US 11,812,906 B2
Apparatus for cleaning a surface
Jeffrey A Scholten, Ada, MI (US); Jacob Resch, Grand Rapids, MI (US); Jacob S. Boles, Grand Rapids, MI (US); Bryan Lee Villaroman, Grand Rapids, MI (US); Victoria J. Royale, Charlotte, MI (US); and Timothy R. Lambrix, West Olive, MI (US)
Assigned to BISSELL Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed by BISSELL Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/959,397.
Application 17/959,397 is a continuation of application No. 17/252,596, granted, now 11,490,774, previously published as PCT/US2019/038383, filed on Jun. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/789,661, filed on Jan. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/688,428, filed on Jun. 22, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0023900 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. A47L 11/34 (2006.01); A47L 11/40 (2006.01); G01F 23/80 (2022.01)
CPC A47L 11/34 (2013.01) [A47L 11/4008 (2013.01); A47L 11/4011 (2013.01); A47L 11/4019 (2013.01); A47L 11/4083 (2013.01); G01F 23/80 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned;
a suction source;
a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source;
a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid;
a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and
a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly;
a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container; and
a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container, wherein the sensor assembly includes a self-capacitive sensing system having a plurality of probes and the plurality of probes are conductive pads mounted adjacent the recovery container; and
wherein the plurality of probes are located along a height of the recovery container such that the sensor assembly is configured to sense or detect multiple liquid levels within the recovery container.