Hard and soft floor cleaning tool and machine

• US 20060150352A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,028,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/18 the tools being roll brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/282 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/405 Machines using UV-lamps, IR-lamps, ultrasound or plasma cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A cleaning tool generally comprises a hub having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of cleaning members. The cleaning members, formed of a fibrous material, are connected to the hub. In accordance with one embodiment, the cleaning members are distributed along the longitudinal axis. Also disclosed is a floor cleaning machine that includes a mobile body, the cleaning tool and a motor. The mobile body supports the cleaning tool and the motor and is configured to travel over a surface. The motor is configured to drive a rotation of the cleaning hub about the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A cleaning tool for use with a floor cleaning machine, the cleaning tool comprising:

a hub having a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of cleaning members connected to the hub and distributed along the longitudinal axis, the cleaning members comprising a fibrous material.

2. The cleaning tool of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spacer members each positioned between a pair of the cleaning members.

3. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein each cleaning member comprises a planar member including the fibrous material whose length and width are each greater than the thickness of the planar member.

4. The cleaning tool of claim 3, wherein each cleaning member includes a proximal end connected to the hub, the proximal end comprising an elongate edge extending transversely to the longitudinal axis.

5. The cleaning tool of claim 3, wherein each cleaning member includes a proximal end connected to the hub, the proximal end comprising an elongate edge extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis.

6. The cleaning tool of claim 3, wherein the thickness of each cleaning member is in a range of 0.002 inches to 0.25 inches.

7. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the hub extends through the cleaning members.

8. The cleaning tool of claim 7, wherein the cleaning members are disk-shaped and an outer edge portion of the cleaning members comprises the fibrous material and is configured to flex in response to contact with a surface.

9. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the cleaning members comprise microfiber.

10. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the cleaning members comprise a first layer formed of the fibrous material and a second layer formed of a material that is different from the fibrous material.

11. A cleaning tool comprising:

a hub having a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of disk-shaped cleaning members through which the hub extends, the cleaning members are distributed along the longitudinal axis and are oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, an outer edge portion of the cleaning members comprises a fibrous material and is configured to flex in response to contact with a surface.

12. The cleaning tool of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of spacer members each positioned between a pair of the cleaning members.

13. The cleaning tool of claim 11, wherein the thickness of each cleaning member is in a range of 0.002 inches to 0.25 inches.

14. The cleaning tool of claim 11, wherein the cleaning members comprise microfiber.

15. The cleaning tool of claim 11, wherein the cleaning members comprise a first layer formed of the fibrous material and a second layer formed of a material that is different from the fibrous material.

16. A floor cleaning machine comprising:

a mobile body configured for travel over a surface;

a cleaning tool supported on the mobile body configured to scrub the surface, the cleaning tool comprising;

a hub having a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of cleaning members connected to the hub and distributed along the longitudinal axis, the cleaning members comprising a fibrous material; and

a motor supported on the mobile body and configured to drive a rotation of the hub about the longitudinal axis.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the hub extends through the cleaning members.

18. The machine of claim 17, wherein the cleaning members are disk-shaped and an outer edge portion of the cleaning members comprises the fibrous material and is configured to flex in response to contact with a surface.

19. The machine of claim 16, further comprising a cleaning liquid dispenser supported on the mobile body and configured to discharge a cleaning liquid onto one of the cleaning tool and the surface.

20. The machine of claim 17, wherein the cleaning liquid dispenser comprises a pump and a supply of cleaning liquid.

21. The machine of claim 16, further comprising a handle extending in a rearward direction from the mobile body, wherein the motor is configured to drive the rotation of the hub such that the cleaning members move in a forward direction that is opposite the rearward direction when engaging the surface.

22. The machine of claim 21, further comprising a waste container supported on the mobile body and positioned on the rear side of the cleaning tool.

23. The machine of claim 20, further comprising a housing having a bottom opening through which a portion of the cleaning tool extends, a surround portion substantially conforming to a top side of the cleaning tool, and an opening to the waste container, wherein the cleaning tool is configured to release collected debris into the waste container through the opening to the waste container.

24. The machine of claim 23, wherein the mobile body does not support a vacuumized waste collection system.