Reciprocating corner and baseboard cleaning auxiliary attachment for rotary floor treatment machines

Abstract

Abstract An auxiliary attachment is provided for rotary floor treatment machines of the type having a rotary driving element extending downwardly from a generally bell shaped housing for detachable coupling with a rotary type floor treating accessory, such as a rotary brush, rotary buffer, etc. The auxiliary attachment utilizes the rotary drive of the machine to effect a reciprocating action of a floor treating accessory, such as a brush, buffer, etc. The floor treating accessory of the attachment, which may be considered generally as a rubbing element, reciprocates in guides provided in the housing of the attachment. The rubbing element extends beyond the limits of the attachment housing, and preferably includes rubbing surfaces on its upright sides, such that it can also clean baseboards. The drive assembly for the attachment is journaled in the top surface of the attachment housing, and includes at its upper end an appropriate but conventional coupling member which is adapted to detachably couple with the rotary driving element of the machine. When coupled to a machine, the lower edge of the bell shaped housing of the machine abuts against the upper surface of the attachment housing, which preferably is provided with a rubberlike mat. The auxiliary attachment is adaptable for use with different models of rotary machines through the provision of spacer rings or the like for locating the coupling member of the attachment above the top surface of the attachment such that the coupling member will readily mate with and couple to the rotary drive element of the machine, with the lower edge of the bell shaped housing of the machine abutting the upper surface of the attachment housing. By using different spacer rings or different numbers of spacer rings, the attachment is readily adaptable for use with different machines whose rotary driving elements are located differently vertically in their bell shaped housings. The rubbing element of the attachment, viewed in plan, preferably is of wedge shape at its outer end so as to facilitate reciprocation into and out of a corner. The reciprocatory action preferably is effected through a crank and rod mechanism, or an eccentric and rod mechanism, or the like. The particular coupling element used on a particular attachment is selected to be appropriate for the driving element of the machine with which the attachment is to be used. The attachment imparts to a regular rotary machine the capability of a conventional reciprocatory or oscillatory machine, while avoiding the expense of two completely separate machines.

Inventors

• 👤 W Desjardin
• 👤 G Downing

Bibliographic Details