Surface cleaner including forward-facing liquid tanks

Abstract

A surface cleaner including a base; a handle assembly coupled to the base and configured to move the base along a surface in at least a forward direction and a rearward direction; a steam generating device configured to receive water and generate steam; a nozzle disposed on the base and in fluid communication with the steam generating device, the nozzle configured to receive steam from the steam generating device and dispense the steam onto the surface; and a first and second supply tanks coupled to the handle assembly and adapted to contain first and second fluids, respectively, to be distributed onto the surface, each of the first and second supply tanks including forward-facing portions, wherein each of the forward-facing portions is at least partially transparent such that the first and second fluids within the first and second supply tanks, respectively, are visible from a front of the surface cleaner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaner operable to clean a surface, the surface cleaner comprising:
 a base;   a handle assembly coupled to the base and configured to move the base along the surface in at least a forward direction and a rearward direction;   a steam generating device configured to receive water and generate steam;   a nozzle disposed on the base and in fluid communication with the steam generating device, the nozzle configured to receive steam from the steam generating device and dispense the steam onto the surface;   a first supply tank coupled to the handle assembly and adapted to contain a first fluid, the first supply tank being in fluid communication with the nozzle, the first supply tank including a forward-facing portion, wherein the forward-facing portion is at least partially transparent such that the first fluid within the first supply tank is visible from a front of the surface cleaner; and   a second supply tank coupled to the handle assembly and adapted to contain a second fluid, the second supply tank being in fluid communication with the nozzle, the second supply tank including a forward-facing portion, wherein the forward-facing portion is at least partially transparent such that the first fluid within the first supply tank is visible from a front of the surface cleaner.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first supply tank is positioned on a lateral side of the handle assembly and the second supply tank is positioned on the opposite lateral side of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first supply tank is positioned above the second supply tank. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second supply tanks include water. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first supply tank includes water and the second supply tank includes a cleaning solution or a disinfectant. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first supply tank includes a cleaning solution and the second supply tank includes a disinfectant. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction motor and a dirt collection container coupled to the handle assembly and in fluid communication with the suction motor such that the suction motor draws dirt and debris from the surface into the collection container, the collection container including a forward-facing portion, wherein the forward-facing portion is at least partially transparent such that the dirt and debris within the collection container is visible from a front of the surface cleaner. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second supply tanks are integrally formed as a single component. 
     
     
         9 . A steam cleaner operable to clean a surface, the steam cleaner comprising:
 a base configured to dispense steam onto the surface;   a handle assembly coupled to the base and configured to move the base along the surface in at least a forward direction and a rearward direction; and   a first and second supply tanks coupled to the handle assembly and adapted to contain first and second fluids, respectively, to be distributed onto the surface, each of the first and second supply tanks including forward-facing portions, wherein each of the forward-facing portions is at least partially transparent such that the first and second fluids within the first and second supply tanks, respectively, are visible from a front of the surface cleaner.   
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second supply tanks are positioned on opposite lateral sides of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the first supply tank is positioned above the second supply tank. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second supply tanks include water. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the first supply tank includes water and the second supply tank includes a cleaning solution or a disinfectant. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the first supply tank includes a cleaning solution and the second supply tank includes a disinfectant. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9 , further comprising a suction motor and a dirt collection container coupled to the handle assembly and in fluid communication with the suction motor such that the suction motor draws dirt and debris from the surface into the collection container, the collection container including a forward-facing portion, wherein the forward-facing portion is at least partially transparent such that the dirt and debris within the collection container is visible from a front of the surface cleaner. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second supply tanks are integrally formed as a single component. 
     
     
         17 . A surface cleaner operable to clean a surface, the surface cleaner comprising:
 a base;   a handle assembly coupled to the base and configured to move the base along the surface in at least a forward direction and a rearward direction;   a steam generating device configured to receive water and generate steam;   a nozzle disposed on the base and in fluid communication with the steam generating device, the nozzle configured to receive steam from the steam generating device and dispense the steam onto the surface;   a first supply tank coupled to and entirely disposed on a side of the handle assembly and adapted to contain a first fluid, the first supply tank being in fluid communication with the nozzle, the first supply tank including a forward-facing portion, wherein the forward-facing portion is at least partially transparent such that the first fluid within the first supply tank is visible from a front of the surface cleaner; and   a second supply tank coupled to and entirely disposed on an opposite side of the handle assembly and adapted to contain a second fluid, the second supply tank being in fluid communication with the nozzle, the second supply tank including a forward-facing portion, wherein the forward-facing portion is at least partially transparent such that the first fluid within the first supply tank is visible from a front of the surface cleaner.