Patent ID: 7461428
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
1. In a floor-cleaning machine including a cleaning element for removing dirt from the floor and delivering the removed dirt to a dirt container, the combination comprising: a retracting arm pivotally mounted at a proximal end to said machine and pivotally mounted at a distal position to said dirt container; a power actuator arranged to raise and lower said retracting arm; an articulating linkage comprising a parallel arm and an auxiliary arm pivotally connected together, one end of said parallel arm pivotally connected to said dirt container and a first end of said auxiliary arm pivotally connected to said machine; and a latch mechanism releasable by an operator of said machine for selectively securing said auxiliary arm of said articulated linkage to said machine and for releasing said auxiliary arm to release said parallel arm and permit said parallel arm to move with said dirt container in a dumping action; whereby when said auxiliary arm is secured to said machine by said latch mechanism, said retracting arm and said parallel arm of said articulating linkage act to maintain said dirt container in substantially the same orientation relative to a horizontal plane as said power actuator is extended and retracted over a range to raise and lower said dirt container between a dumping position and a use position; and when said auxiliary arm is not secured to said machine by said latch mechanism, said auxiliary arm is released, thereby to permit said dirt container to rotate about a horizontal axis to dump the contents thereof.