Generally, this invention relates to mechanical sweepers. In particular, this invention relates to a configuration of a mechanical sweeper.
Mechanical sweepers are well know in the arts. Typically, these sweepers employ one or more vertical axis brushes which extend outwardly from the sweeper. Dirt is swept up by the brushes into a scoop which deposits the dirt and debris in a dirt receptacle. One type of sweeper, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,174, now expired, uses a pair of vertical axis brushes driven by a worm gear arrangement. This arrangement allows the brushes to sweep debris into a dirt receptacle during a forward stroke. On the reverse stroke, the worm gear wheel pivots around a drive shaft such that rearward movement of the sweeper also causes dirt and debris to be swept into a dirt receptacle during the reverse stroke.
Because such devices can be used both outdoors and indoors, the sweeper may encounter a variety of surface types. Therefore, it is desirable to adjust the force that the brushes apply to the surface being cleaned. For example, on rough surfaces, it is desirable to engage the brushes with less force to reduce pushing effort, whereas on smooth surfaces it is desirable to engage the surface with more force to get better debris pickup. Prior designs have addressed this problem by adjusting the height of the wheels that drive the sweeper brushes. A drawback to these designs is that the brushes are located on the front of the sweeper and the operator is positioned behind the sweeper. Thus, the operator must-move around the sweeper to make an adjustment for different surface types.
In addition, these cleaners typically include a dirt receptacle for transporting recovered dirt to a trash container. In some cleaners, the dirt receptacle includes the rear wheel of the cleaner. A drawback to this design is that removal of the receptacle prevents movement of the remainder of the sweeper. In addition, such receptacles are difficult to re-align with the sweeping portion of the sweeper after the dirt receptacle has been emptied.
What is needed therefore, is a mechanical sweeper configuration that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanical sweeper. The mechanical sweeper includes a front housing and a rotating brush secured to the front housing having tangentially extending bristles adapted to engage a surface at an oblique angle. The mechanical sweeper further includes a frame secured to a lower portion of the front housing and a height adjustment column rising from the rear of the frame. The mechanical sweeper still further includes dirt receptacle removably positional on an upper surface of the frame. The front housing and column serve to orient the dirt receptacle in a position relative to the frame.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanical sweeper. The mechanical sweeper includes a front housing and a first and a second rotating brush secured to the front housing each having tangentially extending bristles adapted to engage a surface at an oblique angle. The mechanical sweeper further includes a dirt scoop positioned in the upper housing proximate to the point at the bristles of the first brush contact the bristles of the second brush. The mechanical sweeper still further includes a frame secured to a lower portion of the front housing and a height adjustment column rising from the rear of the frame. The mechanical sweeper yet further includes a dirt receptacle removably positional on an upper surface of the frame and adapted to receive dirt from the dirt scoop when placed in an operational position. The front housing and column serve to orient the dirt receptacle in the operational position.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to
The drive mechanism is a worm gear arrangement similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,174. This drive mechanism drives the left brush 14 in the general direction of arrow 99 as the sweeper 10 is moved forward as indicated by arrow 18. Similarly, the drive mechanism drives the right brush 16 in the general direction of arrow 100 as the sweeper 10 is moved forward. The rotation of the left brush 14 in the general direction of arrow 99 cooperates with the rotation of the right brush 16 in the general direction of arrow 100 to advance debris on a surface in front of the sweeper 10 into the scoop 21 positioned beneath the sweeper 10. From the scoop 21, debris is advanced through the front housing 20 and into a removable dirt receptacle 30 via an opening 32 defined on the front portion of the dirt receptacle 30, see
This drive mechanism also drives the left brush 14 in the general direction of arrow 99 as the sweeper 10 is moved in reverse as indicated by arrow 19. Similarly, the drive mechanism drives the right brush 16 in the general direction of arrow 100 as the sweeper 10 is moved in reverse. The rotation of the left brush 14 in the general direction of arrow 99 cooperates with the rotation of the right brush 16 in the general direction of arrow 100 to advance debris on the surface in front of the sweeper 10 into the scoop 21. Thus, dirt and debris are advanced from the surface to the dirt receptacle 30 when the sweeper 10 is moved both in the forward direction, indicated by arrow 18, or the reverse direction, indicated by arrow 19.
A frame 24 is secured to the lower portion of the front housing 20 and extends rearwardly therefrom. The frame 24 is adapted to support a dirt receptacle 30 when the dirt receptacle 30 is positioned on the sweeper 10, as shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Once assembled, it should be appreciated that the positioning the knob on top of the column allows for easy adjustment of the height of the wheel 58 by the operator. Rotating the knob 52 in the general direction of arrow 69 causes the threads 64 of the screw 54 to advance within the threads 66 of the cam 55 thereby moving the cam 55 and axel support 56 downwardly in the general direction of arrow 84 relative to the frame 24. It should be appreciated that moving the axel support 56 downwardly in the general direction of arrow 84 also causes the wheel 58 to move downwardly within the wheel well 28. Alternately, rotating the knob 52 in the general direction of arrow 70 causes the threads 64 of the screw 54 to retreat within the threads 66 of the cam 55 thereby moving the cam 55 and axel support 56 upwardly in the general direction of arrow 85 relative to the frame 24. It should be appreciated that moving the axel support 56 upwardly in the general direction of arrow 85 also causes the wheel 58 to move upwardly within the wheel well 28.
Referring now to
Referring now to
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
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488950 | Raymond | Dec 1892 | A |
563869 | Mueller | Jul 1896 | A |
1507417 | Orr | Sep 1924 | A |
2268059 | Parker et al. | Dec 1941 | A |
2670485 | Gomez | Mar 1954 | A |
3937174 | Haaga | Feb 1976 | A |
4484371 | Patzold et al. | Nov 1984 | A |
4502173 | P/a/tzold et al. | Mar 1985 | A |
4644605 | Joss et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
5184367 | Haaga | Feb 1993 | A |
5231724 | Haaga | Aug 1993 | A |
5896611 | Haaga | Apr 1999 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050039277 A1 | Feb 2005 | US |