Floor treatment apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating a floored surface that includes a platform adapted to support the weight of an operator. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is capable of generally performing 360 degree turns to facilitate the treatment of difficult to access portions of the floored surface.

1 . A floor treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a chassis comprising a front, a back, a lower surface, a front surface adjacent the front, an upper surface, a rear surface located behind a center point of the chassis, a left surface, and a right surface;   a platform located partially between a portion of the right surface and the left surface and at least partially behind the rear surface, wherein the platform includes a top surface adapted to receive the feet of an operator, a throttle and an operator presence device;   wherein the throttle comprises a pedal that protrudes above the top surface of the platform;   a steering mechanism associated with the chassis and having a portion accessible to an operator;   a floor treating device connected adjacent to the lower surface of the chassis, the floor treating device configured to scrub floors, clean carpets, vacuum floors, wax floors, burnish floors, remove wax from a floor, or remove varnish from a floor; and   a squeegee that is operable to follow a path of travel of the floor treatment apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a switch to set a speed range wherein no degree of throttle engagement will cause the floor treatment apparatus to exceed the speed range. 
     
     
         3 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric monowheel at least partially positioned below a portion of the top surface of the platform. 
     
     
         4 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a clean fluid storage compartment in operable communication with a fluid dispenser. 
     
     
         5 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a spent fluid storage compartment in operable communication with a fluid collection system. 
     
     
         6 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a hose in fluid communication with the spent fluid storage compartment, at least a portion of which is positioned outside of the chassis. 
     
     
         7 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the throttle is positioned adjacent the right surface of the chassis. 
     
     
         8 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a rotatable member forming a portion of the rear surface and that in a first position of use provides access to an interior portion of the chassis. 
     
     
         9 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 3 , further including a second and a third wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a control panel is positioned on the chassis and located below a portion of the steering mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a vacuum motor in vacuum communication with a portion of the squeegee assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee comprises a first position of use spaced a predetermined distance from a surface and a second position of use wherein the squeegee is capable of contacting the surface. 
     
     
         13 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee is located between the front of the chassis and the platform. 
     
     
         14 . A floor treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a chassis having a front, a back, a lower surface, a front surface adjacent the front, a rear surface located substantially behind a center point of the chassis, a left surface, and a right surface;   a first wheel operably interconnected to the lower surface adjacent to the left surface;   a second wheel operably interconnected to the lower surface adjacent the right surface;   a platform adapted to support an operator's weight located at least partially between the right and left surface and at least partially behind the rear surface, the platform comprising a throttle;   a third wheel provided proximal to the platform;   at least one of the first wheel, the second wheel and the third wheel comprising an electric drive wheel in operative communication with one or more batteries;   a steering mechanism, at least partially housed within the chassis, operably interconnected to at least one of the first, second or third wheel;   a floor treating mechanism selectively interconnected to the lower surface; and   a squeegee provided rearward of the floor treating mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the platform includes an operator presence switch. 
     
     
         16 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the top surface of the platform includes one or more protrusions. 
     
     
         17 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a hose in fluid communication with a spent fluid storage tank, wherein at least a portion of the hose is positioned outside of the chassis. 
     
     
         18 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a rotatable door forming a portion of the rear surface, which in an open position provides access to an interior portion of the chassis. 
     
     
         19 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the squeegee may partially rotate relative to a home position and a first position of use positioned a predetermined distance from a surface and a second position of use substantially on the surface and wherein the squeegee is located between the rear of the chassis and the electric monowheel drive. 
     
     
         20 . A floor treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a chassis comprising a front, a back, a lower surface, a front surface adjacent the front, an upper surface, a rear surface adjacent the back, a left surface, and a right surface;   a platform located partially between a portion of the right surface and the left surface and at least partially behind the rear surface, wherein the platform includes a top surface adapted to receive the feet of an operator;   an operator presence device;   an electric drive motor;   one or more batteries electrically connected to the electric drive motor;   a steering mechanism associated with the chassis and having a portion accessible to an operator;   a floor treating device connected adjacent to the lower surface of the chassis, the floor treating device configured to scrub floors, clean carpets, vacuum floors, wax floors, burnish floors, remove wax from a floor, or remove varnish from a floor;   a squeegee operably interconnected to the lower surface of the chassis proximal to the floor treating device;   a clean fluid storage compartment in operable communication with a portion of a fluid dispenser;   a spent fluid storage compartment in operable communication with a portion of a fluid collection system;   a panel forming a portion of the rear surface and rotatable to provide access to an interior portion of the chassis.   
     
     
         21 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee is positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the chassis. 
     
     
         22 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee is adjacent to the floor treating device. 
     
     
         23 . The floor treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the steering mechanism comprises a joystick.