GB2612368A

GB2612368A - Transport dolly for a floor treatment machine

Info

Publication number: GB2612368A
Application number: GB2115694.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillips Steven
Original assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Current assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-02
Filing date: 2021-11-02
Publication date: 2023-05-03
Also published as: GB202115694D0

Abstract

A dolly for transporting a floor treatment machine, the dolly comprising a lower support portion 2, a back support portion 8 for supporting said machine during transport and travel wheel means 4a, 4b. A pivot is provided which permits reward tilting of the dolly about said pivot so that the lower support portion tilts up as the back support portion tilts down. A lower region of the dolly is provided with constraint features 22a, 22b which define a bay for receiving a base portion of the floor treatment of the machine so that during transport the machine does not move transversely. This arrangement allows tilting of the machine using a handle provided on said machine and thus the dolly may be pushed or drawn across the floor surface. The constraint features may comprise horizontal surfaces, vertical surfaces, or L-shaped brackets. The dolly in a rest position may lie substantially flat on the floor so as to facilitate entry of the machine onto the dolly. The dolly may comprise a handle brace for supporting the machine and the handle brace may comprising clasping means for securing the machine.

Description

TRANSPORT DOLLY FOR A FLOOR TREATMENT MACHINE

This invention relates to the field of hand-guided floor treatment machines for scrubbing, polishing, sanding or burnishing floors. In particular, the invention relates to a transport dolly that is configured and arranged to receive a hand-guided floor treatment machine to facilitate transport of the machine between treatment locations.

Background of the Invention

Hand-guided floor treatment machines for scrubbing, polishing, sanding or burnishing floors typically comprise a base portion equipped with one or more driven, floor racing rotatable work heads. The work heads are provided with agitation or polishing surfaces such as rotatable scrubbing brushes, polishing pads or sanding or grinding pads. These machines typically have a generally upstanding, handle portion which is reclinably attached to the base portion and which permits guiding of the machine over a floor surface being treated. The machine may be fitted with ancillary features such as a cleaning fluid dispenser and associated cleaning fluid reservoir. A suction collector (such as a squeegee collector) may be positioned behind the work heads to collect detritus and dirty cleaning liquid. These machines may be supported on the work heads, or with the load shared by guide wheels or rollers. The machines may have a storage/transport configuration in which wheels or rollers are deployed to lift the work head from the floor so as to prevent the work heads impeding movement between jobs or to storage cupboard. The guide wheels tend to be small in order to ensure that the machine remains compact and because the floors to be treated are usually flat so do not require large wheels during use. However these wheels (or an absence of wheels) make it difficult to transport the machines over non-linear terrains (such as steps or stairs), or outside when it is desired to transport the machines between treatment tasks. Furthermore, the work head agitation surfaces can damage the underlying floors, or be damaged themselves by rough floors during transport.

Similarly the suction collector (and associated squeegee blades) is at risk of damage. So there is a need to facilitate safe transport of these floor machines over rough or non-linear terrains.

The present invention aims to overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the problems set out above.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dolly for transporting a hand-guided floor treatment machine of a type comprising a base portion provided with one or more floor-treating work heads and a handle portion connected to the base portion via an articulated joint for guiding the machine in use, which handle portion which can adopt a locked generally vertical rest position when not in use, wherein the dolly comprises a generally horizontally projecting lower support portion and a back support portion connected to a back region of the lower support portion, which back support portion is generally vertically oriented with respect to the lower support portion, the dolly further comprising travel wheel means for supporting the dolly for travel over the floor, the travel wheel means being disposed in a region where a lower end of the back support portion approaches a back end of the lower support portion, and wherein a pivot is provided which permits rearwards tilting of the dolly about the pivot so that the lower support portion tilts up as the back support tilts back and down, characterised in that a lower region of the dolly is provided with constraint features which define a bay for receiving the base portion of the floor treatment machine, so that when the machine base portion is received in the bay it is supported by the lower support portion and the base portion is constrained by vertical constraint features against substantial lifting thereof with respect to the lower support portion and further constrained by transverse constraint features against substantial transverse displacement with respect to the lower support portion, the arrangement being such that when the base portion is received in the bay an operator may use the machine handle portion to pivot the loaded dolly about the pivot to a tilted travel position in which the machine is supported by the lower support portion and the dolly can be pushed or drawn across the floor surface on the dolly wheel means.

The use of an ancillary dolly permits the use of wheels (or wheel means) that are appropriate for transport over rough surfaces, or hauling over steps or up stairs. In the case of wheels, the wheels will usually be larger than any provided on the machine. They may provide improved ground clearance. They will typically be provided with solid rubber or pneumatic tyres to reduce rolling resistance.

The dolly also separates the work heads from the floor surface, preventing damage to the underlying floor or to the work head agitation or polishing surfaces themselves.

The upright guide handle portion of the floor treatment machine serves to provide a convenient handle for manoeuvring the dolly and tilting the engaged machine away from the floor for safe transport.

The bay may be horizontally oriented so as to receive the machine base portion in inwardly from a front edge of the lower support portion. The bay could however be side entry if the constraint features are so configured. Preferably, the bay defined by the constraint features is generally in the form of a transversely extending slot.

The vertical constraint features may comprise one or more horizontal surfaces defining an upper extent of the bay. The transverse constraint features may comprise one or more vertical surfaces defining left and right edges of the bay.

Preferably, the constraint features comprise two transversely opposed, horizontally extending inverse L-section brackets. Other arrangements may comprise more than two brackets. The brackets may each be provided with a reverse tapered, or stepped, edge which serves to claps the machine base portion once entered, so as to resist inadvertent travel of the base portion out of the bay or the slot. The slot or bay defined by the constraint features may be open at an upper central region thereof so as to accommodate an upper region of the machine.

Preferably, the back support portion comprises a vertically and transversely extending surface which provides constraint against further travel of the machine base portion into the bay or slot. The back support portion may comprise a rectilinear plate. The lower support portion preferably comprises a horizontal and transversely extending platform.

In a preferred arrangement, in a rest position, the platform lies substantially flat on the floor so as to facilitate entry of the machine base portion by travel over the floor and onto the platform.

The wheel means may comprise one or more wheels, spider wheels or rollers. For simplicity, the wheel means may comprise a pair of transversely spaced apart coaxial wheels. Conveniently, the wheels are disposed so that a common axle for the wheels is disposed at a joint between the lower support portion and the back support portion. Other arrangements are possible, such as separate axles for the wheels and the joint between the lower support portion and the back support portion. Preferably, the dolly pivot comprises the rotational axis of said one or more wheels.

The back support portion may have a length that is less than that of the lower support portion. The back support portion is preferably not provided with any handle features.

The dolly may comprise a generally upstanding handle brace for holding an upper region of the treatment machine handle portion when the base portion of the machine is received in the bay of the lower region of the dolly. In this arrangement, preferably, the handle brace is provided at an upper end region thereof with clasp means for releasably holding the upper region of the handle portion.

The handle brace preferably comprises a generally vertically projecting strut that extends upwardly from the back support portion towards the handle portion. The strut may be provided with an elbow region which provides clearance between the strut and the machine superstructure. In a preferred arrangement, the clasp means comprises a seat for receiving the handle portion and a moveable latch member for retaining the handle portion in the seat.

The invention also provides a combination comprising a dolly as hereinbefore described and a hand-guided floor treatment machine comprising a base portion provided with one or more floor-treating work heads and a handle portion connected to the base portion via an articulated joint for guiding the machine in use, which handle portion can adopt a locked generally vertical rest position when not in use, wherein the dolly is sized and configured to permit reception of the machine base portion by the dolly for transport of the machine. The machine may be a scrubber/dryer machine which includes one or more disc-shaped work heads and associated agitation brushes, a cleaning liquid reservoir and dispenser, a suction squeegee collector and a tank for liquid removed from the floor surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a three quarter perspective view of a transport dolly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2a is a perspective view of the dolly of figure 1 facing a hand-guided floor treatment machine.

Figure 2b is a perspective view of the transport dolly of Figure 1 engaged with a lower region of the hand-guided floor treatment machine.

Figure 3 is a side view of the engaged transport dolly and machine of Figure 2b having been pivoted about the dolly's transport wheels into a transport configuration in which the handle of the machine is tilted away from the vertical.

Figure 4 is a three quarter perspective view of a second embodiment of a transport dolly in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an upper end region of the handle brace of the second embodiment showing the latch configuration.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the transport dolly of Figure 4 engaged with a lower region and the handle portion of the hand-guided floor treatment machine.

Detailed Description

First embodiment In figure 1, a transport dolly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown standing on a floor surface as item 1. The dolly comprises a horizontal platform 2 and an upstanding, transversely extending, vertical rectangular back plate 8. The back plate has an upper edge region which is attached to a square section transverse sleeve 16. The sleeve accommodates an axle 6 which connects transversely spaced apart transport wheels 4a and 4b. The wheels are free to rotate in the sleeve about a rotation axis defined by the axle. Each wheel comprises a central hub portion and an outer circumferential tyre. The wheels are disposed so that a lower surface of the platform is tangentially oriented with respect to the outer circumferential tyres. In this way the platform rests flat on the floor as the dolly sits upstanding on the floor. Generally triangular corner plates 14a, 14b are provided at opposite transverse sides of the platform and back plate at the corner defined therebetween. The corner plates provide improved structural integrity. A lower central region of the back plate is formed with a cut-out aperture 7 to accommodate a front wheel of a scrubbing machine.

The platform 2 is provided with two transversely opposed upstanding sidewall portions 22a, 22b. Upper respective ends of each sidewall portion are each provided with respective inwardly directed transversely extending brackets 32a, 32b, which have an inverted L-section profile. The sidewall portions 22a, 22b and horizontal brackets 32, 32b provide respectively side and upper constraint which, with the platform, defines a slot or bay region 19 of the dolly for receiving the scrubbing machine (shown in figure 2b). The brackets are each provided with a reverse tapered, or inwardly stepped, distal edges 23a, 23b. These help retain the machine base portion in the bay by clasping edge regions of the motor housing.

The platform is formed with two oblong cut out portions 11a, llb disposed side by side and with the long sides oriented fore-aft. These cut out portions reduce the overall weight of the platform. A front end region of the platform is provided with a central, regular trapezoidal open recess 18. The recess inwardly tapers so that the platform is able to better receive and guide the front wheel of a scrubbing machine. Corner regions 10 of the front end of the platform are radiused to prevent snagging or damage to extraneous objects.

The dolly may be conveniently made of steel, with welded joints. Other suitable materials, or combinations of materials, will be suitable, such as reinforced plastics material.

In figure 2a, a scrubbing machine is shown as item 24. The machine comprises a base portion 26 that is guided and manoeuvred by an articulated handle 30. The handle has an upper distal end region formed with a hand grip 33. Relatively small guide wheels 31 facilitate manoeuvrability of the base portion by the handle. The base portion has an upper housing 27 for motors (not visible) that drive disc-shaped scrubbing brushes (not visible), as well as a suction squeegee collector 37 for collecting dirty water from the floor behind the brushes. The squeegee collector is in a lifted-up position away from the floor. A mid region of the handle supports clean and dirty water reservoirs (not visible) that are disposed within a housing 35 of the mid region for delivering clean water to the brushes and collecting dirty water from the squeegee collector.

The handle 30 can be pivoted relative to the base portion by a user for guiding the machine in user. The handle can be fixed relative to the base portion in a generally vertical position to allow a user to transport the machine more easily by separating the machine from the ground surface. In this fixed arrangement, tilting the handle 30 away from a vertical or longitudinal axis A of the machine causes the base portion to tilt in tandem with the handle -the machine is pivoted about the dolly

S

axle forward or backwards depending on the direction of movement of the handle away from the longitudinal axis A. The dolly 1 is configured to pivot between a stationary position and a mobile position. In the stationary position (shown in figure 2b), the platform 2 rests on the ground. In this way, the dolly is in a suitably stable position such that the machine 24 can be inserted into or removed from the bay region 19 of the dolly. When the machine is inserted into the bay region, a front region of the machine is in contact with the back plate S. Further, the brackets 32a, 32b face a correspondingly shaped rim 34 on the base portion of the machine. Entry of the machine (in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the back plate) is permitted due to sufficient clearance between the brackets and the rim, allowing the machine to be inserted (and then removed) from the bay region 19.

The dolly is pivoted into the mobile position (shown in Figure 3) by moving or tilting the handle 30 of the machine 24 away from its vertical axis (Le., away from longitudinal axis A) in a direction towards the back plate S. This causes the platform 2 to rotate about the axle 6 such that the platform no longer rests on the ground. This is because the brackets 32a, 32b contact or engage the rim 34 of the machine as the handle is moved away from its vertical axis. This causes the machine and the platform to move together as one mass as the platform is rotated about the axle. In other words, the platform is arranged to be rotated about the axle by the machine's handle, which is due to the machine being vertically and transversely constrained by the sidewall portions 22a, 22b and brackets 32a, 32b respectively against substantial lifting thereof relative to the platform. The machine is lifted from the ground as the platform it is rotated away from the ground, and the back plate 8 supports the machine during rotation of the platform.

In the mobile position, the dolly 1 is guided by the handle 30 of the machine to allow the machine to be transported via the dolly. To remove the machine from the dolly, the dolly is pivoted into the stationary position, i.e., the platform 2 is rotated about the axle 6 such that it rests on the ground. This causes the brackets 32a, 32b to disengage constraint of the rim 34 of the machine, allowing the machine to be removed from the bay region 19 by a user. Thus, a user can pivot the dolly between the stationary and mobile positions using the handle 30 of the machine 24, allowing the dolly to transport the machine using its own handle.

The platform 2 and back plate 8 are sized to be able to receive the machine. In this regard, the brackets 32a, 32b are mounted to the platform and shaped to provide sufficient clearance for the front region of the machine to pass therebetween. Therefore, the particular size and shape of the platform, the back plate, the sidewall portions 22a, 22b and the brackets 32a, 32b will depend on the particular size and shape of the scrubber machine 24 that is to be utilised with the dolly 1, and can be selected during manufacture of the dolly. Although the machine 24 is referred to as a scrubber machine, the machine could be any type of hand-guided floor treatment machine.

Second embodiment In figure 4, a second embodiment of the transport dolly in accordance with the present invention is shown standing on a floor surface as item 100. The dolly 100 has the same structure and function as previously described, but with the addition of a generally upstanding handle portion brace 140 mounted to a central region of the back plate 108 of the dolly. Further, the shape of the recess 118 at the frontal end region of the platform 102 is triangular instead of trapezoidal.

The brace 140 comprises a generally upstanding vertically extending elongate strut 142. The strut 142 has a lower region that is attached to the back plate 108 and an upper region 144 that deviates from the vertical at an elbow 145 of the strut.

The upper region 144 of the strut thus tilts inwardly as shown in figure 6 to accommodate and avoid fouling the machine superstructure. An upper region of the elongate strut is provided with a latch 146 for the handle portion, as best shown in figure 5. The latch comprises a seat for locating the handle portion. A transversely oriented latching member 152 is attached to the strut by a pivot 150.

The pivot permits the latching member to swing up or down to open or close the seat. A boss 153 provides a latch member opening stop. An indent 154 in the free end of the latch member provides a closure stop for the latch member when engaged with the finger feature 156. The latch member and seat together define a rectilinear transversely extending oblong slot which clasps the upper end region of the machine handle portion when seated in the latch (shown in figure 6). This holds the handle securely during transport of the dolly. When the machine is to be removed the user simply rotates the latching member to open the slot and permit removal of the machine and handle portion.

