Floor treatment machine parking

Abstract

A hand-guided floor treatment machine 10 comprises a base portion 11 carrying at least one motor-driven floor-facing treatment tool such as a brush 12 or squeegee 16, and an elongate upright handle portion 21 which has an upper end region provided with a hand grip for guiding the machine in a working direction. The machine further includes a parking mechanism which is operable to concurrently move a first set of wheels 15 and a second set of wheels 18 downwardly with respect to the treatment tool thereby to move the machine from a working configuration (fig 1) to a parked configuration (fig 2) in which the floor-facing treatment tool is located in a raised position with respect to the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels. The machine can preferably be locked in the parked configuration.

Description

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a floor treatment machine equipped with a novel parking and locking mechanism. In use of a floor scrubbing machine, a floor scrubbing attachment is in contact with a floor being cleaned. The machine can be moved via a handle portion to clean the floor as required. When the machine is not being used to clean a floor, it may be necessary to move the machine from one location to another. The present invention seeks to provide improved parking and locking mechanisms for a floor scrubbing machine. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hand-guided floor treatment machine comprising a base portion which carries at least one motor-driven floor-facing treatment tool, and an elongate upright handle portion which has an upper end region provided with a hand grip for guiding the machine in a working direction, the machine further comprising a parking mechanism which is operable to concurrently move a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels downwardly with respect to the floor-facing treatment tool, thereby to move the machine from a working configuration, to a parked configuration in which the floor-facing treatment tool is located in a raised position with respect to the first set of wheels and a second set of wheels. The present invention enables the treatment tool of a floor treatment machine to be raised when the machine is not being used in a floor cleaning operation. In the parked configuration, the first and second set of wheels take all or substantially all of the weight of the machine, and the treatment tool is in a vertically raised position with respect to the wheels, and is thereby protected against damage, such as crush damage to agitating media provided on the treatment tool, whilst the machine is not being used. Furthermore the two sets of wheels enable to the machine to be relocated whilst it is not being used, with the treatment tool and any agitating media being protected against wear and tear caused by friction with the floor during such relocation. The treatment tool may remain lightly in contact with the floor even with the wheels deployed (in the parked configuration), but the tool is protected from deformation by crushing, and the contact does not significantly hinder transport over the floor surface. The parking mechanism may be operable via an actuator comprising a pedal, wherein the machine is moved from the working configuration to the parked configuration by application of a downward force to the pedal. The parking mechanism can thereby be simply effected by a single user, for example by applying the downwards force to the pedal by foot. The parking mechanism may comprise multiple cooperating pivots which enable an arcing motion of the base portion which moves the machine from the working configuration and the parked configuration. The multiple pivots may comprise: a first pivot which passes through an end of a first arm of a dual armed member proximate the pedal; a second pivot which passes through an upper portion of a side arm of a front support and through an upper member to which the pedal is connected; a third pivot which passes through a distal end of the first arm remote from the pedal; and a fourth pivot which passes through a lower portion of the front support and through a lower member which abuts an end of a second arm of the dual-armed member; and the second arm of the dual armed member may be linked via a rotary connection to a first end of a connecting arm, and a second end of the connecting arm is linked to a cam assembly including a wheel axle carrying the first set of wheels. This multipivoted embodiment of the present invention enables the second set of wheels to be deployed, i.e. moved downwardly into their parked configuration position, in a simple continuous movement. The second set of wheels may be directly connected to the pedal such that the application of downward pressure to the pedal causes the second set of wheels to deploy. The first and second set of wheels can thereby be deployed simultaneously in a continuous movement. Deployment may be by downward travel of the second set of wheels with the pedal from a retracted position with the wheels off the floor to a deployed position in which the second set of wheels support the front region of the machine on the floor. The floor treatment machine may further comprise a locking mechanism for releasably locking the machine in the parked configuration. The locking mechanism can ensure that the machine remains in the parked position until further use of the machine is required. The locking mechanism may be actuated by a horizontal force to the handle portion in an opposite direction the working direction, applied simultaneously to the downwards force applied to the pedal. The parking and locking mechanisms can therefore be effected by a single user in a continuous motion, for example by the downwards force to the pedal by foot, and by applying the horizontal force to the handle portion by hand. The locking mechanism may comprise a pivotable locking hook and a strike plate, wherein pivoting of the locking hook cause a tip of the locking hook to latchingly engage underneath the strike plate. The floor treatment machine may further comprise a stabilizer, configured to counteract a horizontal force translated from a weight of the machine in the parked configuration which urges a bottom of a front of the machine in the working direction. The stabilizer thereby prevents splaying of the machine in a forwards direction which would otherwise be caused by the weight of the machine when in the parked / vertical lift configuration. The stabilizer may comprise a support bracket rotatable about a first stabilizer pivot and a second stabilizer pivot, and a fixing, connected to a connecting arm and constrained by and arranged for limited movement within a slot of the support bracket, wherein when the machine is in the working configuration, the fixing is at a bottom of the slot, and when the machine is in the parked configuration, the fixing is at a top of the slot, and the first stabilizer pivot is prevented from further rotation about the second stabilizer pivot by the fixing being constrained within the slot. The floor-facing treatment tool comprises a disc-shaped tool, and / or may comprise a an agitating medium, such as brush bristles, wire bristles or abrasive paper or web. The handle portion of the floor treatment machine may be provided with a cleaning liquid reservoir, and means for delivering cleaning liquid to the floor tool to provide wet cleaning. The machine may also be provided with a waste liquid collection tank and a suction collector for lifting waste liquid from the floor and conveying the waste liquid to the collection tank. The suction collector comprises a floor-facing trailing squeegee collector assembly disposed behind the floor tool or tools in the normal direction of cleaning. The machine may further comprise a squeegee lift mechanism, which enables the wherein the squeegee collector assembly is moveable between a lowered position wherein the squeegee collector assembly is supported by rollers on a floor surface, and a raised position wherein the squeegee collector is in a horizontally raised position relative to the first set of wheels. The squeegee lift mechanism thereby enables the squeegee assembly to be lifted away from a floor surface when it is not required, thereby preventing unnecessary damage such as wear and tear to the blades, when the machine is not being used in a cleaning operation and / or when it is being relocated between uses. The squeegee collector assembly may be connected to the base unit via a squeegee assembly connection arm and pivots, and the squeegee lift mechanism may comprise a pin rigidly connected to the squeegee assembly connection arm, the pin being constrained by and arranged for limited movement within a slot of the squeegee lift mechanism, wherein upward movement of the squeegee assembly causes the pin to move upwardly within the slot and locate above a bump of a snap feature, thereby to maintain the connection arm and squeegee assembly in the raised position. The squeegee lift mechanism may be operable independently of the parking mechanism. The squeegee assembly can thereby be moved to the raised position whether the machine is in a working configuration or a parked configuration. Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the drawings hereinafter of one mode for putting the invention into effect. In the drawings:- Figure 1 is a side view of a floor scrubbing machine in accordance with the present invention, in a working configuration; Figure 2 is a side view of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, in a parked configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, in a working configuration; Figure 4 is a side view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, in a working configuration; Figure 5 is a side view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, in a working configuration, with some components removed; Figure 6 is a detailed internal side view of part of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, part way through a parking operation; Figure 7 is a detailed internal side view of part of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, when the machine is in a working configuration; Figure 8 is a detailed internal side view of part of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, when the machine is in a parked configuration; Figure 9 is a side view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, when the machine is in a parked configuration; Figure 10 is a side view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, when the machine is in a parked and locked configuration; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1 with some components removed, when the machine is in a parked and locked configuration; Figures 12A to 12D are partial sequential side views of a locking operation in accordance with the present invention; Figure 13 is a side view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1 illustrating a vertical lift stabiliser in accordance with the present invention; Figure 14 is a side view of part of the base portion of figure 13, with some components removed; Figure 15 is a side view of the squeegee suction collector assembly of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, in a lowered position; Figure 16 is side view of the squeegee suction collector assembly of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, part way between the lowered position and a raised position; Figure 17 is side view of part of the squeegee suction collector assembly of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1 in the raised position; Figure 18 is a detailed view of part of figure 17; Figure 19A is side view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, when the machine is in a working configuration; Figure 19B is a side view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, when the machine is part-way through a parking operation; and Figure 19C is a side view of the base portion of the floor scrubbing machine of figure 1, when the machine is in a fully parked configuration. In figure 1, a scrubbing machine is shown generally at 10, placed on a floor surface 9. There is a base portion 11 provided at a front region thereof with a floor-facing discshaped floor scrubbing attachment 12. (In all figures, the scrubbing attachment 12 is slightly titled away from a horizontal orientation, to achieve propulsion when the machine is in use). The scrubbing attachment 12 has a lower surface provided with a covering of an agitating medium such as bristles 13 (not shown in all figures), which agitate a surface such as a floor being cleaned when the machine is in use. The scrubbing attachment 12 is driven to rotate by an electric motor (not visible) within housing 14. At a rear region of the base portion is a first set of wheels, comprising a pair of transversely spaced apart support wheels (one visible as 15). To the rear of the support wheels 15 is a squeegee suction collector assembly 16 which is of conventional construction, having a pair of transversely extending curved squeegee blades 17 (visible in figure 5). The squeegee suction collector assembly 16 is supported by trailing wheels or rollers 30. A front region of the base portion 11 is provided with a second set of wheels, comprising two spaced apart transport wheels (one visible as 18), which are carried by a front housing portion 19. An actuator comprising a pedal 50 is rigidly connected to the front housing portion 19. A bracket shaped front support 39 is connected to the front housing portion 19. The machine 10 has an elongate rectangular section upright portion 20 which has at an upper end region thereof a handle 21 (with cross bar) and control console 22. The upright portions carry superstructure including a cleaning fluid reservoir 24 and a waste liquid tank 25. The waste liquid tank 25 is fed by the squeegee suction collector assembly 16 via a concertina hose 26 which draws fluid up from the suction collector assembly 16 and discharges into the waste liquid tank 25. The hose 26 is attached to the base 11 portion by a Cardan joint 40 (indicated in figure 3). The cleaning fluid reservoir 24 delivers cleaning liquid via the scrubbing attachment 12 through a central hole in a hub (not shown) of the scrubbing attachment 12. The liquid falls (or is pumped) into the hub and down onto the floor beneath the scrubbing attachment 12, in order to assist in the cleaning action of the scrubbing bristles 13. The dirty liquid formed from the cleaning action is sucked into the squeegee suction collector assembly 16 via the concertina hose 26 and is delivered into the waste liquid tank 25. The tank 25 is typically removeable so as permit easy disposal in a sink or drain. In the working configuration as illustrated in figure 1, the weight of the machine 10 is shared by the support wheels 15 and the