Rotary head, method and system for use with hard and soft surfaces

Abstract

A rotary head comprising a longitudinally extending core comprising an outer surface and defining a longitudinal centerline axis, and a covering that is disposed on the outer surface of the core and that includes a radially extending material that is configured to interact with a fluid on a surface. The rotary head is configured to couple to a rotatable shaft of a floor-care system and rotate about the longitudinal centerline axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a rotary head comprising:
 a longitudinally extending core comprising an outer surface and defining a longitudinal centerline axis; and 
 a covering that is disposed on the outer surface of the core and that comprises a radially extending material that is configured to interact with a fluid on a surface; and 
   wherein the rotary head is configured to couple to a rotatable shaft of a floor-care system and rotate about the longitudinal centerline axis.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the core is configured to rotate using at least one friction reducing structure. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the friction reducing structure is selected from the group consisting of a bushing and bearing assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the core has an inner surface that is configured to accept the at least one friction reducing structure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the covering further comprises a backing layer in contact with the radially extending material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radially extending material is nap. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the nap is comprised of individual elements. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the individual elements are each selected from the group consisting of strings and loops. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radially extending material is of a length that is between approximately 8 millimeters and approximately 13 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radially extending material is of a length that is selected to cause at least one millimeter of the radially extending material to contact an extraction structure of the floor-care system when the rotary head is rotating about the longitudinal centerline axis. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radially extending material is of a length that is selected to cause a gap of at least one millimeter between the radially extending material and an extraction structure of the floor-care system when the rotary head is rotating about the longitudinal centerline axis. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a floor, comprising:
 rotating, about a longitudinal centerline axis, a rotary head that includes
 a longitudinally extending core having an outer surface and defining the longitudinal centerline axis, and 
 a covering disposed on the outer surface of the core that includes a radially extending material; 
   contacting the floor with the radially extending material of the rotary head; and   translating a floor-care system that includes the rotary head across the floor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein rotating comprises coupling a rotatable shaft of the floor-care system to the rotary head with a belt without substantial slipping when a floor-treatment agent is present in the radially extending material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the floor-treatment agent is selected from at least one of the group consisting of water, a soap, a perfume, a disinfectant, a cleaner, an antistatic agent, a polishing compound and a buffing compound. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 collecting a floor-treatment agent, by an extraction structure of the floor-care system, from the radially extending material when the rotary head is rotating about the longitudinal centerline axis.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 depositing a floor-treatment agent onto the floor; and   removing the floor-treatment agent by a plurality of individual elements of the radially extending material, wherein the individual elements are each selected from the group consisting of strings and loops.   
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a floor-care system that comprises a rotatable shaft; and   a detachable rotary head, comprising
 a longitudinally extending core having an outer surface and defining a longitudinal centerline axis, and 
 a covering that is disposed on the outer surface of the core and that includes a radially extending material, and 
   wherein the detachable rotary head is configured to couple to the rotatable shaft and rotate about the longitudinal centerline axis.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the floor-care system further comprises an extraction structure, and wherein the radially extending material is configured such that at least one millimeter of the radially extending material contacts the extraction structure when the rotary head rotates about the longitudinal centerline axis. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the floor-care system further comprises an extraction structure, and wherein the radially extending material is configured to cause a gap of at least one millimeter between the radially extending material and the extraction structure when the rotary head rotates about the longitudinal centerline axis. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a belt configured to couple the rotatable shaft of the floor-care system to the rotary head, and   wherein the belt and the radially extending structure each comprise one or more materials configured to allow the belt to rotate the rotary head without substantial slipping when a floor-treatment agent is present in the radially extending structure, and   wherein the floor-treatment agent is selected from at least one of the group consisting of water, a soap, a perfume, a disinfectant, a cleaner, an antistatic agent, a polishing compound and a buffing compound.