U.S. patent application number 09/865766 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-28 for powered floor scrubber and buffer.
Invention is credited to Clark, Brian C., Haas, Colby M., Thatcher, David K..
Application Number | 20020174510 09/865766 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25346181 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020174510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thatcher, David K. ; et
al. |
November 28, 2002 |
Powered floor scrubber and buffer
Abstract
18A powered floor scrubbing, buffing machine is described. This
machine accommodates a first and second scrubbing pad, one or more
scrubbing pads or brushes, which can be either disc or rotary
brushes, followed by a squeegee having vacuum capability, which in
turn is followed by a high-speed buffer pad. This invention
provides for simultaneous scrubbing and buffing of floor surfaces.
It is powered with an internal engine and has a user control panel
for the control/driving of the machine.
Inventors: |
Thatcher, David K.;
(Paradise, UT) ; Haas, Colby M.; (Providence,
UT) ; Clark, Brian C.; (Paradise, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lloyd W. Sadler
MCCARTHY & SADLER, LC
Suite 100
39 Exchange Place
Salt Lake City
UT
84111
US
|
Family ID: |
25346181 |
Appl. No.: |
09/865766 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/363 ; 15/320;
15/401 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/4038 20130101;
A47L 11/10 20130101; A47L 11/4072 20130101; A47L 11/4044 20130101;
A47L 11/16 20130101; A47L 11/302 20130101; A47L 11/283 20130101;
A47L 11/4069 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/363 ; 15/320;
15/401 |
International
Class: |
A47L 011/14; A47L
011/283; A47L 011/30 |
Claims
1. A scrubbing, buffing machine comprising: (A) a frame; (B) a
first scrubber attached to said frame; (C) a buffer attached to
said frame; (D) a squeegee attached to said frame, behind said
first scrubber and in front of said buffer; and (E) a motor means,
mounted on said frame, providing power to said first scrubber and
said buffer.
2. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein
said motor means is an engine.
3. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a second scrubber attached to said frame and powered by
said motor means.
4. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 2, further
comprising a vacuum powered by said engine and in communication
with said squeegee for collecting refuse fluid.
5. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 2, further
comprising a first drive wheel and a second drive, each in
mechanical communication with said engine.
6. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a first and a second stability wheel attached to said
frame.
7. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a control panel mounted on said frame for providing user
controls.
8. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein
said frame is made of steel.
9. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein
said first scrubber further comprises: (1) a first scrubber pad;
(2) a first gear box.
10. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 3, wherein
said second scrubber further comprises: (1) a second scrubber pad;
(2) a second gear box.
11. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein
said buffer further comprises: (1) a buffer pad; (2) a gear
box.
12. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein
said squeegee further comprises: (1) a squeegee mount fixed to said
frame, and (2) a squeegee blade attached to said squeegee
mount.
13. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 2, wherein
said engine is selected from the group of engine types consisting
of propane engines, gasoline engines, electric motors and battery
powered motors.
14. A scrubbing, buffing machine, as recited in claim 2, wherein
said engine further comprises: (1) a fuel tank attached to said
frame; (2) an internal combustion engine receiving fuel from said
fuel tank; (3) a vacuum/blower in mechanical communication with
said internal combustion engine; (4) an exhaust cooling chamber
receiving exhaust from said vacuum/blower to cool exhaust from said
internal combustion engine; (5) an electric clutch in mechanical
communication with said internal combustion engine; (6) an
alternator in mechanical communication with said internal
combustion engine; and (7) a battery in electrical communication
with said alternator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to floor cleaning devices. More
specifically, this invention relates to automatic powered floor
scrubbing and buffing devices.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A variety of machines and devices have been developed to
clean hard surface floors. Typically, such machines are designed to
either clean or polish. Some machines can be selected to do either
cleaning or polishing, but generally they do not clean and polish
floors simultaneously. Moreover, most such cleaning machines do not
provide a plurality of scrubbing pads independent from a single
buffing pad and a squeegee positioned between the scrubbing pads
and the buffing pad in order to remove water and cleaning fluid
prior to the buffing of the floor.
[0005] Different aspects of floor cleaning machines and components
thereof have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,600,735, 3,742,546,
3,795,933, 3,921,244, 3,931,659, 3,952,361, 3,972,088, 4,094,034,
4,096,084, 4,118,819, 4,122,576, 4,150,456, 4,214,337, 4,217,671,
4,237,517, 4,295,243, 4,319,434, 4,322,920, 4,391,548, 4,393,534,
4,407,040, 4,506,405, 4,523,411, 4,577,364, 4,633,541, 4,654,918,
4,783,872, 4,910,824, 5,054,245, 5,1 27,124, 5,253,384, 5,289,605,
5,371,912, 5,402,559, 5,797,157, and 6,023,813 each of which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for the material
disclosed therein.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,735 describes a drive connection for a
floor polisher, which permits ready removal from an attachment of
brush units to the vertical shaft driven by the motor.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,546 describes a surface treating
apparatus having rotatable treating members movable over a surface,
a container for liquid wax, which is positioned in a compartment,
and has an outlet at its bottom normally closed by a value having a
vertically movable stem.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,795,933 discloses a multi-purpose cleaning
implement includes a base member supporting a sponge mop type work
head and an auxiliary implement such as a brush, squeegee, scraper,
spreader or similar implement.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,244 discloses a floor buffer for
operator directed polishing of a floor.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,659 discloses a floor treating machine
supported at the floor or surface to be treated by means of a work
disk arranged beneath a substantially ring-shaped stop member, the
work disk being detachably coupled with a drive motor.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,361 discloses a floor treating machine
having laterally spaced drive wheels driven by separate electric
traction motors under electronic control so as to be driven by a
separate train of pulses, comprising means for recording the trains
of pulses to the traction motors and means for replaying the record
to reproduce the trains of pulses whereby the machine will repeat
the operation.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,088 discloses an electric floor scrubber
and buffer having its scrubber or buffer pad attached to the
underside of an oscillating plate.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,034 discloses a floor treating machine
of the rotary brush type in which, in operation, the weight of the
machine is, to at least a significant extent, supported by the
rotary brush or brushes, in which a brush mounting member is
flexibly suspended between resilient elements for limited universal
movement.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,084 discloses a method for cleaning
surfaces such as floors and pavements that includes incorporating a
polyelectrolyte in the cleaning solution and a surface-scrubbing
machine for carrying out the process.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,819 discloses a floor treating machine
of the single rotary brush type having a handle and a motor both
laterally offset from the axis of rotation of the brush in a
direction to impart a tilting couple opposed to that arising from
operator forces counteracting the reaction couple on the
handle.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,576 discloses a manually operated floor
polishing machine comprising a polishing pad or brush rotatable at
a speed above 660 rpm, pressing against the floor with a force of
less than about 25 lbs., and positioned so that one segment of the
pad presses harder against the floor than the other, such as by
mounting the pad's driving plate or disc to that its plane of
rotation is at an angle less than about 10.degree. to the plane of
the floor.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,456 discloses a floor scrubber with a
propane powered internal combustion engine which is mounted on a
wheeled dolly and which is attached by its rotary output shaft to a
circular cage provided with a plurality of rotary brushes on the
underside thereof.
[0018] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,214,337 and 4,237,571 disclose compact
floor polishers including a base supporting an electric motor
having a vertically oriented output shaft and driving a circular
brush.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,671 discloses a multipurpose cleaning
device which can be used as a bath and tile scrubbing device as
well as being adapted for use in conjunction with floors, walls,
ceilings and the like.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,243 discloses an apparatus for cleaning,
waxing, polishing and otherwise treating the surface of a floor,
where the apparatus includes a carriage or frame with a handle for
guiding and maneuvering, several containers for dispensing several
selected types of fluids or solutions to the floor where a
reciprocating scrubber, such as steel wool or a buffing pad
operates with a solution to effectively clean, strip, wax or polish
the floor surface. In addition, there is a vacuum means, which
removes and carries away any excess liquid, solution or dirty
cleaning fluids from the floor surface.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,434 describes a surface processing
machine that includes at least one motor-driven spider arm
assembly, each of the arms of the spider having rotatably mounted
as the ends thereof a surface processing tools such as a brush,
buffing pad, grinding stone or the like and wherein the surface
processing tools are mounted on an axis which is substantially
parallel to the axis.