The dolly of the present invention has several benefits. The wheels of the transport dolly can be relatively large, which facilitates long distance transport of hand-guided floor treatment machines and provides better manoeuvrability of said machines over bumpy surfaces, ramps or steps. These machines typically comprise relatively small guide wheels, which provide poor manoeuvrability. Thus, this arrangement omits the need for the machines to have large and bulky wheels for long distance transport, allowing more compact machines to be used. In this arrangement, the handle of the machine is arranged to rotate or pivot the platform about an axle of the dolly via engagement between the platform and the machine. This arrangement omits the need for the dolly to have an integrated handle. Further, due to the engagement between the machine and the platform and tilting of the machine and dolly into an over square position with respect to the dolly pivot, the dolly and the machine are more stable when moving between the stationary and mobile positions, and the machine is more stable during transit in the mobile position. In this arrangement, the platform provides a physical barrier between delicate components of the machines (such as scrubber brushers) and the ground. This allows these components to be better protected against abrasive wear and tear that would otherwise occur if the machines were to be transported using their own guide wheels with scrubbing brushes touching the floor.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A dolly for transporting a hand-guided floor treatment machine of a type comprising a base portion provided with one or more floor-treating work heads and a handle portion connected to the base portion via an articulated joint for guiding the machine in use, which handle portion which can adopt a locked generally vertical rest position when not in use, wherein the dolly comprises a generally horizontally projecting lower support portion and a back support portion connected to a back region of the lower support portion, which back support portion is generally vertically oriented with respect to the lower support portion, the dolly further comprising travel wheel means for supporting the dolly for travel over the floor, the travel wheel means being disposed in a region where a lower end of the back support portion approaches a back end of the lower support portion, and wherein a pivot is provided which permits rearwards tilting of the dolly about the pivot so that the lower support portion tilts up as the back support tilts back and down, characterised in that a lower region of the dolly is provided with constraint features which define a bay for receiving the base portion of the floor treatment machine, so that when the machine base portion is received in the bay it is supported by the lower support portion and the base portion is constrained by vertical constraint features against substantial lifting thereof with respect to the lower support portion and further constrained by transverse constraint features against substantial transverse displacement with respect to the lower support portion, the arrangement being such that when the base portion is received in the bay an operator may use the machine handle portion to pivot the loaded dolly about the pivot to a tilted travel position in which the machine is supported by the lower support portion and the dolly can be pushed or drawn across the floor surface on the dolly wheel means.
2. A dolly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bay is horizontally oriented so as to receive the machine base portion in inwardly from a front edge of the lower support portion.
3. A dolly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the bay defined by the constraint features is generally in the form of a transversely extending slot.
4. A dolly as claimed in claim any preceding claim wherein the vertical constraint features comprise one or more horizontal surfaces defining an upper extent of the bay.
5. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the transverse constraint features comprise one or more vertical surfaces defining left and right edges of the bay.
6. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the constraint features comprise two transversely opposed, horizontally extending inverse L-section brackets.
7. A dolly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the brackets are each provided with a reverse tapered, or stepped, edge which serves to clasp the machine base portion once entered, so as to resist inadvertent travel of the base portion out of the bay or the slot.
8. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the slot or bay defined by the constraint features is open at an upper central region thereof so as to accommodate an upper region of the machine.
9. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the back support portion comprises a vertically and transversely extending surface which provides constraint against further travel of the machine base portion into the bay or slot.
10. A dolly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the back support portion comprises a rectilinear plate.
11. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the lower support portion comprises a horizontal and transversely extending platform.
12. A dolly as claimed in claim 11 wherein in a rest position the platform lies substantially flat on the floor so as to facilitate entry of the machine base portion by travel over the floor and onto the platform.
13. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the wheel means comprise one or more wheels, spider wheels or rollers.15. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the wheel means comprises a pair of transversely spaced apart co-axial wheels.16. A dolly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the wheels are disposed so that a common axle for the wheels is disposed at a joint between the lower support portion and the back support portion.17. A dolly as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16 wherein the dolly pivot comprises the rotational axis of said one or more wheels.18. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the back support portion has a length that is less than that of the lower support portion.19. A dolly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the back support portion is not provided with any handle features.20. A dolly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18 further comprising a generally upstanding handle brace for holding an upper region of the treatment machine handle portion when the base portion of the machine is received in the bay of the lower region of the dolly.21. A dolly as claimed in claim 20 wherein the handle brace is provided at an upper end region thereof with clasp means for releasably holding the upper region of the handle portion.22. A dolly as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein the handle brace comprises a generally vertically projecting strut that extends upwardly from the back support portion towards the handle portion.23. A dolly as claimed in claim 22 wherein the strut is provided with an elbow region which provides clearance between the strut and the machine superstructure.24. A dolly as claimed in any of claims 21 to 23 wherein the clasp means comprises a seat for receiving the handle portion and a moveable latch member for retaining the handle portion in the seat.25. A combination comprising a dolly according to any of the preceding claims and a hand-guided floor treatment machine comprising a base portion provided with one or more floor-treating work heads and a handle portion connected to the base portion via an articulated joint for guiding the machine in use, which handle portion can adopt a locked generally vertical rest position when not in use, wherein the dolly is sized and configured to permit reception of the machine base portion by the dolly for transport of the machine.