US3868741A

US3868741A - Friction driven rotary cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3868741A
Application number: US117937A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Coult
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-23
Filing date: 1971-02-23
Publication date: 1975-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-04
Also published as: US3755845A; DE2208603A1

Abstract

This disclosure depicts a number of embodiments of lightweight, highly maneuverable, friction-driven ground and floor cleaning apparatus for cleaning dirt and debris from patios, sidewalks, industrial floors and the like. Lightweight multi-function housing means are disclosed which serve, inter alia, as an exoskeleton to support for rotation and to protect a cylindrical brush and a pair of drive wheels.

Description

1 1 Mar. 4, 1975 FRICTION DRIVEN ROTARY CLEANING 2.371.918 3/1945 15/41 R 2,700,783 2/1955 Parker et a1. 15/79 APPARATUS [76] Inventor: John H. Coult, 901 N. President FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS St., Wheaton, 111. 60187 Feb. 23, 1971 Appl. N0.: 117,937

366,863 l/l923 Germany..........................1. 15/41 R 601,813

3/1926 Germany............................. 15/49 C [22] Filed:

Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John H, Coult ABSTRACT This disclosure depicts a number of embodiments of highly maneuverable, friction-driven ground and floor cleaning apparatus for cleaning dirt and debris from patios, sidewalks, industrial floors and I h .W 6 W t 7 .h 5 .m l. 1 R5 1 1N M l 7 M 90 5m74 l 0 6 M CS 7 0 00 $1 8 1 3 M04414 d n/ a wn m mm; C MI ull m m M e "nu r unul mu. 6 "W" R mna e s L C .m .m UILF mum (N 555 5 the like. Lightweight multi-function housing means are UNITED STATES PATENTS disclosed which serve, inter alia, as an exoskeleton to in s U r. .D 2 .w r d i w, C a t C 6 t O r Dr S 8 me h w me n.w m I f r mm a MD. a D- u ma 9 RRR 111/ 444 555 H Hoe H e m k O b arn er u LFKS 5 9 a -3 9999 NH 6311 0508 4 03 3 54 4794 .3 111 6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHMI '41975 3.868.741

sum 3 or 5 PATENTEnm" 4:915

sum nor 5 PAIENIEB R 191s sums or .5

Fig 10.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art expounds many friction-driven rotary brush devices for cleaning streets, floors, and other surfaces. Many of these devices have dirt-receiving compartments are are large, cumbersome three and fourwheeled vehicles. All within my knowledge are relatively heavy, unwieldy, and otherwise generally unsuited for rapid and easy light outdoor or industrial cleaning, and clearing. Examples of such prior art are US. Pat. Nos. 588,250 Taft; 1,014,404 May; 2,689,367 Parker; 481,269 Thompson; and 734,555 Hoadley.

'OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide improved cleaning apparatus for cleaning patios, sidewalks, and the like which has very high cleaning efficiency, and which is extremely lightweight, compact, highly maneuverable, and generally easy and comenient to use.

It is another object to provide such cleaning apparatus having an extremely strong yet lightweight multiple function housing making possible the achievement of the above-stated objects of lightness, compactness, maneuverability, and general ease and convenience of use.

It is yet another object to provide such cleaning apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture It is another object to provide cleaning apparatus having a friction-driven cylindrical brush which may be quickly and easily removed for cleaning or replacement.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part become apparent as the following description proceeds. The features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a'cleaning device embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partly broken away, of one end of the FIG. 1 device;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary side elevational view of a snap-in bearing arrangement in an end wall for the device;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the opposite end of the FIGS. 1-4 device; FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an end of a brush shown in FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view ofa second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the right end of the FIG. 7 embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the right end of the FIGS. 7-8 device;

2 FIG. 10 is an isolated view ofa mounting bracket constituting part of the FIGS. 7-9 embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an alternative wheel and brush mounting arrangement; and

FIG. 12 is an end elevational view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. l-6 illustrate a cleaning device 10 representing one of the many devices contemplated for implementing the principles of this invention. The device 10 is illustrated as including a support structure inthe form of a rigid housing 12 which supports for rotation a cylindrical brush 14, all as described in detail below.

