The present invention relates to cleaning devices and, more particularly, to cleaning devices which can be used as a broom, as well as a debris collector.
Hard floors can be cleaned using various products, a popular one being a broom due to its simple design and low cost. A dustpan is typically used in conjunction with a broom, whereby a user collects the debris with the broom, and then sweeps the unwanted debris into the dustpan for disposal. However, using a broom and dustpan together can be cumbersome, requiring the user to hold the broom in one hand, the dustpan in the other, and attempting to balance and control the two devices while sweeping debris into the dustpan. Furthermore, the dustpan is often misplaced or lost so that the user has no means to collect the swept debris.
Numerous prior art patents show broom and dustpan combinations that attempt to solve these shortcomings. One solution to the problem of lost dustpans is to provide an attachment means to connect the broom and dustpan so that they are stored together. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,893,426; 5,379,481 and 6,643,891 are examples of such devices. However, these devices require the user to hold a broom in one hand, a dustpan in the other and awkwardly sweeping debris into the dustpan.
Other patents which show a single device combining a broom and vacuum so that a user can sweep the unwanted debris and then vacuum the debris into a built-in dustpan or collection bin. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,722,112; 5,850,669 and 6,029,311 are examples of such devices. Although these devices do away with the need to have a separate dustpan, they require a strong motor and fan to produce the required suction force to effectively suck the debris. The typically increases the size and cost of the device.
Therefore, there is still a need for a simple, low-cost broom and dustpan device that allows a user to sweep and then collect debris using a single device.
The present invention provides the art with a cleaning device which has sweeping, as well as collection capabilities. The present invention provides the art with a broom-like device including a handle pivotable into two positions. In the first position, the broom is used as a standard broom. In the second position, a rotatable brush collects debris which has been swept into a pile by the broom. The present invention includes a motorized rotatable brush which directs the debris into a removable debris collector in the broom housing. The handle includes a mechanism to activate and deactivate the rotatable brush.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a cleaning device comprises an elongated handle. A housing is attached to one end of the handle. A stationary brush is coupled with the housing. A movable brush is also coupled with the housing. A debris collector is positioned in the housing adjacent to the rotatable brush. The handle pivots between a first and second position to enable use of the stationary brush in one position and the movable brush in the other. A motor rotates the movable brush. The handle is manipulated to energize and de-energize the motor.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a broom comprises an elongated handle with a housing attached at one end. A first brush is coupled with the housing. A second brush is rotatably coupled with the housing. The handle is coupled with a mechanism to rotate and halt rotation of the second brush. A motor is coupled with the second brush. The mechanism to produce rotation includes a switch to energize and de-energize the motor. The handle includes a plurality of segments, each segment includes a plunger. A latch is coupled with the handle to lock the handle in a first position.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a broom comprises a housing with a brush extending from the housing. A rotatable brush is coupled with the housing. A debris collector is coupled with the housing and is adjacent to, and associated with, the rotatable brush. A movable door is positioned adjacent the debris collector. The movable door moves between an open and closed position. The handle extending from the housing is pivotal between a first and second position which, in turn, opens and closes the movable door. The housing includes a plurality of wheels which are staggered or offset with respect to one another.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a broom comprises a housing having a first stationary brush and a second rotatable brush coupled with the housing. A motor is positioned in the housing and is coupled with the rotatable brush for rotating the brush. A power source is coupled with the motor. A pivotable handle is coupled with the housing. The housing pivots between a first and second position with respect to the handle. An actuating member activates and de-activates the motor. A debris collector is coupled with the housing to collect debris from the second rotatable brush. The power source is a battery coupled with the housing. The activation device includes a pushbutton mechanism in the handle.
From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is an exploded perspective view of the housing head of
b is an exploded perspective view of the dirt cup of
c is an exploded perspective view of the housing base of
d is an exploded perspective view of the pivot handle of
Turning to the Figures, a cleaning device, such as a broom, is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral 20. The broom includes a handle 22 which secures into a handle pivot 24 coupled with a broom housing 26. The broom housing 26 includes a stationary brush 28, movable brush 30 and a debris collector 32.
The housing 26 includes a pair of housing members 34 and 36 which are fastened together to form the housing 26. The housing members 34 and 36 form a pocket or cavity to retain the movable brush 30 and the debris collector 32 within the housing 26. The housing half 34 has an opening 38 which receives the debris collector 32. The debris collector 32 is frictionally removably held in the housing by side members 40 and 42, on the debris collector 32 and housing 26, respectively. The housing includes a battery cavity 44 which receives batteries 46 in contacts 78 to power an electric motor 48. A cover 50 enables access into the battery cavity 44.
