Accessory tool assembly for use with extraction cleaners

Abstract

An accessory tool assembly adapted to couple with a hose of an extraction cleaner including a suction source includes a tool head and at least one fluid distributor for supplying and directing a cleaning fluid therethrough. The tool head includes a front end and a rear end opposed to the front end, wherein a longitudinal direction extends through the front and rear ends and a transverse direction extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The tool head includes a working surface on an underside of the front end that defines a working surface edge. A plurality of agitators extend from the working surface adjacent to at least a portion of the working surface edge and define a first interior area therewithin. An extraction nozzle is positioned in the first interior area and defines at least a portion of a suction air inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessory tool assembly adapted to couple with a hose of an extraction cleaner including a suction source, the accessory tool assembly comprising:
 a tool head, comprising:
 a front end and a rear end opposed to the front end, wherein a longitudinal direction extends through the front and rear ends and a transverse direction extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, further wherein the rear end is configured to fluidly couple with the hose of the extraction cleaner; 
 a working surface on an underside of the front end; 
 a plurality of agitators extending from the working surface defining a first interior area therewithin; and 
 an extraction nozzle positioned in the first interior area and defining a suction air inlet, wherein the suction air inlet includes a longitudinal portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and a transverse portion that extends in the transverse direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tool head includes an internal cavity that is configured to receive at least one fluid distributor carried by a hose of an extraction cleaner upon insertion of a distal end of the hose. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the internal cavity defines an opening that is disposed adjacent and rearward of the suction air inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fluid distributor for supplying and directing a cleaning fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one fluid distributor is disposed within the first interior area between the extraction nozzle and the rear end of the tool head. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one fluid distributor comprises a first fluid distributor and a second fluid distributor. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tool head further comprises a wall extending from the working surface, thereby forming at least a portion of the extraction nozzle and at least partially surrounding the suction air inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of crenulations are formed in a distal edge of the wall. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of agitators includes a V-shaped profile as viewed along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         10 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suction air inlet is one of T-shaped or cruciform-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The accessory tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of agitators further include a first set of agitators disposed on the first interior area and a second set of agitators extending along the working surface edge, wherein the first set of agitators include a different shape from the second set of agitators. 
     
     
         12 . A surface cleaner, comprising:
 a fluid delivery system comprising at least one fluid conduit fluidly coupled with at least one fluid distributor for supplying cleaning fluid to a surface being cleaned;   a recovery system including a suction hose fluidly coupled with a recovery tank and a suction source for extracting fluid and debris from the surface; and   an accessory tool assembly comprising:
 a front end and a rear end opposed to the front end, wherein a longitudinal direction extends through the front and rear ends and a transverse direction extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, further wherein the rear end is configured to fluidly couple with the hose of the surface cleaner; 
 a working surface on an underside of the front end; 
 a plurality of agitators extending from the working surface defining a first interior area therewithin; 
 an extraction nozzle positioned on the first interior area, the extraction nozzle defining at least a portion of a suction air inlet, wherein the extraction nozzle and the suction air inlet include a longitudinal portion that extends in the longitudinal direction; and 
 an internal cavity that is configured to receive a distal end of the suction hose. 
   
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the internal cavity defines an opening configured to permit fluids to be dispensed onto a surface therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the internal cavity is configured to receive at least one fluid distributor carried by the suction hose. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one fluid distributor includes an intermediate channel that is tangential to a fluid conduit such that a flow of fluid through the fluid conduit changes direction at the intermediate channel. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one fluid distributor comprises a first fluid distributor and a second fluid distributor. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the extraction nozzle and the suction air inlet include a transverse portion that extends in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the accessory tool assembly further comprises a wall extending from the working surface, thereby forming at least a portion of the extraction nozzle and at least partially surrounding the suction air inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein a plurality of crenulations are formed in a distal edge of the wall. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaner of  claim 12 , comprising at least one fluid distributor disposed within the first interior area between the extraction nozzle and the rear end of the accessory tool assembly.