The device 10 includes a'pair of wheels l6, 17 having stub axles l8, 19. The

wheels

16, 17 are shown as each including a hub 20 having a peripheral depression for receivingan elastic tire 22 of high friction material.

Transmission means are provided for coupling at least one of the wheels l6, l7 and the brush shaft 15 such that rotation of the wheels effects an opposite rotation of the brush 14. In the FIGS. 16 embodiment the transmission means is shown as takingthe form of a pair of spur gears 24, 26. Spur gear 24 may be affixed, for example, on the stub axle 19 of wheel 17, or alternatively as shown, the wheel 17, stub axle l9, and spur gear 24 may be injection molded as-a unitary structure from a suitable plastic material. Spur gear 26, which may also be of a molded plastic construction, is

' mounted on the brush shaft 15. The spur gear 26 is here shown as being molded as an integral part of a hollow sleeve 28 which is interference fit upon end 30 of the brush shaft 15.

The brush 14 is here shown as being of a construction known as twisted-in wire; howeventhe brush may be of the tufted-axle, or strip types or of any other suitable construction. The other end 32 of the brush shaft 15 is force fit into a sleeve-like cap 34 having a retaining flange 36, as shown inFIG. 6.

The construction and functions of the housing 12 constitute an important aspect of this invention and will now be discussed in detail. The housing 12 has a number of significant functions. First, it provides a rigid but lightweight exoskeleton for the device and includes support means which rotatably support the

ends

30, 32 of the brush shaft 15 and the stub axles l8, 19 carrying the wheels l6, 17. More particularly, the housing 12 includes a longitudinal bodyportion 37 having a lightweight, thin-walled construction, which may be of suitable molded plastic or sheet metal. The body portion 37 of the housing 12 hassubstantial curvature in planes transverse to the brush shaft 15 to provide rigidity without a high weight factor. 0

The housing 12 has apair ofend

walls

38, 40 extending forwardly from the longitudinal body portion 37 of the housing which respectively support an end of each of the wheel stub axles l8, 19, as described in more detail below. Spaced inwardly from the

end walls

38, 40 on the opposite side of the wheels l6, 17 is a pair of support arms or members, here shown in the form of integral

interior walls

42, 44. The

interior walls

42, 44 support the other end of each of the stub axles l8, 19 (see below) and ends 30, 32 of the brush shaft 15. The

interior walls

42, 44 also act to partially shield, the

wheels

16, 17 and gears 24, 26 from dust and debris thrown by the brush l4.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the

stub axles

18, 19 are preferably supported for rotation by the housing 12 in like snap-in arrangements comprising

cylindrical recesses

45, 46 at the ends of

grooves

45a, 46a in end walls 38, 40 (see FIG. 2A), and

circular apertures

47, 48 at the ends of

slots

50, 52 in the

interior walls

42, 44.

Another important function of the housing 12 is to rigidly support the ends of the brush shaft 15. In the illustrated embodiment the cap 34 on the left end 32 of the brush 15 and the sleeve 28 at the right end 30 of the shaft 15 are snapped into circular apertures at the closed ends of slots in

interior walls

42, 44. The right end only is shown; the circular aperture is shown at 55, the slot at 57. By the described snap-in support arrangement, the wheels 16, Hand the brush 14 may be quickly and easily attached during assembly of the device, or detached for subsequent replacement or cleanmg.

Yet another function of the housing 12 is to shield the user from flying debris, especially if the device should be pulled backwards so as to cause the brush 14 to rotate in the reverse direction, causing the brush 14 to throw debris toward the user.

