Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Wiping
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-11-06
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Wiping
C015S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311356
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to devices for cleaning floor surfaces such as wood, vinl, marble, and the like.
Although various types of floor and carpet cleaning devices are known and used, they are not entirely satisfactory for a variety of reasons. For example,
1. They are ineffective in reaching under low cabinet overhangs;
2. They are difficult to service and maintain, particularly in regard to cleaning and refilling of fluid tanks, etc.;
3. They are difficult to maneuver; and
4. They are excessively complex and consequently expensive to provide and unreliable.
Thus there is a need for a floor cleaning device that is easy to maneuver, that can reach under low obstacles, that is easy to service and maintain, and that is reliable and inexpensive to provide.
SUMMARY
The present invention meets this need by providing a modular floor cleaner apparatus that is particularly easy to service and maintain and that is effective for and washing close to vertical obstructions that are under low overhangs. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a chassis having a main body and a plurality of ground-contacting wheels including a laterally spaced pair of main wheels, for rollably supporting the main body above a floor surface; a laterally extending track slidably supporting a removable tank for holding a quantity of cleaning liquid; an elevator mechanism having a normal position for locating the main wheels laterally spaced from a opposite ends of the track in support of the frame and a service position for displacing at least one of the main wheels clear of a path occupied by the tank when the tank traverses the track to a position normally occupied by the one main wheel; a carpet belt member, opposite ends of the belt member being connected for forming a closed loop of approximately uniform width; a plurality of laterally oriented rollers rotatably supported by the chassis for supporting the carpet belt member in a closed path, a portion of the closed path producing frictional contact between the belt member and the floor surface in the normal position of the elevator mechanism, the rollers including a cleaning roller for submerging a portion of the carpet belt within the tank, a wringer roller located vertically above the cleaning roller for directing the carpet belt out of the tank, a press roller movably located proximate the wringer roller opposite the carpet belt for squeezing liquid from the belt, and a platen roller located proximate a bottom extremity of the chassis; a main handle supported relative to the chassis for manipulating the apparatus on the floor surface; and a roller drive for rotatably coupling at least one of the rollers to at least one of the ground-contacting wheels for regulating a rate of advancement of the carpet belt during longitudinal movement of the apparatus when the elevator mechanism is in the normal position.
Preferably the platen roller is a front platen roller for defining a forward extremity of the closed path, the rollers further including a rear platen roller being located proximate the bottom extremity of the chassis, the belt extending rearwardly from respective upper and lower points of tangency with the front platen roller. The apparatus can further include a platen member supported proximate the bottom extremity of the chassis between the idler and drive rollers for pressing the carpet belt against the floor surface in the at least one operating position of the elevator mechanism. Preferably the apparatus further includes an idler roller spaced behind the front platen roller, the closed path extending externally of the main body generally horizontally from the upper point of tangency with the front platen roller, contacting a lower portion of the idler roller, and extending upwardly therefrom within the main body for permitting cleaning access under a low overhanging obstruction.
The wringer roller can be a first wringer roller, the press roller being a first press roller, the rollers further including a second wringer roller located longitudinally opposite the cleaning roller from the first wringer roller, and a second press roller movably located proximate thereto, whereby the combination of the first and second wringer and press rollers is operative for squeezing liquid from the carpet belt on opposite sides of the cleaning roller. One of the rollers can be movably located for tensioning the carpet belt.
Preferably the cleaning roller can be movably supported between an operating position lowered into the tank and a service position raised out of the tank for permitting removal of the tank from the chassis. The main handle can extend rearwardly of the main body, the apparatus further including an auxiliary handle extending forwardly of the main handle. The auxiliary handle can be adapted for supporting a removable storage container above the main body.
Preferably at least some of the wheels are pivotable caster wheels for facilitating lateral and turning movements as well as longitudinal movements of the apparatus. The elevator mechanism can include a pair of swingable arm members having respective axle shafts to which the main wheels are rotatably mounted, and a latch mechanism for retaining the arm members in the normal position of the elevator mechanism. The normal position of the elevator mechanism can be a first position, there being a second position in addition to the service position, the second position being vertically displaced from the first position for further facilitating manipulation of the apparatus to a desired position and orientation prior to normal operation in the first position.
In another aspect of the invention, a method for cleaning a floor surface includes:
(a) providing a chassis having ground contacting wheels including swivel casters and a pair of main wheels, and a carpet belt movable in a closed path that extends within a tank, and an elevator mechanism having a normal first position for regulating sliding contact between the belt and the floor surface by rolling contact between the main wheels and the floor surface, and a second position permitting rolling of the chassis independently of movement of the carpet belt;
(b) feeding a cleaning liquid into the tank;
(c) positioning the elevator mechanism in the second position;
(d) rolling the chassis to a desired location and orientation on the floor surface;
(e) moving the elevator mechanism to the first position;
(f) advancing the chassis while simultaneously sliding the carpet belt along the floor surface and advancing the carpet belt in the closed path;
(g) progressively rinsing the carpet belt with the cleaning liquid; and
(h) progressively squeezing liquid from the carpet belt.
The tank can be removable, being supported laterally movable in a removal path from an operating position located between the main wheels in the normal position of the elevator mechanism, the elevator mechanism having a service position displacing at least one of the main wheels out of the removal path of the tank, the method further including:
(a) moving the elevator mechanism to the service position;
(b) laterally sliding the tank at least partially out of the chassis in the removal path; and
(c) lifting the tank from the removal path, prior to the feeding of cleaning fluid into the tank.
REFERENCES:
patent: 557377 (1996-03-01), Gee et al.
patent: 1229648 (1917-06-01), Olander
patent: 1430090 (1922-09-01), Lence
patent: 1522133 (1925-01-01), Labiga et al.
patent: 1813026 (1931-07-01), Coole
patent: 1827905 (1931-10-01), Picker
patent: 2088246 (1937-07-01), Nelson
patent: 2153686 (1939-04-01), Deegan, Sr.
patent: 2268073 (1941-12-01), Hunn et al.
patent: 2297107 (1942-09-01), Magnuson
patent: 2601690 (1952-07-01), Georgas
patent: 2607939 (1952-08-01), Magnuson
patent: 3052905 (1962-09-01), McMillan et al.
patent: 184821 (1907-05-01), None
patent: 6198 (1912-03-01), None
Graham Gary K.
Sheldon & Mak
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