Patents Assigned to Tennant
  • Method and apparatus for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer medium
    Patent number: 7967914
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium is disclosed. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Daniel G. Giddings, Frederick A. Hekman, Richard W. Wellens, Larry D. Wydra
  • Hand-held spray bottle having an electrolyzer and method therefor
    Patent number: 7959785
    Abstract: A hand-held spray apparatus is provided, which includes a tank for holding a supply of liquid to be treated and a functional generator carried by the hand-held spray apparatus. The functional generator receives the liquid from the tank and has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane and electrochemically activates the liquid that is passed through the functional generator. A spray output is coupled to an output of the functional generator and dispenses the electrochemically activated liquid as an output spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Method of generating sparged, electrochemically activated liquid
    Patent number: 7959787
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes generating a cleaning liquid by a combination of a sparging process and an electrochemical process that produces an anolyte and a catholye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Method for generating electrochemically activated cleaning liquid
    Patent number: 7959789
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning device along a floor; electrochemically activating a liquid on the mobile floor cleaning device, and dispensing the electrochemically activated liquid from the mobile floor cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Method of producing a sparged cleaning liquid onboard a mobile surface cleaner
    Patent number: 7959788
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning machine along a floor. Onboard the mobile floor cleaning machine, a liquid is sparged by electrolysis. The sparged liquid is dispensed from the mobile floor cleaning machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • SPRAY DISPENSER HAVING AN ELECTROLYZER AND METHOD THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20110132749
    Abstract: A hand-held spray device is provided, which includes a tank for holding a supply of liquid to be treated and a functional generator, which is in fluid communication with the tank. The functional generator includes an anode chamber having an anode, a cathode chamber having a cathode and being separated from the anode chamber by an ion exchange membrane, wherein at least one of the anode or cathode comprises a metallic mesh, an inlet coupled to receive liquid supplied from the tank, which is coupled to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber. The functional generator is configured to combine an entire flow of anolyte liquid from the anode chamber with an entire flow of catholyte liquid from the cathode chamber along a single path that passes through an outlet. A pump pumps the liquid from the tank and out the spray output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • MODULAR HUB CONSOLE FOR FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20110132402
    Abstract: A floor surface maintenance vehicle including a frame, a plurality of wheels, a cleaning component extending from an underside of the frame, a steering wheel having a central aperture and rotatable about a central axis, and a steering wheel hub located within the central aperture of the steering wheel and having a panel, wherein the panel is stationary relative to the central axis. Buttons are provided on the panel, including a first button that is C-shaped and extends around a portion of a periphery of the panel. The C-shaped button may by used to control frequently used functions such as cleaning functions or operation of a horn, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: John C. Ickes, III, Matthew R. Hetler, Daniel A. Leitschuh, Adam S. Foley, Richard S. Walters
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL CHARGE THROUGH A FLUID WITH A SINUSOIDAL WAVEFORM HAVING AT STEP DISCONTINUITY
    Publication number: 20110121110
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided, wherein the apparatus includes an electrode and a control circuit. The electrode lacks a corresponding return electrode of opposite polarity on the apparatus. The control circuit is electrically coupled to the electrode and configured to generate and apply to the electrode a voltage having a sinusoidal waveform having at least one step on an edge of the waveform, wherein each step comprises a local peak. The apparatus is arranged to generate an alternating electric field between the electrode and a surface or volume of space in response to the applied voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Integrated Vacuum Wand and Method of Use
    Publication number: 20110108067
    Abstract: A portable vacuum wand for use with a surface maintenance machine, for collection of debris remote from the machine. The vacuum wand is detachable from a rear squeegee assembly of the surface maintenance machine, and includes a handle and a wand head. A vacuum conduit of the vacuum wand is adapted to be coupled to the rear squeegee assembly when not in use so as to provide vacuum to the rear squeegee assembly. A method of cleaning a floor surface with a surface maintenance machine and a portable vacuum wand is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin L. Shinler, John C. Ickes, Matthew Betteker, Bruce M. Becker
  • Squeegee Assembly
    Publication number: 20110107552
    Abstract: A squeegee assembly for a floor surface maintenance machine having a tabbed frame, an apertured front squeegee blade adapted to receive at least portions of the tabs of said frame, a tabbed vacuum core having a surface adapted to receive portions of the tabs of the frame, a rear squeegee blade having apertures adapted to receive at least portions of the tabs of the vacuum core; and a clamp band for securing the frame, front and rear squeegee blades and vacuum core together. A method of quickly and efficiently assembling a squeegee assembly is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin L. Shinler, Coert Verhoeve
  • Side Brush Assembly Mechanism
    Publication number: 20110107529
    Abstract: A side brush assembly mechanism for a floor surface maintenance vehicle including a linkage assembly supporting a brush deck, a pivot assembly and a cable connected to the linkage assembly, and a cable tensioning device for retracting the cable. The cable tensioning device is capable of lifting and retracting the brush deck. The side brush assembly mechanism may include a biasing mechanism for lowering and extending the brush deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Matthew R. Hetler
  • Quick Lock Squeegee Attachment and Method of Use
    Publication number: 20110107540
    Abstract: A releasable squeegee assembly for coupling to a surface maintenance machine and including a compliant bushing and an over-center lever attached to a pull rod and compliant spring. The compliant bushing is compressed via said over-center lever with said compliant spring providing a spring force. A bushing sleeve is provided to limit the degree of compression of said compliant bushing by the over-center lever. A method of coupling a squeegee assembly to a surface maintenance machine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin L. Shinler, John C. Ickes, Steven V. Feeny
  • Electrochemically-Activated Liquids Containing Fragrant Compounds
    Publication number: 20110048959
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid, the device comprising an electrolysis cell configured to electrochemically activate the liquid and to diffuse one or more fragrant compounds into the liquid to provide the fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Filter cleaning apparatus
    Patent number: 7896936
    Abstract: A filter cleaning mechanism for a cylindrical filter within a filter box of a surface maintenance machine having a shaker plate engaging a top end of the filter and having vibrations induced via a motor and eccentric mass combination. In one example, the motor and eccentric mass are mounted to a hinged cover plate via a vibration isolating connection. A pair of slot structures may limit movement of the filter to a generally vertical direction relative to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Kurt Clarence Adelman, Richard William Wellens, Michael Thomas Basham
  • Apparatus for generating sparged, electrochemically activated liquid
    Patent number: 7891046
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, which includes a sparging device and a functional generator. The functional generator is in fluid communication with the sparging device and includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Method and apparatus for producing humanly-perceptable indicator of electrochemical properties of an output cleaning liquid
    Patent number: 7836543
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a mobile body configured to travel over a surface, a cleaning device carried by the mobile body, a liquid flow path, and an electrolyzing device in the liquid flow path. An indicator provides a humanly-perceptible indication of an electrical operating characteristic of the electrolyzing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Method and Apparatus for Treating a Liquid
    Publication number: 20100276301
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes first and second liquid lines, a container and a dispenser. The first liquid line is configured to receive a liquid. The container is coupled to the first liquid line and is configured to retain media of at least one liquid-activating material. The media of the at least one liquid-activating material is configured to modify an oxidation reduction potential of the received liquid to provide a treated liquid. The second liquid line is coupled to the container and is configured to receive the treated liquid from the container. The dispenser is operably coupled to the second liquid line at a location downstream from the container and is configured to dispense the treated liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Floor cleaning machine debris collection system
    Patent number: 7805802
    Abstract: A debris collection system for a floor cleaning machine includes a motorized cleaning head attached to a frame of the floor cleaning machine, a carriage attached to the frame, a debris tray, and a de-watering system. The debris tray is removably receivable within the carriage and is positioned to receive debris thrown from the motorized cleaning head. The de-watering system includes a liquid extracting component, a tray tubing section, a main tubing section, a waste recovery tank supported on the frame and a vacuum in vacuum communication with the main tubing section. The liquid extracting component is attached to the debris tray and is configured to extract liquid from within the debris tray. The tray tubing section has a first end that is coupled to the liquid extracting component and a second end that is mounted in fixed relation to the debris tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Kevin L. Shinler, Peter A. Loring, Laurence A. Jensen
  • WASHING SYSTEMS INCORPORATING CHARGED ACTIVATED LIQUIDS
    Publication number: 20100181208
    Abstract: A washing system and method comprising forming a charged activated liquid, and operating a washing system with the charged activated liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas R. Denison, Bruce F. Field, Jonathan A. Zimmerman
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL CHARGE THROUGH A LIQUID HAVING ENHANCED SUSPENSION PROPERTIES
    Publication number: 20100147700
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided. The method includes for example, treating a liquid in an apparatus to increase suspension properties of the liquid and dispensing the treated liquid from the apparatus to a surface or volume of space so as to create an electrically conductive path by the treated liquid from the apparatus to the surface or volume of space. During the step of dispensing, an alternating electric field is generated from the apparatus to the surface or volume of space, through the liquid along the conductive path, wherein the electric field is sufficient to destroy at least one microorganism from the surface or in the volume of space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Thomas R. Denison