Reversible squeegee system for surface maintenance machine

Abstract

A reversible squeegee system for a surface maintenance machine that includes a squeegee frame and a squeegee assembly with front and rear squeegee blades held by a retainer. The squeegee assembly is releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in a first configuration with a first surface of the retainer facing the floor. The squeegee assembly is releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in a second configuration with the second surface of the retainer facing the floor. The squeegee assembly is reversible between the first configuration and the second configuration while the front and rear squeegee blades remain connected to the retainer.

1 . A reversible squeegee system for a surface maintenance machine, comprising:
 a squeegee frame supported by the surface maintenance machine; and   a squeegee assembly releasably connectable to the squeegee frame, the squeegee assembly having a flexible front squeegee blade, a flexible rear squeegee blade, and a retainer separating the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade, the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade each releasably connected to the retainer,   the retainer having a first surface and a second surface, opposite to the first surface, the first surface and the second surface located between the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade when connected to the retainer,   the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade each having a first elongated surface and a second elongated surface, opposite the first elongated surface, each elongated surface functioning as a wiper when applied against a surface, the first elongated surface of the front squeegee blade and of the rear squeegee blade extending from the first surface of the retainer when connected to the retainer, the second elongated surface of the front squeegee blade and of the rear squeegee blade extending from the second surface of the retainer when connected to the retainer, and   the squeegee assembly being releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in a first configuration with the first surface of the retainer facing the floor, the squeegee assembly being releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in a second configuration with the second surface of the retainer facing the floor, the squeegee assembly being reversible between the first configuration and the second configuration while the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade remain connected to the retainer.   
     
     
         2 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 1 , further including a waste recovery system that collects waste and deposits the waste in a recovery tank carried by the surface maintenance machine, the waste recovery system including a vacuum system that creates vacuum suction in a recovery hose connected to the squeegee frame, wherein the retainer includes a vacuum port, the vacuum port fluidly connected to the vacuum system and the recovery hose to extend the suction from the recovery hose to the vacuum port when the squeegee assembly is connected in the first configuration and when the squeegee assembly is connected in the second configuration, the vacuum port suctioning waste between the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade when receiving vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The reversible squeegee of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the retainer and the second surface of the retainer each have one or more connectors, the one or more connectors on the first surface being connectable releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in the first configuration and the one or more connectors on the second surface being connectable releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in the second configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The reversible squeegee of  claim 3 , wherein the squeegee frame has one or more connectors, each of the one or more connectors of the squeegee frame being complementary to and releasably connectable with the one or more connectors on the first surface and the one or more connectors on the second surface. 
     
     
         5 . The reversible squeegee of  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee assembly is releasably connectable to the squeegee frame via one or more magnetic connections therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 1 , further including release actuators supported by the squeegee frame, the release actuators, when actuated, applying force against the retainer to push the squeegee assembly away from the squeegee frame. 
     
     
         7 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated surface of the front squeegee blade extends from the first surface of the retainer a distance equal to the distance the second elongated surface of the front squeegee extends from the second surface of the retainer. 
     
     
         8 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated surface of the rear squeegee blade extends from the first surface of the retainer a distance equal to the distance the second elongated surface of the rear squeegee extends from the second surface of the retainer. 
     
     
         9 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer includes a vacuum port extending from the first surface to the second surface of the retainer, the vacuum port having an axis extending centrally therethrough, the retainer defining a plane intersecting the axis and bisecting the retainer between the first surface and the second surface, the axial extent of the vacuum port being equal between the plane and the first surface and the place and the second surface. 
     
     
         10 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee assembly defines a plane bisecting the retainer between the first surface and the second surface, a one or more components of the squeegee assembly being symmetrical about the plane. 
     
     
         11 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 1 , wherein the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade are separated in a longitudinal direction by the retainer, the squeegee frame having an open interior with an open bottom for receiving and connecting the squeegee assembly, the open interior of the squeegee assembly being narrower longitudinally at a top of the squeegee frame than at a bottom of the squeegee frame, the narrowing of the interior space thereby guides positioning of the squeegee assembly relative to the squeegee frame when the squeegee assembly is inserted into the open bottom of the interior and moved towards the top of the squeegee frame. 
     
