U.S. patent application number 10/792932 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-08 for carpet cleaning device.
Invention is credited to Buell, Shelby J., Carnahan, Michael T., Dodson, Diane L., Steele, Daniel L., Still, Rapheal R., Warchola, Martin.
Application Number | 20050193506 10/792932 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34911932 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050193506 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dodson, Diane L. ; et
al. |
September 8, 2005 |
Carpet cleaning device
Abstract
A carpet cleaning apparatus comprises a housing and wheels
rotatably connected to the housing for moving the housing over a
carpet. A brushroll, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a
first axis. A pulley, supported by the housing, is rotatable about
a second axis parallel to the first axis. A drive wheel, supported
by the housing, is rotatable about a third axis parallel to the
first axis. A belt has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface
extends about and engages the brushroll and the pulley. The outer
surface engages the drive wheel. The belt is pulled by the pulley
downward against the drive wheel for the drive wheel to drive the
brushroll through the belt.
Inventors: |
Dodson, Diane L.; (Sagamore
Hills, OH) ; Warchola, Martin; (Medina, OH) ;
Steele, Daniel L.; (Concord, OH) ; Carnahan, Michael
T.; (Willowick, OH) ; Buell, Shelby J.;
(Lakewood, OH) ; Still, Rapheal R.; (Cleveland,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mitchell Rose
Jones Day
901 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland
OH
44114
US
|
Family ID: |
34911932 |
Appl. No.: |
10/792932 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/50.3 ; 15/48;
15/52.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/4072 20130101;
A47L 11/408 20130101; A47L 11/4025 20130101; A47L 11/34 20130101;
A47L 11/4041 20130101; A47L 11/4069 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/050.3 ;
015/052.1; 015/048 |
International
Class: |
A47L 011/282 |
Claims
1. A carpet cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing; wheels
rotatably connected to said housing for moving said housing over a
carpet; a brushroll supported by said housing and rotatable about a
first axis; a pulley supported by said housing and rotatable about
a second axis parallel to said first axis; a drive wheel supported
by said housing and rotatable about a third axis parallel to said
first axis; and a belt having inner and outer surfaces, said inner
surface extending about and engaging said brushroll and said
pulley, said outer surface engaging said drive wheel, and said belt
being pulled by said pulley downward against said drive wheel for
said drive wheel to drive said brushroll through said belt.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said belt is pulled by both
said pulley and said brushroll downward against said drive
wheel.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second pulley
located in said housing and rotatable about a fourth axis parallel
to said first axis, and wherein said belt is pulled by both of said
pulleys downward against said drive wheel.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a base
portion and a separate cleaning head portion removably attachable
to said base portion, with said wheels and said drive wheel
supported by said base portion, and said brushroll and said pulley
supported by said head portion.
5. A cleaning head for use with a base for cleaning a floor, the
base having a base housing with a front opening, and the base
further having a drive wheel that is located in the base housing
and rotatable about a drive axis, said cleaning head comprising: a
housing; a brushroll supported by said housing and rotatable about
a brushroll axis; a pulley supported by said housing and rotatable
about a pulley axis parallel to said brushroll axis; and a belt
extending about said brushroll and said pulley; said head having an
installed position in which said head is removably attached to the
base such that said head extends through the front opening with
said pulley located in the base and said brushroll located outside
the base such that movement of said head into said installed
position can bring said belt into engagement with the drive wheel
for the drive wheel to drive said brushroll through said belt.
6. The cleaning head of claim 5 further comprising a perch
structure configured to be pivotally supported on a mating perch
structure of the base, and wherein said movement is a pivoting
movement of said head about said perch structure of said head.
7. The cleaning head of claim 5 further comprising a second pulley
rotatable about a second pulley axis parallel to said first pulley
axis and configured such that said belt can be pulled by both said
first and second pulleys downward against the drive wheel upon
movement of said head into said installed position.
8. A carpet shampooing apparatus comprising: a first brushroll
supported for rotation about a first axis and including a first
dowel and first bristles, said first bristles extending a first
distance radially outward from said first dowel; a second brushroll
supported for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first
axis and including a second dowel and second bristles, said second
bristles extending a second distance radially outward from said
second dowel, with a distance between said dowels being less than
or equal to the sum of said first and second distances; and a
scraper blade contacting said second brushroll; whereby said first
brushroll can brush shampoo into a carpet, said second brushroll
can lift the shampoo from the carpet toward said scraper blade, and
said scraper blade can scrape the shampoo off of said second
brushroll.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a dispenser oriented
to dispense shampoo directly onto said first brushroll, whereby
said first brushroll can apply the shampoo to the carpet as said
first brushroll rotates.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a shampoo
collection container connected to said scraper blade and configured
to collect the shampoo from said scraper blade.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a drive mechanism
configured to rotate said brushrolls in opposite directions with
said first and second bristles moving upward between said
dowels.
12. A carpet shampooing apparatus comprising: a first brushroll
supported for rotation about a first axis and including a first
dowel and first bristles, said first bristles extending a first
distance radially outward from said first dowel; a second brushroll
supported for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first
axis and including a second dowel and second bristles, said second
bristles extending a second distance radially outward from said
second dowel, with a distance between said dowels being less than
the sum of said first and second distances; a drive mechanism
configured to rotate said brushrolls in opposite directions with
said first and second bristles moving upward between said dowels;
and a dispenser oriented to dispense shampoo directly onto said
first bristles for said first bristles to apply the shampoo to a
carpet as said first brushroll rotates.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a scraper blade
contacting said second brushroll, whereby said second brushroll can
lift the shampoo from the carpet toward said scraper blade, and
said scraper blade can scrape the shampoo off of said second
brushroll.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This application relates to a device for cleaning a carpet.
More specifically, the application relates to a device for vacuum
cleaning and shampooing a carpet.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A carpet cleaning device includes a base unit, a vacuuming
head and a shampooing head. The vacuuming head can be removably
attached to the base unit. The base unit with the vacuuming head
attached can be used to vacuum clean a carpet. Similarly, the
shampooing head can be removably attached to the base unit. The
base unit with the shampooing head attached can be used to shampoo
the carpet.
SUMMARY
[0003] A carpet cleaning apparatus comprises a housing and wheels
rotatably connected to the housing for moving the housing over a
carpet. A brushroll, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a
first axis. A pulley, supported by the housing, is rotatable about
a second axis parallel to the first axis. A drive wheel, supported
by the housing, is rotatable about a third axis parallel to the
first axis. A belt has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface
extends about and engages the brushroll and the pulley. The outer
surface engages the drive wheel. The belt is pulled by the pulley
downward against the drive wheel for the drive wheel to drive the
brushroll through the belt.
[0004] Preferably, the belt is pulled by both the pulley and the
brushroll downward against the drive wheel. Alternatively, the
apparatus comprises a second pulley located in the housing and
rotatable about a fourth axis parallel to the first axis, and the
belt is pulled by both the first and second pulleys downward
against the drive wheel. The apparatus preferably further comprises
a base portion and a separate cleaning head portion removably
attachable to the base portion, with the wheels and the drive wheel
supported by the base portion, and the brushroll and the pulley
supported by the head portion.
[0005] A cleaning head is for use with a base for cleaning a floor.
The base has a base housing with a front opening. The base further
has a drive wheel that is located in the base housing and rotatable
about a drive axis. The cleaning head comprises a housing and a
brushroll supported by the housing and rotatable about a brushroll
axis. A pulley, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a
pulley axis parallel to the brushroll axis. A belt extends about
the brushroll and the pulley. The head has an installed position in
which the head is removably attached to the base such that the head
extends through the opening, with the pulley located in the base,
the brushroll located outside the base, and the brushroll axis
parallel to the drive axis. Movement of the head into the installed
position can bring the belt into engagement with the drive wheel
for the drive wheel to drive the brushroll through the belt.
