US 4,071,920 A · Sweeper

Abstract

The specification discloses a sweeper in which a combined tubular frame and handle member comprising a generally U-shaped forward frame portion which is continuous with an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion serves as the focal point of the sweeper design. The combined tubular frame and handle member is mounted on a brush housing, serves to facilitate support of a dust bin, and serves as the focal point for additional design features such as a body cradling upper handle portion, a hand hold at the front of the dust bin and a pivotal side brush mount.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims17

Dependent claims

A sweeper comprising:

a brush housing;
a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped integral tubular forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and being joined to said brush housing at said upward and rearward angled portion;
said integral tubular forward portion terminating at the ends of said upwardly and rearwardly extending leg portions, at a point generally adjacent said brush housing and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending tubular handle portion, said handle being articulated at said terminating point of said integral tubular forward portion, generally adjacent said brush housing, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion and further including releasable detent means at said point of articulation whereby said handle can be maintained in a rearwardly extending operable position, but can be released and folded over the top of said brush housing and said dust bin into a stored position, whereby said sweeper can be tipped up and stored on end;
a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member;
a pair of ground engaging wheels;
means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing;
a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing;
forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion;
and
a dust bin removably supported by resting only on said frame portion of said tubular member and on said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush.

7 more elements

A sweeper comprising:

a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion;
a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said junction of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member;
a pair of ground engaging wheels;
means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing;
a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing;
forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion;
and
a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, said lower portion of said handle portion generally defining a plane, said upper gripping and control portion extending sharply upwardly out of the plane of said lower portion and defining a V shape such that each leg of the V provides a convenient hand gripping surface generally at either side of the operator's body, said upper gripping and control portion of said handle being of a truncated V shape having two handle legs joined by a handle base, said base providing a surface against which an operator can lean, said upper gripping and control portion of said handle extending perpendicularly to the plane of said lower portion of said handle, and said handle being articulated at a point generally adjacent said brush housing;
and further including releasable detent means at said point of articulation whereby said handle can be maintained in a rearwardly extending operable position, but can be released and folded over the top of said brush housing and said dust bin into a stored position;
said handle having sufficient length from said point of articulation to said upper portion so that when said handle is folded into its stored position said upper portion of said handle extends down in front of said dust bin such that said sweeper can be tipped up and stored resting on said upper portion of said handle with said opening of said dust bin pointed up.

7 more elements

A sweeper comprising:

a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion;
a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member;
a pair of ground engaging wheels;
means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing;
a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing;
forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion;
and
a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, said lower portion of said handle portion generally defining a plane, said upper gripping and control portion extending sharply upwardly out of the plane of said lower portion and defining a V shape such that each of the V provides a convenient hand gripping surface generally at either side of the operator's body, and said handle being articulated at a point generally adjacent said brush housing;
and further including releasable detent means at said point of articulation whereby said handle can be maintained in a rearwardly extending operable position, but can be released and folded over the top of said brush housing and said dust bin into a stored position;
said handle having sufficient length from said point of articulation to said upper portion so that when said handle is folded into its stored position said upper portion of said handle extends down in front of said dust bin such that said sweeper can be tipped up and stored resting on said upper portion of said handle with said opening of said dust bin pointed up.

7 more elements

A sweeper comprising:

a generally continuous, tubular member comprising a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion;
a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member;
a pair of ground engaging wheels;
means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing;
a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing;
forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion;
and
a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, said lower portion of said handle portion generally defining a plane, said upper gripping and control portion extending sharply upwardly out of the plane of said lower portion and defining a V shape such that each leg of the V provides a convenient hand gripping surface generally at either side of the operator's body, and said sweeper further including handle articulating means operatively associated with said handle portion of said frame and said leg portions of said frame for locking the handle in an operating position and for permitting selective forward pivotal movement of said handle portion so that said operator gripping and control portion is positionable in front of said dust bin whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle said sweeper may be stood on either end for storage purposes.

5 more elements

A sweeper comprising:

a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion;
a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member;
a pair of ground engaging wheels;
means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing;
a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing;
forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion;
and
a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, a forward portion of at least one of said legs of said frame portion of said tubular member being generally circular in cross section, and said sweeper further including:
a side brush for said sweeper including a pivot arm extending therefrom, said pivot arm including an end encompassing said circular portion of said frame leg and being rotatable with respect thereto, whereby said side brush can readily be pivoted up into a stored condition or down into an operative condition.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,575 words

Summary339 words

#The present invention relates to sweepers, particularly of the industrial push sweeper type for cleaning shop areas, sidewalks and the like. It could also be used in self-propelled sweepers, but is particularly well suited to the lower priced push sweepers.

#Typically, industrial push sweepers comprise a brush housing carrying a cylindrical brush and carrying wheels which rotate the brush. To this brush housing a handle is mounted for pushing the sweeper. The brush housing also serves to support a removable dust bin. Sometimes a frame element is also tacked onto the brush housing. It serves to further support the dust bin and typically a front wheel.

#It is believed that such devices have not been as popular as they could be because, while inexpensive, they either do not offer sufficient value for their price or do not offer sufficient profitability to the manufacturer to really sell them. Attempts to build in value with added features typically require substantial added manufacturing costs. Sometimes such attempts require that additional devices be tacked onto the brush housing, as is the case, for example, in the sweeper shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,101,498 to Davlantes, entitled "Sweeper" and issued Aug. 27, 1973, where a dust pan emptying pivoting device is additionally mounted on the brush housing.

Brief description of the drawings15 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the push sweeper in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sweeper;

#FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the hopper partially removed;

Detailed description2,974 words

#The preferred embodiment of the unique push sweeper in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and generally designated 10. The sweeper 10 includes a tubular member 12 having a generally rectangular shape and being bent to form a forward sweeper supporting frame portion 14 and a rearward, upwardly directed handle portion 16. A brush housing 18 is secured at each end to a side of tubular member 12, generally at the juncture of the forward frame portion 14 and handle portion 16. A pair of ground engaging wheels 20, 22 support the brush housing 18. A forwardly located caster wheel 24 is mounted on and supports the forward end of the frame portion 14 of tubular member 12.

#A molded plastic dust bin 26 includes a forwardly located shoulder portion 28 adapted to rest on the frame portion 14 and a recess 30 formed in its front wall for housing the caster wheel 24 and for creating a hand hold at the front of the machine. A dust bin handle 32 is pivotally connected to the rear end of the dust bin 26 to facilitate removal of the dust bin from tubular frame portion 14. A side brush arrangement 34 is pivotally mounted along one side of the frame portion 14, the pivoting being facilitated by the fact that tubular member 12 is generally circular in cross section, at least in the vicinity of side brush 34. As seen in FIG. 6, a cylindrical brush 36 schematically shown is rotatably mounted within the brush housing 18. The specific details of the mounting arrangement will be more fully described below in connection with FIG. 11.

#As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the forward frame portion 14 has a generally U-shaped configuration including a forwardly located base portion 38 and leg portions 40, 42. The leg portions 42 extend horizontally for a portion of their length and then angle upwardly along the sides of the bush housing. These upwardly and rearwardly extending leg portions then join and merge or blend into the upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion 16. In the preferred embodiment, the exact point at which the frame portion 14 stops and handle portion 16 starts is not capable of precise definition, although precise definition is not required for purposes of describing the invention.

Facts

Application

05/655,060Filed 4 Feb 1976

Granted

7 Feb 1978

Term ended

7 Feb 1995

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification8 codes

A47L 11/4013
Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles,…:…
A47L 11/22
Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings: floor-sweeping machines, hand-driven
A47L 11/4058
Movement of the tools or the like perpendicular to the cleaning surface: for adjusting the height of the tool
A47L 11/4072
Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles,…:…

Description3,575 words

Summary339 words

Brief description of the drawings15 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the push sweeper in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sweeper;

#FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the hopper partially removed;

Detailed description2,974 words

Sweeper

Life of this patent

Sweeper

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims17

Description3,575 words

Classification8 codes

Life of this patent

Drawings

Description3,575 words