APPARATUS FOR WORKING FLOOR SURFACES

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for working floor surfaces, for example when laying a floor with a thermosetting plastic surface, comprising a handle which is designed as an extension arm which is connected to a tool carrier having at least one working tool for sweeping the floor surface by rotation of the tool carrier around an axis of rotation which is to be substantially vertical in use, and which handle enables movement of the apparatus along the floor surface and is connected to the tool carrier via a pivot shaft which is to be substantially horizontal in use, the pivot connection of the handle to the tool carrier being located at a distance from the axis of rotation of the tool carrier, said apparatus further comprising a support means for the handle to rest upon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Devices according to the above are known and may for example be used for laying an epoxy floor, in order to even out and planish the surface of the sticky, not yet hardened plastic surface, usually after spreading out slip protection upon said surface. These known devices are driven by an electric motor which obtains electric current via a long electric cable from a common mains socket.

[0003] The apparatus is handled by an operator equipped with spike shoes which pushes and pulls the apparatus to and fro and sideways, in order to provide an even sweeping of the surface of the floor. At the same time, the operator must ensure that the electric cable does not get into contact with the sticky surface.

[0004] Common areas of use are usually large factory premises where the surface may exceed 1000 square meters. The coating of the surface usually must be made over the entire surface in one step, so that no seam will be created.

[0005] An example of such an apparatus according to prior art is described in US-A-2,888,863.

[0006] Because the prior art apparatus for this object is heavy to handle, it is the cause of stress upon the arms, shoulders and back of the operator.

THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0007] One object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus which causes less stress upon the operator and which may be designed as to be saving weight.

THE SOLUTION

[0008] For this object, the invention is characterized in that the support means is located at the opposite side of the axis of rotation, relative to the pivot connection of the handle, and that the handle is arranged to be liftable from the support means in use by rotation around the pivot shaft. By this design of the apparatus, the operator may make it move to the left or to the right, merely by lifting or lowering the handle.

[0009] In use, the handle preferably extends at an oblique angle to the horizontal plane from its pivot connection, upwards past the axis of rotation of the tool carrier and the support means, to an operator of the apparatus.

[0010] The axis of rotation of the tool carrier is preferably carried by a chassis member which also carries the pivot connection of the handle and the support means. This chassis part may also be provided with a drive motor for driving the rotation axis of the tool carrier.

[0011] The drive motor is preferably electrical and connected via a cable to a source of electricity which may be one or more electricity accumulators which are being carried by the operator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention will be described hereinafter with reference to embodiments that are shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein

Fig. 1

is a plane view of the apparatus according to the invention, and

Fig. 2

is a section along the line II-II in Fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and 2 comprises a handle 10 which is designed as a T-shaped extension arm having two hand grips 11. The opposite end of the handle 10 as seen from the hand grips is designed as a fork with two shanks 12, which are connected to a rectangular chassis member 13 via projecting horizontal arms 14 which are provided with pivot points 15.

[0014] The chassis member 13 is provided with a bearing unit 16 for a vertical rotation shaft 17 belonging to a tool carrier 18 which is designed as a wheel and is provided with a number of scraping iron blades 19. These blades 19 are brought to sweep the floor surface by the rotation of the tool carrier, which is provided by an electric motor 20 which is connected to the axis of rotation 17 by not shown gearing and transmission means.

[0015] The chassis member is also provided with a support means 21 for the handle 10 which is located at the opposite side of the axis 17 of rotation, relative to the pivot connection 15 of the handle. Because the pivot connection of the handle to the chassis member 13 is located at a certain distance from the axis 17 of rotation of the tool carrier, the weight of the handle together with the weight of the electric motor 20 in position of use upon a floor surface, will exert a pressure upon the opposite side of the axis 17, as seen from the handle 10. If on the other hand the handle 10 is allowed to rest upon the support means 21, the centre of gravity will be moved from said earlier mentioned position at the pivot points 15, to the support means at the opposite side of the axis of rotation 17.

[0016] This shifting of the centre of gravity, from one side to the other side of the axis 17 of rotation, makes it possible for the operator to steer the apparatus in a simple way laterally. In this respect, the apparatus moves to the right in Fig. 1, when the direction of rotation is clockwise in Fig. 1, if the handle is lifted from the support means 21, and to the left in Fig. 1 if the handle is allowed to rest upon the support means. If the direction of rotation is the opposite, the "steering characteristics" will also be the opposite.

[0017] According to prior art, by centring the weight and centre of gravity immediately above the axis of rotation of the tool carrier, stability was accomplished at the expense of manageability, so that the apparatus became heavy to control along a floor surface.

[0018] According to the invention, an apparatus is provided which is light and by being unstable, has become unexpectedly simple to steer along a floor surface, in such a manner that the apparatus does not risk "running away" to any unwanted direction.

[0019] At the same time, the apparatus according to the invention may be designed so light that the drive motor 20 may be of a type so electricity-saving, that the source of energy may be rechargeable batteries which can be carried by the operator, e.g. within a backpack. In this way, it is not necessary to pull an electric cable over an easily damaged, sticky floor surface.

[0020] The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, instead more variants are conceivable within the scope of the following claims. For example, the handle 10, the chassis member 13 and the support means 21 may be designed differently, e.g. in such a way that the pivot points of the handle are located at the operator side of the axis 17 of rotation and the support member at the opposite side, wherein the handle is lifted against the support means when the apparatus is to be moved to one side.

Claims

1. An apparatus for working floor surfaces, for example when laying a floor with a thermosetting plastic surface, comprising a handle (10) which is designed as an extension arm which is connected to a tool carrier (18) having at least one working tool (19) for sweeping the floor surface by rotation of the tool carrier around an axis of rotation (17) which is to be substantially vertical in use, and which handle enables movement of the apparatus along the floor surface and is connected to the tool carrier via a pivot shaft (15) which is to be substantially horizontal in use, the pivot connection (15) of the handle (10) to the tool carrier (18) being located at a distance from the axis (17) of rotation of the tool carrier, said apparatus further comprising a support means (21) for the handle to rest upon,
characterized in that the support means (21) is located at the opposite side of the axis (17) of rotation, relative to the pivot connection of the handle, and that the handle (10) is arranged to be liftable from the support means in use by rotation around the pivot shaft (15).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that the handle (10) during use extends at an oblique angle to the horizontal plane from its pivot connection (15), upwards past the axis (17) of rotation of the tool carrier and the support means (21), to an operator of the apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that the axis (17) of rotation of the tool carrier (18) is carried by a chassis member (13) which also carries the pivot connection (15) of the handle and the support means (21).

4. An apparatus according to claim 3,
characterized in that the chassis member is provided with a drive motor (20) for rotation of the rotation axis (17) of the tool carrier.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4,
characterized in that the drive motor (20) is electrical and connected via a cable to a source of electricity.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5,
characterized in that the source of electricity comprises an electricity accumulator which is to be carried by the operator.

Ansprüche

1. Gerät zum Bearbeiten von Fußbodenoberflächen, beispielsweise beim Auslegen eines Fußbodens mit einer wärmehärtenden Plastikoberfläche, mit einem Griff (10), der als Erweiterungsarm ausgestaltet ist, der mit einem Werkzeugträger (18) verbunden ist, welcher Träger zumindest ein Werkzeug (19) zum Wischen der Fußbodenoberfläche durch Drehung des Werkzeugträgers um eine Drehachse (17) herum aufweist, welche während der Verwendung im Wesentlichen vertikal sein muss, welcher Griff die Bewegung des Geräts entlang der Fußbodenoberfläche ermöglicht und mit dem Werkzeugträger mittels einer Schwenkwelle (15) verbunden ist, welche während der Verwendung im Wesentlichen horizontal angeordnet sein muss, wobei die Schwenkverbindung (15) des Griffs (10) mit dem Werkzeugträger (18) sich in einem Abstand von der Drehachse (17) des Werkzeugsträgers befindet und wobei das Gerät weiter ein Stützmittel (21) aufweist, auf dem der Griff ruhen kann,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Stützmittel (21) sich auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite der Drehachse (17) relativ zu der Schwenkverbindung des Griffs befindet und dass der Griff (10) so angeordnet ist, dass er von dem Stützelement während der Verwendung durch Drehung um die Schwenkwelle (15) herum abhebbar ist.

2. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Griff (10) sich während der Verwendung von seiner Schwenkverbindung (15) aus in einem schrägen Winkel bezüglich der horizontalen Ebene erstreckt, aufwärts an der Drehachse (17) des Werkzeugträgers und des Stützmittels (21) vorbei bis zu einem Bediener des Geräts.

3. Gerät nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Drehachse (17) des Werkzeugträgers (18) von einem Gehäuseelement (13) getragen ist, welches auch die Schwenkverbindung (15) des Griffs und des Stützmittels (21) trägt.

4. Gerät nach Anspruch 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuseelement mit einem Antriebsmotor (20) für eine Drehung der Drehachse (17) des Werkzeugträgers versehen ist.

5. Gerät nach Anspruch 4,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Antriebsmotor (20) elektrisch ist und mittels eines Kabels mit einer Elektrizitätsquelle verbunden ist.

6. Gerät nach Anspruch 5,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Elektrizitätsquelle einen Elektrizitätsakkumulator aufweist, welcher von dem Bediener getragen werden muss.

Revendications

1. Appareil pour traiter des surfaces de plancher, par exemple lors de la pose d'un plancher avec une surface en plastique thermodurcissable, comprenant un manche (10) qui est conçu comme un bras d'extension qui est raccordé à un porte-outil (18) comportant au moins un outil de travail (19) pour balayer la surface de plancher par la rotation du porte-outil autour d'un axe de rotation (17) qui doit être sensiblement vertical pendant l'utilisation, et lequel manche permet le mouvement de l'appareil le long de la surface de plancher et est raccordé au porte-outil par un axe de pivotement (15) qui doit être sensiblement horizontale pendant l'utilisation, le raccordement pivotant (15) du manche (10) au porte-outil (18) étant placé à une certaine distance de l'axe (17) de rotation du porte-outil, ledit appareil comprenant, en outre, un moyen de support (21) sur lequel repose le manche, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de support (21) est placé du côté opposé de l'axe (17) de rotation par rapport au raccordement pivotant du manche et en ce que le manche (10) est installé pour pouvoir être levé du moyen de support pendant l'utilisation par une rotation autour de l'axe d'articulation (15).

2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le manche (10), pendant l'utilisation, s'étend selon un angle oblique par rapport au plan horizontal à partir de son raccordement pivotant (15) vers le haut en passant près de l'axe (17) de rotation du porte-outil et près du moyen de support (21) jusqu'à un opérateur de l'appareil.

3. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'axe (17) de rotation du porte-outil (18) est porté par un élément de châssis (13) qui porte également le raccordement pivotant (15) du manche et le moyen de support (21).

4. Appareil selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que l'élément de châssis est équipé d'un moteur de commande pour la rotation de l'axe de rotation (17) du porte-outil.

5. Appareil selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le moteur de commande (20) est électrique est raccordé par un câble à une source d'électricité.

6. Appareil selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que la source d'électricité comprend un accumulateur d'électricité qui doit être porté par l'opérateur.

Drawing