Debris impeller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An impeller for floor cleaning devices, including:
- an axle having a non-cylindrical cross section;
a plurality of individual integrally molded impeller segments each having a plurality of paddles and a central body with a non-cylindrical central opening adapted to be slipped over said axle, whereby said impeller may be assembled by said plurality of segments being slipped over said axle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The specification discloses an impeller for cleaning devices. A plurality of impeller segments are slipped over a twisted flat wire to provide the impeller. Each of the impeller segments preferably includes a plurality of paddles, and a central section with a non-cylindrical opening for receiving said twisted flat wire.
28 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An impeller for floor cleaning devices, including:
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an axle having a non-cylindrical cross section; a plurality of individual integrally molded impeller segments each having a plurality of paddles and a central body with a non-cylindrical central opening adapted to be slipped over said axle, whereby said impeller may be assembled by said plurality of segments being slipped over said axle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An integrally molded impeller segment for cleaning devices, comprising:
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a plurality of elastic tapered paddles, each paddle having a thicker end than mid-section whereby said mid-section provides flex and spring and said end provides mass for throwing debris or pushing liquids; and a central body from which said paddles project, said body having a non-cylindrical central opening adapted to be slipped over an axle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An integrally molded impeller segment of an impeller for cleaning devices which comprises a plurality of said segments, comprising:
at least one tapered paddle having a thicker end than mid-section, said at least one paddle having substantially uniform width throughout its length, and said at least one paddle having a front or back surface which is curved, and said at least one paddle having a substantially flat end. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A floor sweeper including a dust and debris receiving pan, an impeller which, upon rotation, lifts dust and debris into said pan, and drive means for rotating said impeller responsive to movement of said sweeper across a floor, said impeller comprising:
a plurality of integrally molded impeller segments, each including a central body, a plurality of paddles extending from said central body, said central body including a non-cylindrical central opening receiving an axle, said axle having a non-cylindrical cross section matching said non-cylindrical central opening, said axle being twisted to provide a non-linear orientation of tips of adjacent paddles when said plurality of impeller segments are received on said axle, and wherein each said impeller segment is molded from a non-marring, non-transferring, material which will not react with chemicals used for cleaning floors in residential and commercial settings.
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21. An integrally molded impeller segment for cleaning devices used for lifting debris from a floor, comprising:
a central body, a plurality of paddles extending from said central body, said central body including a central opening, and wherein said impeller segment is molded from a non-marring, non-transferring, material which will not react with chemicals used for cleaning floors in residential and commercial settings, wherein said paddles are elastic tapered paddles, each paddle having a thicker end than mid-section, whereby said mid-section provides flex and spring and said end provides mass for throwing debris or pushing liquids. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 25)
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23. A method of providing a debris impeller for cleaning devices used for lifting debris from a floor, comprising the steps of:
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providing a twisted axle which has non-cylindrical cross section; and providing a plurality of substantially identical impeller segments comprising a plurality of paddles projecting from a central body wherein said central body includes a central opening adapted to receive said axle whereby said segments may be slid over said axle to form said impeller.
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26. A floor sweeper including a dust and debris receiving pan, an impeller which, upon rotation, lifts dust and debris into said pan, and drive means for rotating said impeller responsive to movement of said sweeper across a floor, said impeller comprising:
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a plurality of integrally molded impeller segments, each including a central body, a plurality of paddles extending from said central body, said central body including a central opening receiving an axle, and each said impeller segment being molded from a non-marring, non-transferring, material which will not react with chemicals used for cleaning floors in residential and commercial settings; and each said central body having an outer diameter, said paddles having a length substantially greater than said outer diameter of said central body.
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Specification