[0006] A carpet shampooing apparatus comprises a first brushroll
supported for rotation about a first axis. The first brushroll
includes a first dowel and first bristles. The first bristles
extend a first distance radially outward from the first dowel. A
second brushroll is supported for rotation about a second axis
parallel to the first axis and includes a second dowel and second
bristles. The second bristles extend a second distance radially
outward from the second dowel. A distance between the dowels is
less than or equal to the sum of the first and second distances. A
scraper blade contacts the second brushroll. The first brushroll
can brush shampoo into a carpet. The second brushroll can lift the
shampoo from the carpet toward the scraper blade. The scraper blade
can scrape the shampoo off of the second brushroll.
[0007] Preferably, a dispenser is oriented to dispense shampoo
directly onto the first brushroll, whereby the first brushroll can
apply the shampoo to the carpet as the first brushroll rotates. A
shampoo collection container is connected to the scraper blade and
is configured to collect the shampoo from the scraper blade. A
drive mechanism is configured to rotate the brushrolls in opposite
directions, with the first and second bristles moving upward
between the dowels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus comprising a
vacuuming head, a shampooing head, and a base unit that includes a
base;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an expanded break-away perspective view of the
base;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the vacuuming head;
[0011] FIGS. 4-7 are side sectional views of the vacuuming head and
the base, illustrating a sequence of steps for attaching the
vacuuming head to the base;
[0012] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the shampooing head; and
[0013] FIGS. 9-12 are side sectional views of the shampooing head
and the base, illustrating a sequence of steps for attaching the
shampooing head to the base.
DESCRIPTION
[0014] Overview
[0015] The apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has parts that are examples
of the elements recited in the claims.
[0016] The apparatus 1 is used for cleaning a carpet 6 that is
lying flat on a floor. It includes a base unit 10, a vacuuming head
12 and a shampooing head 14. The vacuuming head 12 can be removably
attached to the base unit 10 in an installed position. The base
unit 10 and the vacuuming head 12 together comprise a vacuum
cleaner for vacuuming the carpet 6. Alternatively, the shampooing
head can be removably attached to the base unit 10 in an installed
position. The base unit 10 and the shampooing head together
comprise a shampooer for shampooing the carpet 6.
[0017] Base Unit
[0018] The base unit 10 comprises a base 20, a handle 22 extending
upward from the base 20, and a filter bag 24 supported by the
handle 22.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the base 20 has a base housing 30. The
base housing 30 has a front face 32 with an opening 33 that
provides access to a vacuum chamber 35 within the housing 30. The
vacuum chamber 35 is bounded by chamber walls 36. A fan 40 within
the base housing 30 has an inlet section 42. The inlet section 42
is located at an outlet opening 43 in one of the chamber walls 36.
The fan 40 has an outlet section 44 connected by a duct 46 to the
filter bag 24.
[0020] A motor 50 within the base housing 30 has an output shaft 52
that drives the fan 40. The output shaft 52 extends through the fan
40 into the vacuum chamber 35 to drive a base belt 54 that is
permanently located within the chamber 35. The belt 54, in turn,
drives a drive shaft 56 centered on a rotational axis 57. The drive
shaft 56 is rotatably fixed to the base housing 30 by a shaft
mounting structure 58. A drive wheel 60, in this case a drive gear,
is attached to the drive shaft 56 and rotatable about the axis 57.
The drive wheel 60 is located in the vacuum chamber 35, behind the
front opening 33. The drive wheel 60 provides power to the
vacuuming head 12 or the shampooing head 14 when either of those
heads 12 or 14 is in the installed position.
[0021] Two front wheels 70 and two rear wheels 72 enable the base
20 to be moved over the carpet 6. The front and rear wheels 70 and
72 are rotatable about respective parallel axes 73 and 75. The
front wheels 70 are rotatably connected to the base housing 30 by a
height-adjust mechanism 76 represented schematically in FIG. 2 as a
lever. The height-adjust mechanism 76 enables the user to raise and
lower the front face 32 of the base 20 relative to the carpet
6.
