US2676067A

US2676067A - Adjustable handle connection for floor machines

Info

Publication number: US2676067A
Application number: US177404A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward L Verhagen
Original assignee: Regina Corp
Current assignee: Regina Corp
Priority date: 1950-08-03
Filing date: 1950-08-03
Publication date: 1954-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1971-04-20

Description

April 1954 E. L. VERHAGEN 2,676,067

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE CONNECTION FOR FLOOR MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, 1950 I v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F|G.l 22

I" I: 37 i FIG. 2 29 Y.

22 32 i 30 ll 2| 1 20 I2 23 23 lli 35 o 28 28 IO 35 INVENTOR.

Edwdrd L.Verhugen mwy 4 April 20, 1954 a. 1.. VERHAGEN ADJUSTABLE HANDLE CONNECTION FOR FLOOR MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. Edward L. Verhogen A1"rorney Patented Apr. 20. 1954 ADJUSTABLE HANDLE CONNECTION FOR FLOOR MACHINES Edward L. Verhagen, Rahway, N. J assignor to The Regina Corporation, Rahway, N. J a corporation of New York Application August 3, 1950, Serial No. 177,404

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to a handl mounting and casing for machines of the ambulant type, for instance, floor polishing machines, vacuum cleaners, and the like, in which a long handle is secured to the machine; so that the machine may be pushed and pulled along the floor or rug at a convenient angular disposition of the handle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle which is secured to a floor polishing machine or the like without any protruding parts around the base thereof. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a handle which is pivotally mounted and directly secured to the motor Within the casing.

In structures of the type here considered, heretofore in use, it has been a common hazard for those using the machine that the bail or yoke used to secure the handle to the casing of the machine, would come into contact with the base of furniture that might be in the area in which the machine was being used. This very often caused the lower portion of the furniture to be come scratched and marred. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means for mounting the handle to the machine without the presence of any projecting parts that could scratch or otherwise damage any furniture in the vicinity of the machine while in operation.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a structin'e which during operation will readily pass underneath various pieces of furniture, there being no protruding parts likely to interfere with its passage. This will enable the operator to polish or clean those areas heretofore inaccessible by such machines.

It has also been a common fault of devices of the type here being considered, in which the handle was secured to the lower part of the machine by means of a bail or yoke, that the bail or yoke would catch and become engaged in low hanging draperies or fringes on furniture. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a structure which completely eliminates this danger. In a device embodying the present invention the handle is mounted within the casing and is mounted directly to the motor housing; thus, there are no protruding parts that could catch or become entangled with portions of the draperies or the furniture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the type here considered which may be lifted by means of the long handle without the danger of the machine pivoting or tipping. This is very important where the device is used to operate on stairs or counters. It is important that when the operating surface is lifted from direct support, that the machine remain level; otherwise the operator will experience serious difficulty moving it about by lifting.

It is also important in devices of the type here under consideration that it remain level While in operation. Some structures heretofore. in use, have had a tendency to tip backwards when a force is applied on the handle to move the machine forward, or to exert a downward force on the machine to aid in polishing or cleaning efiect. It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a machine of the ambulant type which will remain perfectly level While in operation, no matter how great the downward component of the force exerted on the handle may become.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following description and drawing of one specific embodiment of the present invention, in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a floor polishing machine embodying the present invention, with the casing partially broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partially broken away side view thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the casing.

The device shown in the drawings is a twin brush floor polishing machine. However, it will be readily apparent that the invention set forth herein is also adaptable for use in all similar types of machines of the ambulant type.

Polishing brushes II) are driven by motor ll through worm shafts l2 and drive shafts [3. The motor [0 is entirely encased in housing M which in turn is mounted on base l5. Mounted on base I5 is the casing 16. The ring [8 is mounted on the housing [4 for pivotal movement relative thereto, and an elongated handle I! is secured to the ring [8 by means of clamp I9.

