Floor cleaning apparatus with slidable flap

• US 5,611,108 A
• Filed: 05/30/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Windsor Industries Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Strickland, Timothy A., O'Hara, Robert J., Knowlton, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US08/454,413
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 15/245, 15/401, 15/320, 15/340.1, 15/340.3, 15/340.4
• US Class Current: 15/340.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/29 Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/293 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary 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

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning floors. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes four wheels, two of which are steerable wheels, and a steering mechanism that permits the two steerable wheels to turn to a degree that allows very tight turns to be made by the sweeper. In another embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper with a cylindrical side broom. Yet a further embodiment of the sweeper includes flaps or seals that form a skirt about the broom and a mounting mechanism for slidably receiving the flap or seal. In a further embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper that employs flaps with wear indicators that tell an operator when to adjust or replace the flap. In another embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper that utilizes a pre-filter to remove debris that remains in the vacuum airstream after having passed through the hopper and that is of a size that can require frequent cleaning of a subsequent filtering device. In yet at further embodiment, the apparatus is a scrubber with two counter rotating disk brushes, a primary squeegee, and a second or pre-squeegee for relieving the primary squeegee from processing the heavier concentration of wastewater produced in the area between the brushes. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus is a scrubber that includes a squeegee mounting systems that is relatively easy to use and permits the squeegee rubber to extend beyond the end of the mounting structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a frame;

means, operatively attached to said frame, for cleaning a surface;

at least three wheels for moving said frame and said means for cleaning over a surface; and

means for steering at least one of said at least three wheels;

wherein said means for cleaning includes a flap and means for mounting said flap to said frame;

wherein said flap includes an upper edge having a first thickness and a lower edge having a second thickness that is less than said first thickness;

wherein, when said flap is in use, said lower edge is disposed adjacent to the surface and said upper edge is displaced from said surface;

wherein said means for mounting includes a longitudinally extending slot for holding said flap, said slot having an upper portion for holding said upper edge of said flap and a lower portion for holding a first portion of said lower edge of said flap but incapable of accommodating said upper edge of said flap, said lower portion extending from said upper portion to an opening through which a second portion of said lower edge of said flap extends towards said surface;

wherein said upper portion of said longitudinally extending slot includes a first channel for holding said upper edge of said flap that is located at a first distance from the surface, and a second channel for holding said upper edge of said flap that is separate from said first channel and located at a second distance from the surface that is less than said first distance, wherein said second channel permits a flap that is held by said first channel and whose lower edge has been worn away from the surface to be moved so that the lower edge can be brought closer to the surface;

wherein said means for mounting includes a groove adjoining said lower portion of said longitudinally extending slot that is incapable, in combination with said lower portion of said longitudinally extending slot, of accommodating said upper edge of said flap;

wherein said flap can be slidably inserted into and slidably removed from said longitudinally extending slot.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said flap includes a wear indicator located between ends of said upper and lower edges.

3. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said wear indicator includes a bulb structure.

4. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said wear indicator is a different color from an adjacent portion of said flap.

5. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said means for cleaning includes at least one of the following;

(a) a first broom that is substantially located within a first area bounded by an exterior body of the apparatus;

a second broom that, when in use, rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to said surface and that is located in a second area that is outside of said first area;

(b) a hopper for receiving a debris laden airstream, precipitating first heavier debris from said debris laden airstream, collecting said first heavier debris, and providing a first exit airstream that may contain lighter debris;

a pre-filter for receiving said first exit airstream, precipitating out second heavier debris that is generally lighter than said first heavier debris from said first exit airstream, collecting said second heavier debris, and providing a second exit airstream that may contain lighter debris;

a filter for receiving said second exit airstream, precipitating out third heavier debris that is generally lighter than said first and second heavier debris from said airstream, collecting third heavier debris and providing a third exit airstream that is substantially free of debris;

wherein said pre-filter includes vanes for creating a vortex;

(c) a first disk brush for scrubbing a floor and that rotates in a clockwise direction;

a second disk brush, located adjacent to said first disk brush, for scrubbing said floor and that rotates in a counterclockwise direction about a second vertical axis;

wherein, during operation of said first and second disk brushes, a stream of wastewater is produced behind said first and second disk brushes, said stream of wastewater is heavier in an area between said first and second vertical axis and lighter elsewhere;

a first squeegee located behind said first and second disk brushes to collect said wastewater;

a second squeegee located between said first and second disk brushes and said first squeegee, and located to collect at least a portion of the heavier stream of wastewater so that more wastewater is collected;

(d) a squeegee mount that has a first squeegee mount end, a second squeegee mount end, a squeegee mount top edge, a squeegee mount bottom edge, a squeegee mount side surface that extends from said first squeegee mount end to said second squeegee mount end and from said squeegee mount top edge to said squeegee mount bottom edge;

a squeegee rubber that includes a first squeegee rubber end, a second squeegee rubber end, a squeegee rubber top edge, a squeegee rubber bottom edge, a first squeegee rubber side surface that extends from said first squeegee rubber end to said second squeegee rubber end and from said squeegee rubber top edge to said squeegee rubber bottom edge, and a second squeegee rubber side surface that extends from said first squeegee rubber end to said second squeegee rubber end and from said squeegee rubber top edge to said squeegee rubber bottom edge;

wherein one of said squeegee mount side surface and said first squeegee rubber side surface includes a crown and the other of said squeegee mount side surface and said first squeegee rubber side surface includes a first longitudinally extending slot dimensioned to fit over said crown and thereby prevent vertical displacement between said squeegee mount and said squeegee rubber; and

(e) a squeegee mount that has a first squeegee mount end, a second squeegee mount end, a squeegee mount top edge, a squeegee mount bottom edge, a squeegee mount side surface that extends from said first squeegee mount end to said second squeegee mount end and from said squeegee mount top edge to said squeegee mount bottom edge;

a squeegee rubber that includes a first squeegee rubber end, a second squeegee rubber end, a squeegee rubber top edge, a squeegee rubber bottom edge, a first squeegee rubber side surface that extends from said first squeegee rubber end to said second squeegee rubber end and from said squeegee rubber top edge to said squeegee rubber bottom edge, and a second squeegee rubber side surface that extends from said first squeegee rubber end to said second squeegee rubber end and from said squeegee rubber top edge to said squeegee rubber bottom edge;

wherein said squeegee mount includes a first buttonhead located on said squeegee mount side surface and adjacent to said first squeegee mount end and a second buttonhead located on said first squeegee mount side surface and adjacent to said second squeegee mount end;

said squeegee rubber includes a first squeegee rubber slot for engaging said first buttonhead and a second squeegee rubber slot for engaging said second buttonhead.

6. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a frame;

means, operatively attached to said frame, for cleaning a surface;

at least three wheels for moving said frame and said means for cleaning over a surface; and

means for steering at least one of said at least three wheels;

wherein said means for cleaning includes a flap and means for mounting said flap to said frame;

wherein said flap includes an upper edge having a first thickness and a lower edge having a second thickness that is less than said first thickness;

wherein said flap includes a wear indicator located between said upper and lower edges;

wherein when said flap is in use said lower edge is disposed adjacent to the surface and said upper edge is displaced from the surface;

wherein said means for mounting includes a longitudinally extending slot for holding said flap, said slot having an upper portion for holding said upper edge of said flap and a lower portion for holding a first portion of said lower edge of said flap but incapable of accommodating said upper edge of said flap, said lower portion extending from said upper portion to an opening through which a second portion of said lower edge of said flap extends towards said surface;

wherein said upper portion of said longitudinally extending slot includes a first channel for holding said upper edge of said flap that is located at a first distance from said surface, and a second channel for holding said upper edge of said flap that is separate from said first channel and located at a second distance from said surface that is less than said first distance, wherein said second channel permits a flap that is held by said first channel and whose lower edge has been worn away from the surface to be moved so that said lower edge can be brought closer to the surface;

wherein said means for mounting includes a groove adjoining said lower portion of said first longitudinally extending slot that is incapable, in combination with said lower portion of said longitudinally extending slot, of accommodating said upper edge of said flap;

wherein said flap can be slidably inserted into and slidably removed from said longitudinally extending slot.

7. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said wear indicator includes a longitudinally extending bulb that is located substantially parallel to said lower edge.

8. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said wear indicator is a different color from an adjacent portion of said flap.

9. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a frame;

means, operatively attached to said frame, for cleaning a surface;

at least three wheels for moving said frame and said means for cleaning over a surface; and

means for steering at least one of said at least three wheels;

wherein said means for cleaning includes a flap and means for mounting said flap to said frame;

wherein said flap includes an upper edge having a first thickness and a lower edge having a second thickness that is less than said first thickness;

wherein, when said flap is in use, said lower edge is disposed adjacent to the surface and said upper edge is displaced from said surface;

wherein said means for mounting includes a longitudinally extending slot for holding said flap, said slot having an upper portion for holding said upper edge of said flap and a lower portion for holding a first portion of said lower edge of said flap but incapable of accommodating said upper edge of said flap, said lower portion of said means for mounting extending from said upper portion to an opening through which a second portion of said lower edge of said flap extends towards said surface;

wherein said means for mounting includes a groove adjoining said lower portion of said longitudinally extending slot that is incapable, in combination with said lower portion of said longitudinally extending slot, of accommodating said upper edge of said flap;

wherein said flap can be slidably inserted into and slidably removed from said longitudinally extending slot.

10. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said flap includes a wear indicator located between ends of said upper and lower edges.

11. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said wear indicator is a different color from an adjacent portion of said flap.

12. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said wear indicator includes means for making a distinct noise relative to an adjacent portion of said flap when contact is made with the surface.

13. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said wear indicator includes a bulb structure.

14. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said bulb structure includes a plurality of discrete bulbs.

15. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said bulb structure includes a longitudinally extending bulb that is located substantially parallel to said lower edge.

16. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said bulb structure includes first and second longitudinally extending bulbs that are each located substantially parallel to said lower edge.