The present invention relates to a device and method for coupling a floor cleaning implement to a floor cleaning machine. The floor cleaning machine can be one of many types of floor cleaning and treating machines, such as scrubbers, sweepers, and the like. These types of machines can be used for the cleaning of hard surfaces of large floor areas in hotels, factories, office buildings, shopping centers and the like.
In general such machines comprise a movable body supported by a pair of drive wheels and one or more caster wheels. With a scrubber, the body carries a scrubbing device, reservoirs for storing fresh and spent cleaning liquid, a device for dosing fresh cleaning liquid onto the floor, and a squeegee/vacuum pickup system for recovering spent cleaning liquid from the floor.
The scrubbing device normally comprises one or more cleaning implements, such as brushes or scrubbing pads and a motor for driving the implements.
Since the pads of a floor cleaning machine are replaced frequently due to wear or the need to use a pad with different abrasive characteristics, it is important that the retainer portion of the coupling device be easily released.
The present invention relates to a device and method for coupling a floor cleaning implement to a floor cleaning machine. The device and method selectively couple a floor cleaning implement, such as a pad or brush, in manner that can be easily released and connected.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a device for coupling a cleaning implement to a floor cleaning machine. The coupling device comprises a plate having a first edge, a second edge, and a main body portion extending between the first edge and the second edge. A first channel is coupled to the first edge of the plate. The first channel is dimensioned and configured to receive a first edge of the cleaning implement. A second channel is coupled to the second edge of the plate. The second channel is dimensioned and configured to receive a second edge of the cleaning implement. The second channel has a first end for initially receiving the edge of the cleaning implement during insertion and a second end positioned adjacent a projecting member that prevents the cleaning implement from leaving the second channel via the second end. The first end of the second channel has a selectively moveable projecting member that selectively prevents the cleaning implement from leaving the second channel via the first end.
In some embodiments, the main body portion has a plurality of concave recesses dimensioned and configured to selectively receive convex projections extending from the cleaning implement. The projections of the cleaning implement only fully engage the recesses of the coupling device when the actuator presses the cleaning implement against a floor.
In other embodiments, the main body portion has a plurality of substantially convex projections extending toward the cleaning implement. The projections are dimensioned and configured to be selectively received within substantially concave recesses on the cleaning implement. The recesses of the cleaning implement only fully engage the projections of the coupling device when the actuator presses the cleaning implement against a floor.
Another embodiment is directed toward a device for driving a cleaning implement coupled to a floor cleaning machine. The cleaning implement includes a plurality of projections or recesses extending toward the device. The device includes a plate having a plurality of substantially complimentary recesses or projections dimensioned and configured to selectively receive the projections or recesses extending from the cleaning implement. These recesses and projections only fully engage each other when an actuator presses the cleaning implement against a floor.
Another embodiment is directed toward a floor cleaning machine. The floor cleaning machine includes a frame, an actuator coupled to the frame, a coupling device coupled to the actuator, and a cleaning implement coupled to the coupling device. The cleaning implement comprises a first surface adapted to contact and clean a floor surface and a second surface positioned substantially opposite the first surface and adapted to contact the coupling device. The second surface has a plurality of projecting members that extend from the second surface. The cleaning implement also has substantially opposite first and second edges extending from the second surface toward the first surface. The coupling device includes a plate having a first edge, a second edge, and a main body portion extending between the first edge and the second edge. The main body portion has a plurality of concave recesses dimensioned and configured to selectively receive the projections extending from the cleaning implement. A first channel is coupled to the first edge of the plate. The first channel is dimensioned and configured to receive a first edge of the cleaning implement. A second channel is coupled to the second edge of the plate. The second channel is dimensioned and configured to receive a second edge of the cleaning implement. The second channel has a first end for initially receiving the edge of the cleaning implement during insertion and a second end positioned adjacent a projecting member that prevents the cleaning implement from leaving the second channel via the second end. The first end of the second channel has a selectively moveable projecting member that selectively prevents the cleaning implement from leaving the second channel via the first end. The projections of the cleaning implement only engage the recesses of the coupling device when the actuator presses the cleaning implement against a floor.
