FLOOR FINISH APPLICATOR
A pull-behind floor finish applicator wherein a mop with a handle is connected to the applicator, yet is readily removable therefrom. This allows the mop to be used as a component of the walk-behind applicator for applying floor finish to easily accessible areas in one instance, yet allows the mop to be used independently for application of floor finish to not so easily accessible areas. The applicator is adaptable to receiving bag in the box floor finish, thus reducing cleaning time. The applicator employs a minimum number of disposable parts thus making it economical to produce. Some embodiments utilize a pump driven by the power of the wheels. A transmission assembly is provided in some embodiments to deliver power from the wheels to a pump.
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/744,967, filed on May 7, 2007, which is currently pending and hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to applicators for floor finish. More particularly, it relates to a simplified pull-behind floor finish applicator which utilizes a pump and a detachable mop as a component of a pull-behind cart.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPull-behind floor finish applicators are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,756; No. 3,457,015; No. 3,981,596; No. 4,124,315; and No. 4,471,713. Other floor finish applicators of this type are available from Fast-Trak Inc. as Ultra-Trak floor finish applicator and Hillyard, Inc. of St. Joseph, Mo. as Multi-Flo applicator.
These applicators involve mechanisms which have numerous components and/or do not provide for a separate mopping function. For example, the applicators described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,756 and No. 3,981,596 include pressurized tanks with complex delivery systems. These involve time consuming cleaning operations. Those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,015 and No. 4,124,315 do not provide for a separate mopping function.
A pull-behind floor finish applicator should be simple in its construction so as to be economical to produce. It should also be capable of applying floor finish in those places where the application cannot readily be achieved.
The prior art does not provide a floor finish applicator which has a minimum number of parts, yet can apply floor finish in floor areas which are both readily accessible by a mobile machine and those which are not.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne embodiment of the present invention provides a pull-behind floor finish applicator which includes a wheeled cart and receives a source of floor finish. A floor finish spreading mop having a handle member and a floor finish spreading member is detachably mounted on the cart. In one embodiment, the floor finish spreading mop is detachably mounted to the cart by a clamp member. There is at least one conduit connected to the source of floor finish to deliver floor finish to a floor. In some embodiments, a valve member is operatively associated with the conduit, and a valve actuating member is operatively connected to the valve member. In some embodiments, the valve member is a pinch valve.
In some embodiments there is a skid member connected to the cart, the mop positioned on the cart in a manner to position the cart at about 5 degrees from an upright position toward the front side of the cart.
In some embodiments, there is a carrier member connected to the cart and a bag in the box containing a floor finish positioned in the carrier member. In some embodiments, the floor finish is delivered to the flow via gravity feed. In other embodiments, the floor finish is delivered via the assistance of a pump assembly. In some embodiments, the pump is a peristaltic pump.
In some embodiments, the pump assembly is driven by a power delivered via rotation of the wheel on the cart.
Some embodiments of the invention are directed toward a transmission assembly for selectively driving a pump on a floor finish applicator cart having wheels. The transmission assembly comprises an axle coupled to and driven by a wheel on the cart, a drive gear connected to the axle; and a drive shaft with a bevel gear for engaging the drive gear and driving the pump. In some embodiments, the drive gear includes a one-way roller clutch. In some embodiments, the transmission assembly also includes a spring loaded clutch actuator, wherein the spring loaded clutch actuator includes at least one thrust washer and a pivotal bar member for engaging the thrust washer.
Some embodiments are also directed toward a floor finish applicator having a body member adapted to support a reservoir of floor finish, a handle coupled to the body, a pair of wheels coupled to the body member and at least partially defining a pivot point of the body when force is applied to the handle, and a kick-stand pivotally coupled to the body and engagable with the floor to support the body in a raised position relative to the floor, wherein the kick-stand is biased about a pivot point toward the body when not engaged with the floor.
Referring to
Referring to
The flow of floor finish from bag 23 to conduits 25 and 29 is controlled by the control pinch clamp generally 47 connected to sloping panel 24. This is best seen in
A further understanding of the floor finish applicator 10 can be had by a description of its operation as seen in
Pinch valve 47 is opened by compressing lever 61 which places the pinch clamp 47 in the position seen in
It will thus be seen that there is provided a floor finish applicator composed of consumable parts. This is seen though the use of the bag 23 in the box 21 as well as plastic feed tube 63 and conduits 25 and 29. These parts are readily disposable after use. Further, floor finish applicator 10 provides a dual use of mop 28. It acts as a spreader for the floor finish when attached to the cart 12, yet allows use separately as a hand operated mop.
A particular pinch valve 47 has been described in conjunction with applicator 10. Any type of clamp could be employed which effects a compressing and stoppage of flow through flexible tubing 63. Neither is the particular design of mop 28 essential. Any mop with a disposable mop head can be substituted as long as it effects appropriate spreading and leveling of the floor finish.
The embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
Connected to the housing 16 is a frame member 20 with clamps 34 and 35. A mop 28 having a handle 30 and a mop head 32 is removably attached to the frame member 20 by the clamps 34 and 35. In a preferred manner, mop head 32 has a pad comprised of materials of different sizes for purpose of spreading and leveling the floor finish. It can be made of foam, flocked foam, woven or non-woven cloth.
Referring to
As seen in
The pump 64 can include a variety of different pumps, such as piston pump, gear pump, diaphragm pump, peristaltic pump, and the like. While each pump can be utilized to deliver floor finish and can be operable via the transmission assembly described above, the peristaltic pump embodiment is a highly preferred embodiment. As explained in greater detail below, the peristaltic pump is preferred because it is substantially easier to clean since the floor finish does not contact the pump.
Referring to
A further understanding of the floor finish applicator 10 can be had by a description of its operation as seen in
As best seen in
An advantageous feature of some embodiments of the applicator is the disposable connector 79 and the disposable flexible conduits 25, 81, 83 and spray conduit 87. When the application of the floor finish in complete, these components can be readily removed and replaced without any cleaning of the peristaltic pump 64. In other words, through the use of a peristaltic pump, the floor finish never contacts the pump. As such, time consuming clean-up is not necessary. Rather, the conduit is simply removed from the pump and replaced prior to next operation.
Another advantage of some embodiments the application 10 is the dual use of mop 28. It acts as a spreader for the floor finish when attached to the cart 12, yet allows use separately as a hand operated mop in order to apply floor finish to areas of floors not readily accessible when attached to the applicator.
A roller clutch 94 has been described in conjunction with applicator 10. If desired this could be eliminated as deactivation of the pump 64 can be effected during a forward motion of the applicator by placing bail 69 in the upward position shown in solid lines in
Claims
1. A floor finish applicator comprising:
- a cart having wheels and a body member constructed and arranged to receive a source of floor finish; and
- a floor finish spreading mop having a handle member and a floor finish spreading member detachably mounted on the cart for selective use detached from the cart during use of the cart.
2. The floor finish applicator of claim 1, further comprising a pump coupled to the cart and operable to deliver floor finish to a floor.
3. The floor finish applicator of claim 2, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.
4. The floor finish applicator of claim 2, further comprising a conduit adapted to be coupled to the source of floor finish and deliver floor finish to the pump.
5. The floor finish applicator of claim 2, further comprising a transmission assembly coupled between the pump and the wheels and selectively operable via movement of the wheels to drive the pump.
6. The floor finish applicator of claim 5, further comprising control means operatively associated with the transmission assembly to selectively control the operation of the pump.
7. The floor finish applicator of claim 6, wherein the control means includes a spring loaded clutch actuator.
8. The floor finish applicator of claim 7, wherein the spring loaded clutch actuator includes at least one thrust washer and a pivotal bar member for engaging the thrust washer.
9. The floor finish applicator of claim 5, wherein the transmission assembly includes a drive gear connected to a wheel driven axle and a drive shaft with a bevel gear for engaging the drive gear and driving the pump.
10. The floor finish applicator of claim 9, wherein the drive gear includes a one-way roller clutch.
11. The floor finish applicator of claim 9, wherein the drive shaft includes a first shaft with the bevel gear and a second shaft, the shafts interconnected by a pin and slot arrangement.
12. The floor finish applicator of claim 1, wherein the wheeled cart includes a clamp member to selectively receive a handle of a mop with the mop head engaged with the floor.
13. The floor finish applicator of claim 6, wherein the control means includes a lever attached to the drive shaft, a cable attached to the drive shaft and handle member to actuate the cable.
14. A method of applying floor finish to a floor surface employing the applicator of claim 1.
15. A transmission assembly for selectively driving a pump on a floor finish applicator cart having wheels, the transmission assembly comprising:
- an axle coupled to and driven by a wheel on the cart,
- a drive gear connected to the axle; and
- a drive shaft with a bevel gear for engaging the drive gear and driving the pump.
16. The transmission assembly of claim 15, wherein the drive gear includes a one-way roller clutch.
17. The transmission assembly of claim 16, further comprising a spring loaded clutch actuator.
18. The transmission assembly of claim 17, wherein the spring loaded clutch actuator includes at least one thrust washer and a pivotal bar member for engaging the thrust washer.
19. The transmission assembly of claim 15, wherein the drive shaft includes a first shaft with the bevel gear and a second shaft, the shafts interconnected by a pin and slot arrangement.
20. A floor finish applicator comprising:
- a body member adapted to support a reservoir of floor finish;
- a handle coupled to the body;
- a pair of wheels coupled to the body member and at least partially defining a pivot point of the body when force is applied to the handle; and
- a kick-stand pivotally coupled to the body and engagable with the floor to support the body in a raised position relative to the floor, wherein the kick-stand is biased about a pivot point toward the body when not engaged with the floor.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 20, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 13, 2008
Inventors: Andrew M. BOBER (Racine, WI), Charles A. CRAWFORD (Racine, WI), Lance D. BROWN (Racine, WI), Douglas S. RODENKIRCH (Sun Prairie, WI), Scott I. BIBA (Highland, WI), Craig P. CONNER (Madison, WI), Daniel R. NETT (Sun Prairie, WI), Nicholas S. REBACK (Monona, WI)
Application Number: 11/780,733
International Classification: A47L 13/30 (20060101); F04B 49/00 (20060101);