Abstract: A floor cleaning machine has one or more work heads, one or more motors for driving one or more work heads via a transmission unit for each work head, wherein each transmission unit has a drive shaft with a co-axial chuck for releasably engaging with the associated work head to rotate the work head. The machine has a liquid reservoir, and at least one liquid conduit extending from the reservoir towards a transmission unit of one of the work heads. The drive shaft has a co-axially extending through-bore receiving a liquid feed tube, the feed tube providing a liquid path for treatment liquid through the transmission unit and through the work head, the feed tube having an upper region for receiving liquid from the conduit and a lower region which feeds through the work head to serve as an outlet for delivering liquid to the underside of the work head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of machines for cleaning, particularly vacuum cleaning devices. There is disclosed a filter cartridge for a vacuum cleaner comprising first and second opposite end walls, a side wall or walls which extend between the end walls so as to define an enclosure which surrounds a filter interior, wherein one or more of the walls comprises filter membrane material, the cartridge having an opening provided through the first end wall for receiving air-entrained detritus into the interior, the opening being defined by a rigid support structure which spans and supports the first end wall of the cartridge. The cartridge typically includes a non-return valve which closes when suction is removed so as to help prevent collected detritus escaping from the filter cartridge interior. The valve may comprise a conical valve with flexible facets, or a cantilever flap.

Abstract: A floor scrubber drier includes a base portion with a treatment workhead, a cleaning fluid outlet located such that cleaning fluid is entrained in the treatment workhead during operation, and a waste fluid collector inlet locatable proximate the treatment workhead to collect waste fluid therefrom. The scrubber has a handle movably connected to the base portion to guide movement of the base portion. The scrubber has a tank module with a clean fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the cleaning fluid outlet to feed clean fluid thereto, and a waste fluid collection tank in fluid communication with the fluid collector inlet to receive waste fluid therefrom, wherein the tank module is attachable to the handle such that the clean fluid reservoir and the waste fluid collection tank are simultaneously removable and attachable to the handle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of floor treatment machines for scrubbing, polishing, sanding or burnishing floors, and in particular machines in which one or more driven rotatable work heads (such as scrubbing brushes) are provided for agitating the floor surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of machines for cleaning, particularly vacuum cleaning devices. There is disclosed a filter cartridge for a vacuum cleaner comprising first and second opposite end walls, a side wall or walls which extend between the end walls so as to define an enclosure which surrounds a filter interior, wherein one or more of the walls comprises filter membrane material, the cartridge having an opening provided through the first end wall for receiving air-entrained detritus into the interior, the opening being defined by a rigid support structure which spans and supports the first end wall of the cartridge. The cartridge typically includes a non-return valve which closes when suction is removed so as to help prevent collected detritus escaping from the filter cartridge interior. The valve may comprise a conical valve with flexible facets, or a cantilever flap.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine provided with three spaced-apart floor-facing rotationally drivable cleaning heads, each having a working axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the floor surface, the machine being provided with wheel means permitting translational movement of the machine along a cleaning path over a floor surface and an adjustable mounting means configured to permit selective adjustment of relative spatial locations of the cleaning heads so that a cleaning path swept by the heads may be selectively adjusted.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of vacuum cleaning and in particular the collection of air-entrained debris, in a filter bag. The filter bag is for use in vacuum cleaning apparatus, and comprises fine planar filtration means in the form of a collection bag and coarse planar filtration means both being adapted to be placed in a suction-induced air stream with the coarse filtration means disposed upstream of the fine filtration means, wherein the fine filtration means serves to provide a fine filter for retaining dust particles and wherein the coarse filtration means comprises a relatively coarse filter material having a thickness of at least 4 mm which provides a matrix volume in which dust may be collected. The volume occupied by the coarse filtration means comprises at least 2%, preferably at least 5%, most preferably at least 10% of the maximum internal volume defined by the collection bag.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine is described having a first drive head and a second drive head which are both pivotally mounted to a deck. The first and second drive heads are connected together with a link rod. The cleaning width of the cleaning machine can be changed by pivoting the first drive head about a pivot point on the deck. The pivoting movement of the first drive head causes a movement of the second drive head, via the link rod, in order to provide a new separation for the drive heads.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a collection cavity into which air is drawn by a vacuum drive for the collection of air entrained detritus. The cavity has an inlet vent for entry of dirty air, a base portion for collecting detritus and an outlet, enabling the vacuum drive to-draw air into the cavity. The inlet vent comprises a stub pipe which enters the cavity. A filter bag is disposed in the base portion and includes an aperture for the entry of air-entrained detritus. The bag aperture includes a sliding fit over the stub pipe to engage with the inlet vent so the stub pipe empties into the bag. The bag includes a retaining tie which may be clamped to the aperture back along the stub pipe to prevent disengagement of the bag with the vent.

