Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 20040111826A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grey Technology Limited (Grey Technology Holding Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grey Technology Limited (Grey Technology Holding Ltd.)
• Inventors: Grey, Nicholas Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/377
• 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 including a rear compartment, a forward compartment and an intermediate compartment arranged between the rear and forward compartments. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment. An electric motor is positioned in the rear compartment, and drive means extends between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment, an intermediate compartment and rear compartment, wherein the intermediate compartment is defined by a wall between the forward and intermediate compartments, a wall between the intermediate and rear compartments, and side walls, with one side wall removable to facilitate removal of debris;

b) an elongate rotatable brush driven by an electric motor, the elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment; and

c) a belt connecting the electric motor and elongate rotatable brush.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is located in the rear compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the belt is enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tunnel is arranged at a side remote from the removable side wall.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary brush extending from the forward compartment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the auxiliary brush is driven by the electric motor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the auxiliary brush and the elongate rotatable brush are connected by a gear.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a front part of the forward compartment is movable to expose bristles on the elongate rotatable brush at the front part of the forward compartment.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear compartment is provided with ground-engaging wheels.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle rotatable about an axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the handle is further pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.

17. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment and rear compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment;

c) an electric motor in the rear compartment;

d) a belt connecting the motor and rotatable brush; and

e) an auxiliary brush extending from the forward compartment and driven by the electric motor.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the elongate rotatable brush and auxiliary brush are driven by the electric motor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the auxiliary brush and the elongate rotatable brush are connected by a gear.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising an intermediate compartment defined by a wall between the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, a wall between the intermediate compartment and the rear compartment, and side walls.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 or 21, wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the belt is enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris and the tunnel is arranged at a side remote from the removable side wall.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a front part of the forward compartment is movable to expose bristles on the elongate rotatable brush at the front part of the forward compartment.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the rear compartment is provided with ground-engaging wheels.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a handle rotatable about an axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the handle is further pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.

33. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment and rear compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment;

c) an electric motor in the rear compartment;

d) a belt connecting the motor and rotatable brush; and

e) a handle rotatable about an axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the handle is further pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising an auxiliary brush extending from the forward compartment and driven by the electric motor.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the auxiliary brush and the elongate rotatable brush are connected by a gear.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising an intermediate compartment defined by a wall between the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, a wall between the intermediate compartment and the rear compartment, and side walls.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.

40. The apparatus of claim 37 or 38, wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the belt is enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris and the tunnel is arranged at a side remote from the removable side wall.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

46. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a front part of the forward compartment is movable to expose bristles on the elongate rotatable brush at the front part of the forward compartment.

47. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the rear compartment is provided with ground-engaging wheels.

48. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body comprising a rear compartment, a forward compartment, and an intermediate compartment arranged between the rear and forward compartments;

b) an elongate rotatable brush positioned within and extending across the forward compartment;

c) an electric motor positioned in the rear compartment;

d) a drive extending between the rotatable brush and electric motor; and

e) a handle that is rotatable about an axial direction of the handle relative to the body and is pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising an auxiliary brush extending from the forward compartment and driven by the electric motor.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the auxiliary brush and the elongate rotatable brush are connected by a gear.

51. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the intermediate compartment is defined by a wall between the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, a wall between the intermediate compartment and the rear compartment, and side walls.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.

54. The apparatus of claim 51 or 52, wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the drive extending between the rotatable brush and electric motor includes a belt, and the belt is enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the tunnel is arranged at a side remote from the removable side wall.

57. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

59. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

60. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein a front part of the forward compartment is movable to expose bristles on the elongate rotatable brush at the front part of the forward compartment.

61. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the rear compartment is provided with ground-engaging wheels.

62. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment and rear compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush having bristles and extending across the forward compartment;

c) an electric motor in the rear compartment; and

d) a belt connecting the motor and rotatable brush;

wherein a front part of the forward compartment is movable to expose bristles on the elongate rotatable brush at the front part of the forward compartment.

63. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 62, further comprising a handle rotatable about an axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the handle is further pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.

65. The apparatus of claim 62, further comprising an auxiliary brush extending from the forward compartment and driven by the electric motor.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the auxiliary brush and the elongate rotatable brush are connected by a gear.

67. The apparatus of claim 62, further comprising an intermediate compartment defined by a wall between the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, a wall between the intermediate compartment and the rear compartment, and side walls.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.

70. The apparatus of claim 67 or 68, wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.

71. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the belt is enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris and the tunnel is arranged at a side remote from the removable side wall.

73. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

75. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

76. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the rear compartment is provided with ground-engaging wheels.