scrubbing attachment 12. The transport wheels 18 are in a raised position, above the scrubbing attachment 12, such that they are not in contact with the floor surface 9. To park the machine 10, the front housing portion 19 and can be shifted downwards to cause the transport wheels 18 to deploy to contact the floor surface. As described in greater detail below, the support wheels 15 are arranged to concurrently deploy along with the front transport wheels 18 by means of arms, pivots and cams. In the parked (or vertical lift) configuration as illustrated in figure 2, all four wheels (15, 18) act to keep the scrubbing attachment 12 off the floor surface 9. The present invention provides a vertical lock for the floor scrubbing machine 10 as described below. The vertical lock comprises a parking mechanism and a locking mechanism. To effect the parking and locking mechanisms, a user places a downward pressure, for example by foot, onto a pedal 50 as indicated by arrow A in figure 1, and whilst maintaining pressure on the pedal 50, the user pushes the handle 21 in a horizontally backwards direction, i.e. as indicated by arrow B in figure 1. The downwards pressure on the pedal 50 causes the transport wheels 15 and the support wheels 15 to concurrently deploy thereby to move the machine 10 into the parked configuration, and the backwards push on the handle 21 causes the locking mechanism to deploy, thereby to lock the machine 10 in the parked configuration. The downwards pressure applied to the pedal 50 acts to urge the front portion 19 of the housing 14, and the transport wheels 18, to be shifted downwardly towards the floor surface. The transport wheels 18 are thereby caused to contact the floor surface 9. Downwards pressure applied to pedal 50 also causes the base portion 11 to move in a forward arcing motion, as indicated by arrow C in figure 4. The arcing motion is achieved by four cooperating pivots, comprising a first pivot 31, a second pivot 32, a third pivot 33, and a fourth pivot 34. Referring to figures 5 and 6, a generally H-shaped dual-armed member 44, comprising a first arm 35 and a second, relatively shorter arm 36, abuts the pedal 50. The first pivot 31 passes through an end of the first arm 35 proximate the pedal 50, and the third pivot 33 passes through a distal end of the first arm 35 remote from the pedal 50. Referring to figures 4 and 5, the second pivot 32 passes through an upper portion of a side arm of the front support 39, and through an upper member 46 to which the pedal 50 is connected. The fourth pivot 34 passes through a lower portion of the side arm of the front support 39, and through a lower member 47 which abuts an end of the second arm 36 of the H-shaped member 44. Referring back to figures 5 and 6, the second arm 36 of the H-shaped member 44 is linked to a first end of a connecting arm 38 via a rotary connection 37. When downwards pressure is applied to the pedal 50, contact between abutting curved surfaces of the upper member 47, the H-shaped member 44, the lower member 47, and the rotary connection 37, causes rotation of these components about the respective pivot points. The H-shaped member 44 is caused it to arc generally downwardly and towards the front of the machine 10 (i.e. to the left in the orientation of the figures). The connecting arm 38 is thereby also caused to move generally towards the front of the machine 10. Figure 7 shows part of the base portion 11 including a rear wheel cam assembly 60, when the machine 10 is in a working configuration. Figure 8 shows part of the base portion 11 including the cam assembly 60, when the machine 10 is in a parked configuration. Referring to figures 7 and 8, a second end of the connecting arm 38, remote from the H-shaped member 44, is linked to the cam assembly 60. The cam assembly 60 comprises a generally triangular shaped member 62. The second end of connecting arm 38 is linked to the cam assembly 60 at a connection point 52 passing through the connecting arm 38 and an upper vertex area of the triangular shaped member 62. The cam assembly 60 has a central point of rotation 64 at a middle vertex area of the triangular shaped member 62. The cam assembly 60 further comprises a wheel axle 66, connected to a lower vertex area of the triangular member 62. The support wheels 15 are connected to the wheel axle 66. When downwards pressure applied to the pedal 50 causes the connecting arm 38 to move towards the front of the machine 10 as described above, a corresponding movement is caused to the upper vertex area of the triangular member 62, via the connection 52. The triangular member 62 is thereby caused to rotate (in an anticlockwise direction in the orientation of the figures), about the point of rotation 64. The lower vertex area of the triangular member 62, and therefore also the wheel axle 66, is thereby caused to move downwardly and towards the rear of the machine 10 (i.e. to the right in the orientation of the figures), i.e. the wheel axle 66 and the support wheels 15 are caused to move from their working configuration position of figure 7, to their parked configuration position of figure 8. Figure 9 shows the base portion 11 when the machine is in the parked, or vertical lift configuration, i.e. after downwards pressure applied to the pedal 50 has acted to urge the front housing portion 19 downwardly thereby to deploy to the transport wheels 18 to contact the floor 9, and simultaneously to urge the support wheels 15 downwardly. The scrubbing attachment 12 has been lifted vertically clear of the floor surface 9, and all of, or substantially all of, the weight of machine is shared between the four wheels 15, 18. Referring to figures 9 to 12D, a locking system 70 in accordance with the present invention acts to lock a machine 10 in a parked configuration. The locking mechanism 70 is effected by applying pressure to the handle 21, horizontally in a backward direction, i.e. in direction B of figure 1, whist maintaining a downwards pressure on the pedal 50 as described above. As illustrated in figure 10, the front housing portion 19 is linked to the bracket shaped front support 39, by a curved rocker member 48. As downwards pressure is applied to the pedal 50 whilst the handle 21 is pushed backwardly, the front support 39 is caused to arc further downwardly. A locking hook 72 of the locking system 70 is connected to the front support 39 via a pivot 74. Downwards arcing of the front support 39 causes an angled surface 73 of the locking hook 72 to contact a top surface of a strike plate 76 of the locking system 70. Progressive further downwards arcing of the front support 39 causes the locking hook 72 to rotate, in a clockwise motion in the orientation of the figures, by virtue of the pivot 74 and contact between the locking hook angled surface 73 and the strike plate 76. Further downwards arcing of the front support 39 causes the angled surface 73 of the locking hook 72 to reach the end of the top surface of the strike plate 76. The locking hook 72 then moves in an anticlockwise direction (in the orientation of the figures), until it locates in a latched position as shown in figure 11D, wherein a tip 71 of the locking hook 72 is latched underneath the strike plate 76. In this position, upwards arcing of the front support 39 is prevented, and upwards movement of the front housing portion 19 is prevented, and the machine 10 is thereby locked in the parked configuration. When the machine 10 is locked in the parked configuration, the user can release the pressure being applied to the pedal 50 and the handle 21. Pressure applied to the handle 21 is only required for a short time period, i.e. in effect the user will push the handle 21 backwards and pull it forwards again in a smooth single back-and-forth motion. Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a vertical lift stabilizer in accordance with the present invention. Once the machine 10 has been moved to the parked I vertical lift configuration, the weight of the machine 10 translates to a horizontal force which unless countered, would result in the bottom of the front of the machine 10 splaying outwardly, i.e. forwardly, in the direction of arrow C in figure 13. To counteract the above potential splaying movement, an additional support bracket 80 is provided. The support backet 80 comprises a curved slot 82, a first pivot 84, and a second pivot 86. A fixing 88 which is rigidly connected to a connecting arm 90, is constrained by, and arranged for limited movement within, the slot 82. In the working configuration, the fixing 88 is at the bottom of the slot 82. During a parking operation, the bracket 80 rotates, with the first pivot 84 rotating about the second pivot 86 in a clockwise direction in the orientation of the figures. Once the machine 10 has reached the fully parked position, the first pivot 84 is prevented from further clockwise rotation about the second pivot 86, which would otherwise result in the front of the base unit 11 splaying outwardly, by the fixing 88 being constrained within the slot 82. In the parked and locked configuration, all of, or substantially all of the weight of the machine rests upon the transport wheels 18 and the support wheels 15. The floor scrubbing attachment 12, and any agitating media such as bristles 13, are held in a horizontally raised position with respect to the wheels 15, 18, and therefore with respect to the floor. The floor scrubbing attachment 12 and bristles 13 are thereby protected from crushing damage which would otherwise be caused be the weight of the machine during storage. In the parked and locked configuration, the machine 10 can be wheeled, via the support wheels 15 and transport wheels 18, from one location to another. As the floor scrubbing attachment 11 and any scrubbing media 13 are in a raised position with respect to the support wheels 15 and transport wheels 18, they are held substantially clear of the floor, and are thereby protected