Surface treating machine and detachable heads

A machine for treating a surface lying in an XY-plane comprising a body, a body plate attached to the body, a drive assembly attached to the body and a cleaning plate assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor having a motor and a transmission driven by the motor. The cleaning plate assembly includes a cleaning plate connected to the transmission to be driven in an oscillating pattern parallel to the XY-plane and relative to the body plate. The cleaning plate assembly includes a cleaning head detachably fastened to the cleaning plate. The cleaning head includes one of a hook or loop surface and the cleaning plate includes the other one of a hook or loop surface whereby the cleaning head is detachably fastened to the cleaning plate by loop and hook fastening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a machine for treating work surfaces such as floors formed of carpet, tile, wood and other materials. The most efficient and effective surface treatments employ a vibration, “scrubbing”, motion to loosen materials on the work surface. On floors and other work surfaces, a machine typically uses cleaning heads such as towels, pads, mop heads and brush heads in combination with a solvent, including water or steam, and/or a cleaning agent. When the cleaning towel scrubs the floor and becomes dirty, the towel is replaced with a clean one.

In US Patent publication 20070107150 A1 having inventor Yale Smith and published May 17, 2007, a Carpet Cleaning Apparatus And Method With Vibration, Heat, And Cleaning Agent is described. In that patent publication, a combination of vibratory motion, controllable heat, and cleaning agents are used. The apparatus includes a base cleaning plate, heating elements with electrical connections, and means for moving the cleaning plate to produce a scrubbing motion.

In PCT application entitled SURFACE TREATING MACHINE filed Dec. 8, 2010 and having Ser. No. PCT/US2010/059347 and invented by Yale Smith; in U.S. application entitled IMPROVED SURFACE TREATING MACHINE filed Dec. 15, 2012 and having Ser. No. 61/737,740 and invented by Yale Smith; and in U.S. application entitled IMPROVED SURFACE TREATING MACHINE filed Mar. 28, 2013 and having Ser. No. 13/852,514 and invented by Yale Smith various improvements in surface treating machines are described. These applications describe surface treating machines which have counter rotating drives which help provide forward motion drive without a tendency to veer left or right of the forward direction of travel.

Important attributes of surface treating machines are cleaning effectiveness, ease of use, convenience, stability, light weight, low machine wear, long life and ease of maintenance. These attributes are important for machines used by professionals in heavy duty environments and are important for machines used by others in home or other light duty environments.

Cleaning effectiveness requires that machines include a small oscillation that creates a local vibration in a cleaning plate to impart a “scrubbing” movement to the surface being treated. For cleaning floors, the local vibration is preferably in a range that includes several millimeters. Cleaning effectiveness and convenience requires that the shape of the cleaning plate be rectangular so as to be readily used along straight edges and easily moved into rectangular corners. In order to satisfy these attributes, machines with round bottom plates are undesirable.

Ease of use and convenience require stability, appropriate size and weight and ease of operator control. Designs that position the motor and drive assembly high above the cleaning plate are undesirable since such configurations tend to accentuate vertical instability. Vertical instability results in unwanted oscillation of the cleaning plate up and down in a mode that is in and out of the plane of the work surface. The plane of the work surface is referred to as the floor surface plane or the XY-plane. Vertical instability is distinguished from horizontal oscillations providing local vibration to impart a “scrubbing” movement to the cleaning plate. The horizontal oscillations are parallel to the plane of the work surface, that is, parallel to the XY-plane. Vertical instability is additionally undesirable because it uses excessive amounts of energy, reduces the energy efficiency of the machine and causes increased wear on the motor, the dive shafts, the drivers and the drive bushings. The increased wear increases maintenance and decreases the life of the machine. Also, user fatigue is dramatic when unwanted vertical oscillations occur.

High energy efficiency is an important attribute. For machines powered by an AC electrical service through an AC-to-DC converter or powered by a battery, the size and cost of the motor is a function of the energy requirements needed to drive the transmission and the cleaning plate. For DC motors, the energy requirements are important for the motor and for the AC-to DC converter used to convert the AC electrical service to DC. The more energy efficient the machines, the smaller and less expensive are the AC-to-DC converters, batteries and motors required to power the machines.

Another factor in cleaning effectiveness is determined by the material of the machine in contact with the floor material. Brushes are not absorbent and therefore are inefficient in removing solid and liquid matter from a floor. For existing machines that use a towel, the towels are typically synthetic and do not absorb and hold solid and liquid matter from a floor. For towels that are primarily cotton, they have the disadvantage of not scrubbing well and also have high friction with the floor surface resulting in low energy efficiency.

Cleaning effectiveness for tile floors having grout between tiles is often unsatisfactory since dirt and grime is often pushed into the grout region. This problem is often worse in corners that are difficult for machines to penetrate.

