Locking coupler for floor maintenance pad

Abstract

A coupler is disclosed for coupling floor maintenance pads to a pad driven disc. The coupler has one part which is mounted to or from an integral part of the driver disc and a second part which snaps onto the first part for holding and centering a maintenance pad to a disc. A spring lock arrangement is provided for preventing the coupler from separating and comprises a spring clip carried by the retainer engageable with lip structure formed on an axially extending wall or flange forming part of the base part. The spring clip is held to the retainer by hub segments and axially spaced tabs which define slots for slidably receiving portions of the spring clip. The spring clips include a pair of elongate legs interconnected by a bridging segment on one end and a pair of finger engageable pressure pads on opposite ends by which the spring clip is squeezed to move corner segments carried by legs inwardly in order to disengage the lip structure thereby releasing the retainer from the base.

1 . A snap together coupling device for mounting a floor maintenance pad having a circular mounting hole, to a drive disc, on a power driven floor maintenance machine, the coupling device comprising:
 a) a base part mountable co-axially to the drive disc and having an axially extending flange, said flange defining a lip structure extending radially inwardly from an inner wall of said axial flange;   b) a retainer part defining structure sized and configured to fit within said axial flange of said base;   c) a retaining mechanism carried by said retainer part and including elements resiliently engageable with said lip structure whereby said base is inhibited from separating from said retainer.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said axial flange is continuous. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said lip structure is continuous. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining mechanism includes a locking lug engageable with said lip structure defined by said base. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining mechanism comprises a spring clip that defines corner segments near ends of resilient legs, said corner segments reciprocally movable between an outer position at which said corner segments engage said lip structure and an inner position at which said corner segments substantially disengage said lip structure whereby said retainer can be separated from said base. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining mechanism comprises a U-shaped spring having a pair of engagement legs interconnected by a bridging portion and further including elements by which pressure is applied to urge said leg portions towards each other in order to disengage portions of said spring from said lip structure, whereby said retainer part is released from said base part. 
   
   
       7 . The coupling device of  claim 1  wherein said base has a plurality of tines projecting in an axial direction for piercing said pad. 
   
   
       8 . A snap together coupling device for mounting a floor maintenance pad to a drive disc on a power driven floor maintenance machine, comprising:
 a) a base attached to said drive disc and including an axially extending wall, said wall defining a lip structure extending radially inwardly from said wall;   b) a retainer engageable with said base including alignment structure for aligning said retainer with said base as said retainer is installed on said base; and,   c) a retaining element carried by said retainer and including portions engageable with said lip structure, such that said retaining element inhibits separation of said retainer from said base when said retaining element engages said lip structure.   
   
   
       9 . The coupling device of  claim 8 , wherein said retaining element comprises a U-shaped spring clip loosely held by a hub forming part of said retainer. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said hub defines at least a portion of said alignment structure. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said spring clip includes a pair of elongate legs that extend from a bridging section. 
   
   
       12 . The coupling device of  claim 11 , wherein said spring clip further comprises loops which define finger engageable pressure pads at ends of said elongate legs, such that squeezing said pressure pads urges said elongate legs towards each other in order to release the engagement between said spring clip and said lip structure. 
   
   
       13 . The coupling device of  claim 8 , wherein said retainer and base define a relatively large central opening through which floor treating fluids can be dispensed. 
   
   
       14 . A snap together coupling device for mounting a floor maintenance pad to a drive disc on a power driven floor maintenance machine, comprising:
 a) a first coupling member attached to, or forming part of, said drive disc;   b) a second coupling member engageable with said first coupling member;   c) one of said coupling members including alignment structure for aligning said second coupling member with said first coupling member as said second coupling member is installed on said first coupling member;   d) one of said coupling members including an axially extending flange, said flange defining a lip structure extending radially inwardly from an inner wall of said axial flange; and,   e) a retaining element carried by the other of said coupling members and including portions engageable with said lip structure, such that said retaining element inhibits separation of said first coupling member from said second coupling member when said retaining element engages said lip structure.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said base portion is attached to said drive disc by suitable fasteners. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said first coupling member comprises a base and said second coupling member comprises a retainer. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said base includes an axial flange and said retainer carries said retaining element. 
   
   
       18 . A snap together coupling device for mounting a floor maintenance pad having a circular mounting hole to a drive disc on a power driven floor maintenance machine, the coupling device comprising:
 a) a base portion forming part of and having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with an axis of rotation of said drive disc;   b) a retainer portion engageable with said base portion;   c) one of said portions including an axially extending flange, said flange defining a lip structure extending radially inwardly from an inner wall of said axial flange;   d) a retaining mechanism carried by the other of said portions and engageable with said lip structure, whereby said base portion is inhibited from separating from said retainer portion.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein one of said portions defines receiving structure for a hub defined by said other portion whereby said one portion is centered with respect to said other portion during installation. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said retaining mechanism is carried by said retaining portion. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said base portion is a separate member, secured to said drive disc. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said base portion is integrally formed in said drive disc. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said first coupling member is molded into said drive disc. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said alignment structure comprises a hub.