Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 20050138764A1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nicholas Gerald Grey
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Gerald Grey
• Inventors: Grey, Nicholas Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/057,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138764A1
• 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

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

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

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

c) an electric motor for driving the rotatable brush; and

d) 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.

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, 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 electric motor is operably connected to the elongate rotatable brush by a belt, the belt being 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.

77. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the forward compartment further comprises an opening in a lower surface thereof, and wherein a lower front region of the body is chamfered so that bristles of the elongate brush protrude from the body in the region of the chamfer such that, when the apparatus is inclined relative to a surface to be cleaned, contact between the bristles and the surface to be cleaned is increased.

78. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the electric motor is located in the rear compartment.

79. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the handle is attached to the body in a region of the rear compartment.

49-50. -50. (canceled)

62-76. -76. (canceled)

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

c) an electric motor for driving the rotatable brush.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, further comprising a handle rotatable about an axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the handle is further pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.

83. The apparatus of claim 80, 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.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.

85. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.

86. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.

87. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the electric motor is operably connected to the elongate rotatable brush by a belt, the belt being enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, 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.

89. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

90. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

91. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

92. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the electric motor is located in the rear compartment.

93. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the forward compartment further comprises an opening in a lower surface thereof, and wherein a lower front region of the body is chamfered so that bristles of the elongate brush protrude from the body in the region of the chamfer such that, when the apparatus is inclined relative to a surface to be cleaned, contact between the bristles and the surface to be cleaned is increased.

94. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the handle is attached to the body in a region of the rear compartment.