US2832978A - Floor polishers - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1958 E. F. MANN EI'AL FLOOR POLISHERS Filed April 13, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1958 E. FJMANN EI'AL 2,832,978

FLOOR 'POLISHERS Filed April 13, 1954 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 6, 1958 E. F. MANN ETAL 2,832,978

FLOOR POLISHERS 4' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 13, 1954' Fig.9

Fig. 7

May 6, 1958 E. F. MANN EI'AL 2,832,978

FLOOR POLISHERS Filed April 13, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent" FLOOR POLISHER S.

Edward Frank Maun and-Fred'erick'Roy Sibbaid, Perivale,

G'reenford; England," assignors to The Hoover Company, North- (Ianton; Ohio;- a corporation "of Blue Application April 13, 1954t'Sri'aLNbi42L883 Claims. (CLIS -Sfl) Gur invention relates to the art of -floor polishingimachines and is particularlydirected to a. floor polishing machine provided with a novel form of wax. applyingtde vice mounted thereon which maybe placed in or out of use at'tlie will of "the operator without in any way altering the waxing machine per se.'

Itis -a rincipal object of our inventionto provide a floor 'polishingmachine of 'atype incorporating one or more power-driven rotary brushes for the purpose of polishihg'w-ax'applied to the floor in cooperation with a novel iform"of"waxapplicator which is mounted on the polishing, machine frame andis arranged to be placed into and out of operative relation to the floor at-th e will of the-operatorso that. "th'e -machine may. be used-as a combinedfapplying and jpoli'shirigmachine oras apolishing machine oniy without alteration thereof.

It' is a further object of our invention to provide a floor polishingrnachi'ne provided with a wax applicator of a character suchtliat it will operate to apply a thin,- evenly distributed filmof wax on the floor utilizing waxes of widely varying viscosity.

It is' a further object of our invention toprovide aflo-or polishingmachine provided witha wax applicator in which the wax is fed in a thin, evenstream onto thefloor by means of a flexible applicator tongue engaging the'surface of the floor which receives the wax from a reservoir which is placed under controlled air pressure so as to provide for'even, steady flow of wax from the reservoir to the applicator as the machine isoperatedi- It is a further object of our invention to provide afloor polishing machine providedwith' a selectively=usable wax applying device wherein the' applicator maintains-the wax in a reservoir out of the presence of air and so seals the wax when the applying device is not actually engaged int'eeding' wax to the surface to be poiished that the-wax is maintained in its original form without caking, hardening, discoloring or sticking.-

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description proceedswhen taken in connection-with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a small-scale, rear 'elevational view in perspective of a floor polishing.machineembodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a-fioor-polishing mach ne'partly in section having'our novel wax applicator applied thereto and shown'in' a section taken on the'line 22 of'Figure 3 looking inthe direction of the'arrows;

Figure '3 is a rear elevational view of the applicator'shown in Figures 1 and Z With parts thereof broken away to illustrate internalconstruction;

Figure l is a detailed; sectional view taken along line 4--4'o'f Figure 3looking'in the direction of the arrows illustrating an air pressure release valve;

Figure S' is an end eievatioi'ial view of the wax applicator of Figure 3;

v Figure- 6 is a bottom plan vi'ewof the apparatus of Figure 2 with parts thereof-brokenaway to illustrate underlying construction;

ice

Figure 7- is a viewpartly in section of the upper end of the-propelling handle of the waxing machine illustrating an air pump attached-thereto;

Figure Sis a bottom planview of a modified form of; applicator tongue; and t Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line99 of Figure 8 looking in the direotionof the arrows-r Referring now to the drawing in detail, and firstto. Figures 1 and .2' thereof, there is illustrated a floor polish ing machine ofa known-type such as that illustrated and described in'the application of Edward O. Kohl, Serial Flo-91,980, filed May 7, ,1949 now U. S. Patent Noi 2,683,884, dated July 20, 19 54 for Floor Polishers and assigned to the assignee of this applicationcomprisinga cover housing 1 in which is contained a drive motor and gearing suitably connected tov drive downwardly: depending shafts 2 '-(see- Figure 6)- upon the lower end of which polishing brushes 3 are detachably mounted by a. known type of brush and shaft connection. The polisher housing l overlies and covers a main frame structure 9, see Figures 2 and 6; which carries the drive motor, gearing andbrush shafts. 2. The polisher is manipulated on the-floor by a propelling handle 4 attached at its lower end toa mounting bail 5 which is pivotally supported on studs 6 mounted on frame 9 and projecting-from opposite lateralsides of the-housing 1. The upper end of the handle is provided with a slightly curved hand grip portion 7 which is held by't-he hand of the operator when the device is in use., Electrical energy is supplied to. the motor within: the housing 1 by means of a service cord 8 which enters the housing {1 in anysuitable manner as by passing through'oneof the pivot studs 6.

The main frame Q'COI'ISiSiES of' separate sections ltl and 11, asshown most clearly in Figure 6, which are held to-. gether by bolts 12' and-13 passing through-mating, downs wardly-projectingflanges 14= on the frame sections 10; and 11. The energization of the-motor within the casing-f1 whichdrives, the brushes 3 is controlled by a suitable foot operated push-push switch -ls mounted on the housiug l and projecting upwardlyiat an angle on the rear face there: of, as shown: most clearlyzin Figures -1 and 2.

A w'axapplic'ator structuredesignated generally by the reference charaeter zfi is mounted on the rear side of the frame 9' in'a manner to be described hereinafter. The applicator comprises a hollow reservoir or container housing.21, open at-its "bottom, as viewed in Figure 2. The bottom of the icasing'21 is closed by a structure to be described hereinafter. The housing 21 is preferably made of metal such as radio casting and is provided on the forwardface-thereof with apair of spaced-apart, forwardly: projecting; and vertically-extending angle guides 23 which face each other todefine'a guide-channel therebetween (see- Figure 6). Guides 23 receive flattened, extend ing portions 24 forming; the lateral sides of a mounting and guide bracket 25vhaving. a forwardly-projecting flange 26 at the lower end thereof which is secured by nuts and bolts27to a mountingiand support arm 23 carried' b'y the stud- 13 which also serves to maintain the main frame sections 10 and '11 in assembled'relation. As shown most clearly in Figure '6, the stud 13 is considerablylonger than the stud '12 thereby providing a space on which the support' armnz8 may be mounted and secured by an anchoringinut 29. As shown in Figures 2 and-6, the mounting of the support arm 28 on the frame structure is normally-concealed from view and that the arm 23ers.- ten'ds'downwardly and/then rearwardly around the lower edge of the frame 9 -to support the mounting plate 25- in a 'vertical position. upwardly just rearwardly of the frame 9; The-intere'n'gagement:between the members 23 and 24, asshown'most clearly in Figures 3 and 6, provides for aslidablemountofthe container or housing 21 on the bracket 25. The mounting plate 25 is provided with tainer 21 to its upper, inoperative position sufficiently to disengage the guiding and sliding mount structures 23 and 24. in the operative position of the parts illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the casing 21 is held in lowered position by means of a catch or latch arm engaging over a laterally-projecting latching lug 36 on the left-hand guide 23 as viewed in Figure 3. The latch arm 35 is carried by an upstanding channel section leg 38 of a bell crank lever having a horizontally and laterally projecting channel section leg 39 terminating laterally of the casing 21 in a foot pedal 40. The latch 35 is attached to the bell crank arm 38 by means of a pair of rivets 41 which extend through adjusting slots 42 in the bight portion of arm 38. The position of the latch 35 on the arm 38 is adjusted by means of a stud 43 rotatably mounted on the bight portion of bell crank arm 39 and threaded into a nut 44 secured to the lower end of the latch arm 35. By turning the adjusting stud 43 the catch 35 may be raised or lowered on the arm 38 of the bell crank to vary the lower position of casing 21. p

The bell crank is mounted on a pivot pin 46 which is carried by a laterally-projecting, channel-shaped supporting bracket 48 secured to the mounting plate 25 by means of rivets 49. A torsion spring 50 is wrapped about the pin 46 having one end thereof bearing on the bight portion of the arm 38 and the other end thereof extending through a cutout in the bight portion of arm 39 to bear on the bight portion of the supporting member 48 so as to bias the latching structure in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. When the pedal is depressed by the operator the latch 35 is disengaged'from the lug 36 and the springs'31then slide the reservoir housing upwardly in the guides 23 until the screw 33 contacts lug 34. When it is desired to restore the housing 21 to the operative position, foot pressure is applied to a treadle section 52 mounted on the top wall of housing 21. The housing is then depressed against the bias of the springs 31 causing the rounded, lower edge of the lug 36 to engage the tapered end portion 53 of the latch 35, biasing the latch structure in a counterclockwise direction against the force of the spring 50 until the latch 35 snaps over the Hat upper portion of the lug 36 to hold the housing 21 in thelowered position.

