Battery compartment for an upright floor treatment machine

Abstract

A handle portion 2 for an upright floor treatment machine such as a scrubber dryer comprises a main body 4, a tank assembly 6 mounted to the main body and comprising one or more liquid tanks and a battery compartment 18 comprising a sidewall or sidewalls. The battery compartment being movable between an open position (fig 8) allowing access to an interior chamber of the compartment and a closed position (fig 9). The battery compartment is configured such that it is moveable between the open and closed positions whilst the tank assembly is mounted to the main body.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of floor treatment machines and in particular to upright wet vacuuming machines, wet carpet cleaning machines or wet floor scrubbing machines. These machines typically include a battery, and a tank assembly comprising a clean water supply tank and a dirty water collection tank. The tank assembly and the battery may be provided in a handle portion of the machine, which may be pivotable in use. The battery is removable so that it can be replaced or recharged. The present invention seeks to provide improved battery storage and access in such machines. In known upright floor treatment machines, it is preferable for fitting and removal to be possible by an operator in a one-handed operation, leaving the operator’s other hand to steady the machine to prevent it falling over. However, single-handed fitting or removal of the battery firstly requires the tank assembly to be removed, to provide access to the battery. When the tank assembly is removed, and / or when the clean water supply tank is refilled or the dirty water collection tank emptied, there is a risk of water splashing onto the battery, thereby potentially causing damage or failure of the battery. It is an aim of the present invention to provide for simplified fitting and removal of a battery, and for protection of a battery from impact damage and / or splashing water. According to a first aspect the present invention provides a handle portion for an upright floor treatment machine, the handle portion comprising; a main body; a tank assembly mounted to the main body and comprising one or more liquid tanks; and a battery compartment comprising a side wall or side walls; the battery compartment being movable between an open position allowing access to an interior chamber of the compartment, and a closed position; wherein the battery compartment is configured such that it is moveable between the open and closed positions whilst the tank assembly is mounted to the main body. The battery compartment can be opened or closed by an operator whilst the tank assembly is in situ, i.e. it is not necessary to remove the tank assembly in order to install or remove the battery. The present invention thereby enables a simpler and faster process of installing or removing a battery. The battery open compartment may form a chute for receiving a battery by vertical entry. The battery compartment may be pivotable between the open position and the closed position. The battery compartment may be pivotable about a transverse pivot axis. The battery compartment may project from the body portion in a forward direction when pivoted to the open position. The battery compartment may comprise a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposed sidewalls. The transverse pivot axis may extend substantially parallel to a section of the front wall and to a section of the rear wall, and may be located part way between the front wall and the rear wall. A projection of the battery compartment from the main body when the battery compartment is open is thereby minimised. The battery compartment may be biased towards the open position, and a releasable locking mechanism may be provided for maintaining the battery compartment in the closed position. The battery compartment will therefore automatically move to the open position on release of the locking mechanism, providing easier access for an operator. The locking mechanism may comprise a self-latching latch and a release handle for disengaging the self-latching latch. The release handle may be accessible from an exterior of the handle portion. An operator may conveniently use the release handle single-handedly to allow the battery compartment to open. In the closed position, the battery compartment may comprise a fully enclosed chamber. A battery can therefore be secured within the chamber, and protected against impact and against water ingress which may occur for example when removing, emptying or filling the water tanks. A top of the chamber may be provided by an internal surface of the main body. An opening may be provided in a front face of the main body, the opening being dimensioned so as to closely receive the battery compartment. The battery compartment may open forwardly and downwardly with respect to the main body. The handle portion may further comprise a stop feature, configured to limit how far the battery compartment can open. The stop feature could comprise a support arm attached to the main body, and a hooked portion attached a wall of the battery 5 compartment. Interaction between the support arm and the hooked portion can thereby prevent the battery compartment from opening too far and / or disengaging from the main body. The handle portion may further comprise an elongate generally vertical stem, and the battery compartment and the tank assembly may be arranged to accommodate the stem. For example, the rear wall of the battery compartment may comprise a recessed portion for accommodating the stem when the battery compartment is in the closed position. A compact configuration of the handle portion is thereby enabled. A front region of the battery compartment may lie flush with the main body when in the closed position. The battery compartment may be disposed at a lower region of the main body, below the tank assembly. The battery is relatively heavy, therefore the handle portion is more stable during use when the battery is low down, especially when the handle portion is joined by an articulated joint with a floor-facing tool. The battery compartment may further comprise guide means configured to aid slidable insertion of a battery into the battery compartment. For example, the guide means could comprise an inside front face of the battery compartment, configured to permit slidable insertion of a battery into the battery compartment. The guide means could additionally or alternatively comprise guide ribs provided on an inside surface of the battery compartment. The guide means can aid insertion or removal of a battery by an operator. Electrical contacts may be provided on a tray at a base of the battery compartment. When a battery is located within the battery compartment, battery electrical contacts provided on an underside of the battery may engage the electrical contacts provided on the tray. An electrical connection between the battery and the handle portion can therefore be maintained by the weight of the battery. In a further aspect the present invention provides an upright floor treatment machine comprising a handle portion in accordance with the first aspect, and a base portion comprising a floor-facing tool. The machine may be configured and arranged as a scrubber dryer machine. The handle portion may be pivotable, with respect to the base portion, forwards or backwards about a first axis and side to side about a second, perpendicular axis. The handle portion may be rendered pivotable by means of two mutually perpendicular articulations which join a lower portion of the stem to the floor-facing tool. This forms a universal joint which permits steering of the machine during use. Following is a description by way of example only of one mode for putting the invention into effect. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a handle portion in accordance with the present invention, with the battery compartment closed; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the handle portion of figure 1 with the battery compartment open and empty; Figures 3 to 5 are isometric partial views of the handle portion of figure 1 with the battery compartment open and empty; Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the handle portion of figure 1; Figure 7 is an isometric partial view of the handle portion of figure 1 with the battery compartment shown in cross-section, and a battery; Figure 8 is an isometric view of the handle portion of figure 1 with the battery compartment open and a battery being inserted; Figure 9 is an isometric view of the handle portion of figure 1 with a battery in the battery closed battery compartment; and Figure 10 is a side view of a floor treatment machine in accordance with the present invention. Referring to the figures, a floor treatment machine 100 comprises a handle portion 2, comprising a main body 4 mounted towards a lower end of an elongate stem 8, which is generally vertical when the handle portion 2 is in an upright position. Handles 10 are provided at an upper end of the stem 8. The stem 8 of the handle portion 2 is pivotably connected to a base portion 108 comprising a work head 110. The main body 4 of the handle portion 2 comprises a tank assembly 6, comprising a clean water supply tank and a dirty water collection tank. The battery compartment 18 is provided towards a lower end of the main body 4, below the tank assembly 6 (in the orientation of the figures). The main body 4 is provided with an opening 14 for receiving the battery compartment 18. The main body opening 14 is provided by a cut-out in the front lower end of the main body 4, and is dimensioned so as to closely receive the battery compartment 18. The opening 14 extends across the lower front face of the main body 4, and at least partially across the bottom of the main body 4, i.e. when the battery compartment 18 is in the closed position, the battery compartment base 20 partially defines the bottom of the main body 4. The battery compartment 18 thereby has clearance to open forwardly and downwardly with respect to the main body 4. The battery compartment 18 comprises a base 20, a front wall 22, a rear wall 24, and two opposed side walls 26, 28, extending between the front and rear walls. The battery compartment 18 is configured to hold a battery (indicated as 80 in figures 7 and 8), and is moveable from an open position (as shown in figures 2 to 8) to a closed position (as shown in figures 1 and 9), and vice versa. A top edge of each of the battery compartment side walls 26, 28 is provided with a recessed portion 30, 32 towards the rear wall 24, i.e. a height of the wall 26 or 28 at the recessed portion 30, 32 is less than a height of the wall 26 or 28 which is closer to the front wall 22. The recessed portions 30, 32 allow the battery compartment 18 to move freely between the closed and open positions. The battery compartment front wall 22 comprises a substantially flat section 22a, and two curved sections, 22b, 22c either side of the flat section 22a. The front wall 22 is therefore shaped similarly to the surrounding walls of the main body 4. The battery compartment rear wall 24 comprises a mid-section 24a which is recessed into the chamber with respect to two side sections 24b, 24c. The recessed mid-section 24a accommodates the stem 8 of the handle portion 2 when the battery compartment 18 is in the closed position. A releasable locking mechanism, comprising self-latching latches 40 and a release handle 42, is provided at a top of the front wall 22. When engaged, the self-latching latches 40 engage with receiving apertures (not visible) in the main body 4 to maintain the battery compartment 18 in a closed position. To insert a battery 80 into the battery compartment 18, an operator releases the latches 40 via the release handle 42. The operator can disengage the locking mechanism with one hand, as shown schematically in figure 2. The battery compartment 18 is configured to be biased towards the open position when the locking mechanism has been released (with and without a battery 80 present in the compartment 18). Therefore once the operator has released the locking mechanism, the battery compartment 18 pivots, around a transverse pivot axis P-P (figure 1), under its own weight, into the open position. The pivot axis P-P is horizontal (when the handle portion 2 is in an upright orientation), and extends through a point 12 indicated on one side of the main body 4 in the figures, to a correspondingly located point (not visible in the figures) on the other side of the main body 4. The pivot axis P-P is offset from the front wall 22 and the rear wall 24, i.e. it is extends across the compartment 18 part-way between the front and rear walls 22, 24. A stop feature is provided to limit how far the battery compartment 18 can open. The stop feature comprises two support arms 44 (figures 5 and 6) attached to the main body 4, and two hooked portions 46 (one of which is visible in figure 6) attached to the rear wall 24 of the battery compartment 18. The support arms 44 extend internally within the main body 4. When the battery compartment 18 is in the closed position, the support arms 44 extend through openings 48 provided in the rear wall 24 of the battery compartment 18, such that they lie adjacent to the side walls 22b, 22c. The battery compartment 18 can be opened until a downward extending section 46a of each hooked portion 46 contacts an upward extending section 44a of a corresponding support arm 44. The battery compartment 18 is thereby prevented from opening any further by interaction between the support arm 44 and the hooked portion 46. The stop feature therefore prevents the battery compartment 18 from opening too far and / or disengaging from the main body 4. In the fully open position, access to the chamber of the battery compartment 20 is enabled. The battery 80 may be of a type which is provided with a ll-shaped handle 88, attached by hinges to a top 86 of the battery 80. The battery handle 88 is biased into a position flat against the top 86 of the battery 80, and can be lifted by the operator with one hand (as shown schematically in figure 4) when required. The operator inserts the battery 80 into the battery compartment 18 from above. As the battery 80 is inserted, an inside front face 36 of the compartment 18 acts as a guide means; on insertion of the battery 80 it is guided by contact between a front face 82 of the battery 80 and the inside front face 36 of the battery compartment 18. The open battery compartment 18 thereby provides a chute I sloping channel for receiving the battery 80 by vertical entry. Further guide means are provided by angled ribs 54, which extend from internal surfaces of the walls of the battery compartment 18. As the battery 80 is inserted into the battery compartment 18, the ribs 54 act as guides to align the battery 80 with a lower rectangular pocket formed by a tray 50 provided towards the base 20 of the battery compartment 18. When the battery 80 has been fully inserted into the battery compartment 18, battery contacts (not visible) on an underside 84 of the battery 80 engage with electrical contacts 52 (figure 4) on the tray 50, thereby to provide electrical connection between the battery 80 and the handle portion 2. The ribs 54 act to ensure that the battery 80, 5 once inserted into the tray, is in the correct position for the contacts on the battery to be aligned with the contacts on the tray 50. The battery 80 is maintained in place in the battery compartment 18 under its own weight. The operator then pushes the front wall 22 of the battery compartment 18 10 thereby to close it, until the self-latching latches 40 of the locking mechanism reengage into the receiving apertures, to maintain the battery compartment 18 in the closed position. In the closed position, the battery compartment 18 comprises a fully enclosed chamber. The chamber comprises the battery compartment base 20, front and rear walls 22, 24, and side walls 26, 28, and a top of the chamber is provided by an internal surface 16 (indicated on figure 3) of the main body 4. Therefore, a battery 80 within the closed battery compartment 18 is secured and protected within the handle portion 2, i.e. no part of the battery 80 is exposed. In an upright floor treatment machine incorporating the present invention, the handle portion 2 will typically be connected to a base portion comprising a floor-facing tool. During use of the machine in a floor cleaning process, clean water is fed onto the floor from the clean water supply tank, dirty water is lifted by airflow induced to flow through the floor-facing tool, and the air-entrained dirty liquid is dumped into the dirty water collection tank. The handle portion 2 may be pivotable with respect to the base portion, forwards or backwards about a first axis and side to side about a second, perpendicular axis. The handle portion 2 may be rendered pivotable by means of two mutually perpendicular articulations which join a lower portion of the stem 8 to the floor-facing tool. This forms a universal joint which permits steering the machine during use. The battery 80 is heavy, relative to the handle portion 2. The location of the battery compartment 18, and therefore a battery 80, in a lower region of the handle portion 2 increases the stability of the handle portion 2 during use, especially when the handle portion 2 is connected to a machine base portion by an articulated joint. When access is required to remove a battery 80 from the battery compartment 18, the operator can use one hand to release the locking mechanism via the release handle 42. When the locking mechanism has been disengaged, the battery compartment 18 pivots to the open position, allowing the operator to retrieve the battery 80, using one hand to lift the battery 80 via the battery handle 88. The battery 80 can then be replaced with an alternative battery, or the battery compartment 18 can be closed for safe storage whilst the battery 80 is being recharged. The present invention provides secure battery storage within a handle portion of an upright floor treatment machine, and provides an easier access to the battery for removal or replacement. As a battery 80 can be loaded and removed from the battery compartment 18 by one hand, an operator can use their other hand to steady a machine during the loading / removal process. The release handle 42 by which the battery compartment is accessible from the exterior of the handle portion I machine, and the battery compartment 18 houses only the battery 80. Therefore, loading or removal of the battery 80 does not require removal of the tank assembly 6, i.e. battery loading and removal can be undertaken independently of the state of assembly or disassembly of the tank assembly 6. The process of battery loading or removal is thereby simplified. The recessed rear compartment wall 24 which accommodates the stem 8 of the handle portion 2 in the closed position enables a compact configuration of the handle portion 2. Furthermore the location of the pivot axis part way between the front and rear walls 22, 24, minimises a projection of the battery compartment 18 from the main body 4 when the compartment is open. When it is necessary to remove the tank assembly, or to empty the dirty water collection tank or fill the clean water supply tank, the battery 80 can be fully enclosed within the battery compartment 18 and is therefore protected against water splashing from the tank assembly 6. The embodiment of handle portion 2 as described above includes four distinct walls, i.e. two side walls, a front wall and a rear walls. Alternative embodiments of the handle portion 2 of the present invention may comprise a different number of walls. For example, a battery compartment having a circular or oval cross-sectional form could comprise a singular side wall.

Claims

1. A handle portion for an upright floor treatment machine, the handle portion comprising;a main body;a tank assembly mounted to the main body and comprising one or more liquid tanks; anda battery compartment comprising a sidewall or sidewalls;the battery compartment being movable between an open position allowing access to an interior chamber of the compartment, and a closed position;wherein the battery compartment is configured such that it is moveable between the open and closed positions whilst the tank assembly is mounted to the main body.

2. A handle portion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the open battery compartment forms a chute for receiving a battery by vertical entry.

3. A handle portion as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the battery compartment is pivotable between the open position and the closed position.

4. A handle portion as claimed in claim 3 wherein the battery compartment is pivotable between the open and closed positions about a transverse pivot axis.

5. A handle portion as claimed in claim 4 wherein the battery compartment projects from the body portion in a forward direction when pivoted to the open position.

6. A handle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the battery compartment comprises a front wall, a rear wall and two opposed sidewalls.

7. A handle as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the transverse pivot axis extends substantially parallel to a section of the front wall and to a section of the rear wall, and is located part way between the front wall and the rear wall.

8. A handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the battery compartment is biased towards the open position, and wherein a releasable locking mechanism is provided for maintaining the battery compartment in the closed position.

9. A handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein in the closed position, the battery compartment comprises a fully enclosed chamber.

10. A handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an opening is provided in a front face of the main body, the opening being dimensioned so as to closely receive the battery compartment.

11. A handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the battery compartment opens forwardly and downwardly with respect to the main body.

12. A handle portion as claimed in claim 11 further comprising an elongate generally vertical stem, wherein the battery compartment and the tank assembly are arranged to accommodate the stem.

13. A handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a front region of the battery compartment lies flush with the main body when in the closed position.

14. A handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the battery compartment is disposed at a lower region of the main body, below the tank assembly.

15. A handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising guide means configured to aid slidable insertion of a battery into the battery compartment.

16. A handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and a battery; wherein the battery is located within the battery compartment such that battery electrical contacts provided on an underside of the battery engage the electrical contacts provided on a tray at the base of the battery compartment.

17. An upright floor treatment machine comprising a handle portion as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and a base portion comprising a floor-facing tool.

18. A machine as claimed in claim 17 which is configured and arranged as a scrubber dryer machine.

19. A machine as claimed in claim 18 wherein the handle portion is pivotable, with respect to the base portion, forwards or backwards about a first axis and side to side about a second, perpendicular axis.

20. A machine as claimed in claim 19 wherein the handle portion is rendered pivotable by means of two mutually perpendicular articulations which join a lower portion of the stem to the floor-facing tool.16

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