Patent Application
20250120558
Floor cleaning can provide difficulties in certain situation and locations, such as underneath equipment, along edges, and in grout lines.
Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.
Before invention embodiments are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that no limitation to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein is intended, but also includes equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element. Numbers provided in flow charts and processes are provided for clarity in illustrating steps and operations and do not necessarily indicate a particular order or sequence. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.
An initial overview of the inventive concepts are provided below and then specific examples are described in further detail later. This initial summary is intended to aid readers in understanding the examples more quickly, but is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the examples, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The invention provides a floor cleaning machine capable of cleaning difficult areas and in difficult circumstances. For example, the floor cleaning machine can reach under equipment, such as gondolas, counters, and deli, bakery and meat tables. The floor cleaning machine can clean along edges and baseboards. In addition to cleaning, the machine can also be used to strip, burnish and sand. The machine can clean different surfaces, such as concreate and wood. The machine can eliminate scaping by hand, or so called “doodlebugging”, with a scouring pad on a pole. The machine can reciprocate up to 3000 times per minute or more. The machine can operate ergonomically, efficiently and quietly to clean floors.
Referring to
In one aspect, the base 18 can have a solid metal plate to support the motor 18 and the battery 42. In another aspect, the base 18, or the plate thereof, can have a countersunk flange 44 to receive an end of the motor 18 to help place the motor 18, as shown in
In another aspect, the machine can have an electrical box 50 coupled to the housing 30 and/or the frame 26. The electrical box 50 can contain electrical components, such as a breaker 52, for ease of service, such as resetting the breaker, without taking apart the machine 10. For example, the electrical box 50 can have a panel or door to allow access. In addition, the electrical box 50 can carry gauges and controls for the machine 10 and the motor 38. For example, a gauge can indicate hours run of the motor 38, while another gauge can indicate the charge level of the battery 42. A control can include a power switch for the motor 38 that can be coupled between the motor 38 and the battery 42. The electrical box 50 can also carry indicators, such as an indicator light to show that the power is on and/or another indicator light to show the battery 42 is charging.
In another aspect, the handle 34 can be ergonomic and adjustable to reduce fatigue and ease handling of the machine. The handle 34 can be pivotally coupled to the frame 26 at a pivot 54 and locked in multiple angular orientations by a lock 58 to position a grip 62 of the handle 34 at a desired elevation. The grip 62 can be cushioned to reduce transmission of vibration to an operator. The lock 58 and the pivot 54 of the handle 34 can include a bracket 66 fixed to the frame 26 and a fastener 70 fixed to the handle 34. An arcuate slot 74 can be formed in the bracket 66 to slideably receive the fastener 70. The fastener 70 can be tightened to selectively fix the fastener 70 in the arcuate slot 74 at a desired orientation of the handle 34 and a desired elevation of the grip 62.
A low-profile extension arm 80 can extend from the base 18. In one aspect, a proximal end of the extension arm 80 can be coupled beneath the base 18. The extension arm 80 can extend horizontally out from the base 18. The extension arm 80 can be low-profile and positioned adjacent to the support surface and the floor 14 to fit under equipment, such as gondolas, counters, displays, shelves and tables. For example, the extension arm 80 can have a vertical height H or elevation less than or equal to 5¼ inches, in one aspect; less than or equal to 4¾ inches, in another aspect; and less than or equal to 3¾ inches in another aspect. The vertical height H can be measured from a top of the extension arm 80 to a bottom of a scrub pad 200. Thus, the extension arm 80 can be long and low to reach under equipment. In one aspect, the extension arm 80 can be formed by a metal plate with a proximal end coupled to and below the metal plate of the base 18. A pair of blocks can be fastened between the base 18 and the extension arm.
A head 88 can be carried by the extension arm 80 and located at the distal end 84 of the extension arm 80. In one aspect, the head 88 can be pivotally coupled to the extension arm 80 and pivotal in a horizontal plane parallel with the support surface and the floor 14 and a vertical axis. The head 88 can be pivotally coupled to the extension arm 80 by a bearing 92 coupled to the head 88 by a bearing housing 96, as shown in
Referring to
A shuttle 120 can be carried by the head 88 and located in the cavity 100. The shuttle 120 can be positioned on the rail or track 104 and the opposite lips 112. The shuttle 120 can be movably positioned (indicated by arrow 124) in the cavity 100 and on the rail or track 104 to reciprocate. The shuttle 120 can reciprocate along a linear axis (also indicated by arrow 124). The shuttle 120 can be operatively coupled to the motor 18 as described herein.
The shuttle 120 can slide on top of the opposite lips 112. In addition, the opposite of lips 112 can retain the shuttle 120 in the cavity 100 and resist the shuttle 120 from exiting the opening 108. The shuttle 120 can have wear strips 128 (
In addition, the shuttle 120 can have a pocket 132 that is open upwardly. A pair of cam blocks 136 (
Furthermore, the shuttle 120 can have a pair of bores 140. The bores 140 can be vertically oriented and spaced-apart from one another.
In one aspect, the shuttle 120 can be coupled to the motor 18 by a belt drive system 144 with a toothed belt 148. The belt 148 can extend from the motor 18, along the extension arm 80, to the head 88 and the shuttle 120. A belt cover 152 can cover the belt 148 and be coupled to the extension arm 80 forming a cavity or beltway 156. In another aspect, the belt cover 152 can form part of the extension arm 80 and can also form the low-profile of the extension arm. Thus, description of the low-profile of the extension arm 80 also applies to the belt cover 152 of the extension arm 80. In one aspect, the belt cover 152 can have multiple portions to accommodate a variable length of the extension arm 80. In another aspect, multiple different belt covers with different length can be available to accommodate the length of the extension arm 80. The belt drive 144 can have an automatic belt tensioner 160 (
A toothed pulley 176 can be rotationally mounted at the distal end 84 of the extension arm 88. The toothed pulley 176 can be engaged and driven by the toothed belt 148.
A crank 180 can be carried by the head 88 and operatively coupled between the motor 18 and the shuttle 120. The crank 180 can be coupled to and rotational with the toothed pulley 176. A spindle 184 of the crank 180 can be coupled to the toothed pulley 176. The crank 180 can rotate about a rotational axis defined by the spindle 184. An offset orbital bearing 188 can be rotatably coupled to the crank 180 opposite the spindle 184 and off-center or offset from the rotational axis and the spindle 184. Thus, as the belt 148 rotates the toothed pulley 176 and the crank 180, the orbital bearing 188 can orbit around the rotational axis. The orbital bearing 188 can be positioned in the pocket 132 of the shuttle 120. As the orbital bearing 188 orbits the rotational axis, the orbital bearing 188 can engage the shuttle 120 and drive and reciprocate the shuttle 120 back-and-forth in linear motion (also indicated by arrow 124). The orbital bearing 188 can bear against the cam blocks 136 in the pocket 132 of the shuttle 120. In one aspect, the crank 180 can have a plate coupled to the spindle 184 and a post extending from the plate off-center or off-axis from the spindle 184. The orbital bearing 188 can be rotatably coupled to the post by a bearing. In another aspect, the plate can have voids adjacent to the post and in the same hemisphere of the plate as the post to provide balance to the crank 180 as it rotates.
A crank bearing 192 can be positioned between the spindle 184 of the crank 180 and the bearing housing 96 coupled to the head 88. In one aspect, the crank bearing 192 can be adapted for both: 1) radial and horizontal loads (indicated by the x-axis and the y-axis), and 2) axial and or vertical loads (indicated by the z-axis). The radial or horizontal loads can be applied by rotation of the crank 180 and the reciprocal motion of the shuttle 120. The axial or vertical loads can be applied by the shuttle 120 (and the weight of the machine 10 against the scrub pad 200, described below). In another aspect, the crank bearing 192 can be an angular-contact bearing.
