Floor cleaning apparatus with flap having wear indicator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:
- a frame;
means, operatively attached to said frame, for cleaning a surface;
at least three wheels for moving said frame and said means for cleaning over a surface; and
means for steering at least one of said at least three wheels;
wherein said means for cleaning includes a flexible, substantially planar member that includes a first terminal edge and a second terminal edge, wherein when said flexible, substantially planar member is in use, said first terminal edge contacts said surface and said second terminal edge is operatively connected to said frame and separated from said surface;
wherein said flexible, substantially planar member includes a wear indicator located between said first and second terminal edges, wherein said wear indicator includes a bulb structure.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning floors. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes four wheels, two of which are steerable wheels, and a steering mechanism that permits the two steerable wheels to turn to a degree that allows very tight turns to be made by the sweeper. In another embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper with a cylindrical side broom. Yet a further embodiment of the sweeper includes flaps or seals that form a skirt about the broom and a mounting mechanism for slidably receiving the flap or seal. In a further embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper that employs flaps with wear indicators that tell an operator when to adjust or replace the flap. In another embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper that utilizes a pre-filter to remove debris that remains in the vacuum airstream after having passed through the hopper and that is of a size that can require frequent cleaning of a subsequent filtering device. In yet a further embodiment, the apparatus is a scrubber with two counter rotating disk brushes, a primary squeegee, and a second or pre-squeegee for relieving the primary squeegee from processing the heavier concentration of wastewater produced in the area between the brushes. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus is a scrubber that includes a squeegee mounting systems that is relatively easy to use and permits the squeegee rubber to extend beyond the end of the mounting structure.
33 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:
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a frame; means, operatively attached to said frame, for cleaning a surface; at least three wheels for moving said frame and said means for cleaning over a surface; and means for steering at least one of said at least three wheels; wherein said means for cleaning includes a flexible, substantially planar member that includes a first terminal edge and a second terminal edge, wherein when said flexible, substantially planar member is in use, said first terminal edge contacts said surface and said second terminal edge is operatively connected to said frame and separated from said surface; wherein said flexible, substantially planar member includes a wear indicator located between said first and second terminal edges, wherein said wear indicator includes a bulb structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:
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a frame; means, operatively attached to said frame, for cleaning a surface; at least three wheels for moving said frame and said means for cleaning over a surface; and means for steering at least one of said at least three wheels; wherein said means for cleaning includes a flexible, substantially planar member that includes a first terminal edge and a second terminal edge, wherein when said flexible, substantially planar member is in use, said first terminal edge contacts said surface and said second terminal edge is operatively connected to said frame and separated from said surface; wherein said flexible, substantially planar member includes a wear indicator located between said first and second terminal edges, wherein said wear indicator is a longitudinally extending bulb structure that is located substantially parallel to said first terminal edge. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification