Water or steam cleaning apparatus and accessory for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A nozzle assembly for a cleaning apparatus can include a brushroll, a motor disposed within the brushroll and configured to rotate the brushroll, a debris receptacle comprising a debris inlet. A scraper may be disposed above the debris inlet such that the scraper projects into the brushroll. A ramp can be formed on the scraper. The ramp may extend between an outer edge of the scraper above the debris inlet and into an interior region of the debris receptacle. The ramp can include a runoff surface configured to direct debris and liquid removed from the brushroll by the scraper as the brushroll rotates into the debris receptacle at a negative angle relative to a surface being cleaned. A squeegee assembly may be disposed across a full width of the nozzle assembly.

1 . A nozzle assembly for a cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a brushroll;   a motor disposed within the brushroll and configured to rotate the brushroll;   a debris receptacle comprising a debris inlet;   a scraper disposed above the debris inlet such that the scraper projects into the brushroll; and   a ramp formed on the scraper and extending between an outer edge of the scraper above the debris inlet and into an interior region of the debris receptacle, the ramp comprising a runoff surface configured to direct debris and liquid removed from the brushroll by the scraper as the brushroll rotates into the debris receptacle at a negative angle relative to a surface being cleaned.   
     
     
         2 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the negative angle relative to the surface being cleaned is between about 0 degrees and about −90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a separation distance between the runoff surface of the ramp and a bottom surface of the interior region of the debris receptacle decreases in a direction away from the debris inlet and toward the interior region of the debris receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention component configured to couple the debris receptacle to the nozzle assembly and to retain the scraper in contact with the brushroll. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brushroll comprises a solid core and a microfiber material cover, wherein the scraper projects into the microfiber material cover. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the scraper is molded from a plastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the scraper is formed from a metal. 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the debris receptacle comprises:
 a solid debris compartment for receiving solid debris; and   a liquid debris compartment for receiving liquid debris.   
     
     
         9 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more electrical connectors configured to electrically couple to a power supply of the cleaning apparatus such that the power supply provides power to the motor. 
     
     
         10 . A nozzle assembly for a cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a brushroll;   a motor disposed within the brushroll and configured to rotate the brushroll;   a debris receptacle comprising a debris inlet for receiving debris collected by the brushroll as the brushroll rotates; and   a squeegee assembly disposed across a full width of the nozzle assembly, the squeegee assembly comprising:
 a first end comprising a contact surface disposed in continuous contact with an outer surface of the debris receptacle that extends from a bottom region of the debris receptacle to the debris inlet, and 
 a second end configured to contact a surface being cleaned. 
   
     
     
         11 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the squeegee assembly further comprises:
 a rigid frame;   a top half coupled to the rigid frame;   a lower half configured to flex; and   a leading edge disposed at the second end and coupled to the lower half.   
     
     
         12 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the leading edge is configured to contact the surface being cleaned during a forward movement of the nozzle assembly and to lift from the surface being cleaned during a backward movement of the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the top half and the lower half are constructed of a flexible material, and the leading edge is constructed of a low friction material. 
     
     
         14 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible material is selected from a group consisting of silicone and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). 
     
     
         15 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the low friction material is selected from a group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and woven nylon. 
     
     
         16 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the squeegee assembly is attached to the debris receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the brushroll comprises a solid core and a microfiber material cover, wherein the squeegee assembly contacts the microfiber material cover when the cleaning apparatus is in use. 
     
     
         18 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the solid core of the brushroll comprises one or more ribs configured to cause the nozzle assembly to vibrate to cause fine debris to travel underneath the squeegee assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the debris receptacle comprises:
 a solid debris compartment for receiving solid debris; and   a liquid debris compartment for receiving liquid debris.   
     
     
         20 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more electrical connectors configured to electrically couple to a power supply of the cleaning apparatus such that the power supply provides power to the motor.