[0022] Two arms 80 extend forward from the front face 32. They
support a perch pin 82 in a horizontal orientation parallel to the
front face 32. The perch pin 82 is configured to support either
head 12 or 14 in the installed position.
[0023] A latch 90 is used for latching the respective head 12 or 14
in the installed position. Parts of the latch 90 include a flexible
stem 92 and a wedge-shaped latch head 94. The stem 92 is fastened
at its rear end to a top wall 96 of the base 20 and is joined at
its front end to the latch head 94. A front surface 98 of the latch
head 94 is inclined forward and upward. A vertical rear surface 99
of the latch head 94 faces, and is spaced slightly forward from,
the front face 32 of the base 20.
[0024] Vacuuming Head
[0025] The vacuuming head 12 is shown in FIG. 3. It includes a
bracket 110. The bracket 110 supports upper and lower idler pulleys
120 and 122 centered on respective rotational axes 125 and 127. The
bracket 110 further supports a brushroll 130 centered on a
rotational axis 131 that is parallel with the pulley axes 125 and
127. A perch structure 132 of the bracket 110 comprises a pair of
forks, each having a groove 134. The grooves 134 are configured to
receive the perch pin 82 when the head 12 is in the installed
position.
[0026] The brushroll 130 has an axially-extending dowel 136 and
bristles 140 extending radially outward from the dowel 136. The
bristles 140 are grouped in clusters called tufts 142. The tufts
142 are arranged in two axially-extending rows 144 and 146 located
at radially-opposite sides of the dowel 136. In this example, the
axially-extending rows 144 and 146 are straight. Each row 144 and
146 is interrupted by a poly-V pulley surface 148 axially centered
on the dowel 136.
[0027] A vacuuming head belt 150 extends permanently about the
idler pulleys 120 and 122 and the brushroll 130. In the uninstalled
position of the head 12 shown in FIG. 3, the belt 150 has a certain
amount of slack. The belt 150 has a poly-V inner surface 152 and a
gear-toothed outer surface 154. The poly-V inner surface 152 faces,
and is configured to engage, the idler pulleys 120 and 122 and the
poly-V pulley surface 148 of the brushroll 130. The gear-toothed
outer surface 154 of the belt 150 is configured to engage the drive
gear 60 (FIG. 2) when the vacuuming head 12 is in the installed
positioned.
[0028] A top cover 160 is attached to the bracket 110. It has an
upwardly extending latch plate 164 configured to be captured by the
latch 90 (FIG. 2) when the head 12 is in the installed position.
The top cover 160 and the bracket 110, attached together as shown
in FIG. 4, comprise a vacuuming head housing 170. The housing 170
has front and rear sections 172 and 174 delineated in FIG. 4 by a
vertical dashed line 175. The front section 172 supports the
brushroll 130, and the rear section 174 supports the pulleys 120
and 122.
[0029] The vacuuming head 12 can be installed on the base 20 as
follows. A first step is illustrated in FIG. 4. The head 12 is
positioned in front of the base 20, with the rear housing section
174 facing the front opening 33 of the base 20 and angled
upward.
[0030] A second step is indicated by an arrow 181 in FIG. 4. The
head 12 is moved rearward until the perch structure 132 receives
the perch pin 82 as shown in FIG. 5. In this configuration, the
head 12 is perched on the perch pin 82, with the rear section 174
extending through the front opening 33 into the chamber 35.
[0031] A third step is indicated by an arrow 183 in FIG. 5. The
rear section 174 pivots downward about the perch pin 82 and the
perch structure 132, bringing the belt 150 into engagement with the
drive wheel 60. Concurrently, the latch plate 164 pivots rearward
as indicated by an arrow 185. This continues until the latch plate
164 snaps in place behind the latch head 94 as shown in FIG. 6. The
vacuuming head 12 is thus in the installed position. In this third
step, the same pivoting motion that brings the head 12 into the
installed position also brings the belt 150 into engagement with
the drive wheel 60.
