The present invention relates to a residential wood floor cleaning machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light weight cleaning machine which may be used for the cleaning of residential wood floors providing sufficient rubbing action on the floor after a controllable light spray is provided to the floor in a well lighted area.
There appears to be little on the market in the way of effective and efficient cleaning of wood floors in the home. To provide effective cleaning of residential wood floors, a person must get down on the floor on his or her hands and knees with a cloth providing sufficient rubbing force using his or her hands and arms after application of a wood cleaning floor solution.
There is also a problem if too much solution is applied to the floor as this is typically an aqueous base which is not particularly good for wood floors when applied in excess. Large rotating floor buffers used in commercial applications, are not particularly good for cleaning residential wood floors. These are too heavy, bulky and dangerous for use by a typical housewife.
The present invention provides an efficient and effective means for cleaning wood floors in a residential setting.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a cleaning machine which is lightweight and easy to handle.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the cleaning surface may be an economical terry cloth material from various sources.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention provides a cleaning head which not only rotates but provides an orbital circular motion.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the area to be cleaned is well illuminated both before cleaning, during a spraying operation and to monitor the results of the cleaning operation.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the handle pivots, but is precluded from pivoting by more than about 90 degrees.
Another advantage of the present invention is that a sprayer used to spray a cleaning solution on the floor is controllable in a manner similar to a mechanical hand sprayer, thereby not resulting in excess fluid being sprayed on the floor.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the sprayer has a removable reservoir which provides ease of refilling of the sprayer.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the terry cloth cleaning surface may be applied to the head by simple and inexpensive means of a rubber band or by the simple manner of mounting hook type cloth fasteners to the bottom of the cleaning head.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the walls are protected by a ring mounted to the housing of the cleaning head and that the handle brackets are mounted within this ring.
Another advantage of the present invention is that is utilizes one or more LED lights which provide bright and effective lighting.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the handle and sprayer mount structure may be made lighter weight material by utilizing a truss like structure between the handle of the machine and a sprayer tube mounting and operating structure.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the sprayer is mounted, when the handle is positioned at an operating angle, directly over the area illuminated by the LED lights.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the light is on whenever the motor is operating.
Briefly and basically, in accordance with the present invention there is provided an orbital circular cleaning head mounted in a circular housing and driven by an electric motor. Means are provided for attaching a cleaning cloth, such as a terry cloth, to the head. A handle is mounted to a bracket with the bracket being pivotally mounted to the housing and contained within the diameter of the housing. The bracket includes a stop for preventing the handle and bracket from pivoting more than about 90 degrees. At least one light emitting diode (LED) light is mounted to direct LED light to eliminate a portion of floor area adjacent to the cleaning head. A tubular structure is mounted to the handle. A sprayer is mounted to a lower portion of the tubular structure for controllably spraying a controlled amount of liquid on the floor area illuminated by the LED light. A mechanical operating means mounted within the tubular structure is operable by a first lever mounted on an upper portion of the handle to controllably spray in response to the mechanical operating means being operated by the first lever. The sprayer is provided with a removable reservoir for ease in refilling it with wood floor cleaning solution. Electrical controls are provided including an on/off switch mounted on an upper portion of the handle for supplying power to said at least one LED light and to an operating switch, and a second lever for operating said operating switch to turn on and off the electrical power to operate the electrical motor.
In a presently preferred embodiments, the terry cloth may be attached to the head by means of a rubber band mounted over the terry cloth over a groove in a periphery of the head. Alternatively, the terry cloth may be attached to the head by mounting hook type cloth fasteners to the bottom of the head which engages loops of the terry cloth.
Preferably, the LED lighting provides intense lighting of the area which is to be cleaned, the area to be sprayed and to observe the area after cleaning. It is presently preferred that four LED lights be used to provide the intense lighting, but this may be accomplished by less or more LED lights.
In accordance with one of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, the bracket on the lower end of the handle is pivotally mounted to a ring of the housing on the periphery of the housing. Further it is preferably mounted such that the bracket is inside of the ring and the bracket is provided with a stop to prevent the handle from pivoting by more than about 90 degrees.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in
Head 12 not only rotates, but also moves in an orbital fashion within housing 14 to provide a rotating and lateral or sideways moving action over the floor. In other words, the output rotating shaft of electric motor 16 not only provides rotary motion to head 12, but causes head 12 while rotating to orbitally move about the axis of the motor by structures known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,542 issued Oct. 18, 1994. However, many of these machines are built of such size and weight that they are not suitable for use in the intended invention. One presently preferred orbital cleaning and buffing machine which may be suitable for use is one made by Ryobi and sold as its Model No. RB101 ten inch orbital buffer which is commercially available. This is sold as a hand held orbital buffer, but its structure or similar structure may be adapted for use in the residential wood floor cleaning machine of the present invention. Housing 14 is provided with a ring 18 on the periphery of housing 14. Preferably head 12 has a diameter in the range of 8 to 10 inches. However any suitable orbital buffing or polishing machine may be used for the motor and orbital rotation mechanism within the scope of the present invention
The actual cleaning of the floor is done by a cleaning cloth such as a terry cloth or other towel like material, preferably of cotton, which is attached to orbital head 12. Terry cloth 12 may be new or old towel material or it may be terry cloth cut or woven to a shape to compliment the head 12. Various means may be utilized to attach the terry cloth to head 12. These include as illustrated in
An alternative means of attaching a terry cloth 20 to head 12 is as illustrated in
Cleaning machine 10 is provided with a handle 30 mounted to a bracket 40. Bracket 40 may be pivotally mounted to housing 12 and contained within the diameter of housing 12. In a presently preferred embodiment as illustrated in
Bracket 40 includes a stop 44 for preventing handle 30 and bracket 40 from pivoting more than about 90 degrees. In other words, if handle 30 were continued to be raised, stop 44 would eventually hit the upper surface of ring 18 preventing further pivoting of handle 30 and bracket 40.
As best illustrated in
A sprayer 60 is provided to provide a wood cleaning solution via spray head 62 to the same portion 52 of wood floor area 11.
The spray solution may be any suitable solution which provides beneficial cleaning action for the cleaning of wood floors. A presently preferred wood floor cleaning solution is commercially available at various retail locations and is distributed by BonaKemi USA, Inc. under the trademark BONA having an address of 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 600, Aurora, Colo. 80014. However, it is understood that various other wood floor cleaning solutions may be utilized in practicing the present invention.
Sprayer 60 may be mounted to a tubular structure 70 mounted to handle 30. The sprayer 60 is mounted to a lower portion of tubular structure 70 for controllably spraying a controlled amount of liquid on the floor area illuminated by the at least one LED light 50 or the four lights 50, 53. Sprayer 60 includes a mechanical pump 64. This may be similar to mechanical pumps found in spray bottles and other spray dispensers which are not electrically or power operated. It is desired to keep the spray minimal and controllable for effective and efficient cleaning without flooding the floor. Sprayer 60 mounted at the lower end of tubular structure 70 is mechanically operated by a first lever 80 mounted on an upper portion of handle 30. The operation of sprayer 60 by the operation of first lever 80 is mechanically connected to sprayer 60 by a mechanical connection mounted in either tubular structure 70 or handle 30. Preferably, in accordance with the present invention, the mechanical connection or mechanical transmission of motion from first lever 80 to mechanical pump 64 in sprayer 60 is by means of a tube or transmission rod 72 mounted within tubular structure 70 as illustrated in
As best illustrated in
In a presently preferred embodiment, tubular structure 70 would be mounted to handle 30 by a plurality of interconnecting elements forming a truss like structure of two legs, namely 30 and 70. The plurality of elements may be arranged in various forms. One or two interconnecting elements may be utilized. However, as presently preferred in
Accordingly, a fairly rigid structure of light weight may be provided which includes a handle structure 30 and a tubular operating structure 70 which mounts sprayer 60 above the LED lights, spaced away from the lights such that the sprayer may move freely over the lights and provide the spray to floor area 52. Further, tubular structure 70 provides a mechanical operating connection between lever 80 and mechanical pump 64 in sprayer 60.
Electrical power is provided to cleaning machine 10 via electric power cord 58. Power cord 58 may be stored by wrapping it around cord hooks 36 and 38 mounted on handle 30. Electrical power is provided via power cord 58 to electrical box 66 which supplies power via on/off switch 82 to LED lights 50, 53 via lines 98 and to an operating switch 92. The squeezing of second lever 90 closes switch 92 and applies power to electric motor 16 via lines 96.
The power is applied to both the light emitting diodes and the motor when the motor is operating, thereby requiring the light emitting diodes to always be on when the motor is running. Release of second lever 90 removes power from the electric motor 16 but light emitting diodes 50, 53 remain energized as long as the on/off switch 82 is on.
The circuitry is best illustrated in
Preferably, as illustrated, levers 80 and 90 are mounted on an upper portion of handle 30, near hand grips 100 and 102, respectively.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.
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