Wet/dry floor cleaning unit and method of cleaning

Abstract

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

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . A floor cleaning device comprising: a base portion for movement along a surface; a handle pivotally connected to said base portion; a suction nozzle operatively connected to said base portion and movable between a first position away from said surface and a second position in which said suction nozzle is closer to the surface than said first position; a pair of arms attached to said suction nozzle and extending rearwardly from said suction nozzle, each of said arms being pivotally connected to said base portion to allow said suction nozzle to move between said first and second positions; and a recovery container removably mounted to said handle and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for holding dirt transported by said suction nozzle into said recovery container. 
   
   
       5 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 4  including a brush assembly positioned rearwardly adjacent said suction nozzle. 
   
   
       6 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 4  including a conduit connected between said recovery container and a central portion of said suction nozzle for transporting dirt from said suction nozzle into said recovery container. 
   
   
       7 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 4  including a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said base portion, said liquid distribution system including a solution tank for providing a supply of cleaning solution, said liquid distribution system further including a distributor fluidly connected to said fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface. 
   
   
       8 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 7  wherein said solution tank is removably mounted to said handle and located rearwardly of said recovery container. 
   
   
       9 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 8  wherein said handle includes a front portion and a rear portion, said recovery container removably mounted to said front portion, said solution tank removably mounted to said rear portion of said handle. 
   
   
       10 . A floor cleaning device comprising: a base portion for movement along a surface; a handle pivotally connected to said base portion; a suction nozzle operatively connected to said base portion and movable with respect to said base portion between a first position away from said surface and a second position in which said suction nozzle is closer to the surface than said first position; a recovery tank removably mounted to said handle and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for holding dirt transported by said suction nozzle into said recovery tank; a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said base portion, said liquid distribution system including a solution tank for providing a supply of cleaning solution, said liquid distribution system further including a distributor fluidly connected to said solution tank for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface, said solution tank being removably mounted to said handle and located rearwardly of said recovery tank. 
   
   
       11 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 10  including a latch operatively connected to said recovery tank and said handle for releasably locking said recovery tank to said handle. 
   
   
       12 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 10  wherein said handle includes a front portion and a rear portion, said recovery tank removably mounted to said front portion, said solution tank removably mounted to said rear portion of said handle. 
   
   
       13 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 10  including a brush assembly positioned rearwardly adjacent said suction nozzle. 
   
   
       14 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 10  including a conduit connected between said recovery tank and a central portion of said suction nozzle for transporting dirt from said suction nozzle into said recovery tank. 
   
   
       15 . A floor cleaning device comprising: a base portion for movement along a surface; a handle pivotally connected to said base portion; a suction nozzle operatively connected to said base portion and movable with respect to said base portion between a first position away from said surface and a second position in which said suction nozzle is closer to the surface than said first position; a recovery tank removably mounted to said handle and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle; a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into said recovery tank; a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said base portion, said liquid distribution system including a solution source operatively associated with said base portion for providing a supply of cleaning solution, said liquid distribution system further including a distributor fluidly connected to said solution source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface; and wherein said suction nozzle is translucent. 
   
   
       16 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15  wherein said suction nozzle is triangularly shaped and includes a centrally located outlet. 
   
   
       17 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15  wherein said suction nozzle includes an outlet, a suction hose fluidly connected between said outlet and said recovery tank. 
   
   
       18 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15  wherein said suction nozzle includes an outlet, a conduit fluidly connected to said outlet, a seal provided around said outlet and said conduit for sealing said conduit to said outlet. 
   
   
       19 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 18  including a bracket mounting said conduit to said base portion. 
   
   
       20 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15  including a trigger switch pivotally connected to said handle and operatively connected to said liquid distribution system for selectively causing said liquid distribution system to distribute cleaning solution on the cleaning surface. 
   
   
       21 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 20  wherein said handle includes a handgrip portion, said trigger switch pivotally connected to said handgrip portion. 
   
   
       22 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 21  including an elongated rod provided within said handle and operatively connected to said liquid distribution system, said rod having an upper end being engaged by said trigger switch to selectively cause said liquid distribution system to distribute cleaning solution on the cleaning surface. 
   
   
       23 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 22  wherein said solution source includes a solution tank, said solution tank including an opening located in the top portion for filling said solution tank with liquid, a cap removably closing said opening, a vent valve secured to said cap for allowing atmospheric air to enter said solution tank. 
   
   
       24 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 23  wherein said vent valve is an umbrella valve. 
   
   
       25 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15  including a handle release pedal for releasably locking said handle in an upright position. 
   
   
       26 . A floor cleaning device comprising: a base portion for movement along a surface, said base portion having a distributor for distributing cleaning liquid onto the surface; front and rear support members connected to said base portion and engaging the surface; a handle pivotally connected to said base portion; a suction nozzle assembly operatively associated with said base portion, said suction nozzle assembly including a nozzle body composed of a rigid material, said suction nozzle assembly including a squeegee attached to said nozzle body; a retainer mounted to said nozzle body, said squeegee being attached around said retainer; a recovery tank removably mounted to said handle and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle assembly; a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle assembly for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle assembly and into said recovery tank; and a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said base portion, said liquid distribution system including a solution source operatively associated with said base portion for providing a supply of cleaning solution, said liquid distribution system further including a distributor fluidly connected to said fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface. 
   
   
       27 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 26  including a brush assembly associated with said base portion, wherein said brush assembly and said suction nozzle assembly are movable between a first position raised off of the surface to vacuum the surface with said front and rear support members maintaining engagement with the surface, and a second position in which said squeegee engages the surface to collect and pick up liquid and dirt from the surface, wherein said front and rear support members maintain engagement with the surface when said suction nozzle assembly and brush assembly are in said first position. 
   
   
       28 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 27  including a furniture guard integrally molded with said squeegee. 
   
   
       29 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 27  wherein said squeegee is over molded around said retainer. 
   
   
       30 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 27  wherein said rear support member includes a pair of wheels rotatably connected on opposite sides of said base portion, each of said wheels including a tire portion formed therearound. 
   
   
       31 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 27  including a brush assembly associated with said base portion, wherein said brush assembly and said suction nozzle assembly are movable between a first position raised off of the surface to vacuum the surface with said front and rear support members maintaining engagement with the surface, and a second position in which said squeegee engages the surface to collect and pick up liquid and dirt from the surface, wherein said front and rear support members maintain engagement with the surface when said suction nozzle assembly and brush assembly are in said first position. 
   
   
       32 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 31  including an indicating device operatively connected to said floor cleaning device to indicate to a user when said brush assembly and said suction nozzle assembly are in one of said first position and said second position. 
   
   
       33 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 31  further including an actuator operatively connected to said base portion such that actuating said actuator moves said brush assembly and said suction nozzle assembly to one of said first position and said second position. 
   
   
       34 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 33  wherein actuating said actuator again moves said brush assembly and said suction nozzle assembly to other one of said first position and said second position. 
   
   
       35 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 34  wherein said actuator is a pedal operatively connected to said base portion such that depressing said pedal moves said brush assembly and said suction nozzle assembly to one of said first position and said second position. 
   
   
       36 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 35  wherein depressing said pedal again moves said brush assembly and said suction nozzle assembly to other one of said first position and said second position.