[0032] A fourth step is indicated by an arrow 187 in FIG. 6. In
this step, the height-adjustment mechanism 76 lowers the base 20 to
bring the brushroll 130 into contact with the carpet 6 as shown in
FIG. 7.
[0033] With the head 12 in the installed position shown in FIG. 7,
the following features are apparent. The latch plate 164 is
captured by and between the rear surface 99 of the latch head 94
and the front face 32 of the base housing 30. The housing 170 of
the head 12 extends through the front opening 33 of the base
housing 30. Both the front housing section 172 and the brushroll
130 are located outside the base housing 30. Conversely, the rear
housing section 174 and the pulleys 120 and 122 are located within
the base housing 30 and, more specifically, within the vacuum
chamber 35.
[0034] Further, in the installed position, the outer surface 154 of
the belt 150 engages the drive wheel 60. The inner surface 152 of
the belt 150 extends about and engages the brushroll 130 and the
pulleys 120 and 122. Both the brushroll 130 and the lower pulley
122 pull the belt 150 downward against the drive wheel 60. The
brushroll axis 131 is forward of the drive wheel axis 61, and the
lower pulley axis 127 is rearward of the drive wheel axis 61. The
upper pulley 120 keeps an upper portion 190 of the belt 150 spaced
upward from a lower portion 192 of the belt 150 to prevent the
portions 190 and 192 from scraping against each other.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, the rotational axes 73, 75, 61,
131, 125 and 127 of the front and rear wheels 70 and 72, the drive
wheel 60, the brushroll 130 and the pulleys 120 and 122 are all
horizontal and parallel to each other. They are all, additionally,
perpendicular to movement of the base 20 as it is pushed forward
and rearward over the carpet 6.
[0036] The base unit 10 and the head 12, attached together,
comprise a vacuum cleaner for vacuum cleaning carpet 6. The vacuum
cleaner has a vacuum cleaner housing comprising the base housing 30
and the head housing 170. The vacuum cleaning process can be
performed by turning on the motor 50 and moving the vacuum cleaner
over the carpet 6. In this process, the motor 50 drives the fan 40.
It also drives the drive wheel 60 through the base belt 54. As
shown in FIG. 7, the drive wheel 60 drives the brushroll 130
through the housing belt 150. As indicated by arrows 193 and 195,
the drive wheel 60 and the brushroll 130 rotate in opposite
directions. The brushroll 130 beats the carpet 6 to dislodge dirt
from the carpet 6. The dirt is carried to the filter bag 24 by air
driven by the fan 40.
[0037] After the vacuuming cleaning is completed, the head 12 can
be removed from the base 20 by first engaging a thumb against the
front surface 98 of the latch head 94. The thumb pushes the latch
head 94 upward until the latch plate 164 is released. The vacuuming
head 12 can then be withdrawn from the chamber 35 and pulled
forward and away from the base 20.
[0038] Shampooing Head
[0039] The shampooing head 14 is shown in FIG. 8. It includes a
bracket 210. The bracket 210 supports an upper idler pulley 220 and
front and rear lower idler pulleys 222 and 224. The pulleys 120,
122 and 124 are rotatable about respective parallel axes 225, 227
and 229. The bracket 210 further supports front and rear brushrolls
230 and 231 centered on rotational axes 233 and 234. A grooved
perch structure 236 of the bracket 210 is configured to receive the
perch pin 82 of the base 20 when the shampooing head 14 is in the
installed position.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the two brushrolls 230
and 231 has an axially-extending dowel 238 and 239. Front brushroll
bristles 240 extend radially outward from the front dowel 238 a
first distance D1. Rear brushroll bristles 241 extend radially
outward from the rear dowel 239 a second distance D2. The dowels
238 and 239 are spaced from each other a third distance D3 that is
less than the sum of the first and second distances D1 and D2.
Although the third distance D3 can be greater than the sum of D1
and D2, it is preferably less than or equal to the sum of D1 and
D2.
[0041] The bristles 240 and 241 of the brushrolls 230 and 231 are
arranged in tufts 242. The tufts 242 of each brushroll 230 and 231
are arranged in two axially-extending rows 244 and 246 located at
radially-opposite sides of the dowel 238 and 239. The rows 244 and
246 of the front brushroll 230 are interrupted by a poly-V pulley
surface 248 axially centered on the front dowel 238. The rows 244
and 246 of the rear brushroll 231 are interrupted by a gear-toothed
surface 249 axially centered on the rear dowel 239.
[0042] A shampooing head belt 250 extends permanently about the
idler pulleys 220, 222 and 224 and the front brushroll 230. The
belt 250 has a poly-V inner surface 252 and a gear-toothed outer
surface 254. The poly-V inner surface 252 engages the pulleys 220,
222 and 224 and the poly-V pulley surface 248 of the front
brushroll 230. The toothed outer surface 255 engages the toothed
surface 249 of the rear brushroll 231. To take up any slack in the
belt 250, the upper pulley 220 is attached to the bracket 210 by a
lever 256. The lever 256 is spring loaded to pull the upper pulley
220 upward. This keeps the shampooing head belt 250 taut even in
the uninstalled position of the shampooing head 14 shown in FIG. 8.
Alternative, the upper pulley 220 can be fixed to the bracket 210
as in the vacuuming head 12 (FIG. 3), in which case the belt 250
will be slack when the head 14 is in the uninstalled position.
[0043] A top cover 260, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, is attached to the
bracket 210. It includes a wall 262 for covering the bracket 210, a
latch plate 264 for latching the shampooing head 14 in the
installed position, a container 266 for storing shampoo, a
discharge outlet 268 for discharging shampoo onto the front
brushroll 230, and a conduit 270 for conducting the shampoo from
the container 266 to the discharge outlet 268. These components are
explained individually as follows.
[0044] The latch plate 264 extends upward from the wall 262. It is
configured to be captured by the latch 90 (FIG. 2) when the head 14
is in the installed position.
[0045] The shampoo container 266 is shown in FIG. 9. It defines a
cavity 271 that can be filled with shampoo 272 through a fill
opening 273 at the top of the container 266. The fill opening 273
is capped with a cap 274. The shampoo 272 can be released from the
container 266 through an outlet opening 275 at the bottom of the
container 266. Release of the shampoo 272 is controlled by a
discharge gate 276 in front of the outlet opening 275. The gate 276
is lowered to block the shampoo 272 from exiting through the outlet
opening 275 and is raised to release the shampoo 272 through the
outlet opening 275. The gate 276 can be controlled directly by
hand. Alternatively, to avoid the user having to bend down, the
gate 276 can be connected by cable to a lever (not shown) on the
handle for the gate 276 to be controlled by the lever.
[0046] The conduit 270 extends forward along the wall 262 from the
outlet opening 275 of the container 266 to the discharge outlet
268. The discharge outlet 268 has a discharge opening 282. This
opening 282 is located directly above the front brushroll 230 in
order to discharge the shampoo directly onto the bristles 240 of
the front brushroll 230. Preferably, the discharge opening 282 is
totally located directly above the dowel 238 of the front brushroll
230. The opening 282 is elongated. It extends, lengthwise, parallel
with the brushroll 230 along almost the full length of the
brushroll 230.
[0047] A shampoo collection container 290, in this example a tray,
is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. It has a removably installed position
supported on a shelf 292 of the bracket 210. Alongside a top
opening 294 of the tray, a wall portion of the tray 290 is in the
form of a scraper blade 296 with a scraping edge 298. The edge 298
contacts the rear brushroll bristles 241 when the tray 290 is in
the installed position in order to scrape shampoo off of the rear
brushroll bristles 241. The shampoo can then flow downward over the
blade 296 to be collected in the tray 290. The blade 296 is
interrupted by a raised section 300 of the floor 302 of the tray
290 that bridges over a rear section of the bracket 210.