A scrub pad 200 can be coupled to the shuttle 120. The scrub pad 200 can be reciprocated by the shuttle 120. The scrub pad 200 can be coupled to the shuttle 120 through the opening 108 in the head 88. The scrub pad 200 can be positioned underneath the head 88 and to bear against the support surface and the floor 14. Thus, the weight of the machine 10 can be carried by the pair of wheels 22 under the rear of the base 18, and the scrub pad 200 at the distal end 84 of the extension arm 80.
Referring to
As described above, the head 88 can be pivotally coupled to the distal end 84 of the extension arm 80. In one aspect, the head 88 can be selectively pivotal in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis. In another aspect, the head 88 can have at least two different rotational orientations with respect to the extension arm 80. Thus, the head 88 can be pivoted to selectively orient the linear axis 124 with respect to the extension arm 80. Selectively orienting the head 88 and the linear axis 124 with respect to the extension arm 80 can allow the machine 10 to be oriented with respect to various structures, such as walls, baseboards, and equipment.
Referring to
The lock 220 can have at least a pair of slots 224 and 226 associated with the head 88 (
In addition, the lock 220 can have a slide 240 slidably coupled to the extension arm 80. The slide 240 can be selectively positioned in one of the pair of slots 224 and 226. Thus, the slide 240 residing in one of the slots 224 and 226 can fix the orientation of the head 88 with respect to the extension arm 80. In one aspect, the slide 240 can be coupled to the belt cover 152. Thus, the slide 240 is coupled to the extension arm 80 via the belt cover 152.
In one aspect, the lock 220 can have a quick-release 244 coupling the slide 240 to the extension arm 80. The quick-release 244 can have a tight position fixing the slide 240 to the extension arm 80 and the belt cover 152, and a loose position allowing the slide 240 to slide with respect to the extension arm 80 and the belt cover 152.
In another aspect, the quick-release 244 can include a lock slot 248 (
In another aspect, the machine 10 can have a plurality of different pads 200 separately coupleable to the shuttle 120. The scrub pads 200 can have different surface textures and/or materials for use with different flooring surfaces and/or cleaning situations. For example, the plurality of different pads or drivers can include: a standard pad, a low-profile pad, a multi-purpose pad, a baseboard and floor edge pad, a brush pad for grout, a carpet glue removal pad with wire bristles, a tooling for polish concrete, and a tooling for burnishing concrete.
Referring again to
In one aspect, the machine 10 and the pad can be used dry. In another aspect, the machine 10 and the pad 200 can be used with a liquid, such as a cleaning solution or chemical, that can be applied to the floor 14 and agitated against the floor by the pad 200. Referring to
Referring to
The machine 10d may create dust depending on the pad 200 used and the material of the floor 14. For example, the pad can have an abrasive working surface that can be used on a wood floor. Referring to
As described above, the machine 10d and the pad 200 can be utilized with a liquid. The machine 10d can be configured to apply the liquid to the floor 14 adjacent the head 88 and the pad 200. Referring to
During use, the machine 10 can be supported on the floor 14 by the pair of wheels 22 in the back of the base 18, and the pad 200 on the distal end 84 of the extension arm 80. To transport the machine 10 between uses, the machine 10 can be tilted back on the pair of wheels 22 to elevate the pad 200 off of the floor 14. Referring to
A lever arm 428 can be coupled to the wheel 420 opposite the pivot 424. The lever arm 428 can have at least two positions, including: a vertical position and a horizontal position. In the vertical position, the lever arm 428 can be substantially vertical. The vertical position can correspond to the deployed position of the wheel 420. The lever arm 428 can be colored, such as red, to draw attention to the deployment of the transport wheel 420 and elevation of the pad 200. The lever arm 428 can have a sleeve 432 to facilitate gripping and that can be colored. In the horizontal position, the lever arm 428 can be substantially horizontal and can be positioned along-side the extension arm 80. The horizontal position can correspond to the retracted position of the wheel 420. In the horizontal position of the lever arm 428 and the retracted position of the transport wheel 420, the lever arm 428 and the transport wheel 420 can be positioned within a profile of the extension arm 88 and the belt cover 152, and below an uppermost part of the extension arm 80 and the belt cover 152 so that the extension arm 80 can be low profile. A locking pin 436 can engage the extension arm 80 and can maintain the orientation of the transport wheel 420.
As described above, the machine 10 can have a rotational electric motor 38 carried by the base 18 and coupled to the reciprocating shuttle 120 by the belt drive 144. In another aspect, the machine can have a motor carried by the distal end of the extension arm. In another aspect, the machine can have a motor carried by the head. Thus, the motor can be located at the distal end of the extension arm and over the shuttle. In addition, the motor can be located within the low-profile of the extension arm 80 and within the vertical height H or elevation less than or equal to 5¼ inches, in one aspect; less than or equal to 4¾ inches, in another aspect; and less than or equal to 3¾ inches in another aspect. Locating the motor at the distal end of the extension arm can eliminate the belt drive, reduce components, and position weight over the pad. In another aspect, the motor can comprise one or more linear actuators. In another aspect, the motor can comprise a permanent magnet linear motor. The linear actuators and the linear motor can provide a lower profile to complement the low-profile extension arm.
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The term “ferromagnetic” is used herein to refer to a material or element that has magnetic properties and/or effected by magnetic fields, either by being magnetic, or being magnetically attracted to a magnet (such as by containing iron) such that one ferromagnetic material or element is magnetically attracted to another ferromagnetic material or element. Thus, a ferromagnetic tab can be a magnet or is magnetic, such as a permanent magnet, or is attracted to magnets, such as by containing iron (Fe).
Some aspects of the floor cleaning machine are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/212,538, filed Aug. 5, 2002, and published Feb. 5, 2005, as publication no. 2004/0019989, and Ser. No. 15/381,738, filed Dec. 16, 2016, and published Jun. 21, 2018, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a layer” includes a plurality of such layers.
In this disclosure, “comprises,” “comprising,” “containing” and “having” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law and can mean “includes,” “including,” and the like, and are generally interpreted to be open ended terms. The terms “consisting of” or “consists of” are closed terms, and include only the components, structures, steps, or the like specifically listed in conjunction with such terms, as well as that which is in accordance with U.S. Patent law. “Consisting essentially of” or “consists essentially of” have the meaning generally ascribed to them by U.S. Patent law. In particular, such terms are generally closed terms, with the exception of allowing inclusion of additional items, materials, components, steps, or elements, that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics or function of the item(s) used in connection therewith. For example, trace elements present in a composition, but not affecting the composition's nature or characteristics would be permissible if present under the “consisting essentially of” language, even though not expressly recited in a list of items following such terminology. When using an open ended term in the specification, like “comprising” or “including,” it is understood that direct support should be afforded also to “consisting essentially of” language as well as “consisting of” language as if stated explicitly and vice versa.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Similarly, if a method is described herein as comprising a series of steps, the order of such steps as presented herein is not necessarily the only order in which such steps may be performed, and certain of the stated steps may possibly be omitted and/or certain other steps not described herein may possibly be added to the method.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in an electrical or nonelectrical manner. Objects described herein as being “adjacent to” each other may be in physical contact with each other, in close proximity to each other, or in the same general region or area as each other, as appropriate for the context in which the phrase is used. Occurrences of the phrase “in one embodiment.” or “in one aspect,” herein do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment or aspect.
As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is “substantially free of”′ particles would either completely lack particles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect would be the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, a composition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof.
As used herein, “adjacent” refers to the proximity of two structures or elements. Particularly, elements that are identified as being “adjacent” may be either abutting or connected. Such elements may also be near or close to each other without necessarily contacting each other. The exact degree of proximity may in some cases depend on the specific context.
As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint. It is understood that express support is intended for exact numerical values in this specification, even when the term “about” is used in connection therewith.
It is to be understood that the examples set forth herein are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples. In the description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of the technology being described. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
While the foregoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts described herein. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
