DC powered scrubber

• US 5,289,605 A
• Filed: 12/10/1991
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph M. Armbruster
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Armbruster
• Inventors: Armbruster, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS JR, EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US07/804,581
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 15/28, 15/29, 15/97.1, 15/23, 15/24, 15/49.1, 15/230.14, 15/230.16, 15/144.4, 15/145, 51/170 T, 51/177
• US Class Current: 15/97.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/282 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/048 with rotary or vibratory bodies contacting the vehicle

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus in the form of a scrubber that is motor driven by a direct current (DC) motor driving a rotatable scrubber unit which includes a scrubber disc with the motor and scrubber disc forming a power head supported from a detachable and adjustable length pole which enables surfaces that are normally out of reach to be easily scrubbed. The scrubber disc incorporates a unique pad structure driven through a unique clutch structure with the power head being supported from the pole and connected with a source of DC electric power through a unique, dependable and longlasting electrical conductor arrangement. Interchangeable scrubber discs are utilized and the scrubber may be powered by a 12 volt DC motor connected to a portable 12 volt battery which may be supported as a backpack or the like, a 12 volt AC/DC transformer, plugged directly into a cigarette lighter on a vehicle or a vehicle battery or to any other source of 12 volt DC electrical power to supply the motor with electrical power to enable the motor to rotate the scrubber disc with adequate torque for scrubbing various surfaces.

Claims

1. A scrubber comprising a rotatable scrubber unit adapted to engage a surface to be scrubbed, a power head, means drivingly connecting the power head to the scrubber unit, handle means, means pivotally connecting the handle means to said power head, and means supplying electrical power to said power head, said powder head including an electric motor, said means supplying electrical power to the power head including means connecting the motor with a source of electric power to drive the scrubber unit with an operator of the scrubber manipulating and controlling the scrubber from said handle means, said means drivingly connecting the power head to the scrubber unit including an output shaft from the motor, a gear reduction assembly connected to the output shaft, said gear reduction assembly including an output shaft, clutch means incorporated into the output shaft of the reduction gear assembly with the clutch means including an output shaft connected to the scrubber unit, said clutch means including opposed clutch plates with one of the clutch plates being integral with the output shaft of the reduction ear assembly, said clutch plates including facing opposed surfaces with sad surface on one of said plates including a plurality of circumferential spaced recesses oriented in substantially equally spaced relation, the other of said plates including a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses in the axial surface of the plate, a plurality of ball detents in engagement with the recesses, and resilient means biasing said clutch plates together to retain the clutch plates in driving relation but enabling one of the clutch plates to move axially and permit relative rotation of the clutch plates when a predetermined load through the clutch means has been exceeded.

2. The scrubber as defined in claim 1 wherein said recesses and ball detents are generally spherical in configuration and said clutch plates being constructed of plastic material.

3. The scrubber as defined in claim 1 wherein said means biasing the clutch plates includes an annular member of resilient material engaging one of said clutch plates and biasing it toward the other with the annular member also engaging a stationary component of the power head to enable the clutch plates to move axially away from each other to disengage the detents from the recesses in the event of torque transmission exceeding a predetermined load.

4. The scrubber as defined in claim 3 wherein said power head includes a housing enclosing the motor and clutch means with the stationary component engaging the resilient member including an end wall of said housing and a seal encircling the output shaft from the clutch means and engaging the end wall of the housing to seal the output shaft in relation to the housing.

5. The scrubber as defined in claim 1 wherein said scrubber unit includes a circular disc of resilient, semi-rigid material, a plurality of pie-shaped, circumferentially spaced sponge-type cleaning members mounted on said disc with the inner ends of the pie-shaped members being spaced to provide a hollow interior for the scrubber unit and means mounting the pie-shaped members on said disc.

6. The scrubber as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means includes a pair of telescopic tubular members, means locking the telescopic tubular members in longitudinally adjusted position to vary the length of the handle assembly, the outer end of the outermost tubular member having a handgrip thereon and a portion of the tubular member inwardly of the handgrip having a foam material forming a cover for the tubular member to facilitate gripping and handling thereof.

7. The scrubber as defined in claim 6 together with means locking the tubular members in longitudinally adjusted position in response to relative twisting motion of one tubular member in relation to the other.

8. The scrubber as defined in claim 7 wherein said means supplying electrical energy to the power head including an electric cord assembly extending through the tubular handle members.

9. The scrubber as defined in claim 7 wherein said means locking the tubular members in longitudinally adjusted position includes a cam member mounted in one of said tubular members and engaging the interior of the other tubular members for locking the tubular members in response to relative rotation of one tubular member in relation to the other.

10. The scrubber as defined in claim 9 wherein said outer tubular member includes a manually operated switch mounted therein with an actuator positioned adjacent the handgrip on the handle means to enable control of the electrical circuit to the power head motor.

11. The scrubber as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to supply electrical energy to the scrubber unit includes a power cord having means on one end thereof for connection with a source of 12 volt DC electric power.

12. The scrubber as defined in claim 11 wherein said power cord includes a male/female twist lock detachable electrical connection at the outer end of the handle means.

13. The scrubber as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means includes a manually operated switch mounted therein with an actuator positioned adjacent a handgrip on the handle means to enable control of the electrical circuit to the power head motor.

14. The scrubber as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means and power head includes means detachably connecting the handle means and power supply means to said power head to enable the handle means to be used with other powered devices.