MODULAR FLOOR MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a floor machine for cleaning and improving the condition of floors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular floor machine that can be used with various sizes of rotary and planetary attachments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Floors in high-traffic areas become dirty as people walk over them and debris settles on them. In addition, floors in high-traffic areas may dull or accumulate scuffs over time. Mops, brooms, and other cleaning tools may be used to clean floors once they become dirty. In addition, polishing and sanding may be useful for removing dullness and scuffs. However, cleaning, polishing, and sanding is often burdensome and time-consuming to perform manually. To help reduce this burden, various types of motorized floor machines have been developed.

Rotary floor machines are used in industrial, commercial, and residential applications to help clean floors or otherwise improve the condition of floors. Rotary floor machines typically include a pad holder that rotates at a rate of approximately 175 revolutions per minute (rpm) to approximately 300 rpm. Various types of pads and cleaning devices may be affixed to the pad holder. Thus, rotary floor machines may assist with scrubbing, buffing, polishing, stripping, sanding, scraping, or performing other actions on the floor. Rotary floor machines are also referred to as buffers, polishers, swing machines, and side-by-sides.

Planetary floor machines are also used for maintaining and improving the condition of floors. These machines typically include a planetary carrier that rotates at a relatively low speed and planets that rotate at relatively high speeds on the planetary carrier. Common applications for planetary floor machines include diamond polishing (e.g., on concrete, terrazzo, or marble floors) and sanding hardwood floors. When compared to rotary floor machines, planetary floor machines provide faster and more aggressive action on the floor and a finer scratch pattern. In some instances, planetary floor machines provide easier operator control.

Due to the differences between rotary floor machines and planetary floor machines, a user may find rotary floor machines advantageous for certain cleaning operations, while planetary floor machines may be advantageous for other cleaning operations. Accordingly, a user may find it useful to have both a rotary floor machine and a planetary floor machine. However, space and financial limitations may make it impractical for a user or an equipment rental company to own both.

In addition to the various movement styles (e.g., rotary and planetary), floor machines are also sold in a variety of sizes. For example, floor machines are commonly sold in “working widths” of thirteen inches (13″), sixteen inches (16″), seventeen inches (17″), or twenty inches (20″). The working width of a floor machine generally corresponds to the diameter of the pad that acts on the floor. Thus, larger-sized floor machines may be useful for cleaning relatively large and relatively open floor areas, while smaller-sized floor machines may be useful for cleaning relatively small floor areas or floor areas with obstructions.

Therefore, if a user wishes to clean a variety of floor areas, a user may desire to use floor machines in a variety of sizes. However, it can be quite expensive and space-consuming to own, transport, and store multiple floor machines in various sizes and styles.

To address these issues, some manufacturers sell a rotary floor machine that can be used with thirteen inch (13″) and eighteen inch (18″) pad holders. These rotary floor machines provide the ability to select the working width (i.e., either 13″ or 18″) of the floor machine, depending on the size of the floor area. Thus, these machines may be used with a variety of floor areas. However, these machines only facilitate rotary motion. As a result, a user still needs at least one planetary floor machine if they wish to perform cleaning operations that require planetary motion.

Other manufacturers sell a floor machine that is selectively configurable for either rotary motion or planetary motion. To configure these machines for either rotary or planetary motion, a user may couple a pad holder or a planetary carrier to the floor machine. However, these machines are only compatible with one size of pad holder and planetary carrier. As a result, it is not possible to adjust the working width of these machines, and a user may still desire additional floor machines in other sizes.

Accordingly, current solutions fail to provide a floor machine that is configurable depending on the size of the floor area and the cleaning operation being performed. Instead, a user must use multiple floor machines, or a user must compromise between a floor machine that is adjustable in size and a floor machine that is adjustable between rotary motion and planetary motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a floor machine that accommodates various sizes and styles of working attachments. For example, the floor machine may be selectively configured for either rotary motion or planetary motion. Moreover, the floor machine may be selectively coupled with attachments in various sizes. Therefore, the floor machine can be selectively configured for various floor areas and cleaning operations.

Some embodiments, provide a modular floor machine that includes a base, a rotary adaptor, and a rotary attachment. The rotary adaptor is removably coupled to the base and defining an interior space. The rotary attachment is rotatably coupled to the base in the interior space.

In some embodiments, a perimeter of the base abuts an upper surface of the rotary adaptor.

In some embodiments, a transmission of the base extends through an opening defined in the rotary adaptor.

In some embodiments, the rotary attachment is coupled to a transmission of the base.

In some embodiments, a protrusion of the transmission engages a groove defined in the rotary attachment.

In some embodiments, the transmission engages a collar of the rotary attachment.

In some embodiments, a lug of the base secures the rotary attachment to the base.

In some embodiments, the lug extends through a keyhole opening defined in the base.

In some embodiments, the lug engages the rotary attachment via one or more of an interference fit, a friction fit, and a clip of the rotary attachment.

In some embodiments, the rotary attachment is wider than the base.

In some embodiments, the rotary adaptor includes a ring gear and the rotary attachment includes a planet gear enmeshed with the ring gear.

In some embodiments, a bottom surface is coupled to the planet gear.

In some embodiments, a body of the rotary adaptor is coupled to the base and rotatably supports the planet gear.

In some embodiments, the body includes a collar extending from a planet carrier.

In some embodiments, a transmission of the base extends beyond a perimeter of the base.

Some embodiments provide a floor cleaner that includes a rotary adaptor, a base, and a rotary attachment. The rotary adaptor is removably coupled to the base. The rotary attachment is partially covered by the rotary adaptor and is drivably coupled to the base.

In some embodiments, a ring gear of the rotary adaptor enmeshes a planet gear of the rotary attachment.

In some embodiments, a transmission of the base extends through the rotary adaptor and couples to the rotary attachment.

Some embodiments provide floor maintenance device that includes a base, a rotary adaptor, and a rotary attachment. The base has a perimeter and includes an electric motor. The rotary adaptor defines an interior space and abuts the perimeter. The rotary attachment is drivably coupled to the electric motor within the interior space.

In some embodiments, a transmission of the base extends through the rotary adaptor and couples to the rotary attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor machine according to the teachings hereof.

FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the floor machine of FIG. 1 with a rotary adapter and a rotary attachment coupled to a lower end of the floor machine.

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the rotary attachment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a lower perspective view of the floor machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of the rotary adapter of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a lower perspective view of the floor machine of FIG. 1 with a planetary adapter and a planetary attachment coupled to the lower end of the floor machine.

FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the planetary attachment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a lower perspective view of the floor machine of FIG. 6 with the planetary attachment removed to more clearly illustrate the planetary adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a floor machine 10 that may be used to scrub, buff, polish, sand, scrape, strip, or perform other cleaning operations on a floor. To facilitate these operations, the floor machine 10 may include an electric motor 15 that preferably generates rotational power. The electric motor 15 may be positioned and located on a base 20 of the floor machine 10, although other locations for the electric motor 15 are also foreseeable. The electric motor 15 may receive power from a cord 25 configured to establish electrical communication with a wall outlet (not illustrated). However, in alternative embodiments, the electric motor 15 may receive power using other suitable means (e.g., a battery), or the floor machine 10 may be powered using other suitable means (e.g., a propane engine).

To use the floor machine 10, a user may move the base 20 of the floor machine 10 along a floor. To facilitate movement of the floor machine 10, the floor machine 10 may include wheels 30 positioned and located proximate to a lower end 35 of the floor machine 10. The wheels 30 may be rotatably coupled to the base 20, and two wheels 30 may be provided (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1). However, in alternative embodiments, the wheels 30 may be positioned and located elsewhere on the floor machine 10. Furthermore, in other alternative embodiments, more or fewer of the wheels 30 may be provided.

The floor machine 10 may also include a handle portion 40 coupled to the base 20 to preferably help the user with moving the floor machine 10. To move the floor machine 10, the user may grip the handle portion 40, and the user may push or pull on the handle portion 40. For example, the handle portion 40 may be positioned and located proximate to an upper end 45 of the floor machine 10. More specifically, the handle portion 40 may be coupled to a frame 50 pivotably connected to the base 20. In operation, the frame 50 may be pivoted relative to the base 20 to adjust the handle portion 40 to a height of the user and/or to increase the user's leverage on the base 20. The user may selectively activate the floor machine 10 via one or more triggers 52 extending from the handle portion 40.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, a rotary attachment 55 may be selectively coupled to the floor machine 10 proximate to the lower end 35 of the floor machine 10. When the rotary attachment 55 is coupled to the floor machine 10, the rotary attachment 55 may be selectively rotated to clean or perform other actions on the floor. For example, the rotary attachment 55 may be used to scrub, buff, polish, sand, scrape, strip, or otherwise improve the condition of the floor. Thus, the floor machine 10 may be used as a rotary floor machine when the rotary attachment 55 is coupled to the floor machine 10.

To facilitate scrubbing and other actions on the floor, the rotary attachment 55 may include a pad 60 coupled to a body 65 of the rotary attachment 55. The body 65 may be shaped as a circular disc and may be provided in a variety of different diameters (e.g., approximately 13″, 16″, 17″, or 20″) depending on the preferences of the user. Moreover, the pad 60 may be provided in a variety of different forms (e.g., a nylon brush, a cloth mat, a polyester fiber mat, sandpaper, etc.) depending on the intended cleaning action for the pad 60. The pad 60 may be affixed to the body 65 (e.g., using an adhesive, a snap fit, a friction fit, etc.). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the pad 60 may be selectively removable from the body 65. As a result, the pad 60 may be replaced after the pad 60 is worn or soiled. However, in alternative embodiments, the pad 60 may be integrally formed with the body 65.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, a rotary adapter 70 may be removably coupled to the floor machine 10 to preferably protect the user from injuries and to further protect the rotary attachment 55 from accidental damage. More particularly, the rotary adapter 70 may include an outer wall 75 extending downwardly from the floor machine 10. The outer wall 75 may partially enclose an interior 80 (see FIG. 5) of the rotary adapter 70. In addition, a cross-section of the outer wall 75 may be larger than a diameter of the rotary attachment 55. Thus, the rotary attachment 55 may be positioned and located in the interior 80 of the rotary adapter 70 such that the outer wall 75 preferably surrounds at least a portion of the rotary attachment 55. As a result, the rotary adapter 70 preferably helps to prevent the rotary attachment 55 from coming into contact with the user. In addition, the outer wall 75 preferably prevents the rotary attachment 55 from accidental collisions with walls and furniture. Thus, the rotary adapter 70 may protect the user from injuries and limit damage to the rotary attachment 55.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotary attachment 55 may also include a collar 85 configured to receive rotational power from the electric motor 15 (see FIG. 1). The collar 85 may be a cylindrical protrusion extending upwardly from the body 65 and away from the pad 60 (see FIG. 2). To facilitate power transmission, an opening 90 may extend through the collar 85 in an axial direction with respect to the collar 85. The opening 90 may be circular-shaped, although other shapes for the opening 90 are also foreseeable. To further facilitate power transmission, the collar 85 may include a plurality of grooves 95 that extend outwardly from the opening 90. More particularly, the collar 85 may include three grooves 95 positioned and located adjacent to the opening 90. Each of the grooves 95 may include a rectangular cross-section extending in a direction parallel to the opening 90. However, in alternative embodiments, the grooves 95 may be alternatively sized or shaped, or the rotary attachment 55 may include more or fewer of the grooves 95.

Turning to FIG. 4, the floor machine 10 may include a transmission 100 configured to engage with the rotary attachment 55 (see, e.g., FIG. 3) and with other attachments (as will be described further herein). When the transmission 100 is engaged with the attachments, the transmission 100 may provide rotational power from the electric motor 15 to the attachments. For example, the transmission 100 may be directly coupled to the output of the electric motor 15. However, in alternative embodiments, a gear box or other power transmission mechanisms may be provided to couple the electric motor 15 to the transmission 100.

