Surface cleaning apparatus and tray

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned. The surface cleaning apparatus can dock within a storage tray and charge a power supply. Electrical contacts on the surface cleaning apparatus and the storage tray can be shielded when the surface cleaning apparatus is not docked within the storage tray. Furthermore, the storage tray can include a reservoir for a self-cleaning mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cordless surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing;   a recovery system comprising a suction nozzle provided with the housing, a selectively removable recovery tank, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream;   a fluid delivery system comprising a selectively removable supply tank and a fluid distributor provided with the housing;   an agitator selectively provided with the housing;   a rechargeable battery configured to selectively supply power to the suction source for cordless operation of the cordless surface cleaning apparatus; and   charging contacts operably coupled with the rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         2 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a moveable cover operably coupled to the housing and adapted to make the charging contacts inaccessible when the moveable cover is in a closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery is selectively removable. 
     
     
         4 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery housing and wherein the battery housing includes the charging contacts. 
     
     
         5 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises an upright body including a main support section and a base that is operably coupled with the upright body. 
     
     
         6 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the selectively removable recovery tank is located on a forward side of the main support section and the rechargeable battery is located rearwardly of the selectively removable recovery tank. 
     
     
         7 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the upright body is pivotally coupled to the base and wherein the suction nozzle is in fluid communication with the selectively removable recovery tank through a conduit and the conduit is flexible to accommodate pivotal movement of the upright body in relation to the base. 
     
     
         8 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the selectively removable recovery tank comprises:
 a container forming a collection chamber for the recovery system, the container defining an open top;   a tank inlet formed at a lower end of the container;   a hollow standpipe extending upwardly from the tank inlet and comprising a pipe outlet at an upper end thereof; and   a lid assembly sized for receipt on the container and at least partially enclosing the open top, the lid assembly including an air outlet and supporting a filter at the air outlet.   
     
     
         9 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an agitator motor operably coupled to the agitator and electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and a pump fluidly coupling the selectively removeable supply tank and the fluid distributor and the pump is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         10 . A cordless surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 an upright body comprising a handle and a frame, the frame comprising a main support section supporting a selectively removable supply tank and a selectively removable recovery tank;   a base operably coupled with a lower end of the upright body, a suction nozzle provided with the base;   a recovery system comprising the suction nozzle, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream, and the selectively removable recovery tank;   a fluid delivery system comprising the selectively removable supply tank and a fluid distributor provided on the base;   an agitator selectively receivable within the base;   a battery housing provided at a rearward portion of the upright body; and   a battery selectively receivable within a portion of the battery housing and configured to selectively supply power to the suction source.   
     
     
         11 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the battery is electrically couplable to a power source exterior the cordless surface cleaning apparatus and configured to supply a recharging power supply to the battery such that the battery is defined as a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         12 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the battery housing is integral with the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the selectively removable recovery tank is located on a forward side of the main support section, and wherein the battery is located rearwardly of the selectively removable recovery tank. 
     
     
         14 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising an agitator motor provided in the base and operably coupled to the agitator and electrically coupled to the battery, and wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises a pump fluidly coupling the selectively removeable supply tank and the fluid distributor and the pump is electrically coupled to the battery. 
     
     
         15 . The cordless surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one first charging contact provided on an exterior of the battery housing and electrically coupled to the battery. 
     
     
         16 . A cleaning system, comprising:
 the cordless surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 15 ; and   a cleaning tray, comprising a tray body configured to at least partially underlie at least a portion of the housing.   
     
     
         17 . The cleaning system of  claim 16  wherein the cleaning tray further comprises a charging unit comprising at least one second charging contact located on a portion of the tray body and corresponding to the at least one first charging contact, and wherein the charging unit and the battery housing include complimentary shapes. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one first charging contact is electrically coupled to the at least one second charging contact when the cordless surface cleaning apparatus is docked within the cleaning tray. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning system of  claim 18 , wherein the cleaning tray is electrically couplable to a power source configured to operably couple and charge the battery of the cordless surface cleaning apparatus through the at least one first charging contact and the at least one second charging contact. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the at least one first charging contact or the at least one second charging contact can be shielded and uncovered by a retractable charging contact cover or a moveable tray cover operably coupled to the tray body, respectively.