US3107378A

US3107378A - Floor conditioner

Info

Publication number: US3107378A
Application number: US144890A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jepson Ivar; Alfred F Ernstberger; Gilbert R Wolter
Original assignee: Sunbeam Corp
Current assignee: Sunbeam Corp
Priority date: 1961-10-13
Filing date: 1961-10-13
Publication date: 1963-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-22
Also published as: GB963314A

Description

Oct. 22, 1963 l. JEPSON ETAL 3,107,378

' Y FLQOR CONDITIONER Filed Oct. 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ALFRED F EEMSTBERGER BY Gasser/2 Wag-5g 140/ /VAR. JEPSON 507154 CZa/z ATTORA/EY 22, 1963 1. JEPSON ETAL FLOOR CONDITIONER 1. JEPSON ETAL 3,107,378

FLOOR CONDITIONER Oct. 22, 1963 Filed Oct. 13, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ALF/2E0 EEEA/ETBEEGEE mas/27' 2 W04 r512 AND Iv JePso/v 1560455 CZam Arrozdsfi Oct. 22, 1963 l. JEPSON ETAL 3,107,378

4 FLOOR CONDITIONER Filed Oct. 13, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS /VAR demo/v BY ALFRED HERA/s res/ewe AA/D G/LBERTE. Won-E2 ll tlxxlll I luv} Mi l United States Patent FLOOR CONDITIONER Ivar Jepson, Oak Park, Alfred F. Ernstberger, Broadview,

and Gilbert R. Wolter, Elrnhurst, Il].,assignors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 144,890 14 Claims. (Cl. 1s-49 The present invention relates to a combined floor conditioner and rug cleaner, and more particularly to a single brush type floor conditioner. I

Until a few years ago, it was common practice to get professional rug cleaners to clean the rugs in homes. In fact, it was common practice to get professionals to condition all sorts of floors. In recent years, however, there have become available various types of floor conditioners, and-more recently combined floor conditioners and rug cleaners. It will readily be appreciated that mosthomes today have a number of diiferent types of floors to be conditioned when one considers that some floors are covered with rugs, others with various tiles, such as vinyl or plastic tile or linoleum, and still others are in natural wood. It would be desirable to provide an all-purpose floor conditioner which can be used to clean, wax or polish floors whether they be of wood, tile, linoleum or the like, and furthermore which conditioner is also capable of cleaning rugs and carpets. It would furthermore be desirable that such rug cleaner and floor conditioner be capable of bringing professional type floor care methods to the home at a cost which is substantially lower than has heretofore been available. 7

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved, inexpensive, all-purpose floor conditioner which is simple and compact, which is of sturdy construction, and which will give long years of satisfactory operation. I

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved floor conditioner and rug cleaner having a single rotating brush.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved single brush floor conditioner and rug cleaner which can be manufactured and sold at such a low cost as to be available for use by substantially every household. v

A still further object of the present invention resides in an improved rug cleaning attachment which insures proper cleaning for all types of rugs.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the removable rug cleaning attachment of the present invention with a portion thereof cut away;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one element of FIG. 7 shown in a different perspective from that of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2 illustrating a modification of the present invention; and

' FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrows Ill-10 of FIG. 9, assuming that FIG. 9 shows the complete structure.

Briefly, the present invention is concerned with a single brush type floor conditioner which requires a circular housing, but which has at the forward portion thereof a very low design so that it may readily reach under low furniture and cabinet extensions. Furthermore, the device is provided with a protective vinyl bumper to prevent marring furniture. An improved means for removably locking the single brush in position is provided, andan improved rug cleaning attachment is also provided which will insure proper cleaning of any type of rug. Adjustment of the rug cleaning attachment for different types of rugs can be made in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, the floor conditioner is designed to support an automatic I liquid dispenser for various purposes, which liquid disinvention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the single brush alla purpose floor conditioner and rug cleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the lower portion of the floor conditioner of FIG. 1 with certain portions thereof cut away more fully to illustrate the in- FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2,

again assuming that FIG. 2 shows the complete structure; FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2,

