Wet cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A wet cleaning apparatus includes a cleaner head having a dirt inlet. A motor and fan deliver suction to the dirt inlet. Further, the wet cleaning apparatus includes a separator unit for separating water from a flow of air generated by the suction. The separated water is collected in a container having a top and a bottom, and a side portion extending there between. The separated air is passed out of the container towards the motor and fan via an air passage. The air passage is spatially separated from the bottom of the container. The water collected in the container sloshes against the side portion of the container when a user is pushing the cleaner head and the container forward. A water directing member sealingly adjoins the side portion, and protrudes into the container backwards from the side portion, thereby to inhibit the water sloshing against the side portion.

1 . A wet cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a cleaner head for cleaning a surface to be cleaned, the cleaner head having a dirt inlet;   a motor and fan for delivering suction to the dirt inlet;   a separator unit for separating water from a flow of air generated by the suction;   a container for collecting the separated water, the container having a top and a bottom, and a side portion between the top and the bottom;   an air passage provided in the container for passing the air separated from the water towards the motor and fan, the air passage being spatially separated from the bottom of the container;   a handle for grasping by a user of the apparatus, wherein the handle, the cleaner head, and the container are arranged such that the user pushing the handle causes at least the cleaner head and the container to move forward, and the user pulling the handle causes said at least the cleaner head and the container to move backwards towards the user, the water collected in the container sloshing against the side portion of the container during said pushing;   a pivot point between the cleaner head and the container, wherein the pivot point is arranged to permit tilting of the container towards the user grasping the handle, while the dirt inlet continues to provide the suction to the surface to be cleaned; and   a water directing member sealingly adjoining the side portion, the water directing member protruding backwards from said side portion, thereby to inhibit said water sloshing against the side portion from continuing to move along the side portion towards the air passage.   
     
     
         2 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a longest lateral extension of the water directing member from the side portion measured normal to the side portion is at least 5 mm, wherein said longest lateral extension is 10 to 50 mm or up to 75% of an interior width of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1   2 , wherein the water directing member comprises a peripheral shut-off area or a sealing portion for sealingly adjoining the water directing member to the side portion, wherein a thickness of the water directing member increases towards a region of the side portion to which the peripheral shut-off area or sealing portion is sealingly adjoined. 
     
     
         4 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the water directing member comprises a surface which faces away from the air passage, and wherein the water directing member comprises a curved surface which curves from the surface towards the peripheral shut-off area or sealing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the sealing portion is formed from an elastomeric material, wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the water directing member comprises a first surface and/or a second surface for contacting said water sloshing against the side portion. 
     
     
         7 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the first surface extends normal to the side portion or inclines towards the top of the container; and   the second surface declines towards the bottom of the container such as to guide water thereon away from the air passage, or when the first surface inclines towards the top of the container, the second surface extends normal to the side portion, wherein the first surface extends from the side portion and the second surface extends from the first surface.   
     
     
         8 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the water directing member comprises the first surface and the second surface, wherein the second surface curves from the first surface towards the bottom of the container and/or towards the side portion. 
     
     
         9 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the water directing member is detachable from the side portion. 
     
     
         10 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the side portion is arcuate such that the inner surface curves outwardly in a forward direction. 
     
     
         11 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising an internal wall extending from the top towards the bottom of the container, a space being defined between the container and the internal wall, the water collected at the bottom of the container being receivable in the space when the container is orientated such that the collected water moves from the bottom towards the top of the container, wherein the internal wall is arranged to prevent water received in the space from passing into the air passage, wherein the internal wall sealingly adjoins to the container and/or wherein the internal wall and the container are integrally formed. 
     
     
         12 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the separator unit and the water directing member are included in a detachable unit, said detachable unit being detachable from the container. 
     
     
         13 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the internal wall is included in the detachable unit. 
     
     
         14 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the separator unit comprises at least one selected from a labyrinth-type separator unit, a filter-type separator unit, and a cyclone-type separator unit. 
     
     
         15 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a tube for delivering said airflow to the separator unit, wherein the separator unit comprises a cup which receives an end of the tube, wherein the tube extends in a central region of the container towards the cup. 
     
     
         16 . The wet cleaning apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the water directing member is positioned below an exit of the tube for delivering said airflow to the separator unit.