In light of the above background, it is desirable to have improved surface treatment machines for treating carpets, tiles, wood and other surface materials.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a machine for treating a surface lying in an XY-plane comprising a body, a body plate attached to the body, a drive assembly attached to the body and a cleaning plate assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor having a motor and a transmission driven by the motor. The cleaning plate assembly includes a cleaning plate connected to the transmission to be driven in an oscillating pattern parallel to the XY-plane and relative to the body plate. The cleaning plate assembly includes a cleaning head detachably fastened to the cleaning plate. The cleaning head includes one of a hook or loop surface and the cleaning plate includes the other one of a hook or loop surface whereby the cleaning head is detachably fastened to the cleaning plate by loop and hook fastening.

In one embodiment, the cleaning head includes a mop head including a cleaning fiber attached to a hook or loop layer. Typically, the cleaning fiber is a polypropylene microfiber formed of cylinders with approximately 12 cylinders per square inch where each cylinder has a diameter of approximately 0.25 inch and a height of approximately 0.6 inch.

In one embodiment, the cleaning head includes a brush head attached to a hook or loop layer. Typically, the brush head includes a loop and hook assembly having a loop layer on one side and a hook layer on the other side for attachment to the cleaning plate and the brush head includes one or more brush heads fastened to the loop and hook assembly.

In one embodiment, two or more of the brush heads are spaced apart by a dimension that matches the grout spacing of a tile floor to be cleaned.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIG. 1, a surface treating machine1includes a body9including a drive assembly10and a cleaning plate assembly12. A body plate16is rigidly attached as part of the body9. The cleaning plate assembly12is driven by the drive assembly10for cleaning or polishing the floor surface lying in a floor plane denominated as the XY-plane. The cleaning plate assembly12includes a cleaning plate12-1and a cleaning pad (mop head)12-2. In some embodiments, the machine1includes a skirt8attached as part of the body9and superimposed over the edges of cleaning plate assembly12.

InFIG. 1, the machine1includes a handle assembly15affixed to the body9for enabling a user to guide machine1over a floor surface18lying in the XY-plane. The handle assembly15has a length extending from the body9at a variable angle with the XY-plane. One or more compartments17are attached to or are in the handle assembly15. The compartments include, for example, one or more fluid compartments17-1for storing water, cleaners or other solutions and one or more electrical compartments for housing an AC-to-DC converter17-2or a battery17-3. The handle assembly may include items not explicitly shown such as an AC power cord, a power plug for operation with an AC-to-DC converter, an electrical control line and an ON/OFF switch. The handle assembly15is rotationally attached to body9and adjusts to acute angles with the cleaning surface when in use for cleaning The handle assembly15includes a latch for latching the handle assembly15in the vertical position for transport and storage of the machine1when not in operation.

The drive assembly10has a drive assembly height dimension, H, measured from the XY-plane. The cleaning plate assembly12typically has a length and a width lying in the XY-plane of the floor surface. The smaller one of the length and the width dimensions, or the only dimension if the length and width are equal, of the cleaning plate assembly12is the minimum treatment dimension, M_D. In order to provide stability for the machine1, the height dimension, H, typically is less than one half of the minimum treatment dimension, M_D. A low drive assembly height dimension is important in minimizing or preventing unwanted vertical instability. Vertical instability results in unwanted oscillation of the cleaning plate up and down in a mode that is in and out of the XY-plane of the work surface. Such unwanted oscillations are a complex function of the floor surface material and movements of the machine during operation as well as the design of the machine. For normal and intended operation, the machine is operating with oscillations in the XY-plane of the floor surface. When the machine is moved from location to location on a floor by a machine operator, some forces out of the XY-plane inherently result. If the drive assembly10height dimension, H, is too high, these forces out of the XY-plane tend to accumulate in intensity reaching a resonant vibration frequency identified as vertical instability. Such vertical instability can be difficult to control by an operator and is wasteful of energy. In some embodiments, the vertical instability is minimized or eliminated by having the drive assembly height dimension, H, less than one half of the minimum treatment dimension, M_D.

InFIG. 2, an isometric view of the surface treating machine1ofFIG. 1is shown. The surface treating machine1includes a body9with a handle assembly15. The handle assembly15is shown latched in the upright position. The cleaning plate assembly12is driven by the body9in an oscillating pattern. The surface treating machine1ofFIG. 2includes only a single compartment17-3for a battery.

InFIG. 3, an embodiment of a cleaning plate assembly12of the surface treating machine1ofFIG. 1andFIG. 2is shown having a brush head12-3. The brush head12-3replaces the mop head12-2inFIG. 1. The brush head12-3includes a loop and hook assembly74having brush head96-1, brush head95and brush head96-3fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-1, brush head95and brush head96-3are each removable fastened to the loop and hook assembly74and hence any one or more of the brush heads maybe employed and the spacing between brush heads can be readily adjusted. Such adjustment is useful for alignment with grout lines in a tile floor.

InFIG. 4, a front view with further details of one embodiment of the drive assembly10, the body plate16and the cleaning plate assembly12ofFIG. 1is shown. The drive assembly10includes a motor30and a transmission20. The transmission20includes a first transmission assembly part20-1and a second transmission assembly part20-2. The first transmission assembly part20-1connects to the second transmission assembly part20-2through a motor drive shaft21, a first drive shaft21-1, and a second drive shaft21-2and a third drive shaft21-3. In the second transmission assembly part20-2, a base31supports the motor30and the first drive shaft21-1, the second drive shaft21-2and the third drive shaft21-3.

The first drive shaft21-1is supported by first bearings26-1and27-1in the base31which connects to a first offset driver22-1. A first bushing23-1engages the first offset driver22-1. The second drive shaft21-2is supported by second bearings26-2and27-2in the base31which connects to a second offset driver22-2. A second bushing23-2engages the second offset driver22-2. The first bushing23-1and the second bushing23-2are mounted in the eccentric drive member29. The first offset driver22-1and the second offset driver22-2rotate in first bushing23-1and the second bushing23-2, respectively. Because the first offset driver22-1and the second offset driver22-2have offsets from the center lines of drive shafts21-1and21-2, the eccentric drive member29oscillates within an opening in the body plate16. In some embodiments, a drive shaft21-3is supported by bearings41-1and42-1in the base31.

The transmission first assembly part20-1operates to transfer the rotational motion of the drive shaft21to the drive shafts21-1and21-2and thereby to the offset drivers22-1and22-2. The offset drivers22-1and22-2drive the cleaning plate assembly12in a vibrating motion in the XY-plane by a ±OFFSET_D. The offset driver22-1has an OFFSET_1offset from the center axis of the drive shaft21-1by the offset OFFSET_1that is equal to OFFSET_D. The offset driver22-2has an OFFSET_2offset from the center axis of the drive shaft21-2by the offset OFFSET_2that is equal to OFFSET_D. The offset drivers22-1and22-2each have a driver offset, equal to OFFSET_D, measured from a center axis of the respective offset driver drive shaft whereby the cleaning plate assembly12is constrained to move in a treatment region bounded by approximately+/−the driver offset.

InFIG. 4, the motor drive shaft21and portions of the transmission20are located with the motor drive shaft21extending in the +Z-axis direction, a direction away from and normal to the XY-plane. The transmission20connects from the motor drive shaft21around the motor30to the bushings23-1and23-2in the eccentric drive member29. The positioning of portions of the transmission20above the motor30and away from the XY-plane of the floor surface is desirable in that it enables ready and easy access for repair or other servicing and keeps those portions of the transmission20away from the potentially wet or dirty cleaning environment of the floor surface at the XY-plane.

InFIG. 4, the motor30in one embodiment is a pancake shaped printed motor that is compact in size, high in output torque, high in energy efficiency, 75%-85%, high in reliability and low in noise using rare earth magnets and operable in voltages from 12 volts to 48 volts. Such motors are sold, for example, by Golden Motors of Shanghai, China. The DC motors have a higher starting torque than AC motors. The low DC voltages provide good user safety and are battery capable. In one embodiment described, the motor30has a no-load operation at 3600 RPM which is reduced by the transmission to 2500 RPM. In another embodiment, the motor30has a no-load operation at 2880 RPM which is reduced by the transmission to 1800 RPM.

InFIG. 5, a side view of the drive assembly10, the body plate16and the cleaning plate assembly12ofFIG. 4are shown. The drive assembly10includes a motor30and a transmission20. The base31supports the motor30and the transmission20. The transmission20includes a first transmission assembly part20-1and a second transmission assembly part20-2. InFIG. 5, the first transmission assembly part20-1connects to the second transmission assembly part20-2through a motor drive shaft21and a second drive shaft21-2. In the second transmission assembly part20-2, a base31supports the motor30and the second drive shaft21-2. The second drive shaft21-2is supported by second bearings26-2and27-2and connects to the second offset driver22-2. A second bushing23-2in the eccentric drive member29engages the second offset driver22-2. The transmission20operates to transfer the rotational motion of the drive shaft21to the drive shaft21-2and thereby to the offset driver22-2. The offset driver22-2drives the cleaning plate assembly12with a vibrating motion.

InFIG. 6, a front view with further details of one embodiment of the drive assembly10, the body plate16and the cleaning plate assembly12ofFIG. 1is shown. The drive assembly10includes a motor30and a transmission20. The transmission20includes a first transmission assembly part20-1and a second transmission assembly part20-2. The first transmission assembly part20-1connects to the second transmission assembly part20-2through a motor drive shaft21, a first drive shaft21-1, and a second drive shaft21-2and a third drive shaft21-3. In the second transmission assembly part20-2, a base31supports the motor30and the first drive shaft21-1, the second drive shaft21-2and the third drive shaft21-3.

The first drive shaft21-1is supported by first bearings26-1and27-1in the base31which connects to a first offset driver22-1. A first bushing23-1in the eccentric drive member29engages the first offset driver22-1. The second drive shaft21-2is supported by second bearings26-2and27-2in the base31which connects to a second offset driver22-2. A second bushing23-2in eccentric driver29engages the second offset driver22-2. The third drive shaft21-3is supported by third bearings41-1and42-1in the base31.

The transmission first assembly20-1operates to transfer the rotational motion of the drive shaft21to the drive shafts21-1and21-2and thereby to the offset drivers22-1and22-2. The transmission assembly20-1in one embodiment includes motor pulley24connected to the motor drive shaft21, a first pulley24-1connected to a first drive shaft21-1and a second pulley24-2connected to the second drive shaft21-2. A third pulley24-3is connected to the drive shaft21-3. A gear37-1connects to the drive shaft21-3. A gear37-2connects to the drive shaft21-3. The gear37-1engages and in operation rotates the gear37-2.

The pulleys24,24-1,24-2and24-3together with the gears37-1and37-2, as part of the transmission20, operate to transfer the rotational motion of the drive shaft21from motor30to the drive shafts21-1and21-2. The motor pulley24is driven in the clockwise direction and drives pulley24-1and drive shaft21-1in the clockwise direction through belt36-2. The pulley24-2, attached to drive shaft21-1, is driven in the clockwise direction and drives pulley24-3and gear37-1attached to drive shaft21-3in the clockwise direction through belt36-1. The gear37-1attached to drive shaft21-3and driven in the clockwise direction engages gear37-2and turns gear37-2and drive shaft21-2in the counterclockwise direction. The pulleys24-2and24-3are of the same diameter and design so that the drive shafts21-1and21-3turn in the same direction and at the same speed. The gear37-1and the gear37-2are of the same diameter and design so that the drive shafts21-3and21-2turn at the same speed but rotate in opposite directions. Because the first offset driver22-1and the second offset driver22-2have offsets from the center lines of drive shafts21-1and21-2, the eccentric drive member29oscillates within an opening in the body plate16.

InFIG. 7, a bottom view is shown of the transmission first assembly20-1ofFIG. 6taken along the section line6-6′ inFIG. 6. The transmission first assembly20-1operates to transfer the rotational motion of the drive shaft21to the drive shafts21-1and21-2. The transmission assembly20-1includes motor pulley24connected to the motor drive shaft21, a first pulley24-1, not shown inFIG. 7, seeFIG. 6, connected to a first drive shaft21-1and a second pulley24-2connected to the first drive shaft21-1. A third pulley24-3is connected to the drive shaft21-3. A gear37-1also connects to the drive shaft21-3. A gear37-2connects to the drive shaft21-3. The gear37-1engages the gear37-2. The pulleys24-2and24-3are of the same diameter and design so that the drive shafts21-1and21-3turn in the same direction and at the same speed. The gear37-1and the gear37-2are of the same diameter and design so that the drive shafts21-3and21-2turn at the same speeds but in the opposite directions.

InFIG. 8, a top view is shown of an embodiment of the cleaning plate assembly12and eccentric drive member29. The handle assembly15-1is shown with broken lines to show the orientation of the cleaning plate assembly12. The orientation in the FORWARD direction is indicated by the arrow. The eccentric drive member29is rigidly attached to cleaning plate12-1by the bolts130, including bolts130-1,130-2,130-3,130-4,130-5and130-6. The bolts130are fully tightened and the concave arc of the cleaning plate12-1and cleaning pad12-2as shown inFIG. 9is shown schematically inFIG. 59as the arrow140. The entire cleaning plate assembly12has the concave shape as further represented by arrow141. In operation as described in connection withFIG. 18andFIG. 19, the entire cleaning plate assembly12has an oscillator motion. The vibrating cleaning plate12-1includes pockets82-1,82-2, . . . ,82-6for receiving ball bearings which are in the pockets81-1,81-2, . . . ,81-6, respectively, of body plate16, seeFIG. 23andFIG. 25. The ball bearings in the pockets82-1and82-4have a generally oval-shaped counter-clockwise rotation and the ball bearings in the pockets82-3and82-6have a generally oval-shaped clockwise rotation. Similarly, areas of the cleaning pads in the vicinity of the pockets82-1and82-4in the vicinity of the pockets82-3and82-6have generally the same counter-clockwise and clockwise rotations, respectively. The typical cleaning pad locations112-1and112-4in the vicinity of the pockets82-1and82-4have counter-clockwise rotations and the typical cleaning pad locations112-3and112-6in the vicinity of the pockets82-3and82-6have clockwise rotations. The cleaning pad locations112-1and112-4and the cleaning pad locations112-3and112-6are selected as typical since the entire cleaning pad12-2is a continuum of many such small locations.

InFIG. 9, a diagram is shown for explaining the forward drive of the geometry of the cleaning plate assembly12and eccentric drive member29ofFIG. 8. The clockwise rotation of the cleaning pad locations112-1and112-4is depicted as having two parts, a solid part farthest away from the center of the concave shape and a broken-line part closer to center, C, of the concave shape. Because of the concave shape, the solid part tends to be pushed harder toward the floor or other surface being treated than the broken-line part. Accordingly, the forward force, F1, for the counter-clockwise oscillation112-1is greater than backward force, B1. The net force in the forward direction for the oscillation112-1is the difference, F1-B1. In a similar manner, the forward force, F4, for the counter-clockwise oscillation112-4is greater than backward force, B4. The net force in the forward direction for the counter-clockwise oscillation112-4is the difference, F4-B4. In a similar manner, the forward force, F3, for the clockwise oscillation112-3is greater than backward force, B3. The net force in the forward direction for the clockwise oscillation112-3is the difference, F3-B3. In a similar manner, the forward force, F6, for the clockwise oscillation112-6is greater than backward force, B6. The net force in the forward direction for the clockwise oscillation112-6is the difference, F6-B6.

When all the net forces as described in connection withFIG. 9are summed, the result is a positive FORWARD drive force that helps propel the machine1ofFIG. 1andFIG. 2forward rendering the machine easier to use. If the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed, then the driving direction is reversed to backward.

When a user is pushing the machine1ofFIG. 1andFIG. 2in the forward direction, the resulting force on the handle15, attached as shown inFIG. 8, exerts an increased force at the rear of the cleaning plate12-1. This increased force tends to increase the forces of the F1and F3type and hence increase the FORWARD drive. Similarly, when a user is pulling the machine1ofFIG. 1andFIG. 2in the backward direction, the resulting force on the handle15, attached as shown inFIG. 8, exerts a decreased force at the rear of the cleaning plate12-1thereby reducing the FORWARD drive and making it easier to pull the machine backward.

InFIG. 10, a front view is shown of the cleaning plate12-1and the cleaning pad12-2. The pad12-2is attached to the cleaning plate12-1by hook-and-loop fasteners where the hooks53, including hook53-A, is attached to the cleaning plate12-1and the “loops”, including loop53′-A, are part of the pad12-2.

InFIG. 11, a perspective view is shown of a cutaway section A of the cleaning pad (mop head)12-2ofFIG. 10. The hook-and-loop fastener53-A and53′-A are typical of the hook-and-loop fasteners ofFIG. 10. The loop portion53′-A is fulfilled by the cover62that surrounds the cotton center61. In addition to providing the “loop” function of the hook-and-loop fastening, the cover62is more abrasive then the cotton core61. The more abrasive cover62functions when cleaning to dislodge more stubborn stains and particles. By way of contrast, the cotton center61is more absorbent and tends to absorb stains and particles dislodged by the abrasive cover62and by any liquid applied, such as water or cleaning solution.

InFIG. 12, a bottom view is shown of the cleaning plate12-1and the attachment pads53. The attachment pads53-1,53-2, . . . ,53-12perform the “hook” function of the hook-and-loop fastening as described in connection withFIG. 11.

The sizes of loops and hooks vary over a large range. In different embodiments, small hook sizes range from 0.02 inch to 0.05 inch and large hook sizes range from 0.08 inch to 0.25 inch. In one example, the hooks53, such as53-A, are about 0.04 inch and the loops, such as loop53′-A, have matching loop sizes to form a good loop and hook fastening.

InFIG. 13, a loop layer65and a fiber layer66form top and bottom sides of another embodiment a cleaning pad (mop head)12-2. In the embodiment ofFIG. 13, the loop layer65is sewn to the fiber layer66along thread lines60. In one example, the loop layer65is selected to fasten to hooks that are about 0.04 inch so as to form a good loop and hook fastening to the hook pads53ofFIG. 12. The fiber layer66is a chenille fiber and more particularly is polypropylene microfiber. The fiber layer66has approximately 12 cylinders per square inch where each cylinder has a diameter of approximately 0.25 inch and a height of approximately 0.6 inch.

