Floor cleaning apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. 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 a 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 the lower surface of the 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 enclosure;
a steering mechanism associated with the third wheel;
a steering wheel operably interconnected by a shaft to the steering mechanism wherein the steering wheel is associated with the front enclosure portion, which is capable of selective rotation relative to the primary enclosure about a first axis that is parallel to an axis extending between a center of the first wheel and a center of the second wheel, the front enclosure portion including a control panel, and wherein the steering wheel maintains a position relative to the front enclosure portion when the front enclosure portion is rotated away from the primary enclosure; 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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A floor treatment apparatus is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor treatment apparatus, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A floor treatment apparatus comprising:
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a multi-part enclosure comprising a primary enclosure, a front enclosure portion, and a rear enclosure portion, the multi-part enclosure having a 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 the lower surface of the 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 enclosure; a steering mechanism associated with the third wheel; a steering wheel operably interconnected by a shaft to the steering mechanism wherein the steering wheel is associated with the front enclosure portion, which is capable of selective rotation relative to the primary enclosure about a first axis that is parallel to an axis extending between a center of the first wheel and a center of the second wheel, the front enclosure portion including a control panel, and wherein the steering wheel maintains a position relative to the front enclosure portion when the front enclosure portion is rotated away from the primary enclosure; 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A floor treatment apparatus comprising:
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a multi-part housing comprising a primary housing, a front housing portion, and a rear housing portion, the multi-part housing having a 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 by a shaft to an assembly associated with a drive wheel wherein the steering wheel is operably interconnected to the front housing portion, which is capable of selective rotation relative to the primary housing about a first axis that is parallel to an axis extending between a center of the first wheel and a center of the second wheel, the front housing portion including a control panel, and wherein the steering wheel maintains a position relative to the front housing portion when the front housing portion is rotated away from the primary housing; 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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A floor treatment apparatus comprising:
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a multi-part housing comprising a primary housing, a front housing portion, and a rear housing portion, the multi-part housing having a 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 and an operator presence device operatively connected to and which selectively interrupts operation of the throttle; a third wheel operably connected adjacent the lower surface of the multi-part housing; a steering wheel operably interconnected by a shaft to a steering mechanism wherein the steering wheel is associated with the front housing portion that hingedly rotates relative to the primary housing, the front housing portion includes a control panel, and the steering wheel maintaining a static position relative to the front housing portion when the front housing portion is rotated away from the primary housing; 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 the first wheel and the center of the second wheel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification