Mobile walk-behind sweeper

• US 6,041,471 A
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Madvac, Inc. (Allianz Madvac Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MADVAC International Inc.
• Inventors: Charky, Gabriel, Dubois, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/057,594
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/347, 15/352, 15/383, 15/340.2, 15/340.4
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0845 with mechanical loosening or feeding instruments for the dirt to be sucked- up, e.g. brushes, scrapers brushing installations per se E01H1/02; other loosening devices per se E01H1/105

Abstract

The present invention provides a walk-behind mobile sweeper for cleaning dust and collecting garbage from surfaces. The sweeper has a motorized cart maneuverable by a human operator, a flow-through collection apparatus supported on the cart for collecting garbage therein, a suction inlet located forwardly of the collection apparatus and a vacuum blower for creating air suction, the vacuum blower drawing garbage and dust via suction through the suction inlet and into the collection apparatus, wherein the vacuum blower is positioned downstream of the container such that garbage does not enter the vacuum blower. The walk-behind mobile sweeper is easily maneuverable, is compact and not only cleans dust and dirt from surfaces but also collects garbage which is further compacted or compressed within a bag. The sweeper can be configured not only as a walk-behind sweeper but also as a stand-on skateboard sweeper or as a ride-on sweeper.

Claims

1. A mobile sweeper for cleaning dust and collecting garbage from surfaces, said sweeper comprising;

a motorized cart maneuverable by a human operator;

a flow-through collection means supported on the cart for collecting garbage therein;

suction inlet means located upstream of said collection means;

a plurality of brushes mounted forwardly to said suction inlet means to clean and direct dust into the suction inlet means;

a vacuum blower for creating air suction, said vacuum blower drawing garbage and dust via air suction through said suction inlet means and into said collection means, wherein the vacuum blower is positioned downstream of said collection means such that garbage does not enter the vacuum blower; and

a filtration means located adjacent said collection means for filtering dust drawn into said collection means and to prevent dust from entering the vacuum blower.

2. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said sweeper additionally comprises water spray jets positioned in front of said brushes and a water reservoir operably connected to said jets.

3. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said collection means comprises a perforated basket supported within a container.

4. The sweeper of claim 3, wherein an air permeable bag or liner is provided within the basket to contain garbage.

5. The sweeper of claim 3, wherein there is provided at least one air gap between the perforated basket and the container to allow for the circulation of air through said filtration means.

6. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said suction inlet means comprises a suction tube having an inlet at one end for drawing in dust and garbage, and an outlet at the other end.

7. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said filtration means comprises a plurality of filter panels positioned substantially around all sides of the collection means, said panels entrapping dust contained within the air drawn in from the vacuum blower.

8. The sweeper of claim 7, wherein said filter panels are selected from square shaped, rectangular and cylindrical.

9. sweeper of claim 8, wherein said filter panels are pleated.

10. The sweeper of claim 9, wherein said filter panels are made of polyester and are reusable.

11. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said sweeper is adapted as a walk-behind sweeper.

12. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said sweeper is adapted as a stand-on skateboard sweeper.

13. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said sweeper is adapted as a ride-on sweeper.

14. A mobile sweeper for cleaning dust and collecting garbage from surfaces, said sweeper comprising;

a motorized cart maneuverable by a human operator;

a perforated basket supported within a container and supported on the cart for collecting garbage therein;

suction inlet means located upstream of said collection means;

at least one vacuum nozzle mounted upstream to said suction inlet means to clean and direct dust into the suction inlet means;

a vacuum blower for creating air suction, said vacuum blower drawing garbage and dust via air suction through said suction inlet means and into said perforated basket, wherein the vacuum blower is positioned downstream of said perforated basket such that garbage does not enter the vacuum blower; and

a filtration means positioned substantially adjacent said container for filtering dust drawn into said perforated basket and to prevent dust from entering the vacuum blower.

15. The sweeper of claim 14, wherein said filtration means comprises one continuous filter panel positioned substantially around all sides of the perforated basket for filtering dust drawn into said perforated basket and to prevent dust from entering the vacuum blower.

16. The sweeper of claim 15, wherein said filtration means comprises a plurality of filter panels positioned substantially around all sides of the perforated basket for filtering dust drawn into said perforated basket and to prevent dust from entering the vacuum blower.