from damage during transportation of the machine 10 between uses. The machine 10 can be moved between the working configuration, and the parked and locked configuration, in a continuous motion. Part-way through this continuous motion, the rear of the machine 10 is tilted slightly upwards, until the final parked and locked configuration where it rests in a horizontal position. This is illustrated by way of example in the sequence of figures 19A to 19C. Figure 19A illustrates the base portion 11 when the machine is in a working configuration, i.e. ready for normal use of the machine in a floor cleaning operation. Figure 19B illustrates the base portion 11 when the machine is part-way through a parking and locking operation, showing the rear of the machine tilted slightly upwardly. Figure 19C illustrates the base portion 11 when the machine is in a fully parked and locked configuration. The continuous motion operation, to move the machine 10 from the working configuration of Figure 19A, to the fully parked and locked configuration of Figure 19C, may take for example, 1 second. To return the machine 10 from the parked and locked configuration to the working configuration ready for the next use of the machine in a floor cleaning operation, a user pushes, for example by foot, on the front support 39 of the base unit 11. The locking mechanism is thereby caused to disengage, i.e. the tip 71 of the locking hook 72 disengages from underneath the strike plate 76. The transport wheels 18 are lifted from the floor surface 9 as the front support 39 and the front housing portion 19 are raised. This movement also acts to lift the support wheels 15 from the floor surface 9, via the four cooperating pivots causing the connecting arm 38 to move generally towards the rear of the machine, i.e. to the right in the orientation of the figures, thereby lifting, via the cam assembly 60, the wheel axle 66 on which the supporting wheels 15 are supported. The machine 10 is then ready for re-use in a floor cleaning operation. Figures 15 to 18 illustrate a squeegee suction collector assembly lift mechanism in accordance with the present invention, which enables the squeegee suction collector assembly 16 to be moved between a lowered position and a raised position, independently of the movement of other components of the machine 10. Figure 15 illustrates the squeegee assembly 16 in the lowered position. The blades 17 of the squeegee assembly 16 are in line with the support wheels 15. The blades 17, supported by trailing rollers 30, trail behind the floor scrubbing attachment 12 to entrain and draw dirty cleaning liquid disposed on the floor surface into the waste liquid tank of the machine during use of the machine in a floor cleaning operation. Figure 16 illustrates the squeegee assembly 16 part-way through a lifting operation, i.e. the squeegee assembly 16 is part-way between the lowered position and the raised position. Figure 17 illustrates the squeegee assembly 16 in the raised position, wherein the assembly 16 including the blades 17 has been lifted clear of the floor surface 9, i.e. to a position horizontally higher than the support wheels 15. To move the squeegee assembly 16 from the lowered position to the raised position, a user lifts the assembly 16 upwardly. The squeegee assembly 16 is connected to the rest of the base unit 11 by an arm 90 and pivots 91, 92 which enable the upward movement of the squeegee assembly 16. The squeegee assembly 16 comprises a pin 93 which is rigidly connected to the arm 90, and is arranged for restrained movement within a track defined by a curved slot 94. As the squeegee assembly 16 is lifted upwards, the pin 93 glides upwards along the track until it contacts a snap 95 feature comprising a bump 96, and subsequent upward movement of the assembly 16 causes the pin 93 to locate above the bump 96. The snap feature 95 and bump 96 are configured so as to maintain the squeegee assembly 16 in the raised assembly against the weight of the assembly 16, i.e. the bump 96 prevents the pin 93 from moving back downwardly along the slot 94, thus preventing the arm 90 and thereby the squeegee assembly 16 from returning to the lowered position. As above, the weight of the assembly 16 is not sufficient to cause the overcome the location of the pin 93 above the bump 96. When it is required to return the squeegee assembly 16 from the raised position to the lowered position ready for use of the machine in floor cleaning operation, a user applies force, for example by foot, to the top of the squeegee assembly 16, i.e. in the direction of arrow D in figure 17. The force supplied by the user is sufficient to cause the snap feature 95 to flex (generally to the left in the orientation of the figures) within the slot 94, and cause the pin 93 to disengage from above the bump 96 and move downwardly within the slot 94. The squeegee assembly 16 is thereby moved, via the connecting arm 90 and pivots 91, 92, to the lowered position.

