Powered floor scrubber and buffer

• US 6,023,813 A
• Filed: 04/07/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, Brian, Thatcher, David, Haas, Colby
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/056,612
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 15/52, 15/98, 15/320, 15/340.1, 15/340.2, 15/340.3, 15/340.4
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/16 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/293 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• 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

Abstract

An automatic floor scrubber and buffer is described. This invention provides for simultaneous scrubbing and buffing of floors through the use of a plurality of pads operating at different speeds to optimize the scrubbing and buffing operation of the device. This invention also provides for the application of cleaning solution and the means of removing, collecting and storing the resulting dirty water and cleaning solution prior to the application of the buffers. Moreover, this invention provides the means for easily pivoting the scrubbing and buffing pads, thereby removing them from contact with the floor for transportation, removal or replacement. Also, this invention provides a propane powered drive motor thereby providing improved service life as well as permitting use where electricity is not readily available. In sum, this invention addresses the problem of floor cleaning and polishing and does so by eliminating the need for going over the same floor twice, once to scrub and once to buff, thereby saving the user time as well as eliminating the need for two separate machines.

Claims

1. A floor scrubber and buffer device comprising:

(A) a frame;

(B) a first motor mounted on said frame and wherein said first motor further comprises an internal combustion engine;

(C) a first pad attached to said frame for scrubbing the floor;

(D) a second motor mechanically connected to said first pad to provide power for inducing motion on said first pad;

(E) a second pad attached to said frame for buffing the floor; and

(F) a third motor mechanically connected to said second pad to provide power for inducing motion on said second pad.

2. A floor scrubber and buffer device comprising:

(A) a frame;

(B) a first motor mounted on said frame, and wherein said first motor uses propane fuel;

(C) a first pad attached to said frame for scrubbing the floor;

(D) a second motor mechanically connected to said first pad to provide power for inducing motion on said first pad;

(E) a second pad attached to said frame for buffing the floor; and

(F) a third motor mechanically connected to said second pad to provide power for inducing motion on said second pad.

3. A floor scrubber and buffer device comprising:

(A) a frame;

(B) a first motor mounted on said frame;

(C) a first pad attached to said frame for scrubbing the floor, and wherein said first pad is pivotally attached to said frame permitting said first pad to be pivoted out of contact with the floor;

(D) a second motor mechanically connected to said first pad to provide power for inducing motion on said first pad;

(E) a second pad attached to said frame for buffing the floor; and

(F) a third motor mechanically connected to said second pad to provide power for inducing motion on said second pad.

4. A floor scrubber and buffer device comprising:

(A) a frame;

(B) a first motor mounted on said frame;

(C) a first pad attached to said frame for scrubbing the floor;

(D) a second motor mechanically connected to said first pad to provide power for inducing motion on said first pad, and wherein said second motor is a hydraulic motor;

(E) a second pad attached to said frame for buffing the floor; and

(F) a third motor mechanically connected to said second pad to provide power for inducing motion on said second pad.

5. A floor scrubber and buffer device comprising:

(A) a frame;

(B) a first motor mounted on said frame;

(C) a first pad attached to said frame for scrubbing the floor;

(D) a second motor mechanically connected to said first pad to provide power for inducing motion on said first pad;

(E) a second pad attached to said frame for buffing the floor; and

(F) a third motor mechanically connected to said second pad to provide power for inducing motion on said second pad; and

(G) a squeegee attached to said frame and following said first pad to remove scrubbing residue prior to buffing the floor.

6. A floor scrubber and buffer device comprising:

(A) a frame;

(B) a first motor mounted on said frame;

(C) a first pad attached to said frame for scrubbing the floor;

(D) a second motor mechanically connected to said first pad to provide power for inducing motion on said first pad;

(E) a second pad attached to said frame for buffing the floor; and

(F) a third motor mechanically connected to said second pad to provide power for inducing motion on said second pad; and

(G) a second tank for holding residue removed from the floor.

7. A floor scrubber and buffer device comprising:

(A) a frame;

(B) a first motor mounted on said frame;

(C) a first pad attached to said frame for scrubbing the floor;

(D) a second motor mechanically connected to said first pad to provide power for inducing motion on said first pad;

(E) a second pad attached to said frame for buffing the floor; and

(F) a third motor mechanically connected to said second pad to provide power for inducing motion on said second pad; and

(G) a pivot point for pivoting said second pad for buffing relative to said first pad for scrubbing.