[0048] The top cover 260 and the bracket 210, joined together as in
FIG. 9, comprise a shampooing head housing 310. Front and rear
sections 312 and 314 of the housing 310 are delineated in FIG. 9 by
a dashed line 315. The front section supports the brushroll 130.
The rear section supports the pulleys 220, 222 and 224.
[0049] The shampooing head 14 can be installed on the base 20 in a
manner similar to that explained above for the vacuuming head 12.
In a first step illustrated in FIG. 9, the head 14 is positioned in
front of the base 20.
[0050] A second step is indicated by an arrow 321 in FIG. 9. The
head 14 is moved rearward until the perch structure 236 receives
the perch pin 82 as shown in FIG. 10. In this configuration, the
head 14 is perched on the perch pin 82, with the rear section 314
extending through the front opening 33 into the chamber 35.
[0051] A third step is indicated by an arrow 323 in FIG. 10. The
rear section 314 pivots downward about the perch pin 82 and the
perch structure 236, bringing the belt 250 into engagement with the
drive wheel 60. Concurrently, the latch plate 264 pivots rearward
as indicated by an arrow 325. This continues until the latch plate
264 snaps into position behind the latch head 94, as shown in FIG.
11. The head 14 is thus in its installed position. The same
pivoting motion that brings the head 14 into its installed position
also brings the belt 250 into engagement with the drive wheel
60.
[0052] A fourth step is indicated by an arrow 327 in FIG. 11. The
base 20 is lowered using the height-adjustment mechanism 76. This
brings the brushroll 130 in contact with the carpet 6 as shown in
FIG. 12.
[0053] With the head 14 in the installed position shown in FIG. 12,
the following features are apparent. The latch plate 264 is
captured by and between the rear surface 99 of the latch head 94
and the front face 32 of the base housing 30. The housing 310 of
the head 14 extends through the front opening 33 of the base 20.
Both the front housing section 312 and the brushrolls 130 and 132
are located outside the base 20. Conversely, the rear housing
section 314 and the pulleys 220, 222 and 224 are located within the
base 20.
[0054] Further, in the installed position, the outer surface 254 of
the belt 250 engages the drive wheel 60 and the rear brushroll 131.
The inner surface 252 of the belt 250 extends about and engages the
front brushroll 130 and the three idler pulleys 220, 222 and 224.
The two lower pulleys 222 and 224 pull the belt 250, under tension,
downward against and about the drive wheel 60. This is enabled by
the axes 227 and 229 of the front and rear lower pulleys 222 and
224 being located at opposite sides of the drive wheel axis 61. For
example, as in FIG. 12, the axes 227 and 229 of the front and rear
lower pulleys 222 and 224 are located, respectively, before and
behind the drive wheel axis 61. The upper pulley 225 keeps an upper
portion 330 the belt 250 spaced upward from a lower portion 332 of
the belt 250 to prevent the portions 330 and 332 from scraping
against each other.
[0055] The rotational axes 61, 73, 75, 225, 227, 229, 233 and 234
(FIGS. 2 and 12) of the drive wheel 60, the front and rear wheels
70 and 72, the three pulleys 220, 222 and 224, and the two
brushrolls 230 and 231 are all horizontal and parallel to each
other. The axes 61, 73, 75, 225, 227, 229, 233 and 234 are all,
additionally, perpendicular to the forward/rearward movement of the
base 20.
[0056] The motor 50 (FIG. 2), the base belt 54, the drive wheel 60
and the shampooing head belt 250 together comprise a drive
mechanism that drives the brushrolls 230 and 231. This drive
mechanism rotates the brushrolls 230 and 231 in opposite directions
as indicated by arrows 341 and 343 in FIG. 12, with the bristles
240 and 241 of both brushrolls 230 and 231 moving upward between
the dowels 238 and 239. The rear brushroll 231 rotates in the same
direction as the drive wheel 60, and the front brushroll 230
rotates in the opposite direction.
