Removable pad for interconnection to a high-speed driver system

• US 8,978,190 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• 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: Leifheit, Todd, Tucker, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENNINGS, MICHAEL DEANGILO
• Application Number:
  US13/171,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20130005224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 153/401, 153/402, 153/403, 153/404, 15/491, 15/501, 15/98, 152/30, 152/301.9, 451/353, 451/359
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/162 having only a single disc brush
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/2025 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 7/186 with disc-type tools

Abstract

A floor care machine is provided that includes a replaceable floor care element that is quickly and easily attached and detached. To attach the floor care element, an operator positions the floor care element under a motor and lifts the element up to a motor interface. The motor interface aligns with a complementary interface of the floor care element.

Claims

1. A floor care machine, comprising:

a chassis having a front and a back and with a lower surface, a front surface adjacent the front, an upper surface, a rear surface adjacent the back, a left surface and a right surface;

a first wheel operably interconnected to the lower surface adjacent to the left surface and located closer to the rear surface than the front surface;

a second wheel operably interconnected to the lower surface adjacent the right surface and located closer to the rear surface than the front surface;

a platform located substantially between at least a portion of the right surface, at least a portion of the left surface and extending rearwardly from a portion of the rear surface, the platform also substantially located within the chassis and positioned substantially directly above an axis extending between the center of the first wheel and the center of the second wheel and wherein the platform includes a top surface which is adapted to receive the feet of an operator, a throttle and an operator presence device operatively connected to and which selectively interrupts operation of the throttle;

a powered wheel operably connected adjacent the lower surface of the chassis;

a steering mechanism substantially housed within the chassis and having a portion that is accessible by an operator;

a motor associated with at least one of the chassis and a housing, the motor having a rotating shaft interconnected to a driver hub, the driver hub having a first outer surface;

a floor care element interconnected to the motor, the floor care element comprised of a pad carrier having a pad on one side and a pad driver on an opposite side, the pad driver having an opening defined by a second surface that is complementary to the first surface of the driver hub; and

wherein the pad driver employs a plurality of openings that receive corresponding arms of the driver hub, the pad driver engaging a portion of the arms when the floor care element is rotated relative to the driver hub.

2. The floor care machine of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the driver hub is frusto-conical.

3. The floor care machine of claim 1, further comprising a shroud having a first portion interconnected to the motor and a second portion selectively interconnected to the first portion, wherein the motor is associated with the at least one of the chassis and the housing by way of at least one spring, the first portion of the shroud adapted to move along with the motor and the second portion of the shroud being able to move independently from the first portion.

4. The floor care machine of claim 3, further comprising a hose associated with the shroud that is adapted to draw debris from the annulus defined by the shroud.

5. The floor care machine of claim 1, wherein the floor care element includes a lock that selectively engages the driver hub to prevent rotation of the driver hub.

6. The floor care machine of claim 1, wherein the openings are associated with protrusions, the protrusions having an upwardly-angled profile that engages a downwardly-angled upper surface of the plurality of arms.

7. A floor care machine, comprising:

a chassis having a front and a back and with a lower surface, a front surface adjacent the front, an upper surface, a rear surface adjacent the back, a left surface and a right surface;

a first wheel operably interconnected to the lower surface;

a second wheel operably interconnected to the lower surface;

a platform located substantially between at least a portion of the right surface, at least a portion of the left surface and extending rearwardly from a portion of the rear surface;

a powered wheel operably connected adjacent the lower surface of the chassis;

a motor associated with at least one of the chassis and a housing, the motor having a rotating shaft interconnected to a driver hub, the driver hub having a first outer surface;

a floor care element interconnected to the motor, the floor care element comprised of a pad carrier having a pad on one side and a pad driver on an opposite side, the pad driver employing a plurality of openings that receive corresponding arms of the driver hub, the pad driver engaging a portion of the arms when the floor care element is rotated relative to the driver hub.

8. A method of interconnecting a floor care element to a floor care machine, comprising:

raising a motor associated with the floor care machine;

positioning the floor care element under the motor of the floor care machine;

raising the floor care element to associate it with a driver hub of the motor;

positioning arms of the driver hub within openings of the interface;

further raising the floor care element such that complementary components of the interface and the drive hub engage;

rotating the floor care element a predetermined distance to engage a portion of the arm onto a retaining member of the interface;

wherein the floor care element is a burnishing assembly, comprising;

a pad carrier having a first side and a second side;

a burnishing pad interconnected to the second side;

a pad driver interconnected to the first side, the pad driver having an internally-disposed opening with first mating surface and an upper surface that encircles an upper edge of the first mating surface, the upper surface having a plurality downwardly-angled portions that terminate at corresponding openings, the openings associated with protrusions that extend towards an end of the downwardly-angled portions, the protrusions interconnected to a vertical surface, which is also interconnected to the pad carrier, to define a cavity that is adapted to receive a component of a complementary outer profile; and

wherein the pad driver is adapted to receive the driver hub that is interconnected to the motor, the driver hub having a second mating surface that is complementary to the first mating surface, the hub also having a plurality of arms that are received within the plurality of openings, the arms having a profile that possesses the complementary outer profile that is received within the cavities.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising actuating a lock associated with the floor care element to contact the driver hub to prevent unwanted rotation thereof.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first mating surface is frusto-conical.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising a retaining member positioned adjacent to the opening and extending from the protrusion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the retaining member is a rubber over-wrapped fastener.