Abstract:
A residential wood floor cleaning machine provides an easily attachable and removable cleaning cloth to a rotating orbiting head mounted in a lightweight structure for use in cleaning wood floors in residences. The cleaning machine includes LED&#39;s for illuminating an area of the wood floor adjacent to the head. A mechanical spray pump with a removable reservoir controllably sprays a controlled amount of cleaning solution on the illuminated area. An electrical control requires that the light is on whenever the power is on. A mechanical sprayer operating means is mounted within a tubular structure which supports the sprayer. The tubular structure is preferably interconnected with a pivoting handle with a truss like structure which reduces the overall weight of the machine. The handle bracket is provided with a stop to prevent pivoting by more than 90 degrees.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a residential wood floor cleaning machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light weight cleaning machine which may be used for the cleaning of residential wood floors providing sufficient rubbing action on the floor after a controllable light spray is provided to the floor in a well lighted area. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There appears to be little on the market in the way of effective and efficient cleaning of wood floors in the home. To provide effective cleaning of residential wood floors, a person must get down on the floor on his or her hands and knees with a cloth providing sufficient rubbing force using his or her hands and arms after application of a wood cleaning floor solution. 
     There is also a problem if too much solution is applied to the floor as this is typically an aqueous base which is not particularly good for wood floors when applied in excess. Large rotating floor buffers used in commercial applications, are not particularly good for cleaning residential wood floors. These are too heavy, bulky and dangerous for use by a typical housewife. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an efficient and effective means for cleaning wood floors in a residential setting. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a cleaning machine which is lightweight and easy to handle. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the cleaning surface may be an economical terry cloth material from various sources. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention provides a cleaning head which not only rotates but provides an orbital circular motion. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the area to be cleaned is well illuminated both before cleaning, during a spraying operation and to monitor the results of the cleaning operation. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the handle pivots, but is precluded from pivoting by more than about 90 degrees. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that a sprayer used to spray a cleaning solution on the floor is controllable in a manner similar to a mechanical hand sprayer, thereby not resulting in excess fluid being sprayed on the floor. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the sprayer has a removable reservoir which provides ease of refilling of the sprayer. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the terry cloth cleaning surface may be applied to the head by simple and inexpensive means of a rubber band or by the simple manner of mounting hook type cloth fasteners to the bottom of the cleaning head. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the walls are protected by a ring mounted to the housing of the cleaning head and that the handle brackets are mounted within this ring. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that is utilizes one or more LED lights which provide bright and effective lighting. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the handle and sprayer mount structure may be made lighter weight material by utilizing a truss like structure between the handle of the machine and a sprayer tube mounting and operating structure. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the sprayer is mounted, when the handle is positioned at an operating angle, directly over the area illuminated by the LED lights. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the light is on whenever the motor is operating. 
     Briefly and basically, in accordance with the present invention there is provided an orbital circular cleaning head mounted in a circular housing and driven by an electric motor. Means are provided for attaching a cleaning cloth, such as a terry cloth, to the head. A handle is mounted to a bracket with the bracket being pivotally mounted to the housing and contained within the diameter of the housing. The bracket includes a stop for preventing the handle and bracket from pivoting more than about 90 degrees. At least one light emitting diode (LED) light is mounted to direct LED light to eliminate a portion of floor area adjacent to the cleaning head. A tubular structure is mounted to the handle. A sprayer is mounted to a lower portion of the tubular structure for controllably spraying a controlled amount of liquid on the floor area illuminated by the LED light. A mechanical operating means mounted within the tubular structure is operable by a first lever mounted on an upper portion of the handle to controllably spray in response to the mechanical operating means being operated by the first lever. The sprayer is provided with a removable reservoir for ease in refilling it with wood floor cleaning solution. Electrical controls are provided including an on/off switch mounted on an upper portion of the handle for supplying power to said at least one LED light and to an operating switch, and a second lever for operating said operating switch to turn on and off the electrical power to operate the electrical motor. 
     In a presently preferred embodiments, the terry cloth may be attached to the head by means of a rubber band mounted over the terry cloth over a groove in a periphery of the head. Alternatively, the terry cloth may be attached to the head by mounting hook type cloth fasteners to the bottom of the head which engages loops of the terry cloth. 
     Preferably, the LED lighting provides intense lighting of the area which is to be cleaned, the area to be sprayed and to observe the area after cleaning. It is presently preferred that four LED lights be used to provide the intense lighting, but this may be accomplished by less or more LED lights. 
     In accordance with one of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, the bracket on the lower end of the handle is pivotally mounted to a ring of the housing on the periphery of the housing. Further it is preferably mounted such that the bracket is inside of the ring and the bracket is provided with a stop to prevent the handle from pivoting by more than about 90 degrees. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a view in perspective of a residential wood floor cleaning machine in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially broken away cross sectional view of a cleaning head which has attached to it a terry cloth by means of hook type cloth fasteners. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating an on/off switch and a switch for operating simultaneously the lights and the motor. 
         FIG. 4  is a partially broken away elevation view partially in cross section illustrating LED lighting and spraying of the floor area adjacent to the cleaning head. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a residential wood floor cleaning machine  10  for cleaning a wood floor  11  in accordance with the present invention. Cleaning machine  10  includes an orbital circular cleaning head  12  which is mounted in a circular housing  14  and driven by an electric motor  16 . 
     Head  12  not only rotates, but also moves in an orbital fashion within housing  14  to provide a rotating and lateral or sideways moving action over the floor. In other words, the output rotating shaft of electric motor  16  not only provides rotary motion to head  12 , but causes head  12  while rotating to orbitally move about the axis of the motor by structures known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,542 issued Oct. 18, 1994. However, many of these machines are built of such size and weight that they are not suitable for use in the intended invention. One presently preferred orbital cleaning and buffing machine which may be suitable for use is one made by Ryobi and sold as its Model No. RB101 ten inch orbital buffer which is commercially available. This is sold as a hand held orbital buffer, but its structure or similar structure may be adapted for use in the residential wood floor cleaning machine of the present invention. Housing  14  is provided with a ring  18  on the periphery of housing  14 . Preferably head  12  has a diameter in the range of 8 to 10 inches. However any suitable orbital buffing or polishing machine may be used for the motor and orbital rotation mechanism within the scope of the present invention 
     The actual cleaning of the floor is done by a cleaning cloth such as a terry cloth or other towel like material, preferably of cotton, which is attached to orbital head  12 . Terry cloth  12  may be new or old towel material or it may be terry cloth cut or woven to a shape to compliment the head  12 . Various means may be utilized to attach the terry cloth to head  12 . These include as illustrated in  FIG. 1  a terry cloth  20  being placed over the bottom of head  12  and up over its periphery and retained in position by a rubber band  22 . The terry cloth  20  in  FIG. 1  is broken away to show head  12  and rubber band  22 . Preferably, rubber band  22  would be over the terry cloth  20  and over a groove  24  formed in the periphery of head  12  at the location of rubber band  22  as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Other materials may be utilized other than terry cloth  20  for providing the cleaning friction to the floor, but preferably at present, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a cotton terry type material may be preferred. 
     An alternative means of attaching a terry cloth  20  to head  12  is as illustrated in  FIG. 2  wherein hooks  26  of a cloth fastener, commercially available under the trademark “VELCRO”, are mounted to the bottom of an orbital head  12 A. Hooks  26  engage loops  28  on terry cloth  20 A. Other equivalent means may be utilized for attaching a cleaning cloth or terry cloth to head  12  or  12 A. 
     Cleaning machine  10  is provided with a handle  30  mounted to a bracket  40 . Bracket  40  may be pivotally mounted to housing  12  and contained within the diameter of housing  12 . In a presently preferred embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , bracket  40  is preferably mounted to the inside surface of ring  18  by a pivot pin or other suitable pivotable fastener  42 . 
     Bracket  40  includes a stop  44  for preventing handle  30  and bracket  40  from pivoting more than about 90 degrees. In other words, if handle  30  were continued to be raised, stop  44  would eventually hit the upper surface of ring  18  preventing further pivoting of handle  30  and bracket  40 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , at least one LED light  50  is mounted to direct LED light to illuminate a portion  52  of the floor area adjacent to head  12 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , preferably there are four LED lights which provide intense illumination of floor area  52 . The other three LED lights are designated by the numeral  53 . However, LED lights herein include by definition other types of high intensity lights which may use more or less than four. The LED lights  50 ,  53  are provided with a shield  54  and are mounted on an electrical box  56  which may be mounted to an upper portion of ring  18  of housing  14 . It is understood that more or less than four LED lights may be utilized to illuminate the desired portion of  52  of the wood floor area  11 . 
     A sprayer  60  is provided to provide a wood cleaning solution via spray head  62  to the same portion  52  of wood floor area  11 . 
     The spray solution may be any suitable solution which provides beneficial cleaning action for the cleaning of wood floors. A presently preferred wood floor cleaning solution is commercially available at various retail locations and is distributed by BonaKemi USA, Inc. under the trademark BONA having an address of 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 600, Aurora, Colo. 80014. However, it is understood that various other wood floor cleaning solutions may be utilized in practicing the present invention. 
     Sprayer  60  may be mounted to a tubular structure  70  mounted to handle  30 . The sprayer  60  is mounted to a lower portion of tubular structure  70  for controllably spraying a controlled amount of liquid on the floor area illuminated by the at least one LED light  50  or the four lights  50 ,  53 . Sprayer  60  includes a mechanical pump  64 . This may be similar to mechanical pumps found in spray bottles and other spray dispensers which are not electrically or power operated. It is desired to keep the spray minimal and controllable for effective and efficient cleaning without flooding the floor. Sprayer  60  mounted at the lower end of tubular structure  70  is mechanically operated by a first lever  80  mounted on an upper portion of handle  30 . The operation of sprayer  60  by the operation of first lever  80  is mechanically connected to sprayer  60  by a mechanical connection mounted in either tubular structure  70  or handle  30 . Preferably, in accordance with the present invention, the mechanical connection or mechanical transmission of motion from first lever  80  to mechanical pump  64  in sprayer  60  is by means of a tube or transmission rod  72  mounted within tubular structure  70  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , sprayer  60  has a removable reservoir  74  for ease in refilling sprayer  60  with a suitable floor cleaning solution as described above. 
     In a presently preferred embodiment, tubular structure  70  would be mounted to handle  30  by a plurality of interconnecting elements forming a truss like structure of two legs, namely  30  and  70 . The plurality of elements may be arranged in various forms. One or two interconnecting elements may be utilized. However, as presently preferred in  FIG. 1 , a truss like structure comprised of elements  32  perpendicular to handle  30  and substantially perpendicular to tubular structure  70  are provided. Additional elements  34  may be provide between handle  30  and tubular structure  70  at an acute angle substantially as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . This provides a truss like structure which increases strength and reduces the overall weight by requiring less structural thickness of material in handle  30  and tubular structure  70 . 
     Accordingly, a fairly rigid structure of light weight may be provided which includes a handle structure  30  and a tubular operating structure  70  which mounts sprayer  60  above the LED lights, spaced away from the lights such that the sprayer may move freely over the lights and provide the spray to floor area  52 . Further, tubular structure  70  provides a mechanical operating connection between lever  80  and mechanical pump  64  in sprayer  60 . 
     Electrical power is provided to cleaning machine  10  via electric power cord  58 . Power cord  58  may be stored by wrapping it around cord hooks  36  and  38  mounted on handle  30 . Electrical power is provided via power cord  58  to electrical box  66  which supplies power via on/off switch  82  to LED lights  50 ,  53  via lines  98  and to an operating switch  92 . The squeezing of second lever  90  closes switch  92  and applies power to electric motor  16  via lines  96 . 
     The power is applied to both the light emitting diodes and the motor when the motor is operating, thereby requiring the light emitting diodes to always be on when the motor is running. Release of second lever  90  removes power from the electric motor  16  but light emitting diodes  50 ,  53  remain energized as long as the on/off switch  82  is on. 
     The circuitry is best illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Electrical power is provided via lines  92  through on/off switch  82  to light emitting diodes  50 ,  53  via lines  98  and to operating switch  92 . Operating switch  92 , when closed, applies power to operate motor  16  via lines  96 . Accordingly, the light emitting diodes are on whenever power switch  82  is on. The motor is controlled by switch  92  turning on motor  16  by applying power to lines  96  to motor  16  when lever  90  is squeezed or compressed. Light emitting diodes  50 ,  53  are always illuminated when power switch  82  is on, including times when motor  16  is on or off. Accordingly, the light emitting diodes illuminate the area to be cleaned before operation of the motor, including times when the floor is initially examined, during times when it is being sprayed, during operation of the motor during cleaning and to inspect the floor after the cleaning is completed. 
     Preferably, as illustrated, levers  80  and  90  are mounted on an upper portion of handle  30 , near hand grips  100  and  102 , respectively. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.