Patent Publication Number: US-8522385-B2

Title: High efficiency floor treating system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority as a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/815,523, entitled “Floor Treating System and Method” and filed on Jun. 15, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,356,375 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/490,620, entitled “HE (High Efficiency) Orbital” and filed on May 27, 2011, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a floor treating system according to multiple embodiments and alternatives; 
       FIG. 2  is a cutaway side view of a bottom portion of a floor treating system with a floor treating attachment according to multiple embodiments and alternatives; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a counterbalance according to multiple embodiments and alternatives; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a plug bearing according to multiple embodiments and alternatives; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a plug bearing according to multiple embodiments and alternatives; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a rug beating attachment according to multiple embodiments and alternatives; and 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a floor treating attachment and a counterbalance according to multiple embodiments and alternatives. 
    
    
     MULTIPLE EMBODIMENTS AND ALTERNATIVES 
     Turning now to the drawings and, more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a floor treating system according to multiple embodiments and alternatives is illustrated generally at  100  and includes a bottom portion  110 . An embodiment of the bottom portion  110  of the floor treating system  100  is further illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the bottom portion  110  includes a power source  150  with a rotatable drive shaft  200 , a floor treating attachment  130 , and means for imparting at least two speeds of oscillating motion from the drive shaft  200  to the floor treating attachment  130 . The floor treating attachment  130  may be any of a number of conventional floor treating attachments commonly utilized in floor treating systems, such as a carpet cleaning attachment, a tile cleaning brush, a hardwood sanding attachment, a vinyl composition tile (VCT) stripping attachment, or a stone, marble, or terrazzo grinding, sanding, honing, or polishing attachment, for example. In some embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  may be a rug beating attachment. The power source  150  may be any of a number of conventional power sources commonly utilized in floor treating systems, such as a motor, for example. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , multiple embodiments of the floor treating system  100  include a housing assembly  140  with a proximal end  142  and a distal end  144 . The housing assembly  140  may be manufactured from conventional materials commonly utilized in floor treating system housings including, but not limited to, anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and nickel. The floor treating system  100  may also include a brush cover  120 , and the brush cover  120  may be manufactured from conventional materials commonly utilized in floor treating system brush covers including, but not limited to, anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and nickel. The floor treating system  100  may further include a handle assembly  165  with a handle  160  and a handle plate  162 . Any electrical wiring may be enclosed in the handle assembly  165  and behind the handle plate  162 . Additionally, the floor treating system  100  may include an on and off switch  168 , an electrical cord  170 , a strain relief  175  on the electrical cord  170 , a lifting handle  190 , a kickstand  192 , and wheels  194 ,  196 , and  197 . The wheel  194  may be adjustably mounted onto the housing assembly  140  with an adjustable knuckle  195 , which may adjusted in increments of ten degrees, for example. 
     Multiple embodiments of the floor treating system  100  include a spray system  180 , which may include a spray tank  181 , a spring  182 , and spray heads  183  and  184 . The spray tank  181  may be mounted on the housing assembly  140  and may be manufactured from a material resistant to corrosion, such as stainless steel or titanium, for example. The spray heads  183  and  184  may be mounted on the housing assembly  140  with the spring  182 , thereby reducing damage to the spray heads  183  and  184  and to walls, and may be manufactured from a non-marring material, such as a polymer, for example, thereby reducing marring to walls from the spray heads  183  and  184 . Also, the wheel  194  may be configured to bear the load of the spray tank  181  and to facilitate maneuvering of the floor treating system  100 . The spray system  180  may also include a pump (not shown) and hose assembly (not shown), which may be substantially enclosed in the housing assembly  140 . Additionally, the pump may be located between the spray heads  183  and  184  and the distal end  144  of the housing assembly, thereby reducing any leakage of fluid from the spray heads  183  and  184 . The pump may also be located between the spray tank  181  and the distal end  144  of the housing assembly the spray tank  181 . Also, the spray tank  181  may be sealed, thereby further reducing any leakage of fluid from it. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in multiple embodiments of the bottom portion  110 , the rotatable drive shaft  200  of the power source  150  rotates around an axis of rotation R. In some embodiments, the means for imparting at least two speeds of oscillating motion from the drive shaft  200  to the floor treating attachment  130  comprise a flywheel  210  having an aperture  215  to receive the drive shaft  200 , a counterbalance  230  configured to connect to the flywheel  210 , and means for connecting the floor treating attachment  130  to the counterbalance  230  at at least two different distances from the axis of rotation R. For example, the means for connecting the floor treating attachment  130  to the counterbalance  230  may be configured to connect the floor treating attachment  130  to the counterbalance  230  at a distance d 1  from the axis of rotation R, at a distance d 2  from the axis of rotation R, and at a distance d 3  from the axis of rotation R. Each distance from the axis of rotation R corresponds to a different speed of oscillating motion that may be imparted from the drive shaft  200  to the floor treating attachment  130 . In multiple embodiments, the drive shaft  200  of the power source  150  rotates the flywheel  210  around the axis of rotation R, the rotation of the flywheel  210  provides motion to the counterbalance  230 , and the motion of the counterbalance  230  imparts an oscillating motion to the floor treating attachment  130  through the means for connecting the floor treating attachment  130  to the counterbalance  230 . 
     In some embodiments, the bottom portion  110  also includes a counterweight  220 , or a number of counterweights  220   a  and  220   b  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), configured to attach to the counterbalance  230 . Additionally, the means for connecting the floor treating attachment  130  to the counterbalance  230  may comprise a plug bearing  240 , a spacer  250 , and a bolt  270 , in some embodiments. The plug bearing  240  may have a lip  242  that extends over part of the floor treating attachment  130  to assist in connecting the floor treating attachment  130  to the counterbalance  230 , while the remainder of the plug bearing  240  is positioned between the floor treating attachment  130  and the counterbalance  230 . In multiple embodiments, the drive shaft  200  of the power source  150  rotates the flywheel  210  around the axis of rotation R, the rotation of the flywheel  210  provides motion to the counterbalance  230 , and the motion of the counterbalance  230  imparts an oscillating motion to the floor treating attachment  130  through the plug bearing  240 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the counterbalance  230  may include apertures  260   a  and  260   b , and, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the plug bearing  240  may include apertures  280   a - 280   d . Any of the plug bearing apertures  280   a - 280   d , or any combination of the plug bearing apertures  280   a - 280   d , may be configured to align with any of the counterbalance apertures  260   a  and  260   b , or any combination of the counterbalance apertures  260   a  and  260   b , each alignment corresponding to a different distance from the axis of rotation R to the floor treating attachment  130 . Each distance from the axis of rotation R, in turn, corresponds to a different speed of oscillating motion that may be imparted from the drive shaft  200  to the floor treating attachment  130 . Also, the bolt  270  may extend through any of the plug bearing apertures  280   a - 280   d  and any of the counterbalance apertures  260   a  and  260   b  to assist with the connection of the floor treating attachment  130  to the counterbalance  230 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, the plug bearing aperture  280   a  may align with the counterbalance aperture  260   a , with the bolt  270  extending through the apertures  280   a  and  260   a . This alignment may correspond to the distance d 2  from the axis of rotation R and to a speed of oscillating motion that is imparted from the drive shaft  200  to the floor treating attachment  130 . The plug bearing aperture  280   c  may also be configured to align with the counterbalance aperture  260   a , with the bolt  270  extending through the apertures  280   c  and  260   a . This alignment may correspond to a different distance from the axis of rotation R and to a different speed of oscillating motion that is imparted from the drive shaft  200  to the floor treating attachment  130 . Thus, different speeds of oscillating motion may be utilized during different applications of the floor treating system  100 , such as a higher speed when cleaning a floor quickly is desirable and a lower speed when cleaning a floor with less power is desirable, for example. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , in multiple embodiments of the floor treating system  100 , the floor treating attachment  130  may be located at a distance of at least 0.400 inch from the axis of rotation of the rotatable drive shaft of the power source  150 . In some embodiments of the bottom portion  110  shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, the distance d 2  may be approximately 0.4375 inch from the axis of rotation R and the counterweight  220  may have a mass between 1946 grams and 1956 grams. In certain embodiments, the distance d 1  may be approximately 0.375 inch and the distance d 3  may be approximately 0.5625 inch, with the counterweight  220  having a mass between 1946 grams and 1956 grams. 
     Each distance from the axis of rotation of the rotatable drive shaft corresponds to a different size of orbit of the floor treating attachment  130 . For example, in some embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  may have a diameter of 15 inches and may be 0.375 inch from the axis of rotation, corresponding to an orbit size of 15.75 inches. In other embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  may have a diameter of 15 inches and may be 0.4375 inch from the axis of rotation, for example, corresponding to an orbit size of 15.875 inches. 
     Each orbit size corresponds to a different speed of oscillating motion imparted from the drive shaft at a given number of revolutions per minute, and to a different amount of power required to impart that speed of motion. For example, in some embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  may be 0.25 inch from the axis of rotation of the rotatable drive shaft, corresponding to a ⅓ horsepower requirement to impart oscillating motion at 1725 revolutions per minute. In other embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  may be 0.375 inch from the axis of rotation, corresponding to a 0.5 horsepower requirement to impart oscillating motion at 1725 revolutions per minute. In other embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  may be 0.4375 inch from the axis of rotation, corresponding to a 0.75 horsepower requirement to impart oscillating motion at 1725 revolutions per minute. In other embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  may be 0.5 inch from the axis of rotation, corresponding to a 1 horsepower requirement to impart oscillating motion at 1725 revolutions per minute. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments of the floor treating system  100 , a cleaning substance is placed on a floor, the floor treating attachment  130  is placed over the cleaning substance, the cleaning substance is allowed time to dry and crystallize, and the cleaning substance is removed from the floor. The cleaning substance may be any of a number of substances, including, but not limited to, polymer-based cleaning substances, emulsification cleaning substances, and encapsulation cleaning substances. In certain embodiments, the spray system  180  may be utilized to spray the cleaning substance over the floor. In such embodiments, the pump and hose assembly may be used to spray the substance from the spray tank  181  through the spray heads  183  and  184 . In some embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  also provides agitation to the cleaning substance and the floor after the substance is placed on the floor. 
     An increased distance of the floor treating attachment  130  from the axis of rotation of the rotatable drive shaft, and corresponding increased orbit size and increased speed of oscillating motion, improve efficiency in floor treating. For example, in some embodiments, the floor treating attachment  130  is at least 0.400 inches from the axis of rotation, thereby increasing the agitation provided to the cleaning substance and floor. In such embodiments, the increase in agitation may produce a mixture of moisture, cleaning substance, and soil from the floor, and the mixture may dry, encapsulating the soil. In certain embodiments, the mixture may be easily removed from the floor, for example, with a vacuum. In addition, in providing agitation to a carpet, for example, an increased orbit size of the floor treating attachment  130  is easier on the carpet fibers compared to smaller orbit sizes, thereby preserving the carpet and decreasing the wear on it. 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , multiple embodiments of the floor treating system include a rug beating attachment  600  and means for imparting a vibrating motion from the drive shaft to the rug beating attachment  600 , in addition to the floor treating attachment and means for imparting an oscillating motion from the drive shaft to the floor treating attachment. The rug beating attachment  600  may be utilized to beat dirt, dust, and other particles from a rug that is placed over a perforated mat or grate, for example. 
     Also, in multiple embodiments of the bottom portion  110  (shown in  FIGS. 1&amp; 2 ) of the floor treating system  100 , the rug beating attachment  600  takes the place of the floor treating attachment  130 . In some embodiments, the means for imparting a vibrating motion from the drive shaft  200  to the rug beating attachment  600  comprise the flywheel  210 , the counterbalance  230 , and a counterweight  630  configured to attach to the rug beating attachment  600 . The counterbalance  230  may connect to the flywheel  210  and the rug beating attachment  600 , the counterweight  630  counteracting any reduction in vibrations from the counterbalance  230  and thereby increasing vibrations. In multiple embodiments, the drive shaft  200  of the power source  150  rotates the flywheel  210  around the axis of rotation R, the rotation of the flywheel  210  provides motion to the counterbalance  230 , and the counterbalance  230  and the counterweight  630  impart a vibrating motion to the rug beating attachment  600 . 
     In some embodiments, the plug bearing lip  242  extends over part of the rug beating attachment  600  to assist with the connection of the rug beating attachment  600  to the counterbalance  230 , while the remainder of the plug bearing  240  is positioned between the rug beating attachment  600  and the counterbalance  230 . Any of the plug bearing apertures  280   a - 280   d , or any combination of the plug bearing apertures  280   a - 280   d , may be configured to align with any of the counterbalance apertures  260   a  and  260   b , or any combination of the counterbalance apertures  260   a  and  260   b , each alignment corresponding to a different distance from the axis of rotation R to the rug beating attachment  600 . Also, the bolt  270  may extend through any of the plug bearing apertures  280   a - 280   d  and any of the counterbalance apertures  260   a  and  260   b  to assist with the connection of the rug beating attachment  600  to the counterbalance  230 . 
     In multiple embodiments, the rug beating attachment  600  may be positioned at a distance of at least 0.400 inch from the axis of rotation of the rotatable drive shaft of the power source  150 . In some embodiments of the bottom portion  110  (shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 ), for example, the distance d 2  may be approximately 0.4375 inch from the axis of rotation R and the counterweight  220  may have a mass between 1946 grams and 1956 grams. In certain embodiments, the distance d 1  may be approximately 0.375 inch and the distance d 3  may be approximately 0.5625 inch, with the counterweight  220  having a mass between 1946 grams and 1956 grams. 
     Each distance from the axis of rotation of the rotatable drive shaft corresponds to a different size of orbit of the rug beating attachment  600 . For example, in some embodiments, the rug beating attachment  600  may have a diameter of 15 inches and may be 0.375 inch from the axis of rotation, corresponding to an orbit size of 15.75 inches. In other embodiments, the rug beating attachment  600  may have a diameter of 15 inches and may be 0.4375 inch from the axis of rotation, for example, corresponding to an orbit size is 15.875 inches. 
     Each orbit size corresponds to a different speed of motion imparted from the drive shaft at a given number of revolutions per minute, and to a different amount of power required to impart that speed of motion. For example, in some embodiments, the rug beating attachment  600  may be 0.25 inch from the axis of rotation of the rotatable drive shaft, corresponding to a ⅓ horsepower requirement to impart motion at 1725 revolutions per minute. In other embodiments, the rug beating attachment  600  may be 0.375 inch from the axis of rotation, corresponding to a 0.5 horsepower requirement to impart motion at 1725 revolutions per minute. In other embodiments, the rug beating attachment  600  may be 0.4375 inch from the axis of rotation, corresponding to a 0.75 horsepower requirement to impart motion at 1725 revolutions per minute. In other embodiments, the rug beating attachment  600  may be 0.5 inch from the axis of rotation, corresponding to a 1 horsepower requirement to impart motion at 1725 revolutions per minute. 
     Additionally, in some embodiments, the rug beating attachment  600  includes a plate  610  and spheres  620 - 628  configured to attach to the plate  610 . The plate  610  may be manufactured from any of a number of materials, including, but not limited to, polymers. The spheres  620 - 628  may be manufactured from any of a number of materials, including, but not limited to, phenolic resins, and may attach to the plate  610  with bolts, for example. 
     It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the embodiments and alternatives of a floor treating system  100  and method are susceptible to a broad utility and application. While the embodiments are described in all currently foreseeable alternatives, there may be other, unforeseeable embodiments and alternatives, as well as variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements that do not depart from the substance or scope of the embodiments. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed to limit the embodiments or otherwise to exclude such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the embodiments being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.