Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a housing with an upright assembly and a base assembly moveably mounted to the upright assembly. The upright assembly includes at least two sections that are operably coupled together to form a T-shaped stalk. A fluid distributor is provided in the base assembly in fluid communication with a fluid container. A working air path is defined through the housing. A recovery container is provided on the housing and in line with the working air path. A suction source is provided on the housing and in line with the working air path and a suction nozzle is fluidly coupled with the suction source. A container receiver is disposed on the T-shaped stalk. The container receiver supports the fluid container and is nested within a recess defined by the recovery container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing including an upright assembly and a base assembly moveably mounted to the upright assembly, the upright assembly comprising at least two sections operably coupled together to form a T-shaped stalk;   a fluid distributor provided in the base assembly in fluid communication with a fluid container;   a working air path defined through the housing;   a recovery container provided on the housing and in line with the working air path;   a suction source provided on the housing and in line with the working air path, wherein a suction nozzle is fluidly coupled with the suction source; and   a container receiver disposed on the T-shaped stalk, wherein the container receiver supports the fluid container and is nested within a recess defined by the recovery container.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two sections comprise an upper section having a handgrip, an intermediate section, and a lower section having a set of wheels. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the T-shaped stalk includes a rearwardly-extending pivoting pedal. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the T-shaped stalk includes a forwardly-extending arm that at least partially supports the base assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two sections includes a flexible latch and another of the at least two sections includes a receiver adapted to receive the flexible latch. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible latch includes a catch having a first profile and the receiver includes a recess or opening having a complementary profile adapted to receive the catch therein. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a valve operable between a closed position and an opened position for providing fluid from the fluid container to the fluid distributor and an actuator for selectively opening the valve.   
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator comprises a push rod configured to selectively open the valve and a user-engageable trigger operably connected to the push rod. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the push rod is a multi-segment push rod. 
     
     
         10 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing including an upright assembly having a stalk with at least two segments that connect via a fastenerless engagement;   a base mounted to the upright assembly and adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned;   a multi-segmented push rod extending through the stalk;   a working air path defined through the housing;   a recovery container provided on the housing and defining a portion of the working air path;   a suction source provided on the housing and defining a portion of the working air path; and   a container receiver disposed on the stalk, wherein the container receiver supports a fluid container and is nested within a recess defined by the recovery container.   
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the fastenerless engagement of the at least two segments occurs via snap-fit connection. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the stalk includes one inverted T-shaped configuration, and wherein a first arm of the inverted T-shaped configuration extends forwardly from the stalk and a second arm of the inverted T-shaped configuration extends rearwardly from the stalk. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the second arm includes a pedal provided in the housing and configured to selectively allow pivotal motion of the upright assembly with respect to a base assembly until released. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a sliding latch operably coupled to the pedal and moveable between a locked position and a released position; and   a biasing mechanism configured to bias the sliding latch into the locked position.   
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the pedal further comprises an actuating surface coupled to an axle via a first arm member and a second arm member extending away from the axle, the second arm member including a portion that is operably coupled to the sliding latch. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the stalk defines a lower rear recess, and wherein the pedal is disposed within the lower rear recess. 
     
     
         17 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing including an upright assembly having a stalk with at least two segments that connect via a snap-fit engagement;   a wheel assembly defining a rotational axis, wherein the stalk includes an inverted T-shaped configuration, and wherein first and second opposing arms of the T-shaped configuration extend orthogonally to the rotational axis of the wheel assembly;   a base mounted to the upright assembly and adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned;   a multi-segmented push rod extending through the stalk;   a working air path defined through the housing;   a recovery container provided on the housing and defining a portion of the working air path; and   a suction source provided on the housing and defining a portion of the working air path.   
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second arm of the T-shaped configuration includes a recessed pedal. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first arm of the T-shaped configuration supports the base. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a multi-segmented push rod that extends through the stalk.