Floor cleaner

Abstract

A floor cleaner includes a hose port in an upper wall of a nozzle, the hose port is located at an elevation between an outlet of the suction nozzle and an inlet of the suction nozzle. A cover for the hose port is movable relative to the suction nozzle between an open position and a closed position. The floor cleaner further includes a hose including a connector, the connector insertable into the hose port when the cover is in the open position to removably couple the hose to the hose port and provide fluid communication between the hose and a recovery tank through the outlet of the suction nozzle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floor cleaner comprising:
 a base configured to engage a surface to be cleaned;   a suction nozzle on the base, the suction nozzle includes an inlet, an outlet, an upper wall, and a lower wall spaced from the upper wall to form a fluid passageway that extends from the inlet to the outlet;   a recovery tank fluidly connected to the inlet by the fluid passageway, the recovery tank disposed on the base;   a suction source disposed in the base, the suction source in fluid communication with the fluid passageway and the recovery tank, the suction source configured to draw fluid and debris through the fluid passageway of the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank;   a hose port in the upper wall of the nozzle, the hose port located at an elevation between the outlet of the suction nozzle and the inlet of the suction nozzle, and   a cover for the hose port that is movable relative to the suction nozzle between an open position and a closed position; and   a hose including a connector, the connector insertable into the hose port when the cover is in the open position to removably couple the hose to the hose port and provide fluid communication between the hose and the recovery tank through the outlet of the suction nozzle;   wherein the suction nozzle includes a side wall between the upper wall and the lower wall, wherein the side wall supportingly engages the hose connector.   
     
     
         2 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the suction nozzle is removably coupled to the base. 
     
     
         3 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the hose port is at an elevation between the outlet of the suction nozzle and the surface to be cleaned when the base is positioned on the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         4 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery tank includes an inlet and the outlet of the suction nozzle engages the inlet of the recovery tank to provide fluid communication between the suction nozzle, the hose, and the recovery tank. 
     
     
         5 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the connector of the hose is perpendicular to the upper wall of the suction nozzle when the connector is received in the hose port. 
     
     
         6 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the hose port includes a guide channel that extends in a direction from the upper wall of the nozzle toward the lower wall of the nozzle, wherein the connector of the hose includes a rail that slides into the guide channel when the connector is inserted into the hose port to removably couple the hose to the hose port. 
     
     
         7 . The floor cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein the guide channel is formed in the side wall. 
     
     
         8 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a supply tank, wherein the base includes a fluid supply port in fluid communication with the supply tank, wherein the connector includes a fluid supply connector insertable into the fluid supply port when the cover is in the open position to removably couple the fluid supply connector to the fluid supply port and provide fluid communication between the supply tank and the fluid supply connector. 
     
     
         9 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a hook, and wherein the connector of the hose includes a latch that engages the hook of the base to retain the connector within the hose port, and wherein the cover hides the hook when the cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the suction source is disposed in the base below the outlet of the suction nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a portion that blocks the fluid passageway between the nozzle inlet and the hose connector. 
     
     
         12 . A floor cleaner comprising:
 a base configured to engage a surface to be cleaned;   a suction nozzle on the base, the suction nozzle includes an inlet, an outlet, an upper wall, and a lower wall spaced from the upper wall to form a fluid passageway that extends from the inlet to the outlet;   a recovery tank fluidly connected to the inlet by the fluid passageway, the recovery tank disposed on the base;   a suction source disposed in the base, the suction source in fluid communication with the fluid passageway and the recovery tank, the suction source configured to draw fluid and debris through the fluid passageway of the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank;   a hose port in the upper wall of the nozzle;   a cover for the hose port that is movable relative to the suction nozzle between an open position and a closed position; and   a hose including a connector, the connector insertable into the hose port when the cover is in the open position to removably couple the hose to the hose port and provide fluid communication between the hose and the recovery tank through the outlet of the suction nozzle,   wherein the hose port includes a guide channel that extends in a direction from the upper wall of the nozzle toward the lower wall of the nozzle, wherein the connector of the hose includes a rail that slides into the guide channel when the connector is inserted into the hose port to removably couple the hose to the hose port.   
     
     
         13 . The floor cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the suction nozzle includes a side wall between the upper wall and the lower wall, wherein the guide channel is formed in a side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The floor cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the guide channel includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the guide channel includes an opening in the upper wall of the nozzle that receives the rail of the connector. 
     
     
         15 . The floor cleaner of  claim 12 , further comprising a second guide channel that extends in a direction from the upper wall of the nozzle toward the lower wall of the nozzle, wherein the connector of the hose includes a second rail that slides into the second guide channel when the connector is inserted into the hose port to removably couple the hose to the hose port. 
     
     
         16 . The floor cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the suction nozzle includes a second side wall between the upper wall and the lower wall, wherein the second guide channel is formed in a second side wall. 
     
     
         17 . The floor cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the connector includes a portion that blocks the fluid passageway between the nozzle inlet and the hose connector. 
     
     
         18 . A floor cleaner comprising:
 a base configured to engage a surface to be cleaned, the base including a distribution nozzle;   a supply tank in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle;   a handle pivotally coupled to the base;   a suction nozzle on the base, the suction nozzle includes an inlet, an outlet, an upper wall, and a lower wall spaced from the upper wall to form a fluid passageway that extends from the inlet to the outlet;   a hose port in the upper wall of the nozzle;   a recovery tank fluidly connected to the inlet by the fluid passageway; and   a suction source disposed in the base below the outlet of the suction nozzle, the suction source in fluid communication with the fluid passageway and the recovery tank, the suction source configured to draw fluid and debris through the fluid passageway of the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank.   
     
     
         19 . The floor cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein the outlet of the suction nozzle includes an outlet axis that extends centrally through the outlet and perpendicular to the outlet, wherein the outlet axis extends through the suction source. 
     
     
         20 . The floor cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein the suction source includes a motor and a fan. 
     
     
         21 . The floor cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein the base includes an agitator configured to engage the surface to be cleaned, wherein the agitator is below the suction nozzle. 
     
     
         22 . The floor cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein the suction source is between the surface to be cleaned and the outlet of the suction nozzle when the base is positioned on the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         23 . The floor cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein the recovery tank is disposed on the base, and wherein the recovery tank includes an inlet and the outlet of the suction nozzle engages the inlet of the recovery tank to provide fluid communication between the suction nozzle, the hose, and the recovery tank.