InFIG. 14, one embodiment of a body9of a surface treating machine of theFIG. 1orFIG. 2type is shown (with the handle removed). The body9includes the body plate16which engages and oscillates the cleaning plate12-1. The cleaning plate12-1has “hooks” as described in connection withFIG. 12. The body plate16includes hook connectors63including hook connectors63A,63B,63C and63D. The hook connectors63are located on the top surface of and generally in the four corners of the body plate16. The hooks on the hook connectors63are about 0.04 inch so as to form a good loop and hook fastening to the loops of the loop layer65ofFIG. 13. The hook connectors63are positioned to engage loop material of a cleaning pad, if desired, as described in connection withFIG. 15throughFIG. 18.

InFIG. 15, the body9of a surface treating machine of theFIG. 14type is positioned on top of a loop surface65of a cleaning pad (mop head)12-2. The cleaning pad (mop head)12-2ofFIG. 15differs from the cleaning pad (mop head)12-2ofFIG. 10andFIG. 11. The cleaning pad (mop head)12-2ofFIG. 10andFIG. 11has loop material62entirely enclosing a cotton core61. InFIG. 15, the cleaning pad (mop head)12-2is like the one shown inFIG. 13where the loop layer65is on one side of the cleaning pad12-2while the other side is a polypropylene microfiber66. In some embodiments, the cleaning pad (mop head)12-2ofFIG. 10andFIG. 11has loop material62formed of two layers where one of the two layers is sewn on one side of the cotton core61and the other one of the two layers is sewn on the other side of the cotton core61.

InFIG. 16, the layer66in the embodiment shown is formed of a large number of cylinders68of polypropylene microfiber66each measuring about 0.4 inches in diameter and about 1 inch high. The polypropylene microfiber66is particularly suitable for cleaning tile and hard surface floors and slides over such floors with a comfortable force by the user pushing on the handle15(seeFIG. 1andFIG. 2). For cleaning rugs, particularly rugs with deep pile, the polypropylene microfiber66requires considerably more force by the user pushing on the handle15(seeFIG. 1andFIG. 2) than is required when the cotton member12-2ofFIG. 10andFIG. 11is used.

InFIG. 17, a schematic representation of the body9of the surface treating machine ofFIG. 14is fastened on top of a cleaning pad (mop head)12-1with the sides of the cleaning pad turned up along the edges of the cleaning plate12-1and the body plate16. The cleaning pad12-2is like the one shown inFIG. 13where the loop layer65is juxtaposed the cleaning plate12-1and is latched to the hooks53as shown and described in connection withFIG. 12. The body plate16includes hook connectors63including hook connectors63A,63B,63C and63D. The hook connectors63are located on the top surface of and generally in the four corners of the body plate16. The hook connectors63are positioned to engage loop material65of the cleaning pad12-2when the sides of the cleaning pad12-2are further turned over so as to contact loop layer65with the hook connectors63A,63B,63C and63D.

InFIG. 18, the body9of a surface treating machine ofFIG. 17is on top of a cleaning pad (mop head)12-2with the sides turned up and turned over so as to attach to the top of the body plate (seeFIG. 17). The hook connectors63are positioned to engage loop material65of the cleaning pad12-2when the sides of the cleaning pad12-2are turned up as represented inFIG. 17and further turned over so as to contact loop layer65with the hook connectors63A,63B,63C and63D (seeFIG. 17). InFIG. 18, the layer is formed of a large number of cylinders68of polypropylene microfiber66each measuring about 0.4 inches in diameter and about 1 inch high.

InFIG. 19, a loop layer73is one of the layers that forms part of a loop and hook assembly. The loops of the loop layer73form a good loop and hook fastening to hooks that are about 0.04 inch so as to form a good loop and hook fastening, for example, to the loops of the loop layer65ofFIG. 13.

InFIG. 20, a plastic layer72is another one of the layers that forms part of a loop and hook assembly.

InFIG. 21, a hook layer71is another one of the layers that forms part of a loop and hook assembly. The hooks in hook layer71are approximately 0.10 inch which are substantially larger than the hooks that engage loop layer73.

InFIG. 22, a cut away view of a loop and hook assembly74is formed by the combination of theFIG. 19,FIG. 20andFIG. 21layers. The layers71,72and73are adhered together to form the loop and hook assembly74as a unitary piece. In one embodiment, the layers71,72and73are sewn together with the treads60to form the unitary structure74. The loop layer73is designed to fasten to the hooks53of the cleaning plate12-1(seeFIG. 12). The loop and hook fastening with hooks53and loops of layer73use “small hooks” of about 0.04 inch. Similarly, the hook layer71provides “small hooks” of about 0.04 inch. As an alternative, the hook layer71provides “large hooks” that range from 0.08 inch to 0.25 inch. In one embodiment, the hooks are 0.10 inch. With the selection of small hooks and large hooks, for layers73and71, respectfully, the loop and hook assembly74functions as a hook size converter. The small hooks are useful for loop and hook fastening to the cleaning plate12-1. The large hooks are useful for loop and hook fastening to cleaning heads, such as floor pad heads. In addition to the function of being a hook size converter, the loop and hook assembly74functions as a barrier to prevent dirt and liquids from penetrating to the cleaning plate12-1. Accordingly, the loop and hook assembly74is generally larger than the cleaning plate12-1. In one embodiment, the cleaning plate12-1measures 7 inches by 11 inches and the loop and hook assembly74measures 8 inches by 12 inches. Although the loop and hook assembly74in one embodiment is formed using three separate layers71,72and73other structures can be formed. For example, the hooks in layer71can be molded as part of the plastic layer72thereby eliminating the need for layer71.

InFIG. 23, a single row of brushes75are mounted on a base76to form a brush unit69. In a preferred embodiment, the brushes75are polypropylene filaments, the base76is polypropylene and the brushes75are fused into the base76to form the brush unit69. The brush unit69is formed by fusion in the manner provided in brush units from Tucel Industries, Inc., 2014 Forestdale Rd., Forestdale, Vt. 05745. The brush unit69is attached to the loop base77by adhesive, sewing or other attachment means to form a single brush head95for attachment to hooks using a loop and hook fastening mechanism. The loop base77has a loop surface forming one part of a loop and hook fastening mechanism. In one embodiment, the loops of the loop base77are selected for small hooks that are, for example, 0.04 inch hooks. The loop base77is wider than the base76to provide an increased area for the loop and hook fastening mechanism.

InFIG. 24, a double row of brushes75and79are mounted on a base78to form a brush unit70. In a preferred embodiment, the brushes75and79are polypropylene filaments, the base78is polypropylene and the brushes75and79are fused into the base78to form the brush unit70. The brush unit70is formed by fusion in the manner provided in brush units from Tucel Industries, Inc., 2014 Forestdale Rd., Forestdale, Vt. 05745. The brush unit70is attached to the loop base80by adhesive, sewing or other attachment means to form a double brush head96for attachment to hooks using a loop and hook fastening mechanism. The loop base80has a loop surface forming one part of a loop and hook fastening mechanism. In one embodiment, the loops of the loop base80are selected for small hooks that are, for example, 0.04 inch hooks. The loop base80is wider than the base78to provide an increased area for the loop and hook fastening mechanism.

InFIG. 25, a top perspective cutaway view of the loop and hook assembly74of theFIG. 22type is shown with rows of brushes of theFIG. 23andFIG. 24type fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. Particularly, the brush head96-1is attached to one side (left side as viewed inFIG. 25) of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-1includes the double row of brushes75-1and79-1mounted on a base78-1to form a brush unit70-1.The brush unit70-1is attached to the loop base80-1forming the double brush head96-1with loops fastening to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. Also, the brush head96-3is attached to the opposite side (right side as viewed inFIG. 25) of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-3includes the double row of brushes75-3and79-3mounted on a base78-3to form a brush unit70-3. The brush unit70-3is attached to the loop base80-3forming the double brush head96-3having loops fastening to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush unit69includes a single row of brushes75-2mounted on a base76. The brush unit69is attached to the loop base77by adhesive, sewing or other attachment means to form a single brush head95for attachment to hooks using a loop and hook fastening mechanism. The brush head95is located in the center of the loop and hook assembly74.

InFIG. 26, a bottom perspective view of the loop and hook assembly74of theFIG. 22type is shown with rows of brushes of theFIG. 23andFIG. 24type fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. Particularly, the brush head96-1is attached to one side (left side as viewed inFIG. 26) of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-1includes the double row of brushes75-1and79-1mounted on a base78-1to form a brush unit70-1. The brush unit70-1is attached to the loop base80-1forming the double brush head96-1having loops fastening to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. Also, the brush head96-3is attached to the opposite side (right side as viewed inFIG. 26) of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-3includes the double row of brushes75-3and79-3mounted on a base78-3to form a brush unit70-3. The brush unit70-3is attached to the loop base80-3forming the double brush head96-3having loops fastening to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush unit69includes a single row of brushes75-2mounted on a base76. The brush unit69is attached to the loop base77by adhesive, sewing or other attachment means to form a single brush head95for attachment to hooks using a loop and hook fastening mechanism. The brush head95is located in the center of the loop and hook assembly74.

InFIG. 27, a top perspective view is shown of theFIG. 25loop and hook assembly74with fastened brush heads. Particularly, the brush head96-1, brush head96-3and brush head95are detachably fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74and the heads are spaced apart at any convenient dimension.

InFIG. 28, a top perspective view of the loop and hook assembly74of theFIG. 27type having brush head96-1, brush head95and brush head96-3fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-1, brush head95and brush head96-3are spaced apart so as to be aligned with the grout90-1,90-2and90-3of a tile floor99-1. The grout spacing in the floor99-1typically has a uniform spacing of a first grout dimension matching the spacing between brush head96-1, brush head95and brush head96-3. Because the brush head96-1, brush head95and brush head96-3are detachably spaced apart, those heads can be fastened to the loop and hook assembly74to match the first grout dimension.

InFIG. 29, a top perspective view of the loop and hook assembly74of theFIG. 27type having brush head96-1and brush head96-3(brush head95has been removed) fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-1and brush head96-3are aligned with the grout91-1and91-2of a tile floor99-2. The grout spacing in the floor99-2typically has a uniform spacing of a second grout dimension, less than the first grout dimension ofFIG. 28. The brush head96-1and brush head96-3are detachably fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-1and brush head96-3are spaced apart to match the second grout dimension of the floor99-2. The spacing between brush head96-1and brush head96-3has been set by moving the brush head96-1and brush head96-3inFIG. 27to match the second grout dimension of tile floor99-2.

InFIG. 30, a top perspective view of the loop and hook assembly74of theFIG. 27type having brush head96-1, brush head96-2and brush head96-3detachably fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74. The brush head96-1and brush head96-2are aligned with the grout92-1of a tile floor99-3. The grout spacing (not shown) in the floor99-3typically has a uniform spacing of a third grout dimension larger than the possible spacing between brush heads for the loop and hook assembly74used inFIG. 28andFIG. 29. Of course, a loop and hook assembly larger than the loop and hook assembly74can be employed for larger grout spacing. In one embodiment, the cleaning plate12-1for a surface treating machine (seeFIG. 16, for example) has dimensions of 7 inches by 11 inches. With such dimensions, the cleaning plate12-1by itself is not wide enough to mount brush heads for cleaning grout with a grout dimension of 12 inches. However, using a loop and hook assembly74with a width of approximately 13 inches or more allows brush heads to be spaced apart so as to be able to clean grout with a grout dimension of 12 inches.

InFIG. 30, the width of the grout92-1is greater than the width of the grouts90and91inFIG. 28andFIG. 29. The brush head96-1and brush head96-2are fastened side by side to fill the larger grout width of grout92-1. Of course, brush heads of many different sizes are available or can be made to be detachably fastened to the hook layer71of the loop and hook assembly74.

InFIG. 31, a bottom view of the cleaning plate12-1and three rows of hook attachment pads53-13,53-14and53-15are shown. The hooks for the pads can be of any convenient size. For example, the small hooks as described in connection withFIG. 12can be employed and will fasten well with the mop head12-2ofFIG. 13and the brush head95and brush head96ofFIG. 23andFIG. 24. Regardless as to what size hooks are selected, a loop and hook assembly like loop and hook assembly74ofFIG. 22can be employed to change and interface different loop and hook sizes whether from small to large or alternatively from large to small. A large to small interface is achieved for the loop and hook assembly74ofFIG. 22by making layer73for large hooks and layer71small hooks. Also, no change in hook size is necessary. For example, layer73and layer71can both be for small hooks or can both be for large hooks.

InFIG. 32, a bottom view is shown of the cleaning plate ofFIG. 31having three rows of brush heads with small hooks attached to the attachment pads53-13,53-14and53-15. The pads53-13,53-14and53-15in this embodiment have small hooks and no loop and hook assembly74ofFIG. 22type is not required. A loop and hook assembly74ofFIG. 22type can be used to provide a barrier to dirt and solutions reaching the cleaning plate12-1. Such a loop and hook assembly74can have both layers71and73for loop and hook fastening with large hooks or small hooks or can have hook size changes from small to large or vice versa.

InFIG. 33, a top view is shown of a mineral abrasive floor pad head12-2A. Such pads are available in many sizes and levels of abrasiveness. One of the largest vendors of such pads is 3M and the 3M™ Floor Pads are advertised to have uniform coating throughout helping to produce a long, useful life, resulting in less pad usage. The 3M™ Floor Pads are washable and reusable. The floor pad head12-2A ofFIG. 33is best fastened with large hooks. For example, a cleaning plate12-1ofFIG. 14having small hooks fastens to a loop and hook assembly74where the layer73is for small hooks and layer71is large hooks. The floor pad head12-2A fastens to the large hooks of layer71.

FIG. 34depicts an isometric view of surface treating machine of theFIG. 2type rotated up so that only one edge is in contact with a floor. Such rotation concentrates the cleaning action along one edge of the surface treating machine and applies a greater force along that edge than the force applied when not titled. Such titled cleaning is particularly effective using abrasive floor pad heads.