The housing member 36 includes an opening 52 which enables debris to pass into the debris collector 32. A base plate 54 made of plastic and rubber is positioned onto the bottom of the housing member 36. The base plate 54 includes a squeegee 55 which enhances the collecting ability of the broom 20. The squeegee 55 assists in directing debris onto the debris ramp 76 and into the debris collector 32. Also, a plurality of rollers 56 are positioned on the bottom of the housing member 36. The rollers 56 are staggeredly positioned on the housing member 36 to prevent the wheels from being caught in a groove or the like during rolling of the broom 20. Thus, due to the stagger, only a single wheel would engage the groove while the others would remain flat on the floor providing a smoother and more controlled motion.
The housing member 34 includes a pocket 58, as well as an opening 60 in its front end. The pocket and opening receive the base member 62 of the brush 28. Thus, the brush 28 is frictionally held within the housing 26 via the pocket 58 and opening 60 in the housing members 34, 36. The brush 28 can be of any desired type angled or straight having bristles which will accomplish the desired sweeping of debris.
The second brush 30 includes a brush roll 64 with a pulley 66 at one end. The brush roll 64 includes a plurality of bristles 68. The pulley 66 is coupled with a drive belt 70 which, in turn, is coupled with a pinion gear 72 of motor 48. The motor 48 is electrically coupled with the batteries 46, via contacts 78, to drive and rotate the brush roll 64. Also, bushings 74 are secured at the end of the brush roll 64 to enable smooth rotation of the brush roll 64. Also, a barrier plate 65 separates the motor 48 from the brush 30 to prohibit dust from entering the motor cavity as well as retaining it in position. The brush roll 64 is positioned in the housing 26 with respect to the opening 52, such that the bristles 68 project out of the opening 52 as seen in
The pivot handle 24 is rotatably secured to the housing member 34 using the barrier plate 65. The pivot handle 24 includes ears 82 while the housing and barrier plate (not shown) includes recesses 84 to receive the ears 82. The ears 82 and recesses 84 form a journal bearing connection to enable the handle pivot 24 to rotate in the housing member 34. The handle pivot 24 includes a latch member 86 and a pivot handle cover 88.
The latch mechanism 86 includes a block member 90 and a tang member 92. Also, a spring 94 projects into a recess 95 in the block member 90. The spring 94 surrounds a post 96 on the pivot handle cover 88 when in an assembled position. The spring 94, in a first position, applies a force on the latch member 86 towards the handle 22. The force, in turn, forces tang 92 into engagement with a ledge 98 on the housing member 34 as seen in
The block member 90 includes a switch activating mechanism 170. The switch activating mechanism 170 includes a plug 172, spring 174 and plunger 176 positioned in bore 178. The plug 172 secures to the bore trapping the spring 174 and plunger 176 in the bore. The plunger 176 is thus movably biased in the bore 178.
A switch 100 is secured on the pivot handle cover 88. The switch 100 includes a spring finger actuation member 102. In the first position, the spring 174 forces the 176 plunger against the spring finger actuation member 102, and in turn, the switch 100 into an OFF position (
In order to move the pivot handle 24 from its first to a non-latched position, a button on the handle 22 is pushed inward. As this occurs, plunger 150 pushes block 90, which pushed forward, releasing the tang 92 from the housing ledge 98. Accordingly, the pivot handle 24 can be rotated to a non-latched position, as shown in
The debris collector 32 includes a dirt cup base 112 and a dirt cup cover 114 secured to the dirt cup base 112. A dirt cup strap 116 enables removal of the debris collector 32 from the housing 26. The cup base 112 includes a cutout 118 which receives a door carrier 120 which includes a door 122. Also, a door pivot 126 is secured within the dirt cup cover 114 by pivot support 115. The door 122 is positioned, via pins 125 and springs 127, onto the arms 128 of the carrier 120. The door 122 is spring biased to move between an open to close position. Also, the pins 125, at one end, are secured at the dirt cup base 112 and cover 114. Thus, the door 122 and door carrier 120 are rotatable, together, to an open position to enable removal of debris from inside the debris collector 32. The cutout 118 has a stop 119 which seats the door carrier 120 to close the cutout 118. When a force is exerted on the carrier by the housing, as seen in
As the pivot handle 24 is rotated from its first to a non-latched position, the cam surface 130 on the pivot handle 24 contacts the door pivot 126. As this occurs, the pivot 126, which is secured with the door 122, rotates the door 122 from its closed position in
Turning to
In
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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