[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,920 discloses an attachment for use on a
rotary floor-conditioning machine comprising a master block, which
is integrally molded of a urethane elastomer including a centrally
located hub with a circular flange member extending radially from
the base thereof.
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,548 describes a coupling device adapted
for use with floor maintenance machines of the type such as floor
brushing, buffing, polishing, scrubbing or the like which enables
automatic coupling of the maintenance element without direct manual
implementation thereof.
[0024] U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,534 discloses an apparatus for
mechanically varying the speed of a disk, such as a floor treating
pad, mounted for rotation about the axis of elongation of a shaft
powered by a fixed speed motor.
[0025] U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,040 describes a pad drive assembly that
detachably grips and rotatably drives a selected maintenance pad by
a floor maintenance pad by a floor maintenance machine.
[0026] U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,405 discloses a floor-treating machine
adapted to operate as a floor scrubber and a floor polisher or
buffer includes a main housing or support frame structure from
which extends a brush housing assembly.
[0027] U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,411 describes a rotatable element and a
surface-treating device.
[0028] U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,364 discloses a floor-cleaning machine
including a support frame with a handle attached to the upper end
of the support frame for guiding the machine along the floor and a
wheel assembly attached to the lower end. A plurality of
disc-shaped floor cleaning pads disposed and held adjacent one
another such that a floor pad cylinder having a horizontally
disposed and held adjacent one another such that a floor pad
cylinder having a horizontally-disposed longitudinal axis is formed
are attached to the lower end of the frame.
[0029] U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,541 discloses a floor-treating machine
adapted to operate as a floor scrubber and a floor polisher or
buffer, which includes a main housing or support frame structure
from which extends a brush housing assembly.
[0030] U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,918 describes a buffer deck assembly for
floor scrubbing, cleaning and polishing machine that includes a
displaceable buffer deck housing mounted to the machine through a
substantially U-shaped mounting frame having a pair of sleeves that
each slid ably receive a cantilever support arm.
[0031] U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,872 discloses a high-speed
floor-treating machine is provided comprising a frame, a control
and guiding handle extending rearward of the frame and an electric
motor for rotating a floor-contacting pad is secured.
[0032] U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,824 discloses a floor polisher, which
causes a pad to rotate at a high speed to polish a floor. The floor
polisher has a vertically moving mechanism adapted to move the pad
in the vertical direction with respect to the floor, a ground
pressure adjusting mechanism adapted to maintain a ground pressure
of the pad at a set pressure by controlling the vertically moving
mechanism and a floor protecting mechanism adapted to actuate the
vertically moving mechanism to lift the pad immediately when the
travel of the floor polisher is stopped.
[0033] U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,245 describes a combination of cleaning
pads, cleaning pad mounting members and a base member for a rotary
cleaning machine.
[0034] U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,124 describes an apparatus for adjusting
the height above the floor of a plate to which is attached a pad in
a rotary floor machine to accommodate pads having a range of
thicknesses.
[0035] U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,384 discloses an electric buffing
machine and a method for buffing waxed floors. The buffing machine
comprises a molded plastic housing, a foldable handle and a DC
drive motor directly driving a buffing pad holder.
[0036] U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,605 discloses a cleaning apparatus in
the form of a scrubber that is a motor driven by a direct current
(DC) motor driving a rotatable scrubber unit which includes a
scrubber disc with the motor and scrubber disc forming a power head
supported from a detachable and adjustable length pole which
enables surfaces that are normally out of reach to be easily
scrubbed.
[0037] U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,912 discloses an electric floor and
baseboard-cleaning machine which includes a motor assembly attached
to a medium frame in which the movement thereof is adjustable for
either straight line or circular motion.
[0038] U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,559 discloses a floor scrubber is
provided which consists of a rectangular head assembly.
