Sweeper
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sweeper comprising:
- a brush housing;
a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped integral tubular forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and being joined to said brush housing at said upward and rearward angled portion;
said integral tubular forward portion terminating at the ends of said upwardly and rearwardly extending leg portions, at a point generally adjacent said brush housing and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending tubular handle portion, said handle being articulated at said terminating point of said integral tubular forward portion, generally adjacent said brush housing, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion and further including releasable detent means at said point of articulation whereby said handle can be maintained in a rearwardly extending operable position, but can be released and folded over the top of said brush housing and said dust bin into a stored position, whereby said sweeper can be tipped up and stored on end;
a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member;
a pair of ground engaging wheels;
means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing;
a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing;
forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion; and
a dust bin removably supported by resting only on said frame portion of said tubular member and on said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The specification discloses a sweeper in which a combined tubular frame and handle member comprising a generally U-shaped forward frame portion which is continuous with an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion serves as the focal point of the sweeper design. The combined tubular frame and handle member is mounted on a brush housing, serves to facilitate support of a dust bin, and serves as the focal point for additional design features such as a body cradling upper handle portion, a hand hold at the front of the dust bin and a pivotal side brush mount.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sweeper comprising:
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a brush housing; a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped integral tubular forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and being joined to said brush housing at said upward and rearward angled portion;
said integral tubular forward portion terminating at the ends of said upwardly and rearwardly extending leg portions, at a point generally adjacent said brush housing and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending tubular handle portion, said handle being articulated at said terminating point of said integral tubular forward portion, generally adjacent said brush housing, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion and further including releasable detent means at said point of articulation whereby said handle can be maintained in a rearwardly extending operable position, but can be released and folded over the top of said brush housing and said dust bin into a stored position, whereby said sweeper can be tipped up and stored on end;a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member; a pair of ground engaging wheels; means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing; a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing; forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion; and a dust bin removably supported by resting only on said frame portion of said tubular member and on said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9)
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5. A sweeper comprising:
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a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion; a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said junction of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member; a pair of ground engaging wheels; means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing; a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing; forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion; and a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, said lower portion of said handle portion generally defining a plane, said upper gripping and control portion extending sharply upwardly out of the plane of said lower portion and defining a V shape such that each leg of the V provides a convenient hand gripping surface generally at either side of the operator'"'"'s body, said upper gripping and control portion of said handle being of a truncated V shape having two handle legs joined by a handle base, said base providing a surface against which an operator can lean, said upper gripping and control portion of said handle extending perpendicularly to the plane of said lower portion of said handle, and said handle being articulated at a point generally adjacent said brush housing; and
further including releasable detent means at said point of articulation whereby said handle can be maintained in a rearwardly extending operable position, but can be released and folded over the top of said brush housing and said dust bin into a stored position;
said handle having sufficient length from said point of articulation to said upper portion so that when said handle is folded into its stored position said upper portion of said handle extends down in front of said dust bin such that said sweeper can be tipped up and stored resting on said upper portion of said handle with said opening of said dust bin pointed up.
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6. A sweeper comprising:
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a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion; a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member; a pair of ground engaging wheels; means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing; a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing; forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion; and a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, said lower portion of said handle portion generally defining a plane, said upper gripping and control portion extending sharply upwardly out of the plane of said lower portion and defining a V shape such that each of the V provides a convenient hand gripping surface generally at either side of the operator'"'"'s body, and said handle being articulated at a point generally adjacent said brush housing; and
further including releasable detent means at said point of articulation whereby said handle can be maintained in a rearwardly extending operable position, but can be released and folded over the top of said brush housing and said dust bin into a stored position;
said handle having sufficient length from said point of articulation to said upper portion so that when said handle is folded into its stored position said upper portion of said handle extends down in front of said dust bin such that said sweeper can be tipped up and stored resting on said upper portion of said handle with said opening of said dust bin pointed up.
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7. A sweeper comprising:
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a generally continuous, tubular member comprising a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion; a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member; a pair of ground engaging wheels; means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing; a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing; forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion; and a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, said lower portion of said handle portion generally defining a plane, said upper gripping and control portion extending sharply upwardly out of the plane of said lower portion and defining a V shape such that each leg of the V provides a convenient hand gripping surface generally at either side of the operator'"'"'s body, and said sweeper further including handle articulating means operatively associated with said handle portion of said frame and said leg portions of said frame for locking the handle in an operating position and for permitting selective forward pivotal movement of said handle portion so that said operator gripping and control portion is positionable in front of said dust bin whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle said sweeper may be stood on either end for storage purposes.
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8. A sweeper comprising:
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a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion; a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member; a pair of ground engaging wheels; means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing; a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing; forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion; and a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, said handle being articulated at a point generally adjacent said brush housing; and
further including releasable detent means at said point of articulation whereby said handle can be maintained in a rearwardly extending operable position, but can be released and folded over the top of said brush housing and said dust bin into a stored position, whereby said sweeper can be tipped up and stored on end, and said ground engaging wheels and said handle portion being dimensioned so that when said handle portion is folded into the stored position said sweeper can be tipped up and stored resting on said wheels and the back wall of said brush housing.
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10. A sweeper comprising:
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a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion; a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member; a pair of ground engaging wheels; means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing; a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing; forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion; and a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, said sweeper further including; a bag having a length substantially greater than the length of said dust bin and adapted to be positioned within said bin for containing debris; and a bag frame having a generally rectangular wire portion dimensioned so as to fit within the inlet of said bin, and also having an outwardly extending bag supporting portion extending within said bag.
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11. A sweeper comprising:
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a generally continuous, tubular member constituting a combined tubular frame and handle, said tubular member including a generally U-shaped forward portion having a forwardly located base and rearwardly extending leg portions, said leg portions extending generally horizontally for a portion of their lengths and then being angled upwardly and rearwardly and joining and blending into an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion having a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion; a brush housing secured on each end to said tubular member generally at said juncture of said frame and handle portion of said tubular member; a pair of ground engaging wheels; means for rotatably mounting said wheels to said brush housing; a brush rotatably supported within said brush housing; forward support means secured to said frame portion of said tubular member for supporting the forward end of said frame portion; and a dust bin supported by said frame portion of said tubular member and by said brush housing and having an opening at one end and being positioned with said opening adjacent said brush and said brush housing so as to receive debris swept up by said brush, a forward portion of at least one of said legs of said frame portion of said tubular member being generally circular in cross section, and said sweeper further including; a side brush for said sweeper including a pivot arm extending therefrom, said pivot arm including an end encompassing said circular portion of said frame leg and being rotatable with respect thereto, whereby said side brush can readily be pivoted up into a stored condition or down into an operative condition. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surface treating apparatus, comprising:
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a body; a pair of ground engaging wheels rotatably supported by said body; and an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle, said handle being a continuous tubular member and including a lower portion and an upper operator gripping and control portion extending in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said lower portion, said lower portion having spaced, parallel side members secured at their lower ends to said body, and said upper gripping and control portion extending sharply upwardly out of the plane of said lower portion to thereby define an operator receiving area whereby the operator may position himself within the confines of the handle, said upper gripping and control portion having a general V shape such that the legs of the V provide a convenient hand gripping surface at either side of the operator'"'"'s body, and said parallel side members being pivotally secured to said body at their lower ends and further including releasable detent means at said pivot points for securing said handle in a rearwardly extending operable position and for selectively permitting forward pivotal movement of said handle to a storage position, said handle side members having sufficient length so that when said handle is pivoted forward said upper gripping and control portion extends down in front of said body so that said apparatus can be tipped up and stored resting completely on said upper portion of said handle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification