Dock for an extraction cleaner and a method of using the same

Abstract

A dock for an extraction cleaner including: (a) a base including (i) a horizontal wall presenting a top surface with a perimeter and (ii) an inner perimeter wall extending upward from the top surface, the inner perimeter wall and the horizontal wall configured to receive an extraction cleaner base; and (b) a tool head cleaning tray comprising (i) a bottom wall and one or more side walls extending upward from the bottom wall of the tool head cleaning tray to define a reservoir for cleaning fluid, (ii) projections extending upward from the bottom wall of the tool head cleaning tray, (iii) an inserted position inserted into a receptacle of the base of the dock, and (iv) a withdrawn position at least partially withdrawn from the receptacle of the base of the dock, the tool head cleaning tray selectively manipulable to, from, and between the inserted position and the withdrawn position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dock for an extraction cleaner comprising:
 a base comprising:
 a horizontal wall presenting a top surface with a perimeter; and 
 an inner perimeter wall extending upward from at least a portion of the top surface of the horizontal wall, the inner perimeter wall and the horizontal wall configured to receive a base of an extraction cleaner, with the top surface of the horizontal wall facing the base of the extraction cleaner and the inner perimeter wall at least partially surrounding the base of the extraction cleaner; and 
   a tool head cleaning tray comprising (i) a bottom wall and one or more side walls extending upward from the bottom wall of the tool head cleaning tray to define a reservoir for cleaning fluid, (ii) projections extending upward from the bottom wall of the tool head cleaning tray, (iii) an inserted position inserted into a receptacle of the base of the dock, and (iv) a withdrawn position at least partially withdrawn from the receptacle of the base of the dock, the tool head cleaning tray selectively manipulable to, from, and between the inserted position and the withdrawn position.   
     
     
         2 . The dock of  claim 1 , wherein
 the horizontal wall of the base of the dock comprises a plurality of venting apertures therethrough, and   in the inserted position, the reservoir of the tool head cleaning tray is disposed below, and exposed to, the plurality of venting apertures.   
     
     
         3 . The dock of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner perimeter wall of the base of the dock comprises a discontinuity, and   the tool head cleaning tray comprises a handle with an inward facing surface that fills the discontinuity and is flush with the inner perimeter wall of the base of the dock adjacent to the discontinuity when the tool head cleaning tray is in the inserted position.   
     
     
         4 . The dock of  claim 1 , wherein
 the base of the dock further comprises (i) a pair of side walls that oppose each other and (ii) a rear wall orthogonal to and contiguous with the pair of side walls, and   in the inserted position, the reservoir of the tool head cleaning tray is disposed forward of the rear wall of the dock, sandwiched between the pair of side walls of the base of the dock, and below the horizontal wall of the base of the dock.   
     
     
         5 . The dock of  claim 4 , wherein
 each of the pair of side walls of the base of the dock comprises a rail system, and   the tool head cleaning tray comprises projections that extend outward from side surfaces of the tool head cleaning tray and that cooperate with the rail system to guide manipulation of the tool head cleaning tray to, from, and between the inserted position and the withdrawn position.   
     
     
         6 . The dock of  claim 1 , wherein
 the base of the dock further comprises an outer perimeter wall joined to the inner perimeter wall at a top edge of the base of the dock at least partially surrounding the inner perimeter wall, the outer perimeter wall extending downward from the top edge to a bottom edge that is elevationally below the horizontal wall.   
     
     
         7 . The dock of  claim 6 , wherein
 the outer perimeter wall of the base of the dock comprises a discontinuity, and   the tool head cleaning tray further comprises a handle with an outward facing surface that fills the discontinuity and is flush with the outer perimeter wall of the base of the dock adjacent to the discontinuity when the tool head cleaning tray is in the inserted position.   
     
     
         8 . The dock of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a tool head receiver disposed outward relative to the inner perimeter wall, the tool head receiver configured to receive selectively a tool head for storage, the tool head receiver selectively detachable from the base of the dock. 
 
     
     
         9 . The dock of  claim 8 , wherein
 the base of the dock further comprises:
 an outer perimeter wall joined to the inner perimeter wall at a top edge of the base of the dock at least partially surrounding the inner perimeter wall, the outer perimeter wall extending downward from the top edge to a bottom edge that is elevationally below the horizontal wall; and 
 a tool head receiver connector extending outward from the outer perimeter wall flush with the bottom edge, the tool head receiver connector configured to selectively receive the tool head receiver. 
   
     
     
         10 . A dock for an extraction cleaner comprising:
 a base comprising
 a horizontal wall presenting a top surface with a perimeter; and 
 an inner perimeter wall extending upward from at least a portion of the top surface of the horizontal wall, the inner perimeter wall and the horizontal wall configured to receive a base of an extraction cleaner, with the top surface of the horizontal wall facing the base of the extraction cleaner and the inner perimeter wall at least partially surrounding the base of the extraction cleaner; and 
   a tool head receiver comprising (i) a base extending outward relative to the inner perimeter wall of the base of the dock and (ii) at least two arms extending outward from the base of the tool head receiver, the at least two arms each terminating with a projection extending upward and configured to receive a tool head for storage.   
     
     
         11 . The dock of  claim 10 , wherein
 the tool head receiver is selectively detachable from the base of the dock.   
     
     
         12 . The dock of  claim 10 , wherein
 the base of the dock further comprises an outer perimeter wall joined to the inner perimeter wall at a top edge of the base of the dock at least partially surrounding the inner perimeter wall, the outer perimeter wall extending downward from the top edge to a bottom edge that is elevationally below the horizontal wall.   
     
     
         13 . The dock of  claim 12 , wherein
 the base of the tool head receiver extends outward from the outer perimeter wall of the base of the dock and comprises a bottom edge flush with the bottom edge of the outer perimeter wall, and   at least two arms of the tool head receiver each comprising a bottom edge flush with the bottom edge of the base of the dock.   
     
     
         14 . The dock of  claim 12 , wherein
 the base of the dock further comprises a tool head receiver connector extending outward from the outer perimeter wall flush with the bottom edge of the base of the dock, the tool head receiver connector configured to receive selectively the tool head receiver.   
     
     
         15 . The dock of  claim 14 , wherein
 the tool head receiver connector comprises (i) a base extending outward from the outer perimeter wall of the base of the dock and (ii) a projection extending upward from the base of the tool head receiver, the projection shaped to detachably join with the tool head receiver.   
     
     
         16 . The dock of  claim 15 , wherein
 the base of the tool head receiver comprises a receiver to detachably join with the projection of the tool head receiver connector.   
     
     
         17 . A dock for an extraction cleaner comprising:
 a base including a receptacle and venting apertures in fluid communication with the receptacle; and   a tool head cleaning tray that can be inserted into the receptacle of the base during non-use of the tool head cleaning tray and at least partially withdrawn from the receptacle of the base during use to clean a tool head of an extraction cleaner, the tool head cleaning tray comprising a reservoir for cleaning fluid and debris loosened from the tool head and projections to assist in loosening the debris from the tool head.   
     
     
         18 . The dock of  claim 17 , wherein
 when the tool head cleaning tray is inserted into the receptacle of the base, the venting apertures are disposed above the reservoir of the tool head cleaning tray.   
     
     
         19 . The dock of  claim 17 , wherein
 when the tool head cleaning tray is inserted into the receptacle of the base, the venting apertures are positioned to permit residual moisture within the reservoir to evaporate therefrom through the venting apertures.   
     
     
         20 . The dock of  claim 17 , wherein
 the base further comprises a horizontal wall positioned to accept an extraction cleaner thereupon,   the venting apertures are through the horizontal wall, and   when the tool head cleaning tray is inserted into the receptacle of the base during non-use of the tool head cleaning tray, the horizontal wall is disposed above the reservoir of the tool head cleaning tray.