Surface treatment device

Abstract

A surface treatment device includes a body and a treatment head for treatment of a surface wherein at least a part of the treatment head is detachable from the body of the device, and replaceable by a treatment head or part of a different configuration from that of the first head or part.

1 . A surface treatment device comprising a body and a treatment head for treatment of a surface wherein at least a part of the treatment head is detachable from the body of the device, and replaceable by a treatment head or part of a different configuration from that of the first said head or part. 
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the treatment head is detachable and replaceable as an assembly. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the treatment head is a cleaning head, and the device being operable to treat a surface by application of a treatment liquid thereto and removal of at least a substantial portion of the liquid therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 3  wherein the cleaning head includes means for applying cleaning liquid to the surface and means for applying suction to the surface to remove the liquid. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4  wherein the cleaning head further comprises an agitator member. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the agitator member is rotatably driveable, and the cleaning head includes a motor for effecting such driving. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6  wherein the motor is spaced from the agitator member and drives the latter by way of a drive train therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7  wherein the drive train includes a drive element extending around respective formations provided on the agitator member and on an output shaft of the motor. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8  wherein the drive element comprises a drive belt. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 6  wherein the agitator member is able to move, in use, upwardly and downwardly relative to a housing of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10  wherein the agitator member is biased to move downwardly relative to the housing, to engage a surface being cleaned. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 10  wherein the agitator member assembly is guided for movement upwardly and downwardly relative to the housing by generally upright guide formations. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 12  wherein spring means is associated with at least some of said formations to effect the biasing. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the motor is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the housing with the agitator assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the agitator member is removable in a transverse direction from the cleaning head. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 15  wherein said removal is able to be effected without the use of tools. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes an openable or removable portion permitting said removal of the agitator member. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the treatment head comprises a suction nozzle through which the treatment liquid may be drawn from a surface being treated. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 18  wherein the suction nozzle has an opening facing a surface being treated, extending transversely of the device to substantially the same width as the cleaning head. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 19  comprising a source of suction for creating a suction airflow to remove liquid from the surface being treated. 
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 1  comprising a recovery tank for receiving liquid removed from the surface being treated. 
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 21  wherein the recovery tank is removable from the body of the device. 
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 22  wherein the recovery tank is disposed in an upper region above the base of the device, and the source of suction is disposed in a part of the base of the device. 
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 23  wherein the recovery tank includes a duct extending downwardly through the tank, to lead to the source of suction. 
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 21  including ducting extending upwardly from the suction nozzle to the recovery tank. 
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 25  wherein the suction airflow enters the recovery tank downwardly, and then flows upwardly within the tank to enter the duct leading to the source of suction. 
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 21  further comprising a supply tank for clean liquid for delivery to a surface being treated. 
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 27  wherein the supply tank is disposed at least partially beneath the recovery tank. 
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the agitator member is supported in a housing within the cleaning head and is removable in a transverse direction from the cleaning head, the housing defining an opening and the cleaning head including an agitator door moveable between an open and a closed position relative to the housing, so as to open and close the opening in the housing wherein the agitator member is removable from the housing when the door is in its open position. 
     
     
         30 . A device according to  claim 29  wherein the agitator door is slideable between its open and closed positions. 
     
     
         31 . A device according to  claim 29  wherein the agitator member includes an end formation disposed adjacent the agitator door when the agitator is within the housing, and the device further including respective retaining formations provided on an outwardly facing surface of the agitator end formation and an inwardly facing surface of the agitator door respectively, configured to resist movement of the agitator door between its open and closed positions. 
     
     
         32 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein the treatment head an agitator member, the agitator member being driven by a motor via a drive formation, wherein the detachable part of the treatment head includes first and second portions, the first portion including the motor and drive formation, and the second portion including the agitator member, such that the second portion includes no electrical components. 
     
     
         33 . A device according to  claim 32 , wherein the agitator member is supported within a housing and is rotatably driveable by a motor via the drive formation, the drive formation being driven by a drive train that includes a drive element extending around respective formations provided on the drive formation and on an output shaft of the motor, the drive formation being engageable with an end of the agitator member so as to transmit rotational drive thereto, wherein the first portion of the treatment head includes the motor, drive train and drive formation, and the second portion includes the housing and agitator member. 
     
     
         34 . A surface treatment device comprising a body having a treatment head for treatment of a surface, and a handle by which a user can move the device over the surface; wherein the handle is at least one of (a) pivotably connected to the body of the device and (b) extensible and contractible in respect of its length. 
     
     
         35 . A device according to  claim 34  in which the handle is pivotably connected to the body of the device, the handle being connected to a rod rotatably held within a sleeve provided on the body of the device, the rod having a generally circular cross-sectional profile with a recessed portion providing an abutment surface adapted to abut a latching member so as to prevent rotation of the rod and of the handle in a first rotational direction when the latching member abuts the abutment surface. 
     
     
         36 . A device according to  claim 35  wherein the latching member is pivotably support on a pin, and wherein the latching member provides a trigger portion operable by a user, such that application of force to the trigger portion by the user causes rotation of the latching member about the pin, causing disengagement of the latching member from the recessed portion of the rod thereby enabling rotation of the rod and of the handle in the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         37 . A device according to  claim 36  wherein the latching member is biased towards engagement with the recessed portion of the rod. 
     
     
         38 . A device according to  claim 36  wherein the trigger portion comprises a handle or a pedal operable by user. 
     
     
         39 . A device according to  claim 36 , in which the recessed portion of the cross-sectional profile of the rod provides a lip configured such that when the latching member is engaged with the recessed portion the lip resists rotational movement of the rod and of the handle in a second opposite rotational direction. 
     
     
         40 . A device according to  claim 39  wherein when the latching member is engaged with the recessed portion the rod and handle are rotatable in the second rotational direction on application of a predetermined force to the handle in the second rotational direction. 
     
     
         41 . A device according to  claim 34  wherein the handle is extensible and contractible in respect of its length, the device including a releasable catch mechanism for holding a selected length setting of the handle. 
     
     
         42 . A device according to  claim 41  wherein the handle is telescopically extendible and contractible. 
     
     
         43 . A device according to  claim 42  wherein the handle comprises two limbs extending substantially parallel to one another, each limb comprising a first and a second element telescopically connected to one another with the first element extending into an interior of the second element, and a bridging member extending transverse between the pair of second elements, and wherein the releasable catch mechanism is provided by the bridging member. 
     
     
         44 . A device according to  claim 43 , wherein the bridging member carries substantially in its interior two oppositely outwardly spring-biased catch members for engagement with pairs of apertures provided in the respective first elements. 
     
     
         45 . A device according to  claim 44 , including a cuff substantially surrounding a portion of the bridging member, wherein the cuff defines a pair of slots adapted to receive a pair of pins connected to respective catch members, configured such that rotation of the cuff about the bridging member causes engagement of the pins with the slots so as to cause each respective pin and connected catch element to move away from its respective aperture so as to disengage the catch member from the aperture, thereby allowing relative movement between the first and second elements. 
     
     
         46 - 49 . (canceled)