The transmission 100 may include a center portion 105 configured to be received in the opening 90 (see FIG. 3). For example, the center portion 105 may be shaped as a cylinder extending away from the lower end 35 of the base 20. In addition, a cross-section of the center portion 105 is preferably smaller in size than the opening 90 in the collar 85. As a result, the center portion 105 may be selectively extended through the opening 90 in the rotary attachment 55.

The transmission 100 may also include a plurality of protrusions 110 configured to transfer rotational power to the rotary attachment 55. The protrusions 110 may extend radially outward from the center portion 105, and each of the protrusions 110 may be rectangular-shaped. In addition, the protrusions 110 may be sized and shaped similarly to the grooves 95 (see FIG. 3) on the collar 85. Thus, when the transmission 100 is extended through the opening 90, the protrusions 110 preferably engage with the grooves 95 to operably couple the transmission 100 to the rotary attachment 55. However, in alternative embodiments, other suitable power transmission structures (e.g., a keyed shaft, a shaft sleeve, a chain, spur gears, etc.) for coupling the electric motor 15 to the rotary attachment 55 are foreseeable.

To accommodate attachments (e.g., the rotary attachment 55) in various sizes and styles, the floor machine 10 may be selectively coupled with a variety of adapters (e.g., the rotary adapter 70). When an adapter is coupled to the floor machine 10, a perimeter 115 on the base 20 of the floor machine 10 may abut the adapter. In some embodiments, the perimeter 115 may be circular-shaped, although other shapes for the perimeter 115 are foreseeable. Furthermore, the floor machine 10 may also include a plurality of lugs 120 configured to engage with the adapter. Each of the lugs 120 may extend downwardly from the base 20 and may have a circular cross-section. In addition, each of the lugs 120 may be positioned and located proximate to the perimeter 115.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the rotary adapter 70 may include an upper surface 125 configured to abut the circumference 115 on the base 20 (see FIG. 4). The upper surface 125 may include a plurality of slots 130 for coupling the rotary adapter 70 with the lugs 120 (see FIG. 4). In particular, the slots 130 may be provided as apertures extending through the upper surface 125 of the rotary adapter 70. The slots 130 may be sized and shaped to receive the lugs 120 and to retain the lugs 120 in the rotary adapter 70. A first end 135 of each slot 130 may be wider than a second end 140 of each slot 130. As a result, the first end 135 of each slot 130 may be wider than a diameter of the lugs 120, and the second end 140 of each slot 130 may be narrower than the diameter of the lugs 120. Thus, each slot 130 is keyhole shaped.

To couple the rotary adapter 70 to the floor machine 10, the lugs 120 may be inserted through the first ends 135 of the slots 130. As the lugs 120 are extended through the slots 130, the upper surface 125 of the rotary adapter 70 may be placed into contact with the perimeter 115 on the base 20. Then, the rotary adapter 70 may be rotated to move the lugs 120 toward the second ends 140 of the slots 130. Once the lugs 120 are positioned and located proximate to the second ends 140 of the slots 130, the lugs 120 are preferably retained in the slots 130 via a friction fit or an interference fit. As a result, the lugs 120 preferably couple the rotary adapter 70 to the base 20 via the slots 130. However, in alternative embodiments, the lugs 120 may be coupled to the rotary adapter 70 using clips or spring mechanisms.

When the rotary adapter 70 is coupled to the floor machine 10, an opening 145 in the upper surface 125 of the rotary adapter 70 may facilitate connections between the electric motor 15 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) and the rotary attachment 55 (see, e.g., FIG. 3). More particularly, the opening 145 may be provided as an aperture that is sized and shaped to receive the transmission 100. For example, the opening 145 may be circular-shaped, and the opening 145 may extend into the interior 80 of the rotary adapter 70. Thus, when the rotary adapter 70 is coupled to the floor machine 10, the transmission 100 (see FIG. 4) may extend through the opening 145 and into an interior 80 of the rotary adapter 70. Furthermore, when the transmission 100 is extended through the opening 145, the transmission 100 is preferably positioned and located proximate to the collar 85 (see FIG. 3) on the rotary attachment 55. Thus, the opening 145 aids in coupling the rotary attachment 55 to the transmission 100.

