Floor finish applicator

Abstract

A pull-behind floor finish applicator wherein a mop with a handle is connected to the applicator, yet is readily removable therefrom. This allows the mop to be used as a component of the walk-behind applicator for applying floor finish to easily accessible areas in one instance, yet allows the mop to be used independently for application of floor finish to not so easily accessible areas. The applicator is adaptable to receiving bag in the box floor finish, thus reducing cleaning time. The applicator employs a minimum number of disposable parts thus making it economical to produce. Some embodiments utilize a pump driven by the power of the wheels. A transmission assembly is provided in some embodiments to deliver power from the wheels to a pump.

1 . A floor finish applicator comprising:
 a cart having wheels and a body member constructed and arranged to receive a source of floor finish; and   a floor finish spreading mop having a handle member and a floor finish spreading member detachably mounted on the cart for selective use detached from the cart during use of the cart.   
     
     
         2 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump coupled to the cart and operable to deliver floor finish to a floor. 
     
     
         3 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         4 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 2 , further comprising a conduit adapted to be coupled to the source of floor finish and deliver floor finish to the pump. 
     
     
         5 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 2 , further comprising a transmission assembly coupled between the pump and the wheels and selectively operable via movement of the wheels to drive the pump. 
     
     
         6 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 5 , further comprising control means operatively associated with the transmission assembly to selectively control the operation of the pump. 
     
     
         7 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 6 , wherein the control means includes a spring loaded clutch actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 7 , wherein the spring loaded clutch actuator includes at least one thrust washer and a pivotal bar member for engaging the thrust washer. 
     
     
         9 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 5 , wherein the transmission assembly includes a drive gear connected to a wheel driven axle and a drive shaft with a bevel gear for engaging the drive gear and driving the pump. 
     
     
         10 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the drive gear includes a one-way roller clutch. 
     
     
         11 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the drive shaft includes a first shaft with the bevel gear and a second shaft, the shafts interconnected by a pin and slot arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the wheeled cart includes a clamp member to selectively receive a handle of a mop with the mop head engaged with the floor. 
     
     
         13 . The floor finish applicator of  claim 6 , wherein the control means includes a lever attached to the drive shaft, a cable attached to the drive shaft and handle member to actuate the cable. 
     
     
         14 . A method of applying floor finish to a floor surface employing the applicator of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A transmission assembly for selectively driving a pump on a floor finish applicator cart having wheels, the transmission assembly comprising:
 an axle coupled to and driven by a wheel on the cart,   a drive gear connected to the axle; and   a drive shaft with a bevel gear for engaging the drive gear and driving the pump.   
     
     
         16 . The transmission assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the drive gear includes a one-way roller clutch. 
     
     
         17 . The transmission assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a spring loaded clutch actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The transmission assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the spring loaded clutch actuator includes at least one thrust washer and a pivotal bar member for engaging the thrust washer. 
     
     
         19 . The transmission assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the drive shaft includes a first shaft with the bevel gear and a second shaft, the shafts interconnected by a pin and slot arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . A floor finish applicator comprising:
 a body member adapted to support a reservoir of floor finish;   a handle coupled to the body;   a pair of wheels coupled to the body member and at least partially defining a pivot point of the body when force is applied to the handle; and   a kick-stand pivotally coupled to the body and engagable with the floor to support the body in a raised position relative to the floor, wherein the kick-stand is biased about a pivot point toward the body when not engaged with the floor.