Floor Cleaning Apparatus
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cleaning apparatus having a cleaning system including at least one downwardly directed spray nozzle is supported by the chassis proximal the chassis forward end and in fluid communication with at least one cleaning solution tank. The at least one spray nozzle sprays cleaning solution from the tank onto the floor. At least one ground engaging agitation brush is disposed rearwardly of the at least one spray nozzle for agitating the cleaning solution sprayed onto the floor. At least one vacuum shoe is supported by the chassis rearwardly of the at least one agitation brush, and in fluid communication with the at least one recovery tank. Cleaning solution drawn into the vacuum shoe is deposited into the at least one recovery tank. In one embodiment, the apparatus is drivable. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a second cleaning system including a vacuum squeegee.
12 Citations
50 Claims
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1-9. -9. (canceled)
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10. A floor cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a chassis having a forward end and a rearward end; a plurality of floor engaging wheels supporting said chassis above a floor, at least one first tank supported by said chassis for holding a cleaning solution; at least one second tank supported by said chassis for holding recovered cleaning solution, wherein said cleaning solution from said at least one first tank is applied to the floor; at least one ground engaging agitation brush for agitating the cleaning solution applied to the floor; at least one vacuum shoe supported by said chassis rearwardly of where said cleaning solution is applied to the floor, wherein cleaning solution drawn into said vacuum shoe is deposited into said at least one second tank; and a squeegee assembly supported by said chassis rearwardly of said at least one agitation brush, wherein cleaning solution drawn into said squeegee assembly is deposited into said at least one second tank. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 29)
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19. A floor cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a chassis having a forward end and a rearward end; a plurality of floor engaging wheels supporting said chassis above a floor; at least one first tank supported by said chassis for holding a cleaning solution; at least one second tank supported by said chassis for holding recovered cleaning solution, wherein said cleaning solution from said at least one first tank is applied to the floor; at least one ground engaging agitation brush for agitating the cleaning solution applied to the floor; at least one squeegee assembly fixed relative to said chassis and disposed rearwardly of said at least one agitation brush; and at least one vacuum shoe supported by said chassis rearwardly of where said cleaning solution is applied to the floor, wherein cleaning solution drawn into said at least one vacuum shoe is deposited into said at least one second tank, said at least one vacuum shoe being movable between a vacuum shoe stored position and a vacuum shoe operating position, wherein in said vacuum shoe operating position said at least one vacuum shoe draws cleaning solution into said vacuum shoe from the floor, said at least one vacuum shoe being pivotally mounted relative to said chassis, wherein in said vacuum shoe operating position pivotal movement of said at least one vacuum shoe changes the angle of said at least one vacuum shoe relative to said floor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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30. A floor cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a chassis having a forward end and a rearward end; a plurality of floor engaging wheels supporting said chassis above a floor; at least one first tank supported by said chassis for holding a cleaning solution; at least one second tank supported by said chassis for holding recovered cleaning solution, wherein said cleaning solution from said at least one first tank is applied to the floor; at least one ground engaging agitation brush for agitating the cleaning solution applied to the floor; at least one vacuum shoe rearwardly of where said cleaning solution is applied to the floor, wherein cleaning fluid drawn into said vacuum shoe is deposited into said at least one second tank, said at least one vacuum shoe being movable between a vacuum shoe stored position and a vacuum shoe operating position; and a squeegee assembly rearwardly of said at least one agitation brush, wherein cleaning solution drawn into said squeegee assembly is deposited into said at least one second tank, said squeegee assembly being movable between a squeegee assembly stored position and a squeegee assembly operating position, wherein in a squeegee mode, said at least one vacuum shoe is in said vacuum shoe stored position and said squeegee assembly is in said squeegee assembly operating position, and in an extraction mode, said at least one vacuum shoe is in said vacuum shoe operating position and said squeegee assembly is in said squeegee assembly stored position. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A floor cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a chassis having a forward end and a rearward end; a plurality of floor engaging wheels supporting said chassis above a floor; at least one first tank supported by said chassis for holding a cleaning solution; at least one second tank supported by said chassis for holding recovered cleaning solution, wherein said cleaning solution from said at least one first tank is applied to the floor; at least one ground engaging agitation brush for agitating the cleaning solution applied to the floor; at least one vacuum shoe rearwardly of where said cleaning solution is applied to the floor, wherein cleaning fluid drawn into said vacuum shoe is deposited into said at least one second tank; a squeegee assembly rearwardly of said at least one agitation brush, wherein cleaning solution drawn into said squeegee assembly is deposited into said at least one second tank, said squeegee assembly being movable between a squeegee assembly stored position and a squeegee assembly operating position; and a vacuum source supported by said chassis is selectably in fluid communication with at least one of said at least one vacuum shoe and said squeegee assembly, wherein said vacuum source creates a suction for drawing cleaning solution applied to the floor into said at least one second tank, wherein in a squeegee mode, said squeegee assembly is in said squeegee assembly operating position and in fluid communication with said second tank, and in an extraction mode, said at least one vacuum shoe is in fluid communication with said second tank and said squeegee assembly is in said squeegee assembly stored position. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. Method of cleaning a floor comprising:
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moving a chassis on a floor; supporting a squeegee assembly and a vacuum shoe on the chassis for moment therewith; applying cleaning solution to the floor; agitating the applied cleaning solution on the floor as the chassis is moved on the floor; and drawing the agitated cleaning solution from the floor by selectively engaging one of the squeegee assembly or the vacuum shoe supported by the chassis and as the chassis is moved on the floor. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification