Abstract:
A walk behind battery operated cleaning apparatus for scrubbing, and cleaning carpets, which is self propelled, has a reservoir tank for cleaning solution, and has dual bonnet-type cleaning assemblies at the front thereof which can be in operating or storage position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to a walk behind cleaning apparatus of the battery operated floor type machine, used for bonnet cleaning, which is self propelled and includes dual floor machine type cleaning assemblies for bonnet cleaning.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Walk behind cleaning apparatus that clean and scrub carpets are known in the art.  
         [0005]     Such apparatus are typically of the single cleaning assembly type. While these apparatus are suitable for their intended purpose, due to the rotational aspects of the single cleaning assembly, the apparatus is constantly pulling to one side, necessitating the operator having to constantly fight the apparatus to force it to travel in a direction opposite to the rotational force.  
         [0006]     There is therefore a need for an apparatus that can be easily manipulated by the operator in desired directions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     This invention relates to a walk behind battery operated cleaning apparatus, which is self propelled, and has dual floor machine type cleaning assemblies for bonnet cleaning.  
         [0008]     The principal object of the invention is to provide a battery operated self propelled floor machine type cleaning apparatus.  
         [0009]     A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus wherein the apparatus has opposed dual bonnet-type cleaning assemblies.  
         [0010]     A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus that greatly increases production.  
         [0011]     A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus which is safer to use and operate than conventional apparatus, as it does not have any attached electrical cords.  
         [0012]     A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus which is easy to use.  
         [0013]     A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus which can be used to clean floors or carpet.  
         [0014]     A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus that provides improved cleaning action.  
         [0015]     A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus that is durable, and has a long service life.  
         [0016]     Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof in which,  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the cleaning apparatus of the invention with the cleaning assemblies in operating position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  with the cleaning assemblies in the storage position allowing for bonnet change, or movement when not cleaning.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the steering mechanism of the apparatus; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  illustrating an alternate steering mechanism which increases steering leverage, and reduces the turning radius in smaller areas. 
     
    
       [0023]     It should, of course be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0024]     Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     When referring to the preferred embodiments, certain terminology will be utilized for the sake of clarity. Use of such terminology is intended to encompass not only the described embodiment, but also technical equivalents, which operate and function in substantially the same way to bring about the same result.  
         [0026]     Referring now more particularly to the drawings and  FIGS. 1-4 , thereof a cleaning apparatus  10  is therein illustrated.  
         [0027]     The cleaning apparatus  10  includes a frame  11 , with a pair of swivel wheels  12  attached thereto at the rear of the apparatus, with a pair of driven rear wheels  14  attached to frame  11  by a transversely extending transaxle (not shown), in brackets (not shown), which is attached to frame  11 , in well known manner.  
         [0028]     The transaxle (not shown) includes a reversible driving motor (not shown), of any desired type, with the preferred transaxle available from MCG, Prior Lake, Minn. 55372.  
         [0029]     A control box  13  is provided connected to frame  11  and by a cable (not shown) to transaxle motor (not shown) and to a source of electrical energy (not shown), such as deep discharge lead acid electric storage batteries of well known type. The control box  13  controls the speed and the direction of the wheels  14  through the transaxle (not shown), and its motor (not shown). Any suitable control box can be used, with the preferred one available from MCG&lt;Prior Lake, Minn.  
         [0030]     The swivel wheels  12  are each carried by a tubular member  15 , which telescopes into a frame member  16 , which member  15  has a pin  17 , and holes  19  therein, with a hole  20  in member  16 , providing for vertical adjustment of the member  15 .  
         [0031]     The frame  11  has an upper shelf  21 , which has a reservoir tank  22  thereon, for storage of cleaning solution (not shown), and which is secured to shelf  21  in well known manner.  
         [0032]     The frame  11  has a pair of lower plates  25  extending therefrom, carrying an axle  27  therein, with front wheels  28  thereon.  
         [0033]     The wheels  12 ,  14  and  28  are shown in contact with a surface  30  which may be a floor.  
         [0034]     The frame  11  has brackets  29  extending therefrom, which have a shaft  31  engaged therewith, and with deck arm  32  of a rear bonnet cleaning assembly  35 . The assembly  35  is offset to the right from the center as seen in  FIG. 2 , and includes a deck  36 , to which the arms  32  are attached, with an electric motor  37  of well known type carried thereon. The motor  37  has a pad holder assembly  38  connected thereto, which includes a pad  38 ′, which is rotated by the motor  37  to scrub, and clean carpets.  
         [0035]     The frame  11  has an upwardly extending U-shaped arm  39  which is welded to frame  11 . The deck  36  has an upwardly extending frame  40 , which has lift lock  41  pivotedly attached thereto, with a notch  42  for engagement with arm  39 , as seen in  FIG. 2  to retain cleaning assembly  35  and its pad holder  38  in position off the floor  30 .  
         [0036]     The lift lock  41  has a rod  45  engaged therewith, extending upwardly which operates lift lock  41 , for engagement and disengagement with arm  39 , and which rod  45  is retained in bracket  46 , which is attached to frame  40  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0037]     The frame  11  has a forwardly mounted pair of brackets  50 , with a shaft  51  extending therebetween, and engaged in arms  52 , of a front bonnet cleaning assembly  53 , which is offset to the left as seen in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0038]     The assembly  53  has a deck  54 , which has the arms  52  attached thereto, with an electric motor  55  of well known type carried thereon. The motor  55  has a pad holder assembly  56  connected thereto which includes a pad  56 ′ which is rotated by motor  55  to scrub and clean carpets.  
         [0039]     The frame  11  has an upwardly extending U shaped arm  58 . The deck  54  has an upwardly extending frame  59  connected to arms  52 , which has a lift lock  60  pivotedly attached thereto, with a notch  62  for engagement with arm  58 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , to retain cleaning assembly  53 , and its pad holder  56  in position off the floor  30 .  
         [0040]     The lift lock  60  has a rod  63  engaged therewith, extending upwardly, which operates lift lock  60 , for engagement and disengagement with arm  58 , and which rod  63  as shown in  FIG. 3  is retained in a bracket  64 , which is attached to frame  59 .  
         [0041]     Due to their being pivotally mounted to frame  11 , the front and rear bonnet cleaning assemblies  35  and  53 , are able to float as they travel over a surface  30  to be cleaned, conforming to any unevenness in the surface.  
         [0042]     The reservoir tank  22  has a hose  70  attached thereto, and to an electrically driven pump  71 , carried on a panel  72  which is mounted to shelf  21 . The pump  71  has an output hose  73 , which extends to a nozzle  74  for the rear bonnet assembly  35 , and to a fitting  76 , from which a hose  77  extends to a nozzle  78 , carried by bracket  79  on deck  54  of front bonnet assembly  53 . The nozzles  74  and  78  dispense cleaning solution (not shown) ahead of pads  38   1  and  56   1 , and pad holders  38  and  56 .  
         [0043]     The frame  11  has a steering column  80  attached thereto, with a cleaning solution on-off switch  81 , a key switch  82  to activate the apparatus  10 , and an on-off switch  83  to activate motors  37  and  55 , to rotate the pad holders  38  and  56  and pads  38   1  and  5   1 . The column  80  has a left handle  85 , and a right handle  86  extending therefrom for steering the apparatus  10  by an operator (not shown). Batteries (not shown) and wiring (not shown) are provided, carried by frame  11 , and which provide the electrical power to operate pump  71 , motors  37  and  55 , and transaxle motor (not shown) to drive wheels  14  to propel the apparatus  10  forward and reverse.  
         [0044]     A U shaped forward and reverse thumb lever or throttle  90  is provided, pivotally mounted to column  80 , which if pressed on the right causes control box  13  to activate wheels  14  to move forwardly, and if pressed on the left to move rearwardly, with the speed being controlled by the degree of displacement of throttle  90 . If the throttle  90  is released, the transaxle motor (not shown) will slow down and brake the apparatus  10  as required.  
         [0045]     The column  80  has a momentary button  81  thereon for finer control of the water pump  71  and momentary dispensing of the cleaning solution (not shown).  
         [0046]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an alternative steering arrangement is provided, which is identical to that shown in  FIG. 4 , except that the left handle  85  is provided with an extension  87 , which is detachably engaged with handle  85  in well known manner, and provides for improved control of the apparatus  10 .  
         [0047]     It will thus be seen that apparatus has been provided with which the objects of the invention are achieved.