Accessory tool for extraction cleaner

Abstract

An accessory tool usable with an extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface includes a tool body, fluid reservoir, and porous spray bar. The tool body defines a fluid pathway, an airflow pathway, and a suction nozzle connected to the airflow pathway, and connects to the extraction cleaner via an accessory hose. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the fluid pathway and carried by the tool body. The porous spray bar, which is coupled to the tool body adjacent the reservoir and surrounded by the nozzle, directs the cleaning fluid from the reservoir onto the surface. The fluid pathway connects via the hose to a fluid delivery system aboard the extraction cleaner to receive the cleaning fluid and direct the cleaning fluid to the reservoir. The airflow pathway connects the suction nozzle via the hose to a fluid recovery system aboard the extraction cleaner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessory tool usable with an extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface, the accessory tool comprising:
 a tool body defining a fluid pathway, an airflow pathway, and a suction nozzle connected to the airflow pathway, wherein the tool body is connectable to said extraction cleaner via an accessory hose, and wherein the airflow pathway is configured to connect the suction nozzle via the accessory hose to a fluid recovery system located aboard said extraction cleaner;   a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid pathway and carried by the tool body, wherein the fluid pathway is configured to connect via the accessory hose to a fluid delivery system located aboard said extraction cleaner to receive a cleaning fluid from the fluid delivery system and direct the cleaning fluid to the fluid reservoir; and   a porous spray bar coupled to the tool body adjacent the fluid reservoir and surrounded by the suction nozzle, the porous spray bar being configured to direct the cleaning fluid from the fluid reservoir onto said surface.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool body includes a foot plate forming a working surface, and wherein the suction nozzle includes a continuous suction channel that opens to the working surface of the foot plate. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory tool of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 one or more agitators connected to or formed integrally with the tool body on the working surface thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the porous spray bar is constructed of a sintered material. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory tool of  claim 4 , wherein the sintered material includes a sintered plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the porous spray bar is a planar bar or plate defining a plurality of orifices extending therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the cleaning fluid through the porous spray bar is at least about 50 milliliters per minute (ml/min). 
     
     
         8 . The accessory tool of  claim 7 , wherein the flow rate of the cleaning fluid through the porous spray bar is less than about 300 ml/min. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool body includes at least one suction relief device configured to selectively reduce suction at the suction nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The accessory tool of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one suction relief device includes a plurality of vent channels intersecting the suction nozzle such that the suction nozzle is in fluid communication with an outer perimeter surface of said accessory tool. 
     
     
         11 . The accessory tool of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one suction relief device includes a plurality of vent holes formed in said accessory tool and a moveable member configured to selectively cover and uncover one or more of the plurality of vent holes. 
     
     
         12 . The accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the porous spray bar is removably connected to the tool body. 
     
     
         13 . An extraction cleaner comprising:
 a housing;   a fluid delivery system carried by the housing and operable for dispensing a cleaning fluid;   a fluid recovery system carried by the body and operable for recovering the cleaning fluid and debris entrained therein;   an accessory hose connectable to said extraction cleaner; and   an accessory tool connectable to the accessory hose, the accessory tool including:
 a tool body having a foot plate, the tool body defining a fluid pathway, an airflow pathway, and a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the airflow pathway, wherein the tool body is configured to connect to the accessory hose to fluidly connect the fluid pathway to the fluid delivery system and to fluidly connect the airflow pathway to the fluid recovery system; 
 a fluid reservoir carried by the tool body and in fluid communication with the fluid pathway such that the fluid reservoir is supplied with the cleaning fluid; and 
 a porous spray bar connected to the tool body adjacent to the fluid reservoir and surrounded by the suction nozzle, wherein the porous spray bar is configured to direct the cleaning fluid from the fluid reservoir onto a surface to be cleaned. 
   
     
     
         14 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said extraction cleaner is an upright extraction cleaner, and wherein the housing is connected to a set of wheels. 
     
     
         15 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said extraction cleaner is a portable extraction cleaner having a handle, and wherein the housing is connected to the handle such that a user carries the housing via the handle. 
     
     
         16 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the foot plate includes a working surface, and wherein the suction nozzle includes a continuous suction channel that opens to the working surface of the foot plate. 
     
     
         17 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 one or more agitators connected to or formed integrally with the tool body on the working surface.   
     
     
         18 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the porous spray bar is constructed of a sintered plastic material or a sintered metal material. 
     
     
         19 . An accessory tool for use with an extraction cleaner and an accessory hose connectable to the extraction cleaner, the accessory tool comprising:
 a tool body defining a fluid pathway, an airflow pathway, and a suction nozzle connected to the airflow pathway, wherein the tool body is configured to connect to said extraction cleaner via said accessory hose and includes a foot plate forming a working surface, the suction nozzle includes a continuous suction channel that opens to the working surface of the foot plate, and the fluid pathway is configured to connect to a fluid delivery system aboard said extraction cleaner via said accessory hose, and wherein the airflow pathway is configured to connect to a fluid recovery system via said accessory hose;   a fluid reservoir carried by the tool body and in fluid communication with the fluid pathway; and   a porous spray bar constructed of a sintered plastic material, connected to the tool body adjacent to the fluid reservoir, and surrounded by the suction nozzle, wherein a flow rate of cleaning fluid through the porous spray bar is at least about 50 milliliters per minute (ml/min) and less than about 300 ml/min.   
     
     
         20 . The accessory tool of  claim 19 , wherein the tool body includes at least one suction relief device configured to selectively reduce suction at the suction nozzle.