Floor cleaning device with attachable floor engaging units

Abstract

A vacuum head of a floor cleaning device is configured so as to receive differing floor engaging and cleaning units thereto. The floor engaging and cleaning unit may be securely connected to the vacuum head using a manually actuated locking mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floor cleaning device, comprising:
 a vacuum head having a fluid inlet at a first end thereof, a fluid outlet at a second end thereof generally opposite the first end, the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet attachable to or extending from an end of a hollow cleaning wand capable of being coupled to a vacuum source, and an elongated rail extending from the vacuum head; and   a floor engaging and cleaning unit detachably connected to the rail, the floor engaging and cleaning unit having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum head fluid inlet and comprising at least a plurality of a carpet cleaning unit, a water extraction unit and/or a hard surface cleaning unit, whereby differing floor engaging units may be selectively detachably connected to the vacuum head.   
     
     
         2 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the rail is rotationally molded with the vacuum head. 
     
     
         3 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the rail at least partially defines the fluid inlet of the vacuum head. 
     
     
         4 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit has a portion that mates with the rail of the vacuum head. 
     
     
         5 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit is slidably connected to the rail. 
     
     
         6 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 5 , wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit comprises an open-ended and open-faced channel into which the rail is slidingly received. 
     
     
         7 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein the channel includes at least one inwardly extending lip. 
     
     
         8 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein the rail defines at least one elongated slot the receives the at least one lip of the channel therein. 
     
     
         9 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet of the carpet cleaning unit comprises an elongated fluid inlet or a series of fluid inlets. 
     
     
         10 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the water extraction unit includes a squeegee. 
     
     
         11 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the hard surface cleaning unit includes a scrubbing brush. 
     
     
         12 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , including a locking mechanism that securely connects the floor engaging and cleaning unit and the rail of the vacuum head. 
     
     
         13 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism is manually actuated. 
     
     
         14 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plunger mechanism associated with the vacuum head and comprising a spring biased pin extendible into a corresponding aligned aperture of the floor engaging and cleaning unit. 
     
     
         15 . A floor cleaning device, comprising:
 a vacuum head having a fluid inlet at a first end thereof, a fluid outlet at a second end thereof generally opposite the first end, the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet attachable to or extending from an end of a hollow cleaning wand capable of being coupled to a vacuum source, and an elongated rail extending from the vacuum head;   a floor engaging and cleaning unit detachably connected to the rail, the floor engaging and cleaning unit having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum head fluid inlet; and   a locking mechanism that securely connects the floor engaging and cleaning unit to the rail of the vacuum head, wherein the locking mechanism is manually actuated.   
     
     
         16 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the rail is rotationally molded with the vacuum head. 
     
     
         17 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the rail at least partially defines the fluid inlet of the vacuum head. 
     
     
         18 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit has a portion that mates with the rail of the vacuum head. 
     
     
         19 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit is slidably connected to the rail. 
     
     
         20 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 19 , wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit comprises an open-ended and open-faced channel into which the rail is slidingly received. 
     
     
         21 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 20 , wherein the channel includes at least one inwardly extending lip. 
     
     
         22 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 21 , wherein the rail defines at least one elongated slot the receives the at least one lip of the channel therein. 
     
     
         23 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the floor engaging and cleaning unit comprises at least a plurality of a carpet cleaning unit, a water extraction unit and/or a hard surface cleaning unit, whereby differing floor engaging units may be selectively detachably connected to the vacuum head. 
     
     
         24 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 23 , wherein the fluid inlet of the carpet cleaning unit comprises an elongated fluid inlet or a series of fluid inlets. 
     
     
         25 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 23 , wherein the water extraction unit includes a squeegee. 
     
     
         26 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 23 , wherein the hard surface cleaning unit includes a scrubbing brush. 
     
     
         27 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plunger mechanism associated with the vacuum head and comprising a spring biased pin extendible into a corresponding aligned aperture of the floor engaging and cleaning unit.