Manually-powered floor sweeper with vacuum port

• US 20050066467A1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Oreck Holdings LLC (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Moshenrose, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/246.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0422 driven by the rotation of the supporting wheels on which the nozzle travels over the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/045 Friction gearings

Abstract

A manually-powered floor sweeper is provided according to the invention. In one embodiment, the manually-powered floor sweeper includes a chassis and handle, one or more agitator rollers rotatably affixed to the chassis and rotated by movement of the floor sweeper, and a vacuum port formed in the chassis and communicating with the one or more agitator rollers and adapted to receive a vacuum hose. Debris picked up and propelled by the one or more agitator rollers is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

Claims

1. A manually-powered floor sweeper, comprising:

a chassis and handle;

one or more agitator rollers rotatably affixed to the chassis and rotated by movement of the floor sweeper; and

a vacuum port formed in the chassis and communicating with the one or more agitator rollers and adapted to receive a vacuum hose, wherein debris picked up and propelled by the one or more agitator rollers is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

2. The floor sweeper of claim 1, wherein the vacuum port further comprises a removable cover that blocks the vacuum port when placed in a closed position.

3. The floor sweeper of claim 1, further comprising one or more collection bins attached to the chassis and positioned to receive debris picked up and propelled by the one or more agitator rollers, wherein the vacuum port further communicates with the one or more collection bins and wherein debris held in the one or more collection bins is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

4. The floor sweeper of claim 1, wherein the vacuum port is further adapted to receive a vacuum cleaner hose.

5. A manually-powered floor sweeper, comprising:

a chassis and handle;

one or more agitator rollers rotatably affixed to the chassis and rotated by movement of the floor sweeper;

one or more collection bins attached to the chassis and positioned to receive material picked up and propelled by the one or more agitator rollers; and

a vacuum port formed in the chassis and communicating with the one or more collection bins and adapted to receive a vacuum hose, wherein debris held in the one or more collection bins is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

6. The floor sweeper of claim 5, wherein the vacuum port further comprises a removable cover that blocks the vacuum port when placed in a closed position.

7. The floor sweeper of claim 5, wherein the vacuum port further communicates with the one or more agitator rollers and wherein debris picked up and propelled by the one or more agitator rollers is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

8. The floor sweeper of claim 5, wherein the vacuum port is further adapted to receive a vacuum cleaner hose.

9. The floor sweeper of claim 5, wherein the one or more collection bins are removably attached to the chassis.

10. The floor sweeper of claim 5, wherein the one or more collection bins are formed in the chassis.

11. A method of forming a manually-powered floor sweeper, said method comprising:

providing one or more agitator rollers rotatably affixed to a chassis of the floor sweeper and rotated by movement of the floor sweeper; and

providing a vacuum port formed in the chassis and communicating with the one or more agitator rollers and adapted to receive a vacuum hose, wherein debris picked up by the one or more agitator rollers is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a removable cover capable of closing the vacuum port in a closed position.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing one or more collection bins in the floor sweeper and positioned to receive material picked up and propelled by the one or more agitator rollers, and wherein the vacuum port further communicates with the one or more collection bins and wherein debris held in the one or more collection bins is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the vacuum port is further adapted to receive a vacuum cleaner hose.

15. A method of forming a manually-powered floor sweeper, said method comprising:

providing one or more collection bins formed in the chassis of the floor sweeper and positioned to receive material picked up or propelled by one or more agitator rollers; and

providing a vacuum port formed in the chassis and communicating with the one or more collection bins and adapted to receive a vacuum hose, wherein debris held in the one or more collection bins is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a removable cover capable of closing the vacuum port in a closed position.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the one or more agitator rollers rotatably affixed to a chassis of the floor sweeper and rotated by movement of the floor sweeper, wherein the vacuum port further communicates with the one or more agitator rollers and wherein debris picked up by the one or more agitator rollers is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the vacuum port is further adapted to receive a vacuum cleaner hose.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more collection bins are removably attached to the chassis.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more collection bins are formed in the chassis.