Claims

1. A hand-guided floor treatment machine comprising a base portion which carries at least one motor-driven floor-facing treatment tool, and an elongate upright handle portion which has an upper end region provided with a hand grip for guiding the machine in a working direction, the machine further comprising a parking mechanism which is operable to concurrently move a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels downwardly with respect to the floor-facing treatment tool, thereby to move the machine from a working configuration, to a parked configuration in which the floor-facing treatment tool is located in a raised position with respect to the first set of wheels and a second set of wheels.

2. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking mechanism is operable via an actuator comprising a pedal, wherein the machine is moved from the working configuration to the parked configuration by application of a downward force to the pedal.

3. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the parking mechanism comprises multiple cooperating pivots which enable an arcing motion of the base portion which moves the machine from the working configuration and the parked configuration.

4. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claims 2 and 3, wherein the multiple pivots comprise:a first pivot which passes through an end of a first arm of a dual armed member proximate the pedal;a second pivot which passes through an upper portion of a side arm of a front support and through an upper member to which the pedal is connected;a third pivot which passes through a distal end of the first arm remote from the pedal; anda fourth pivot which passes through a lower portion of the front support and through a lower member which abuts an end of a second arm of the dual-armed member;and wherein the second arm of the dual armed member is linked via a rotary connection to a first end of a connecting arm, and a second end of the connecting arm is linked to a cam assembly including a wheel axle carrying the first set of wheels.

5. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 the wherein the second set of wheels is directly connected to the pedal such that the application of downward pressure to the pedal causes the second set of wheels to deploy.

6. A floor treatment machine as claimed any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a locking mechanism for releasably locking the machine in the parked configuration.

7. Afloor treatment machine as claimed in claim 2 and claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism is actuated by a horizontal force to the handle portion in an opposite direction the working direction, applied simultaneously to the downwards force applied to the pedal.

8. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pivotable locking hook and a strike plate, wherein pivoting of the locking hook cause a tip of the locking hook to latchingly engage underneath the strike plate.

9. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a stabilizer configured to counteract a horizontal force translated from a weight of the machine in the parked configuration which urges a bottom of a front of the machine in the working direction.

10. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein the stabilizer comprises a support bracket rotatable about a first stabilizer pivot and a second stabilizer pivot, and a fixing, connected to a connecting arm and constrained by and arranged for limited movement within a slot of the support bracket, and wherein when the machine is in the working configuration, the fixing is at a bottom of the slot, and when the machine is in the parked configuration, the fixing is at a top of the slot, and the first stabilizer pivot is prevented from further rotation about the second stabilizer pivot by the fixing being constrained within the slot.

11. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the floor-facing treatment tool comprises a disc-shaped tool.

12. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the floor-facing treatment tool comprises an agitating medium.

13. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle portion is provided with a cleaning liquid reservoir and wherein means are provided for delivering cleaning liquid to the floor tool to provide wet cleaning.

14. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the machine is provided with a waste liquid collection tank and a suction collector for lifting waste liquid from the floor and conveying the waste liquid to the collection tank.

15. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein the suction collector comprises a floor-facing trailing squeegee collector assembly disposed behind the floor tool or tools in the normal direction of cleaning.

16. Afloor treatment machine as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a squeegee lift mechanism which enables the wherein the squeegee collector assembly is moveable between a lowered position wherein the squeegee collector assembly is supported by rollers on a floor surface, and a raised position wherein the squeegee collector is in a horizontally raised position relative to the first set of wheels.

17. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein the squeegee collector assembly is connected to the base unit via a squeegee assembly connection arm and pivots, and wherein the squeegee lift mechanism comprises a pin rigidly connected to the squeegee assembly connection arm, the pin being constrained by and arranged for limited movement within a slot of the squeegee lift mechanism;wherein upward movement of the squeegee assembly causes the pin to move upwardly within the slot and locate above a bump of a snap feature, thereby to maintain the connection arm and squeegee assembly in the raised position.

18. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the squeegee lift mechanism is operable independently of the parking mechanism.

Images