Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/780,705, filed Jul. 20, 2007 and published as U.S. Publication No. 2009/0022540. The entire contents of the application and publication identified above are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to applicators for floor finish. More particularly, it relates to a simplified pull-behind floor finish applicator which utilizes a pump and a detachable mop as a component of a pull-behind cart. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pull-behind floor finish applicators are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,979,756; 3,457,015; 3,981,596; 4,124,315; and 4,471,713. Other floor finish applicators of this type are available from Fast-Trak Inc. as Ultra-Trak floor finish applicator and Hillyard, Inc. of St. Joseph, Mo. as Multi-Flo applicator. 
     These applicators involve mechanisms which have numerous components C and/or do not provide for a separate mopping function. For example, the applicators described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,979,756 and 3,981,596 include pressurized tanks with complex delivery systems. These involve time consuming cleaning operations. Those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,457,015 and 4,124,315 do not provide for a separate mopping function. U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,713 provides a piston pump for delivering floor finish to a mop. However, the piston pump presents cleaning problems. 
     A pull-behind floor finish applicator should be simple in its construction so as to be economical to produce. It should also be capable of applying floor finish in those places where the application cannot readily be achieved. It should also provide for easy cleaning 
     The prior art does not provide a floor finish applicator which has a minimum number of parts, yet can apply floor finish in floor areas which are both readily accessible by a mobile machine and those which are not. Neither does the prior art provide a floor finish applicator of the foregoing type which is easily operated and cleaned. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a pull-behind floor finish applicator which includes a wheeled cart including a body member constructed and arranged to receive a source of floor finish. The wheeled cart includes a wheel driven axle. A floor finish spreading mop having a handle member and a floor finish spreading member is coupled to the cart. A peristaltic pump is connected to the body member and a conduit is connectable to the source of floor finish and the pump. A transmission assembly is constructed and arranged to drive the pump by movement of the wheels. 
     In one embodiment, the transmission assembly includes a spring loaded clutch actuator with the spring loaded clutch actuator including at least one thrust washer and a pivotal bar member for engaging the thrust washer. 
     In one embodiment, the transmission assembly includes a drive gear connected to the wheel driven axle and a drive shaft with a bevel gear for engaging the drive gear and driving the pump. 
     In one aspect the drive gear includes a one-way roller clutch. 
     In still another embodiment, the drive shaft includes a first shaft with the bevel gear and a second shaft, the shafts interconnected by a pin and slot arrangement. 
     In still a further embodiment, the wheeled cart includes a means for detaching the handle from the cart for use in area where the cart cannot conveniently or easily fit. 
     In another aspect, the control means includes a lever attached to the drive shaft, a cable attached to the drive shaft and handle member to actuate the cable. 
     In still anther aspect, the peristaltic pump is housed in a compartment of the body member and accessible from outside the body member. 
     In yet another aspect, the source of the floor finish is a bag-in-box. 
     Some embodiments are directed toward a floor finish applicator comprising a wheeled cart including a body member constructed and arranged to receive a source of floor finish; a floor finish spreading mop coupled to the cart; a peristaltic pump connected to the body member, the peristaltic pump including a first conduit substantially contained within the pump; and a second conduit connectable between a source of floor finish and the pump; wherein the first and second conduits are easily separable from the cart during cleaning operations of the cart. 
     Some embodiments are directed toward a method of cleaning a floor finish applicator including a wheeled cart, a floor finish spreading mop and peristaltic pump coupled to the cart, wherein the peristaltic pump includes a first conduit substantially contained within the pump and applicator includes a second conduit connectable between a source of floor finish supported on the cart and the pump, the method comprising removing the first conduit from the peristaltic pump; and separating the second conduit from the peristaltic pump. 
     Another embodiment provides a floor finish applicator includes a cart having wheels and a body member constructed and arranged to receive a source of floor finish, a mop having a handle member and a mop head, a clamp assembly disposed at a first end of the body member, and configured to detachably mount the mop to the cart, and a handle disposed at an opposite end of the body member. 
     Another embodiment of the invention provides a floor finish applicator including a wheeled cart having a body member having a first end and a second end and constructed and arranged to receive a source of floor finish, a clamp assembly disposed adjacent the first end and configured to removably secure a handle member of a mop to the cart, a handle disposed adjacent the second end, The clamp assembly includes a first clamp member and a second clamp member offset from the first clamp member to secure the handle member at an angle relative to a floor surface. 
     Another embodiment of the invention provides a floor finish applicator including a wheeled cart having a body member constructed and arranged to receive a source of floor finish, a clamp assembly configured to detachably secure a handle member of a mop, a peristaltic pump connected to the body member, a conduit adapted to be connected to the source of floor finish and the pump, and a transmission assembly constructed and arranged to drive the pump by movement of the wheels. 
     One object of the invention is to provide a floor finish applicator of the foregoing type which allows large areas of a floor to be coated quickly and efficiently. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a floor finish applicator of the foregoing type which is easily operated. 
     Yet another object is to provide a floor finish applicator of the foregoing type which is easily maintained. 
     Still yet another object is to provide a floor finish applicator of the foregoing type which affords easy clean up. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the floor finish applicator embodying aspects of this invention, showing a mop disconnected from the applicator; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the applicator illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the mop attached and illustrating the actuation of a bail; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the stop mechanism for the bail illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the applicator shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the drive means for activating a pump, the drive means in a deactivated position; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view of  FIG. 4  in cross-section showing a roller clutch in conjunction with a wheel; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the drive means in an activated position; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the applicator illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing the pump and illustrating the dispensing of floor finish. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the floor finish applicator generally  10  includes a cart  12  with a U-shaped tubular handle member  14  joined to a molded plastic base portion  16  with wheels  18  rotatably mounted thereon. A box  21  with a bag  23  containing floor finish is supported in housing  16  which provides a carrier member for the box  21 . A kickstand  22  supports base portion  16  of cart  12 . A spring  60  pivotally biases kickstand  22  toward the housing  16 . 
     Connected to the housing  16  is a frame member  20  with clamps  34  and  35 . A mop  28  having a handle  30  and a mop head  32  is removably attached to the frame member  20  by the clamps  34  and  35 . In a preferred manner, mop head  32  has a pad comprised of materials of different sizes for purpose of spreading and leveling the floor finish. It can be made of foam, flocked foam, woven or non-woven cloth. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  6  &amp;  7  a transmission assembly for transmitting power from the wheels to the pump  64  is shown. The transmission assembly includes a spring loaded clutch  38  for selectively controlling actuation of the pump  64 . The clutch includes a thrust washer  40  slideably received on drive shaft  42 . A spring  44  biases washer  40  against pivotal bar  48 . Cable  66  is attached to pivotal bar  48 . A bevel gear  50  is connected to drive shaft  42 . The opposing end of drive shaft  42  is slideably received in drive shaft  52  which connects to pump  64 . A drive gear  54  is mounted on axle  56 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , cable  66  is also attached to bail  69  by the connecting peg  71  and is slideably secured in bracket  67  dispensed on handle  14 . Bail  69  is pivotally attached to handle  14 . There is also a bail stop  73  connected to handle  14 . 
     The pump  64  can include a variety of different pumps, such as piston pump, gear pump, diaphragm pump, peristaltic pump, and the like. While each pump can be utilized to deliver floor finish and can be operable via the transmission assembly described above, the peristaltic pump embodiment is a highly preferred embodiment. As explained in greater detail below, the peristaltic pump is preferred because it is substantially easier to clean since the floor finish does not contact the pump. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the peristaltic pump is housed in compartment  75 . A floor finish feed conduit  25  is in fluid communication with the bag  23  by means of the connector  79 . Feed conduit  25  is also in fluid communications with pump conduit  81  and is output conduit  83 . Sleeves  85  provide connection between conduits  25 ,  83  and pump conduit  81 . A spray conduit  87  with orifices  89  is attached to housing  16  by the brackets  90 . 
     A further understanding of the floor finish applicator  10  can be had by a description of its operation as seen in  FIGS. 1-8 . The bag  23  containing floor finish in placed in box  21  and the box loaded into the housing  16  of cart  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Bag  23  is connected to flexible feed tube  25  as indicated in  FIG. 8 . Mop  28  is clamped to the applicator  10  by means of clamps  28  and  29 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . When it is desired to dispense floor finish from bag  23  onto the floor surface  27 , the applicator  10  is moved in a direction indicated by the directional arrow  19  shown in  FIG. 2 . Bail  69  is then moved in the direction shown by the directional arrow  17 , this causes pivotal bar  48  to move from the position shown in  FIG. 4  to that shown in  FIG. 6  whereby drive shaft  42  is moved by thrust washer  40  to move bevel gear  50  in engagement with drive gear  54  which is rotated by the rotation of axle  56  by wheels  18 . Rotation of drive shaft  42  rotates drive shaft  52  through the pin  58  and slot  57  arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 . This affords linear movement of shaft  42  in shaft  52  while maintaining connection of the two shafts. Rotation of shaft  52  effects a pumping action in pump  64 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 8 , floor finish flows through flexible feed conduit  25  into peristaltic pump  64 . It is pumped into output flexible conduit  83  and into spray conduit  87  where it is dispensed through orifices  89 . Activation of the peristaltic pump  64  during movement of the cart  12  can be prevented by the roller clutch  94  in conjunction with wheels  18 . This is shown in  FIG. 5 . A roller bearing  92  is mounted on shaft  56  as is roller clutch  94 . A spacer  93  separates bearing  92  and housing  16 . In the event bail  69  is not moved to a position to place pivot bar  48  in the position shown in  FIG. 4  with the non-engagement of gears  50  and  54 , roller clutch prevents activation of pump  64  during movement of the cart  12 . 
     An advantageous feature of some embodiments of the applicator is the disposable connector  79  and the disposable flexible conduits  25 ,  81 ,  83  and spray conduit  87 . When the application of the floor finish in complete, these components can be readily removed and replaced without any cleaning of the peristaltic pump  64 . In other words, through the use of a peristaltic pump, the floor finish never contacts the pump. As such, time consuming clean-up is not necessary. Rather, the conduit is simply removed from the pump and replaced prior to next operation. 
     Another advantage of some embodiments the application  10  is the dual use of mop  28 . It acts as a spreader for the floor finish when attached to the cart  12 , yet allows use separately as a hand operated mop in order to apply floor finish to areas of floors not readily accessible when attached to the applicator. 
     A roller clutch  94  has been described in conjunction with applicator  10 . If desired this could be eliminated as deactivation of the pump  64  can be effected during a forward motion of the applicator by placing bail  69  in the upward position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 2 . Neither is it essential to have the mop  28  disengageable from the applicator  10 . All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within the scope as defined by the appended claims. 
     Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a floor finish applicator. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 1