WO1995011617A1

WO1995011617A1 - Floor finish applicator

Info

Publication number: WO1995011617A1
Application number: PCT/US1994/012363
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wade H. Krinke; Edward J. Goldstein; Richard A. Linn; Robert K. Kay; Victor Wayne Thomas
Original assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.; Padco, Inc.
Priority date: 1993-10-27
Filing date: 1994-10-27
Publication date: 1995-05-04
Also published as: AU8094194A

Abstract

An applicator (10) for applying a finish to a floor (26) includes an arcuate surface (12) having a pile layer (24) of flocking material disposed on the arcuate surface (12). The pile layer (24) is opposing and abutting the floor (26) to which the finish is to be applied. The pile layer (24) terminates at a pile edge (25) in close proximity to the floor (26).

Description

FLOOR FINISH APPLICATOR

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention pertains to a floor finish applicator. More particularly, this invention pertains to a floor finish applicator with improved means for applying a unit amount of floor finish over a larger area of flooring.

BACKGROUND ART

Floor finish applicators are well known. Such applicators are used to apply floor wax, tile finish, floor finish, concrete coatings, etc. to a wide variety of floorings. In applying a floor finish to a floor, it is frequently desirable to spread a thin coat of the finish on the floor. With respect to certain floor finishes (such as certain waxes) , prior art floor finish applicators of which the inventors are aware could apply the finish over an area of 1,000 to 1,500 square feet per gallon (24.5 to 36.8 square meters per liter) of finish. It is an object of the present invention to provide a floor finish applicator to substantially improve the coverage of floor finish applied to a flooring with the applicator.

SUMMARY DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an applicator is provided for applying a finish to a floor. The applicator comprises an arcuate surface including a pile layer of flocking disposed on the arcuate surface and abutting and opposing the floor. The pile layer terminates at a pile edge in close proximity to the floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the floor finish applicator according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the applicator of Fig. 1 with the opposite end being identical;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the applicator of Fig. 1 with the opposite side being identical; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the applicator of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the applicator of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation view of an applicator of the prior art showing it in use; and

Fig. 7 is the view of Fig. 6 showing the applicator of the present invention in use.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the several drawing figures in which identical elements are used identically throughout, a description of the preferred embodiment will now be provided.

With initial reference to Fig. 6, a prior art applicator 10 is shown. The prior art applicator 10 includes a substantially cylindrical plastic sleeve 12. The sleeve has an axially extending slit (defined by edges 14,14a) cut through the side of the sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 is slipped onto a cylindrical solid metal applicator head 16 which is secured to a handle 18 by means of an angled mounting tang 20.

Adhered to the outer surface of the plastic sleeve 12 is a foam layer 22 which substantially surrounds the entire outer surface of the sleeve 12. In a preferred embodiment for floor finish applications, the foam layer 22 is adhered to sleeve 12 with epoxy. This has been found to produce a permanent bond which stands up to chemicals in the floor finish.

The foam layer 22 terminates at edges 23,23a which are in general alignment with slit edges 14,14a of sleeve 12.

Adhered to the outer surface of the foam layer 22 is a pile layer 24 terminating at pile layer edges 25,25a substantially in alignment with the edges 14,23 and 14a,23a, respectively. The pile layer 24 comprises a flocking adhered to the foam layer 22. Flocking is well recognized by those in the art as minute fibers extending generally perpendicularly from the outer surface of the foam layer 22. Flocking can be provided with a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes for the various flocking fibers as well as a wide variety of lengths of the fibers and a wide variety of fiber thicknesses (generally referred to as denier) . With the prior art applicator 10, Applicants have applied coats of floor wax with an application in the neighborhood of 1,000 to 1,500 square feet per gallon of floor wax. In the application, a puddle of floor wax is applied to the floor, and the applicator 10 is dragged over the puddle and over the flooring to spread out the wax on the flooring. The head 16 is heavily weighted such that the weight of the head causes a compression area A of the pile layer 24 and foam 22 opposing a floor 26. In use, a handle extension pole (not shown) is applied to handle 18 and manipulated by a floor mechanic or other operator.

It is desirable to obtain a high area of coverage per unit volume of floor finish material. To achieve a higher area of coverage, Applicants have conceived of the present invention which will now be described. The present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1-5 and 7. The present invention is for use with head 16 (shown in Fig. 7) which remains attached to handle 18 by means of tang 20.

The applicator of the present invention (shown generally at 10') includes a plastic sleeve 12' which is substantially identical to sleeve 12. Sleeve 12' has an axial slit defined by edges 14", 14a' to permit the sleeve ^' 12 ' to be placed onto the head 16 and pass over tang 20.