     
         12 . A floor surface maintenance machine, comprising:
 a mobile body;   a solution tank for containing a supply of a cleaning fluid;   wheels for supporting and transporting the mobile body;   one or more surface maintenance tools supported by the mobile body;   a reversible squeegee system, including:
 a squeegee frame supported by the surface maintenance machine; and 
 a squeegee assembly releasably connectable to the squeegee frame, the squeegee assembly having a flexible front squeegee blade, a flexible rear squeegee blade, and a retainer separating the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade, the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade each releasably connected to the retainer, 
 the retainer having a first surface and a second surface, opposite to the first surface, the first surface and the second surface located between the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade when connected to the retainer, 
 the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade each having a first elongated surface and a second elongated surface, opposite the first elongated surface, each elongated surface functioning as a wiper when applied against a surface, the first elongated surface of the front squeegee blade and of the rear squeegee blade extending from the first surface of the retainer when connected to the retainer, the second elongated surface of the front squeegee blade and of the rear squeegee blade extending from the second surface of the retainer when connected to the retainer, and 
 the squeegee assembly being releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in a first configuration with the first surface of the retainer facing the floor, the squeegee assembly being releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in a second configuration with the second surface of the retainer facing the floor, the squeegee assembly being reversible between the first configuration and the second configuration while the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade remain connected to the retainer. 
   
     
     
         13 . The floor surface maintenance machine of  claim 12 , further including a waste recovery system that collects waste and deposits the waste in a recovery tank carried by the surface maintenance machine, the waste recovery system including a vacuum system that creates vacuum suction in a recovery hose connected to the squeegee frame, wherein the retainer includes a vacuum port, the vacuum port fluidly connected to the vacuum system and the recovery hose to extend the suction from the recovery hose to the vacuum port when the squeegee assembly is connected in the first configuration and when the squeegee assembly is connected in the second configuration, the vacuum port suctioning waste between the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade when receiving vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The floor surface maintenance machine of  claim 12 , wherein the first surface of the retainer and the second surface of the retainer each have one or more connectors, the one or more connectors on the first surface being connectable releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in the first configuration and the one or more connectors on the second surface being connectable releasably connectable to the squeegee frame in the second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The floor surface maintenance machine of  claim 12 , wherein the squeegee frame has one or more connectors, each of the one or more connectors of the squeegee frame being complementary to and releasably connectable with the one or more connectors on the first surface and the one or more connectors on the second surface. 
     
     
         16 . The floor surface maintenance machine of  claim 12 , wherein the squeegee assembly is releasably connectable to the squeegee frame via one or more magnetic connections therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . A floor surface maintenance machine, comprising:
 a mobile body;   a solution tank for containing a supply of a cleaning fluid;   wheels for supporting and transporting the mobile body;   one or more surface maintenance tools supported by the mobile body;   a squeegee system, including:
 a squeegee frame supported by the surface maintenance machine; and 
 a squeegee assembly releasably connectable to the squeegee frame, the squeegee assembly having a flexible front squeegee blade, a flexible rear squeegee blade, and a retainer separating the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade, the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade each releasably connected to the retainer, 
 the retainer having a first surface and a second surface, opposite to the first surface, the first surface and the second surface located between the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade when connected to the retainer, the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade each having elongated surfaces functioning as wipers when applied against a surface 
 the first surface of the retainer having one or more connectors, the squeegee frame having one or more connectors, each of the one or more connectors of the squeegee frame being complementary to and releasably connectable via with the one or more connectors on the first surface via one or more magnetic connections therebetween. 
   
     
     
         18 . The floor surface maintenance machine of  claim 17 , further including a waste recovery system that collects waste and deposits the waste in a recovery tank carried by the surface maintenance machine, the waste recovery system including a vacuum system that creates vacuum suction in a recovery hose connected to the squeegee frame, wherein the retainer includes a vacuum port, the vacuum port fluidly connected to the vacuum system and the recovery hose to extend the suction from the recovery hose to the vacuum port when the squeegee assembly is connected to the squeegee frame, the vacuum port suctioning waste between the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade when receiving vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         19 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 18 , further including release actuators supported by the squeegee frame, the release actuators, when actuated, applying force against the retainer to push the squeegee assembly away from the squeegee frame and break the magnetic connection between the one or more connectors on the squeegee frame and the one or more connectors on the squeegee assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The reversible squeegee system of  claim 17 , wherein the front squeegee blade and the rear squeegee blade are separated in a longitudinal direction by the retainer, the squeegee frame having an open interior with an open bottom for receiving and connecting the squeegee assembly, the open interior of the squeegee assembly being narrower longitudinally at a top of the squeegee frame than at a bottom of the squeegee frame, the narrowing of the interior space thereby guides positioning of the squeegee assembly relative to the squeegee frame when the squeegee assembly is inserted into the open bottom of the interior and moved towards the top of the squeegee frame.