IP Library Granted Patent US 7,178,196
Granted Patent B2
US 7,178,196 · App. 11/032,969 · Granted Feb 20, 2007

Tank arrangement for a floor care appliance

Assignee: The Hoover Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,178,196
App. No.
11/032,969
Granted
Feb 20, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A floor care appliance is provided. The floor care appliance includes a base for movement along the surface attached to a housing. The floor care appliance has two liquid storage tanks located in the housing wherein one of the liquid storage tanks generally overlies the other liquid storage tank. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid storage tank located above the other liquid storage tank is a cleaning solution storage tank and the other liquid storage tank is a liquid recovery tank.

Claims (14)

1. A floor care appliance, comprising:

a base for movement over a surface to be cleaned;

at least one rotary agitator for loosening dirt on the surface;

a housing attached to the base;

a liquid recovery tank mounted on the housing;

a cleaning solution tank mounted on the housing located above the liquid recovery tank; and

a motor-fan assembly located between said liquid recovery tank and said cleaning solution tank;

wherein said liquid recovery tank and said cleaning solution tank are located in cavities in the housing and wherein said liquid recovery tank and said cleaning solution tank have sidewalls that are integrally formed such that the sidewalls are flush with the sidewalls of the housing.

2. The floor care appliance of claim 1 , wherein said housing is pivotally attached to said base.

3. The floor care appliance of claim 1 , wherein said at least one agitator is located in said base for agitating the surface to be cleaned.

4. The floor care appliance of claim 3 , wherein said at least one rotary agitator is rotated by an electric motor.

5. The floor care appliance of claim 1 , further comprising an on/off switch for selectively energizing and de-energizing said motor-fan assembly.

6. The floor care appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a trigger located on the housing for dispensing cleaning solution from said cleaning solution tank onto the surface to be cleaned.

7. The floor care appliance of claim 6 , further comprising an actuator rod operatively connected to said trigger for dispensing cleaning solution.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 28, 2009
From: THE HOOVER COMPANY
To: THC ASSETS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023699/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2009
From: THE HOOVER COMPANY
To: HEALTHY GAIN INVESTMENTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 023699/0909 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 28, 2009
From: HEALTHY GAIN INVESTMENTS LIMITED
To: TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 023699/0981 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2009
From: MORGAN, JEFFERY A.; LANG, CHARLES A.; SCLAFANI, ADAM C.; THOMAS, KEVIN L.; HUI, SIU WAI; LOUIS, JEFFREY S.; O'NEAL, DAVID L.
To: THE HOOVER COMPANY
Reel/Frame 023668/0884 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 0995571300 · Sep 18, 2001
Related Publication 20050120508A1 · Jun 9, 2005