Nilfisk-advance, Inc.

Kurt M Vetse

Donald Joseph Legatt

Galen M Swenson

David W Wood

Mark Joseph Sowada

William Charles Sletten, Ii

A floor scrubber ( ) is disclosed including a drive lug ( ) for removably connecting a scrubbing member ( ) to a drive ( ) and having a trough for receipt and catching of solution for passage to the surface. The mount ( ) for the drive ( ) is biased by a spring ( ) to pivot relative to a linkage plate ( ) in turn pivotably mounted to the chassis ( ) at an acute angle to the forward movement direction. The vacuum assembly ( ) is sandwiched in a socket ( ) formed in the bottom wall of a recovery tank ( ) by a mount ( ) to deaden the sound generated thereby and to allow air communication is inside of the socket ( ) but generally preventing entry of solution therein. The squeegee assembly ( ) is biased by a gas spring ( ) to engage the surface at a constant force independent of the pivotal position of the squeegee mount ( ). The batteries ( ) can be easily electrically connected and disconnected to each other in series and to the scrubber ( ) by polarity type connectors ( ) for ease of removal, replacement, and interchange of the batteries ( ) in the scrubber ( ) without requiring the use of tools. The bumper wheels ( ) are secured to a first plate ( ) of a pocket ( ) by a pin connector ( ) passing therethrough and through the legs of a U-shaped bracket ( ) having a central portion flushly abutting with a second plate ( ) of the pocket ( ) for transferring forces thereto.

Floor surface cleaning machine

A floor scrubber (10) is disclosed including a drive lug (62) for removably connecting a scrubbing member (64) to a drive (60) and having a trough for receipt and catching of solution for passage to the surface. The mount (58) for the drive (60) is biased by a spring (67) to pivot relative to a linkage plate (46) in turn pivotably mounted to the chassis (12) at an acute angle to the forward movement direction. The vacuum assembly (92) is sandwiched in a socket (100) formed in the bottom wall of a recovery tank (90) by a mount (106) to deaden the sound generated thereby and to allow air communication inside of the socket (100) but generally preventing entry of solution therein. The squeegee assembly (152) is biased by a gas spring (150) to engage the surface at a constant force independent of the pivotal position of the squeegee mount (148). The batteries (68, 70) can be easily electrically connected and disconnected to each other in series and to the scrubber (10) by polarity type connectors (80, 82, 84, 86) for ease of removal, replacement, and interchange of the batteries (68, 70) in the scrubber (10) without requiring the use of tools. The bumper wheels (30) are secured to a first plate (32) of a pocket (28) by a pin connector (36) passing therethrough and through the legs of a U-shaped bracket (42) having a central portion flushly abutting with a second plate (38) of the pocket (28) for transferring forces thereto.

A handle assembly (10) for a floor maintenance machine (12) includes a hollow handle pole (26), a handle (84) formed of a foamed polymer, and a device (36) for adjustably locking the handle pole (26) relative to the housing (14) of the floor maintenance machine (12). The locking device (36) includes a foot-operated lever (44) of a stamped, generally U-shape. The handle (84) is formed of a top section (90) and a bottom section (92), with hand grips (156) being integrally formed solely with the top section (90). Pivotable triggers (120) are pivotally mounted to cylindrical pivot bosses (118) formed in the handle (84), with unintentional pivoting of the triggers (120) being prevented by a slideably mounted, lock-out device (164). Trapezoid-shaped extensions (106) are formed on the bottom section (92) and include edges (108) for abutting with the floor when the handle assembly (10) is tipped to reduce the risk of the handle (84) cracking at the upper end of the handle pole (26).

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Kurt M Vetse