HARD SURFACE FLOOR CLEANER

• US 3,789,449 A
• Filed: 06/21/1972
• Issued: 02/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alexander A. Papp, Charles H. Macfarland
• Inventors: MacFarland, Charles H., Papp, Alexander A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Machlin, Leon G.
• Application Number:
  US05/264,840
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 15/4,52,98,103.5,320,97R,256.51
• US Class Current: 15/4
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4055 for lifting the tools to a non-working position
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices

Abstract

A hard surface floor cleaner which is capable of being detachably mounted to the motor housing of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The floor scrubber includes a liquid dispenser for flowing a quantity of liquid detergent onto the floor, a scrubbing brush, and a power driven, open cell polyurethane roll for picking up the liquid detergent and dirt from the floor. A receptacle for picked up detergent and dirt is mounted ahead of the roll and a shear blade is mounted between the receptacle and the roll. An edge of the shear blade contacts the surface of the roll for shearing detergent and dirt therefrom and depositing detergent and dirt in the receptacle. An air blast assists in drying the floor.

Claims

1. A hard surface floor cleaning device for removing liquid from the surface of the floor compriSing power driven, cylindrical liquid-entrainer means formed of flexible open cell material for picking up and entraining liquid at the periphery thereof and mounted for rotation in a forward-downward and rearward-upward direction around a horizontal axis, a receptacle for picked up liquid mounted ahead of the liquid-entrainer means, shear blade means between said liquid-entrainer means and said receptacle for removing from the liquid-entrainer means liquid that it has picked up, said shear blade having an edge at the periphery of the liquid-entrainer means which contacts said liquid-entrainer means with a substantially constant pressure and without substantial distortion thereof whereby, as said device is advanced, liquid on the floor is picked up and entrained at the periphery of the liquid-entrainer means, and each increment of liquid that is picked up and entrained at the surface of the liquid-entrainer means is carried partly around the liquidentrainer means and sheared from the surface thereof by said shear blade.

2. A hard surface floor cleaning device according to claim 1 wherein said liquid-entrainer means has a surface comprising a flexible open cell foam.

3. A hard surface floor cleaning device according to claim 2 wherein said open cell foam is reticulated and has 30 pores per lineal inch.

4. A hard surface floor scrubber comprising power driven, cylindrical liquid-entrainer means formed of flexible open cell material for picking up and entraining liquid at the periphery of and mounted for rotation in a forward-downward and rearward-upward direction around a horizontal axis, liquid dispensing means adjacent said liquid-entrainer means for applying liquid directly onto the floor, a receptacle for picked up liquid mounted ahead of the liquid-entrainer means, shear blade means between said liquid-entrainer means and said receptacle for removing from the liquid-entrainer means liquid that it has picked up, said shear blade having an edge at the periphery of the liquid-entrainer means which contacts said liquid-entrainer means with a substantially constant pressure and without substantial distortion thereof, whereby, as said floor scrubber is advanced, liquid that has been deposited on the floor by said liquid dispensing means is picked up and entrained at the surface of the liquid-entrainer means, is carried partly around the liquid-entrainer means, and is sheared from the surface thereof by said shear blade.

5. A hard surface floor scrubber according to claim 4 wherein said liquid-entrainer means has a surface comprising a flexible, open cell foam.

6. A hard surface floor scrubber according to claim 5 wherein said open cell foam is reticulated and has 30 pores per lineal inch.

7. A hard surface floor scrubber according to claim 4 including floor contacting scrubbing brush means adjacent said dispenser.

8. A hard surface floor scrubber according to calim 7 wherein said dispenser is positioned between said brush means and said liquid-entrainer means.

9. A hard surface floor scrubber according to claim 7 including means to raise or lower said liquid-entrainer means out of and into contact with a floor.