Floor Cleaning and Drying System

Abstract

A floor cleaning and drying system for simultaneously shampooing, vacuuming, and drying a floor includes a housing. A power source is coupled to the housing. A shampooing apparatus is coupled to the housing and expels a cleaning fluid under pressure downwardly onto a floor. A vacuum apparatus is coupled to the housing and suctions a dirty fluid upwardly from the floor. A floor drying apparatus is coupled to the housing and blows a heated gas downwardly onto the floor to facilitate drying the floor. A plurality of wheels is rotatably coupled to the base wall to facilitate movement of the housing across the floor. A handle extends upwardly from the housing. A control panel coupled to the handle is electrically coupled to the power source for selectively actuating the shampooing apparatus, the vacuum apparatus, and the floor drying apparatus.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning assembly comprising: a housing having a base wall, a top wall, and a peripheral wall being coupled to and extending between the base wall and the top wall to define an interior space; a power source being coupled to the housing; a shampooing apparatus being coupled to the housing, the shampooing apparatus being configured to expel a cleaning fluid under pressure downwardly from the base wall onto a floor; a vacuum apparatus being coupled to the housing, the vacuum apparatus being configured to suction a dirty fluid upwardly from the floor; a floor drying apparatus being coupled to the housing, the floor drying apparatus being configured to blow a heated gas downwardly onto the floor to facilitate drying the floor; a plurality of wheels being rotatably coupled to the base wall, the plurality of wheels being configured to facilitate movement of the housing across the floor; a handle being coupled to and extending upwardly from the housing; and a control panel being coupled to the handle, the control panel being electrically coupled to the power source for selectively actuating the shampooing apparatus, the vacuum apparatus, and the floor drying apparatus.

2. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 1, the shampooing apparatus further comprising: a first reservoir being removably couplable to the housing, the first reservoir being positionable adjacent to the top wall, the first reservoir being configured to receive the cleaning fluid; a second reservoir being removably couplable to the housing, the second reservoir being positionable on top of the first reservoir, the second reservoir being configured to receive a dirty fluid; a cleanser heating element being positioned in the interior space, the cleanser heating element being electrically coupled to the power source, the cleanser heating element being positioned adjacent to the top wall wherein the cleanser heating element is configured to heat the cleaning fluid within the first reservoir; a pump being positioned in the interior space, the pump being electrically coupled to the power source, the pump being fluidly coupled to the first reservoir, the pump being configured to pressurize the cleaning fluid when the cleaning fluid is heated by the cleanser heating element; and a nozzle being fluidly coupled to the pump, the nozzle being positioned adjacent to the base wall, the nozzle dispensing the cleaning fluid downwardly from the base wall when the cleaning fluid is pressurized.

3. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 2, the vacuum apparatus further comprising: a vacuum motor being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum motor being electrically coupled to the power source; a vacuum fan being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum fan being coupled to the vacuum motor, the vacuum fan being actuatable by the vacuum motor; a vacuum inlet extending through the base wall into the interior space; a vacuum catch being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum catch being fluidly coupled to the vacuum inlet; a vacuum duct being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum duct fluidly coupling the vacuum catch to the second reservoir; wherein the vacuum fan is configured to suction the dirty fluid upwardly from the floor through the vacuum inlet into the vacuum catch, the vacuum catch being configured to store debris from the dirty fluid, the vacuum duct being configured to transfer the dirty fluid from the vacuum duct to the second reservoir; and a brush being positioned on the base wall, the brush being configured to agitate the floor whereby the brush is configured to loosen debris from the floor and facilitate the vacuum fan in suctioning the dirty fluid upwardly through the vacuum inlet.

4. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 3, the control panel further comprising a plurality of buttons.

5. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 4, the plurality of buttons further comprising: a first switch being configured to actuate the cleanser heating element; a second switch being configured to actuate the pump; and a third switch being configured to actuate the floor drying apparatus and the vacuum apparatus.

6. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 1, the vacuum apparatus further comprising: a vacuum motor being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum motor being electrically coupled to the power source; a vacuum fan being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum fan being coupled to the vacuum motor, the vacuum fan being actuatable by the vacuum motor; a vacuum inlet extending through the base wall into the interior space; a vacuum catch being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum catch being fluidly coupled to the vacuum inlet; and a brush being positioned on the base wall, the brush being configured to agitate the floor whereby the brush is configured to loosen debris from the floor and facilitate the vacuum fan in suctioning the dirty fluid upwardly through the vacuum inlet.

7. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 6, the vacuum apparatus further comprising: an attachment port extending through the peripheral wall, the attachment port being fluidly coupled to the vacuum catch; and a plurality of attachments being releasably couplable with the attachment port.

8. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 7, wherein the plurality of attachments is releasably couplable to the peripheral wall when the plurality of attachments are decoupled from the attachment port.

9. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 7, the plurality of attachments further comprising: a hose being couplable with the attachment port; and an attachment head being couplable with the hose.

10. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 1, the floor drying apparatus further comprising: a blower heating element being electrically coupled to the power source, the blower heating element being positioned on the base wall wherein the blower heating element is configured to produce heat across the base wall; and a blower fan being electrically coupled to the power source, the blower fan being positioned in the interior space above the blower heating element wherein the blower fan is configured to blow gas downwardly through the blower heating element forming the heated gas and wherein the blower fan is configured to blow the heated gas downwardly onto the floor.

11. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 1, the plurality of wheels further comprising: a pair of rear wheels; and a pair of front wheels being spaced from the pair of rear wheels.

12. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 11, wherein the pair of front wheels has a diameter being smaller than a diameter of the pair of rear wheels.

13. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotably coupled to the housing, the handle pivoting downwardly toward the peripheral wall into a storage configuration.

14. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 1, the control panel further comprising a plurality of buttons.

15. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 14, the plurality of buttons further comprising: a first switch being configured to actuate the shampooing apparatus; a second switch being configured to actuate the vacuum apparatus; and a third switch being configured to actuate the floor drying apparatus.

