Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 20040074027A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Grey Technology Limited (Grey Technology Holding Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grey Technology Limited (Grey Technology Holding Ltd.)
• Inventors: Grey, Nicholas Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/450,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074027A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/42
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3066 Brush specifically designed for use with street cleaning machinery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/32 Carpet-sweepers combined with suction cleaners A47L7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/02 with driven tools for special purposes with floor-polishing tools A47L11/20
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0444 for conveying motion by endless flexible members, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/32 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/10 in ships A62C3/0207 takes precedence

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body (1; 106) including a rear compartment (3; 108), a forward compartment (9; 114) and an intermediate compartment (17; 124) arranged between the rear and forward compartments. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement (11; 116) is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment (9; 114). An electric motor (5; 110) is positioned in the rear compartment (3; 108), and drive means (25, 27, 29; 128, 130, 131) extends between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a body (1;

106) comprising a rear compartment (3;

108), a forward compartment (9;

114) and an intermediate compartment (17;

124) arranged between the rear and forward compartments;

an elongate rotatable brush arrangement (11;

116) positioned within and extending across the forward compartment (9;

114);

an electric motor (5;

110) positioned in the rear compartment (3;

108); and

drive means (25, 27, 29;

128, 130, 131) extending between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a battery (7;

112) is positioned in the rear compartment (3;

108) together with the electric motor (5;

110).

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the battery (7;

112) is rechargeable.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the electric motor (5;

110) is mains powered.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the rotatable brush arrangement (11;

116) extends substantially the entire width of the forward compartment (9;

114).

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the intermediate compartment (17;

124) is provided with a removable closure for the removal of debris therefrom.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the removable closure comprises a removable side wall (23;

126).

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the removable closure comprises a removable tray.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the drive means (25, 27, 29;

128, 130, 131) passes at least partly through the intermediate compartment (17;

124).

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the drive means (25, 27, 29;

128, 130, 131) passes through a tunnel (31;

132) which passes at least partly through the intermediate compartment (17;

124).

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the drive means (25, 27, 29;

128, 130, 131) is positioned adjacent one side of the intermediate compartment (17;

124).

12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the drive means (25, 27, 29;

128, 130, 131) comprises a belt drive.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the drive means (25, 27, 29;

128, 130, 131) comprises a toothed belt.

14. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a wall (21) is provided between the rear compartment (3;

108) and the intermediate compartment (17;

124) to seal the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

15. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a wall (15;

122) is provided between the intermediate compartment (17;

124) and the forward compartment (9;

114), the wall extending from the base of the intermediate compartment and terminating short of the top thereof.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the top of the wall (15;

122) is at substantially the same height as the top of the brush arrangement (11;

116).

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the wall (15;

122) is inclined rearwardly.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that the angle of inclination of the wall (15;

122) is in the range of 15 to 20 degrees.

19. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the apparatus incorporates handle means (33;

154).

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the length of the handle means (33;

154) can be varied.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that the handle means (33, 154) is interchangeable.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that a further handle (41) means serves to extend the first-mentioned handle means (33).

23. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22, characterised in that the handle means (33;

154) is rotatable about the axis thereof to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

24. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 23, characterised in that the handle means (33;

154) is pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction thereof.

25. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that an auxiliary brush arrangement (134) is provided at one side of the body (106) of the apparatus.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement (134) extends outwardly from the forward compartment (114).

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 or 26, characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement (134) is rotatable about an axis inclined to the vertical.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, 26 or 27, characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement (134) is provided with radial bristles (140).

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, characterised in that the radial bristles (140) are inclined at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the auxiliary brush arrangement (134).

30. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 29, characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement (134) is driven by the electric motor (110).

31. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 29, characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement (134) is driven by friction.

32. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the forward compartment (9;

114) includes in the lower face thereof an aperture (13) through which bristles of the brush arrangement (11;

116) protrude.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, characterised in that a front part of the forward compartment (9;

114) is movable to expose bristles at the front of the apparatus.

34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, characterised in that a cover forming the front part of the forward compartment (9;

114) is removable to expose bristles at the front of the apparatus.

35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, characterised in that a cover forming the front part of the forward compartment (9;

114) is pivotable to expose bristles at the front of the apparatus.

36. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the rear compartment (3;

108) is provided with ground-engaging wheels (158, 160).