Surface cleaner

Abstract

A surface cleaner ( 10 ) includes a main body ( 12 ), a base ( 14 ), and a column ( 18 ) extending from the base. A supply tank ( 42 ) extends around a first portion of the column. A first end of the supply tank is on a first side of the column. A second end of the supply tank is on a second side of the column. A recovery tank ( 46 ) extends around a second portion of the column. A first end of the recovery tank is on the first side of the column. A second end of the recovery tank is on the second side of the column. The first end of the supply tank is adjacent the first end of the recovery tank. The second end of the supply tank is spaced from the second end of the recovery tank. A battery ( 98 ) is coupled to the main body between the second ends of the supply and recovery tanks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 a main body having a base that supports the surface cleaner on a surface, the main body including a column extending from the base in a direction away from the surface and a handle positioned on an upper surface of the column opposite the base;   a supply tank removably coupled to and supported by the base, the supply tank extending around a first portion of the column when the supply tank is coupled to the base such that a first end of the supply tank is disposed on a first side of the column and a second end of the supply tank is disposed on a second side of the column;   a recovery tank removably coupled to and supported by the base, the recovery tank extending around a second portion of the column when the recovery tank is coupled to the base such that a first end of the recovery tank is disposed on the first side of the column and a second end of the recovery tank is disposed on the second side of the column; and   a battery removably coupled to and supported by the main body, the battery extending along a third portion of the column,   wherein the first end of the supply tank is positioned adjacent the first end of the recovery tank, wherein the second end of the supply tank is spaced apart from the second end of the recovery tank, and wherein the battery is disposed between the second end of the supply tank and the second end of the recovery tank.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the handle extends from the upper surface of the column above the supply tank and the recovery tank. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the battery includes an actuator configured to be grasped by a user to remove the battery from the main body, and wherein the actuator is disposed closer to the handle than the base when the battery is coupled to the main body. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a user graspable portion, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the user graspable portion is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the column. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the supply tank forms an outer rear wall of the surface cleaner and the recovery tank forms an outer front wall of the surface cleaner, the outer front wall positioned opposite the outer rear wall along a horizontal longitudinal axis of the surface cleaner, wherein the longitudinal axis of the user graspable portion and the horizontal longitudinal axis of the surface cleaner define a plane, and wherein the battery is not intersected by the plane. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein an insertion direction of the battery extends along the plane. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the user graspable portion is transverse to an insertion direction of the battery. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 7 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the column is along the insertion direction of the battery. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the battery is removably coupled to and supported by the column. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a battery facing surface that faces a lowermost surface of the battery when the battery is coupled to the main body, wherein the base includes a recovery tank support surface that supports a lowermost surface of the recovery tank when the recovery tank is coupled to the base, and wherein the battery facing surface is sloped toward the recovery tank support surface. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the battery facing surface is sloped toward the column. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 10 , wherein the battery facing surface is farther from the base along a longitudinal axis of the column than the recovery tank support surface. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the recovery tank includes a lid defining a top surface of the recovery tank, and wherein a top surface of the battery extends above the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the supply tank is positioned closer to a center of the column than the second end of the supply tank. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the first end of the recovery tank is positioned closer to the center of the column than the second end of the recovery tank. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the column includes a well proximate the third portion to form an opening between a portion of the column and the battery, the well configured to allow a user to grasp the battery. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery tank includes a notch proximate the battery to form an opening between a portion of the recovery tank and the battery, wherein the supply tank includes a notch proximate the battery to form an opening between a portion of the supply tank and the battery, and wherein the opening between the recovery tank and the battery and the opening between the supply tank and the battery are configured to allow a user to grasp the battery. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the notch in the recovery tank is formed in a top surface of the recovery tank, and wherein the notch in the supply tank is formed in a top surface of the supply tank. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 17 , wherein the upper surface of the column includes a well proximate the third portion to form an opening between a portion of the column and the battery, and wherein the well, the notch in the supply tank, and the notch in the recovery tank form a relief opening to allow a user to grasp the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning tool coupled to the main body, and a suction source disposed within the main body and in fluid communication with the cleaning tool, wherein the suction source is powered by the battery. 
     
     
         21 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply tank, the recovery tank, and the battery substantially form a perimeter of the surface cleaner. 
     
     
         22 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion form a perimeter of the column. 
     
     
         23 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a battery cover rotatably coupled to the main body, the battery cover rotatable between an open position in which the battery is accessible by a user and a closed position. 
     
     
         24 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a task light configured to emit light forward of the outer front wall, the task light positioned to be intersected by a plane defined by the horizontal longitudinal axis and a vertical longitudinal axis of the surface cleaner. 
     
     
         25 . The surface cleaner of  claim 24 , wherein the task light incudes at least one LED. 
     
     
         26 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 24 , wherein the task light is integrated into the base. 
     
     
         27 . The surface cleaner according to  claim 5 , wherein the battery forms at least a portion of an outer side wall of the surface cleaner, the side wall positioned between the outer front wall and the outer rear wall.