US3188669A - Rug cleaning attachment for polishers - Google Patents

Description

June 15, 1965 R. M. BEARDSLEE 3,183,659

RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FORPOLISHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1963 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. BEARDSLEE ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 R. M. BEARDSLEE 3,188,669

RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FORPOLISHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 June 15, 1965 R. M. BEARDSLEE RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR POLISHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001,. 8, 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. BEARDSLEE ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 R. M. BEARDSLEE RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FORPOLISHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 8,. 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. BEARDSLEE ATTORNEY 3,188,669 RUG CLEANENQ ATTAQHME T FUR PQLISHERS Robert M. Beardslee, =Cleveland, @hio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Get. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 314,733 3 (Ilaims. (Cl. 15-93) This invention relates to a rug cleaning device, and more particularly, to an attachment to be used with a rotary floor polisher for cleaning rugs.

Many attempts have been made to develop satisfactory rug cleaning devices for home use; however, none of them have been completely successful. One approach has been to provide plates which fit over the brushes of a usual rotary floor polisher in order to provide a surface which will work a rug cleaning solution into the rug without damaging the rug in a manner that a rapidly rotating stiff brush would do. When floor polishers including such attachment are used to clean rugs, the cleaning solution must first be applied to the rug in a liquid form, which results in an undesirable wetting of the rug.

Another approach has been to provide a self-contained rug cleaning appliance. Those self-contained rug cleaning appliances which are manually operated must depend upon the inherent cleaning power of the rug cleaning solution used in order to clean rugs because they have no mechanical means for successfully working the solution into the rug to achieve satisfactory cleaning. There are some powered self-contained rug cleaning appliances in the prior art; however, they are rather complicated units and require a substantial investment. Since the cleaning of rugs is only a periodic operation in the average household, the purchase of a separate powered rug cleaning device is an unwise investment even though it results in satisfactory results when used.

A11 object of the present invention is to provide a convenient attachment for use with the usual rotary floor polisher to clean rugs.

Another object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective device for cleaning rugs.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will i become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterizes my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims i annexed to and forming part of this specification.

The present invention is directed to a rug cleaning attachment which fits on a rotary floor polisher in place of the usual brushes. In carrying out the invention, in one form thereof, the rug cleaning attachment includes a foamer receptacle. The receptacle has an agitator which draws air into the receptacle and mixes it with rug cleaning solution to form a foam. The foam fiows out of the receptacle and onto the rug. The foam is then worked into the rug by two spoked applicators which are mounted on the driving studs of the polisher for rotation therewith. One of the applicators is in driving relation with a shaft on which the agitator is mounted so that rotation of the applicators both works the foam into the rug and drives the agitator to produce the foam.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

PEG. 1 is a perspective View of a rotary floor polisher used with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a rug clean ing attachment for use with the rotary polisher of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rug cleaning attach- :ment with the cover of the foamer receptacle removed for purposes of illustration;

PEG. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 3-4 of FIG. 3;

3,1885% Patented June 15, 1965 FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline 5--5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the rug cleaning attachment with a portion of the foamer receptacle cover broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 1 illustrates a rotary floor polisher 1 with which the device of this invention may be employed. The floor olisher comprises a lower housing 2 which encloses amotor unit 3 and from which extends anelongated handle 4. Themotor unit 3 is connected to a pair of driving studs (not shown) upon which are normally mounted the brushes which are used to scrub or polish. The upper end of theelongated handle 4 is provided with ahand grip 5 to be grasped by the user for moving the polisher over the iloor. Power is supplied to themotor 3 through thepower cord 6 and the motor may be turned on and oil by means of a conventional switch.

Acontainer 7 is mounted on thehandle 4 to store a cleaning solution if the polisher is being used for a cleaning urpose or a liquid wax if the polisher is being used for the application of wax. Aconduit 8 is provided extending from the lower end of thecontainer 7 to transfer the liquid stored incontainer 7 to work area. The reiease of liquid fromcontainer 7 is controlled by means of aswitch 9 which is mounted adjacent thehand grip 5 and is connected by means of arod 10 to a valve located within thecontainer 7. Aswitch cam lock 9a is provided to lock theswitch 9 in an open position to provide a constant supply of liquid from thecontainer 7. When liquid is used with the polisher 1, a separate splash guard 11 is provided to prevent the polisher from unnecessarily scattering liquid over too large an area.

The present invention, in one embodiment thereof, includes a foam producing and applying apparatus which is attached to the driving studs in place of the usual brushes. As may be seen in FIG. 2 the attachment includes abase plate 12 provided with a pair ofopenings 13 and 14. A pair of disk shapedapplicators 15 are provided for working a rug cleaning foam into the rug in order to cleanse a rug. Theapplicators 15 are structurally the same and, therefore, only one will be described. Each applicator is provided with acentral hub 16 which extends through one of theopenings 13 and 14 inbase piate 12 and is secured therein by means of a split ring 1'7. The central hub of each applicator is provided arecess 16a which receives one of the driving studs of the polisher so that the rug cleaning attachment may be easily mounted on th olisher in lieu of the usual brushes. A number of outwardly extending spaced ribs or spokes 1% connect the central hub to an outer annular rim 1% and form a number of spaced openings 2% between the spokes. The annular rim 19 is formedwith an outwardly extendinglower ledge 21 and an upwardly extendingwall 22.

In order that one of theapplicators 15 may function as a power source for the foam producing apparatus aresilient band 24 is mounted around thewall 22 of that applicator (the one shown on the right in FIG. 2). Thewall 22 of each applicator is provided around its periphery with a number of outwardly extending tabs Q5 which function to retain theband 24 on the applicator. Only one band is necessary in each attachment. Each applicator is formed with a convexlower surface 27 so that foam will flow under the edge of the applicator and fill the openings 21) in order to smoothly spread the foam over the rug (as may be seen in FIG. 4). Adis tribution plate 28 is attached tobase plate 12 adjacent theapplicators 15. Thedistribution plate 28 includes a horizontal portion extending above a portion of the applicators with a downwardly extendingprojection 29 which extends between the applicators and a pair ofwalls 39 and 31 which extend downwardly from the front of thedistribution plate 28. Theprojection 29 andwalls 30 and 31 confine the foam to insure proper distribution over the rug.

Ahousing 32 is attached to the upper side ofbase plate 12 and receives a foamer receptacle or cup 33 (as may be seen in FIG. 3). Arotatable agitator 34 is provided in the receptacle33 to produce foam from the rug cleaning solution by drawing air into the receptacle through suitable openings and mixing it with thesolution. The agitator-34 is mounted on one end of ashaft 35 by means ofscrew 36 and lock Washer 37. Theshaft 35 extends through anopening 38 inreceptacle 33 and through an opening 39 inbase plate 12.

Shaft 35 bears against resilient band'24 and is driven thereby in order to rotate theagitator 34. Slippage betweenshafit 35 and theband 24 is prevented by havingshaft 35 formed with a knurled portion (as shown at 40) which contacts theband 24.

Thehousing 32 is mounted onbase plate 12 by means ofscrews 41 and 42 withscrew 42 extending through anelongated opening 43 inbase plate 12 to facilitate movement of the housing in order to bring theknurled portion 40 of the shaft intoengagement with theband 24. For biasing the shaft into engagement with theband 24, the structure last shown in FIG. 5 is employed. Aspring 44 is mounted between atab 45 which is upturned frombase plate 12 and apost 46 which extends downwardly fromhousing 32. Thespring 44 biases the housing for movement toward the right to bring theshaft 35 into firm driven contact withthe resilient .band 24. Thescrew 42 andelongated opening 43 provides a secure mounting of thehousing 32 on thebase plate 12 while still allowing the biasing movement.

-The upper side of thehousing 32 is closed by means of aplate 47 which is attached to the housing by screws 48. Theplate 47 is provided with a number of air-admittingopenings 49 through which air is drawn into the receptacle by means of theagitator 34 for mixing with the cleaning fluid.

Cleaning fluid is provided to thereceptacle 33 by means of aflexible feed tube 50. The feed tube St is provided at each end with a rigid connectingmember 51. One connecting member is inserted inconduit 8 while the other connecting member is received in a slot 52 provided in an upwardly extendingtab 53 formed inhousing 32. In this manner cleaning fluid stored incontainer 7 is discharged throughconduit 8 and feed tube intoreceptacle 33 where it is mixed with air to form a cleaning foam.

As may be seen from FIG. 3 thehousing 32 is provided withside walls 54 and 55 and abottom wall 56 which together withplate 47, form afoam chute 57 which guides the foam from thereceptacle 33 to the rug. Twosmall openings 58 and 59 are provided in thehousing 32 at the inner end of thefoam chute 57 to provide a path for the foam between thereceptacle 33 and thefoam chute 57. In FIG. 4 it may be clearly seen how the foam indicated by numeral 60 flows outwardly over the top of the receptacle33 through thesmall openings 58 and 52 and down through thechute 57 to the rug.

Abearing 61 is placed about theshaft 35 between thehousing 32 and thereceptacle 33 so that the shaft and agitator are freely rotatable within thehousing 32 andreceptacle 33 without unduly wearing any of the elements.

, From FIG. 4 it may be seen that one of the rigid connectingmembers 51 extends sufficiently over thereceptacle 33 that fluid being discharged from the connectingmember 5 1 falls directly on theagitator 34 Without interfering with the outward flow of foam fromthe'receptacle 33.

In order to clean rugs, the rug cleaning attachment is placed on the polisher by inserting thecentral hubs 16 over the driving studs of the polisher and connecting thefeed tube 50 toconduit 8. When theswitch 9 is moved to the open position, cleaning fluid drains from the lower end of theycontainer 7 through theconduit 8 and feed tube i 59 onto theagitator 34. Themotor 3 is energized, rotating the driving studs and thereby rotating theapplicators 15. Through oneapplicator 15resilient band 24 andshaft 35 theagitator 34 is also rotated.Agitator 34 draws air into thereceptacle 33 through theopenings 49 and mixes it with the cleaning fluid to form a foam which flows out through the top ofreceptacle 33, theopenings 58 and 59 and thechute 57 to the rug. Theapplicators 15 rotate through the foam. Since thelower surface 27 of each applicator is convex, part of the foam will flow 1 under the outer edge of the lower surface and into the recesses 26? formed between thespokes 18. This action spreads an even coating of foam over the rug and the spokes18 work it into the rug for thorough cleaning. The splash guard 11 prevents foam from being thrown onto undesired parts of the rug.

After the foam has been thoroughly worked into the rug, the rug is allowed to dry and then the dry foam and loosened dirt are removed by use of a vacuum cleaner.

Modifications of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art; and it is desired to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to be limited to the particular arrangement disclosed, but that the appended claims are meant to cover all modifications which are within the subject and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to claim by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor driven rotary floor polisher comprising: a horizontally disposed elongated base plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardly through arespective one of said plate apertures, said hubs being rotatably mounted in the plate and connectable to the floor polisher motor; a receptacle mounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs; means for introducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; a shaft driving said agitator extending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plate and positioned in driven relation with one of said applicators; and means for ducting foam cleaner from the receptacle to the rug at a point between the two applicators.

2. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor driven rotary floor polisher comprising: a flat horizontally disposed elongated base plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardly through a respective one of said plate apertures and rotatably mounted therein; a small cup-shaped receptacle mounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs, said receptacle having a foam outlet opening adjacent the top of the receptacle to insure that unfoamed fluid is retained in the receptacle; means for introducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; said agitator having a shaft extending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plate and positioned in driven relation with one of said applicators; and means for ducting the foam formed in said receptacle from the receptacle to the rug at a point between the two applicators.

3. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor driven rotary floor polisher comprising: a horizontally disposed elongated base plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to arug to be cleaned; each of said applicators having a generally annular outer wall; a resilient band mounted on one of said outer walls; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardly through a respective one of said plate apertures and rotatably mounted therein; a receptacle movably mounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs; means for introducing cleaning fiuid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; said agitator having a shaft extending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plate between said applicator; means urging the lower side surface of the shaft into firm contact with said resilient band so that the agitator is rotated by the applicator; and said housing including means for ducting the foam formed in said receptacle from the receptacle to the rug at a point between the two applicators.

4. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor driven rotary floor polisher comprising: a base plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators having a generally annular outer wall; a resilient band mounted on the outer wall of one of said applicators; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardly through a respective one of said plate apertures and rotatably mounted therein; a housing mounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs for limited movement toward one of said applicators; means for introducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; said agitator having a shaft extending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and through an enlarged opening in said base plate between said applicators; a tab extending upwardly from said base plate toward said housing; a post depending from said housing toward said base plate; a spring mounted between said tab and said post urging said housing toward said applicator and bringing the lower side surface of said shaft into firm contact with said resilient band for driving said agitator to produce said foam; and means for conducting foam from said receptacle to the rug adjacent said applicator.

5. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor driven rotary floor polisher comprising: a flat horizontally disposed elongated base plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardly through a respective one of said plate apertures said hubs being rotatably mounted in the plate and connectable to the floor polisher motor; a housing mounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs; a cup-shaped receptacle positioned within said housing; means for introducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; a shaft driving said agitator extending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plate and having its lower side surface frictionally engaging the edge or one of said applicators so that the agitator is rotated by the applicator; said housing including means for ducting foam cleaner from the receptacle to the rug at a point between the two applicators; and a distribution plate attached to the lower side of said base plate between said applicators to direct the foam against the applicators.

e. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a rotor driven rotary floor polisher comprising: a horizontally disposed base plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardly :through a respective one of said plate apertures, said hubs being rotatably mounted in the plate and connectable to .the floor polisher motor; a receptacle mounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs; means for introducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; a shaft driving said agitator extending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plate and positioned in driven relation with one of said agitators; means for ducting foam cleaner from the receptacle to the rug at a point between the two applicators; and a distribution plate attached to the lower side of said base plate between said applicators to direct the foam against the applicators, said distribution plate including a horizontal portion extending between and above a portion of the applicators with a depending projection extending between the applicators, and further including a pair of walls on opposite sides of said projection which extend downwardly from the front of the horizontal portion of the distribution plates toward the applicators.

7. A rug cleaning device for operative attachments to a motor driven rotary floor polisher comprising: a base plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators including a central hub extending through a respective one of said apertures for rotatably mounting the applicators on the plate, said applicators further including an annular outer wall spaced from the hub with a plurality of spaced radial spokes connecting the hub to the outer wall and forming a plurality of spaced openings; a receptacle mounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs; means for introducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; said agitator having a shaft extending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plate, and positioned in driven relation with the outer wall of one of said applicators; means for conducting said foam from said receptacle to the rug be tween said applicators; and a distribution plate attached to the lower side of said base plate between said applicators to direct the foam against the applicators; said foam being received in said plurality of spaced openings and worked into the rug by said plurality of said spokes.

8. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a floor polisher having a pair of rotary driving studs comprising: a fiat horizontally disposed elongated base plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardly through a respective one of said plate apertures and rotatably mounted therein; recess means formed in the upper ends of said hubs for operative attachment to the driving studs of the floor polisher; a receptacle mounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs; means for introducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; said agitator having a shaft extendin g through the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plate and positioned in driven relation with one of said applicators; and means for ducting the foam formed in said receptacle from the receptacle to the rug at a point adjacent the two applicators.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,596,041 8/26 Young 15320 2,713,757 7/55 Brennecke ..15-230.1X

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A RUG CLEAING DEVICE FOR OPERATIVE ATTACHMENT TO A MOTOR DRIVE ROTARY FLOOR POLISHER COMPRISING: A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ELONGATED BASE PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED APERTURES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH; A PAIR OF DISK SHAPED APPLICATORS FOR APPLYING FOAM CLEANER TO A RUG TO BE CLEANED; EACH OF SAID APPLICATORS HAVING A HUB EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID PLATE APERTURES, SAID HUBS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE PLATE AND CONNECTABLE TO THE FLOOR POLISHER MOTOR; A RECEPTACLE MOUNTED ON THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID BASE PALTE BETWEEN

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