COMBINATION OF CARPET-CLEANING MACHINE
AND PLATFORM FOR TRANSPORTING THE MACHINE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to professional carpet-cleaning machines, particularly to devices for transporting such carpet-cleaning machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the carpet-cleaning industry, professional carpet-cleaners use highly effective machines specially designed for performing heavy-duty cleaning. Examples of such machines are disclosed in United States Patent Nos. 5,086,539 and 5,077,862. These machines typically have a substantial weight which may reach or even exceed seventy pounds. While being very heavy, the construction of such machines does not incorporate any wheels for transportation purposes. Rather, these machines move across carpets by rotation of their scrubbing brushes. However, to transport such machines from their storage location or service truck to the carpeting that needs to be cleaned, the machines are loaded on a wheeled platform and rolled thereon to a desired location.
With some types of previous wheeled platforms one had to pick up the machine to load it on its wheeled platform or to take the machine off the platform. Of course, with the machine's substantial weight, such operation may become rather burdensome and even dangerous, especially for smaller persons and women.
One prior wheeled platform disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,755,006 offered a ramp for pulling a very heavy machine on the platform. Such ramp, however, was very steep and still required substantial effort by the user for pulling the machine up on the platform. Considering the machine's heavy weight, such pulling up remained a very hard task. In addition to the physical difficulty in positioning of the machine on such platform, the repetitive application of the substantial pulling force to a machine handle sometimes resulted in damage to the handle.
Furthermore, in performing professional cleaning, the machine often needs to be moved up or down the stairs. With some previous wheeled platforms, the user had
to pick up and carry the machine up or down the stairs. This made the transportation along the stairs very difficult.
In summary, there is a need for an improved transport platform allowing easier loading of carpet-cleaning machines on their wheeled platforms and facilitating their transportation, including along the stairs.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved combination of a carpet cleaning machine and a transport platform therefor overcoming some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, including those referred to above.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of the machine and the transport platform which allows for easy loading and offloading of the machines on and off the platform.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of the machine and the transport platform with secure holding of the machine thereon.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of the machine and the transport platform which facilitates transportation of the machine up and down the stairs.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of the machine and the transport platform which is designed for restrain movement of the machine on the platform.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of the machine and the transport platform which is designed to substantially avoid deformation of brush bristles of the machine during storage or transportation.
How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention, which will be described in detail below, is an improvement in a platform-carried carpet-cleaning machine for facilitating transport of the machine. The platform is of the type including a machine-supporting base, first and second
sidewalls extending upwardly from the base on either side thereof, a back wall extending from a base back-end between the first and second sidewalls, and a pair of wheels mounted with respect to the base for rolling the machine on the platform across a floor. The base has upper and lower surfaces extending between an open entry-end and a closed back-end. The upper surface has a stowing portion extending from the closed back-end to an entry portion.
The inventive platform for carpet-cleaning machines has the upper surface of the entry portion sloping at no more than about 5 ° with respect to horizontal such that the machine can be driven on and off the platform with application of about the same amount of user force as during carpet-cleaning operations. In some preferred embodiments, the angle is about 3.3 °.
The machine has first and second side panels. In highly preferred
embodiments, the inner surfaces of the first and second platform sidewalls both include protrusions frictionally engaging the machine side panels and configured to sandwich the machine therebetween to prevent lateral movement of the machine on the platform. The protrusion(s) of the inner surfaces of the platform sidewalls are preferably elongate protrusions extending in a fore-to-aft direction.
In preferred embodiments, the first platform sidewall defines a pin-receiving opening. In such embodiments, the machine includes a securing pin which slides horizontally from the first side panel for engagement of the pin-receiving opening in the platform first sidewall. Such pin-and-opening engagement restrains vertical movement of the sandwiched machine on the platform.
The protrusion(s) from the second platform sidewall preferably extend outwardly from the sidewall progressively more toward the aft end(s) thereof. This facilitates the sandwiching of the machine and pressing of the machine first side panel against the platform first sidewall to secure the pin-and-opening engagement.
An important aspect of this invention is that the pair of wheels have a diameter of about the vertical dimension of the platform in resting position. Each wheel preferably extends alongside a corresponding one of the sidewalls and is preferably secured to its corresponding sidewall by an axle extending through such sidewall.
Such wheel dimensioning facilitates movement of the machine on the platform across
uneven pavement. Compared to prior transport machines, the greater diameter of the wheels is most beneficial for moving the machine on the platform up and down the stairs.
In preferred embodiments, the platform base, sidewalls and the back wall are integrally molded as a single piece. It is highly preferred that the axle be non-movably molded in place through the sidewalls to facilitate assembly of the platform. Both wheels are preferably supported by the same axle.
The back wall preferably has an undercut shape to conform to the outer back configuration of the machine. The term "undercut," as used herein, means that the back wall has a shape extending up and over the back of the machine. As a result, the outer back configuration of the machine is securely positioned within such formed undercut cavity. It is further preferred that the back wall has an upper edge defining a cutout which receives an outwardly-extending portion of the machine back
configuration.
Some preferred embodiments of this invention are used with machines of the type including at least one brush having flexible bristles thereon. In such
embodiments, the platform base includes a brush-contact surface. It is highly preferred that a chock extends from the stowing portion of the platform-base upper surface for a sufficient dimension to support the machine such that the brush remains above or at the upper surface. This is desirable in order to prevent significant bending of brush bristles during storage and/or transportation.
In some preferred embodiments, at least one skid-resisting projection extends from the lower surface of the base to facilitate holding of the platform from
unintended backward rolling during driving of the machine onto the platform. It is preferred that a plurality of spaced skid-resisting projections extend from the lower surface. The skid-resisting projections are preferably rubber pieces secured to the lower surface. The securement may be by a screw engagement or in any other suitable manner.
The improved platform of this invention overcomes the problems described above, and provides important advantages for professional carpet-cleaning services.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carpet-cleaning machine on an improved transport platform.
FIGURE 2 is a perspective side view showing rolling of the machine on the platform of FIGURE 1 across a floor.
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the platform.
FIGURE 4 is a side plan view of the platform.
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the platform of FIGURE 3 prior to assembly of wheels and the chock.
FIGURE 6 is a front plan view of the platform as in FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the platform along lines A-A shown in FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view along lines B-B shown in FIGURE 7 and illustrating protrusions of the first platform sidewall.
FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the platform along lines C-C shown in FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view along lines D-D shown in FIGURE 9 and illustrating protrusions of the second platform sidewall.
FIGURE 11 is a side perspective view of the carpet-cleaning machine on the platform.
FIGURE 12 is a perspective view from below of the platform.
FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the platform lower surface showing skid-resisting projections.
FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of the machine from one side.
FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of the machine from the other side.
FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the platform stowing portion showing the chuck extending therefrom.
FIGURE 17 is a perspective view showing the machine on the floor at the platform entry-end.
FIGURE 18 is a perspective view showing the machine partially on the floor and partially on the platform.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The drawings show an improvement in a platform-carried carpet-cleaning machine 1 for facilitating transport of machine 1 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. FIGURES 3-6 best show that a platform 10 includes a machine-supporting base 20, first and second side walls 30 and 40 extending upwardly from base 20 on either side 21 thereof, a back wall 50 extending from a base back-end 22 between first and second sidewalls 30 and 40, and a pair of wheels 60 mounted with respect to base 20 for rolling machine 1 on platform 10 across a floor 100. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 9, base 20 has upper and lower surfaces 23 and 24 extending between an open entry- end 25 and the closed back-end 22. Upper surface 23 has a stowing portion 26 extending from closed back-end 22 to an entry portion 27.
FIGURES 7 and 9 best show that upper surface 23 of entry portion 27 slopes at the angle 13 of about 3.3° with respect to horizontal 12 or floor 100. FIGURES 17 and 18 illustrate how this allows machine 1 to be driven easily on and off platform 10 with application of about the same amount of user force as during carpet-cleaning operations.
Machine 1 has first and second side panels 2 and 3 seen in FIGURES 14 and 15. As best illustrated in FIGURES 7-10, inner surfaces 31 and 41 of first and second platform sidewalls 30 and 40 both include protrusions 32 and 42 frictionally engaging machine side panels 2 and 3. Protrusions 32 and 42 are configured to sandwich machine 1 therebetween to prevent lateral movement of machine 1 on platform 10. FIGURES 7 and 9 also show that protrusions 32 and 42 of inner surfaces 31 and 41 of the platform sidewalls 30 and 40 are elongate protrusions extending in a fore-to-aft direction 14.
