CN216167166U

CN216167166U - Electric floor sweeper

Info

Publication number: CN216167166U
Application number: CN201990001058.4U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 斯特凡·贝尔蒂内蒂
Original assignee: Si TefanBeierdineidi
Current assignee: Si TefanBeierdineidi
Priority date: 2018-10-05
Filing date: 2019-10-02
Publication date: 2022-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-02
Also published as: US20220007905A1; FR3086856B1; CA3115133A1; EP3860415A1; FR3086856A1; WO2020070217A1

Abstract

The utility model relates to a sweeper having a handle (2) and a sweeping element (3), a waste collection accumulator (5) and an electric suction device, wherein the sweeper further has an electric blowing/ejection device, the electric suction device and the electric blowing/ejection device being selectively employed to suck waste into the accumulator or eject waste from the accumulator in an automatic manner. The sweeper forms not only an automatic waste intake device but also an automatic waste discharge device without having to manipulate the collection reservoir to dispose of the waste.

Description

Electric floor sweeper

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a floor sweeper, and more particularly to a sweeper having bristles, having an electric operation suitable for the embodiment required.

Although simple and quick to handle, conventional sweepers still suffer from some drawbacks. This is because the user must have available accessories such as a dustpan and possibly a hand brush, and need to perform a number of actions (movements: movements, activities, movements) such as bending down, collecting waste, and walking to a trash can to dispose of the waste, often requiring multiple round trips between the cleaning area and the trash can. These actions cause inconvenience and stress to the back, especially with the risk of adopting a poor ergonomic posture, especially when bending forward to bend the back to collect waste.

Background

Electric sweepers are known, in particular electric sweepers with a rotating brush are known, which allow the floor to be swept like a vacuum cleaner while at the same time sucking up waste/dust. However, the sweeper is completely electric and can only be used when operated electrically, with no manual operation option. This is because the brush section of the cleaning head is planar and the pick-up reservoir and the electrically powered device are arranged in the cleaning head, positioning the centre of gravity at ground level, which results in a vacuum cleaner type operation. Moreover, the user must perform a number of actions to empty the waste. The user must bend down, maneuver the cleaning head, disassemble/remove the accumulator, empty the accumulator into the trash can, and re-adapt once the accumulator is emptied. This type of electric sweeper, with its center of gravity directed toward the ground, is or appears heavy, difficult to maneuver and may become tiring to use as compared to conventional manually operated sweepers.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a floor sweeper that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks, while being easy to use and minimizing the actions involved for disposing of dust/waste.

According to the utility model, the sweeper has a handle, a sweeping element for sweeping a surface such as a floor, in particular a sweeping element with bristles, a waste collection accumulator, and an electrically powered suction (suction) device, wherein the sweeper further has an electrically powered blowing/ejection device, the electrically powered suction device and the electrically powered blowing/ejection device being selectively employed to suck waste into the accumulator or eject waste from the accumulator in an automated manner.

Thus, the sweeper incorporates a vacuum function, eliminating the need for a dustpan by the user, nor the user having to bend down; the debris is sucked up as it is collected together. Furthermore, the sweeper advantageously incorporates a dust/waste ejection function to automatically empty the accumulator. The user does not have to handle the sweeper, other than selecting a function and pressing a button to implement an electric blowing/ejecting device that automatically empties the waste, the user having previously positioned the sweeper over a container, such as a trash can.

The sweeper is manually operated, and may be selectively electrically operated to suck or blow the waste (once swept and collected together). The term "selectively electrically operable" means that the electric suction function need not be employed simultaneously with the manual sweeping function. The sweeper is primarily a conventional sweeper used manually. The motorized function is performed after the waste is swept and collected together, and then used again to remove the waste.

According to one feature, the sweeper comprises at least one inlet for drawing waste into the accumulator, the inlet being common to the outlets for discharging/blowing/ejecting waste from the container and sweeper.

According to another feature, the electric suction device and the electric blowing/ejection device form an integral apparatus comprising an electric motor suitable for rotating in two opposite directions of rotation (selectively in one direction or the other, in one direction for the suction function, and in the opposite direction for the blowing function). The sweeper also includes a fan associated with the motor. The fan is driven by a motor that rotates in one direction or the other.

The sweeper includes at least one control device, such as a three-position control device, for selecting the suction function, the blowing function or the electrical stop function (manual operation) as desired.

Advantageously, the electric suction device, the electric blowing/ejection device and the waste accumulator are incorporated in a hollow elongated body fixed between the handle and the cleaning element. The hollow elongate body is on the shaft of the handle and the hollow head body is transverse to the hollow elongate body and transverse to the handle. Thus, the sweeper has a center of gravity that is neither at the lower end nor at the upper end of the sweeper; the user can use the sweeper as easily as a conventional sweeper, performing a pendulum type action without having to drag a heavy object. Further, all elements forming the sweeper are designed to provide a sweeper weight of about 700 grams.

The sweeper comprises air outflow and air inflow apertures, which are placed along the outer periphery, in particular in the area of the hollow elongated body housing the electric suction device and the electric blowing/ejection device.

The sweeper includes an air filter cooperating with the end of the accumulator opposite the end through which waste is drawn or blown.

Advantageously, the reservoir has a transparent window showing the dust/waste level.

According to another feature, the sweeping element comprises a hollow head body (preferably substantially rectangular) provided with an opening for passing the waste products, preferably elongated (in a direction perpendicular to the handle), and adapted to communicate with the reservoir, and brushing elements, such as bristles, for brushing/sweeping the floor, distributed at the periphery of the opening.

Preferably, the sweeper is a sweeper having bristles, the sweeping element including a hollow head body and a plurality of bristles covering a lower surface of the hollow head body (except around the opening) and extending from the hollow head body. "sweeper having bristles" means a conventional sweeper having bristles with a substantial height, particularly bristles having a height of at least about 3cm to 5cm or more, for sweeping a surface while allowing the bristles to tilt or bend.

In the remainder of the description, the terms "height" and the modifiers "upper", "lower", "high" and "low" of the elements of the sweeper are used in the context of normal use of the sweeper, in other words, in the context of cooperation of the brush element of the sweeper with a horizontal ground surface, vertically.

Drawings

The utility model will now be described using purely illustrative examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, without in any way limiting the scope of the utility model.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sweeper according to the present invention as viewed from above.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the sweeper.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaner as viewed from below.

Detailed Description

Sweeper 1 shown in the drawings is for sweeping a surface such as a floor. According to the utility model, the sweeper 1 comprises a grip handle 2, a sweeping element 3 with a bristle-type brushing element 4, a waste-collecting accumulator 5, and an electric suction device and an electric blowing/ejection device forming an integrated unit 6.

The sweeper 1 according to the present invention has three functions, a manual sweeping function, a motorized waste suction function and a motorized waste ejection function, so that a user can automatically suck up waste and then automatically discharge the waste into a trash can at or after sweeping without having to manipulate the sweeper in the area of its waste collection reservoir.

The accumulator 5 and the electric suction device and the electric blowing/ejection device forming an integrated apparatus 6 are incorporated in a hollow elongated body 7 arranged at the interface between the grip handle 2 and the sweeping element 3.

The hollow elongated body 7 is a cylindrical body preferably having a circular cross-section.

The hollow elongate body 7 has a cross-section greater than that of the handle 2, the handle 2 having a common diameter for a sweeper suitable for gripping and maneuvering the sweeper.

The handle 2 is made of aluminium, for example, and is preferably hollow to accommodate various operating elements as well as cables and connectors.

The sweeper 1 comprises a control device 8 for selecting an operating mode of the sweeper. The control device has in particular three positions, an electrically inactive electrical stop position, an electrical suction operating position and an electrical discharge operating position.

Preferably, the control device 8 is arranged on the handle 2.

The electric suction means and the electric blowing/ejection means forming the integrated device 6 are preferably operated using batteries 20 housed inside the hollow elongated body 7 or, in this case, inside the handle 2.

The battery 20 can be recharged through an electrical socket 21, preferably positioned at the upper distal end 2A of the handle 2, for example forming part of a cap 22 closing the upper end 2A of the handle. A 7.4 volt battery is sufficient to operate the sweeper.

The wiring of the power supply and the connection of the different electrically powered elements, such as the socket 21, the battery 20, the control device 8 and the electric suction device and the electric blowing/ejection device forming the integrated device 6, are not visible to the user inside the hollow handle 2.

The electric suction means and the electric blowing/ejection means are combined in a unitary device 6 which advantageously comprises an electric motor 60 suitable for rotating in two directions of rotation, one direction or the other depending on whether the suction function or the blowing function is selected.

The unitary apparatus 6 includes a motor 60 housed in a motor chamber 61 and a fan 62 driven by the motor.

The electric motor 60 is a 7.4 volt motor, rotating at 59,000rpm, for example. It is powered by a battery 20.

The motor chamber 61 is arranged adjacent to the handle 2. The motor chamber is a one-piece part that includes a cylindrical distal body in which the motor 60 is housed, a tapered proximal portion 63, and an opposing distal extension 64. The cylindrical distal body is arranged inside the hollow elongated body 7 of the sweeper. The opposite distal extension 64 is intended to fit in the lower free end 2B of the handle 2. The motor chamber/portion 61 allows the hollow elongate body 7 of the sweeper to be secured to the handle 2. The proximal tapered portion 63 is arranged at the interface between the handle 2 and the hollow elongate body 7; the portion is provided with apertures 65 which open to the exterior of the sweeper for cooling the motor. Downstream of the motor 60 (opposite the handle 2), a rotating spindle 9 is arranged, which is fixed on one side to the shaft of the electric motor 60 and supports on the opposite side a fan 62, so as to drive said fan in the direction of rotation of the motor.

The sweeper also has a collection reservoir 5 associated with or arranged in the hollow elongate body 7, an air filter 50, an aperture 51 for air flow out and in to the exterior of the sweeper and a waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet 52.

The collecting reservoir 5 is arranged between the fan 62 and the sweeping element 3. The accumulator 5 is cylindrical and may form part of a hollow elongate body 7. The accumulator 5 has a longitudinal transparent window 53, preferably made of transparent plastic material, which displays the level of the waste.

