Floor treatment machine

Abstract

A floor treatment machine, such as a floor scrubber drier comprises a body 10 that includes a floor treatment system and an articulated handle 20. The articulated handle is moveable between a stowed configuration in which the handle is stowed on the body and a deployed configuration. A first proximal end of the articulated handle is pivotably coupled to the body about a first pivot axis (27, fig 2). The articulated handle is also movable about a second and a third pivot axis or within at least two different planes to enable deployment and movement of the articulated handle relative to the body. The articulated handle may be rotatable within at least two substantially perpendicular planes to deploy the handle relative to the body.

Description

The present invention relates to a floor treatment machine, such as a floor scrubber drier. Particularly, though not exclusively, the invention provides a floor treatment machine having an articulated handle, which stows away efficiently on the machine and which is deployable to facilitate control and operation of the machine by an operator. Floor treatment machines such as semi-autonomous scrubber driers are designed for use in an autonomous mode and a manual operation mode. Such machines need to incorporate features which facilitate manual use, such as a handle, to enable an operator to guide or control the machine. However, features such as handles are not required when the machine is in autonomous mode, in which a compact streamlined form is preferable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a floor treatment machine with a manual handling option for facilitating manual use of the machine, while maintaining a compact form and efficient manoeuvrability when the machine is cleaning autonomously. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a floor treatment machine comprising: a body configured for movement along a floor surface, wherein the body includes a treatment system for treatment of a floor surface; an articulated handle movable between a stowed configuration, in which the handle is stowed on the body, and a deployed configuration, wherein a first proximal end of the articulated handle is pivotably coupled to the body about a first pivot axis and wherein the articulated handle is movable about a second pivot axis and a third pivot axis to enable deployment and movement of the articulated handle relative to the body. The first proximal end of the articulated handle may be pivotably coupled to the body about a first pivot axis that is substantially parallel to a floor surface. The articulated handle may be pivotable about the first pivot axis such that the handle is movable within a plane substantially perpendicular to the floor surface. The first and second pivot axes may be substantially parallel to each other. The first and second pivot axes may be substantially parallel to the floor surface in use. The third pivot axis may be substantially perpendicular to the first and second pivot axes. The third pivot axis may intersect the second pivot axis. The articulated handle may be rotatable within at least two different planes to deploy and / or move the handle relative to the body. The planes within which the articulated handle is movable may be substantially perpendicular. The body may comprise a recess for at least partially accommodating the articulated handle in the stowed configuration such that the articulated handle forms at least part of an external surface of the machine. The recess may be shaped to correspond to the shape and dimensions of the articulated handle when in the stowed configuration. The articulated handle may be at least partially contiguous with an external surface of the body in the stowed configuration. The articulated handle may be foldable into two substantially orthogonal segments in the stowed configuration. The articulated handle may comprise at least three handle portions. Each handle portion may be connected and movable relative to an adjoining handle portion. Each handle portion may be substantially orthogonal relative to the adjoining handle portion(s) in the deployed configuration. At least two of the handle portions may be alignable in parallel relation such that the articulated handle is foldable in the stowed configuration. At least two of the handle portions may have an actuator disposed therebetween to actuate pivotal movement between the stowed and deployed configurations. At least one of the handle portions may be biased into the deployed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the articulated handle can be T-shaped. Alternatively, one or more of the handle portions may comprise an arcuate external-facing surface. The arcuate surface of at least one of the handle portions may be shaped to match the curve of the external surface of the machine such that the handle is substantially contiguous with the body in the stowed configuration. The articulated handle may be formed from three handle portions: an arm portion, a central handle portion and a handle grip portion. Opposing ends of the central handle portion may be pivotally connected to the arm portion and the handle grip portion via the respective second and third pivot axes. The first proximal end of the arm portion may be pivotally coupled to the body rotatable about the first axis and a second distal end of the arm portion may be pivotally connected about the second pivot axis to a lower end of the central portion. The arm portion may be pivotable about the first pivot axis through at least 90 degrees to move between the stowed and deployed configurations. The central portion may be pivotable about the second pivot axis through around 90 degrees to move between the stowed and deployed configurations. The arm portion and the central portion may be pivotable about the second axis such that they are foldable into parallel alignment in the stowed configuration and pivotable into orthogonal relation in the deployed configuration. The arm portion and the central portion may have an actuator disposed therebetween to actuate pivotal movement of the arm and the central portion between the stowed and deployed configurations. The actuator may comprise an extension member to urge the central portion into orthogonal relationship with the arm portion in the deployed configuration. The actuator may comprise a gas strut. At least one of the arm portion and the central portion may have a recessed inner surface to at least partially accommodate the actuator between the folded handle portions in the stowed configuration. Thus, the invention may enable the articulated handle to move outwardly (away from the body of the machine) and upwardly (away from the floor surface) from the stowed to the deployed configuration. The articulated handle may be movable inwardly (towards the body of the machine) and downwardly (towards the floor surface) from the deployed to the stowed configuration. The arm portion and the central portion may be substantially elongate members. The shape of the external face of the central member may be configured such that the central member is substantially contiguous with an external surface of the body in the stowed configuration. An upper end of the central handle portion may be pivotally coupled to a substantially central region of the handle grip portion such that the handle grip portion is rotatable about the third axis. The third axis may be substantially perpendicular to the floor surface. The handle grip portion may be rotatable through an arc of around 270 degrees about the third axis. The handle grip portion may be an arcuate elongate member such that an outer surface of the handle grip portion conforms with the contours of an external surface of the body in the stowed configuration. The floor treatment machine may comprise a power source to provide power to electric components of the machine. The handle portions may be at least partially hollow to enable a power supply line to be routed therethrough. The power supply line may connect the power source to one or more powered components such as switches or controls. The hand grip portion of the articulated handle may comprise electric controls or switches requiring power. The handle grip portion may comprise electric switches and / or powered controls for steering and / or activation of the treatment system. The handle grip portion may be provided with switches and / or controls for controlling the machine, wherein the controls and / or switches are disposed on an inner surface of the handle grip portion when in the stowed configuration. A safety switch may be provided towards each end of the handle grip portion. The machine may be configured such that it is actuable via the articulated handle only when at least one of the safety switches are depressed by an operator in use. The articulated handle may be biased into the deployed configuration. The handle may be retained against its biased state in the stowed configuration. The articulated handle may be lockable in the stowed configuration. One or more deployment controls may be provided to release the articulated handle to allow movement of the handle between stowed and deployed configurations. The articulated handle may have a secondary function in the stowed configuration and may act as a locking member against the body. The floor treatment machine may be provided for the purpose of treating / cleaning a floor surface. The floor treatment machine may be a floor scrubber drier. The floor treatment machine may be an autonomous or semi-autonomous floor treatment machine. The stowed configuration may correspond to a non-operational mode where the articulated handle is provided on a manually operable floor treatment machine. Alternatively, the stowed configuration may correspond to an autonomous mode and a non-operational mode where the articulated handle is provided on a semi-autonomous or an autonomous floor treatment machine. The floor treatment machine may comprise travel means mounted towards a lower portion of the body for facilitating movement over a floor surface. The travel means may comprise at least one wheel, ball, roller or skid to enable the floor treatment machine to travel over a floor surface. The travel means may be drivable. For example, the travel means may be powered by a motor. The treatment system may comprise at least one of the following systems: a fluid delivery and distribution system, an agitation or scrubbing system, and / or a suction and waste recovery system. The body may comprise a housing configured to at least partially contain the treatment assembly within. The housing may comprise a recess for at least partially accommodating the articulated handle in the stowed configuration. The housing may be formed from a lightweight rigid plastic and may comprise a plurality of moulded plastic portions. The articulated handle may be at least partially contiguous with the housing in the stowed configuration. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a floor treatment machine comprising: a body having a treatment system for treatment of a floor surface and a handle-receiving recess; an articulated handle movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the articulated handle is pivotable within at least two different planes to move between the stowed configuration and the deployed configurations; and wherein the articulated handle is at least partially stowable within the handle-receiving recess and wherein the handle forms part of an exterior of the machine body in the stowed configuration. Each aspect of the invention may be combined with any other aspect, feature or embodiment described in the specification or shown in the figures. Embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a floor treatment machine according to the invention showing a handle in a stowed configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the floor treatment machine of figure 1 with the handle in a transitional configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the floor treatment machine of figure 1 with the handle in a transitional configuration; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the floor treatment machine of figure 1 with the handle in a deployed configuration. According to a first embodiment of the invention, a floor treatment machine is shown generally at 10 in the form of a semi-autonomous compact wet floor scrubber drier. The machine 10 has a main body which includes a plurality of internal components (not shown) for autonomous movement and cleaning a floor surface. The internal components include: a power source in the form of batteries; a fluid delivery and distribution system having a pump and a cleaning fluid tank; a suction I waste recovery system having a waste fluid tank, a suction source, and a squeegee collector; an agitation system, having powered workheads with associated motors; and a processor, sensors and other onboard electronic equipment. The structure and operation of these systems is conventional and understood by a person of skill in the art. The body of the machine also carries drivable wheels 12 to enable the machine 10 to travel over a floor surface. The body has an external surface 11, which is substantially cylindrical in shape with curved edges to give a streamlined appearance. The external surface 11 includes a T-shaped recess 13 which includes a substantially horizontal portion 19 and a substantially vertical portion 18, which joins the centre of the horizontal portion 19. The housing 11 has a handle actuator button 15 (seen in figure 1) disposed centrally above the recess 13. The recess 13 houses a deployable articulated handle shown generally at 20. The machine 10 is shown with the handle 20 in a stowed configuration in figure 1. The exterior of the handle 20 conforms with the curvature of the external surface 11 of the body in the stowed configuration. The articulated handle 20 includes three portions: an arm portion 28 pivotable about a first pivot axis 27, an upright central handle portion 25 pivotable about a second pivot axis, and a handle grip or crossbar portion 26 pivotable about a third axis (see figures 2 to 4). The handle portions 28, 25, 26 are elongate hollow members. A power line and wires are accommodated within the hollow bore of the handle portions 28, 25, 26 to supply power and