again assuming that FIG. 2 shows the complete structure; 1

penser may be identical with that disclosed and claimed in copending Jepson et al. application, Serial No. 106,085, filed April 27, 1961 and Design Patent 191,195, Corwall, Ir., both assigned to the same assignee as the instant application' 7 Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a floor conditioner generally designated by the reference numeral 20, which floor conditioner comprises a handle assembly generally designated by the reference numeral 21 ,pivotally mounted to a housed power unit generally designated by the reference numeral 22., which unit is enclosed in a housing 23. Associated with the unit 22 is a large circular rotating brush, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, designated by the reference numeral 24. The handle assembly 21 above the power unit 22. is adapted to removably support a liquid dispenser, not shown in the drawings but identical with that disclosed in the abovementioned patent, Des. 191,195 granted August 2.9, 1961, the mechanical details of which are disclosed and claimed in the above-mentioned copending Jepson et al application.

The handle assembly 21 is preferably identical in every respect with the handle assembly disclosed in the abovementioned copending Jepson et al. application, and identical with that disclosed in Des. 191,097, granted August 15, 1961, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. Briefly, it comprises a pair of

tubular members

26 and 27, the upper ends of which are preferably secured together by welding, and the lower portions of which diverge and terminate in flattended portions 26a and 27a, best shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 of the drawings. The lower ends ofthe handle assembly 21 diverge sufficiently to receive therebetween a portion of the powerunit 22, to which the handle assembly 21 is pivotally mounted as by shouldered pivot bolts 28 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Preferably a tubular bearing member 29 (FIG. 6) is sup ported in aligned openings formed in the walls of each of the flattened ends 26:! and 27a of the handle assembly 21 to provide bearings for the pivot bolts 28.

The upper ends of the

tubular members

26 and 27 of v the handle assembly 211 are enclosed within a molded sleevelike handle grip member 30 which, as is disclosed in the abovementioned copending Jepson et a1. application, also houses a suitable control switch, not shown, for controlling the electric energy supplied from the power cord 31 to the power unit 22. Actually, this power cord 31, suitably connected to the switch housed within the handle grip member 30, extends through the hollow tube 26, and at the lower end thereof the power cord 31 is illustrated as coming out through a suitable opening in the wall of the tubular member 26 so as to enter the housing 23, the two conductors of the power cord being designated as 3111 and 31b in FIG. 2 of the drawings. This arrangement forms no part of the present invention but is identically disclosed in the copending Jepson et al. application referred to above. It should be understood that the handle assembly 21 is designed to support the liquid dispenser disclosed in patent, Des. 1991,195, referred to above, in exactly the same manner illustrated in the aforesaid copending Jepson et a1. application.

Considering now the power unit 22, which, as mentioned above, includes the housing 23, the latter is preferably molded from a suitable plastic but it might also comprise a die casting of a light metal. For the purpose of accommodating the single circular brush 24, which is at least partially housed within the housing 23 and dn'ven from the power unit 22, the lower portion of the housing 23 is a circular housing portion designated as 23a open at the bottom and at the front having a very shallow depth so as to define what has sometimes been characterized as a low toe, best shown in FIGS. 1 and and designated by the reference numeral 33. The housing 23 also includes an upper housing portion 23b of much smaller cross-sectional area, as clearly shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. These two housing portions 23a and 23b are preferably formed as a unitary structure. The housing 23 thus defines a motor chamber 34 primarily defined by the upper smaller housing portion 23b and part of housing portion 23a and a brush chamber 35 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5) defined solely in the housing portion 23a.

The periphery of the open bottom of the housing portion 23a is provided with a bumper strip or ring 36 of a suitable molded plastic or other material in the form of an endless ring. Preferably the housing portion 23a is provided with an interlocking rim portion 23c which interlocks with the bumper ring 36 to hold the same in assembled relationship therewith. It will be appreciated that the bumper strip 36 is the most projecting portion of the power unit 22 and, hence, the portion that engages furniture and the like. By virtue of the low silhouette 33 of the front portion of housing 23, it will be appreciated that the floor conditioner may reach recessed areas such as the toe spaces under various cabinetry and the like. Actually, the resilience of housing portion 23a also acts as a cushion when the conditioner 20 bumps into solid objects.

For the purpose of securing a suitable electric motor unit, generally designated by the reference numeral 38 ('FIGS. 2 and 5), within the housing 23, the latter is provided with a plurality of spaced integral tubular projections such as 23d (four being shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) containing openings to receive suitable self-tapping screws 39 for clamping the motor unit 38 in assembled relationship with the housing 23.

The motor unit 38 forms no part of the present invention and may comprise any suitable electric motor mounted so that the axis of its armature shaft, designated as 41 (FIG. 2), is vertically disposed. Moreover, the lower end of motor unit 38 is secured by suitable fastening means, not shown, to motor base 42, the latter being in the form of a die casting having a somewhat centrally disposed depending wall portion 42a defining a recess 44 on the under side thereof serving as a gear chamber. The motor base has a skirt portion 42b extending beyond the motor unit 38 but spaced from the walls of the circular housing portion 23a so as not to interfere with the cushioning action of housing 23a. The base 42 has an opening leadingto gear chamber or recess 44', and a bearing 45 for the lower end of motor shaft 41 is sup ported in this opening. Thus, the lower end of motor shaft 41, which has a helical spur gear 46 defined thereon, extends into gear chamber 44.

In order to divide the housing 23 into a motor chamber 34 and brush chamber 35, there is provided a bottom plate 47. This bottom plate 47 has a central opening 48 through which the walls 421: defining the gear chamber 44' may protrude. The screws 39 described above hold the forward portion of the bottom plate 47 directly to the projection 23d, while the rear screws 39, best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, clamp the bottom plate 47 and the skirt portion 42b of base plate 42 to the rear projections 23d. As best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the skirt portion 42b has a pair of spaced recesses 49 (only one visible in FIG. 5) on the upper side thereof for receiving the ends of rear projections 23d. Two additional screws 50 are provided (FIGS. 3 and 5) to secure the forward portion of the skirt 42b of the base plate 42 to the bottom plate 47.

The base 42 of the motor unit 38 also includes integral upwardly directed projections or cars 42c on either side thereof (FIGS. 2 and 6). These upwardly directed projections 42c are provided with tapped openings for receiving the pivot bolts 28, whereby the handle assembly is effectively pivoted to the motor unit 38 rather than to the housing 23. This arrangement permits the housing 23 to be molded of an inexpensive plastic since it does not function as a support for the handle, which, instead, is directly secured to the motor unit 38. In order that the flattened portions 26a and 27a of the handle assembly 21 may be pivotal-1y related to the ears 42c, the housing 23 is provided on either side with suitable openings 53 (-FIGS. 1 and 5). Moreover, the housing 23 is provided with integral depending projections 23e partially surrounding the openings 53, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings.

To provide frictional resistance between the handle assembly 21 and the motor base 42, there preferably is interposed between the flattened portions 26a and 27a of the handle assembly 21 and each of the ears 42 a resilient washer or handle pad 55 and metal washers 56 and 57 (FIG. 6), the resilient washer 55 being compressed so as to provide a certain amount of friction against pivotal movement of the handle assembly 21. The forward portions of the openings 53 limit the forward movement of the handle assembly 21 so that the handle cannot pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 of the drawings about the axis of pivot screws 28 to a much greater extent than that shown. In a rearwardly direction, however, the handle assembly 21 may pivot until it engages an integral wall portion 23 best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, whereby the handle assembly may be pivoted so that the longitudinal axis thereof is substantially parallel with the plane of the base plate 47. This is desirable for storage purposes so that the floor conditioner 20 will not be required to rest on the brush 24.

So that cooling air for cooling the motor unit 38 may readily enter and exhaust from the housing 23, the latter is preferably provided with suitable openings such as

slits

58, 59 and 60 (-FIG. 5), the

openings

58 and 59 being at the front of the housing 23 and the opening 60 being at the rear of the housing 23. The motor unit 38 preferably includes a cooling fan 61 (FIGS. 2 and 5) which causes air to flow through these openings for cooling the motor windings.

For the purpose of rotatably supporting the brush 24, there is provided a tubular stub shaft 62 (FIGS. 2, 4, 9 and 10) which has a solid portion of reduced cross section 62a at one end thereof, which portion 62a extends through a cover member 63 for the gear chamber 44. The shaft 62 is suitably secured to cover member 63 as by staking or the like, as best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, so as to provide a rigid stationary tubular depending shaft when cover member 63 is secured to base 42 by suitable screws 64 thereby to close the open bottom of the gear chamber 44. The tubular shaft 62 thus provides a vertical axis about which the brush 24 rotates as described hereinafter. This shaft 62 includes at the lower end thereof an annular recess 67 which is in effect an annular brush retaining groove. Moreover, the lower end of the shaft 62 is provided with a circular bevel or charnfer 68, and the side wall of the brush retaining groove 67 most closely adjacent the 'chamfer 68 is also bevelled as indicated at 69-, the purpose of which will become apparent from the ensuing description.

In order that motor unit 38 may be drivingly related to brush 24 to rotate the same about the axis of tubular shaft 62, there is provided a stub shaft 70 disposed in spaced parallel relationship with motor shaft 41 and having one end thereof secured to motor base 42 within gear chamber 44. Shaft 70 is preferably a stationary shaft just like tubular shaft 62, and may be press-fitted into a suitable opening 71 (FIG. 2) in motor base 42. The other end of shaft 70 projects through a flanged opening 72 in gear cover 63. A suitable step gear 73' of nylon or the like is rotatably mounted upon stationary shaft 70. This step gear 73 has a large diameter gear portion 73a in driving engagement with the gear 46 on the end of motor shaft 41, and an integral small diameter gear portion 73b which projects through the flanged opening 72 in cover 63 into the brush chamber 35 for driving the brush in a manner which will be described hereinafter. In order that lubricant contained within gear chamber 44- will not escape through the opening 72, the cover 63 is provided with an annular flange 63a around opening 72, which flange is received in a cooperating annular groove 75 in the lower face of large diameter gear portion 73a of step gear 73.

The brush 24, as is best shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, comprises an annular backing member 77 which may be formed of wood, plastic, pressed wood or the like. The bristles of the brush 24 are arranged in the form of tufts '78. In an embodiment built in accordance with the present invention, two annular rows of tufts 78 were provided for the single brush, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings. The annular backing member 77 has an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of brush chamber 35, and has a center opening 79 (FIG. 2) for receiving therein a combined gear and support member 8t) preferably comprising a die casting in the form of an annular ring 80a having internal gear teeth 81 defined on the inside of the ring. A plurality of laterally projecting ears 89b (FIGS. 2 and 4) integrally formed with the die casting 80 are received in cooperating recesses 83 defined in the top surface of the backing member 77. Suitable rivets or other. fastening means 84 secure the die casting 80 to the backing member 77. The die casting Sit also comprises a central hub portion 890 concentrically disposed with the ring portion 800 supportingthe gear teeth 81 and integrally connected thereto by a central spiderportion 80d. Preferably a suitable bear-ing 86 is disposed within the opening de- 1 fined by the tubular hub portion 800, the bearing 86 being adapted to receiv therein stationary tubular shaft 62. It will be apparent from the above description that when the tubular shaft 62 is received within the bushing 86 of brush 24, the gear portion 73b of gear 73* drivingly en- 1 J, gages the gear teeth 81 so that energization of the motor unit 38 will cause rotation of brush 24.

In order removably to secure the brush 24 to the tubular stationary shaft 62, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, there is provided a wirelike spring brush FIG. 2 of the drawings, has a central depending U-shaped portion, the bight of which U-shaped portion is adapted to be received in the brush retaining groove 67 in stationary shaft 62. It will be apparent that the bevel or chamfer 68 will cause the brush retainer 88 to be deflected when the brush is applied to the shaft 62 and the inherent resilience of the spring brush retainer 88 will cause it to enter the groove '67 as clearly indicated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The beveled edge 69 of the groove 67 will, of course, cause deflection of the brush retainer when a force is applied tending to move the brush along the longitudinal axis of the stub shaft 62 in a direction to remove the brush from such stub shaft.

So that the user may readily grasp the brush for removing the same, a pair of diametrically opposed finger grip portions 89 are provided which are suitably riveted as by fastening means 90 to the die casting 80 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings. As illustrated in the drawings, the finger grip portions 89 may actually be used to secure the brush retainer 88 to the brush 24. The particular brush retainer described is very similar to that disclosed and claimed in copending Jepson et al. application referred to above.

In certain situations it may be desirable to have a more positive brush retaining means than that described and in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings there is illustrated a modification of the brush retainer of the present invention. The corresponding parts of FIGS. 9 and 10 are designated by the same reference numerals as in the preceding embodiments. As there illustrated, the wire brush retainer 88 has been omitted and in its stead there is provided a pivotal brush retaining member 92 which is pivoted to a shouldered rivet'93 which secures one of the finger grip members 89 to the die casting 80. The pivotal brush retainer 92 is provided with a semi-circular recess 94, the edges of which are receivable in the annular brush retaining groove 67 of stationary shaft 62 in the same manner as the spring brush retainer 88 of the preceding embodiment was received therein. Preferably, brush retainer 92 is provided with a finger engaging depending portion 92a which may readily be actuated by the user of the floor conditioner 20 to pivot the brush retainer 92 out of its retaining position when it is desired to remove the brush 24 from the floor conditioner. Preferably suitable spring means 95 or the like are provided to bias the retainer into its brush retaining position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the rug cleaning attachment, best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings and generally designated by the reference numeral 98. A rug cleaning attachment is effectively a support for supporting the fioor conditioner so that the brush 24 is disposed in a predetermined relationship with respect to the rug being cleaned. Actually, the brush 24 during a rug cleaning operation should lightly touch the rug and it will be appreciated that with the many different types of rugs available, such as deep pile rugs and short pile rugs, such a rug cleaning attachment must be readily adjustable for supporting the floor conditioner and particularly the brush 24 at the desired position. As best shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 7 and 8 ofthe drawings, the rug cleaning attachment '98 comprises a generally circular support plate 99 of a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner ring of tufts 78. Secured to the center of circular support plate 99 is a rigid pin supporting plate 100 having a central hub 100a defining an opening for receiving a suitable rodlike member or shaft 101 which may be press-fitted or otherwise secured therein. A plurality of uniformly spaced pins or projecting members 102 all equidistant from the shaft 101 project from the plate 100 in the same direction as the central shaft 101. Preferably, the pins 102, best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, are in the form of rivets which also function to secure the central rigid plate 100 to the support plate 99. Preferably, the shaft 101 is provided with an annular recess 103 for receiving a suitable C-shaped friction ring 104. The central shaft 101 is adapted to be slidably received within the central opening or recess 105 (FIG. 2) defined by tubular shaft 62. The spring retainer 104 provides sufficient friction so that the shaft 101 can readily be moved to different positions in recess 105 but will not fall out when the floor conditioner 20 is lifted and moved to different positions.

For the purpose of changing or adjusting the height at which the rug cleaning attachment 98 supports the brush 24 from the surface to be cleaned, there is provided selectively adjustable means in the form of an adjustment ring 106 which is preferably for-med of a molded plastic and which is adapted to be mounted on the shaft 101 to change the spacing between the lower end of tubular shaft 62 and the support means comprising

plates

99 and 100. The retaining ring 104 also prevents the adjustment ring 106 from sliding off the shaft 101. The adjustment ring 106 includes a plurality of recesses of four different depths defined in the surface thereof adjacent the pins 102 for receiving these pins therein. These recesses are designated as 107, 108, 109 and 110, respectively, the recesses 107 being the most shallow, the recesses 108 being slightly deeper, the recesses 109 being still deeper and the recesses 110 being the deepest recesses. Preferably suitable means in the form of

projections

106a, 106b, 1060 and 106d of various heights are provided on the periphery of ring 106 so the operator may readily grasp and rotate the ring. These projections, moreover, are disposed adjacent to

openings

107, 108, 109 and 110, respectively, readily to indicate the depth of the associated

recess

107, 108, 109 or 110 by the height of the associated

projection

106a, 106b, 1060 or 106d, respectively. If desired, suitable indicia such as 1, 2, 3, and 4 may also be provided on the top of the ring 106, as indicated in FIG. 7 of the drawings, to further indicate the recess depths. When the operator wishes to adjust the rug cleaning attachment, the adjustment ring 106 is lifted to remove the pins 102 from the recesses and then rotated so that the desired

recesses

107, 108, 109 or 110 receive the pins 102 to give the desired height. Obviously, when the shallowest recesses 107 are used, the rug cleaning attachment will support the brush 24 at the maximum distance above the rug. This adjustment will be used for very deep pile rugs since the support or attachment 98 will sink into the deep pile and it is desirable to support the brush so it just lightly touches the rug. On the other hand, for the very short pile rugs the adjustment ring 106 is positioned so the deepest recesses 110 are effective to receive the pins 102. It will be apparent that the rug cleaning attachment 98 can readily be removed or applied to the floor conditioner 20 by merely removing the shaft 101 or inserting the same into the recess 105 defined in the tubular stub shaft 62. The end of the stub shaft 62 will engage the top of the adjusting ring 106 and give the desired spacing of the brush 24 above the rug to be cleaned.

In view of the detailed description included above, the operation of the floor conditioner 20 of the present invention and the rug cleaning attachment 98 therefor will readily be understood. It will also be appreciated that the liquid dispenser identical with that disclosed in the above-mentioned Jepson et al. application can readily be applied for dispensing the desirable liquids for cleaning floors and rugs. It will, furthermore, be appreciated that there has been provided a floor conditioner which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is of simple sturdy construction and which will give long years of satisfactory service.

While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, numerous changes and modifications are likely to occur to those skilled in the art, and it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A floor conditioner comprising a power unit, a tubular stationary shaft depending from said power unit, a removable brush rotatably mounted on said tubular shaft and drivingly connected to said power unit when mounted on said shaft, a rug cleaning attachment for supporting said conditioner including said brush on a rug to be cleaned with said brush engaging the surface of said rug in a predetermined manner, said rug cleaning attachment including a readily removable incompressible rigid rodlike member insertable into the opening in said tubular shaft.

2. A floor conditioner comprising a power unit, a handle assembly pivoted to said power unit, a tubular stationary shaft depending from said power unit, a removable brush rotatably mounted on said tubular shaft and drivingly connected to said power unit when mounted on said shaft, a rug cleaning attachment for supporting said conditioner including said brush on a rug to be cleaned with said brush lightly engaging the surface of said rug regardless of the type of rug to be cleaned, said rug cleaning attachment including a rodlike member insertable into said tubular shaft, and selectively adjustable means on said rodlike member for selectively determining the height at which said floor conditioner is supported above a rug to be cleaned.

3. The floor conditioner of claim 1, wherein support means are secured to the lower end of said rodlike member, said support means including projecting members disposed in spaced parallel relationship with said rodlike member, and adjustable means rotatably mounted on said rodlike member including recesses of various depths for selectively receiving said projecting member.

4. A floor conditioner comprising a power unit, a handle assembly pivoted to said power unit, a tubular stationary shaft depending from said power unit, an annular brush rotatably mounted on said tubular shaft and drivingly connected to said power unit when mounted on said shaft, a rug cleaning attachment for supporting said conditioner including said brush on a rug to be cleaned with said brush engaging the surface of said rug in a predetermined manner, said rug cleaning attachment including a rodlike member insertable into the opening in said tubular shaft, support means secured to said rodlike member, an adjusting ring rotatable about said rodlike member and inter-posed between the lower end of said tubular shaft and said support means, and cooperating means on. said support means and said ring for selectively adjusting the spacing between said support means and said tubular shaft.

5. The floor conditioner of claim 4, wherein said adjusting ring is provided with recesses of different depths for selectively receiving a projecting member on said support means.

