Floor treatment apparatus

• US 9,015,887 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Pedlar, Roger, Shark, Eric L., Venard, Daniel C., Doll, Brian J., Simmon, Rusty, Green, Nevin, Tran, Loi X., Gorsky, Robert S., Pearson, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US13/964,046
• Time in Patent Office: 626 Days
• Field of Search: 15/491, 15/501, 15/78, 15/98, 153/20, 153/401, 153/403, 154/01, 180/6.2, 180/211, D12/85
• US Class Current: 15/49.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/145 with supply of cleaning agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/16 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/20 combined with vacuum cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0217 Use of a detergent in high pressure cleaners; arrangements for supplying the same
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/027 Pump details
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2018 : for braking on a slope
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 : Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/142 : acoustic
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 : Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 : Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/24 : with additional mechanical or electromagnetic braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating a floored surface that includes a platform adapted to support the weight of an operator. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is capable of generally performing 360° turns to facilitate the treatment of difficult to access portions of the floored surface.

Claims

1. A floor treatment apparatus with a platform upon which the operator can stand during operation, comprising:

a chassis having a front and a back and a lower surface, a front surface adjacent the front, a rear surface adjacent the back, a left side and right side and a platform;

at least a first wheel, a second wheel and a third wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel located substantially toward the back of the apparatus;

at least one of a debris collection device and a fluid collection device connected adjacent the lower surface;

a power source interconnected to at least one of the wheels;

a mechanism operably interconnected to at least one of the wheels to allow an operator to steer the floor treatment apparatus;

wherein the platform is located substantially below the steering mechanism and with a portion thereof positioned substantially directly below an axis extending between the centers of the first wheel and the second wheel, and wherein the platform includes a throttle actuator to regulate electrical power which is in the form of a foot pedal and an operator presence device, which is operatively connected to and which selectively interrupts operation of the throttle actuator.

2. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chassis includes a rear housing that is capable of selective rotation about an axis parallel to the axis extending between the center of the first wheel and the center of the second wheel.

3. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a braking mechanism.

4. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a braking mechanism which is associated with a console positioned near the steering mechanism.

5. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the debris collection device is at least one of a brush, a squeegee, and a vacuum.

6. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is interconnected to an electric monowheel drive motor which is interconnected to the third wheel.

7. A floor treatment apparatus 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 below a steering mechanism and substantially between at least a portion of the right surface and at least a portion of the left surface, the platform extending rearwardly from a portion of the rear surface, wherein a portion of the platform is positioned adjacent to an axis extending between the center of the first wheel and the center of the second wheel, and wherein the platform includes a throttle that regulates electrical energy and is in the form of a foot pedal and an operator presence device which selectively interrupts throttle operation; and

a floor treating device connected adjacent to the lower surface of the chassis.

8. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the floor treating device is at least one of a brush, a burnishing pad, a squeegee, and a vacuum.

9. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the floor treating device includes a squeegee.

10. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the chassis includes a rear housing that is capable of selective rotation about an axis parallel to the axis extending between the center of the first wheel and the center of the second wheel.

11. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 7 further including a debris collection device connected adjacent to the lower surface of the chassis.

12. A floor treatment apparatus comprising:

a chassis having a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, a right surface and a lower surface, the chassis supporting a clean fluid tank, a spent fluid tank, an electric drive motor associated with a drive wheel and a plurality of batteries associated with the electric drive motor, and a vacuum motor;

wherein the vacuum motor is operably connected to the one or more of the batteries and is part of a vacuum assembly;

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;

wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are not interconnected;

wherein the drive wheel is operably interconnected to the lower surface and located closer to the front surface than the rear surface;

a multi-part housing comprising a primary housing, a front housing portion, and a rear housing portion, the multi-part housing including a plurality of hand holds, and wherein at least the primary housing is associated with the chassis;

a steering wheel operably interconnected to the multi-part housing, the multi-part housing also including a control panel;

wherein at least a portion of the rear housing portion is located adjacent the rear surface of the chassis and is substantially connected to at least one of the primary housing and the chassis by one or more hinge members such that the rear housing portion hingedly rotates relative to the primary housing about a second axis that is parallel to the axis extending between a center of the first wheel and a center of the second wheel, and the one or more of the hinge members are located closer to the lower surface of the chassis than to a top portion of the primary housing;

a platform which is substantially associated with at least a portion of the rear housing portion and located substantially between at least a portion of the right surface of one of the chassis or the multi-part housing and at least a portion of the left surface of one of the chassis or the multi-part housing and extending from at least a portion of the rear surface of one of the chassis or the multi-part housing, wherein a portion of the platform is positioned substantially adjacent to the axis extending between the center of the first wheel and the center of the second wheel and at least a portion of the platform penetrates a three-dimensional cylindrical volume that is defined by an outer surface of the first wheel and the second wheel, wherein the platform includes a substantially horizontal portion adapted to receive the feet of an operator and a device that is in operable communication with a hand operated speed range switch and the electric drive motor, the device operable to control locomotion of the apparatus within a selected speed range, and an operator presence device which is operatively connected to and which selectively interrupts operation of the device;

a brake which is operative to perform a braking function when the device is disengaged;

a scrub brush and a squeegee operably connected to and located substantially adjacent to the lower surface of the chassis; and

wherein the floor treatment apparatus rotates 360 degrees without substantially moving in other directions.

13. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plurality of batteries reside on a selectively movable tray.

14. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 12, wherein the brake performs a braking function when the operator presence device is not depressed.

15. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 12, wherein the platform includes at least one of a left sidewall, a right sidewall, and a wall that extend above a surface that receives the operator'"'"'s feet.

16. A floor treatment apparatus comprising:

a multi-part enclosure comprising a primary enclosure, a front enclosure portion, and a rear enclosure portion, the multi-part enclosure having front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, 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 closer to the lower surface than the upper surface and substantially between at least a portion of the right surface and at least a portion of the left surface, and extending from a portion of the rear surface, wherein a portion of the platform is positioned substantially adjacent to an axis extending between a center of the first wheel and a center of the second wheel;

a floor treatment assembly operably connected to at least a portion of the lower surface of at least a portion of the multi-part enclosure;

a power source positioned substantially within the multi-part enclosure;

an electric monowheel drive motor associated with the power source;

a third wheel associated with the electric monowheel drive motor and operably connected adjacent the lower surface of the multi-part enclosure;

a steering mechanism associated with the third wheel;

a steering wheel operably interconnected to the multi-part enclosure, the multi-part enclosure also including a control panel; and

wherein the rear enclosure portion is capable of selective rotation about a second axis parallel to the axis extending between the center of the first wheel and the center of the second wheel.

17. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein a portion of the platform penetrates a three-dimensional cylindrical volume that is defined by an outer surface of the first wheel and the second wheel.

18. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the platform includes a means for controlling speed and an operator presence device, which is operatively connected to and which selectively interrupts operation of the means for controlling speed.

19. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a brake which is operative to perform a braking function when at least one of the means for controlling speed and operator presence device is disengaged.

20. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the floor treatment apparatus includes a device for capturing debris and fluid and directing them to a suction assembly, the device for capturing debris and fluid being associated with the lower surface of the multi-part enclosure.

21. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the floor treatment assembly is at least one of a brush, a scrubber, a burnishing pad, and a squeegee.

22. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the platform includes a left sidewall and a right sidewall that extend above a surface that receives an operator'"'"'s feet.

23. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the platform includes a front wall extending from a surface that receives an operator'"'"'s feet.

24. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein a portion of the platform extends behind a rearmost portion of the first wheel and the second wheel.

25. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are not interconnected.

26. A floor treatment apparatus comprising:

a multi-part housing comprising a primary housing, a front housing portion, and a rear housing portion, the multi-part housing having front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, 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 closer to the lower surface than the upper surface and substantially between at least a portion of the right surface and at least a portion of the left surface, and extending from a portion of the rear surface, wherein a portion of the platform is positioned substantially proximate to an axis extending between the first wheel and the second wheel;

a steering wheel operably interconnected to the multi-part housing, the multi-part housing also including a control panel;

a floor treatment assembly operably connected to a chassis that is associated with the multi-part housing; and

wherein the rear housing portion is capable of selective rotation away from the primary housing.

27. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 26, wherein the platform includes a means for controlling speed and an operator presence device, which is operatively connected to and which selectively interrupts operation of the means for controlling speed.

28. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a brake which is operative to perform a braking function when at least one of the means for controlling speed and operator presence device is disengaged.

29. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 26, wherein the platform includes a left sidewall and a right sidewall that extend above a surface that receives an operator'"'"'s feet.

30. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of hand holds associated with the multi-part housing.

31. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an electric drive motor associated with a drive wheel and a plurality of batteries associated with the electric drive motor.

32. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are not interconnected.

33. A floor treatment apparatus comprising:

a multi-part housing comprising a primary housing, a front housing portion, and a rear housing portion, the multi-part housing having front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a left surface, and a right surface;

a platform that extends substantially between at least a portion of the right surface, at least a portion of the left surface and at least a portion of the rear surface, the platform having a throttle that regulates electrical energy and is in the form of a foot pedal and an operator presence device operatively connected to and which selectively interrupts operation of the throttle;

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 third wheel operably connected adjacent the lower surface of the multi-part housing;

a steering wheel operably interconnected to the multi-part housing, the multi-part housing also including a control panel;

a floor treating device connected adjacent to the lower surface of the multi-part housing;

a debris collection device connected adjacent to the lower surface of the multi-part housing; and

wherein the rear housing portion is capable of selective rotation about an axis parallel to the axis extending between the center of a first wheel and the center of a second wheel.

34. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a brake which is operative to perform a braking function when at least one of the throttle and operator presence device is disengaged.

35. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 33,

wherein the platform is located closer to the lower surface than the upper surface, wherein a portion of the platform is positioned between the first wheel and the second wheel such that a portion of the platform penetrates a three-dimensional cylindrical volume that is defined by the outer surface of the first wheel and the second wheel.

36. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 33, wherein the platform includes a left sidewall and a right sidewall that extend above a surface that receives an operator'"'"'s feet.

37. The floor treatment apparatus of claim 33, wherein the third wheel is powered by an electric motor and the throttle regulates power from the electric motor to the third wheel.