Floor cleaning apparatus

Abstract

Floor cleaning apparatus ( 1 ) comprising: a) a front portion ( 16 ) and a rear portion ( 17 ); the rear portion ( 17 ) comprising two lateral rear wheels ( 3 ); b) a chassis ( 2 ) and c) a cleaning unit ( 4 ) attached to the chassis ( 2 ), wherein the cleaning unit ( 4 ) comprises at least one rotatable brush ( 20 ) which is arranged in the front portion ( 16 ) of the cleaning apparatus ( 1 ) so as to be contactable with the floor ( 12 ) to be cleaned, a brush housing ( 22 ) and a suction device ( 25 ) including at least a rear suction unit ( 7 ) arranged rearward of the at least one brush ( 20 ). The rear suction unit ( 7 ) is attached to the brush housing ( 22 ) by means of a resilient connecting device ( 10 ) allowing the rear suction unit ( 7 ) to move laterally with respect to the chassis ( 2 ) against an elastic resistance provided by the resilient connecting device ( 10 ).

1 . Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a front portion and a rear portion; the rear portion comprising two lateral rear wheels;   a chassis;   a cleaning unit attached to the chassis, wherein the cleaning unit comprises:
 at least one rotatable brush which is arranged in the front portion of the cleaning apparatus so as to be contactable with the floor to be cleaned; 
 a brush housing; and 
 a suction device including at least a rear suction unit arranged rearward of 
   the at least one brush,   wherein
 the rear suction unit is attached to the brush housing by means of a resilient connecting device allowing the rear suction unit to move laterally with respect to the chassis against an elastic resistance provided by the resilient connecting device. 
   
     
     
         2 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient connecting device comprises an elastic connector which forms a pivot joint affixed to the brush housing by means of a fastener. 
     
     
         3 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the pivot joint has an axis of rotation extending essentially vertically. 
     
     
         4 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear suction unit comprises a curved suction bar, preferably an essentially elliptically curved suction bar. 
     
     
         5 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient connecting device comprises an elongated bracket having a first end affixed to the rear suction unit and a second end attached to the brush housing by means of an elastic connector. 
     
     
         6 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the elongated bracket is biased in a position of rest by means of the elastic connector wherein when in the position of rest the elongated bracket extends along a forward or backward travel direction of the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one brush is rotatable about a rotational axis extending essentially vertically. 
     
     
         8 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the cleaning apparatus further comprises a handlebar which is suitable to move the cleaning apparatus on a floor to be cleaned. 
     
     
         9 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear suction unit is rearwardly spaced apart from the brush housing by a spacing of minimum 30%, preferably minimum 35% of a diameter of the at least one brush. 
     
     
         10 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein a stopper pin is mounted on the brush housing on either side of a vertical middle plane so as to limit the rotation of the elongated bracket. 
     
     
         11 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the stopper pins limit the rotation of the elongated bracket within an angle of maximum ±60°, preferably of maximum ±45°. 
     
     
         12 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the stopper pins limit the rotation of the elongated bracket within an angle of minimum ±30°, preferably of minimum ±35°. 
     
     
         13 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear suction unit is arranged in front of the rear wheels. 
     
     
         14 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus further comprises a front suction unit. 
     
     
         15 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the front suction unit comprises a front suction channel and a closing mechanism which closes the front suction channel when the cleaning apparatus is moved in a forward travel direction. 
     
     
         16 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the closing mechanism opens the front suction channel when the cleaning apparatus is in a working position and is moved in a backward travel direction. 
     
     
         17 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear suction unit comprises a rear suction channel which is open during movement of the cleaning apparatus in the forward and backward travel direction. 
     
     
         18 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the front suction channel comprises a suction opening which is open towards a floor to be cleaned and wherein the closing mechanism comprises a lip with a front section which frontally limits the suction opening along its entire length and a rear section which rearwardly limits the suction opening along its entire length. 
     
     
         19 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first tank which is attachable to the chassis and which is configured as a receptacle with its smallest dimension X extending vertically with respect to the forward and backward travel direction of the cleaning apparatus and a second tank which is arranged in the rear portion of the cleaning apparatus and which is configured as a receptacle having a smallest dimension Z in the forward or rearward travel direction of the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . Cleaning apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising an elongated member which extends from a rear end of the chassis and wherein the second tank is attachable to the elongated member and, wherein one end of the elongated member is rotatably affixed to the chassis by means of a hinge.