The housing 12, by virtue of its wrap-around construction provides a rear support edge 62 which protects the brush, for example, in a situation where an elevated patio is being cleaned and one wheel runs off an edge.

A handle 64 for the device is connected to the housing 12 such that the handle and the housing 12 pivot together about the common wheel axis 66. By thisconstruction, elevational adjustment of the handle 64 effects an adjustment of the interference between the brush and the surface being cleaned. A user may thus control the bite of the brush 14 instantaneously and continuously while operating the brush to compensate for variations in characteristics of the debris being swept and of the surface being cleaned.

By locating the wheel axis 66 forwardly of the brush shaft 15, adjustment of the handle height effects an adjustment in a like direction of the brush 14. For example, lowering the handle produces a natural lowering of the brush 14, making adjustment of the brush bite a very natural maneuver.

The engaged end of the handle 54 carries a hand grip 68 as shown in FIG. 1, in order to place the axis of the users hand at a comfortable angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle 64.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. The FIGS. 7-10 device is illustrated as having housing means in the form of a stamped sheet metal housing 72 having the same general construction and functions as the housing 12 in the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment. The arcuate cross-sectional configuration of the longitudinal body portion 73 of the housing provides great rigidity but a low weight factor. Further, the housing 72 acts to partially shield the user from flying dust and debris and offers considerable protection for the brush 82.

A pair of

end walls

74, 76 and a pair of interior support arms or members, here shown as

interior walls

78, 80 extend from the body portion 73 of the housing 72 to rotatably support a cylindrical brush 82 and a pair of

wheels

84, 86. The

interior walls

78, 80 may be affixed to the body portion 73 of the housing by welding, with rivets or other fasteners or by any other suitable means; in the illustrated embodiment, the interior walls 78, constitute portions of

similar brackets

86a, 87. The left and

right side brackets

86a, 87 are similar; the right side bracket 87 will be described.

Bracket 87 has an L-shaped back portion 88 which is attached rigidly to the housing 72, as by rivets 89. Extending forwardly from the back portion 89 is the interior wall 80 and a second interior wall 90. The

interior walls

80, 90 have

apertures

91, 92 which receive and serve as bearings for stub axle 93 on the wheel 86. An aperture 94 in interior wall 80 supports for rotation the right end of a shaft 95 for brush 82.

Stub axle 96 on wheel 84 is similarly captured and held for rotation in left end bracket 86a.

A transmission for coupling wheel 86 to the shaft 95 of brush 82 is illustrated as comprising a pair of spur gears 97, 98.

A handle 99 isjoined to the housing 72 such that the handle 99 and housing 72 pivot as a unit about an axis 100 through the

wheels

84, 86. As in the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment, elevational adjustment of the handle 103 effects an adjustment of the bite of the brush 82.

The invention is not limited to the particular details of construction of the embodiments depicted, and it is contemplated that various and other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, whereas the described embodiments have been discussed in terms of their performance as sweeping devices, it is contemplated that by appropriate selection of brush construction and characteristics, gear ratio of the transmission and other relevant parameters, devices especially suited for outdoor scrubbing and the like or multi-purpose sweeping-scrubbing devices may be constructed according to the above teachings.

Other exoskeletal housing constructions are contemplated to implement the support and other functions described herein. The principles of this invention might be employed for constructing a cleaning device with the brush axis disposed ahead of the wheel axis. Such a construction would operate differently from the disclosed embodiments since lowering the handle would reduce, rather than increase, the bite of the brush. The bracket 87 in the FIGS. 7-10 embodiment may take many other forms consonant with the wheel and brush support functions required. For example, see FIG. 11 showing a single arm bracket 87a for supporting one end of one stub axle and one end of a brush shaft. In this embodiment, the housing end wall 87b constitutes the cooperative necessary part ofthe support means for supporting the other end of the wheel axle.

