Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6353964
-
Patent Number
6,353,964
-
Date Filed
Monday, January 24, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 12, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 015 2462
- 015 2463
- 015 2464
- 015 321
- 015 322
- 015 377
- 015 380
- 015 382
- 015 387
- 015 211
- 015 222
- 015 33
- 015 37
- 015 502
- 015 522
- 015 28
- 451 356
- 451 357
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A floor cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning element and a vibratory agitation device. The cleaning element is configured to adjoin a floor in scrubbing engagement with the floor. The vibratory agitation device has an output member, and is operative to impart oscillation to the output member. The output member is connected with the cleaning element to impart oscillation to the cleaning element upon operation of the vibratory agitation device when the cleaning element is in scrubbing engagement with the floor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of floor scrubber devices.
Several methods are known for cleaning a hard floor. In the typical manual method, a cleaning head is attached to the end of a long handle, which is dipped in a pail of cleaning solution, wrung out and applied to floor by the operator, who manually scrubs the floor using a reciprocating scrubbing action. The cleaning head is again dipped into the pail and wrung out to remove the dirty cleaning solution. In the manual method, considerable operator effort is required to scrub with the cleaning head and wring out the dirty solution. Also, it is difficult to remove all the dirty solution from the floor, and the remaining dirt on the floor is a source of bacteria, odor and dull appearance.
Automated cleaning devices are known for scrubbing floors. One common device includes a long handle supporting a cleaning head, which is attached by a suction air hose to a separate unit that sits on the floor, containing a suction air pump and a dirty solution collection tank. The unit can include a cleaning solution storage tank and a valve/hose structure for dispensing cleaning solution onto the floor. However, in some previous devices, cleaning solution is applied manually. The operator scrubs the floor manually with a reciprocating scrubbing action. The dirty solution is removed through a nozzle using suction air from the suction air pump and is passed through the connecting hose to the collection tank. Such automated devices still require considerable operator effort in applying reciprocating scrubbing action. Also, a separate suction air pump adds cost to the device. Some previous devices incorporate the above-listed elements into a single unit. However, such devices are heavy and difficult to move since the suction air pump is contained in the same unit that includes the cleaning head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a floor cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning element and a vibratory agitation device. The cleaning element is configured to adjoin a floor in scrubbing engagement with the floor; The vibratory agitation device has an output member, and is operative to impart oscillation to the output member. The output member is interconnected with the cleaning element to impart oscillation to the cleaning element upon operation of the vibratory agitation device when the cleaning element is in scrubbing engagement with the floor.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the output member and cleaning element are oriented relative to each other such that the oscillation imparted to the cleaning element includes reciprocation in opposite directions parallel to the floor, and further includes reciprocation movement in opposite directions perpendicular to the floor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a is a schematic view of an apparatus comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a partial view of the apparatus of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is an exploded view of parts of the apparatus of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a schematic view similar to
FIG. 1
showing different parts of the apparatus;
FIG. 5
is an exploded view of parts shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
;
FIG. 6
is a view similar to
FIG. 4
showing an apparatus comprising a second embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 7
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
showing an apparatus comprising a third embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A floor cleaning apparatus
10
comprising a first embodiment of the present invention is shown partially in FIG.
1
. The apparatus
10
includes a combined cleaning/solution-pick-up head
12
for scrubbing and removing dirty solution from a floor
14
. Although
FIG. 1
shows a floor
14
with a hard surface
16
, the invention is equally applicable to soft floor surfaces defined by carpets or rugs. The combined head
12
has cleaning elements including a brush
18
and a sponge
20
for scrubbing. A squeegee
22
is included for displacing standing water for removal.
The apparatus
10
is an attachment to a vacuum cleaner and derives its power from the suction air of the vacuum cleaner. As shown in
FIG. 1
, a handle portion
24
of the apparatus
10
is connected to a suction hose
26
extending from the vacuum cleaner. The head
12
has a cleaning solution intake port
27
, and is connected to a lower hose portion
28
of the apparatus
10
. The lower hose
28
communicates pneumatically with the suction hose
26
through a plenum
30
in the handle
24
.
During operation, dirt-laden cleaning solution can be removed from the floor
14
. A suction air valve
32
in the plenum
30
can be opened, as shown in dashed lines in
FIG. 1
, to permit a flow of air from the cleaning head
12
to the suction hose
26
through the lower hose
28
and the plenum
30
. Any suitable handle (not shown) can project from the valve
32
for an operator of the apparatus
10
to shift the valve
32
. The dirt-laden cleaning solution is then drawn up with the air flow and deposited in a collection tank
34
. A float valve
36
is provided to block the flow of air from the hose
28
to the plenum
30
if the collection tank
34
becomes too fill. When the suction air valve
32
is closed, air can flow upward into the plenum
30
through a vibratory agitation device
40
.
Referring particularly now to
FIG. 2
, the vibratory agitation device
40
is used to agitate the cleaning head
12
for thorough removal of dirt from the floor
14
. Specifically, the vibratory agitation device
40
in the preferred embodiment operates to oscillate the cleaning head
12
such that the cleaning elements
18
and
20
anchored to the cleaning head
12
reciprocate in opposite directions parallel to the floor surface
16
, and further reciprocate in opposite directions perpendicular to the floor surface
16
, when the cleaning head
12
is in scrubbing engagement with the floor
14
. This is preferably accomplished by generating a vibratory reciprocating action that is directed at an angle to the floor
14
between zero and ninety degrees, as indicated in
FIG. 2
by a reciprocating vibration force vector
42
. The force vector
42
can be resolved into a horizontal force vector
44
and a vertical force vector
46
. The horizontal force vector
44
passes the brush
18
and the sponge
20
across the floor surface
16
to apply a scrubbing force. The vertical force vector
46
applies a deep cleaning digging force to push the brush
18
and the sponge
20
into any recesses or crevices at the floor surface
16
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the vibratory agitation device
40
includes an air impeller wheel
50
which is rotated by the suction air flow entering through an inlet
52
and exiting through an outlet
54
. The impeller
50
is mounted for rotation in a housing
56
and has a central shaft
58
with a circular cam
60
. The cam
60
is received closely within a circular opening
62
in an output bracket
64
to establish an eccentric driving connection between the impeller
50
and the output bracket
64
. Four flexible mounts
66
, two of which are shown in
FIG. 3
, support the output bracket
64
on the housing
56
for oscillation relative to the housing
56
under the influence of the rotating cam
60
.
A foot portion
70
of the output bracket
64
fixed to the cleaning head
12
so that the oscillating bracket
64
imparts corresponding oscillation to the cleaning head
12
. Importantly, the output bracket
64
is configured and oriented relative to the cleaning head
12
in a manner that results in application of the reciprocating cleaning force vectors
44
and
46
to the floor
14
through the cleaning elements
18
and
20
when the cleaning head
12
is in scrubbing engagement with the floor
14
, as shown in FIG.
2
.
Additional parts of the apparatus
10
are shown schematically in
FIGS. 4 and 5
. A solution pump
80
is powered by the agitation device
40
and is used to pump cleaning solution to the cleaning head
12
. The flow of solution is driven by a solution impeller wheel
82
which is connected to the air impeller wheel
50
by a drive shaft
84
. The solution is stored in a tank
86
and is drawn into the pump
80
through a first line
88
. The solution is pumped to a fluid dispensing valve
90
through a second line
92
. Upon shifting of the valve
90
to an open condition, the solution is dispensed down a third line
94
to the cleaning head
12
. The third line
94
terminates at an outlet port
95
formed in the cleaning head
12
directly above the sponge
20
.
An apparatus
100
comprising a second embodiment of the present invention is shown partially in FIG.
6
. The apparatus
100
is substantially the same as the apparatus
10
, but includes a hand operated squeeze pump
102
in place of the air operated pump
80
and the valve
90
of FIG.
4
.
An apparatus
200
comprising a third embodiment of the present invention is shown partially in FIG.
7
. The apparatus
200
includes a cleaning head
202
which is substantially is the same as the cleaning head
12
described above. A hose portion
204
of the apparatus
200
communicates the cleaning head
202
pneumatically with a hollow handle portion
206
which, in turn, communicates pneumatically with the vacuum cleaner suction hose
26
.
The apparatus
200
further includes a pneumatically powered vibratory agitation device
208
in place of the pneumatically powered vibratory agitation device
40
described above. A housing portion
210
of the device
208
is fixed to the handle
206
by an upper bracket
212
. An output portion
214
of the device
208
is fixed to the cleaning head
202
by a lower bracket
216
. When the device
218
is actuated, the output member
214
reciprocates vibrationally relative to the housing
210
in the opposite directions indicated by the arrow shown in FIG.
7
. Accordingly, when the device
208
is actuated, the cleaning head
202
is similarly reciprocated relative to the handle
206
. This results in the application of horizontal and vertical cleaning forces to the floor surface
16
when the cleaning head
202
is in scrubbing engagement with the floor
14
, as indicated by the horizontal and vertical cleaning force vectors
217
and
219
shown in FIG.
7
. The agitation device
208
, which is shown schematically in
FIG. 7
, may comprise a device known as a KIRBY(™ ) Turbo Accessory.
The present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications as taught by the foregoing description. Such improvements, changes and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims.
Claims
- 1. A floor cleaning apparatus comprising:a cleaning head configured to adjoin a floor in scrubbing engagement with the floor, said cleaning head having a cleaning solution intake port; an agitation device having an output member, said agitation device being operative to agitate said output member under the power of a pressurized flow of air through said agitation device, said output member being interconnected with said cleaning head to impart corresponding agitation to said cleaning head upon operation of said agitation device when said cleaning head is in said scrubbing engagement with the floor; and a structure defining a plenum and a valve, said structure being configured to communicate said inlet port pneumatically with a suction hose to remove cleaning solution from the floor when said valve is in a first condition, and alternatively to communicate said vibratory agitation device pneumatically with the suction hose to power said vibratory agitation device when said valve is in a second condition shifted from said first condition.
- 2. A floor cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said corresponding agitation imparted to said cleaning head comprises oscillation of said cleaning head.
- 3. A floor cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said output member and said cleaning head are oriented relative to each other such that said oscillation imparted to said cleaning head includes reciprocation in opposite directions parallel to the floor, and further includes reciprocation in opposite directions perpendicular to the floor.
- 4. A floor cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said output member and said cleaning head are oriented relative to each other such that movement imparted to said cleaning head by said output member consists of reciprocation of said cleaning head without rotation of said cleaning head.
- 5. A floor cleaning apparatus comprising:a cleaning element configured to adjoin a floor in scrubbing engagement with the floor; a vibratory agitation device having an output member, said vibratory agitation device being operative to impart oscillation to said output member; said output member being connected with said cleaning element so as to impart corresponding oscillation to said cleaning element upon operation of said vibratory agitation device when said cleaning element is in said scrubbing engagement with the floor; and a cleaning head supporting said cleaning element for said scrubbing engagement with the floor; wherein said cleaning head has a cleaning solution intake port and is configured to communicate said intake port with a source of pneumatic fluid pressure for removing cleaning solution from the floor and through said intake port.
- 6. A floor cleaning apparatus comprising:a cleaning element configured to adjoin a horizontal surface portion of the floor in scrubbing engagement with the floor in an ordinary operating orientation relative to the floor; and a vibratory agitation device having an output member, said vibratory agitation device being operative to impart oscillation to said output member; said output member being connected with said cleaning element so as to impart corresponding oscillation to said cleaning element upon operation of said vibratory agitation device when said cleaning element is in scrubbing engagement with the horizontal surface portion of the floor, with said corresponding oscillation imparted to said cleaning element including reciprocation in opposite horizontal directions parallel to the horizontal surface portion of the floor and in opposite vertical directions perpendicular to the horizontal surface portion of the floor when said cleaning element is in said ordinary operating orientation; and a handle having an ordinary operating position spaced from said cleaning element in a rearward direction extending horizontally away from said cleaning element and spaced from said cleaning element in an upper direction extending vertically away from said cleaning element, said handle being connected with said cleaning element to support said cleaning element in said ordinary operating orientation when said handle is in said ordinary operating position.
US Referenced Citations (18)