Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 7,117,556 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicholas Gerald Grey
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Gerald Grey
• Inventors: Grey, Nicholas Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US10/431,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20040221406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 15/411, 15/42, 15/82, 15/83, 15/521, 15/523, 15/791, 15/792, 154/151, 154/20, 153/75
• US Class Current: 15/41.1
• 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 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• 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 11/4075 Handles; levers

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a body (1) with a front face (201) wherein the front face (201) comprises a non-planar lower edge (203) such that in use the distance between the lower edge (203) and a plane of a surface to be cleaned is not uniform.

Claims

1. A sweeper, comprising:

a body comprising a front face, a rear compartment, a forward compartment and an intermediate compartment arranged between the rear and forward compartments, the front face having a non-planar lower edge such that in use the distance between the lower edge and a plane of a surface to be cleaned is not uniform;

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

an electric motor positioned in the rear compartment;

and drive means extending between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor,

wherein the intermediate compartment is provided with a removable closure for the removal of debris therefrom, and the removable closure comprises a removable tray.

2. The sweeper according to claim 1, wherein the front face has at least one recess open at the lower edge.

3. The sweeper according to claim 2, wherein the at least one recess has a width in a range from about 20 mm to about 150 mm.

4. The sweeper according to claim 1, wherein the at least one recess has a depth in a range from about 4 mm to about 20 mm.

5. The sweeper according to claim 1, wherein a battery is positioned in the rear compartment together with the electric motor.

6. The sweeper according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is mains powered.

7. The sweeper according to claim 1, wherein the removable closure comprises a removable side wall.

8. The sweeper according to claim 1, wherein the removable closure comprises a clear section to facilitate identifying whether the intermediate compartment requires emptying of debris.

9. The sweeper according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus incorporates handle means.

10. The sweeper according to claim 9, wherein the handle means is rotatable about the axis thereof to facilitate steering of the apparatus.

11. The sweeper according to claim 9, wherein the handle means is pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction thereof.

12. A sweeper, comprising:

a body having a forward compartment, an intermediate compartment for collecting debris, and a rear compartment, the forward compartment comprising a forward wall having a non-planar lower edge;

an elongate rotatable brush having bristles and extending across the forward compartment; and

a belt connecting an electric motor to the rotatable brush,

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.

13. The sweeper of claim 12, wherein the forward wall comprises at least one recess open at the lower edge.

14. The sweeper of claim 12, wherein the forward wall of the forward compartment is movable to expose bristles on the elongate rotatable brush at a front part of the forward compartment.

15. The sweeper of claim 12, wherein the motor is located in the rear compartment.

16. The sweeper of claim 12, wherein the intermediate compartment comprises a removable tray.