An additional means are provided for releasing the latch 35 to permit the springs 31 to elevate the wax applying mechanism to inoperative position whenever the manipulating handle 4 is raised to the upright storage position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. This is an op tional means which may be omitted if desired. The mounting plate 25 is provided with an upstanding L- shaped arm provided with a stiffening rib as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The arm 45 is offset forwardly of the plate 25 as shown in Figure 2 and has the horizontal leg thereof extending to the left as viewed in Figure 3 where it'terminate s above the latch 35. The arm 45 is offset to lie in the space between the rear of casing 1 and the wax container 21 and clear all movable portions of the applicator mechanism. A' bell crank lever 47 is pivotally mounted on a pin 54 carried by the extreme end of the horizontal leg of thearm 45. A tension spring 55 is connected between the downwardly extending leg of hell crank 47 and arm 45 to bias the bell crank forcounterclockwise rotation, as viewed inFigure 3, to the limit allowed by a stop pin 56 carriedby arm45. The general- 'ly horizontal leg of bell crank 47 projects to the left, as viewed in Figure 3, to a point outwardly ofthe outer H be described hereinafter.

f V 4 y 7 side wall of the wax container casing 21 and is connected at its end to a flexible ball chain 57. The ball chain 57 is also connected to the rearwardly projecting portion of a bracket 58 connected by an oifset 58a to a U-shaped strap portion thereof 58b receiving one leg of the handle bail 5 to which it is secured by a clamping stud 59. When the handle is placed in the upright storage position of Figure 1, dashed line position of Figure 2, chain 57 is tensioned and rotates bell crank 47 in a clockwise direction against the bias of spring causing the gen,- erally vertical leg of the bell crank 47 to engage the latch 35 which projects forwardly beyond the catch 36, so as torotate the latch to disengage the same from catch 36. The proportions illustrated in the drawing are such that the bell crank 47 reaches the limit of its movement allowed by stop 56 when the handle is rotated to an angle of approximately 16 from the vertical, that is to say, the handle must be in a nearly vertical position before it begins to operate the latch releasing mechanism and in all other positions of the handle the latch is unalfected thereby and under the sole control of the pedal 40. Thus, the chain 57 provides a lost motion connection from the handle to the latch so that the latch is not operated until the handle is well above its normal operating range of movement. The length of bracket arm 58 and offset 58a are proportioned so that the arm 58 will clear the end of bell crank 47 and pedal 40 when the handle is lowered to a substantially horizontal position. The handle operated latchrelease provides absolute certainty that the applicator will not be left in operative position should the user of the machine suddenly leave the same as the handle must be placed in the storage position with this type apparatus before it is released by the operator.

The container 21 is elongated and open-ended at its bottom. An elongated flexible reservoir 6%) constructed of rubber or suitable plastic material is mounted within the container 21 and is provided on its open end with an enlarged head 61 which rests against the shoulder 681: formed around and slightly within the open lower end of the container 21. The bead 61 is preferably cemented to the shoulder a and engages the projecting wall of the container 21 to form an air-tight joint therebetween. thus hermetically sealing the space 22 between the container 21 and reservoir 60 except for certain ports t The reservoir 60 is formed complementally to the container 21 but has external dimensions slightly smaller than the internal dimensions of casing 21 and is a reservoir in which liquid or paste wax may be stored. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 the apparatus is arranged primarily for paste wax.

The lower end of the container 21 and reservoir 60 is closed by a wax-feeding device now to be described. The wax-feeding device comprises an elongated, flexible.

mounting plate 65 having laterally-projecting side wings 66 adapted to receive securing studs 67 which thread into the laterally-projecting flanges 68 on the casing 21.

The inner top portion of the tongue 62 is bonded to a flared metal liner plate 69 which supports and shapes the tongue and inlet to passage 63. When the studs 67 are drawn tightly the plate 65 squeezes the flared liner plate 69 against the downwardly-facing end of the head 61. on the reservoir 60 to form an air and wax-tight seal.

Downwardly-projecting mounting flanges 70 are provided on plate 65 at opposite ends of tongue; 62 which form supporting means for a closure structure for the channel 63 comprising a pair of elongated pinch plates 71 connected at their ends to the ends of curved arms 72 which are pivotally mounted on studs 73 carried by the end plates 70. The pinch plates 71 are elongated bodies slightly curved in cross section and are slightly longer than the tongue 62 so as to be engageable on opposite sides thereof throughout its length as is apparent from Figures 2 and 3. The curved arms 72 adjacent the points on which they engage the pivot pin '73 are provided with interengaging gear teeth 74 whereby rotation of either arm rotates the other arm in the opposite direction. Eac of the pins 73 is surrounded by a torsion spring 75 having-one end thereof engaging the overhanging flange 66 and the other end thereof engaging the associated arm 72 biasing the same to rotate in a direction to engage the associated pinch plate with the tongue 62. In the free position of the parts the four springs 75 urge the plate 71 into engagement with the tongue 62 and close the channel 63. The springs 75 are made coinparatively light so that plates 71 will engage the tongue withjust enough'force to collapse the same to close the channel 63 without forcing the side walls of the channel 63 together with sufiicient force to cause the same to adhere permanently.

The closure plates 71 are automatically operated by a mechanism comprising an actuating'arm 77 projecting forwardly from the arm 72 nearest the casing 1 on the right-hand end of the casing 21 as viewed in Figure The arm 77 overlies and is engageable with a stop plate 78 which is welded to the mounting plate 25 as indicated at 79 and extends laterally between the casing 1 and reservoir housing 21 to underlie the arm 77. In the position-of the parts illustrated in Figure the arm 77 has engaged the'arm 78 rotating the arm 77 in a clockwise direction which moves the plates 71 apart to disengage the tongue 62 to allow free flow of wax therethrough. When the latch 35 is disengaged to allow the reservoir 21 to rise to the extent permitted by stop tangs 34 and cap screw-33, thearm 77 disengages from arm 73 and the springs 75 automatically :close the plates 7i against the tongue 62.

Wax is expelled from the reservoir 60 through the channel 63 to the'spreader lip or tongue62 by developing air pressure within the space 22 whichcauses the reservoir 60 to collapse onto the wax and force the same out. Air pressure is particularly desirable for this purpose as it applies a. uniform force on all sides of the casing which is resilient and easily controlled and relieved.

The air pressure is developed by means of a flexible bulb 80 having spaced strap mounting portions 8.1 engaging the handle 4 just beneath the hand grip 7. The bulb 80 is a hollow member, preferably made of rubber, provided in its upper end with a valve plug 82 housing a ball check valve 84 mounted to be biased downwardly to the open position illustrated by gravity. When the bulb 80 is collapsed manually, thecompressed air then forces the ball 84 upwardly against the seat 85 to close the air inlet passage 86. The lower end of the bulb 80 I is provided with a plug 87 having an exhaust passage- Way 88 therethrough communicating with a ball check valve 89 opening into a hollow valve housing and con necting member 90 which is secured to the lower end of the valve housing member 37 in air-tight relation. When the bulb 80 is collapsed, air pressure therein forces the ball 89 downwardly, away from the valve seat at the end of the passage 88 wherefore air compressed within the bulb 80 flows through the passage 83 into the casing 90. The lower'end of the casing 90 telescopically receives the upper end of a flexible air-conducting tube 91 which extends downwardly along the handle, as shown most clearly in Figure 1, and is secured adjacent the lower end of the handle adjacent the point where the handle 4 joins the bail 5 by means of a strap clamp 92 from which the conduit 91' extends to telescopically receive a nipple 93 projecting upwardly from the upper wall of the casing 21 and opening into the air space 22. It

' from the foregoing that repeated collapsing is apparent of the bulb 80 by manual pressure builds up air pressure within the casing 22 to any desired degree. The operator 6 builds up pressure within the air space 22 until the rate of feed of the wax is satisfactory considering the nature of the wax and the nature of the surface to which it is being applied.

A manually-operated pressure relief valve is arranged in the bellows structure to permitthe operator to discontinue the feed of wax instantaneously. The bellows includes a downwardly-proiccting shirt portion 95 which is provided with opening to receive the operating button 96 of a rubber valve 97 mounted within the chamber 90 in position to close an exhaust port spaced around the extension connecting the button 96 and valve 97. The valve 97 is provided with a tubular extension 99 extending across the chamber 90 to engage against the side wall thereof opposite the port sealed by the valve 97. The length of the tubular member 99 is made slightly greater than the space between the valve 97 and opposite wall of the chamber 9% when the valve is in closed position; wherefore, the tubular member 97 resiliently presses the valve into the seat to insure a seal therebetween and also serves as a spring against which the valve moves when actuated to open position by pressure applied to the button 96. Air pressure within the chamber 22 can be substantially instantaneously released at any time simply by pressing upon the button 96.

A means is also provided to release the air pressure automatically within the chamber 22 whenever the pedal 40 is depressed or the handle is raised to storage position to release latch 35 and permit the springs 31 to raise tongue 62 out of engagement with a supporting surface. This means comprises a hollow rivet extending through the wall of the casing 21 into the space 22 and opening to the exterior of the casing 21 on the forward side thereof. The hollow rivet 105 forms an exhaust port and valve seat for a valve plate 106 pivotally mounted on a pin 107 supported by the legs of a U-shaped bracket 108 riveted to the forward face of the casing 21. A torsion spring 109 is wrapped about the pin 107 and bears between the front wall of casing 21 and valve plate 106 to bias the valve to the open position. A spring steel actuating arm 110 is riveted to the forward face of the valve arm 106 and bears against the mounting plate 25 when the casing 21 is in the lower operative position illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The spring 110 is strong compared to the spring 109 and overcomes the bias thereof when spring 110 engages wall 25 to maintain the valve 106 in closed position illustrated in Figure 4. When the pedal 40 is depressed or the handle is raised to release latch 35 to allow the reservoir and casing 21 to be elevated, the spring 110 rides out of engagement with plate 25 and spring 109 then moves the valve 106 to the open position to relieve the air pressure within casing 22 and thus automatically to prevent a discharge of wax when the-tongue 62 is disengaged from the supporting surface.

this purpose a second hollow rivet is mounted in the side wall of the casing 21 opening to the space 22 therein and forms a discharge port and seatfor a valve 116 mounted on a spring steel support 117 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 118 carried by a U-shaped bracket 119 secured to the side wall of the casing 21. A torsion spring 120 is wrapped about the pin 118 bearing between the side Wall of the casing 21 and the spring arm 117 to bias the valve 116 to the open position. The supporting arm 117 is provided with a laterally-bent, bearing section 121 in position to engage the right-hand stud 67 as viewed in Figure 3. When the stud 67 is drawn up, the projecting end thereof engages plate 121 and forces the valve 116 into a seat on the rivet 115 against the bias of spring 120 to seal the space 22. As soon as the user loosens the stud 67 the valve 116 will move to open position to relieve the air pressure within thespace.

:a samess :19 ;.c,onstruction,of parts-without *departing -from the spirit of .Zthei invention or the scope-oftherappended claims.

IWti claim:

;1. 1n a polisher having a--main"frame adapted-to be Jsupported'on a surface to bepolished and apropelling handle attached to the frameythe combination of a wax applying structureshaving aawax container, a depending Y wax applicator and air pressure operated means for feeding wax -from-the-containerto the applicatorymeans on the frame mountingthewaxapplying structure for movement between-operativeand-inoperative positions, means biasing the wax applying structure to inoperative position, a releasable latch for holding the wax applying structure in operative position, a valve means operative to release air pressure fi'om the air pressure operated means when the wax applying structure is in inoperative position, and manually operated means for releasing the latch.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the manually operated means comprises a foot pedalsupported by the main frame.

3. Apparatus according to claim ,1 wherein the propelling handle is pivotally mounted on the main frame and the manually operated means comprises a linkage having a lost motion connection to the handle arranged to be operated to release the latch as the handle moves to an upright storage position from a position above the normal operating range of movement of the handle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the handle is pivotally mounted on the frame and is movable to an upright storage position and the manually operated means comprises a foot pedal for operating the latch and mechanism operated as the handle moves to storage position for operating the latch.

5. In a wax applying device adapted to be mounted on a supporting frame in use comprising a wax receptacle, an elongated flexible applicator tongue depending from the receptacle and having a passage therethrough for conveying wax from the receptacle to a supporting surface, fluid pressure actuated means for applying pressure to wax in the receptacle to feed wax through the applicator and means for simultaneously releasing the fluid pressure from said actuated means and for pinching the applicator to close the passage against the flow of wax or air.

6. A Wax applying device comprising a rigid container having an open bottom, a flexible wall wax receptacle mounted within the container having an open bottom and having the rim thereof around the open bottom secured to the inside wall of the container adjacent the open bottom thereof, an applicator tongue of flexible material having a wiping lip and a wax feeding passage therethrough terminating in the lip, means for securing the applicator tongue to the receptacle in air sealed relation to the receptacle and with the applicator passage communicating with the interior of the receptacle, and

means for applying pressure to the exterior of the re ceptacle to feed wax therefrom into the applicator passage for delivery to the wiping lip, said wiping lip being adapted to contact a surface to be Waxed for spreading the wax thereon.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the pressure applying means includes air compressing means connected to supplycompressed air to the interior of the rigid container around the receptacle whereby the pressure of the compressed air collapses the receptacle to feed wax through the applicator passage.

8. in a floor polishing machinehaving a body portion, a power driven brush mounted on the body portion and a propelling handle mounted on the body portion, the combination therewith of a wax applying structure comprising a flexible wax reservoir, an applicator tongue mounted on the reservoir and having a passageway therethrough communicating with the reservoir for conveying wax from the reservoir to a surface to be waxed, said passageway terminating in a wiping lip adapted to be disposed in contact with the surface for spreading the -'waxthereon,-- means including actuating partaongthe ehand-le and means associated with said reservoirfor ap- -plyingfluid pressure -tothereservoin tot expel'twax there from; and means mounting the reservoir-onathe body portion formovement between anoperative position -in which -the wiping lip is disposed imcontactawith the-surface and. an inoperative position -inswhich= thetsvipingllip is r dtrcne qntact ,withthes rias 9. Apparatus accordipg to claim 8 wherein the reservoir is in the formof -a -collapsible flexible container, and

., the pr ssu apnlyinameau eemnrisest gi contai encompassing the reservoir and an air pump mounted on the handle and connected to supply air under pressure to the rigid container around the wax container.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the wax applying structure is mounted on the body portion for slidable vertical movement between operative and inoperative positions, spring means biasing the structure to inoperative position, a spring latch for holding the structure in operative position, a foot pedal for releasing the latch, and a pedal on the structure whereby the structure may be moved to the latched operative position by foot pressure applied to the structure.

11. A wax storing and applyingstructure comprising a rigid housing having an open bottom, an open bottom flexible walled wax container mounted in the housing with the walls of the container about the open bottom thereof sealed to the walls of the housing about the open bottom thereof to define a sealed air space in the housing around the container, a removable bottom wall for the container and housing having an applicator projecting therefrom formed with a passageway for conducting wax from the container to a surface to be waxed, said applicator being in the form of an elongated flexible tongue extending downwardly from said removable bottom and terminating in a pair of wiping lips on opposite sides of said passageway for Contact with said surface to spread wax thereon and means for compressing air in the space around the container to collapse the walls thereof and force wax through the passageway for delivering the wax to the wiping lips.

ILApparatus according to'claim 11 including an air exhaust duct through the housing for releasing pressure from the container, a valve biased to open position for controlling the duct, and means holding the valve closed when the bottom wall is secured to the housing.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the air compressing means comprises a collapsible bulb, a conduit for conveying compressed air from the bulb to the space between the housing and container and a manually operated pressure release valve is provided in the. conduit adjacent the bulb.

14. In a polisher having a main frame, a polishing device on the frame and a propelling handle mounted on the frame, the combination of a wax applying structure comprising a container for Wax having a depending applicator adapted to feed wax to a surface to be waxed,

' air pressure operated means for applying pressure to wax in the container to feed the wax to the applicator, means on the frame mounting the container for movement between an operative wax applying position in which the applicator is disposed in contact with the surface and an inoperative position in which the applicator is removed from contact with the surface, a valve for releasing air pressure from the air pressure operated means, and automatic means for opening the valve when the container is moved to inoperative position and for closing the valve when the container is moved to operative position.

15. In a floor polisher having a body portion, a power driven polishing brush mounted on the body portion and a propelling handle attached to the body portion, the combination of a rigid closed housing carried by the body portion to the rear of said polishing brush, a wax storing and feeding structure comprising a flexible walled wax container in the housing having an applicator tongue projecting below said housing and formed with a passagemounted on said'handle and connected to supply air -under pressure torthe space between the housing and wax container to force wax through said passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,099,344 Desenberg June 9, 1914 I12 Pera1t a June 6, Cook Aug. 30, Peek et al. Oct. 4, Piquerez -QMar. 1, Terry .Nov. 9, Martina Jan. 12,

FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Mar. 17, France Oct. 29,

France Sept. 14,

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