Flexible pickup lips for use with fixed vacuum shoes on self-contained and propelled carpet cleaning equipment

Abstract

An improved vacuum shoe for use on a self-propelled cleaning apparatus is disclosed. Specifically, the vacuum shoe may have a gliding member either integral or connected to the shoe housing. The gliding member is designed to decrease the drag coefficient of the vacuum shoe as it traverses a surface thereby increasing the machine's efficiency and decreasing the amount of required operating power.

1 . A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a self-propelled chassis;    a vacuum shoe interconnected to the chassis, the vacuum shoe comprising a housing having a first end and a second end with a vacuum chamber therebetween, the first end being adapted to interface with a vacuum source; and    a gliding member interconnected to the second end of the housing, the gliding member comprising an outer surface that has at least one radius of curvature.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the gliding member intersects a surface to be cleaned at an angle of intersection that is between about 5° and about 80°.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the outer surface comprises a smooth transition that extends away from the surface to be cleaned.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gliding member is operable to be selectively attached to and detached from the housing without requiring a disassembly of the gliding member and the housing.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is a vacuum motor and wherein the vacuum motor is interconnected to the chassis.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gliding member comprises a series of at least one of slots and holes that allow debris of less than a predetermined size to pass through to the vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radius of curvature is greater than about 0.5 inches.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gliding member comprises at least one of Teflon, polyvinylchloride, and Delrin.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis is adapted for seating of an operator.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gliding member comprises a fluid passageway having a proximal end for receiving a fluid and a distal end for delivering the fluid to a surface to be cleaned.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal end is adapted to interface with a fluid supply line that delivers the fluid from a fluid source to the gliding member.  
     
     
         12 . A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a self-propelled chassis;    a vacuum shoe interconnected to the chassis, the vacuum shoe comprising a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being adapted to interface with a means for creating a pressure gradient between the proximal end and the distal end; and    a means for gliding in communication with the distal end of the housing, the means for gliding comprising an outer surface that has at least one radius of curvature.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the outer surface of the means for gliding intersects a surface to be cleaned at an angle of intersection that is between about 5° and about 80°.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the outer surface comprises a smooth transition that extends away from the point where the means for gliding intersects the surface.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for gliding is operable to be selectively attached to and detached from the housing without requiring a disassembly of the means for gliding and the housing.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for creating is a vacuum motor and wherein the vacuum motor is interconnected to the chassis.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for gliding comprises a series of at least one of slots and holes that allow debris of less than a predetermined size to pass through to the vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the radius of curvature is greater than about 0.5 inches.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for gliding comprises at least one of Teflon, polyvinylchloride, and Delrin.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the chassis is adapted for seating of an operator.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for gliding comprises a means for delivering a fluid to a surface to be cleaned.  
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising: 
 applying at least a first fluid to a surface to be cleaned;    agitating the surface to be cleaned;    generating a suction at a vacuum shoe interconnected to a self-propelled cleaning machine, wherein the vacuum shoe is equipped with a gliding member, and wherein the gliding member comprises an outer surface that comprises at least a first radius of curvature; and    passing the gliding member across the surface to be cleaned.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the outer surface of the gliding member intersects the surface to be cleaned at an angle of intersection that is between about 5° and about 80°.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the outer surface comprises a smooth transition that extends away from the point where the gliding member intersects the surface.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 removing the gliding member from the vacuum shoe without disassembling the gliding member and the vacuum shoe; and    after removing the gliding member, reattaching the gliding member to the vacuum shoe.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the suction is generated by a vacuum motor and wherein the vacuum motor is interconnected to the cleaning machine.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the gliding member comprises a series of at least one of slots and holes that allow debris of less than a predetermined size to pass through to the vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the radius of curvature is greater than about 0.5 inches.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the gliding member comprises at least one of Teflon, polyvinylchloride, and Delrin.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 an operator of the cleaning machine, sitting on the cleaning machine and controlling the direction of travel of the cleaning machine.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising supplying a fluid to the surface to be cleaned via the gliding member.