Apparatus and method for cleaning hard surface flooring

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is directed to a portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning hard surface flooring may have a cleaning-liquid-dispensing-and-vacuum-recovery tank, a spigot fluidly connected to the tank, and a vacuum motor assembly fluidly connected to the tank. The tank may define an interior space operable to hold cleaning liquid and soil. The tank may have a liquid dispensing outlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space, and a vacuum recovery inlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space. The spigot may be fluidly connected to the tank interior space via the liquid dispensing outlet. The spigot also may be manually adjustable through a range between a fully open position and a fully closed position, whereby when the tank contains cleaning liquid, a user may dispense and regulate the flow of cleaning liquid from the tank through the spigot onto hard surface flooring by manually adjusting the spigot. The vacuum motor assembly may be fluidly connected to the tank interior space, whereby a user may vacuum soil and dispensed cleaning liquid from hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet. Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method of cleaning hard surface flooring with a portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus in which cleaning liquid is dispensed from, vacuumed into, and re-dispensed from a single tank of the cleaning apparatus onto hard surface flooring. The method may include: filling at least a portion of the tank interior space with a cleaning liquid; dispensing at least a portion of the cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a first area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot; vacuuming soil and at least some of the portion of the dispensed cleaning liquid from the first area of hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet, thereby removing soil and recovering cleaning liquid from the first area of hard surface flooring; and dispensing at least a portion of the recovered cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a second area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot. If desired, the method may include vacuuming soil and at least some of the portion of the dispensed cleaning liquid from the second area of hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet, thereby removing soil and recovering cleaning liquid from the second area of hard surface flooring. If desired, the method may include manually spreading or agitating cleaning liquid on at least one of the first or second areas of hard surface flooring during or following the dispensing step for the at least one of the first or second areas. A further aspect of the invention is directed to another method of cleaning hard surface flooring with a portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus in which cleaning liquid is dispensed from, vacuumed into, and re-dispensed from a single tank of the cleaning apparatus onto hard surface flooring. The method may include: filling at least a portion of the tank interior space with a cleaning liquid; dispensing at least a portion of the cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a first area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot; dispensing at least a portion of the cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a second area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot; vacuuming soil and at least some of the portion of the dispensed cleaning liquid from at least one of the first and second areas of hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet, thereby removing soil and recovering cleaning liquid from the at least one of the first and second areas of hard surface flooring; and dispensing at least a portion of the recovered cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a third area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot. If desired, the method may include vacuuming soil and at least some of the portion of the recovered cleaning liquid from the third area of hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery suction inlet, thereby removing soil and recovering cleaning liquid from the third area of hard surface flooring. If desired, the method may include manually spreading or agitating cleaning liquid on at least one of the first, second, or third areas of hard surface flooring during or following the dispensing step for the at least one of the first, second, or third areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of cleaning hard surface flooring with a portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus in which cleaning liquid is dispensed from, vacuumed into, and re-dispensed from a single tank of the cleaning apparatus onto hard surface flooring, comprising the steps of:
 providing a portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a cleaning-liquid-dispensing-and-vacuum-recovery tank, the tank defining an interior space operable to hold cleaning liquid and soil, the tank including a liquid dispensing outlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space, and a vacuum recovery inlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space; 
 a spigot fluidly connected to the tank interior space via the liquid dispensing outlet, the spigot manually adjustable through a range between a fully open position and a fully closed position, whereby when the tank contains cleaning liquid, a user may dispense and regulate the flow of cleaning liquid from the tank through the spigot onto hard surface flooring by manually adjusting the spigot; and 
 a vacuum motor assembly fluidly connected to the tank interior space, whereby a user may vacuum soil and dispensed cleaning liquid from hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet; 
   filling at least a portion of the tank interior space with a cleaning liquid;   dispensing at least a portion of the cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a first area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot;   vacuuming soil and at least some of the portion of the dispensed cleaning liquid from the first area of hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet, thereby removing soil and recovering cleaning liquid from the first area of hard surface flooring; and   dispensing at least a portion of the recovered cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a second area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of vacuuming soil and at least some of the portion of the dispensed cleaning liquid from the second area of hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet, thereby removing soil and recovering cleaning liquid from the second area of hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of manually spreading or agitating cleaning liquid on at least one of the first or second areas of hard surface flooring during or following the dispensing step for the at least one of the first or second areas. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing steps are performed without the assistance of a pump. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing steps and the vacuuming step are performed non-simultaneously. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus further includes a filter in fluid communication with the vacuum recovery inlet, whereby dispensed cleaning liquid that is vacuumed into the tank interior space is filtered before it is re-dispensed onto an area of hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the filter is a bag filter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tank includes a bottom wall, and the bottom wall includes an interior surface that assists in defining the tank interior space, with the tank liquid dispensing outlet positioned above at least a portion of the tank bottom wall interior surface, thereby inhibiting soil that settles on the portion of the tank bottom wall interior surface from passing through the tank liquid dispensing outlet and spigot onto the hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus further includes a floor tool, whereby when the floor tool is fluidly connected to the tank vacuum recovery inlet, a user may perform the vacuuming step using the floor tool. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus further includes a plurality of wheels, whereby a user may manually wheel the apparatus on the hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus further includes a spigot handle connected to the spigot, the spigot handle comprising an elongated upwardly-extending member, whereby a user may manually adjust the spigot by manually rotating the spigot handle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tank further includes a dump outlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space, and the portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus further includes a dump hose fluidly connected to the dump outlet, whereby a user may drain cleaning liquid and soil from the tank interior space into a suitable receptacle or drain via the dump outlet and dump hose. 
     
     
         13 . A method of cleaning hard surface flooring with a portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus in which cleaning liquid is dispensed from, vacuumed into, and re-dispensed from a single tank of the cleaning apparatus onto hard surface flooring, comprising the steps of:
 providing a portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a cleaning-liquid-dispensing-and-vacuum-recovery tank, the tank defining an interior space operable to hold cleaning liquid and soil, the tank including a liquid dispensing outlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space, and a vacuum recovery inlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space; 
 a spigot fluidly connected to the tank interior space via the liquid dispensing outlet, the spigot manually adjustable through a range between a fully open position and a fully closed position, whereby when the tank contains cleaning liquid, a user may dispense and regulate the flow of cleaning liquid from the tank through the spigot onto hard surface flooring by manually adjusting the spigot; and 
 a vacuum motor assembly fluidly connected to the tank interior space, whereby a user may vacuum soil and dispensed cleaning liquid from hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet; 
   filling at least a portion of the tank interior space with a cleaning liquid;   dispensing at least a portion of the cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a first area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot;   dispensing at least a portion of the cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a second area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot;   vacuuming soil and at least some of the portion of the dispensed cleaning liquid from at least one of the first and second areas of hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet, thereby removing soil and recovering cleaning liquid from the at least one of the first and second areas of hard surface flooring; and   dispensing at least a portion of the recovered cleaning liquid from the tank interior space onto a third area of hard surface flooring via the liquid dispensing outlet and the spigot by manually adjusting the spigot.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of vacuuming soil and at least some of the portion of the recovered cleaning liquid from the third area of hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery suction inlet, thereby removing soil and recovering cleaning liquid from the third area of hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of manually spreading or agitating cleaning liquid on at least one of the first, second, or third areas of hard surface flooring during or following the dispensing step for the at least one of the first, second, or third areas. 
     
     
         16 . A portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning hard surface flooring, comprising:
 a cleaning-liquid-dispensing-and-vacuum-recovery tank, the tank defining an interior space operable to hold cleaning liquid and soil, the tank further including a liquid dispensing outlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space, and a vacuum recovery inlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space;   a spigot fluidly connected to the tank interior space via the liquid dispensing outlet, the spigot manually adjustable through a range between a fully open position and a fully closed position, whereby when the tank contains cleaning liquid, a user may dispense and regulate the flow of cleaning liquid from the tank through the spigot onto hard surface flooring by manually adjusting the spigot; and   a vacuum motor assembly fluidly connected to the tank interior space, whereby a user may vacuum soil and dispensed cleaning liquid from hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet.   
     
     
         17 . The portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the apparatus does not include a pump to assist in dispensing cleaning liquid from the tank onto an area of hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         18 . The portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  further including a filter in fluid communication with the vacuum recovery inlet of the tank, whereby dispensed cleaning liquid that is vacuumed into the tank interior space is filtered before it is re-dispensed onto an area of hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         19 . The portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the filter is a bag filter. 
     
     
         20 . The portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the tank includes a bottom wall, and the bottom wall includes an interior surface that assists in defining the tank interior space, with the tank liquid dispensing outlet positioned above at least a portion of the tank bottom wall interior surface, thereby inhibiting soil that settles on the portion of the tank bottom wall interior surface from passing through the tank liquid dispensing outlet and spigot onto the hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         21 . The portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  further including a floor tool, whereby when the floor tool is fluidly connected to the tank vacuum recovery inlet, a user may vacuum soil and dispensed cleaning liquid into the tank interior space using the floor tool. 
     
     
         22 . The portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  further including a plurality of wheels, whereby a user may manually wheel the apparatus on the hard surface flooring. 
     
     
         23 . The portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  further including a spigot handle connected to the spigot, the spigot handle comprising an elongated upwardly-extending member, whereby a user may manually adjust the spigot by manually rotating the spigot handle. 
     
     
         24 . The portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the tank further includes a dump outlet fluidly connected to the tank interior space, and the portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus further includes a dump hose fluidly connected to the dump outlet, whereby a user may drain cleaning liquid and soil from the tank interior space into a suitable receptacle or drain via the dump outlet and dump hose.