US4785492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floor cleaning apparatus
Assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
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Filing: 1987-11-04
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Granted: 1988-11-22
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Expires: 2007-11-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a floor cleaning apparatus which includes a nozzle-like structure for a vacuum cleaner. The apparatus is for vacuum cleaning and polishing hard floors and is moved by the operator in a desired direction. The apparatus includes a chassis defining a longitudinal axis and at least two working plates for working on the surface of the hard floor. The working plates are movably mounted on the chassis so as to perform respective reciprocal movements counter to each other and in a direction ninety degrees to the desired direction in which the apparatus is moved by the operator. The plates conjointly define a total depth extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the chassis and work plate takes up one-third of this depth. The other one of the work plates takes up two-thirds of this depth. The work plates have a flat shape and at least one of the work plates is pervious to air. The work plates are sealed at their edges and are mounted on the apparatus by means of elastic bearings.
Inventors
- 👤 Wieland Guhne
- 👤 Uwe Kemker
- 👤 Wolfgang Troger
- 👤 Hans-Joachim Birr
- 👤 Paul Michel
- 👤 Renate Friedrichs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:37
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L11/00; A47L11/40; A47L11/4036; A47L11/02; A47L11/20; A47L11/202; A47L11/4063; A47L11/4069; A47L9/00; A47L9/02; A47L9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A floor cleaning apparatus for cleaning a hard floor, the apparatus being movable across the surface of the hard floor by the operator in a desired direction determined by the latter, the apparatus comprising: a chassis defining a longitudinal axis extending in said desired direction and having a width extending in a direction transverse to said axis; two work plates for working on said surface of said hard floor, said work plates each having a width corresponding to said width of said chassis and being movably mounted on said chassis so as to perform respective reciprocating movements counter to each other and in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis thereby causing each of said work plates to perform work on the surface of the floor which corresponds to the whole of the width of said chassis; one of said work plates being mounted at the forward portion of said chassis and the other one of said work plates being mounted at the rearward portion of said chassis; and, motor means mounted on said chassis for actuating said two work plates to perform said movements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A floor cleaning apparatus for cleaning a hard floor, the apparatus being movable across the surface of the hard floor by the operator in a desired direction determined by the latter, the apparatus comprising: a chassis defining a longitudinal axis extending in said desired direction and having a width extending in a direction transverse to said axis; two work plates for working on said surface of said hard floor, said work plates each having a width corresponding to said width of said chassis and being movably mounted on said chassis so as to perform respective reciprocating movements counter to each other and in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis thereby causing each of said work plates to perform work on the surface of the floor which corresponds to the whole of the width of said chassis; one of said work plates being mounted at the forward portion of said chassis and the other one of said work plates being mounted at the rearward portion of said chassis; and, motor means mounted on said chassis for actuating said two work plates to perform said movements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
187 words
A floor cleaning apparatus movable across the surface of a hard floor by an operator in a desired direction determined by the latter, the apparatus comprising: a chassis; two work plates for working on said surface of said hard floor, said work plates being movably mounted on said chassis so as to perform respective reciprocating movements counter to each other and in a direction transverse to said desired direction; motor means mounted on said chassis for actuating said two work plates to perform said movements; suction means communicating with one of said work plates for facilitating the establishment of a partial vacuum in the latter; and, said chassis defining a longitudinal axis extending in said desired direction, one of said work plates being mounted at the forward portion of said chassis and the other one of said work plates being mounted at the rearward portion of said chassis, said plates conjointly defining a total depth extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis; said one work plate taking up one-third of said depth; and, said other one of said work plates taking up two-thirds of said depth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
187 words
A floor cleaning apparatus movable across the surface of a hard floor by an operator in a desired direction determined by the latter, the apparatus comprising: a chassis; two work plates for working on said surface of said hard floor, said work plates being movably mounted on said chassis so as to perform respective reciprocating movements counter to each other and in a direction transverse to said desired direction; motor means mounted on said chassis for actuating said two work plates to perform said movements; suction means communicating with one of said work plates for facilitating the establishment of a partial vacuum in the latter; and, said chassis defining a longitudinal axis extending in said desired direction, one of said work plates being mounted at the forward portion of said chassis and the other one of said work plates being mounted at the rearward portion of said chassis, said plates conjointly defining a total depth extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis; said one work plate taking up one-third of said depth; and, said other one of said work plates taking up two-thirds of said depth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 2, said suction means being mounted on said chassis so as to be supported above said surface by said other plate; and, said suction means being connected to said one work plate so as to develop a partial vacuum in the latter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 3, said one work plate being configured so as to pass air therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 3, sealing means being formed on the peripheral edge of each of said work plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
A floor cleaning apparatus movable across the surface of a hard floor by an operator in a desired direction determined by the latter, the apparatus comprising: a chassis; two work plates for working on said surface of said hard floor, said work plates being movably mounted on said chassis so as to perform respective reciprocating movements counter to each other and in a direction transverse to said desired direction; motor means mounted on said chassis for actuating said two work plates to perform said movements; suction means communicating with one of said work plates for facilitating the establishment of a partial vacuum in the latter; and, first and second elastic bearing means for mounting respective ones of said work plates on said chassis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
A floor cleaning apparatus movable across the surface of a hard floor by an operator in a desired direction determined by the latter, the apparatus comprising: a chassis; two work plates for working on said surface of said hard floor, said work plates being movably mounted on said chassis so as to perform respective reciprocating movements counter to each other and in a direction transverse to said desired direction; motor means mounted on said chassis for actuating said two work plates to perform said movements; suction means communicating with one of said work plates for facilitating the establishment of a partial vacuum in the latter; and, first and second elastic bearing means for mounting respective ones of said work plates on said chassis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 6, said first elastic bearing means including a plurality of bearings interconnecting said one work plate and said chassis and said second elastic bearing means likewise including a plurality of bearings interconnecting said other work plate with said chassis; each of said bearing being configured so as to have a first elastic bending moment in the x-direction and a second elastic bending moment in the y-direction; said second elastic bending moment being less than said first elastic bending moment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 7, said x-direction being parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, said chassis having a length extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis; and, said plates conjointly defining a total depth extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis and corresponding to said length of said chassis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 9, comprising suction means communicating with one of said work plates for facilitating the establishment of a partial vacuum in the latter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, comprising suction means communicating with one of said work plates for facilitating the establishment of a partial vacuum in the latter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-22 | 1992-05-23 | 1992-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-22 | 1996-05-23 | 1996-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-22 | 2000-05-23 | 2000-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |