Carpet Cleaning Attachment

As far as is known, there are no attachments for commercial or domestic type vacuum cleaners which enable one to wash the carpet by use of a liquid solution. Most families cannot justify the purchase of a carpet washing machine for the occasions in which it is used, and for the most part, the homemaker is required to turn to professional cleaners or to rent carpet washing machines which may be available at a supermarket, hardware store or other retail outlets, usually to promote the sale of the carpet cleaning solution. This, of course, requires at least two trips to the store, to rent the machines and to return it, but for most it is the more feasible alternative to purchase of the relatively expensive machines.

It is an object of this invention to provide a carpet washing attachment for a conventional tank-type, wet-dry vacuum cleaner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carpet washing attachment which is inexpensive.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carpet cleaning attachment which is simple to activate and operate.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carpet cleaning attachment which is efficient and thorough in operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description to follow, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In carrying out this invention, I provide a tank for a hot liquid soap solution or the like which is in the form of a hollow collar having an inner periphery which is supported on the upper surface of the vacuum tank of a wet-dry vacuum by gravity and which depends along and fits around the upright sides of the tank. With the collar tank surrounding the vacuum tank the center of gravity of the vacuum tank is not displaced laterally and, since it fits around, and not on top of, the vacuum tank the center of gravity is maintained at a relatively low level for considerable stability. A pump is disposed in the fluid tank collar and a duct extending from the tank is clipped along the vacuum hose and the wand connected thereto to terminate in a spray nozzle disposed adjacent the suction head on the end of the wand whereby a spray of the liquid solution projected on the carpet immediately followed by the suction head to suck it up. A quick disconnect coupling at the tank has a check valve which automatically prevents flow from the tank when the duct is removed and another quick disconnect coupling at the connection between the vacuum hose and the wand enables the replacement of wands, as for upholstery cleaning.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the carpet washing attachment of this invention mounted on a tank-type vaccum cleaner.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the carpet cleaning attachment;

FIG. 3 is a section view of the carpet cleaning attachment;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial elevation views of the duct and spray nozzle for carpet and upholstery cleaning respectively;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of another embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings with greater particularity, the carpet cleaning attachment 10 of this invention is shown mounted on the tank 12 of a conventional tank-type vacuum cleaner, particularly of the wet-dry type, including a vacuum hose 14 and a handle 16 for portability. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the end 18 of the vacuum hose 14 is adapted to receive for connection thereon one or more sections of wands 20 and 22, each carrying at its distal end appropriate suction fitting 24 and 26 for cleaning the carpet or upholstered furniture, respectively.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3, the carpet washing attachment 10 includes a collar-like tank 28, which fits around the vacuum tank 12 and has an inner periphery 30 which is adapted to engage the upper surface 32 of the vacuum tank and depend along the upright sides 32a thereof. Hence, the fluid tank 28 may be carried on the vacuum tank 12 solely by gravity without fastening means. In addition, because the collar tank 28 completely surrounds the vacuum tank 12, there is no tendency to shift laterally or offset the center of gravity whereby it remains well within the base 34 of the wet vacuum receiving tank 12a. Further, because the tank collar 28 fits around the vacuum tank, and does not extend above it, it provides a relatively low center of gravity particularly with a liquid solution W carried therein, same being introduced upon removal of filler cap 35.

The vacuum tank 12 is provided with an electric outlet 36 into which may be plugged an electric conductor 38 which upon engagement of a switch 39 energizes a small electric pump 40 carried in a pump well 42 in the interior of the liquid tank 28. The pump well cover is perforated as shown for ventilation.

The pump 40 projects the liquid solution from the tank collar 28 through a duct 44 which is strapped or clipped, as at 46, 48 along the length of the vacuum hose 14, terminating in a hand controlled valve 50 at the end of the vacuum hose 14. A quick disconnect coupling 56 at the outlet of the pump 40 has a check valve 49 on the pump delivery side whereby when disconnected, the valve 49 closes immediately. Another quick disconnect coupling 53 is provided in the duct 44 at the end 18 of the vacuum hose 44 whereby the liquid delivery sections 44a and 44b of the ducts may be disconnected with the wands 20 and 22 when converting from carpet to upholstery cleaning.

In operation, the appropriate wands 20 or 22 is secured onto the end of the vacuum hose 14 and at the same time, the quick disconnect coupling is attached for the appropriate fluid delivery duct 44a or 44b and spray nozzle 52 and 54. Then, when the coupling 51 is made at the pump 40 the switch is turned on to commence delivering a stream of liquid solution through the nozzle 52 or 54 and immediately thereafter the solution with dirt entrained therein is sucked up to the attachment 24 and vacuum hose 14 to the wet vacuum receiving tank 12a.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown an embodiment of this invention applied to a conventional wet-dry shop vacuum 62, including a cylindrical tank 64 and a motor driven vacuum pump 66 with vacuum hoses (not shown) adapted to be connected to inlet and outlet flow ports 68 and 70, respectively. The collar tank 27 fits over the cylindrical tank to surround it and adjustable fingers 76 spaced at intervals around the tank may be extended, as by loosening wing nuts 77, to rest against the top 78 of the cylindrical tank 64 to support the tank collar 72.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious that other modifications and changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.