The motor housing [4 consists of two members, the primary housing member 20 and the housing end plate 2|. The two

housing members

20 and 2| are secured together by screws 22 which hold the housing end plate 2| firmly against the primary housing member 20. On both sides of the motor housing I4 are the worm housings 23. The worm shafts [2 are held in proper position by screws 24 and thrust bearing 25. The brushes 10 are driven by drive shafts 13 which are connected with the worm shafts [2 by suitable gears (not shown).

Lugs 26 extending downwardly from the housing extend into openings in the base l5 which are surrounded by flanges 27. Screws 28, extending upwardly through the base I5 and threaded into lugs 26 hold the motor housing [4 and its associated parts securely in position against the base l5.

Although the handle is shown .broken oii in all views, it extends upwardly about three to four feet, the normal distance for such handles, and is provided at the upper end with a conventional hand grip. of the device namely the floor polishing machine, over the area to be polished, it is necessary that the handle I! be mounted in such a way that it can assume various angular positions relative to the machine. For this reason the handle is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the lower. portion of the device which rides on the floor. or other area to be polished.

To accomplish this pivotal .movement, the handle is. is. secured, by insans. of clamp iii to ring 18. The i8. is fitted. onto the motor housing id so. that it may rotate about the housing. To insure smooth relative movement, the primary housing member. i2 is provided with outwardly extendingv annular. ribs 29 and 39, the

outer. surfaces of, which. are machined to provide a. smooth bearing surface for ring. 19. The ring 18. held against axial movement on one side by small flange 3iv on annular rib 39, and on the other. side by the edge of the housing end plate 2!. which has. an enlarged portion 32 adapted to fit over the annular rib 29.

The casing 15 is secured to the base it by means oi three verticalbolts 38. A bumper 3 is. provided withan upper lip 34 and a lower lip 35. The upper 34 engages flange 35 at the bottom of, casing i9 and the lower lip engages the bottom of the base E5. The casing i5 is provided. with a slot 37 through which the handle 17 projects and is free to move.

As is apparent from the above, the entire devicev is enclosed within casing l6 and base I5 with only the brushes i9 exposed at the bottom and the handle i! extending out from the top.

As can be seen best from Fig. 3 the pivot point for the handle I? is the center of the circle formed by ring 58 which is approximately the center of the motor ii. This point is only a very short distance behind the center of gravity of the machine and is also a small distance above the center of gravity of the machine. Because In moving the lower portion.

of this, when the machine is lifted from the iioor with the handle 11 in a vertical position, there is a very small force moment tending to tip the machine from its normally horizontal position. The frictional force between the ring 15 and the motor housing is is enough to overcome this tipping momentand thus hold the machine in its horizontal position. It is to be noted that the instant the machine is lifted from the floor, its entire weight acts to increase the frictional force between the motor housing I4 and the ring 18.-

It should also be noted that no matter what position the handle 5? assumes during use of the polishing machine, the surface of the brushes extends far enoughback to act as a support and prevent any backward tipping due to the downward force applied as the machine is used for polishing.

I claim:

. Anambulant devicesuch as'a floorpolisher, vacuum cleaner, or the like, comprising a base, a motor housing mounted on the base, housing being formed of two portions, one portion being a'cup-shaped member having spaced circumferentialribs, one of said ribs having a flange thereon, and the other portion being a cap for the firstnamed portion, the external diameter of saidcap being substantially equal to'that of said flange, a ring mountedonand surrounding the flrstnamed portion of said housing and bearing on. the ribs thereof for rotary movement relativeto said housing ina vertical plane, said ring being held against axial movement by said flange and said cap, and a handle mounted on said ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED erases PATENTS Number Name Date 990,506 Strange Apr. 25, 1911 1,094,950 Beach Apr. 21, 1914 1,119,392 Bernett Dec. 1, 1914 1,142,353 Morrow et al. June 8, 1915 1,224,292 Fisher May 1, 1917 1,578,750 Owen Mar. 30, 1925 1,882,471 Beach Oct. 11,- 1932 2,098,348 Mason et a1 Nov. 9-, 1937 2,164,002 Salt June '27, 1939 2,226,365 Becker Dec. 24, 1940 2,633,597 Turner Apr. 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 263,221 Great Britain Mar. 31, 1927