Manually-operated floor sweeper

• US 9,848,750 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Watkins
• Original Assignee: Eric Watkins
• Inventors: Watkins, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/754,800
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/43 for sweeping, collecting or disintegrating lawn debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/22 Floor-sweeping machines, hand-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• 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 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• 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: E01H 1/045 the loading means being a rotating brush with horizontal axis E01H1/042 takes precedence

Abstract

The manually operated floor sweeper is a manually powered cleaning unit that replaces the standard push broom. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, the manually operated floor sweeper provides a plurality of brushes that move dirt and trash to a hopper, which transports the dirt and trash to a receptacle. The manually operated floor sweeper comprises a plurality of brushes, a hopper system, a drive system, a gearing system and a body.

Claims

1. A manually operated floor sweeper comprising:

a plurality of brushes, a hopper system, a drive system, a gearing system and a body;

wherein the manually operated floor sweeper is adapted for indoor and outdoor use;

wherein the rotational speed of the plurality of brushes is adjustable;

wherein the plurality of brushes further comprises a cleaning brush, a left feeder brush and a right feeder brush;

wherein the left feeder brush pushes dirt and debris into the path of the cleaning brush;

wherein the right feeder brush pushes dirt and debris into the path of the cleaning brush;

wherein the gearing system changes the rotational speed of each of the plurality of brushes;

wherein the hopper system further comprises the trash tray, a trash conveyor, a hinge, a screen, a reel, a reel rope, and a reel rope guide.

2. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 1 wherein the hopper receives the dirt and debris pushed onto it by the cleaning brush.

3. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 2 wherein the drive system rotates each of the plurality of brushes.

4. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 1 wherein the drive system further comprises a first chain, a second chain, a third chain, a first sprocket a second sprocket, a third sprocket a fourth sprocket, a fifth sprocket, a sixth sprocket, and a seventh sprocket.

5. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 4 wherein the gearing system further comprises a gear plate, a cogset, a plurality of flexible joints, a plurality of stationary joints, a plurality of flexible stems, a gear gauge arm and a gauge stand.

6. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 5 wherein the cleaning brush is a whisker brush;

wherein the cleaning brush is mounted on the front side of the manually operated floor sweeper;

wherein the left feeder brush is a round brush;

wherein the left feeder brush is mounted in front of the cleaning brush;

wherein the right feeder brush is a round brush;

wherein the right feeder brush is mounted in front of the cleaning brush.

7. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 6 wherein the trash tray receives dirt and debris pushed on to it from the cleaning brush;

wherein the trash tray is attached to the trash conveyor with a hinge.

8. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 7 wherein the trash conveyor can be raised or lowered using the reel, reel rope, and reel rope guide.

9. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 6 wherein the cogset turns the first chain;

wherein the first chain drives the first sprocket;

wherein the first sprocket rotates the cleaning brush.

10. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 9 wherein the first sprocket rotates the second sprocket;

wherein the second sprocket rotates the fourth sprocket;

wherein the fifth sprocket is mounted on the right feeder brush so that the center rotational axis of the fifth sprocket is aligned with the center rotational axis of the right feeder brush;

wherein the rotation of the fifth sprocket turns the right feeder brush;

wherein the fifth sprocket is in direct mechanical connection with the fourth sprocket;

wherein as the second sprocket turns, the fourth sprocket rotates;

wherein the fourth sprocket is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the fifth sprocket;

wherein teeth of the fifth sprocket are intermeshed with teeth of the fourth sprocket so that the rotation of the fourth sprocket will rotate the fifth sprocket;

wherein on the right side of the cleaning brush is mounted the fourth sprocket;

wherein the fourth sprocket rotates the fifth sprocket, which in turn rotates the right feeder brush;

wherein the seventh sprocket is mounted on the left feeder brush so that the center rotational axis of the seventh sprocket is aligned with the center rotational axis of the left feeder brush;

wherein the rotation of the seventh sprocket turns the left feeder brush;

wherein the seventh sprocket is in direct mechanical connection with the sixth sprocket;

wherein as the sixth sprocket turns, the seventh sprocket rotates;

wherein the sixth sprocket is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the seventh sprocket;

wherein teeth of the seventh sprocket are intermeshed with the teeth of the sixth sprocket so that the rotation of the sixth sprocket will rotate the seventh sprocket;

wherein on the left side of the cleaning brush is mounted the sixth sprocket;

wherein the sixth sprocket rotates the seventh sprocket, which in turn rotates the left feeder brush.

11. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 6 wherein the cogset comprises a plurality of sprocket;

wherein the first chain is moved between the each of the plurality of sprockets of the cogset using the gear plate;

wherein the cogset is mounted on one of the plurality of wheels.

12. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 11 wherein moving the position of gear plate relative to the body changes the position of the first chain within the cogset.

13. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 12 wherein the gear plate further comprises an inner plate, an outer plate, a first chain guide and a second chain guide;

wherein the inner plate and outer plate are identical;

wherein the first chain guide and second chain guide are identical;

wherein the first chain guide and second chain guide act as channels through which the first chain is routed.

14. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 13 wherein the position of the gear plate relative to the body is changed using the plurality of flexible joints, the plurality of stationary joints, the plurality of flexible stems, the gear gauge arm and the gauge stand.

15. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 6 wherein the body further comprises the plurality of wheels and a frame;

wherein the frame further comprises a platform and a container;

wherein the plurality of wheels further comprises a right front wheel, a left front wheel, the right rear wheel, and the left rear wheel;

wherein the container, the right rear wheel, the left rear wheel, the left conveyor guide, the right conveyor guide, a foot stand, a right tipping stand, and a left tipping stand are mounted on the platform;

wherein the front right wheel and the front left wheel are mounted on the container.

16. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 15 wherein the container is a solid sided but open topped container;

wherein the interior of the container holds the dirt and debris collected by the trash conveyor.

17. The manually operated floor sweeper according to claim 16 wherein the reel, the reel rope guide, a dirt pan stand, a broom stand, a shovel stand, a spear case, a spear tube, and a plurality of utility pouches are mounted on the container.