enable the handle 20 to carry switches and controls. A first proximal end of the arm portion 28 is pivotally mounted to the body in a central region of the horizontal portion 19 of the recess 13. The proximal end of the arm portion 28 is pivotally movable through approximately 90 degrees about the pivot point or first axis 27. A second distal end of the arm portion 28 is pivotally connected to the upright central handle portion 25. A gas strut 21 disposed between the arm portion 28 and the central handle portion 25. The gas strut 21 is accommodated and movable within recesses located on internal facing surfaces of the arm and upright portions 28, 25. The handle actuator button 15 can be depressed to release the handle 20 thereby allowing the arm portion 28 to pivot about the first axis 27 while the gas strut 21 urges the arm portion 28 and the central handle portion 25 into orthogonal relationship to initiate deployment of the handle 20. An upper end of the central handle portion 25 joins a central part of the crossbar portion 26. The crossbar portion 26 is in the form of an elongate arcuate handle grip. The crossbar portion 26 has a radius of curvature that conforms with an external surface 11 of the body. In particular, the crossbar portion 26 is shaped to locate within the horizontal portion 19 of the recess 13 in the stowed configuration such that the external outer radius of curvature matches the external surface 11 of the body. Advantageously, this creates a machine 10 with a streamlined exterior and a favourable aesthetic as well as reducing extraneous protruding features that could potentially catch I snag when the machine 10 is operational in an autonomous mode and the handle 20 is stowed on the machine 10. The crossbar portion 26 is biased into a deployed position in which ends of the curved hand grips face in an opposing direction away from the body of the machine 10. The crossbar portion 26 has a centrally disposed handle lock 22 which is actuable (by lifting and / or holding) to permit rotation of the crossbar portion 26 through a maximum of 270 degrees. Mechanical stops (not shown) constrain movement of the crossbar portion 26 within pre-determined limits to protect the wiring loom and power line disposed within the hollow handle portions. Once the operator releases the handle lock 22, the crossbar portion 26 is locked into position. The crossbar portion 26 further comprises a safety switch 24a, 24b located towards each end of the crossbar 26. The safety switches 24a, 24b must be depressed in order to allow manual operation of the machine. The dual switches 24a, 24b allow for left-handed, right-handed and double-handed operation of the machine 10 when using the handle 20. A joystick control 23 is located substantially centrally on a user facing surface of the crossbar portion 26 between one safety switch 24a and the handle lock 22. A control button 29 is located substantially centrally on the user facing surface of the crossbar portion 26 between the other safety switch 24b and the handle lock 22. The articulated handle 20 is movable between the stowed configuration of figure 1 and a fully deployed configuration (shown in figure 4). In the stowed configuration, the handle 20 is fully accommodated within the recess 13 in the housing 11. Thus, in the stowed configuration, external faces of the upright central portion 25 and the crossbar portion 26 form part of the exterior of the machine 10. The handle 20 occupies the stowed configuration since the arm portion 28 and upright portion 25 are aligned in parallel relationship with the gas strut 21 compressed therebetween. Furthermore, in the stowed configuration, the handle 20 acts as a secondary lock against the body to restrict access to one or more of the internal components of the machine 10. In order to initiate deployment of the articulated handle 20, an operator depresses the actuator button 15. Depression of the actuator button 15 initiates deployment by allowing the arm portion 28 to pivot around the first pivot axis 27 and actuation of the gas strut 21 to move the arm portion 28 and the upright central handle portion 25 into an orthogonal relationship. The arm portion 28 pivots through 90 degrees to extend the handle 20 upwardly and outwardly away from the machine 10. In order to move the handle 20 into the fully deployed position, the operator lifts and holds the handle lock 22. This action automatically causes rotation of the crossbar portion 26 through 180 degrees such that the hand grips towards each end of the crossbar portion 26 are proximate the operator. Once in the fully deployed configuration the handle 20 is disposed to allow manual operation of the machine 10. In a cleaning or operational configuration, the handle 20 is grasped by an operator who depresses one or both of the safety switches 24a, 24b to operate the machine 10. The joystick 23 provides directional control and the cleaning control 29 enables an operator to control the cleaning. In use, when an operator needs to clean alongside a wall or other vertical surface, the crossbar portion 26 can move the articulated handle 20 into a different position to enable the operator to continue to operate the machine 10 as required but without risking contact between their near hand and the wall or other vertical surface. The described embodiments all provide a floor treatment machine 10 with practical manual handling and optimised manoeuvrability when the handle 20 is in the deployed configuration. The articulated handle 20 is free-floating, self-supporting to account for different operator heights. A reverse process to that described above may be followed in order to move the articulated handle 20 from the deployed to the stowed configuration. Typically, the handle 20 is retained in the stowed configuration when the machine 10 is not in use or when the machine 10 is operating in autonomous mode. According to an alternative embodiment, the machine 10 could be a user operable floor treatment machine with a deployable handle 20, enabling compact storage of the articulated handle 20 in the stowed configuration when the machine 10 is not in use. According to other embodiments, the machine 10 may be powered through connection to a mains power supply. According to other embodiments, the machine 10 may have an external plastic housing in which the recess 13 for accommodating the handle is formed. Modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Relative terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, and / or “upright” are used for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A floor treatment machine comprising:a body configured for movement along a floor surface, wherein the body includes a treatment system for treatment of a floor surface;an articulated handle movable between a stowed configuration, in which the handle is stowed on the body, and a deployed configuration,wherein a first proximal end of the articulated handle is pivotably coupled to the body about a first pivot axis and wherein the articulated handle is movable about a second pivot axis and a third pivot axis to enable deployment and movement of the articulated handle relative to the body.

2. A floor treatment machine according to claim 1, wherein the articulated handle is pivotable within at least two substantially perpendicular planes to move the handle between the deployed and stowed configurations.

3. A floor treatment machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first and the second pivot axes are substantially parallel to each other and the third pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the first and second pivot axes.

4. A floor treatment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the body comprises a recess for at least partially accommodating the articulated handle in the stowed configuration such that the articulated handle forms at least part of an external surface of the machine.

5. A floor treatment machine according to claim 4, wherein the articulated handle is at least partially contiguous with an external surface of the body in the stowed configuration.

6. A floor treatment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein thearticulated handle is foldable into two substantially orthogonal segments in the stowed configuration.7.A floor treatment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein thearticulated handle comprises three handle portions, and wherein each handle portion is connected and movable relative to the adjoining handle portion(s).

8. A floor treatment machine according to claim 7, wherein least two of the handle portions are alignable in parallel relation in the stowed configuration and have an actuator disposed therebetween to actuate pivotal movement between the stowed and the deployed configurations.

9. A floor treatment machine according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the articulated handle comprises an arm portion, a central portion and a handle grip portion, and wherein the first proximal end of the arm portion is pivotally coupled to the body and the second distal end of the arm portion is connected to one end of the central portion, which is movable about the second pivot axis.

10. A floor treatment machine according to claim 9, wherein the arm portion and the central portion are pivotable about the second axis such that they are foldable into parallel alignment in the stowed configuration and pivotable into orthogonal relation in the deployed configuration.

11. A floor treatment machine according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein a gas strut is disposed between the arm portion and the central portion to actuate movement of the arm and central portions between the stowed and the deployed configurations.

12. A floor treatment machine according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein an upper end of the central handle portion is pivotally coupled to a substantially central region of the handle grip portion such that the handle grip portion is rotatable about the third axis.

13. A floor treatment machine according to claim 12, wherein the third axis is substantially perpendicular to a floor surface and the handle grip portion is rotatable through an arc of around 270 degrees about the third axis.

14. A floor treatment machine according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the handle grip portion is an arcuate elongate member such that an outer surface of thehandle grip portion conforms with the contours of an external surface of the body in the stowed configuration.

15. A floor treatment machine according to any one of claims 9 to 14, whereinthe handle grip portion is provided with controls for controlling the machine, wherein the controls are disposed on an inner surface of the handle grip portion when in the stowed configuration.

16. A floor treatment machine according to any one of claims 9 to 15, whereina safety switch is provided towards each end of the handle grip portion and wherein the machine is configured such that it is actuable via the articulated handle only when at least one of the safety switches are depressed by an operator in use.

17. A floor treatment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein thearticulated handle is biased into the deployed configuration.

18. A floor treatment machine according to any preceding claim, wherein thearticulated handle has a secondary function in the stowed configuration as a locking member to act as a lock for the body.

19. A floor treatment machine for treating a floor surface, the floor treatment machine comprising:a body having a treatment assembly for treatment of a floor surface and a handle-receiving recess; andan articulated handle movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the articulated handle is pivotable within at least two different planes to move between the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration, andwherein the articulated handle is at least partially stowable within the recess and forms part of an exterior of the machine body in the stowed configuration.

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