Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 6,968,587 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grey Technology Limited (Grey Technology Holding Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Gerald Grey
• Inventors: Grey, Nicholas Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/700,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 15/411, 15/42, 15/43, 15/521, 153/44, 153/83, 153/63, 153/85, 153/77, 154/11
• US Class Current: 15/41.1
• 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. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment with an opening in a lower surface thereof, and a rear compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment, the bristles adapted to extend through the opening in the forward compartment as the brush arrangement is rotated; and

c) a belt connecting an electric motor to the rotatable brush,

wherein a lower front region of the body is chamfered to increase the extent to which the bristles 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;

the apparatus further comprises an intermediate compartment for collecting debris; and

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intermediate compartment includes means for receiving debris from the forward compartment, said means being removable to be emptied so as to discharge debris.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle rotatable about an axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the handle is further pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor switch located at the rear of the housing to control operation of the motor.

9. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment with an opening in a lower surface thereof, an intermediate compartment for collecting debris, and a rear compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment, the bristles adapted to extend through the opening in the forward compartment as the brush arrangement is rotated;

c) a belt connecting an electric motor to the rotatable brush; and

d) a handle attached to the body in a region of the rear compartment,

wherein a lower front region of the body is chamfered to increase the extent to which the bristles 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; and

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.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the handle is rotatable about an axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the handle is further pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, 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.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the belt is enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, 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.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

21. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a motor switch located at the rear of the housing to control operation of the motor.