Water soluable package for a floor cleaner

Abstract

A floor cleaner includes a handle, a body, a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, and a supply tank coupled to the body. The supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width and a fluid disposed therein. A water soluble package includes a cleaning solution disposed therein and is inserted within the supply tank to combine with the fluid disposed therein to form a cleaning fluid. A distribution nozzle is in communication with the supply tank and disperses the cleaning fluid towards a ground surface. The package has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height. The package folds from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floor cleaner comprising:
 a supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width, the supply tank configured to store a fluid;   a water soluble package having a cleaning solution, the water soluble package configured to be inserted within the supply tank and combine with the fluid stored in the supply tank to form a cleaning fluid; and   a distribution nozzle in communication with the supply tank, the distribution nozzle configured to disperse the cleaning fluid toward a surface;   wherein the water soluble package has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height,   wherein the water soluble package folds from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width.   
     
     
         2 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening width is in a range from 20 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening width is greater than 50 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening is circular, and wherein the inlet opening width is a diameter of the inlet opening. 
     
     
         5 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble package includes a film defining a first compartment having a first cleaning solution and a second compartment having a second cleaning solution that is different than the first cleaning solution. 
     
     
         6 . The floor cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the water soluble package includes a first fold line positioned between the first and second compartments. 
     
     
         7 . The floor cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the first cleaning solution includes a liquid ingredient and the second cleaning solution includes a powder ingredient. 
     
     
         8 . The floor cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the powder ingredient includes one or more of a surfactant, a PH adjuster, and a preservative. 
     
     
         9 . The floor cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid ingredient includes one or more of a surfactant and a fragrance. 
     
     
         10 . The floor cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the water soluble package includes a third compartment having a third cleaning solution. 
     
     
         11 . The floor cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the first and the third compartments have a first geometry and the second compartment have a second geometry that is different than the first geometry. 
     
     
         12 . The floor cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the third cleaning solution is the same as either the first cleaning solution or the second cleaning solution. 
     
     
         13 . The floor cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the water soluble package includes a first fold line positioned between the first and second compartments and a second fold line positioned between the second compartment and the third compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The floor cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the second compartment is positioned between the first and third compartments. 
     
     
         15 . The floor cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a vacuum source,   a suction inlet fluid communication with the vacuum source, and   a recovery tank, the recovery tank configured to store the cleaning solution drawn through the suction inlet from the surface by the vacuum source.   
     
     
         16 .- 20 . (canceled)