Floor cleaner

Abstract

A floor cleaner including a supply tank configured to store a cleaning fluid, a vacuum source, and a base movable over a surface to be cleaned. The base includes a front side, a back side opposite the front side, a suction inlet adjacent the front side of the base and in fluid communication with the vacuum source, and a distribution nozzle in fluid communication with the supply tank. The distribution nozzle is adjacent the front side and configured to dispense the cleaning fluid onto the surface. The distribution nozzle sprays the cleaning solution in a spray pattern beyond the front side of the base in a direction from the back side toward the front side. The base further includes a light directed toward the front side configured to illuminate the spray pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floor cleaner comprising:
 a supply tank configured to store a cleaning fluid;   a vacuum source; and   a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, the base including,
 a front side, 
 a back side opposite the front side, 
 a suction inlet adjacent the front side of the base and in fluid communication with the vacuum source, 
 a distribution nozzle in fluid communication with the supply tank, the distribution nozzle adjacent the front side and configured to dispense the cleaning fluid onto the surface, wherein the distribution nozzle sprays the cleaning solution in a spray pattern beyond the front side of the base in a direction from the back side toward the front side, and 
 a light directed toward the front side configured to illuminate the spray pattern. 
   
     
     
         2 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the light includes a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         3 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator, the actuator operable to control a flow of the cleaning fluid through the distribution nozzle, wherein the light illuminates the spray pattern in response to actuation of the actuator by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the supply tank and the distribution nozzle, wherein the light illuminates the spray pattern in response to operation of the pump. 
     
     
         5 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 a supply conduit that provides fluid communication between the supply tank and the distribution nozzle, and   a flow sensor operable to sense a flow of the cleaning fluid in the supply conduit,   wherein the light illuminates the spray pattern in response to the flow sensor sensing fluid flow in the supply conduit.   
     
     
         6 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the base further includes,
 a brushroll chamber,   a brushroll in the brushroll chamber, the brushroll rotatable about a brushroll axis, and   a brushroll cover releaseably attached to the base, the brushroll cover removable to access the brushroll chamber and the brushroll.   
     
     
         7 . The floor cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein the distribution nozzle is coupled to the brushroll cover and removable with the brushroll cover from the base. 
     
     
         8 . The floor cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein the light is positioned in the base adjacent the brushroll chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The floor cleaner of  claim 8 , further comprising a circuit board having a surface and an edge, the edge uprightly positioned in the base adjacent the front side, wherein the surface extends in a direction from the front side to the back side;
 wherein the light includes a light emitting diode positioned on the circuit board.   
     
     
         10 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle pivotally coupled to the base, the handle pivotable between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position. 
     
     
         11 . The floor cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the supply tank is coupled to the handle for pivotal movement with the handle relative to the base.