Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 20040255411A1
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grey Technology Limited (Grey Technology Holding Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Gerald Grey
• Inventors: Grey, Nicholas Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,013,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/42
• 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 11/32 Carpet-sweepers combined with suction cleaners A47L7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• 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 9/0483 Reciprocating or oscillating tools, e.g. vibrators, agitators, beaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/066 with adjustably mounted brushes, combs, lips or pads; Height adjustment of nozzle or dust loosening tools for suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casing A47L5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0666 with tilting, floating or similarly arranged brushes, combs, lips or pads
• 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 for driving the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment and rear compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment;

c) an electric motor in the rear compartment;

d) a belt connecting the motor and rotatable brush; and

e) a handle movable between an upright position and steering positions by rotation about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle, said handle being further rotatable around a second axis in said steering positions, wherein said second axis of rotation is offset from the axial direction of the handle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary brush extending from the forward compartment and driven by the motor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongate rotatable brush and auxiliary brush are driven by the electric motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the auxiliary brush and the elongate rotatable brush are connected by a gear.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate compartment 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.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the intermediate compartment is a removable tray having at least one wall that forms a wall of said body.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the belt is enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

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

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein 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.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear compartment is provided with ground-engaging wheels.

17. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment and rear compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment;

c) an electric motor in the rear compartment;

d) a belt connecting the motor and rotatable brush; and

e) an intermediate compartment comprising a removable tray, wherein at least one side of the removable tray forms a wall of said body.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a handle pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein in a sweeping position the handle can be further rotated about an axis offset from the axial direction of the handle.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising an auxiliary brush extending from the forward compartment and driven by the electric motor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the auxiliary brush and the elongate rotatable brush are connected by a gear.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the removable tray includes a cover.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the belt is enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the tunnel is arranged at a side remote from said side of the removable tray that forms a wall of said body.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

28. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein 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.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the rear compartment is provided with ground-engaging wheels.