[0057] The base unit 10 (FIG. 2) and the shampooing head 14,
attached together as in FIG. 12, comprise a shampooer for
shampooing the carpet 6. The shampooing process can be achieved by
lifting the gate 276, turning the motor 50 on, and moving the
shampooer over the carpet 6. Lifting of the gate 276 releases the
shampoo 272 from the container 266. This enables the shampoo to
flow through the conduit 270 to the discharge outlet 268.
[0058] The discharge outlet 268 dispenses the shampoo directly onto
the bristles 240 of the front brushroll 230. Upon receiving the
shampoo, the front brushroll bristles 240 initially carry the
shampoo forward and away from the rear brushroll 231 and downward
toward the carpet 6. The front brushroll bristles 240 then contact
the carpet 6 to apply the shampoo to carpet 6, and thereafter move
upward in-between the dowels 238 and 239.
[0059] The bristles 240 and 241 of both brushrolls 230 and 231
brush the shampoo into the carpet 6. This enables the shampoo to
entrain dirt from the carpet 6. Since the brushrolls 230 and 231
rotate in opposite directions, each tuft of the carpet 6 is brushed
at two opposite sides of the tuft. This promotes impregnation of
the shampoo into the carpet 6. It also promotes dislodging of dirt
from the tufts. A layer of shampoo 244 accumulates on top of and
within the carpet 6 as the shampooer moves over the carpet 6.
[0060] Concurrently, the rear brushroll bristles 241 remove a
portion of the dirt-entrained shampoo from the carpet 6 and lift
the shampoo upward between the dowels 238 and 239 toward the
scraper blade 296. The shampoo, along with entrained dirt, is
scraped off the rear brushroll bristles 241 by the scraper blade
296 and flows into the collection tray 290.
[0061] The front brushroll 230 can also remove shampoo from the
carpet 6. If the brushrolls 230 and 231 are configured such that,
in-between the dowels 238 and 239, the front brushroll bristles 240
come sufficiently near to the rear brushroll bristles 241, the
shampoo lifted from the carpet 6 by the front brushroll bristles
240 can be transferred to the rear brushroll bristles 241. The rear
brushroll 231 can then transport the shampoo to the scraper blade
296 for collection in the tray 290.
[0062] The front brushroll 230 improves the efficiency with which
the rear brushroll 231 removes shampoo from the carpet 6. This is
explained as follows. As each row 244 and 246 of rear brushroll
bristles 241 contacts a section of the carpet 6 and then disengages
from that section, it lifts a portion of the shampoo from that
section upward to the collection tray 290. However, some of the
shampoo from that section does not adhere to the rear brushroll
bristles 241 and is thus not successfully lifted. Instead, it is
swept by the rear brushroll 231 toward the front brushroll 230. The
front brushroll 230 then sweeps the unlifted shampoo back toward
the rear brushroll 231. This provides a second chance for the rear
brushroll 231 to lift the shampoo to the tray 290, thereby
improving the shampoo removal efficiency of the rear brushroll 231.
The unlifted shampoo continues to be swept back and forth between
the brushrolls 130 and 131 until it is finally successfully lifted
by the rear brushroll 231 to the tray 290. This process is made
possible by there being two brushrolls 230 and 231 that are
adjacent each other and each rotating so as to sweep shampoo toward
the other.
[0063] Periodically during the shampooing process, the shampoo
collection tray 290 can be removed from the shampoo head housing
310 and emptied. After the shampooing process is completed, the
shampooing head 14 can be removed from the base 20 in a manner
similar to that described above for the vacuuming head 12. Briefly,
the latch head 94 is moved upward, preferably by a thumb, until it
releases the latch plate 264 and thus the shampooing head 14. The
head 14 is then withdrawn from the vacuum chamber 35 and pulled
forward away from the base 20.
[0064] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable
scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include
other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they
have elements that do not differ from the literal language of the
claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with
insubstantial differences from the literal language of the
claims.
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