Abstract: The present application concerns the field of machines for floor treatment, such as cleaning and scrubbing, and in particular relates to the use of a vacuum squeegee assembly for collecting and lifting liquid from a floor surface during treatment.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of vacuum cleaning and in particular the collection of air-entrained debris, in a filter bag. The filter bag is for use in vacuum cleaning apparatus, and comprises fine planar filtration means in the form of a collection bag and coarse planar filtration means both being adapted to be placed in a suction-induced air stream with the coarse filtration means disposed upstream of the fine filtration means, wherein the fine filtration means serves to provide a fine filter for retaining dust particles and wherein the coarse filtration means comprises a relatively coarse filter material having a thickness of at least 4 mm which provides a matrix volume in which dust may be collected. The volume occupied by the coarse filtration means comprises at least 2%, preferably at least 5%, most preferably at least 10% of the maximum internal volume defined by the collection bag.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners and relates in particular to domestic or commercial cleaners which are provided with a bin (or vacuum chamber), rather than a filter bag, to collect air-entrained detritus. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an insert (20,100) for converting a vacuum cleaner (10) of the aforementioned type so as to make the cleaner capable of operating in a mode in which air-entrained detritus is collected in a filter bag (29,109) located in the vacuum chamber (27), the insert comprising an enclosure (20,21,22,38,100,101) in which the filter bag may be accommodated, which enclosure comprises structural constraint means (21,22,23,24,38,103) which limits vacuum induced expansion of at least a region of the bag and maintains an airflow gap (28,108) between the filter bag outer surface and a vacuum chamber inner wall. The constraint means may in one embodiment be a plurality of inward facing spacer ribs (103).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners for cleaning carpets and other floor surfaces. The invention particularly relates to upright cleaners which have a cleaning head portion and an upstanding handle portion which typically carries a collection device for collecting detritus lifted by a vacuum induced airflow. The present invention provides an upright vacuum cleaner, the cleaning head portion being provided with wheel means which allow the cleaner to be moved over a floor surface, wherein the wheel means comprises first and second laterally spaced apart rear wheels and a castor wheel that is located at a position forward of the rear wheels and preferably aft of the roller brush. The castor wheel is preferably located in a domed recess in an underside of the cleaning head.

Abstract: A mopping trolley having a carriage, a mop press assembly with a discharge port, a clean receptacle for providing a source of clean liquid for mopping, and a waste receptacle for receiving waste liquid expressed from the mop press. The clean receptacle is located under the mop press so that a mop head may be dipped into the clean receptacle and lifted directly upward to the mop press, the mop head being maintained over the clean receptacle so that dripping excess fluid falls back to the clean receptacle below. In this way the amount of clean water wasted may be reduced, so that water dripping from the mop head falls back into the clean receptacle. The waste receptacle includes a portion that is positioned below the discharge port of the mop press assembly to receive waste liquid.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the floor scrubbing or finishing machines. There is provided a machine for scrubbing or finishing a floor surface comprising carriage means adapted for translational movement over a floor surface, a workhead, an electric motor carried by the carriage means and arranged in use to drive the workhead and battery support means adapted in use to support at least one battery as a source of electric power for driving the electric motor, wherein said battery support means are adapted to support said at least one battery so that said at least one battery can be positioned in a selected one of a range of positions relative to said workhead whereby the loading on said workhead can be varied as required.

Abstract: A mop press for expressing liquid from a mop head is provided. The mop press includes a housing having reservoir means for receiving the expressed liquid. The reservoir means is provided with drainage means for allowing the extracted liquid to flow from the mop press in a controlled and directed manner. The reservoir means is large enough to accommodate the liquid expressed from the mop such that the mop does not reabsorb the expressed liquid collected therein.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an electrical appliance having a releasable cable connector for electrically connecting the appliance to a remote power supply, wherein a first junction means is adapted to provide the releasable electrical connection between the cable connector and the appliance, characterised by the provision of a second junction means adapted to provide a non-releasable, hard-wired electrical connection between an alternative cable connector and the appliance, wherein the first junction means and the second junction means are arranged and configured so that the selection and use of one of said junctions by attachment of one cable connector precludes the simultaneous selection of the other connector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine having a carriage for movement on a floor surface. The carriage has structure for rocking the carriage with respect to a floor surface. A workhead assembly is pivotably mounted on the carriage for movement between a first working position and a second rest position. A biasing structure acts on the workhead assembly to move the workhead assembly from one of the positions to the other. Rocking of the carriage allows the workhead assembly to move under influence of the biasing structure from one position to the other position.