A foam layer 22 ' is secured to the outer surface of the plastic sleeve 12' . Similarly, a pile layer 24' of flocking material is applied to the outer surface of the foam layer 22' . While flocking is shown as the preferred pile layer, other pile layers of resilient, liquid holding materials could be used (e.g. , an absorbent fabric layer) . Unlike the prior art applicator 10 and with best reference to Fig. 7, the applicator 10' does not terminate the foam layer 22 ' and pile layer 24 ' at edges in general alignment with the edges 14 ' ,14a' of sleeve 12. Instead in the applicator 10' of the present invention, the pile layer 24' terminates at edges 25 ',25a' substantially in alignment with edges 23 ' ,23a' of the foam layer 22' . The aligned edges 25 ',23' reside within the contact area A' of the applicator 10' against floor 26. Also, the aligned edges 23 ',25' face the direction of travel (now B in Fig. 7) in which the applicator 10' is pulled or drawn by a technician during use. In use, a technician places a puddle of floor finish on a side 27 of floor 26 facing edges 23 ' , 25 ' . The technician pulls the applicator 10' in the direction of arrow B such that the opposing edges 23 ',25' present a sharp edge with respect to their intersection with the floor 26 to act as a squeegee to urge excess material of floor finishing away from the application surface A' . On the side of the application surface A' opposite edges 23 ',25', the surface 24' remains arcuate as approximated by the angle A' ' which provides a feathering effect on the floor finish being applied by the applicator 10 ' .

In addition to the geometry and method of use of the present invention to provide edges 23', 25' generally adjacent the contact area A' and facing the direction of travel of the applicator 10', the geometry of the flocking of pile 24 ' is believed to have a material effect on the improved ability to enhance the surface area of a finish being applied to flooring 26. In a preferred embodiment, the foam layer 22' is a non-reticulated polyester of about 3/16 inch (0.48 centimeters) . The pile 24' is composed of a polyamide flocking (for example, nylon) having a 6.0 denier and a length of preferably .060 inches (0.152 centimeters) . Also, the angle C between a center of the slot between edges 14 ',14a' and the aligned surfaces 23', 25' is preferably about 90 degrees. The actual angle will vary if the angle of the tang 20 to handle 18 varies. Namely, with handle 18 at about 45 degrees to the floor 26, it is desirable for the aligned edge 23 ',25' to be adjacent the floor in the region of contact area A' and facing the direction of travel B. Also, it is desirable that the angle C between the center line of the slot between edges 14 ',14a' and the opposite edges of the foam 22' and pile 24' also be about 90 degrees such that a technician can quickly place the applicator head 10' onto the head 16 without concern as to directional alignment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY With an applicator 10' according to the present invention, Applicants have achieved a substantial improvement in the amount of square feet (square meters) that can be covered by a unit volume of finish. For example, with a prior art wax which, with use of the prior art applicator 10, Applicants could achieve a surface area coverage of 1,000 to 1,500 square feet per gallon (24.5 to 36.8 square meters per liter) . Utilizing the same wax with the present invention, Applicants have achieved 3,000 square feet per gallon (73.6 square meters per liter) . Accordingly, the present invention achieves an application rate of about two to three times greater than the prior art applicator 10. Also, with the construction of the present invention, Applicants have found the head 16' need not be as heavily weighted as head 16 and still achieve the enhanced surface area coverage. This results in less fatigue for the person using applicator 10 ' .

Having described the present invention with reference to a preferred embodiment, it has been shown how the objects of the present invention have been attained. However, modifications or the equivalents of the enclosed concepts, such as those which readily occur to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

That which we claim is:

1. An applicator for applying a finish to a floor, said applicator comprising: an arcuate surface including a pile layer of flocking disposed on said arcuate surface and opposing and abutting said floor; a handle for holding said surface at a predetermined orientation with respect to said floor; and said pile layer terminating at a pile edge in close proximity to said floor with a plane of said edge intersecting said floor and with said edge contacting said floor when said surface is in said predetermined orientation.

2. An applicator according to claim 1 comprising a foam layer, said pile layer adhered to said foam layer; said foam layer terminating at a foam edge disposed in alignment with said pile edge.

3. An applicator for applying a finish to a floor, said applicator comprising: a resilient cylindrical sleeve having an axial slit formed throughout the length of said sleeve, said slit sized to receive a handle for holding said sleeve at a predetermined orientation with respect to said floor; a resilient layer secured to said sleeve and terminating at an edge spaced from said slit; and a pile layer of flocking material adhered to said foam layer and terminating at a pile edge in general alignment with said foam layer edge; and said pile edge and layer edge defining a plane intersecting said floor and with said pile edge contacting said floor when said sleeve is in said predetermined alignment.

4. An applicator according to claim 3 wherein said resilient layer is epoxy adhered to said sleeve.

5. A method for applying a finish to a floor using an applicator having a pile layer of flocking material disposed on an arcuate surface; a handle for holding said surface at a predetermined orientation with respect to said floor; and said pile layer terminating at a pile edge in close proximity to said floor with a plane of said edge intersecting said floor and with said edge contacting said floor when said surface is in said predetermined orientation; said method comprising: placing an amount of said finish on said flooring; placing said applicator on a side of said amount in said predetermined orientation wherein said pile edge is in close proximity to said floor and opposing said amount of said finish; and drawing said applicator across said amount with said pile edge urging excess quantities of said amount away from said applicator.