Further aspects of the present invention, together with the organization and operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following, description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limited. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “mounted,” “connected,” and “coupled” are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mounting, connecting and coupling. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, and can include electrical connections or couplings, whether direct or indirect. Finally, as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, other alternative mechanical configurations are possible, and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Referring now to
Referring now to
As can be seen in
Two particular embodiments of the cleaning implement 14 are shown in
A plurality of locating members 26 are coupled to the top side of the fixation portion 16. These locating members 26 can be made from a variety of materials and can be configured many different ways. In the illustrated embodiment, the locating members 26 are rubber projections that have a generally convex shape. Specifically, the rubber projections have a dome-like or truncated cone configuration. As will be discussed below, this type of shape can help to locate or direct the locating members into receiving recesses 28 on the coupling device 12. The projections 26 of this embodiment are formed of rubber to help dampen noise between the cleaning implement 14 and the coupling device 12. Other materials, however, can be used for this same purpose.
Although the illustrated embodiment places the projecting locating members 26 on the fixation portion 16 of the cleaning implement 14 and the receiving recesses 28 on the coupling device 12, other embodiments can modify this configuration. For example, in some embodiments, the projections 26 can be placed on the coupling device 12, while the recesses 28 can be placed on the fixation portion 16 of the cleaning implement 14. Additionally, some embodiments can utilize a combination of projections 26 and recesses 28 on both the fixation portion 16 of the cleaning implement and the coupling device 12.
As shown in
The coupling device 12 includes a main body 30 having a pair of slots or channels 32 for receiving the edges 22, 24 of the fixation portion 16 of the cleaning implement 14. The channels 32 are dimensioned and configured to receive the edges 22, 24 of the fixation portion 16. More specifically, as shown in
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the retainer 34 is formed separate from the channel 32 and is attached to the channel 32 in a secondary operation, such as welding. However, in other embodiments, the retainer 34 can be integrally formed into the channel 32 or the main body portion 30.
As shown in
In operation, a cleaning implement 14, such as the brush shown in
As the brush 14 enters the coupling device 12, one of the edges of the brush engages the angled projection 38 of the retainer 34 and forces the retainer to a position that allows the brush 14 to enter the channel 32. During the insertion process, the bottom surface of the cantilevered edges 22, 24 (i.e., the surface facing the floor during operation) preferably slides along the upward facing surface of the channel 32. With this type of engagement during the insertion process, the brush 14 should be easily inserted without the projections 26 on the brush interfering or substantially engaging the main body portion 30 of the coupling device 12. Once the brush 14 is inserted fully into the channel 32, the angled projection 38 can elastically return to its original position. In this position, the brush 14 is prevented from disengaging the coupling device 12, and more specifically, the cantilevered edge is prevented from backing out of the channel 32.
Once the brush 14 is fully inserted in the coupling device 12, it will rest within the coupling device 12 as shown in
When an operator chooses to utilize the brushes 14, the brush 14 and coupling device 12 will be lowered into contact with a floor. An actuator, such as a motor or motor and transmission assembly, can be used to lower the brush 14 and coupling device 12 to the floor. The actuator can be used to force the brush 14 against the floor with a desired pressure or force. This will cause the brush 14 to engage the coupling device 12 as shown in
Once scrubbing operations are complete, the actuator can be actuated to lift the brush 14 and coupling device 12 off of the floor. Once the brush 14 is lifted off of the floor, the brush will rest within the coupling device 12 as shown in
To remove the brush 14 from the coupling device 12, the following steps can be used. A force can be applied to the lever 40 adjacent the angled projection 38 to move the projection 38 to a position in which it does not substantially intersect the path defined by the channel 32. Once the projection 38 is moved to a position where it does not hinder the removal the brush 14, the brush 14 can be removed from the coupling device 12 by pulling it in the opposite direction that it was inserted.
The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, various alternatives to the certain features and elements of the present invention are described with reference to specific embodiments of the present invention. With the exception of features, elements, and manners of operation that are mutually exclusive of or are inconsistent with each embodiment described above, it should be noted that the alternative features, elements, and manners of operation described with reference to one particular embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US2007/061439 | 2/1/2007 | WO | 00 | 7/28/2008 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2007/090183 | 8/9/2007 | WO | A |
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60764316 | Feb 2006 | US |