Scrubber squeegees for scrubbing forward and backward

Abstract

This is an improvement for a powered floor scrubber which in use is moved forward and backward across a floor to be scrubbed. A scrub brush is rotated within a housing which is open at the bottom and water is supplied within the housing. The improvement consists of attaching double lipped suction squeegees at both the front and rear of the housing and connecting them both to a source of vacuum to suck up soiled water from the floor. The flexible squeegee lips are mounted in such a way that as the machine is moved forward the lips of the front squeegee fold together and shut off the airflow to it while the rear squeegee remains functional. When the machine is moved backward a reverse action of the squeegees occurs, so that there is always a functional squeegee sucking up soiled water behind the scrub brush while airflow to the opposite squeegee is shut off whether the machine is moving forward or backward.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In a scrubber, a mobile frame, at least one scrub brush attached to the frame to engage and work on a surface to be cleaned, an enclosure over the brush having a defined periphery approaching and opposing the surface, means for supplying a cleaning solution to the brush, squeegees engaging the surface on the front and rear portions of the periphery of the enclosure, a vacuum chamber associated with the enclosure in communication with .Badd.a source of vacuum and selectively in communication with .Baddend.the squeegees .[..[.and a source of vacuum, and means for communicating.]..]. .Badd.characterized in that each of said squeegees is opened and closed by frictional contact with the surface to be cleaned such that .Baddend..[..[.only.]..]. the .[..[.rear.]..]. .Badd.front .Baddend.squeegee .[..[.to.]..]. .Badd.is closed to communication with .Baddend.the vacuum chamber when the scrubber is moving forward .Badd.while the rear squeegee is open to such communication.Baddend., and .[..[.communicating only.]..]. the .[..[.front.]..]. .Badd.rear .Baddend.squeegee .[..[.to .]..]. .Badd.is closed to communication with .Baddend.the vacuum chamber when the scrubber is moving to the rear .Badd.while the front squeegee is open to such communication..Baddend. 
     
     
       2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the .[..[.communicating means.]..]. .Badd.squeegees become opened and are closed .Baddend.automatically .[..[.responds.]..]. .Badd.in response .Baddend.to .[..[.the.]..]. movement of the machine. 
     
     
       3. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that the front and rear squeegees each include outer and inner elongated flexible spaced apart rubber-like blades, the bottom of the inner blade closely approaching engagement with the surface during operation, the outer blade being longer than the inner blade so that when the inner blade closely approaches engagement with the surface, the outer blade will be flexed in engagement with the surface, the differential length of the outer blade being such that it will flex toward and engage the inner blade to function as a check valve when the machine is moving in the direction of the outer blade and will flex away from and be in spaced relation to the inner blade when the machine is moving toward the inner blade. 
     
     
       4. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the squeegees are generally rectilinear and further including longitudinally disposed seals along the sides of the enclosure-engaging the ends of the squeegees and also the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
       5. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the outer blade of each squeegee has a corrugated outer surface so that liquid on the surface will pass under the outer squeegee blade when it is flexed inwardly. 
     
     
       6. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the inner blade of each squeegee has spaced notches along its lower edge to provide for liquid flow .[.hen.]. .Iadd.when .Iaddend.its bottom edge is in contact with the surface. 
     
     
       7. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the brush is a cylindrical brush. 
     
     
       8. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including a seal around the periphery of the enclosure engaging the surface, the squeegees being a part of the seal. .Iadd. 
     
     
       9.  In a scrubber, a mobile frame, at least one scrub brush attached to the frame to engage and work on a surface to be cleaned, an enclosure over the brush having a defined periphery approaching and opposing the surface to be cleaned, means for supplying a cleaning solution to the brush, front and rear squeegees engaging the surface on the front and rear portions of the periphery of the enclosure, a vacuum chamber associated with the enclosure in communication with the squeegees and a source of vacuum, the front and rear squeegees each including paired outer and inner elongated flexible generally parallel spaced .[..[.part.]..]. .Badd.apart .Baddend.rubber-like blades, the blades being generally rectilinear and further including a corrugated outer surface on at least the outer blade of each pair so that liquid on the surface will pass under the outer squeegee blade when it is flexed inwardly, and means sealing the ends of the outer and inner squeegee blades in both the front and rear squeegees to provide an enclosed compartment between each pair of blades. 
     
     
       10. The structure of claim 9 further characterized by and including means for communicating only the rear squeegee to the vacuum chamber when the scrubber is moving forward and communicating only the front squeegee to the vacuum chamber when the scrubber is moving to the rear. 
     
     
       11. The structure of claim 10 further characterized in that the communicating means automatically responds to the movement of the machine. 
     
     
       12. The structure of claim 9 further characterized in that the bottom of the inner blade of each pair closely approaches engagement with the surface during operation, the outer blade being longer than the inner blade so that when the inner blade closely approaches engagement with the surface, the outer blade will be flexed in engagement with the surface, the differential length of the outer blade being such that it will flex toward and engage the inner blade to function as a check valve when the machine is moving in a direction in which the outer blade leads the inner blade and will flex away from and be in spaced relation to the inner blade when the machine is moving in an opposite direction in which the outer blade trails the inner blade. 
     
     
       13. The structure of claim 9 further characterized in that the inner blade of each squeegee has spaced notches along its lower edge to provide for liquid flow through the blade when its bottom edge is in contact with the surface. 
     
     
       14. The structure of claim 9 further characterized in that the brush is a cylindrical brush.