Surface Treatment Tool

Abstract

A surface treatment head (10) for a surface treatment tool, the surface treatment head (10) comprising: a movable surface treatment element (12) configured to engage a surface to be treated, and a driving means (14) comprising a motor (16) configured to drive the movable surface treatment element (12) to effect cleaning of said surface; wherein a rear edge (21) of the movable surface treatment element (12) with respect to a treatment direction (24) of the surface treatment head (10) comprises a first end, a second end and a middle portion located between the first and second ends, wherein the middle portion of the rear edge (21) projects rearwards of the first and second ends of the rear edge in the treatment direction (24).

1 . A surface treatment head for a surface treatment tool, the surface treatment head comprising:
 a movable surface treatment element configured to engage a surface to be treated, and   a driving means comprising a motor configured to drive the movable surface treatment element to effect cleaning of said surface;   wherein a rear edge of the movable surface treatment element with respect to a treatment direction of the surface treatment head comprises a first end, a second end and a middle portion located between the first and second ends, wherein the middle portion of the rear edge projects rearward of the first and second ends of the rear edge with respect to the treatment direction of the surface treatment head.   
     
     
         2 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface treatment element comprises a width transverse to the treatment direction and a depth along the treatment direction, wherein the depth varies across the width of the movable surface treatment element such that the depth is larger in a middle portion of the movable treatment element and smaller towards first and second ends of the movable treatment element. 
     
     
         3 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein a front edge of the movable surface treatment element with respect to the treatment direction comprises a first end, a second end and a middle portion located between the first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends of the front edge project forward of the middle portion of the front edge in the treatment direction of the surface treatment head; or wherein a front edge of the movable surface treatment element with respect to the treatment direction comprises a first end, a second end and a middle portion located between the first and second ends, wherein the middle portion is substantially aligned with the first and second ends in the treatment direction, or wherein the middle portion projects forwards of the first and second ends in the treatment direction. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface treatment element comprises a front edge and a side wall extending from the front edge towards the rear edge at an angle to the front edge, optionally such that a corner is formed between the front edge and the side wall. 
     
     
         6 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein the height of the surface treatment head in a region proximal the first end of the moveable treatment element and/or in a region proximal the second end of the movable treatment element is in the range of 1 cm to 20 cm, optionally in the range of 1 cm to 10 cm, optionally in the range of 2.5 to 7.5 cm. 
     
     
         7 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface treatment element comprises at least a portion comprising a curved shaped profile in plan view; optionally wherein the curved shaped profile comprises a substantially arc shaped profile in plan view; wherein at least a portion of the curved shaped profile comprises an arc of radius in the range of 10 cm to 150 cm, optionally in the range of 95 to 115 cm, or optionally less than or equal to 40 cm, optionally in the range of 10 cm to 40 cm, optionally in the range of 20 to 40 cm; or
 wherein the movable surface treatment element comprises at least a portion comprising a substantially V-shaped profile in plan view; optionally wherein the substantially V-shaped profile comprises a central angle in the range of 90 to less than 180 degrees, optionally 110 to 170 degrees; and/or optionally, wherein the movable surface treatment element comprises a front edge with respect to the treatment direction and a rear edge with respect to the treatment direction, and wherein both the front edge and the rear edge are at least partially curved or V-shaped   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor of the driving means is located at the middle portion of the surface treatment head; and/or wherein the movable surface element is elongate. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface treatment element and/or the surface treatment head comprises a width transverse to a treatment direction of the surface treatment tool, wherein the width is in the range of 25 to 60 cm and/or wherein the surface treatment head comprises a depth parallel to a treatment direction of the surface treatment tool, wherein the depth is in the range of 4 to 30 cm. 
     
     
         13 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving means comprises an eccentric drive mechanism, wherein the motor is coupled to the moveable surface treatment element via the eccentric drive mechanism so that the moveable surface treatment element engages a surface to be treated in a cyclical motion such that a front edge of the moveable surface treatment element faces forwards with respect to the treatment direction throughout the cyclical motion; optionally wherein the eccentric drive mechanism is configured to drive the moveable surface treatment element so that each point on the moveable surface treatment element moves along a circular path, wherein the circular paths each have a unique centre point but a common radius dimension. 
     
     
         14 . A surface treatment head according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment head further comprises a cleaning liquid outlet configured to introduce cleaning liquid to a surface to be treated; and/or wherein the surface treatment head further comprises a suction region configured to suck fluid from a surface to be treated; optionally wherein the suction region comprises a first end, a second end and a middle portion located between the first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends of the suction region project forward of the middle portion of the suction region in the treatment direction of the surface treatment head. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A surface treatment tool comprising a surface treatment head, according to  claim 1 , coupled to an elongate support member; optionally wherein the elongate support member is coupled to the surface treatment head via a coupling, wherein the coupling comprises a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis arranged perpendicular to the first rotational axis; optionally, wherein the first rotational axis intersects the second rotational axis; and/or optionally, further comprising a power source to power the motor; optionally, wherein the power source comprises an electrical energy storage device (e.g. a battery) provided by or on the surface treatment tool. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A joint arrangement comprising a first member and a second member,
 wherein the first member comprises one or more grooves,   wherein the second member comprises one or more protrusions configured to be located within said one or more grooves and to move along said one or more grooves to permit relative rotation of the first member and the second member about a first axis,   wherein the one or more protrusions define a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and wherein the first member is configured to rotate about the one or more protrusions for relative rotation of the first member and the second member about the second axis,   wherein said one or more protrusions and one or more grooves are arranged so that rotation of the first member about a third axis perpendicular to the first axis is translated to rotation of the second member about a fourth axis perpendicular to the second axis and/or vice versa.   
     
     
         19 . A joint arrangement according to  claim 18 , wherein the first member is coupled to a shaft defining a longitudinal axis coaxial with said third axis; and/or wherein the second member is coupled to a shaft defining a longitudinal axis coaxial with said fourth axis. 
     
     
         20 . A joint arrangement according to  claim 18 , further comprising a securing member provided to prevent or inhibit disengagement of the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         21 . A joint arrangement according to  claim 18 , wherein one of the first member and second member comprises a spherical or partially spherical member and the other of the first member and second member is a receiving member comprising a partially spherical inner profile corresponding to an outer profile of the spherical or partially spherical member. 
     
     
         22 . A joint arrangement according to  claim 18 , wherein the one or more protrusions comprise two protrusions provided on opposing sides of the second member. 
     
     
         23 . A joint arrangement according to  claim 18 , wherein the or each protrusion is a spherical, partially spherical, cylindrical or partially cylindrical formation (e.g. a spherical ball bearing or a hemisphere); optionally wherein the or each protrusion is a spherical or partially spherical formation comprising a first arc-shaped cross section, and wherein the groove comprises a second arc-shaped cross section corresponding to the first arc-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         24 . A joint arrangement according to  claim 18 , wherein the one or more protrusions are integrally formed with the second member. 
     
     
         25 . A surface treatment tool comprising a surface treatment head and an elongate support member coupled to the surface treatment head by a joint arrangement according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         26 . A surface treatment tool comprising a surface treatment head and an elongate support member coupled to the surface treatment head by a joint arrangement;
 wherein the joint arrangement is configured to permit pivoting of the elongate support member with respect to the surface treatment head about a first axis;   wherein the joint arrangement is configured to permit pivoting of the elongate support member with respect to the surface treatment head about a second axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the second axis intersects the first axis; and wherein the surface treatment head comprises a movable surface treatment element configured to engage a surface to be treated; and   wherein the surface treatment head comprises a cleaning liquid outlet configured to introduce cleaning liquid to a surface to be treated and/or wherein the surface treatment head comprises a suction region configured to suck fluid from a surface to be treated.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled)