Power riding trailer for an implement

#The present invention generally relates to floor treatment equipment, and more specifically relates to a power riding trailer for use in controlling, for example a speed and direction of, a floor treatment implement.

#It is often necessary to sand or refinish large areas of flooring, such as basketball gyms, ballrooms or the like. In order to make this job easier and less time consuming, the use of riding trailers has been employed. Thus, the sander, e.g., a drum sander, or other implement is hitched or otherwise coupled to a trailer. A human being, sitting atop this trailer, controls both the trailer and the implement and, overall, gets the job done faster than if he/she had to walk behind the implement.

#One such riding trailer or attachment is disclosed in Neitzer, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 3,161,994. The Neitzer, Jr. riding attachment includes two propelling and supporting wheels mounted on an axle driven by an electrical motor through a drive assembly including belts, pulleys, a chain and sprocket. In addition, this attachment has a separate steering lever which is coupled to a caster on the sander. Thus, the operator of the attachment indirectly steers the sander by manipulating the steering lever on the attachment to steer the caster. This riding attachment has several drawbacks. For example, the relatively complex drive assembly between the electric motor and the axle may be prone to frequent breakdowns and may require substantial maintenance. In addition, the feature in which the sander is indirectly steered using a steering lever on the attachment reduces the amount of control of and “feel” for the sander the operator has.

#FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a riding trailer apparatus in accordance with the present invention being used to propel a conventional floor sander implement.

#FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a driving assembly of the riding trailer apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a control cable connecting a foot pedal to a potentiometer of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

#Turning now to FIG. 1, a riding trailer apparatus for propelling a floor treatment implement, in accordance with the present invention, is shown generally at 10. The apparatus 10 generally comprises a frame 14 having a rear portion 16 and a forward portion 18, a powered wheel assembly 20 coupled to the frame 14, an operator support platform 24 coupled to the frame 14, and a hook-up mechanism 30 disposed on said frame forward portion 18 structured to enable a floor treatment implement 36 to be operatively coupled to the riding trailer apparatus 10.

#The operator support platform 24 may include a height adjustable seat 37 coupled to a post 37a, or any other suitable arrangement.

#In addition, turning now as well to FIG. 2, the riding trailer apparatus 10 further comprises a drive assembly 38 including a drive unit, preferably an electrical powered drive unit 40, for propelling the powered wheel assembly 20. The apparatus 10 preferably includes no hydraulic drive mechanism or gasoline powered motor.