Ergonomic control mechanism for self-propelled flooring equipment

A self-propelled floor preparation machine comprising:

• a. a steerable drive wheel driven by a first electric motor;
• and
• b. a controller comprising:
• i. a mount comprising a first handle and a hub defining a first axis of rotation;
• ii. a joint having a first member coupled to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, a second member coupled to the mount, a pivot member adapted to permit the second member to pivot relative to the first member, and a first lock, wherein the first lock is adapted to be released to permit the second member and the mount to be pivoted relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine, wherein the first lock is further adapted to be engaged to selectively fix the second member and mount in place in a selected position relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine;
• iii. a control stick mounted to and extending from the hub and adapted to be rotated about the first axis of rotation;
• and
• iv. an adjustable mounting bar coupling the first member of the joint to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, said adjustable mounting bar comprising two sections that are adapted to telescope with respect to each other to adjust the length of the adjustable mounting bar and a second lock adapted to secure the two sections together so that the adjustable mounting bar is fixed at a selected length;
• and
• c. a guard rail extending from the mount adjacent the control stick.

A controller for a self-propelled floor preparation machine comprising:

• a. a mount comprising a first handle and a hub defining a first axis of rotation, wherein the mount comprises a plate, and the first handle comprises a first opening through the plate;
• b. a joint having a first member coupled to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, a second member coupled to the mount, a pivot member adapted to permit the second member to pivot relative to the first member, and a first lock, wherein the first lock is adapted to be released to permit the second member and the mount to be pivoted relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine, and wherein the first lock is further adapted to be engaged to selectively fix the second member and mount in place in a selected position relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine;
• and
• c. a control stick mounted to and extending from the hub and adapted to be rotated about the first axis of rotation.

A self-propelled shot blasting machine comprising:

• a. a steerable drive wheel driven by a first electric motor;
• b. a second electric motor driving a blasting wheel;
• c. a hopper containing a supply of shot;
• d. a valve for metering shot from the hopper to the blasting wheel;
• e. a plenum coupled to a vacuum tube;
• and
• f. a controller comprising:
• i. a mount comprising a first handle and a hub;
• ii. a joint having a first member coupled to the self-propelled shot blasting machine, a second member coupled to the mount, a pivot member adapted to permit the second member to pivot relative to the first member, and a first lock, wherein the first lock is adapted to be released to permit the second member and the mount to be pivoted relative to the first member and the self-propelled shot blasting machine, and wherein the first lock is further adapted to be engaged to selectively fix the second member and mount in place in a selected position relative to the first member and the self-propelled shot blasting machine;
• iii. a control stick mounted to and extending from the hub, wherein the control stick comprises buttons and is adapted to be manipulated to control the speed and direction of the self-propelled shot blasting machine.

A controller for a self-propelled floor preparation machine comprising:

• a. a mount comprising a first handle and a hub defining a first axis of rotation;
• b. a joint having a first member coupled to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, a second member coupled to the mount, a pivot member adapted to permit the second member to pivot relative to the first member, and a first lock, wherein the first lock is adapted to be released to permit the second member and the mount to be pivoted relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine, and wherein the first lock is further adapted to be engaged to selectively fix the second member and mount in place in a selected position relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine;
• c. a control stick mounted to and extending from the hub and adapted to be rotated about the first axis of rotation;
• d. an adjustable mounting bar coupling the first member of the joint to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, said adjustable mounting bar comprising two sections that telescope with respect to each other to adjust the length of the adjustable mounting bar;
• and
• e. a second lock for securing the two sections together so the adjustable mounting bar is fixed at a selected length.

A controller for a self-propelled floor preparation machine comprising:

• a. a mount comprising a first handle and a hub defining a first axis of rotation;
• b. a joint having a first member coupled to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, a second member coupled to the mount, a pivot member adapted to permit the second member to pivot relative to the first member, and a first lock, wherein the first lock is adapted to be released to permit the second member and the mount to be pivoted relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine, and wherein the first lock is further adapted to be engaged to selectively fix the second member and mount in place in a selected position relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine;
• c. a control stick mounted to and extending from the hub and adapted to be rotated about the first axis of rotation;
• and
• d. a guard rail extending from the mount adjacent the control stick.

A self-propelled floor preparation machine comprising:

• a. a steerable drive wheel driven by a first electric motor;
• and
• b. a controller comprising:
• i. a mount comprising a first handle and a hub defining a first axis of rotation;
• ii. a joint having a first member coupled to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, a second member coupled to the mount, a pivot member adapted to permit the second member to pivot relative to the first member, and a first lock, wherein the first lock is adapted to be released to permit the second member and the mount to be pivoted relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine, wherein the first lock is further adapted to be engaged to selectively fix the second member and mount in place in a selected position relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine, wherein the pivot member of the joint comprises a hinge pin having a threaded end, said pin extending along a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and pivotally coupling said first member and second member together, wherein the first lock of the joint comprises a knob having a threaded bore adapted to receive the threaded end of the pin, wherein the first lock is adapted to be released by loosening the knob to permit the second member and the mount to be pivoted about the second axis of rotation and further adapted to be engaged by tightening the knob to selectively fix the second member and mount in place at a selected angle relative to the self-propelled floor preparation machine;
• iii. a control stick mounted to and extending from the hub and adapted to be rotated about the first axis of rotation;
• and
• iv. an adjustable mounting bar coupling the first member of the joint to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, said adjustable mounting bar comprising two sections that are adapted to telescope with respect to each other to adjust the length of the adjustable mounting bar and a second lock adapted to secure the two sections together so that the adjustable mounting bar is fixed at a selected length.

A self-propelled floor preparation machine comprising:

• a. a steerable drive wheel driven by a first electric motor;
• and
• b. a controller comprising:
• i. a mount comprising a first handle and a hub defining a first axis of rotation;
• ii. a joint having a first member coupled to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, a second member coupled to the mount, a pivot member adapted to permit the second member to pivot relative to the first member, and a first lock, wherein the first lock is adapted to be released to permit the second member and the mount to be pivoted relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine, wherein the first lock is further adapted to be engaged to selectively fix the second member and mount in place in a selected position relative to the first member and the self-propelled floor preparation machine;
• iii. a control stick mounted to and extending from the hub and adapted to be rotated about the first axis of rotation, wherein the control stick comprises a plurality of switches;
• iv. an adjustable mounting bar coupling the first member of the joint to the self-propelled floor preparation machine, said adjustable mounting bar comprising two sections that are adapted to telescope with respect to each other to adjust the length of the adjustable mounting bar and a second lock adapted to secure the two sections together so that the adjustable mounting bar is fixed at a selected length.