Apparatus for floor cleaning and treatment

• US 20050132527A1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Doll, Brian J., Venard, Daniel C., Pedlar, Roger, Tran, Loi X., Gorsky, Robert S., Shark, Eric L., Green, Nevin, Simmon, Rusty, Pearson, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/340.300
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/145 with supply of cleaning agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/16 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/20 combined with vacuum cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0217 Use of a detergent in high pressure cleaners; arrangements for supplying the same
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/027 Pump details
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2018 : for braking on a slope
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 : Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/142 : acoustic
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 : Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 : Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/24 : with additional mechanical or electromagnetic braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating a floored surface that includes a platform adapted to support the weight of an operator. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is capable of generally performing 360° turns to facilitate the treatment of difficult to access portions of the floored surface.

Claims

1. A floor treating apparatus comprising:

a chassis with a lower surface, a front surface, an upper surface, a rear surface, a left surface and a right surface, wherein a platform is provided that is adapted to support the weight of an operator;

a powered wheel operably connected adjacent the lower surface of the chassis, the powered wheel being capable of at least one of transitioning and rotating the floor treating apparatus;

a steering mechanism adjacent to the upper surface that is accessible by the operator;

an operable floor treating device connected adjacent to the lower surface of the chassis;

an operable debris collection device connected adjacent to the lower surface of the chassis; and

wherein an operator controls the floor treatment apparatus from the platform.

2. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform is adapted to receive and secure a seat.

3. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor treating device is at least one of a brush, a burnishing pad, a squeegee, a vacuum, a scrubbing brush, and a swinging brush.

4. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chassis has a maximum outside envelope of about 51 inches high, 27 inches wide, and 52 inches long.

5. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the debris collection device includes a rotatable squeegee that is capable of a first position of use, positioned a predetermined distance from the surface being cleaned, and a second position of use, positioned substantially on the surface being cleaned.

6. The floor treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rotatable squeegee is transitioned from the first position to the second position with a hand-actuated lever.

7. The floor treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rotatable squeegee is transitioned from the first position to the second position automatically.

8. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a throttle, an operator presence switch that interrupts the throttle when not depressed, and a platform switch that must be engaged in order for the throttle to be effective.

9. The floor treating apparatus of claim 8, further including a means to set a speed range wherein no degree of throttle engagement will cause the apparatus to exceed the speed range.

10. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a suspension system.

11. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a braking mechanism.

12. The floor treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the braking mechanism is interconnected to at least one of a console positioned near the steering mechanism, on the steering mechanism, and on said platform.

13. The floor treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the braking mechanism is a manually controlled electromechanical device.

14. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steering mechanism is at least one of a steering wheel, at least one joy stick, a yoke, handle bars, and controls on a control panel.

15. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hose and a wand attached to the chassis that is adapted to selectively direct a stream of pressurized fluid or air.

16. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor treating device is a brush that substantially encircles the powered wheel.

17. The floor treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises a front member that includes an exhaust channel.

18. A floor treating apparatus comprising:

a chassis with a lower surface, a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, and a right surface, wherein said rear includes a platform adapted to support the weight of an operator;

a plurality of wheels operably interconnected to the lower surface one wheel adjacent to the left surface and one wheel adjacent the right surface;

a steering wheel operably interconnected to a third wheel located approximately between the left surface and the right surface that allows the chassis to rotate 360 degrees without substantially moving in other directions;

a floor treatment mechanism interconnected to said lower surface;

a power plant interconnected to at least one of the plurality of wheels or said steering wheel;

a steering mechanism in communication with the steering wheel; and

wherein the operator controls the floor treatment apparatus from the platform.

19. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the platform is adapted to receive a seat for the operator.

20. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the floor treatment mechanism is at least one of a brush, a burnisher, a squeegee, a vacuum, a scrubbing brush, and a swinging brush.

21. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the chassis has a maximum outside envelope of about 50.75 inches high, 26.5 inches wide, and 51.5 inches long.

22. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the debris collection device includes a rotatable squeegee that is capable of a first position of use, positioned a predetermined distance from the surface being cleaned, and a second position of use, positioned substantially on the surface being cleaned.

23. The floor treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rotatable squeegee is transitioned from the first position to the second position with a hand-actuated lever.

24. The floor treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rotatable squeegee is transitioned from the first position to the second position automatically.

25. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the platform includes a throttle, an operator presence switch that interrupts the throttle when not depressed, and a platform switch that must be engaged in order for the throttle to be effective.

26. The floor treating apparatus of claim 25, further including a means to set a speed range wherein no degree of throttle engagement will cause the apparatus to exceed the speed range.

27. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the platform includes a suspension system.

28. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a braking mechanism.

29. The floor treating apparatus of claim 28, wherein the braking mechanism is interconnected to at least one of a console positioned near the steering mechanism, on the steering mechanism, and on said platform.

30. The floor treating apparatus of claim 28, wherein the braking mechanism is a manually controlled electromechanical device.

31. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the steering mechanism is at least one of a steering wheel, at least one joy stick, a yoke, handle bars, and controls on a control panel.

32. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a hose and a wand attached to the chassis that is adapted to selectively direct a stream of pressurized fluid or air.

33. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the floor treating device is a brush that substantially encircles the powered wheel.

34. The floor treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the chassis comprises a front member that includes an exhaust channel.

35. A floor treating apparatus comprising:

an enclosure for enveloping at least a waste receptacle, the enclosure having a lower surface, a front surface, an upper surface, a rear surface, a left surface, and a right surface, wherein said rear surface is such that a platform is provided that is adapted to support the weight of an operator;

a drive mechanism operably connected to the apparatus and being capable of at least one of transitioning and rotating the floor treating apparatus;

a steering means connected to at least one of the chassis or the platform;

a floor treatment means operably connected to the lower surface of the chassis; and

wherein the operator controls the floor treatment apparatus from said platform.

36. The floor treating apparatus of claim 35 wherein the floor treatment device includes a debris collection means.

37. The floor treating apparatus of claim 35, wherein the drive means is an electric motor in communication with at least one wheel.

38. The floor treating apparatus of claim 35, wherein the steering means is at least one of a steering wheel, at least one joy stick, a yoke, handle bars, and a remote controlled system.

39. The floor treating apparatus of claim 35, wherein the floor treatment means is at least one of a brush, a scrubber, a burnishing pad, and a squeegee.

40. The floor treating apparatus of claims 39, wherein the brush generally spans from the left surface to the right surface of the enclosure and spins in an axis generally parallel to the surface being cleaned.

41. The floor treating apparatus of claim 39, wherein the scrubber rotates in an axis generally perpendicular to the surface being cleaning.

42. The floor treating apparatus of claim 35, wherein the floor treatment means includes a device for capturing debris and fluid and directing them to a suction means, the device for capturing debris and fluid being rotatably connected to the lower surface of the enclosure wherein fluid and debris is generally contained when the floor treatment apparatus is turned.