US2947012A - Automatic washing mop and floor dryer - Google Patents

Description

1960 K. SKINAS 2,947,012

AUTOMATIC WASHING MOP AND FLOOR DRYER Filed March 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 aww F G 2 4 INVENTOR.

KosMAs SKINAS BY ATTORNEYS Aug- Z, 19 K. SKINAS 2,947,012

AUTOMATIC WASHING MOP AND FLOOR DRYER Filed March 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KosMAs SKlNAS WWI/w ATTORNEYS FIG-7- part of this specification,inwhi:h: n I Fig. 1 is 'a top plan view of an automatic washing mop -member;and Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional viewtaken along the line 8--8 of Fig. "1, showing a lower part .ofawall being cleaned by the detachable auxiliary cleaningmember.

United States I f0.

AUTOMATIC WASHING Mop KosniasSkinas, luring fitigS aifFranciiscmCaliff C y The present inventionrelatesto improyements 'inan .the members 17 s ANDF R DR E :2:

automaticwashing mop and fioorldryerL It consistsbf the combinations constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed. V

.An object of my invention is to provide an automatic washing mop and floor dryer, which is adapted to be used for rapidly cleaning a floor and drying the latter, with 15:

the minimum .amount of elfort being required by the operator. Moreover, the deviceis 'adapted forreaching into rather crowded spaces, such asbetween'two pieces of furniture or the like, or cleaning underneath. a relative'ly'low piece of furniture. Also, the deviceisbn ranged so that the cleaned. n i v, Other objects and advantages will appear as the specififcation proceeds. The novel features" will set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

lower. portions of walls may be Drawings 5 For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawingsrforming Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional vie'w taken and floor dryer made in accordance with my invention;

along the line 4--4 of Fig; 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line"5-'5 of Fig. 2, and showing'ascreen that -I employ; 6 is a sectional takenalong the 'line 6-6otf member;

Fig. 7 is a. top

Fig.'{5, and illustrating a horizontal auxiliary cleaning plan view of the main floor-cleaning WhileI have shown only-thepreferred form or my or modifications, maybe made'within the scope of the 'annexed claims withoutdeparting fromrthe spirit thereof.

7 Detailed description Referring now to the drawings in detail, I haveshown a main frame which is indicated generally atA; This frame is supported on a pair of rearwheels 10 and ,a pair :of front dolly wheels -tudin-al memberslz to transverse members13 (see Fig. I) 'Brackets 14-,are fastened to the longitudinal members 12 androtatably :carryan axle 15 to whichtherear wheels 10 are tastened. .The dolly wheels 11 are. arried by a .pair oftubes 11. The frame A comprises longithat are spaced apart and secured which are. secured to Y the longitudinal members 12. i

M It will be apparent from Fig. 'Z that the main frameA is disposed at a suitable elevation above the floor B over which'the wheels 10 'and' 11 arealdpated to roll.

ice

. 2 course, the elevation of this frame above the floor may 'be changed to suit requirements. r I With particular reference to Figs. 2 and 4,:it will be noted that 'a cradle-frame C arranged between the main frame A and the fioorB, land the cradle frame is II'IOII-lltbtLJfObliP; and downpadjustments. For, purpose, the cradle frame C has four uprights 17 secured thereto, and these uprights extend upwardly through openings 18 that are fashioned in the longitudm'wal memhers 12 (see Fig. l). Latches 19 are slidably carried by I 12 and are adapted to be engaged with selected notches 20 formed-in theuprights 17L Thusjthe cradleg jame C may be raisedor lowered'with respect to the'floor B and then held in adjusted position by engaging the latches 19 with the appropriate notches 20.

"The cradle frame C has a portion C projecting in front of the main frame A and adjacent to the floor B at a low, elevationso as to be movable underneath a piece of furniture D, as suggested in Fig. 2..' Moreover, a. T-shaped horizontal screen E is supported by the cradle frame C for longitudinal reciprocation. For this reason, the cradle frameC isrnade from .a pair of spaced parallel and. longitudinally extending box. beams 21 having longitudinal slots zz'formed therein (see Fig. 4). Axles 23 are securedto the screen E and carry rollers 24 that are disposed'to ride along the interiors 026. the box beams 21, with the axles23projecting through the slots 22, as shown in Fig. 4. r

