow control system further comprises an actuator and at least one of a pump and a flow control valve operatively coupled to the actuator.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the actuator is located on the base assembly.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the fluid supply container has a volume of less than 500 ml.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the headlight array comprises a plurality of LEDs spaced apart along a width of the base assembly.

The vacuum cleaner of any arrangement according to any preceding clause, wherein the beam is at a zero degree beam angle.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the working air path is at least partially defined by a wand operatively coupled between the base assembly and the hand-held portion.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the wand includes an outer periphery having a triangular profile.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the wand includes a decorative insert operatively coupled to a recess within the wand body and the decorative insert and the wand body together form the outer perimeter, or wherein the wand includes a tubular insert operatively coupled to the recess within the wand body and the tubular insert and the wand body together form the outer perimeter.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, further comprising a swivel joint movably coupling a lower end of the wand to the base assembly.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the hand-held portion further comprises a debris removal assembly comprising a recovery vessel disposed in fluid communication with the suction source.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the suction source comprises a motor and fan assembly operatively coupled to the debris removal assembly to form a single hand-holdable unit.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, wherein the hand grip extends away from at least one of the motor and fan assembly and the recovery container to define a handle opening, and wherein the hand grip is adapted to be grasped by a user.

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 including at least one pre-motor filter received within a filter chamber at the upper end of the recovery tank.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the debris removal assembly includes a cyclone chamber for separating contaminants from the working air path and a collection chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the cyclone chamber, the collection chamber being at least partially defined by the recovery receptacle.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the debris removal assembly further comprises a second downstream cyclone chamber and a second collection chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the second downstream cyclone chamber.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the second downstream cyclone chamber is located concentrically within the cyclone chamber.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the inner housing is selectively receivable within the recovery container and the inner housing defines a second downstream cyclone chamber and a second collection chamber.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause, further comprising an annular wiper configured to slidably contact a portion of the inner housing.

The vacuum cleaner of any preceding clause wherein the base assembly further comprises an agitator chamber located at the suction nozzle and a removable brush roll selectively located in the agitator chamber.

A surface cleaning system comprising: a first removable cartridge assembly comprising a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to provide a flow rate of 30ml per minute or less to provide wet cleaning; a handheld portion having a hand grip, a recovery tank defining a collector axis through a center thereof, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the recovery tank and configured to generate a working air flow; and a wand operatively couplable to the hand-held portion and selectively couplable to the first removable susceptor 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 a suction source.

The surface cleaning system of any preceding clause, further comprising a second removable pedestal assembly including a second suction nozzle, and wherein the first removable pedestal assembly and the second removable pedestal assembly are interchangeable.

The surface cleaning system of any preceding clause, wherein the suction source comprises a motor and fan assembly operatively coupled to the recovery vessel to form a single hand-holdable unit, and the motor and fan assembly defines a motor axis parallel to the wand axis and the collector axis.

The surface cleaning system of any arrangement of any preceding clause, wherein the grip axis is defined through a center of the hand grip and forms an acute angle with respect to the collector axis.

The surface cleaning system of any preceding clause, further comprising a battery pack located on the hand-held portion, and wherein the battery axis is defined through a center of the battery pack and intersects the grip axis at a right angle.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been described in detail in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure and the accompanying drawings without departing from the spirit of the disclosure as 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.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a base assembly including a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to provide wet cleaning, the fluid delivery system having a fluid supply container located on the base assembly;

a hand-held portion having a hand-held portion and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and configured to generate a flow of working air; and

a working air path extending from the suction nozzle to an air outlet in the hand-held portion and including a suction source.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, 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 wet cleaning.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the agitator is a cleaning pad.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the agitator is operably coupled to a power source and the agitator is rotatable.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises: a distributor arranged to supply fluid to the agitator; and a flow control system adapted to control the flow from the fluid supply container to the dispenser to a flow rate of 30ml per minute or less.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the flow control system further comprises an actuator and includes at least one of a pump and a flow control valve operably coupled to the actuator.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the actuator is located on the base assembly.

8. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the volume of the fluid supply container is less than 500 ml.

9. The vacuum cleaner of any of claims 1-7, wherein the working air path is at least partially defined by a wand operably coupled between the base assembly and the hand-held portion.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, further comprising a swivel joint movably coupling a lower end of the wand to the base assembly.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the handheld portion further comprises a debris removal assembly including a recovery receptacle disposed in fluid communication with the suction source, the suction source including a motor and fan assembly operably coupled to the debris removal assembly to form a handheld unit.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the hand grip extends away from at least one of the motor and fan assembly and the recovery container to define a handle opening, and wherein the hand grip is adapted to be grasped by a user.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, 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 including at least one pre-motor filter received within a filter chamber at an upper end of the recovery tank.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the debris removal assembly includes a cyclone chamber for separating contaminants from the working air path and a collection chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the cyclone chamber, the collection chamber being at least partially defined by the recovery receptacle.

15. The vacuum cleaner of any of claims 1-7, wherein the base assembly further comprises an agitator chamber at the suction nozzle and a removable brush roll selectively located in the agitator chamber, and wherein the fluid delivery system supplies fluid to the removable brush roll at a flow rate of 30ml per minute or less during operation.

16. A surface cleaning system, comprising:

a first removable cartridge assembly comprising a suction nozzle and a fluid delivery system adapted to provide a flow rate of 30ml per minute or less to provide wet cleaning;

a handheld portion having a hand grip, a recovery receptacle defining a collector axis through a center of the recovery receptacle, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the recovery receptacle and configured to generate a working air flow; and

a wand operably coupled to the hand-held portion and selectively coupled to the first removable susceptor 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.

17. The surface cleaning system of claim 16, further comprising a second removable mount assembly including a second suction nozzle, and wherein the first removable mount assembly and the second removable mount assembly are interchangeable.

18. The surface cleaning system of claim 16 or 17, wherein a wand axis is defined through the center of the wand, and wherein the wand axis and the collector axis are parallel, and wherein the suction source comprises a motor and fan assembly that is operably coupled to the recovery tank to form a single hand-holdable unit and that defines a motor axis that is parallel to the wand axis and the collector axis.

19. The surface cleaning system of claim 16 or 17, wherein a grip axis is defined through a center of the hand grip and forms an acute angle with respect to the collector axis.

20. The surface cleaning system of claim 19, further comprising a battery pack located on the hand-held portion, and wherein a battery axis is defined through a center of the battery pack and intersects the grip axis at a right angle.