Patent Application
20120204915
This invention relates to a water sweeper or broom which is self-supported on a surface to remove debris from a surface; and more specifically to a water sweeper or broom that collapses to a smaller size for displaying at a point of sale or for storage.
Large flat surfaces, such as driveways, side-walks, pool decks, tennis courts and the like, are often difficult to clean quickly. One conventional way of cleaning such surfaces is to use a push broom or sweep broom. Unfortunately, using a conventional broom can be very tiring for the operator, and to remove all of the dirt with a broom, it is often necessary to go back over the area a number of times. Another method that is often employed is to use a spray of water from a garden hose to move the dirt and debris. However, the lone stream from a garden hose cannot clean large areas very quickly. Since neither of these methods has proven efficient for cleaning large flat surfaces quickly, it has been found advantageous to combine elements of a push broom with elements of a water sprayer in a device known as a water broom.
Water brooms having the width of a broom take up a lot of useable space. This is especially problematic at the point of sale where space is at a premium. Retailers are especially reluctant to market such brooms due to the their wide expanse. Accordingly, a water broom is needed which conveniently collapses to a manageable size for storing and displaying at the point of sale.
A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The cleaning apparatus connects to a liquid source under pressure, such as a garden hose, and disperses liquid on to a surface to remove debris from the surface. The surface cleaning apparatus comprises a handle member and a manifold. The manifold is connected to the liquid source at one end and the other end is connected to the manifold. The manifold has a right and a left section each of which is pivotally combined to the handle member. The right and left sections rotate between an extended position substantially perpendicular to the handle member and a retracted position parallel with the handle member.
In one embodiment, the elongated handle member is a telescoping elongated handle member that moves telescopingly between an extended position to a retracted position. In another embodiment, the handle member comprises a base member and a foldable member pivotally combined to the base member and moveable in a semicircular arc between an extended position and a retracted position parallel to the base member.
The surface cleaning apparatus includes at least one roller combined to the manifold and positioned behind the direction of flow of the liquid under pressure from the nozzles to the surface so as not to disrupt the flow of the liquid to the surface. The roller engages a ground surface to facilitate movement of the apparatus across the ground surface as liquid under pressure is directed out of the nozzles to the surface for moving debris across the surface.
For a more complete understanding of particular embodiments and their features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
A handle member coupling 114 couples handle member 102 to a valve 101 with a manually operated lever 110 and an ergonomic grip 112. Lever 110 has an opening to allow water under pressure to pass therethrough. A preferred type of valve 101 has lever 110 biased to the closed position. Valve 101 must be manually operated to the open position and when manual pressure is removed from lever 110, valve 101 is closed. Valve 101 is, in turn, shown coupled through a standard hose coupling 106 to a hose (not shown) that is connected to a water source. Valve 101 enables an operator of the water sweeper to use and operate the sweeper with one hand.
Handle member 102 is collapsible from an extended position to a retracted position. Referring to
Referring to the second embodiment illustrated in
In either of the embodiments, an elbow joint 118 is attached at the end of handle member 102 opposite that carrying coupling 114. Elbow joint 118 extends from handle member 102 and curves toward a linear position parallel with the ground surface. A T-shaped coupler 122 is combined to the upper side of elbow joint 118 to direct fluid from elbow joint 118 upward into manifold 104.
Two pivoting flow joints 120 are positioned on opposing sides of T-shaped coupler 122 and combine opposing ends of manifold 104. Pivoting flow joints 120 rotate 90° from a position in line with the longitudinal portion of T-shaped coupler 122 to a perpendicular position with respect to longitudinal portion of T-shaped coupler 122. An internal passage through pivoting flow joints 120 opens and closes as pivoting flow joints 120 rotate between the inline position and the perpendicular position.
A pair of support members 124 combine handle member 102 with manifold 104. Support member 124 are pivotally connected to a sliding coupling 126 that moves axially up and down handle member 102. Sliding coupling 126 has an internal diameter slightly larger than an external diameter of lower portion 102b of handle member 102. This allows sliding coupling 126 to move up and down handle member 102. Opposite ends of support members 124 are pivotally combined to manifold 104. In the extended position, as shown in
A plurality of spray nozzles 106 are mounted in a front forward facing portion of manifold 104. A center spray nozzle 106a is mounted in T-shaped coupler 122. Spray nozzles 106 and 106a provide a spray pattern directed toward the underlying surface and which overlap thereon when handle member 102 is held at a predetermined angular relationship to the underlying surface to be cleaned. Nozzles 106 and 106a that extend laterally the length of manifold 104 provide a continuous spray jet of water.
Support means comprising a pair of casters 128 is mounted on opposing ends of a support member 130 below manifold 104. Support member 130 is attached to the linear ground facing portion of elbow joint 118. Manifold 104 is maintained at a constant position above the underlying surface as the operator maneuvers water broom 100 therearound. Other manners for mounting casters and/or rollers 128 are contemplated and within the scope of the invention.
A water sweeper or broom 100 has been disclosed which is collapsible from an extended position to a retracted position to reduce the amount of space required to store water broom 100 or display at the point of sale. Furthermore, water broom 100 is self-supported on an underlying surface to be cleaned and provides a continuous spray pattern across the width of the broom 100.
Various aspects of any of the embodiments can be combined in different combinations than the ones shown to create new embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is understood that the disclosed water broom 100 may be used to dispense hot or cold water with or without detergent, or to dispense any other cleaning solvent or chemical solution when fabricated of appropriate materials.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by appended claims and their equivalents. The invention can be better understood by reference to the following claims. For purpose of claim interpretation, the transitional phrases “including” and “having” are intended to be synonymous with the transitional phrase “comprising.”
