Hard surface cleaning appliance

Abstract

A hood with a depending side wall has vacuum passages formed in the inner surface thereof. An inner shroud positioned internally of the hood cooperates therewith in forming the vacuum passages and has a lower edge elevated above the surface to be cleaned. A foramenous skirt depends from the lower edge of the hood sidewall to contact the surface to be cleaned. The vacuum passages are connected to a source of vacuum. A rotating spray assembly inside the shroud sprays cleaning liquid onto the surface to be cleaned.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A hard surface cleaning appliance comprising a hood having a depending sidewall terminating with a lower edge, vacuum passage means formed in the inner surface of the hood,  an inner shroud positioned internally of said hood and having a lower edge spaced inwardly of the lower edge of said hood sidewall, said hood and said inner shroud forming vacuum passage means therebetween, a foraminous skirt depending from the lower edge of the hood sidewall, said skirt being adapted to contact the surface to be cleaned, the lower edge of said shroud being elevated above the surface to be cleaned and the lower edge of the sidewall of said hood also being elevated above the surface to be cleaned and means for creating a vacuum in the vacuum passage means in the hood . 
     
     
       2. The appliance of claim  1  including means inside said shroud for spraying cleaning liquid onto the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       3. The appliance of claim  1  wherein said vacuum passage means includes a plurality of upright passages spaces around the sidewall of the hood and two vacuum manifold passages each communicating with different substantially one-halfs of the number of upright passages. 
     
     
       4. The appliance of claim  3  wherein said inner shroud cooperates with said hood in providing said vacuum passage means. 
     
     
       5. The appliance of claim  1  wherein the lower edge of the sidewall of said hood is elevated above the surface to be cleaned a greater distance than the lower edge of said shroud is elevated above that surface. 
     
     
       6. The appliance of claim  5  including means inside said shroud for spraying cleaning liquid onto the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       7. The appliance of claim  6  wherein said skirt is a fibrous brush. 
     
     
       8. The appliance of claim  5  wherein said vacuum passage means includes a plurality of upright passages spaced around the sidewall of the hood and two vacuum manifold passages communicate with different substantially one-half of the upright passages. 
     
     
       9. The appliance of claim  5  wherein said inner shroud cooperates with said hood in providing said vacuum passage means. 
     
     
       10. The appliance of claim  5  wherein said skirt is a fibrous brush.