[0039] U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,157 describes a floor buffer having the
power source and drive means mounted at one end of an elongate
handle, and a buffer head mounted at the other end, such that the
center of gravity of the machine is roughly at the midpoint of the
elongate handle.
[0040] U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,813 describes an automatic floor
scrubber and buffer that provides for simultaneous scrubbing and
buffing of floors through he use of a plurality of pads operating
at different speeds to optimize the scrubbing and buffing operation
of the device.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0041] It is desirable to provide an automatic floor scrubber and
buffer machine that simultaneously scrubs and buffs in one pass and
vacuums dirty cleaning or waxing solution from the floor prior to
buffing.
[0042] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a
floor scrubber and buffer machine that provides separate scrubbing
and buffing heads to thereby permit simultaneous scrubbing and
buffing of floor surfaces.
[0043] A further object of this invention is to provide a floor
scrubber and buffer machine that provides a fluid removal device
prior to the buffing of the floor.
[0044] A still further object of this invention is to provide a
floor scrubber and buffer machine that employs a large single
buffer pad for along with one or more scrubbing pads for the
simultaneous scrubbing and buffing of the floor surface.
[0045] Another object of this invention is to provide a floor
scrubber and buffer machine that is compatible with a variety of
power devices or motors, including electrical, batteries, natural
gas, propane, and gasoline engines.
[0046] Additional objects, advantages, and other novel features of
this invention will be set forth in part in the description that
follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the
art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the
practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of this
invention may be realized and attained by means of the
instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims. Still other objects of the present invention will
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
description wherein there is shown and described the preferred
embodiment of this invention. As it will be realized, this
invention is capable of other different embodiments, and its
several details, and specific configurations, are capable of
modification in various aspects without departing from the
invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be
regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
[0047] To achieve the foregoing and other objectives, and in
accordance with the purposes of the present invention, this
invention is provided with separate powered scrubbing and buffing
pads, separated by a squeegee device for removing fluid from the
floor surface prior to buffing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0048] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. Some, although not all, alternative embodiments
are described in the following description. In the drawings:
[0049] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the invention.
[0050] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0051] FIG. 3 is a top-down view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0052] FIG. 4 is the right side view of the preferred embodiment of
the invention.
[0053] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the left side of the
preferred embodiment of the invention, with the cover removed to
show the motor and frame.
[0054] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the right side of the
preferred embodiment of the invention, with the cover removed to
show the motor and frame.
[0055] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiment of the invention, and example of which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] This invention is a machine for simultaneously scrubbing,
buffing and removing cleaning and waxing residue from the floor.
This invention in its preferred embodiment is equipped with
multiple scrubbing pads, a squeegee for removing water, refuse and
cleaning fluid, and a buffing pad for simultaneously buffing wax on
a floor. This invention is provided with a motor means, both for
driving the drive wheels and for powering the scrubbing and buffing
pads. In the present preferred embodiment, the motor means is a
propane engine, although alternative engines or motor, including
gasoline or battery powered electric motor can be substituted
without departing from the concept of this invention.
[0057] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment
of the invention 100 from below. Preferably, a first and second
scrubber gear boxes 602, 603 (shown in FIG. 6) is provided under
and near the front 115 of the machine 100. The scrubber gear boxes
602, 603 are typically each provided with a scrubbing pad 102 (a
pad is only shown installed in the second scrubber gear box drive
603, although in use both drives would typically have a pad
installed). The scrubbing gear boxes 602, 603 are mounted to the
frame (shown in FIG. 5) and are powered by drive belts 116a,b, each
of which is mechanically connected to a first clutch 105. Mounted
behind the scrubber gear boxes 602, 603 is a squeegee mount 104 and
a squeegee blade 103 mounted therein. The preferred squeegee blade
103 is a triple blade squeegee. The preferred squeegee mount 104
includes a vacuum inlet for removing liquid collected by the
squeegee blade 103. A set of drive wheels 107a,b are provided for
driving the machine 100. A buffer pad 109 is mounted to the buffer
gear box 108. The buffer gear box 108 is powered by a belt 117,
which is mechanically attached to a second clutch 106. A gear box
108 is provided with a belt drive 507, which in turn is
mechanically connected to and drives, providing power to, both the
first clutch 105 and the second clutch 106. The gear box 108 is
mechanically connected and driven by the gear motor 501 (shown in
FIG. 5). A muffler 110 is attached to the motor 501 exhaust for
sound abatement. Two wheels 111a,b are provided for rolling
stability. These wheels 111a,b are attached to the rear frame 118.
As noted above, the preferred motor for this machine 100, is a
propane motor, for this preferred embodiment a propane tank 112 for
holding fuel is provided at the rear 119 of the machine 100. A
handle 113 and control lever 402 are provided to facilitate user
control of the invention 100. A cover 114, which in the present
preferred embodiment of the invention 100 is made of plastic or the
like is also provided, fitting over the engine, gear boxes, frame
and other internal components of this scrubber/buffer machine
100.
[0058] FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention 100. This view more clearly shows the placement of the
propane tank 112 mounted on the rear frame 118 along side of a
battery 202. A control panel 301 is provided above and forward of
the operator handle 113. The rear stabilizing wheels 111a,b are
shown mounted to the rear frame 118. In the present preferred
embodiment, a catalytic converter 201 is provided to reduce
emissions.
[0059] FIG. 3 shows a top-down view of the preferred embodiment of
the invention. This view shows the relative locations of the
control panel 301 with respect to the user handle 113. The propane
tank 112 is shown below the handle 113. The buffer pad 109 is shown
below the machine 100. At the top of the cover 114 is provided a
fluid bladder tank system 302. The preferred fluid bladder tank
system 302 of this invention accommodates clean water, detergent,
as well as floor residue vacuumed from the squeegee 104 after the
scrub pad drive gear boxes 602, 603. This fluid bladder tank system
302 maintains, to the maximum extent possible, the weight
distribution of the scrubber/buffer machine of this invention 100,
thereby enhancing the effectiveness of this machine 100.
[0060] FIG. 4 shows the right side view of the preferred embodiment
of the invention 100. This view particularly shows the relative
positioning of the rear support wheel 111b, buffing pad 109,
buffing pad cover 506, powered wheel 107a, scrubbing pad 102 and
cover, which is driving by the gear belt 116b. The view from the
left side of this invention 100, with regard to these components or
the other of their pair, 111a, 109, 506, 107b, 101a and 116a, is
generally mirrored. The present preferred buffing pad 109 is
capable of turning at up to 2500 RPM, while the scrubbing pads 102
are designed to turn at about 200 RPM, although alternative speeds
can be selected, in general, without departing from the concept of
this invention.
[0061] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the left side of the
preferred embodiment of the invention 100, with the cover 114
removed to show the motor 501 and front frame 505. The engine 501
is preferably positioned directly above the buffer 109. Additional
internal component detail of the preferred embodiment of the
invention 100 is shown as follows. An exhaust cooling chamber 502
is mechanically connected to the engine 501. The engine 501 is also
mechanically coupled to a high CFM vacuum/blower 503, which
provides the vacuum pressure for the collection of refuse fluid
from the floor. An adjustment 504 is provided to permit the user to
adjust the pad pressure. The front frame 505 is shown is some
detail. The preferred frame components 505, 118 are made of steel,
although it is envisioned that alternative materials can be
substituted without departing from the concept of this invention. A
pulley 507 is shown having belts 508a, 508b are also shown in
additional detail.
[0062] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the right side of the
preferred embodiment of the invention 100, with the cover 114
removed to show the motor 501 and frame 505. This view shows the
components of FIG. 5, from the other side. Also, shown in this FIG.
6, is the preferred location of the alternator 601, attached to the
engine 501 and electrically in communication with the battery 202.
The dedicated gear boxes 602, 603 attached respectively for each
scrubber.
[0063] The previous described preferred embodiment of the invention
is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not as
restrictive. Although the embodiment shown and described herein has
particular components in particular connection configurations, the
invention is not limited thereto. The scope of this invention is
indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description. All systems and devices, which come directly within
the claims or within the meaning and range of equivalency of the
claims, are to be embraced as being within the scope of protection
of this invention.
* * * * *