Brush-type sweeper

• US 5,664,276 A
• Filed: 05/17/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saturnino Nunez Arias
• Original Assignee: Saturnino Nunez Arias
• Inventors: Arias, Saturnino Nunez
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): TILL, TERRENCE R
• Application Number:
  US08/649,818
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 15/23, 15/27, 15/41.1, 15/42, 15/44, 15/46, 15/48.1, 15/25, 15/39.5
• US Class Current: 15/42
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
• 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 11/4036 Parts or details of the 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 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers

Abstract

A brush-type sweeper unit includes a prism-like body that has a base with an open front part, an open front face, and an upper face provided by a removable cap from which a handle for moving the sweeper unit extends. The body also includes parallel sidewalls between which first, second and third shafts extend, with the second shaft being between the first and third shafts. Front and rear cylindrical brushes are mounted on the respective first and second shafts, and a set of front wheels are also mounted on the first shaft at opposite ends thereof. Mounted on the third shaft are a set of rear wheels that are in edge-to-edge frictional engagement with a set of driven wheels on the second shaft. In this way the rear brush is driven by rotation of the rear wheels transmitted through the driven wheels, with rotation of the rear brush being in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the front brush. As the sweeper unit moves forward, dirt particles are lifted between the brushes and delivered to the interior of the body with the latter providing a storage container for dirt particles lifted by the brushes. Projecting forward from opposite sides of the body are diverging short brush units, with bristles of one brush unit facing the bristles of the other brush unit.

Claims

1. A sweeper unit comprising:

a prism-like body including an open front, a base having a front section that is open, a handle, a removable cap above said base to support said handle extending upward from said cap, and parallel sidewalls extending upward from said base;

adjacent front and rear cylindrical brushes supported for rotation on respective first and second axes that extend parallel to said base and through said sidewalls, with said front brush being at said open front and said rear brush being at said front section;

front wheels rotatable on said first axis to rotate said front brush;

rear wheels at opposite ends of a third axis parallel to said first and second axes;

additional wheels rotatable on said second axis and drivingly connected to said rear brush;

said front wheels and said rear wheels being adapted to support said sweeper unit on a surface to be cleaned thereby while said additional wheels are clear of such surface;

said additional wheels being engaged with said rear wheels to be frictionally driven by said rear wheels in a direction opposite to which said front wheels are rotating whereby said front and rear brushes rotate in opposite directions to lift dirt particles between said brushes as said sweep unit moves forward.

2. A sweeper unit as defined in claim 1 also comprising first and second relatively short flat brushes having bristles facing one another;

each of said flat brushes extending forward from an individual one of said sidewalls and being inclined outward with respect thereto.