Rather than separating the wheel and brush axes, as

depicted in the above-discussed embodiments. these axes may be made to coincide (see FIG. 12). In such an arrangement, the diameter of the brush 102 is necessarily greater than the diameter of the wheels 104, e.g., by A 1 inch. A coaxial arrangement as described does not provide for adjustment of the bite of the brush, but the brush 102 would be operable at any elevational setting of the handle 106. A transmission 108 such as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,145,738 may be employed to couple the wheels 104 and the brush 102.

Therefore, because certain changes may be made in the above-described apparatus without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that the subject matter of the above depiction shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

ceives a wheel for rotation thereon'is intended to be considered a stub axle.

Whereas the above depiction stresses the use of a rotary cleaning tool in the form of a cylindrical brush having bristles extending from a central shaft, the use of other surface-treating tools capable of rotary operating in lieu thereof is within the compass of this invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for cleaning dirt and debris from patios, sidewalks, and the like, comprising:

a cylindrical brush having bristles extending from a central shaft;

a pair of wheels, one wheel being disposed at each end of said brush, each of said wheels being mounted on a stub axle;

a one-piece injection-molded plastic housing means for rotatably supporting both ends of said brush shaft and for supporting said axle means such that said wheels turn on a common wheel axis;

transmission means coupling at least one of said wheels and said brush shaft such that wheel rotation causes said brush to rotate; and

a handle joined to said housing means such that said handle and said housing means pivot together about said wheel axis; the improvement wherein said housing means in cludes a longitudinal body portion partially surrounding said brush to protect said brush and shield the user from flying debris, said body portion having substantial curvature in planes transverse to said brush shaft to provide structural rigidity for said housing means, said housing means having extending from said body portion a pair of integral end walls and substantially parallel therewith and between said end walls a pair of interior walls integral with said body portion, said end walls and said interior walls supporting for rotation both ends of said brush shaft and said stub axles, said interior walls acting to partially shield said wheels and said transmission means from dust and debris thrown by said brush, said interior walls including open-ended slot means for receiving in a snap-in fit at least one end ofeach of said stub axles and both ends of said brush shaft. i 2. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said end walls support the other end of each of said stub axles. 3. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said body portion of said housing means has a bottom edge defining a guard for protecting said brush shaft in situations where two-wheel support of the apparatus might be lost.

'6 4. The apparatus defined by claim 3 wherein said one of said wheels, said stub axles for said one wheel, and a spur gear comprising part of said transmission means are molded as a single unit.

5. Sweeping apparatus for cleaning debris from patios, sidewalks, and the like, comprising:

a twisted'in-wire cylindrical brush having bristles extending substantially radially from a brush shaft; only two wheels, one disposed at each end of said brush and forwardly of said brush shaft, said wheels each having a hub mounted on a stub axle and a tire of high friction material surrounding said hub; thin-walled, curved cross-section housing means partially surrounding and protecting said brush, said housing means having a portion thereof extending below the elevation of said brush shaft when said apparatus is in an operating attitude to define a bottom edge acting as a guard for protecting said brush shaft in situations where two-wheel support of the apparatus is lost, said housing means including support means for rotatably supporting said brush shaft and means for rotatably supporting said stub axles, said stub axles being supported in alignment on a common wheel axis oriented parallel with and disposed forwardly of said brush shaft; transmission means coupling at least one of said wheels and said brush shaft such that wheel rotation effects an opposite rotation of said brush, said transmission means comprising a first spur gear rigidly carried by the stub axle' on said one wheel and -a second smaller spur gear affixed to the end of said brush nearest said one wheel, said housing means supporting said first and second gears in mating engagement with said second gear behind said first gear; and a handle connected to said housing means such that said handle and said housing means pivot together about said wheel axis such that elevational adjustment of said handle effects an elevational adjustment in a like direction of said brush and thus an adjustment of the interference between said brush and the surface being cleaned, whereby a user may control the bite of said brush instantaneously and continuously while operating the brush to compensate for variations in the characteristics of the de bris being swept and of the surface being cleaned. 6. The apparatus defined by claim 5 wherein said housing means includes a thin-walled, lightweight longitudinal body portion partially surrounding said brush to protect said brush and shield the user from flying debris, said body portion having substantial curvature in planes transverse to said brush shaft to provide structural rigidity for said housing means, said housing means including support means extending from body portion for effecting said support of said stub axles and of said ends of said brush shaft.

=I= l =l

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning dirt and debris from patios, sidewalks, and the like, comprising: a cylindrical brush having bristles extending from a central shaft; a pair of wheels, one wheel being disposed at each end of said brush, each of said wheels being mounted on a stub axle; a one-piece injection-molded plastic housing means for rotatably supporting both ends of said brush shaft and for supporting said axle means such that said wheels turn on a common wheel axis; transmission means coupling at least one of said wheels and said brush shaft such that wheel rotation causes said brush to rotate; and a handle joined to said housing means such that said handle and said housing means pivot together about said wheel axis; the improvement wherein said housing means includes a longitudinal body portion partially surrounding said brush to protect said brush and shield the useR from flying debris, said body portion having substantial curvature in planes transverse to said brush shaft to provide structural rigidity for said housing means, said housing means having extending from said body portion a pair of integral end walls and substantially parallel therewith and between said end walls a pair of interior walls integral with said body portion, said end walls and said interior walls supporting for rotation both ends of said brush shaft and said stub axles, said interior walls acting to partially shield said wheels and said transmission means from dust and debris thrown by said brush, said interior walls including open-ended slot means for receiving in a snapin fit at least one end of each of said stub axles and both ends of said brush shaft.

2. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said end walls support the other end of each of said stub axles.

3. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said body portion of said housing means has a bottom edge defining a guard for protecting said brush shaft in situations where two-wheel support of the apparatus might be lost.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 3 wherein said one of said wheels, said stub axles for said one wheel, and a spur gear comprising part of said transmission means are molded as a single unit.

5. Sweeping apparatus for cleaning debris from patios, sidewalks, and the like, comprising: a twisted-in-wire cylindrical brush having bristles extending substantially radially from a brush shaft; only two wheels, one disposed at each end of said brush and forwardly of said brush shaft, said wheels each having a hub mounted on a stub axle and a tire of high friction material surrounding said hub; thin-walled, curved cross-section housing means partially surrounding and protecting said brush, said housing means having a portion thereof extending below the elevation of said brush shaft when said apparatus is in an operating attitude to define a bottom edge acting as a guard for protecting said brush shaft in situations where two-wheel support of the apparatus is lost, said housing means including support means for rotatably supporting said brush shaft and means for rotatably supporting said stub axles, said stub axles being supported in alignment on a common wheel axis oriented parallel with and disposed forwardly of said brush shaft; transmission means coupling at least one of said wheels and said brush shaft such that wheel rotation effects an opposite rotation of said brush, said transmission means comprising a first spur gear rigidly carried by the stub axle on said one wheel and a second smaller spur gear affixed to the end of said brush nearest said one wheel, said housing means supporting said first and second gears in mating engagement with said second gear behind said first gear; and a handle connected to said housing means such that said handle and said housing means pivot together about said wheel axis such that elevational adjustment of said handle effects an elevational adjustment in a like direction of said brush and thus an adjustment of the interference between said brush and the surface being cleaned, whereby a user may control the bite of said brush instantaneously and continuously while operating the brush to compensate for variations in the characteristics of the debris being swept and of the surface being cleaned.

6. The apparatus defined by claim 5 wherein said housing means includes a thin-walled, lightweight longitudinal body portion partially surrounding said brush to protect said brush and shield the user from flying debris, said body portion having substantial curvature in planes transverse to said brush shaft to provide structural rigidity for said housing means, said housing means including support means extending from body portion for effecting said support of said stub axles and of said ends of said brush shaft.