Abstract:
A floor-scrubbing machine is provided having a main body and a cleaning fluid delivery system. At least one rotatable brush having a brush body and bristles extending from the brush body is included. The brush is carried by the main body whereby the bristles of the brush engage the floor being scrubbed. A fluid distributor is provided to distribute cleaning fluid supplied to the fluid distributor to the brush. The brush defines a recess having a sidewall and at least one opening formed in the sidewall for distributing the cleaning solution radially outward.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a cleaner such as a carpet-cleaning device having a power brush assembly. More particularly, the present application pertains to such a brush assembly that distributes the cleaning solution onto the surface.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    It is known in the prior art to provide a carpet extractor having powered brushes to assist in scrubbing of the surface being cleaned as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,594 issued to Crouser. Such a brush assembly  20  includes gear brushes  25  that each distribute the cleaning solution axially through openings  81  in the bottom of brush cups  77  formed in its center hub. However, visual analysis of the fluid distribution on the carpet revealed that the solution was more concentrated under the brush hub, which could result in some areas in the cleaning path to be less cleaned than the other areas.  
           [0005]    Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a brush assembly for a cleaning machine that distributes cleaning solution evenly along the cleaning surface in its cleaning path.  
           [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a brush assembly of a cleaning machine that distributes cleaning solution along the cleaning surface in manner that improves the cleaning of the surface.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. In one aspect of the present invention, a floor-scrubbing machine is provided having a main body and a cleaning fluid delivery system. At least one rotatable brush having a brush body and bristles extending from the brush body is included. The brush is carried by the main body whereby the bristles of the brush engage the floor being scrubbed. A fluid distributor is provided to distribute cleaning fluid supplied to the fluid distributor to the brush. The brush defines a recess having a sidewall and at least one opening formed in the sidewall for distributing the cleaning solution radially outward.  
           [0008]    In another aspect of the present invention a floor-scrubbing machine is provided having a main body and a cleaning fluid delivery system. At least one rotatable brush having a brush body and bristles extending from the brush body is included. The brush is carried by the main body whereby the bristles of the brush engage the floor being scrubbed. A fluid distributor is provided to distribute cleaning fluid supplied to the fluid distributor to the brush. The brush defines a recess having a sidewall and at least one opening formed in the sidewall for distributing the cleaning solution. At least one opening formed in the recess for distributing the cleaning solution. A rim extends downwardly from the bottom wall of the brush recess. The rim is positioned radially inward from the opening.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the present invention, a method of distributing cleaning solution on a cleaning surface using a cleaning machine having a brush assembly is provided. The brush assembly has at least one brush defining a recess having openings. The method comprises the steps of flowing the cleaning solution into the recess and rotating the brush such that the cleaning fluid flows radially from the opening. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, of which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of the base module of an upright cleaner having the forward portion thereof cut away to illustrate the general positioning of the brush assembly therein according to the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the brush assembly according to the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the gear brush of one embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the gear brush of another embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in FIG. 5  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the gear brush of another embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the gear brush of still another embodiment according to the present invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of FIG. 9.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a base module  10  for an upright carpet extractor is shown in FIG. 1. The upper portion of a typical upright carpet extractor suitable for use in combination with the herein described base module  10  may be found in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,673 issued on Apr. 18, 1995, titled “Tank Carry Handle and Securement Latch”, the contents of which are included herein by reference. The base module  10  is similar to the one found in previously mentioned co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,593; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. In general, the base module  10  comprises a lower housing  12  and an upper housing  14 , which generally separate along parting line  13 . A suction nozzle  16  and a suction inlet  18  are part of the upper housing  14  similar to that taught in the above referenced co-owned patents. A floating carpet scrubbing brush assembly  20  is suspended in the lower housing  12 . The brush assembly  20  may be powered by an air driven turbine, or any suitable motive power means typically used in the industry, through a suitable gear drive train or transmission.  
         [0022]    As shown in FIG. 2, the brush assembly  20  comprises a brush support beam  22  having five spaced apart integrally molded, cylindrical bearings  24 A,  24 B,  24 C,  24 D, and  24 E. Rotatingly received within bearings are axial shafts  26  (FIGS. 3 through 10) of gear brushes  25 A,  25 B,  25 C,  25 D, and  25 E. The beam  22  further includes troughs  71 A,  71 B,  71 C,  71 D, and  71 E, for receiving a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution flows through supply conduits  74 A,  74 B,  74 C,  74 D, and  74 E, of the beam and then outward toward the surface being cleaned through openings  81 ,  168 ,  268  in the brush cups or recesses  77 ,  177 ,  277 ,  377  as seen in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 through 10 which will be explained in further detail. Gear guards  32 A and  32 B are attached to the brush support beam  22  and are identical in construction so as to be interchangeable on either side of brush support beam  22 . A gear brush rotator indicator  44  is fixedly attached to the shaft extension  29  (FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,593) of gear brush  25 E.  
         [0023]    Integral to and extending upward from the opposite lateral ends of brush support beam are “T” shaped rails  42  and  43 . T-rails  42  and  43  are slidably received within vertical guide slots  46  and  47  (FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,593) integrally molded into the lower base module housing  12  whereby brush assembly  20  may freely move or float in the vertical direction within the brush assembly cavity  48  of housing  12 . A plurality of downwardly projecting tangs  151  extends from the top cover plates of the gear guards  32 A and  32 B, respectively as best seen in FIG. 2. Each of the tangs  151  has one end  93  attached to the gear guards  32 A and  32 B and the other end extending freely. Each of the tangs  151  has a hook portion  91  located approximately midway between its ends, dividing the tang  151  into an upper portion  153  and a lower portion  155 . Grooves  154  are formed in the side of the gear guards  32 A,  32 B directly across from the tangs  51  to provide more area for the tangs  151  to be flexed inwardly. A ledge  157  is provided on the bottom edge of each groove  154 . Pressing the tangs  51  inwardly disengages the brush assembly  20  from the housing  12 , allowing removal of the brush from the cavity  48 . Further details of the brush removal device are disclosed in co-owned patent application (publication No.20020133890), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0024]    Turning to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as previously mentioned, the cleaning solution flows out of the openings  81 ,  168  in the brush cups  77 . In particular, the center hub of the gear brushes  25  forms a hollow downwardly projecting cup  77 . Each of the brush cups  77  generally comprises an upstanding circular shaped sidewall  166  and a circular shaped bottom wall  164 . The bottom wall  164  has a multiplicity of openings  81  circumscribing around it. The sidewall  166  of the cup  77  is generally circular in shaped and includes a plurality of rectangularly shaped side openings or slots  168  spaced circumferentially there around. A circumferential rim  88  is provided about the bottom periphery of each cup  77  to prevent the openings  81  in the cups from getting caught in the carpet fibers and snagging them. The rim  88  is located radially outward from the openings  81  in the bottom of the cup  77  and adjacent to them. As depicted in FIG. 4, a plurality of ribs  170  integrally formed on the bottom wall  164  extends radially from the hub  174  to the sidewall  166 .  
         [0025]    Each side opening  168  extends downwardly from the top of the rim  88  of the cup  77  to approximately {fraction (1/4)} of an inch from the bottom of the rim  88 . A c-shaped cut out portion  172 , as viewed from the top, is formed at the top of the rim  88  and extends outwardly a distance into the lower profile  84  of the gear tooth  78 . As best see in FIG. 3, each side opening  168  is located between bottom openings  81 . Thus, as the brush cup  77  spins or rotates, cleaning solution flows simultaneously out of the side openings  168  and bottom openings  81  alternating between a side opening  168  and bottom opening  81  as one travels around the brush cup  77 . Thus, cleaning solution is distributed equally in the axial and radial directions as illustrated by the arrows. In this embodiment, each side opening  168  is ⅛ wide by {fraction (5/16)} inches long. However, the dimensions of the side opening  168  may be varied.  
         [0026]    In another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the gear brush  125  has a brush cup  177  that has an upstanding circular shaped sidewall  266  and a circular shaped bottom wall  264 . In this and later embodiments, elements from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are identical in structure and have identical functions will be identified by the same reference numbers. The brush cup  177  only contains the openings  81  in the bottom wall  264 . The openings  81  are twice as many as that shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. The circumferential rim  188  provided about the bottom periphery of each cup  177  is located radially inward from the openings  81  and adjacent to them to direct the cleaning solution away from the center of the brush cup  177 . The rim  188  is also wider than that of the previous embodiment.  
         [0027]    In still another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the gear brush  225  includes a brush cup  277  having an upstanding circular shaped sidewall  366  and a circular shaped bottom wall  364 . The brush cup  277  has u-shaped side openings  268  near the bottom wall and formed together with the bottom openings  81 . Though no rim is shown here, a rim could be positioned radially inward of the openings  81  as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The number of side openings  268  is the same as the number of bottom openings  81  and the number of bottom openings  81  is the same as that of FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0028]    In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the gear brush  325  includes a brush cup  377  that has an upstanding circular shaped sidewall  466  and a circular shaped bottom wall  464 . U-shaped side openings  268  are formed at the bottom portion of the sidewall  468  terminating out of the bottom wall  464 . The side openings  268  are similar in design and number as that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. There are no additional bottom openings  81 . Cleaning effectiveness tests have been performed on carpets using an upright carpet extractor with this embodiment for comparison with that for the gear brushes containing only the bottom openings as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,594. Cleaning passes were done using an upright carpet extractor having model number F6040- 900  and manufactured by the Hoover Company. These tests were performed at various flow rates and detergent concentrations of cleaning solution. The test revealed that the carpet cleaning effectiveness increased 7 to 11 percent from that of the carpet extractor with the gear brushes shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,594.  
         [0029]    Each of the gear brushes  125 ,  225 , and  325  in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 through 10 also intermesh with a plurality of like gear brushes (from their respective embodiments) forming a brush assembly  20  that is mounted to the base module  10  of the upright carpet extractor, similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0030]    It has also been found that under a black light test in which the detergent contained a brightener that illuminated during the application of ultra violet light, the distribution of the cleaning solution on the cleaning surface was more uniform with radial distribution. For only axial distribution of the cleaning solution, areas of high concentrations of detergent were noticed.  
         [0031]    The present invention has been described by way of example using the illustrated embodiment. Upon reviewing the detailed description and the appended drawings, various modifications and variations of the preferred embodiments will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. All such obvious modifications and variations are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention and of the claims appended hereto.