Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-04-10
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S340100, C015S340300, C015S340400, C015S049100, C015S050100, C015S098000, C180S211000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212731
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
the present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning floors, comprising an undercarriage including front and rear axles bearing at least one wheel, a driver's seat, steering means connected to one of said axles for steering said apparatus, front cleaning means near the front axle for carrying out a first cleaning step and rear cleaning means for carrying out a second cleaning step.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such apparatus is known in various embodiments. These prior art apparatus have either front axle steering or rear axle steering. In both cases the area covered by the rear cleaning means does not coincide with that of the front cleaning means if the apparatus makes a turn, for example around obstacles. This makes it necessary to move back and forth in such areas in order to complete the cleaning operation. As an alternative, the rear cleaning means can be made wider than the front cleaning means so as to obtain complete coverage by the rear cleaning means. However, this increases the total width of the apparatus making it more difficult to handle, especially in areas with obstacles which may interfere with the protruding rear cleaning means.
The object of the present invention is to remove this problem in an effective way. To obtain the object, the invention provides an apparatus according to claim
1
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning floors, comprising an undercarriage including front and rear axles bearing at least one wheel, a driver's seat and steering means connected to one of said axles for steering said apparatus, front cleaning means near the front axle for carrying out a first cleaning step and rear cleaning means for carrying out a second cleaning step, characterized in that the front and rear axles are operatively connected in order to steer both axles in a predetermined relationship, such that the front and rear cleaning means follow substantially the same path.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Due to the all wheel steering configuration of the apparatus of the invention, it is possible to allow the areas covered by the rear and front cleaning means to substantially coincide, also when the apparatus is turning through a curve. As a result of the all wheel steering the machine becomes very agile in turning, whereas the width of the rear cleaning means can be reduced, preferably to the width of the front cleaning means. Obstacles may be passed very accurately as the rear cleaning means does not protrude beyond the front cleaning means in lateral direction, while they both follow substantially the same path.
In a preferred embodiment the steering means is connected to the front axle and the rear axle is coupled to the front axle by coupling means.
This main steering through the front axle is similar to the steering of a car or bicycle and is therefore much easier to most people than rear axle steering. The most simple way to operatively connect the front and rear axles is through mechanical coupling means. However, a technically more advanced manner of coupling is through electronic, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic coupling means which enable a variable connection between the front and rear axles to further optimize the coverage of the front and rear cleaning means.
The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to the drawing showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2848246 (1958-08-01), Ruf
patent: 2874792 (1959-02-01), Scheuerpflug
patent: 3337231 (1967-08-01), Drake
patent: 3669466 (1972-06-01), Spence
patent: 4190129 (1980-02-01), Mary
patent: 5033763 (1991-07-01), Daenens et al.
patent: 5687443 (1997-11-01), Moore
patent: 5890558 (1999-04-01), Keegan
patent: 291 844 (1988-11-01), None
patent: 662 301 (1995-07-01), None
patent: 2576861 (1986-08-01), None
Eckerlein Uwe
Mayer Heinrich
Diversey Lever Inc.
Spisich Mark
LandOfFree
Apparatus for cleaning floors does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for cleaning floors, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for cleaning floors will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2530726