An air filter 50 is fixed to the upper free end of the accumulator 5. The air filter is made, for example, of foam and is preferably housed in a circular support fixed to the reservoir 5, for example, by snap clips.

In order to provide the respective functions of air outflow during inhalation and air inflow during blowing, the air outflow and air inflow apertures 51 are formed by a plurality of apertures arranged in the thickness of the hollow elongate body 7 between the air filter 50 and the fan 62.

A waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet 52 is arranged at the lower free end of the hollow elongated body 7 and cooperates with the sweeping element 3. The waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet is preferably closable. The waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet 52 is, for example, a valve, preferably made of rubber, which opens during suction and blowing.

Finally, the cleaning element 3 comprises a hollow head body 30 of substantially parallelepiped shape, a brushing element 4, such as bristles, rigidly connected to the hollow head body for cleaning, and a waste suction/discharge inlet formed by a waste suction/discharge opening 32.

The hollow head body 30 comprises centrally on one of its faces (this face is called the upper face) a tubular attachment end piece 33 to allow the hollow head body 30 to be fixed to the lower end of the hollow elongated body 7 of the sweeper. Said tubular end piece 33 is hollow to provide a passage arranged facing the waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet 52 of the hollow elongated body 7.

On the opposite face, referred to as the lower face, the hollow head body 30 comprises an opening 32 extending longitudinally to the body of the head to maximise the suction surface, to the periphery of which opening the brush elements 4 of the sweeper, such as bristles, are attached. The brush elements 4 of the sweeper, such as bristles, extend from the lower surface of the hollow head body 30 and the aperture 32. The bristles are made of, for example, a synthetic material. The longitudinal aperture 32 cooperates with a central passage 34 arranged in the thickness of the hollow head body 30, up to the attachment end piece 33, for conveying waste from the aperture 32 to a waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet 52 of the hollow elongated body 7.

Preferably, in order to clean the interior of the hollow head body 30, through which the dust is allowed to pass, the sweeping element 3 comprises a removable guide portion 35 fixed in the opening 32.

Some parts of the sweeper, such as the motor chamber 61, the fan 62, the air filter 50, the valve 52, the sweeping element 3, the removable guide portion 35 and the attachment end piece 33 are made of a plastics material, preferably a recycled plastics material, for example recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).

The sweeper according to the present invention is therefore easy to use and is typically used for sweeping, collecting waste/dirt together by manual sweeping and creating a vacuum by the powered suction device to suck up the waste after sweeping without having to bend down to scoop it, whilst also creating an automatic waste discharge apparatus without having to manipulate the collection accumulator to dispose of the waste.

Claims

1. Sweeper, having a handle (2) and a sweeping element (3), a waste collection accumulator (5) and an electric suction device, characterized in that it also has an electric blowing/ejection device selectively adopted to suck waste into the accumulator or eject waste from the accumulator in an automatic manner.

2. A sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the sweeper comprises at least one inlet for sucking waste into the accumulator (5), which inlet is common for outlets for blowing waste from the accumulator and the sweeper.

3. The sweeper of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sweeper is manually and selectively electrically operated to suck or blow waste.

4. A sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a common waste suction inlet and waste discharge outlet, forming a valve (52), said valve being made of rubber, said valve being open during suction and blowing.

5. A sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said electric suction means and said electric blowing/ejecting means form an integral device (6) comprising a fan (62) and an electric motor (60) adapted to rotate in two opposite directions of rotation.

6. A sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one control device (8) for selecting a suction function, a blowing function or an electric stop function as desired.

7. A sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electric suction means and the electric blowing/ejecting means and the accumulator are incorporated in a hollow elongated body (7) fixed between the handle (2) and the sweeping element (3).

8. A sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises air outflow and air inflow apertures (51) peripherally placed in the area of the hollow elongated body (7) housing the electric suction device and the electric blowing/ejection device.

9. A sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises an air filter (50) cooperating with an end of the accumulator (5) opposite to the end through which the waste is sucked or blown.

10. The sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said accumulator (5) has a transparent window (53).

11. The sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sweeping element (3) has a hollow head body (30) at the outer periphery of which bristles extend out, and wherein the sweeping element (3) comprises a removable guide portion (35) arranged in the hollow interior of the hollow head body and serving as a means of guiding waste from the sweeping element towards a common waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet.

12. A sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sweeping element (3) is transverse to the handle (2) and makes the sweeper to be used like a conventional sweeper by performing a pendulum sweeping action.

13. The sweeper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said sweeping element (3) comprises a hollow head body (30) provided with an opening (32) for passing waste through, said opening being elongated and adapted to communicate with said accumulator (5), and a brushing element (4) for brushing/sweeping the ground, said brushing element (4) being distributed at the periphery of said opening (32).

14. The sweeper of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sweeping element comprises a plurality of bristles having a height of at least about 3cm to 5 cm.

15. The sweeper of claim 1 or 2, wherein said electric suction means and electric blowing/ejection means are operated using batteries housed within said handle.