Carpet cleaning device

Abstract

A carpet cleaning apparatus comprises a housing and wheels rotatably connected to the housing for moving the housing over a carpet. A brushroll, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a first axis. A pulley, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis. A drive wheel, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a third axis parallel to the first axis. A belt has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface extends about and engages the brushroll and the pulley. The outer surface engages the drive wheel. The belt is pulled by the pulley downward against the drive wheel for the drive wheel to drive the brushroll through the belt.

1 . A carpet cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a housing;    wheels rotatably connected to said housing for moving said housing over a carpet;    a brushroll supported by said housing and rotatable about a first axis;    a pulley supported by said housing and rotatable about a second axis parallel to said first axis;    a drive wheel supported by said housing and rotatable about a third axis parallel to said first axis; and    a belt having inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface extending about and engaging said brushroll and said pulley, said outer surface engaging said drive wheel, and said belt being pulled by said pulley downward against said drive wheel for said drive wheel to drive said brushroll through said belt.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said belt is pulled by both said pulley and said brushroll downward against said drive wheel.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second pulley located in said housing and rotatable about a fourth axis parallel to said first axis, and wherein said belt is pulled by both of said pulleys downward against said drive wheel.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing comprises a base portion and a separate cleaning head portion removably attachable to said base portion, with said wheels and said drive wheel supported by said base portion, and said brushroll and said pulley supported by said head portion.  
   
   
       5 . A cleaning head for use with a base for cleaning a floor, the base having a base housing with a front opening, and the base further having a drive wheel that is located in the base housing and rotatable about a drive axis, said cleaning head comprising: 
 a housing;    a brushroll supported by said housing and rotatable about a brushroll axis;    a pulley supported by said housing and rotatable about a pulley axis parallel to said brushroll axis; and    a belt extending about said brushroll and said pulley;    said head having an installed position in which said head is removably attached to the base such that said head extends through the front opening with said pulley located in the base and said brushroll located outside the base such that movement of said head into said installed position can bring said belt into engagement with the drive wheel for the drive wheel to drive said brushroll through said belt.    
   
   
       6 . The cleaning head of  claim 5  further comprising a perch structure configured to be pivotally supported on a mating perch structure of the base, and wherein said movement is a pivoting movement of said head about said perch structure of said head.  
   
   
       7 . The cleaning head of  claim 5  further comprising a second pulley rotatable about a second pulley axis parallel to said first pulley axis and configured such that said belt can be pulled by both said first and second pulleys downward against the drive wheel upon movement of said head into said installed position.  
   
   
       8 . A carpet shampooing apparatus comprising: 
 a first brushroll supported for rotation about a first axis and including a first dowel and first bristles, said first bristles extending a first distance radially outward from said first dowel;    a second brushroll supported for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis and including a second dowel and second bristles, said second bristles extending a second distance radially outward from said second dowel, with a distance between said dowels being less than or equal to the sum of said first and second distances; and    a scraper blade contacting said second brushroll;    whereby said first brushroll can brush shampoo into a carpet, said second brushroll can lift the shampoo from the carpet toward said scraper blade, and said scraper blade can scrape the shampoo off of said second brushroll.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a dispenser oriented to dispense shampoo directly onto said first brushroll, whereby said first brushroll can apply the shampoo to the carpet as said first brushroll rotates.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a shampoo collection container connected to said scraper blade and configured to collect the shampoo from said scraper blade.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a drive mechanism configured to rotate said brushrolls in opposite directions with said first and second bristles moving upward between said dowels.  
   
   
       12 . A carpet shampooing apparatus comprising: 
 a first brushroll supported for rotation about a first axis and including a first dowel and first bristles, said first bristles extending a first distance radially outward from said first dowel;    a second brushroll supported for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis and including a second dowel and second bristles, said second bristles extending a second distance radially outward from said second dowel, with a distance between said dowels being less than the sum of said first and second distances;    a drive mechanism configured to rotate said brushrolls in opposite directions with said first and second bristles moving upward between said dowels; and    a dispenser oriented to dispense shampoo directly onto said first bristles for said first bristles to apply the shampoo to a carpet as said first brushroll rotates.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a scraper blade contacting said second brushroll, whereby said second brushroll can lift the shampoo from the carpet toward said scraper blade, and said scraper blade can scrape the shampoo off of said second brushroll.