' In order to reciprocate the'screen E rectilinearly back and forth, I have provided a motor F, the latter being mounted'on a base '25. This base may lee-supported on bars 26 that aresecured to thetransve'rse members-13 of the main frame A (see Fig. 1'). As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a transverse shaft 27- is mounted-to extend across the bars 26, and this shaft has a pair of discs 28 Pitrnans=-29 have their rear ends con: nected to the discs 28 by journal pins 30, while the front ends ofthese pitmans are swingably attached by pins 31 to brackets 3-2. These brackets are fastened to an angle bari3-3 that surrounds .the screen E. A pulley 34 is fastenedhto themotor shaft 35, and this-pulley is connected by abeltv 36 to a second pulley 37, the latter being fixed to the shaft 27.. Thus the turning of the motor F will result in reciprooatingthe screen" E back and forth and lengthwise rela'tiveto, the cradle frame C- It will be noted that v a T-shaped main floor-cleaning member G, is removably attached to the underneath surface of the screen E for engaging with the floor B. This cleaning member may bemade from any suitable material, such as fabric, and may be reinforced by longitudinal, and transverse bars 38 and 39, respectively, as disclosed in Figs. 4 and 7. Hooks 40 may be swingably secured to the screen B so as to be engageable With-the bars 38 in the manner shown .in Fig. 4 to thus detachably connect the main cleaning member G to the screen B. Any other suitable means may be employed for securing the cleaning member to the screen. 7 In order to deliver a cleaning liquid, such as water and detergent, to the main cleaning member G, I provide a .tank H. This tank may be supported at the desired elevation on the main frame A. A header pipe 41 leads fronrthe tank H and has-a valve 42 arranged therein to control outflow of'the' liquid from the tank. An upper sprinkler pipe 43 communicates with the header pipe 4 1, and it may be supported on the bars 26 in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 4. A lower sprinkler pipe 44 communicates with the forward end of the header pipe 41 so as to overlie the front part of the. screen E. Ob- -viously,'the liquid from the tank H will be delivered through the pipes 43 and 44 to the screen E for downward flow into the main floor-cleaning member G.

Particular attentionis called 'to'the fact that the main mop, and

.screen B may be entirely length of the box beams 21.

E and the cleaning'member G define body portions that extend longitudinally of the cradle frame C (see Figs. 5 and 7). It will be apparent from Figs. Sand 7 that the screen E and cleaning member G are identical in size and shape.

Referring now toFigs 1, 2, 5 and 6, it will be noted that Iprovideanauxiliary cleaning member I which is detachably secured to the forward end of the screen E so as to extend horizontally in front of the screen. The cleaning member I has less width than the screen so as to be movable into a crowded space between two pieces of furniture K, or the like, as suggested in Fig. 1, for cleaning such space during reciprocation of the screen. It will be observed that I have provided brackets 45 that are fixed to the cleaning member I. .These brackets have notches 46 therein which are adapted to fit over a flange of the angle bar 33 in the manner shown in Fig. 6. A set-screw 47 may be provided in each of the brackets 45 for engaging with the flange 33' of the bar 33 so as to firmly hold the cleaning member I to the screen B.

As shown in Figs. 1. and 8, the auxiliary cleaning membeer I may be detachably secured to either side wing portion E of the screen B so as to extend vertically and engage with a wall L for cleaning the engaged portion of the wall during reciprocation of the screen E. At this time, the brackets 45 have notches 48 that will fit over the flanges-33' of the angle bar 33 in the manner shown in Fig. 8. A second pair of set-screws 49 may be used for firmly anchoring the vertical brackets 45 to the flange 33. Of course, any other suitable means may be resorted to for detachably connecting the auxiliary cleaning member I to the screen, either at the front of the screen or at V eitherlateral side of the screen.

In order to remove liquid from the cleaning members G and I after cleaning the floor B or the wall L, respectively, I have provided a wringer that is designated generally at W in Fig. 3. This wringer has end walls 50 which are shaped to fit into the tank H, the latter having an open top 51. Lugs 52 are formed on the end plates 50 so as to slip over the rear wall 53 of the tank H (see Fig. 3). A stationary front wall 54 extends between the end walls 50 of the wringer, while a swingable wall 55 has its lower end attached to the end walls 50 by pins 56.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for swinging the wall 55 toward the stationary wall 54 so as to squeeze out liquid from the cleaning members G or I, when interposed between the walls'54 and 55. For this purpose, I

have shown a handle 56 on the swingable wall 55, and this handle has a link 57-connected thereto. The forward end of this link is swingably connected to a disc 58, the latter being driven by a stub shaft 59 that may be connected by a clutch 60 to one end of the motor shaft 35 (see Fig.1). The handle 56 and link 57 may be arranged at one end of the tank H so as to leave the major length of the tank unobstructed. Thus the wringer W is operated by the motor F. I

When the main floor-cleaning member G and the auxiliary cleaning member I are being used for scrubbing the floor B, or the latter member is being utilized for cleaning the wall L, these members will be in the nature of a will be made of suitable material, such as fabric. After the floor or wall has been scrubbed, the members G and I may be replaced by sponges so that the floor and wall may be dried.

Upon removing the pins 31 from the pitmans 29, the withdrawn from the cradle frame C, since the longitudinal slots 22 extend the full This arrangement will facili- I 44 is long enough 4 tate the changing of the main floor-cleaning member G from a mop to a sponge and vice versa.

In order to facilitate the placing of the cleaning member or mop G in the wringer W, it has been made in two sections which are indicated at 61 and 62. Each section may be connected to parts of the bars 38, the latter being made in two parts, each bar part being engageable by the hooks 40, thus allowing .thernopsections 61 and 62 to be separated one from theother. Y

' As shown in Figure 1," the lower sprinkler pipe 44 may be detachablyconnected to the header pipe 41 by a union 63, or other suitable fastening means. The sprinkler pipe to extend overthe wing portions E of the screen E so as to'deliver water thereto.

I claim:

1. In an automatic washing mop and floor dryer: a main frame supported on wheels so as to be rolled about over.a floor to becIeaned; the main frame being disposed at an'elevation above the floor; a cradle frame carried by the main frame and being arranged between the main frame and the floor; the cradle frame having a portion projecting in front of the main frame and ad jacent to the floor at a low elevation so as to be movable underneath a piece of furniture or the like; the cradle frame defining a pair of spaced parallel and longitudinally extending beams; a T-shaped horizontal screen supported by the beams of the cradle frame for longitudinal reciprocation; a horizontally disposed T-shaped main floorcleaning member removably attached to the underneath surface of the screen for engaging with the floor; the screen and the main floor-cleaning member being identical in size and shape and both defining main body portions that extend longitudinally of the cradle frame; both the screen and the main'floor-cleaning member being provided with wing portions at'their forward ends which project laterally in both directions beyond the wheels, whereby these wing portions may be used for cleaning a floor adjacent to a wall; means operable for reciprocating the screen and the main floor-cleaning member rectilinearly backand forth over the floor in directions extending lengthwise of the cradle frame; and means for delivering a cleaning fluid to the screen for downward flow into the main floor-cleaning member.

2. The automatic washing and floor dryer, as set forth in claim '1; and in which an auxiliary cleaning member is detachably secured to the forward end of the screen so as toextend horizontally in front of the screen; the auxiliary cleaning member having less width than the screen so as. to be movable into a crowded space between two pieces of furniture or the like, for cleaning the floor in said space during rectilineal reciprocation of the screen.

3. The automatic washing mop and floor dryer, as set forth in claim 1; and in which an auxiliary cleaning member is provided; brackets carried by the auxiliary cleaning member; and means for selectively and detachably securing the brackets to either side wing portion of the screen so that the auxiliary cleaning member will extend vertically and engage with a wall, whereby the engaged part of the wall may be cleaned during reciprocation of the screen.

4. In an automatic washing mop and floor dryer: a main frame supported on wheels so as to be rolled about over a floor to be cleaned; the main frame being disposed at an elevation above the floor; a cradle frame carried by the main frame and being arranged between themain frame and the floor; the cradle frame having a portion projecting in front of the main frame and adjacent to the floor at a low elevation was to be movable underneath a piece of furniture or the like; the cradle frame defining a pair of spaced parallel and longitudinally extending box beams, each having a longitudinal slot formed therein; a T-shaped horizontal screen having axles secured thereto which project through the slots;

6 the main floor-cleaning member rectilinearly back and forth over the floor in directions extending lengthwise of the cradle frame; and means for delivering a cleaning fluid to the screen for downward flow into the main floorhoth the screen and the main floor-cleaning 5 cleaning member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stockley Jan. 29, 1879 Post Dec. 27, 1910

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