FIGURE 1 , 2, 8 and 1 1 show that first platform sidewall 30 defines a pin- receiving opening 33. As best seen in FIGURE 11, machine 1 includes a securing pin 4 which slides horizontally from first side panel 2 for engagement of pin-receiving opening 33. Such pin-and-opening engagement restrains vertical movement of sandwiched machine 1 on platform 10.
It is seen in FIGURE 10 that protrusions 42 of second platform sidewall 40 extend outwardly from sidewall 40 progressively more toward their aft ends 43. This
facilitates the sandwiching of machine 1 and pressing of machine first side panel 2 against platform first sidewall 30 to secure the pin-and-opening engagement.
FIGURES 4 and 1 1 show that pair of wheels 60 have a diameter 61 of about the vertical dimension 16 of platform 10 in resting position. FIGURE 3 best shows that each wheel 60 extends alongside corresponding one of sidewalls 30 and 40 and is secured to its corresponding sidewall 30 or 40 by an axle 18 which extends through such sidewall 30 or 40. Such wheel dimensioning facilitates movement of machine 1 on the platform across uneven pavement or even unpaved regions like gravel driveways or outdoor construction areas which may need to be crossed to access a building for carpet cleaning. Compared to prior transport platforms, such greater diameter of the wheels is also advantageous for moving the machine on the platform up and down the stairs.
As best seen in FIGURES 7 and 9, platform base 20, sidewalls 30 and 40 and back wall 50 form an integrally-molded single plastic piece. Axle 18 which may be made of metal is molded in place through sidewalls 30 and 40 during molding of such single plastic piece. This facilitates assembly of platform 10. Both wheels 60 are supported by same axle 18.
It is further seen in FIGURES 7 and 9 that the molded single piece is a hollow structure such that base lower surface 24 and upper surface 23 are separate walls spaced from each other and joined at entry-end 25. Back wall 50 is formed by inner back wall 51 and outer back wall 52 which together define a space 53 therebetween. FIGURES 7 and 9 show axle 18 extending through space 53 within back wall 50. As seen in FIGURES 8 and 10, each sidewall 30 and 40 is formed by an inner wall 34 and 44 spaced from an outer wall 35 and 45, respectively. Inner walls 34 and 44 have inner surfaces 31 and 41 with protrusions 32 and 42.
FIGURES 3, 5, 7 and 9 best show that back wall 50 has an undercut shape 54 formed by inner back wall 51 which conforms to the outer back configuration 5 of machine 1. When machine 1 is positioned on platform 10, undercut shape 54 and outer back configuration 5 are in somewhat mating engagement with each other which further facilitates securement of machine 1 on platform 10. Back wall 50 has an upper
edge 55 defining a cutout 56 which receives an outwardly-extending portion 6 of machine back configuration 5, as seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 1 1.
Machine 1, as shown in FIGURES 14 and 15 is of the type including brushes 7 with flexible bristles. It is seen in FIGURES 7 and 9 that platform base 20 includes a brush-contact surface 28. FIGURE 16 shows a chock 17 extending from stowing portion 26 of platform-base upper surface 23. Chock 17 extends for a sufficient dimension to support machine 1 such that brushes 7 remain above or at upper surface 23. It is also seen in FIGURES 7 and 9 that stowing portion 26 of upper surface 23 includes a ridge 29 which supports machine 1 with brushes 7 above brush-contact surface 28. Chock 17 extends from stowing portion 26 at least to about the level of ridge 29 or higher depending on the construction of machine 1. This prevents significant bending of brush bristles during storage and/or transportation of machine 1.
FIGURES 12 and 13 show skid-resisting projections 19 extending from lower surface 24 of base 20. Skid-resisting projections 19 facilitate holding of platform 10 from unintended backward rolling during driving of machine 1 onto platform 10 as illustrated in FIGURES 17 and 18. As seen in FIGURE 13, skid-resisting projections 19 are rubber pieces secured to lower surface 24. The securement may be by a screw engagement or in any other suitable manner.
While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.