16. A floor cleaning assembly comprising: a housing having a base wall, a top wall, and a peripheral wall being coupled to and extending between the base wall and the top wall to define an interior space, the peripheral wall having a front side and a back side; a power source being coupled to the housing, the power source comprising a power cord extending outwardly from the back side of the peripheral wall; a shampooing apparatus being coupled to the housing, the shampooing apparatus being configured to expel a cleaning fluid under pressure downwardly from the base wall onto a floor, the shampooing apparatus comprising: a first reservoir being removably couplable to the housing, the first reservoir being positionable adjacent to the top wall, the first reservoir being configured to receive the cleaning fluid; a second reservoir being removably couplable to the housing, the second reservoir being positionable on top of the first reservoir, the second reservoir being configured to receive a dirty fluid; a cleanser heating element being positioned in the interior space, the cleanser heating element being electrically coupled to the power source, the cleanser heating element being positioned adjacent to the top wall wherein the cleanser heating element is configured to heat the cleaning fluid within the first reservoir; a pump being positioned in the interior space, the pump being electrically coupled to the power source, the pump being fluidly coupled to the first reservoir, the pump being configured to pressurize the cleaning fluid when the cleaning fluid is heated by the cleanser heating element; a nozzle being fluidly coupled to the pump, the nozzle being positioned adjacent to the base wall, the nozzle being positioned adjacent to the front side of the peripheral wall, the nozzle dispensing the cleaning fluid downwardly from the base wall when the cleaning fluid is pressurized; a vacuum apparatus being coupled to the housing, the vacuum apparatus being configured to suction the dirty fluid upwardly from the floor, the vacuum apparatus comprising: a vacuum motor being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum motor being electrically coupled to the power source; a vacuum fan being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum fan being coupled to the vacuum motor, the vacuum fan being actuatable by the vacuum motor; a vacuum inlet extending through the base wall into the interior space, the vacuum inlet being positioned proximate to the front side; a vacuum catch being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum catch being fluidly coupled to the vacuum inlet; an access door being coupled to the peripheral wall, the access door being aligned with the vacuum catch, the access door opening to facilitate access to the vacuum catch; a vacuum duct being positioned in the interior space, the vacuum duct fluidly coupling the vacuum catch to the second reservoir; wherein the vacuum fan is configured to suction the dirty fluid upwardly from the floor through the vacuum inlet into the vacuum catch, the vacuum catch being configured to store debris from the dirty fluid, the vacuum duct being configured to transfer the dirty fluid from the vacuum duct to the second reservoir; a brush being positioned on the base wall, the brush being configured to agitate the floor whereby the brush is configured to loosen debris from the floor and facilitate the vacuum fan in suctioning the dirty fluid upwardly through the vacuum inlet, the brush being positioned proximate to the front side, the vacuum inlet being positioned between the brush and the nozzle; an attachment port extending through the peripheral wall, the attachment port being fluidly coupled to the vacuum catch; a plurality of attachments being releasably couplable with the attachment port, the plurality of attachments being releasably couplable to the back side when the plurality of attachments are decoupled from the attachment port, the plurality of attachments comprising: a hose having a first hose end and a second hose end, the first hose end being couplable with the attachment port, the vacuum fan being configured to suction debris inwardly through the second hose end when the first hose end is coupled to the attachment port, the hose having a length between 30.0 inches and 40.0 inches; a wand attachment being couplable with the second hose end; a staff attachment being couplable with the second hose end; a floor drying apparatus being coupled to the housing, the floor drying apparatus being configured to blow a heated gas downwardly onto the floor to facilitate drying the floor, the floor drying apparatus comprising: a blower heating element being electrically coupled to the power source, the blower heating element being positioned on the base wall wherein the blower heating element is configured to produce heat across the base wall; a blower fan being electrically coupled to the power source, the blower fan being positioned in the interior space above the blower heating element wherein the blower fan is configured to blow gas downwardly through the blower heating element forming the heated gas and wherein the blower fan is configured to blow the heated gas downwardly onto the floor; a plurality of wheels being rotatably coupled to the base wall, the plurality of wheels being configured to facilitate movement of the housing across the floor, the plurality of wheels comprising: a pair of rear wheels being positioned beneath the back side; a pair of front wheels being positioned beneath the front side, the pair of front wheels having a diameter being smaller than a diameter of the pair of rear wheels; a handle being coupled to and extending upwardly from the housing, the handle being pivotably coupled to the housing, the handle pivoting downwardly toward the back side into a storage configuration; a control panel being coupled to the handle, the control panel being electrically coupled to the power source for selectively actuating the shampooing apparatus, the vacuum apparatus, and the floor drying apparatus, the control panel comprising a plurality of buttons, the plurality of buttons including: a first switch being configured to actuate the cleanser heating element; a second switch being configured to actuate the pump; and a third switch being configured to actuate the floor drying apparatus and the vacuum apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a floor cleaning and drying system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new carpet shampooer embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0019] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the floor cleaning and drying system 10 generally comprises a housing 12 having a base wall 14, a top wall 16, and a peripheral wall 18 that is coupled to and extends between the base wall 14 and the top wall 16 to define an interior space 20. The peripheral wall 18 may have a front side 22 and a back side 24.

[0020] A power source 26 is coupled to the housing 12. The power source 26 may comprise a power cord that extends outwardly from the back side 24 of the peripheral wall 18. Alternatively, the power source 26 may comprise a battery.

[0021] A shampooing apparatus 28 is coupled to the housing 12. The shampooing apparatus 28 is configured to expel a cleaning fluid 30 under pressure downwardly from the base wall 14 onto a floor 32.

[0022] The shampooing apparatus 28 may comprise a first reservoir 34 that is removably couplable to the housing 12. The first reservoir 34 is generally positionable adjacent to the top wall 16. The first reservoir 34 is configured to receive the cleaning fluid 30. A first reservoir port 36 may extend into the first reservoir 34 for filling and emptying the first reservoir 34.

[0023] A second reservoir 38 may also be removably couplable to the housing 12. The second reservoir 38 may be positionable on top of the first reservoir 34. The second reservoir 38 is generally configured to receive a dirty fluid 106. A second reservoir port 40 may extend into the second reservoir 38 for filling and emptying the second reservoir 38.

[0024] A cleanser heating element 42 may be positioned in the interior space 20. The cleanser heating element 42 is electrically coupled to the power source 26. The cleanser heating element 42 may be positioned adjacent to the top wall 16 wherein the cleanser heating element 42 is configured to heat the cleaning fluid 30 within the first reservoir 34.

[0025] A pump 44 may be positioned in the interior space 20. The pump 44 is electrically coupled to the power source 26. The pump 44 is fluidly coupled to the first reservoir 34. The pump 44 is configured to pressurize the cleaning fluid 30 when the cleaning fluid 30 is heated by the cleanser heating element 42.

[0026] A nozzle 46 may be fluidly coupled to the pump 44. The nozzle 46 is generally positioned adjacent to the base wall 14. The nozzle 46 may be positioned adjacent to the front side 22 of the peripheral wall 18. The nozzle 46 dispenses the cleaning fluid 30 downwardly from the base wall 14 when the cleaning fluid is pressurized.

[0027] A vacuum apparatus 48 is coupled to the housing 12. The vacuum apparatus 48 is generally configured to suction the dirty fluid 106 upwardly from the floor 32. For example, the vacuum apparatus 48 may comprise a vacuum motor 50 that is positioned in the interior space 20. The vacuum motor 50 is electrically coupled to the power source 26.

[0028] A vacuum fan 52 may be positioned in the interior space 20. The vacuum fan 52 is coupled to the vacuum motor 50. The vacuum fan 52 is actuatable by the vacuum motor 50.

[0029] A vacuum inlet 54 may extend through the base wall 14 into the interior space 20. The vacuum inlet 54 may be positioned proximate to the front side 22.

[0030] A vacuum catch 56 may be positioned in the interior space 20. The vacuum catch 56 is fluidly coupled to the vacuum inlet 54.

[0031] An access door 58 may be coupled to the peripheral wall 18. The access door 58 is generally aligned with the vacuum catch 56. The access door 58 opens to facilitate access to the vacuum catch 56.

[0032] A vacuum duct 60 may be positioned in the interior space 20. The vacuum duct 60 fluidly couples the vacuum catch 56 to the second reservoir 38.

[0033] The vacuum fan 52 is configured to suction the dirty fluid 106 upwardly from the floor 32 through the vacuum inlet 54 into the vacuum catch 56. The vacuum catch 56 is configured to store debris from the dirty fluid 106. The vacuum duct 60 is configured to transfer the dirty fluid 106 from the vacuum duct 60 to the second reservoir 38.

[0034] A brush 62 may be positioned on the base wall 14. The brush 62 is generally configured to agitate the floor 32 whereby the brush 62 is configured to loosen debris from the floor 62 and facilitate the vacuum fan 52 in suctioning the dirty fluid 106 upwardly through the vacuum inlet 54. The brush 62 may be positioned proximate to the front side 22. For example, the vacuum inlet 54 may be positioned between the brush 62 and the nozzle 46 on the base wall 14. Embodiments of the brush 62 may have bristles with soft or medium firmness to inhibit the brush 62 from damaging the floor 32.

[0035] An attachment port 64 may extend through the peripheral wall 18. The attachment port 64 is fluidly coupled to the vacuum catch 56. The attachment port 64 may be positioned on the back side 24 or may be positioned on a lateral side of the peripheral wall 18 and aligned with the vacuum catch 56.

[0036] A plurality of attachments 66 is releasably couplable with the attachment port 64. The plurality of attachments 66 may be releasably couplable to the peripheral wall 18, for example the plurality of attachments 66 may be positionable on the back side 24, when the plurality of attachments 66 are decoupled from the attachment port 64. The plurality of attachments 66 may comprise a hose 68 having a first hose end 70 and a second hose end 72. The first hose end 70 may be couplable with the attachment port 64. The vacuum fan 52 may be configured to suction debris inwardly through the second hose end 72 when the first hose end 70 is coupled to the attachment port 64. The hose 68 may have a length between 30.0 inches and 40.0 inches. In some embodiments, the hose 68 comprises a flexible elastic material wherein the length of the hose 68 is configured to expand and retract thereby increasing and decreasing the length of the hose 68. An attachment head, such as a wand attachment 74 or a staff attachment 76, may be releasably couplable with the second hose end 72.

[0037] A floor drying apparatus 78 is coupled to the housing 12. The floor drying apparatus 78 is configured to blow a heated gas downwardly onto the floor 32 to facilitate drying the floor 32.

[0038] The floor drying apparatus 78 may comprise a blower heating element 80 that is electrically coupled to the power source 26. The blower heating element 80 may be positioned on or adjacent to the base wall 14 wherein the blower heating element 80 is configured to produce heat across the base wall 14.

[0039] A blower fan 82 may be electrically coupled to the power source 26. The blower fan 82 may be positioned in the interior space 20, for example above the blower heating element 80 wherein the blower fan 82 is configured to blow gas downwardly through the blower heating element 80 forming the heated gas and wherein the blower fan 82 is configured to blow the heated gas downwardly onto the floor 32. The heated gas facilitates drying the cleaning fluid or any other liquids or fluids that remain on the floor 32 after the vacuum apparatus 48 has suctioned the dirty fluid 106 and debris upwardly into the housing 12.

[0040] A plurality of wheels 84 is rotatably coupled to the base wall 14. The plurality of wheels 84 is configured to facilitate movement of the housing 12 across the floor 32. For example, the plurality of wheels 84 may comprise a pair of rear wheels 86 that is positioned beneath the back side 24 and a pair of front wheels 88 that is positioned beneath the front side 22. The pair of front wheels 88 may have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the pair of rear wheels 86.

[0041] A handle 90 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the housing 12. The handle 90 may be pivotably coupled to the housing 12. For example, the handle 90 may pivot downwardly toward the back side 24 into a storage configuration 92.

[0042] A control panel 94 may be coupled to the handle 90. The control panel 94 is electrically coupled to the power source 26 for selectively actuating the shampooing apparatus 28, the vacuum apparatus 48, and the floor drying apparatus 78. For example, the control panel 94 may comprise a plurality of buttons 96. The plurality of buttons 96 may include a first switch 98 that is configured to actuate the cleanser heating element 42. Alternatively, the first switch 98 may be configured to actuate the shampooing apparatus 28. A second switch 100 may be configured to actuate the pump 44. Alternatively, the second switch 100 may be configured to actuate the vacuum apparatus 48. A third switch 102 may be configured to actuate the floor drying apparatus 78 and the vacuum apparatus 48. Alternatively, the third switch 102 may be configured to actuate the floor drying apparatus 78.

[0043] In use, a user 104 can clean a carpeted or a hard floor with the floor cleaning and drying system 10. For example, to clean a carpeted floor, the user 104 can pass over the carpeted floor 32 a first time with each of the shampooing apparatus 28, the vacuum apparatus 48, and the floor drying apparatus 78 turned on. If necessary, the user 104 can then pass over the carpeted floor 32 a second time with only the floor drying apparatus 78 turned on to further dry the floor 32. The user 104 may only need to pass over a hard floor 32 a single time with each of the shampooing apparatus 28, the vacuum apparatus 48, and the floor drying apparatus 78 turned on to achieve a clean, dry floor surface.

[0044] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0045] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.