Debris blower apparatus

• US 7,216,396 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Slawinski
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Slawinski
• Inventors: Slawinski, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till; Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/860,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 153/01, 153/10, 153/161, 154/05, 154/151, 239/195, 239/197, 239/198, 239/554, 239/556, 239/557
• US Class Current: 15/301
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/14 cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/38 Built-in suction cleaner installations, i.e. with fixed tube system to which, at different stations, hoses can be connected
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/08 with means adapted for blowing
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 5/02 Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/2318 by applying over- or under-pressure, e.g. inflatable gasproof doors or windows E06B5/12; for vehicles B60J10/244
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66

Abstract

A debris blower apparatus for entrances to garages and working and living spaces comprises a blower assembly connected to an elongated nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly mounts to the floor or doorsill of the protected space and comprises a plurality of nozzles along the length of the nozzle assembly. The nozzles are positioned to direct air outward and upward from the entrance dislodge leaves, dirt and debris from a person or vehicle entering the space. The blower assembly is activated by opening the door or, alternatively, by manual operation of a switch.

Claims

1. A nozzle assembly for a debris blower apparatus, the nozzle assembly comprising:

a hose comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, and back portion, and an enclosed interior portion, the bottom portion comprising a horizontal surface engageable with a floor portion of an entrance and an attachment means for attaching said bottom portion of said hose to said floor portion;

a first plurality of nozzles in said hose extending from an outside surface to said interior portion, said first plurality of nozzles defining a nozzle axis forward of a vertical axis and above a horizontal axis when said interior portion is inflated by a pressure greater than an outside pressure.

2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 comprising a second plurality of nozzles said second plurality of nozzles extending from an outside surface to said interior portion, said second plurality of nozzles defining a nozzle axis forward of a vertical axis and below a horizontal axis when said interior portion is inflated by a pressure greater than an outside pressure.

3. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 comprising a seal strip extending forward of said front portion, said seal strip comprising a bottom surface engageable with said floor portion and a top surface engageable with a garage door.

4. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 comprising a stiffening element in the interior portion of said hose.

5. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 comprising a plurality of stiffening elements in the interior portion of said hose.

6. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises a recess in said bottom portion.

7. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises an adhesive strip attached to said bottom portion of said hose.

8. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein said hose is made of an elastomeric material.

9. The nozzle assembly of claim 8 wherein said hose is made of ethylene propylene rubber.

10. An air supply assembly for a debris blower apparatus comprising;

a first nozzle assembly comprising a hose having a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, and back portion, and an enclosed interior portion, the bottom portion comprising a horizontal surface engageable with a floor portion of an entrance;

a first plurality of nozzles in said hose extending from an outside surface to said interior portion, said first plurality of nozzles defining a nozzle axis forward of a vertical axis and above a horizontal axis when said interior portion is inflated by a pressure greater than an outside pressure;

a transition piece comprising a first end engageable with a first end of said hose and a second end engageable with an air supply hose, said transition piece forming one end of said air supply hose.

11. The air supply assembly of claim 10 comprising an end cap attached to a second end of said hose.

12. The air supply assembly of claim 10 comprising a second nozzle assembly connected to a second end of said hose of said first nozzle assembly by a connector.

13. The air supply assembly of claim 12 wherein a first end of said connector comprises a generally D-shaped cross section.

14. The air supply assembly of claim 13 wherein a second end of said connector comprises a generally D-shaped cross section.

15. The air supply assembly of claim 12 wherein said connector comprises a first nozzle connector end, a second nozzle connector end, and an air supply connector portion.

16. The air supply assembly of claim 10 wherein said first end of said transition piece comprises a generally D-shaped cross section.

17. A debris blower apparatus for an entrance, the apparatus comprising:

a blower;

an elongated nozzle assembly operably connectable to the blower, the nozzle assembly comprising a plurality of nozzles disposed along a longitudinal axis of the nozzle assembly and a fastener means for fastening the nozzle assembly to a floor of an entrance with the longitudinal axis parallel to the plane of the floor; and

a control means for operatively starting the blower upon opening of a door in the entrance.

18. The debris blower of claim 17 wherein said plurality of nozzles comprise a jet axis defining an elevation angle above the floor of between 0 degrees and 80 degrees.

19. The debris blower of claim 17 wherein the fastener means comprises an adhesive strip disposed on a bottom surface of said nozzle assembly.

20. The debris blower of claim 17 wherein the fastener means comprises fastener holes disposed on a bottom portion of said nozzle assembly.

21. The debris blower of claim 17 wherein the control means comprises a limit switch operably engageable with a garage door.

22. The debris blower of claim 17 wherein the control means comprises a limit switch operably engageable with a garage door opening component.

23. The debris blower of claim 17 wherein the control means comprises a optical sensor operably engageable with a garage door.

24. The debris blower of claim 17 wherein the control means comprises an optical sensor operably engageable with a garage door opening component.

25. The debris blower of claim 17 comprising a suction connection on the blower, the suction connection engageable to a vacuum hose.

26. A debris blower apparatus for a garage door opening, the apparatus comprising:

a blower;

an elongated nozzle assembly comprising a longitudinal axis and operably connectable to the blower, the nozzle assembly comprising a plurality of nozzles disposed along the longitudinal axis;

an attachment means disposed on a bottom portion of the nozzle assembly for attaching the nozzle assembly to a floor of the garage door opening with the longitudinal axis parallel with a garage floor portion.

27. The debris blower apparatus of claim 26 wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a plurality of nozzle sections, each of said nozzle sections comprising a connector portion for operably connecting each of said nozzle sections with an adjacent section.

28. The debris blower apparatus of claim 26 wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a collapsible tube.

29. The debris blower apparatus of claim 26 wherein the attachment means is an adhesive strip attached to the bottom portion of the nozzle assembly.