Modular multi-functional cleaning and floor care system

Abstract

An embodiment of the cleaning and floor care system has a reservoir assembly and a wet/dry vacuum assembly. The reservoir assembly has a wheeled chassis and an integral reservoir. The reservoir has a circumferential sidewall and an upper end. The reservoir defines an interior space for holding a fresh cleaning liquid; and the reservoir upper end defines an opening. The reservoir assembly further has a spigot fluidly connected to the reservoir interior space, with the spigot having a valve adjustable between a fully open and a fully closed position. The vacuum assembly has a recovery tank and a motor assembly. The vacuum assembly is removably positionable on top of the reservoir, and is transportable on the reservoir. Each of the reservoir assembly and the vacuum assembly is operable both when the vacuum assembly is positioned on top of the reservoir, and when the vacuum assembly is separated from the reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-functional cleaning and floor care system, comprising:
 a reservoir assembly including:
 a wheeled chassis; 
 a reservoir comprising a circumferential sidewall and an upper end, the reservoir defining an interior space operable for holding a fresh cleaning liquid, the upper end defining an opening; 
 a spigot fluidly connected to the reservoir interior space, the spigot including a valve that is adjustable between a fully open position and a fully closed position, whereby when the reservoir contains a fresh cleaning liquid, a user may regulate the flow of the fresh cleaning liquid from the reservoir through the spigot by adjusting the spigot valve; 
   a wet vacuum assembly removably positionable on the reservoir, the wet vacuum assembly comprising a vacuum recovery tank and a vacuum motor assembly fluidly connected to the vacuum recovery tank;   the wet vacuum assembly transportable on the reservoir; and   each of the reservoir assembly and the wet vacuum assembly operable when the wet vacuum assembly is positioned on the reservoir, and when the wet vacuum assembly is not positioned on the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir is integral with the wheeled chassis. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir circumferential sidewall includes the reservoir upper end that defines the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the wet vacuum assembly is removably positionable atop the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir assembly and the wet vacuum assembly are configured for positioning of the wet vacuum assembly on, and removal of the wet vacuum assembly from, the reservoir assembly without the use of a tool. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  further comprising a handle removably attachable to the reservoir, the handle attachable to and removable from the reservoir without the use of a tool. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 6  further comprising a fastener configured to releasably connect the wet vacuum assembly to the handle without the use of a tool, when the handle is attached to the reservoir, and the wet vacuum assembly is positioned on the reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the vacuum recovery tank includes a support surface and the reservoir includes a support surface, the reservoir support surface supporting the vacuum recovery tank support surface when the wet vacuum assembly is removably positioned on the reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 8  wherein the vacuum recovery tank support surface directly contacts the reservoir support surface when the wet vacuum assembly is removably positioned on the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 8  wherein the reservoir includes a left sidewall and a right sidewall, a lip extending laterally from the left sidewall, and a lip extending laterally from the right sidewall, the reservoir support surface comprising at least a portion of each of the left sidewall lip and the right sidewall lip. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 10  wherein the vacuum recovery tank includes a front and a back, the vacuum recovery tank support surface comprising a first support surface extending between the front and the back and a second support surface extending between the front and the back, at least a portion of the left sidewall lip supporting at least a portion of the first support surface, and at least a portion of the right sidewall lip supporting at least a portion of the second support surface when the wet vacuum assembly is removably positioned on the reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 11  wherein the reservoir includes a front, a back, and a length that extends from the front to the back, and wherein the vacuum recovery tank includes a length that extends from the vacuum recovery tank front to the vacuum recovery tank back, the reservoir length greater than the vacuum recovery tank length, whereby the wet vacuum assembly may be removably positioned at a plurality of locations along the length of the reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the wet vacuum assembly further comprises a plurality of wheels, whereby the wet vacuum assembly may be moved across a floor surface on the plurality of wheels when the wet vacuum assembly is positioned on the floor surface. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the wet vacuum assembly is operable for both wet and dry vacuuming 
     
     
         15 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the vacuum recovery tank includes a discharge outlet, the cleaning system constructed and arranged such that when the wet vacuum assembly is positioned on the reservoir, the reservoir is on the wheeled chassis, and the wheeled chassis is on a floor surface, the discharge outlet is at a height above the floor surface that enables a soiled liquid in the vacuum recovery tank to be gravity drained into a toilet bowl without lifting the vacuum recovery tank. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir comprises a back wall, and the cleaning system further comprises an extension arm rearward of the back wall, the extension arm connected to the spigot and including an upwardly extending section, whereby a user may operate the spigot between the fully open position and the fully closed position by rotating the upwardly extending section of the extension arm. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 16  wherein the spigot is at the reservoir back wall. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  further comprising a cover member configured to cover at least a portion of the reservoir opening. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 18  wherein the cover member is configured to cover all of the reservoir opening. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 18  wherein the vacuum recovery tank includes a support surface, and the reservoir includes a support surface, the reservoir support surface supporting the vacuum recovery tank support surface when the cover and the wet vacuum assembly are removably positioned on the reservoir. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 20  wherein the reservoir support surface contacts the cover member, and the cover member contacts the vacuum recovery tank support surface. 
     
     
         22 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  further comprising a pump-and-chemical-injection assembly removably positionable on the reservoir. 
     
     
         23 . The multi-functional cleaning and floor care system of  claim 1  further comprising a power supply assembly including a battery, the power supply assembly removably positionable on the reservoir.