Turning to FIG. 6, the floor machine 10 may be selectively configured for planetary motion. To configure the floor machine 10 for planetary motion, a planetary attachment 150 and a planetary adapter 155 may be selectively coupled to the floor machine 10. The planetary attachment 150 may include a body 160 which is preferably rotated in a first direction by the electric motor 15. As the body 160 rotates, planet assemblies 165 coupled to the body 160 may move along an inner circumference 170 of the planetary adapter 155. The inner circumference 170 may engage with the planet assemblies 165 to cause the planet assemblies 165 to rotate in a second direction on the body 160. Thus, the planet assemblies 165 may rotate as the electric motor 15 rotates the body 160.

As the planet assemblies 165 rotate, bottom surfaces 175 of the planet assemblies 165 may clean or perform other actions on the floor. More particularly, the bottom surfaces 175 may be positioned and located proximate to the lower end 35 of the floor machine 10. Therefore, the bottom surfaces 175 may move across the floor in a planetary manner when the floor machine 10 is operated. The bottom surfaces 175 may be shaped as circular discs, although other shapes for the bottom surfaces 175 are also foreseeable. In addition, the bottom surfaces 175 may include a nylon brush, a cloth mat, a polyester fiber mat, or sandpaper. As a result, the bottom surfaces 175 preferably clean or otherwise improve the condition of the floor when the floor machine 10 is operated.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the body 160 of the planetary attachment 150 may be shaped as a circular disc, although other shapes for the planetary attachment 150 are also foreseeable. Similarly to the rotary attachment 55 (see, e.g., FIG. 3), the planetary attachment 150 may include a collar 180 that extends upwardly from the body 160, and an opening 185 may extend through the collar 180 in an axial direction. Similarly to the opening 90 (see FIG. 3), the opening 185 may be sized and shaped for engaging with the transmission 100 (see FIG. 4). Thus, the transmission 100 may be inserted into the opening 185 to preferably transfer rotational power to the body 160 of the planetary attachment 150.

To facilitate rotation of the planet assemblies 165, each of the planet assemblies 165 may include a spur gear 190 positioned and located on the planet assembly 165 opposite from the bottom surface 175. The spur gears 190 may be coupled to the bottom surfaces 175 such that rotation of the spur gears 190 preferably causes the bottom surfaces 175 to rotate as well. Furthermore, each of the spur gears 190 may be positioned and located adjacent to an outer circumference 195 of the body 160 of the planetary attachment 150. Thus, as the planetary attachment 150 rotates within the interior 80 of the planetary adapter 155 (see FIG. 5), the spur gears 190 may move along the inner circumference 170 (see FIG. 6) of the planetary adapter 155.

Turning to FIG. 8, the planetary adapter 155 may also include a ring gear 200 extending along the inner circumference 170 of the planetary adapter 155. The ring gear 200 is preferably configured to engage with the spur gears 190 as the outer circumference 195 (see FIG. 7) rotates relative to the inner circumference 170. As a result, the ring gear 200 preferably causes the spur gears 190 to rotate when the body 160 of the planetary attachment 150 (see FIG. 7) is rotated by the electric motor 15 (see, e.g., FIG. 1).

Similarly to the rotary adapter 70 (see FIG. 5), the planetary adapter 155 may be coupled to the floor machine 10 via the lugs 120. More particularly, the planetary adapter 155 may include slots 205 sized and shaped similarly to the slots 130 on the rotary adapter 70. Thus, the lugs 120 extend through the slots 130 to selectively couple to the planetary adapter 155 to the floor machine 10.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious, and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles, and scope of the present invention.

Many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

MODULAR FLOOR MACHINE

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (1)