Surface Treatment Tool

Abstract

Provided is a surface treatment tool including an elongate body. The elongate body includes a first end having a handle with a first handgrip portion and a second end distal the first end configured to be coupled a surface treatment head. The surface treatment tool also includes a fluid outlet configured to apply fluid to a surface to be treated, and a surface treatment head configured to engage a surface to be treated and comprising a suction region configured to suck fluid from a surface to be treated. The elongate body includes a fluid tank in fluid communication with the fluid outlet; a waste tank in fluid communication with the suction region and configured to collect fluid removed from a surface to be treated via the suction region; and a power source configured to supply power to the surface treatment tool.

1 . A surface treatment tool comprising:
 an elongate body comprising a first end having a handle with a handgrip portion and a second end distal the first end configured to be coupled a surface treatment head;   a fluid outlet configured to apply fluid to a surface to be treated; and   a surface treatment head configured to engage a surface to be treated and comprising a suction region configured to suck fluid from a surface to be treated;   wherein the elongate body comprises:   a fluid tank in fluid communication with the fluid outlet;   a waste tank in fluid communication with the suction region and configured to collect fluid removed from a surface to be treated via the suction region;   a power source configured to supply power to the surface treatment tool; and   a suction source for sucking fluid and/or debris from the suction region to the waste tank.   
     
     
         2 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises a spine defining a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end of the elongate body, optionally wherein the fluid tank and/or the waste tank and/or the power source is coupled to the spine; optionally wherein the fluid tank and/or the waste tank and/or the power source is removably coupled to the spine. 
     
     
         3 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid tank is shaped to wrap around at least a portion of the spine, and/or wherein the waste tank is shaped to wrap around at least a portion of the spine; optionally wherein the power source is located proximal the spine; optionally wherein the fluid tank is shaped to wrap around at least a portion of the power source and/or wherein the waste tank is shaped to wrap around at least a portion of the power source. 
     
     
         4 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 2 , wherein at least two of the fluid tank, the waste tank and the power source are coupled to the spine such that the bulk of said two components is located at a first side of the spine, optionally wherein the first side corresponds to a treatment direction when the surface treatment tool is in normal use. 
     
     
         5 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 2 , wherein the handgrip portion is an elongate handle comprising a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal body of the elongate body, optionally wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongate handle is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the elongate body. 
     
     
         6 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 2 , wherein the spine comprises an interior profile configured to carry: a fluid supply path arranged to couple the fluid outlet with the fluid tank, and/or a waste removal path arranged to couple the suction region to the waste tank, and/or a power supply line arranged to carry power from the power source to the surface treatment head; optionally wherein the spine comprises an interior profile defining a volume forming to at least part of the fluid supply path, and/or wherein the spine comprises a profile defining a volume forming to at least part of the waste removal path. 
     
     
         7 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body is coupled to the surface treatment head via coupling, wherein the coupling comprises a joint arrangement comprising a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first rotational axis; optionally, wherein the first rotational axis intersects the second rotational axis; optionally wherein the coupling is offset from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body. 
     
     
         8 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 1 , wherein a rear edge—the surface treatment head with respect to a treatment direction of the surface treatment tool 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 with respect to a treatment direction of the surface treatment head. 
     
     
         9 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 8 , where wherein the surface treatment head comprises at least a portion comprising a curved shaped profile in plan view; and/or
 wherein the surface treatment head comprises at least a portion comprising a substantially V-shaped profile in plan view.   
     
     
         10 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 8 , wherein the surface treatment head comprises a front edge with respect to the treatment direction, and wherein at least one of the front edge and the rear edge are at least partially curved or V-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment head comprises a moveable 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; optionally 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 portion of the moveable surface treatment element faces in the same direction throughout the cyclical motion. 
     
     
         12 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 11 , wherein the suction region is provided proximal the movable surface treatment element; optionally, wherein the suction region is provided to a rear of the movable surface treatment element with respect to a treatment direction of the surface treatment tool. 
     
     
         13 . The surface treatment tool of  claim 1 , wherein the suction region is defined by one or more resilient guide members; optionally, wherein the profile of the or each resilient guide member(s) is complementary to the profile of the or a movable surface treatment element; optionally wherein the resilient guide members comprise a first resilient guide member provided proximal the or a movable surface treatment element, optionally wherein the first resilient guide member is shaped to form openings when in use to permit fluid to enter said suction region when the surface treatment tool is moved in a treatment direction; optionally wherein the suction region is defined, at least in part, by first and second resilient guide members. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A surface treatment tool comprising:
 an elongate body comprising a first end having a handle with a first handgrip portion and a second end distal the first end configured to be coupled a surface treatment head; and   a surface treatment head comprising a chassis configured to be coupled to a treatment portion arranged to engage a surface to be treated when in use;   wherein the elongate body comprises a second handgrip portion spaced apart from the first handgrip portion.   
     
     
         16 . The surface treatment tool according to claim wherein the first and second handgrip portions are spaced apart by 70 cm or less, for example between 10 and 50 cm, for example between 20 and 30 cm, e.g. 25 cm. 
     
     
         17 . The surface treatment tool according to  claim 15 , wherein the first handgrip portion and the second handgrip portion are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         18 . A surface treatment head for a surface treatment tool, the surface treatment head comprising:
 a first treatment component having a first surface treatment element configured to engage a surface to be treated;   a second treatment component having a second surface treatment element configured to engage said surface to be treated; and   a bracket arrangement configured to couple the first and second treatment components together; and   wherein the bracket arrangement is configured such that when a load is applied to the bracket arrangement, the load is distributed between the first and second treatment components and applied to said surface to be treated.   
     
     
         19 . The surface treatment head of  claim 18 , wherein the first treatment component comprises a body and the first treatment element is a movable surface treatment element configured for movement with respect to the body, optionally wherein the first treatment component comprises a driving means configured to drive the movable surface treatment element to effect treatment of said surface to be treated; and/or wherein the second treatment element comprises a suction region configured to suck fluid from said surface to be treated; optionally, wherein the suction region is defined by one or more resilient members, the one or more resilient members comprising front and rear elongate squeegee blades. 
     
     
         20 . The surface treatment head of  claim 18 , wherein the bracket arrangement is configured such that when a load is applied to the bracket arrangement a first predetermined amount of said load is applied to the first treatment component and a second predetermined amount of said load is applied to the second treatment component;
 wherein the first predetermined amount is in the range of 30 to 70%, optionally 40 to 60%, optionally 45% to 55%, of the total load applied to the bracket arrangement; and/or wherein the second predetermined amount is in the range of 30 to 70%, optionally 40 to 60%, optionally 45% to 55% of the total load applied to the bracket arrangement.   
     
     
         21 . The surface treatment head of  claim 1 , wherein the entire load applied to the bracket arrangement is transferred to the first and second treatment elements. 
     
     
         22 - 72 . (canceled)