Handheld extraction cleaner with liquid movement mitigation

Abstract

An extraction cleaner includes a suction nozzle having an inlet path and suction fan configured to provide suction. The inlet path brings liquid and air into the extraction cleaner. Suction fan has a fan entrance, a recovery tank is spaced from the fan entrance. A separator element configured to allow liquid to flow into the recovery tank, inhibit the flow of liquid out of the recovery tank, and inhibit liquid from reaching the fan entrance, or all three. The separator element may be a butterfly valve configured to selectively close the fan entrance. The separator element may be a funnel extending into the recovery tank to block liquid from leaving the recovery tank during inversion. The separator element may be a fan separator adjacent the suction fan, which directs liquid outward, away from the fan separator, within the extraction cleaner, such that liquid is moved away from the suction fan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld extraction cleaner, comprising:
 a suction nozzle defining an inlet path;   a suction fan configured to provide suction to the inlet path, such that the inlet path brings liquid and air into the handheld extraction cleaner, wherein the suction fan has a fan entrance;   a recovery tank spaced from the fan entrance; and   a funnel configured to allow liquid to flow into the recovery tank, and/or to inhibit the flow of liquid out of the recovery tank, and/or to inhibit liquid from reaching the fan entrance;   wherein the funnel has a funnel cone and a funnel cylinder extending from the funnel cone.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel cylinder extends downward into the recovery tank during operation in an operating zone range of the handheld extraction cleaner. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the funnel cylinder extends downward from the funnel cone relative to gravity in a normal use position such that liquid is allowed to fall through the funnel cone to the funnel cylinder and from the funnel cylinder into the recovery tank. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the funnel blocks liquid from leaving the recovery tank during operation outside of the operating zone range of the handheld extraction cleaner. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the funnel cylinder is dimensioned based on at least one of dimensions of the recovery tank, an intended maximum fill volume of the recovery tank, and/or the operating zone range of the handheld extraction cleaner. 
     
     
         6 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel cone has a relatively wide opening and a relatively narrow opening; and
 wherein the funnel cylinder is directly connected to the funnel cone at the relatively narrow opening.   
     
     
         7 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a baffle wall defining a tank inlet of the recovery tank; and   wherein the funnel cone includes a mount flange configured to secure to the baffle wall at the tank inlet.   
     
     
         8 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a check valve within the funnel, wherein the check valve is configured to close, and inhibit flow from the recovery tank, when the handheld extraction cleaner is outside of an operating zone range and is configured to open, and allow flow into the recovery tank, when the handheld extraction cleaner is within the operating zone range.   
     
     
         9 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the check valve is one of a ball valve or a flapper valve. 
     
     
         10 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a brush element disposed adjacent one end of the inlet path; and   wherein the suction fan is configured to provide suction to an opposite end of the inlet path from the brush element.   
     
     
         11 . A handheld extraction cleaner, comprising:
 a suction nozzle defining an inlet path;   a brush element disposed adjacent one end of the inlet path;   a suction fan configured to provide suction to an opposite end of the inlet path from the brush element, such that the inlet path brings liquid and air into the handheld extraction cleaner, wherein the suction fan has a fan entrance;   a vacuum motor operatively driving the suction fan;   a recovery tank having a tank inlet spaced from the fan entrance; and   a funnel configured to allow liquid to flow into the recovery tank, to inhibit the flow of liquid out of the recovery tank, and to inhibit liquid from reaching the fan entrance;   wherein the funnel has a funnel cone and a funnel cylinder extending from the funnel cone.   
     
     
         12 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the funnel cylinder extends downward into the recovery tank past the tank inlet during operation in an operating zone range of the handheld extraction cleaner. 
     
     
         13 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the funnel cylinder extends downward from the funnel cone relative to gravity in a normal use position such that liquid is allowed to fall through the funnel cone to the funnel cylinder and from the funnel cylinder into the recovery tank. 
     
     
         14 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the funnel blocks liquid from leaving the recovery tank during operation outside of the operating zone range of the handheld extraction cleaner. 
     
     
         15 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the funnel cylinder is dimensioned based on at least one of dimensions of the recovery tank, an intended maximum fill volume of the recovery tank, and/or the operating zone range of the handheld extraction cleaner. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the funnel cone has a relatively wide opening and a relatively narrow opening; and
 wherein the funnel cylinder is directly connected to the funnel cone at the relatively narrow opening.   
     
     
         17 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a baffle wall defining the tank inlet; and   wherein the funnel cone includes a mount flange configured to secure to the baffle wall at the tank inlet.   
     
     
         18 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a check valve within the funnel, wherein the check valve is configured to close, and inhibit flow from the recovery tank, when the handheld extraction cleaner is outside of an operating zone range and is configured to open, and allow flow into the recovery tank, when the handheld extraction cleaner is within the operating zone range.   
     
     
         19 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein the check valve is one of a ball valve or a flapper valve. 
     
     
         20 . The handheld extraction cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the brush element is disposed between the suction nozzle and the recovery tank.