6. For use with a floor conditioner of the type comprising a power unit having a tubular stationary shaft depending therefrom and an annular brush rotatably mounted on said tubular shaft and drivingly connected to said power unit when mounted on said shaft; the combination of a rug cleaning attachment for supporting said conditioner including said brush on a rug to be cleaned with said brush engaging the surface of said rug in a predetermined manner, said rug cleaning attachment including a rodlike member insertable in the opening in said tubular shaft, support means secured to said rodlike member, an adjusting ring rotatable about said rodlike member and interposed between the lower end of said tubular shaft and said support means, and cooperating means on said support means and said ring for selectively adjusting the spacing between said support means and said end of said tubular shaft.

7. For use with a floor conditioner of the type comprising a power unit, a handle assembly pivoted to said power unit, a tubular stationary shaft depending from said power unit and an annular brush rotatably mounted on said tubular shaft and drivingly connected to said power unit when mounted on said shaft; the combination of a rug cleaning attachment for supporting said conditioner including said brush on a rug to be cleaned with said brush lightly engaging the surface of said rug regardless of the type of rug, said rug cleaning attachment including a rodlike member insertable into the opening in said tubular shaft, support means secured to said rodlike member, an adjusting ring rotatable about said rodlike member and interposed between the lower end of said tubular shaft and said support means, and cooperating means on said support means and said ring for selectively adjusting the spacing between said support means and said end of said tubular shaft including a plurality of pins projecting from said support means and recesses of different depths for receiving said pins defined in said ring.

8. The rug cleaning attachment of claim 6, wherein said rodlike member is provided with friction means to permit movement thereof when disposed within said opening and yet to prevent undesired separation of said attachment from said floor conditioner.

9. The rug cleaning attachment of claim 7, wherein the periphery of said ring is provided with finger engaging projections of diiferent heights, the heights corresponding to the depths of adjacent recesses.

10. A floor conditioner comprising a power unit including an electric motor and an output gear driven by said electric motor, a gear chamber in said power unit including an access opening leading to said chamber, said output gear being disposed outside said gear chamber, a cover for said access chamber, a stationary shaft secured to said cover and depending below said power unit, and a circular brush rotatably mounted on said shaft and including means drivingly connected to said output gear when said brush is mounted on said shaft.

11. A floor conditioner comprising a power unit, a handle assembly pivoted to said power unit, said power unit including an electric motor and an output gear driven by said electric motor, a gear chamber in said power unit for at least partially housing said output gear including an access opening leading to said gear chamber, a cover for said opening, said cover including means defining a 12. The floor conditioner of \claim 11, wherein said brush is provided with a gear portion engageable with said output gear.

13. A floor conditioner comprising a power unit, a handle assembly pivoted to said power unit, a housing formed of a plastic material enclosing said power unit, said housing having a large circular lower portion defining a brush chamber and an upper portion of smaller crosssectional area defining a chamber for said power unit, said power unit including an electric motor and an output gear driven by said electric motor, a base member for said power unit including an extending skirt of substantially less area than the cross-sectonal area of said circular housing portion, a circular bottom plate secured to said skirt and said housing to support said power unit in said housing, a stationary shaft secured to said power unit and depending therefrom, an annular brush rotatably mounted on said shaft and drivingly connected to said output gear when said brush is mounted on said shaft.

14. The floor conditioner of claim 13, wherein the top of the front of said circular housing portion is of low height to permit the front of said conditioner to enter toe spaces commonly provided in cabinetry.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,532,289 Weinbrenner Apr. 7, 1925 1,606,821 Anderson Nov. 17, 1926 2,221,315 Okun Nov. 12, 1940 2,817,977 Holt Dec. 31, 1957 3,011,189 Hulsh Dec. 5, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 869,588 Great Britain May 31, 1961

Claims

1. A FLOOR CONDITIONER COMPRISING A POWER UNIT, A TUBULAR STATIONARY SHAFT DEPENDING FROM SAID POWER UNIT, A REMOVABLE BRUSH ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULAR SHAFT AND DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID POWER UNIT WHEN MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, A RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR SUPPORTING SAID CONDITIONER INCLUDING SAID BRUSH ON A RUG TO BE CLEANED WITH SAID BRUSH ENGAGING THE SURFACE OF SAID RUG IN A PREDETERMINED MANNER, SAID RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT INCLUDING A READILY REMOVABLE INCOMPRESSIBLE RIGID ROD-