Steam cleaner dump bucket

Claim 2

A dump bucket for a steam cleaner, said dump bucket comprising: a. an upwardly open, lower, cup-shaped member having an aperture in the bottom thereof, the upper edge of said upwardly open, lower, cup-shaped member hereinafter being referred to as the lip thereof; b. a hollow riser tube extending upwardly from the aperture in said lower cup-shaped member; c. a downwardly open, upper, cup-shaped member adapted to releasably engage said lower cup-shaped member in an air-tight seal, said upper cup-shaped member having an aperture in the side thereof; d. an L-shaped hollow connector, a first leg of which extends inwardly from the aperture in said upper cup-shaped member and the second leg of which extends upwardly from the first leg, stopping short of but in proximity to the inner surface of the top of said upper cup-shaped member; e. means for supporting the first leg of said L-shaped hollow connector adjacent to and in alignment with said aperture; and f. a diametrically extending strut joint opposite sides of the inner surface of the side of said upper cup-shaped member, whereby, if a vacuum is applied to the aperture in said lower cup-shaped member and a steam cleaner vacuum wand is connected to the exterior end of the first leg of said L-shaped hollow connector, dirty water will be forced through said L-shaped hollow connector and sprayed against the inner surface of the top of said upper cup-shaped member, after which it will run down the sides of said upper and lower cup-shaped members without going down said hollow riser tube.

Claim 3

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said riser tube extends upwardly past the Lip of said lower cup-shaped member.

Claim 4

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper cup-shaped member is, at least in part, transparent.

Claim 5

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper cup-shaped member fits over the lip of said lower cup-shaped member.

Claim 6

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising an inwardly extending annular seal mounted on the inner surface of the side of said upper cup-shaped member, said annular seal being shaped to receive the lip of said lower cup-shaped member.

Claim 7

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said riser tube extends upwardly to the vicinity of the inner surface of said upper cup-shaped member, said strut has an aperture therein, and said riser tube passes through the aperture in said strut.

Claim 8

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 2 wherein said riser tube extend upwardly to the vicinity of the inner surface of said upper cup-shaped member, said strut has an aperture therein, and said riser tube passes through the aperture in said strut.

Claim 9

A dump bucket for a steam cleaner, said dump bucket comprising: a. an upwardly open, lower, cup-shaped member having an aperture in the bottom thereof, the upper edge of said upwardly open, lower, cup-shaped member hereinafter being referred to as the lip thereof; b. a hollow riser tube extending upwardly from the aperture in said lower cup-shaped member; c. a downwardly open, upper, cup-shaped member adapted to releasably engage said lower cup-shaped member in an air-tight seal, said upper cup-shaped member having an aperture in the side thereof; d. a connector; e. means for mounting said connector in the upper cup-shaped member adjacent to and in alignment with said aperture, the combination of said means and said connector constituting a path of fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of said upper cup-shaped member, said connector comprising a generally horizontal portion and a generally vertical portion, the generally vertical portion of said connector having an inner surface portion which is positioned in the path of incoming fluid from the horizontal portion, located within said upper cup-shaped member, and oriented to deflect upwardly fluid coming into said upper cup-shaped member through said connector; and f. a diametrically extending strut joining opposite sides of the inner surface of the top of said upper cup-shaped member whereby, if a vacuum is applied to the aperture in said lower cup-shaped member and a steam cleaner vacuum wand is connected to the exterior end of said connector, dirty water will be forced through said connector and sprayed against the inner surface of the top of said upper cup-shaped member, after which it will run down the sides of said upper and lower cup-shaped members without going down said hollow riser tube.

Claim 10

A dump bucket for a steam cleaner, said dump bucket comprising: a. an upwardly open, lower, cup-shaped member having an aperture in the bottom thereof, the upper edge of said upwardly open, lower, cup-shaped member hereinafter being referred to as the lip thereof; b. a hollow riser tube extending upwardly from the aperture in said lower cup-shaped member; c. a downwardly open, upper, cup-shaped member adapted to releasably engage said lower cup-shaped member in an air-tight seal, said upper cup-shaped member having an aperture in the side thereof; d. a connector; e. means for mounting said connector in the upper cup-shaped member adjacent to and in alignment with said aperture, the combination of said means and said connector constituting a path of fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of said upper cup-shaped member, said connector comprising a generally horizontal portion and a generally vertical portion, the generally vertical portion of said connector having an inner surface portion which is positioned in the path of incoming fluid from the horizontal portion, located within said upper cup-shaped member, and oriented to deflect upwardly fluid coming into said upper cup-shaped member through said connector; and f. a diametrically extending strut joining opposite sides of the inner surface of the top of said upper cup-shaped member whereby, if a vacuum is applied to the aperture in said lower cup-shaped member and a steam cleaner vacuum wand is connected to the exterior end of said connector, dirty water will be forced through said connector and sprayed against the inner surface of the top of said upper cup-shaped member, after which it will run down the sides of said upper and lower cup-shaped members without going down said hollow riser tube.

Claim 11

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 8 wherein said riser tube extends upwardly past the lip of said lower cup-shaped member.

Claim 12

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 8 wherein said upper cup-shaped member is, at least in part, transparent.

Claim 13

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 8 wherein said upper cup-shaped member fits over the lip of said lower cup-shaped member.

Claim 14

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising an inwardly extending annular seal mounted on the inner surface of the side of said upper cup-shaped member, said annular seal being shaped to receive the lip of said lower cup-shaped member.

Claim 15

A dump bucket as claimed in claim 8 wherein said riser tube extends upwardly to the vicinity of the inner surface of said upper cup-shaped member, said strut has an aperture therein, and said riser tube passes through the aperture in said strut.