Hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus

• US 5,455,982 A
• Filed: 04/22/1994
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advance Machine Co. (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Advance Machine Co. (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Huttner, Patrick A., Johnson, Everett E., Armstrong, Cary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US08/231,395
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 15/328, 15/338, 15/320, 15/354, 15/359, 15/414, 15/353
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the 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 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used

Abstract

Apparatus (10) is disclosed including an interchangeable brush (88) and either a removable vacuum shoe (38) for soft floor surfaces or removable squeegee and carriage assemblies (56, 68) for hard floor surfaces. A spindle (32) is rotatably mounted in the chassis (18) and includes first and second arms (36, 52). The first arm (36) is attached to a sleeve (34) for removably and pivotally receiving a pivot pin (40) of the vacuum shoe (38). The second arm (52) includes an elongated slot (54) which slideably receives a follower pin (82) of a crank arm (80) of the carriage assembly (68). The spindle (32) is rotated by an integral lever (44) pivotally connected to a linkage (46) having its opposite end pivotally connected to a second, pivotable lever (26). A bracket (20) is pivotable with a handle (16) and abuts with the second lever (26) to support the chassis (18) by the vacuum shoe (38) or the roller (86) of the carriage assembly (68) such that the brush (88) is spaced from the floor surface when the handle (16) is in a transport position. The free end of a screw (30) threadably secured in the chassis (18) abuts with the second lever (26) when the handle (16) is in operating positions to adjust the height of the brush (88) relative to the floor surface.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning both hard and soft floor surfaces comprising, in combination:

a chassis having a first end and a second end;

means for movably supporting the first end of the chassis on the floor surface;

a brush adjacent to the second end of the chassis for engagement with the floor surface;

a vacuum shoe of a generally rigid construction for extraction of solution from soft floor surfaces;

means for removably securing the vacuum shoe relative to the chassis adjacent the second end of the chassis;

a carriage assembly for movably supporting the second end of the chassis on the floor surface;

means for removably securing the carriage assembly to the chassis adjacent the brush;

means for moving one of the vacuum shoe and the carriage assembly for supporting the second end of the chassis to change the relative height of the brush from the floor surface, with the chassis being supported on the floor surface by the movably supporting means and one of the vacuum shoe and the carriage assembly when the brush engages the floor surface, with the movably supporting means and the vacuum shoe supporting the chassis when cleaning soft floor surfaces and the movably supporting means and the carriage assembly supporting the chassis when cleaning hard floor surfaces;

a squeegee assembly for removing solution from hard floor surfaces; and

means for removably securing the squeegee assembly to the second end of the chassis for engaging the squeegee assembly with the floor surface when the chassis is supported on the floor surface by the movably supporting means and the carriage assembly, with the squeegee assembly providing minimal support to the chassis when the squeegee assembly engages the floor surface and removes solution from the floor surface.

2. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moving means changes the relative height of the brush from the floor surface between a transport position with the brush being spaced from the floor surface and a working position with the brush operatively engaging the floor surface.

3. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the squeegee assembly is spaced from the floor surface in the transport position.

4. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the moving means comprises, in combination:

a spindle rotatable about a spindle axis;

a first arm for attaching the vacuum shoe removably securing means to the spindle for moving the vacuum shoe when the spindle is rotated;

a second arm connected to the spindle and operatively connected to the carriage assembly for moving the carriage assembly when the spindle is rotated; and

means for rotating the spindle about the spindle axis.

5. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the rotating means comprises, in combination:

a first lever secured to the spindle;

a second lever pivotally mounted to the chassis about a lever axis spaced from and parallel to the spindle axis; and

a linkage having a first end pivotally mounted to the first lever spaced from the spindle axis and a second end pivotally mounted to the second lever spaced from the lever axis; and

means for pivoting the second lever about the lever axis.

6. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pivoting means comprises a pin mounted in the chassis for axial movement and having a free end for abutting with the second lever spaced from the lever axis.

7. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 further comprising, in combination:

a handle pivotable about a handle axis spaced from and parallel to the spindle axis between a transport position and a working position; and

wherein the pivoting means further comprises, in combination;

a bracket pivotable with the handle for abutting with the second lever when the handle is in the transport position and being spaced from the second lever when the handle is in the working position, with the free end of the pin being spaced from the second lever when the handle is in the transport position.

8. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the carriage assembly comprises, in combination:

a roller; and

means for mounting the roller for movement at differing spacing from the chassis when secured to the chassis by the carriage assembly removably securing means and operatively connected to the second arm.

9. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the roller mounting means comprises, in combination:

a pivot shaft rotatable about a shaft axis;

a crank arm secured to the pivot shaft; and

means for removably operatively connecting the crank arm to the second arm.

10. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the removably operatively connecting means comprises, in combination:

an elongated slot formed in the second arm; and

a follower pin mounted to the crank arm for slideable receipt in the elongated slot.

11. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the roller mounting means further comprises, in combination:

mounting tabs secured to the pivot shaft; and

means for rotatably mounting the roller to the mounting tabs about an axis parallel to the pivot shaft.

12. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the carriage assembly removably securing means comprises, in combination:

a slide track secured to the chassis; and

a slide plate slideably received in the slide track in a slide direction, with the pivot shaft rotatably secured to the slide plate generally parallel to the slide direction.

13. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the carriage assembly removably securing means further comprises, in combination:

a plunger pin carried by the slide plate for removable receipt in an aperture formed in the slide track.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the removably securing means allows the carriage assembly and the squeegee assembly to be secured to the chassis and the vacuum shoe to be removed from the chassis when cleaning hard floor surfaces and allowing the vacuum shoe to be secured to the chassis and the carriage assembly and the squeegee assembly to be removed from the chassis when cleaning soft floor surfaces;

and wherein the removably securing means allow ease of transformation and conversion for cleaning hard and soft floor surfaces.

14. Apparatus for cleaning both hard and soft floor surfaces comprising, in combination:

a chassis having a first end and a second end;

means for movably supporting the first end of the chassis on the floor surface;

a brush adjacent to the second end of the chassis for engagement with the floor surface;

a vacuum shoe of a generally rigid construction for extraction of solution from soft floor surfaces;

means for removably securing the vacuum shoe relative to the chassis adjacent the second end of the chassis;

a carriage assembly for movably supporting the second end of the chassis on the floor surface;

means for removably securing the carriage assembly to the chassis adjacent the brush;

means for moving one of the vacuum shoe and the carriage assembly for supporting the second end of the chassis to change the relative height of the brush from the floor surface;

a squeegee assembly for removing solution from hard floor surfaces; and

means for removably securing the squeegee assembly to the second end of the chassis;

wherein the squeegee assembly removably securing means comprises, in combination;

at least a first slide track secured to the chassis; and

a slide plate slideably received in the slide track; and

wherein the squeegee assembly comprises, in combination;

a squeegee; and

means for securing the squeegee to the slide plate for movement in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface.

15. Apparatus for cleaning both hard and soft floor surfaces comprising, in combination:

a chassis having a first end and a second end;

means for movably supporting the first end of the chassis on the floor surface;

a brush adjacent to the second end of the chassis for engagement with the floor surface;

a vacuum shoe of a generally rigid construction for extraction of solution from soft floor surfaces;

means for removably securing the vacuum shoe relative to the chassis adjacent the second end of the chassis;

a carriage assembly for movably supporting the second end of the chassis on the floor surface;

means for removably securing the carriage assembly to the chassis adjacent the brush;

means for moving one of the vacuum shoe and the carriage assembly for supporting the second end of the chassis to change the relative height of the brush from the floor surface;

a squeegee assembly for removing solution from hard floor surfaces; and

means for removably securing the squeegee assembly to the second end of the chassis;

wherein the vacuum shoe removably securing means comprises, in combination;

a sleeve; and

a pivot pin secured to the vacuum shoe and axially slideably received and rotatable in the sleeve.

16. Apparatus for cleaning both hard and soft floor surfaces comprising, in combination:

a chassis having a first end and a second end;

means for movably supporting the first end of the chassis on the floor surface;

a brush adjacent to the second end of the chassis for engagement with the floor surface;

a vacuum shoe of a generally rigid construction for extraction of solution from soft floor surfaces;

means for removably securing the vacuum shoe relative to the chassis adjacent the second end of the chassis;

a carriage assembly for movably supporting the second end of the chassis on the floor surface;

means for removably securing the carriage assembly to the chassis adjacent the brush;

means for moving one of the vacuum shoe and the carriage assembly for supporting the second end of the chassis to change the relative height of the brush from the floor surface;

a squeegee assembly for removing solution from hard floor surfaces; and

means for removably securing the squeegee assembly to the second end of the chassis;

wherein the moving means comprises, in combination;

a spindle rotatable about a spindle axis;

a first arm for attaching the vacuum shoe removably securing means to the spindle for moving the vacuum shoe when the spindle is rotated;

a second arm connected to the spindle and operatively connected to the carriage assembly for moving the carriage assembly when the spindle is rotated; and

means for rotating the spindle about the spindle axis.

17. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein the rotating means comprises, in combination:

a first lever secured to the spindle;

a second lever pivotally mounted to the chassis about a lever axis spaced from and parallel to the spindle axis; and

a linkage having a first end pivotally mounted to the first lever spaced from the spindle axis and a second end pivotally mounted to the second lever spaced from the lever axis; and

means for pivoting the second lever about the lever axis.

18. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein the carriage assembly comprises, in combination:

a roller; and

means for mounting the roller for movement at differing spacing from the chassis when secured to the chassis by the carriage assembly removably securing means and operatively connected to the second arm.

19. The hard and soft floor surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the roller mounting means comprises, in combination:

a pivot shaft rotatable about a shaft axis;

a crank arm secured to the pivot shaft; and

means for removably operatively connecting the crank arm to the second arm.

20. Apparatus for cleaning both hard and soft floor surfaces comprising, in combination:

a chassis having a first end and a second end;

means for movably supporting the first end of the chassis on the floor surface;

a brush adjacent to the second end of the chassis for engagement with the floor surface;

a vacuum shoe of a generally rigid construction for extraction of solution from soft floor surfaces;

means for removably securing the vacuum shoe relative to the chassis adjacent the second end of the chassis;

a carriage assembly for movably supporting the second end of the chassis on the floor surface;

means for removably securing the carriage assembly to the chassis adjacent the brush;

means for moving one of the vacuum shoe and the carriage assembly for supporting the second end of the chassis to change the relative height of the brush from the floor surface;

a squeegee assembly for removing solution from hard floor surfaces;

means for removably securing the squeegee assembly to the second end of the chassis;

a handle pivotable about a handle axis between a transport position and a working position; and

a bracket pivotable with the handle and operatively connected to the moving means when the handle is in the transport position to space the brush from the floor surface and being operatively spaced from the moving means when the handle is in the working position, with the brush engaging the floor surface when the handle is in the working position.