US3314099A

US3314099A - Floor cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3314099A
Application number: US461701A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ed A Otto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-06-07
Filing date: 1965-06-07
Publication date: 1967-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1984-04-18

Description

April 18, 1967 E. A. OTTO 3,314,099

FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1965 4 Sheets$heet l ED A. OTTO INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS E. A. OTTO April 18, 1967 FLOOR CLEANI NG APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1965 ED A. OTTO INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April 18 19 7 E. A. OTTO 3,314,0 9

FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1965 4 Shets-Sheet 5 ED A. OT TO INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 1967 E. A. OTTO FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Filed June 7, 1965 ED A. OTTO INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,314,099 FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS Ed A. Otto, 5701 W. Earll Drive, Phoenix, Ariz. 85031 Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 461,701 12 Claims. (Cl. 15-385) My invention relates to an improved floor cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to a floor cleaning apparatus in which rotary cleaning action is combined with suction to remove dirt or dust loosened thereby.

Vacuum cleaning devices have been widely employed for a long time. These devices have been adapted in size and shape to accomplish relatively effective cleaning of rugs, Venetian blinds, car floors, upholstery, or the like. Heretofore, no suitable apparatus has been devised with which a large, hard-surfaced floor may be cleaned and, if desired, simultaneously polished, using the advantages of vacuum apparatus.

Large hard-surfaced floors, such as gymnasium floors, meeting hall floors, or the like have usually required a number of specific steps in their cleaning and maintenance. Usually, the floor itself was scrubbed with soap or detergent and water and then rinsed and dried. After the floor was dried, the wax or similar coating was applied and then buited to give the desired finish. The buffing operation ordinarily left a powdery residue of superfluous wax which was removed by dusting, dry-mopping or the like. Further maintenance of the floor, in situations where washing of the floor was not required, involved rebutfing the floor with subsequent removal of the dust, loose wax, or the like. Because of the number of individual, time-consuming steps and the variety of apparatus required, maintenance of a large, hard-surfaced floor usually has been expensive.

Cleaning apparatus employing rotary brushes rotating about a vertical axis or axes have proved to be most desirable for the cleaning of large hard-surfaced floor areas. A characteristic of rotary brushes of this type is that loose dirt coming in contact with the brushes tends to be thrown away from the brushes. For this reason, it is desirable to have a suction head forward of the brushes in the directionof travel of the apparatus in order to pick up loose dirt so that it will not be thrown by contact with the brushes. Known vacuuming devices have suction head positioned to pick up dirt and other debris thrown by the brushes when the apparatus is pushed in a normal direction of travel. Often it is desirable for the operator to move his apparatus in an oblique or sideways direction in which case the suction head is no longer forward of the brushes. In such situations, the advantages of having a vacuum apparatus in conjunction with the rotary brushes are substantially lost.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide a floor cleaning apparatus including a movable suction head to provide a high degree of flexibility in direction of operative travel.

It is another object of my invention to provide an apparatus with which a floor may be cleaned and the dust or other debris removed in a single step with a single apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be come apparent to those skilled in the art in the course of the following specification and claims when taken in view of the accompanying drawings.

Briefly, the objects and advantages of my invention are attained with a floor cleaning apparatus comprising a rotary brush supported by a housing and operated by a motor or other power means. A suction head is positioned to ride on the floor near a portion of the periphery of the rotary brush. The suction head communicates with a suction chamber and is operatively connected to a 3,314,099 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 reversible power means such as an electric motor for control of its position around the periphery of the rotary brush. The apparatus is operated by means of a handle secured to the body of the floor cleaning apparatus and the handle carries switch means for actuating the apparatus.

A better understanding of my invention may be obtained in View of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of my apparatus wherein a single rotary brush is employed;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, taken along 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom isometric view illustrating certain details in the suction head employed in the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric View of another embodiment of my invention wherein two rotary brushes are employed.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 5 with a portion of the handle: removed to conserve space;

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a suction head of the type particularly adapted for use with the embodiment of my apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the suction head illustrated in FIGURE 7 and taken along 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional side view taken along 9-9 of FIGURE 7 illustrating a preferred means of communication between a suction chamber and a suction head; and

FIGURE 10 is an exploded partial isometric view further illustrating the suction head connection illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 9.

Referring noW to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1-4, a rotary brush 20 driven by an electric motor 21 is mounted in a housing 22. The motor and the housing are secured together in assembly as by bolts or rivets 24. A handle member generally designated 25 is secured to the motor-housing assembly by rivets 26 engaging through apertures in a flattened portion 28 of the handle member 25 and a lug member 29 secured to the motor-housing assembly. The handle member 25, thus joined to the motor-housing assembly may be moved in an up and down direction to adjust for differences in operator height or to permit the apparatus to travel under low hanging obstacles. l I

A reversible electric motor 30 is secured to the motor 21 which drives the rotary 'brush 2! by means of a clip 32 and has a minor pulley member 33 secured to its output shaft 34. A major pulley 36 rotates about an axle 3'7 secured to the top of the electric motor 21. Axle 37 is in the shape of a round-headed stud and has a threaded smaller dimensioned portion 38 at the end removed from the round head 40. A nut 41 secures the axle member 37 to a bracket 42 which is in turn secured to the top of electric motor 21.

A suction distributor generally designated 44 is in the shape of a hollow chamber secured to the top surface of major pulley 36 as by welding. The round head sealingly engages the inside of the bottom end 45 of the suction distributor 44. If desired, a washer or other sealing means 46 may be positioned between the round head 40 of the axle member 37 and the bottom end 45 of the suction distributor 44 to improve the seal. A belt or other power transmission means 48 engages the pulleys 33 and as and provides driving communication therebetween. When the reversible electric motor 30 drives pulley 33, suction distributor 44 is caused to rotate with major pulley 36. Desirably, pulley 33 is substantially 3 smaller than major pulley 36 to afford better control by the operator of the apparatus.

Suction distributor 44 has a connector fitting 49 rotatably secured to its top end. The connector fitting 49 is in the form of a tubular elbow having an outwardly extending flange 59 at one end. The other end of the connector fitting 49 is adapted to engage a suction conduit 52 which may be in the form of a hose or pipe. The suction conduit 52 communicates between the connector fitting 49 and a suction chamber in a suction apparatus of any desired type. A circular plate 53 has an inwardly extending ear 54 which engages over outwardly extending flange 50. The plate 53 is secured to the top of the suction distributor 44 as by bolts 56 or the like. Connector fitting 49 is in registry with an aperture 57 defined by the top of the suction distributor 44, and outwardly extending flange 50 is in sliding rotatable engagement between the top of the suction distributor and the inwardly extending ear 54. In this manner, suction distributor 44 freely may be rotated relative to connector fitting 49, if desired.

A suction head generally designated 58 has an elongated arcuate shape and is positioned to slide along the fioor near the periphery of the rotary brush 20. The suction head 58 has a plurality of openings in its bottom surface 69 which is substantially flat. Near each end of the suction head, substantially hollow nose members 61 extend substantially radially outwardly therefrom. The nose members 61 communicate with the interior of the suction head and are open on their bottom surfaces and in their outermost extremities 62. The open bottoms of the nose members 61 are contiguous to openings in the flat bottom 60 of the suction head 58. Openings 63 in the forward or leading portion of the suction head are adapted to pick up large items such as cigarette butts or the like which will slide along the suction head and not otherwise be picked up.

At least one of the openings 64 located in the bottom surface 66 of the suction head 58 has a further slot-like contiguous opening 65 extending upwardly in the rearward portion of the suction head 58 toward the rotary brush 20 to pick up dust or debris thrown by the brush. A pair of suction pipes 66 communicate between the suction head 58 and the suction distributor 44 and provide support for the suction head 58. The suction pipes '66 are preferably of a rigid or semi-rigid material and communicate through and are supported by the substantially vertical like wall portion of the suction distributor 44. A pair of substantially vertical tubular extensions '68 are welded to the suction head 58 and communicate with the interior thereof. An outwardly-extending circumferential flange 69 on the tubular extensions 68 sealingly engages the interior of the suction pipe 66 and is adapted to engage with inwardly extending flange 75) on suction pipe 66, thereby to support the suction head 58 when the apparatus is raised from the floor.

In use, the electric motor 21 drives the rotary brush thereby to clean or polish the floor under consideration. Suction is applied to the suction hose 52 and thereby to the suction head 58. Dirt or dust, loosened by the action of the rotating brush 20, passes through the slot 65 and is removed through the suction hose 52. As the apparatus is pushed a forward direction, loose dirt is picked up by the suction head 58 passing thereover and large items are picked up by slot 63. Nose members 61 facilitate access to small corners or the like.

One of the purposes of having the suction head 58 ahead of the brush 20 when cleaning or polishing a floor is so that loose dirt or dust is picked up prior to its contact with the brush. There is a tendency for loosened dirt to be thrown by the brush away from contact with the suction head at an angle of about 90 from the direction of travel. Loosened dirt thrown by the brush is picked up by slot 65.

When it is desired to change the direction of travel of the apparatus, the suction head may be kept forward of the brush by actuating a switch 72 on the handle of the apparatus which will cause the reversible motor 30 to rotate in the desired direction. Rotation of the motor 30 is continued until the suction head moves to its desired position. Preferably, switch 72 is of a spring-loaded, three-position, normally-open switch. Thus, when the switch is pushed to the left, the suction head will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction or to the left as seen by the operator. On release, the switch returns to its normally-open central or upward position. When the switch is pressed toward the right, the suction head is caused to rotate around the brush in a clockwise direction or to the right as viewed by the operator. Release of the switch again returns it to its normally-open central position. In this manner, the suction head readily is maintained in the appropriate position relative to the brush to pick up loose dust, dirt and the like as well as dirt loosened by contact with the rotating brush.

With reference to FIGURES 5-l0, a pair of oppositelyrotating brushes are positioned in and rotatablysupported by a housing 81. An electric motor 82 is mounted on the housing in assembly therewith and drives the brushes 80 in opposite rotary directions. A handle member generally designated 84 is adjustably secured to the housing 81 and carries suitable switching apparatus. A suction motor or apparatus 85 including a suction chamber is also mounted on the housing 81 and is carried thereby.

A pair of major pulleys 86 are rotatably-mounted on top of housing 81 substantially oo-axial with the rotary brushes. Suction distributors 88 are secured to the top central portions of the major pulleys 86 and rotate therewith. A Y-shaped suction hose 89 communicates between the suction distributors 88 and the suction chamber in suction apparatus 85. Substantially rigid suction pipes 90 extend outwardly from the suction distributors 88 and are supported thereby. Suction pipes 90 have a plate 92 secured to their ends removed from the suction distributors 88 as by welding or the like.

A pair of suction heads, generally designated 93, are positioned to ride on the floor near the periphery of the rotary brushes 80. Each suction head 93, when viewed from the top as FIGURE 6, or from the bottom as in FIGURE 8, is in the form of a right-angle subtended by an arc, the are having substantially the same center of curvature as it respective rotary brush 80.

With particular reference to FIGURE 8, the bottom of the suction head 93 has flat portions 94 adapted to ride along the floor being cleaned or polished. The interior of the suction head 93 is substantially hollow and its periphery, except for the floor-engaging portions 94, is raised slightly from the level of the floor. A channel 96 between the floor-engaging portions 94 communicates be tween the corner of the suction head and its interior por' tion. The upper portion of the suction head 93 is in the form of a hollow chamber 97 which defines a slot 98 in its inner vertical wall 100. A pair of vertical inwardlyextending ears 101 are secured to the vertical portion 100 of the suction head 93 on each side of the slot 98. The plate 92 secured to the suction pipe 90, slidingly engages between the vertical portion 100 and the ears 101 secured thereto whereby adjustable communication is maintained between the suction chamber in suction apparatus 85 and the interior of suction heads 93. Arresting members 102 maintain plate 92 in engagement with ears 101 in the event that the suction heads should for some reason be lifted completely from the floor as by tilting the apparatus backward on wheels 103. The construction of the suc' tion joints illustrated in FIGURES 7, 9, and 10 is particularly useful when the floor over which the cleaning apparatus travels is not exactly level. The suction heads may r1de up or down as the fioor surface dictates without loss in communication between the interior of suction heads 93 and the suction chamber in suction apparatus 85.

A reversible motor 104 is supported by a bracket 105 secured to the housing 81 and has a minor pulley 106 secured to its drive shaft. The pulley 106 is a dual pulley to facilitate engagement with a pair of belts 198 operatively communicating between the pulley 106 and the major pulleys 86. One of the belts 108 is crossed over so that the major pulleys 86 will rotate in opposite directions when the reversible motor 104 is actuated. By actuation of the reversible motor 104, the suction heads 93 may be positioned forward of the housing 81 as illustrated in FIGURE 5 or rearward as illustrated in FIGURE 6, or in any position therebetween. Actuation of the reversible motor 104 is preferably by a spring-loaded, normallyopen switch 109 similar to the switch described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-4.

Because of the opposite rotation of the rotary brushes 80, substantial stability and easy directional control are obtained in the use of my cleaning apparatus. The shape of the suction heads 93 and particularly channels 96, permits easy cleaning and removal if dirt from hard to reach corners.

If desired, a stationary suction head may be positioned near the center of the front of the housing 81 to pick up debris directly in front of the apparatus and which might otherwise be thrown clear of the suction heads 93 by the rotary brushes 80.

Various modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof and it is to be understood that I limit myself only as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) a motor for rotating said brush,

(d) means for supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush and adapted to contact said floor,

(f) said suction head adapted to communicate with a suction chamber,

(g) a reversible motor mounted on said brush and motor assembly, means connecting said reversible motor to said suction head and adapted to rotate said suction head substantially about the periphery of said rotary brush,

(h) switch means for actuating said reversible motor,

and

(i) handle means secured to said brush and motor assembly.

2. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) a motor for rotating said brush,

(d) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly, I a

(f) a hollow suction distributor,

(g) support and conduit means communicating between said suction head and said suction distributor,

(b) said suction distributor adapted to communicate with a suction chamber,

(i) a reversible motor,

(j) means engaging between said reversible motor and said suction distributor for rotating said suction distributor and said suction head, i

(k) switch means for actuating said reversible motor,

and

(l) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly.

3. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) a motor for rotating said brush,

(d) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(f) said suction head having at least one opening in its bottom,

(8) a hollow suction distributor,

(h) tubular extension and suction pipe means communicating between said suction'head and said suction distributor,

(i) said suction distributor adapted to communicate with a suction chamber,

(j) areversible motor,

(k) driving means engaging between said reversible motor and said suction distributor for rotating said suction distributor,

(1) switch means for actuating said reversible motor,

and

(m) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly.

4. Floor sweeping apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) a motor for rotating said brush,

((1) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a hollow, arcuate suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush and adapted to contact said floor,

(f) said suction head having a plurality of openings in its bottom and at least one opening extending upwardly in its rearward portion,

(g) nose members extending substantially radially outwardly from said suction head,

(h) tubular extension and suction pipe means secured to said suction head and a suction distributor and communicating between the interior thereof,

(i) said suction distributor comprising a hollow chamber adapted to communicate with a suction'chamber,

(j) a driven pulley secured to said suction distributor,

(k) a reversible electric motor having; a driving pulley rotatable with its output shaft and smaller than said driven pulley,

(1) driving means engaging between said driving pulley and said driven pulley,

(m) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly, and

(n) switch means for actuating said reversible motor.

'5. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

( b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) an electric motor rotating said brush,

(d) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush,

(f) said suction head comprising an arcuate tubular member adapted to contact said floor,

(g) said suction head having a plurality of openings in its bottom and at least one opening extending upwardly in its rearward portion,

(h) nose members extending substantially radially outwardly from said suction head and contiguous to openings in the bottom of said suction head,

(i) vertical tubular extensions secured to said suction head and communicating with the interior thereof,

(j) each said extension slidingly secured to a suction pipe engaging thereover,

(k) each suction pipe secured to and communicating with the interior of a suction distributor,

(1) said suction distributor comprising a hollow chamber having top and bottom end-s,

(m) a connector fitting in the form of a tubular elbOW adapted to communicate with a suction chamber and rotatably secured to the top of said suction distributor,

(n) a major pulley secured to the bottom end of said suction distributor and rotatable about an axle supported by said electric motor,

() a reversible electric motor secured to said electric motor,

(p) said reversible electric motor having a pulley rotatable with its output shaft and smaller than said major pulley,

(q) a belt drivingly engaging between said pulley and said major pulley,

(r) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(s) a three-position, normally-open, spring-loaded switch mounted on said handle member for actuating said reversible motor.

6. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable with a substantially vertical axle,

(c) an electric motor driving said brush,

(d) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a hollow suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush,

(f) said suction head comprising an arcuate tubular member having a flat bottom adapted to contact said floor,

(g) said suction head having a plurality of openings in its flat bottom,

(h) at least one of said openings having a contiguous, slot-like opening extending upwardly in the rearward portion of said suction head,

(i) hollow nose members having open ends and bottoms extending substantially radially outwardly from said suction head near each end thereof and contiguous to openings in the bottom of said suction head,

(j) two vertical tubular extensions secured to the top of said suction head and communicating with the interior thereof,

(k) each said extension slidingly secured to a suction pipe engaging over said tubular extension,

(1) said suction pipes secured to and communicating with the interior of a suction distributor,

(m) said suction distributor comprising a hollow chamber having a flat top and bottom ends and defining an aperture in its top end,

(n) a connector 'fitting in the form of a tubular elbow adapted to communicate with a suction chamber and rotatably secured to the top of said suction distributor in registry with the aperture defined thereby,

(o) a major pulley secured to the bottom end of said suction distributor and rotatable about an axle supported by the top of said electric motor,

(p) a reversible electric motor secured to the side of said electric motor,

(q) said reversible electric motor having a pulley rotatable with its output shaft and smaller than said major pulley,

(r) a belt drivingly engaging between said pulley and said major pulley,

(s) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(t) a three-position, normally-open, spring-loaded 0 switch mounted on said handle member for actuating said reversible motor.

7. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

'(h) at least one of said openings having a contiguous,

slot-like opening extending upwardly in the rearward portion of said suction head, and at least one of said openings having a contiguous, slot-like opening extending upwardly in the front portion of said suction head,

(i) two hollow nose members having open ends and bottoms extending substantially radially outwardly from said suction head near each end thereof,

(j) said open bottoms in said nose members contiguous to openings in the bottom of said suction head,

(k) two vertical tubular extensions secured to the top of said suction head and communicating with the interior thereof,

(1) each said extension having a flange extending outwardly from its upper end,

(m) two suction pipes engaging over said tubular extensions and having inwardly extending flanges engaging the flanges on said extensions,

(n) said suction pipes secured to the side of and communicating with the interior of a suction distributor,

(0) said suction distributor comprising a hollow chamber having flat top and bottom ends,

(p) said suction distributor defining an aperture in its top end and having a circular plate surrounding said aperture, said plate having an inwardly extending ear,

(q) a connector fitting in the form of a tubular elbow,

(I) said connector fitting adapted to communicate with a suction chamber and having an outwardly extending flange at its bottom end rotatably engaging between said ear and the top of said suction distributor,

(s) a major pulley secured to the bottom end of said suction distributor and rotatable about an axle supported by a bracket secured to the top of said electric motor,

(t) a reversible electric motor secured to the side of said electric motor by a clip,

(u) said reversible electric motor having a pulley rotatable with its output shaft and smaller than said major pulley,

(v) a belt drivingly engaging between said pulley and said major pulley,

(w) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(x) a three-position, normally-open, spring-loaded switch mounted on said handle member for actuating said reversible motor.

8. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) a motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

(d) means for supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads positioned near the peripheries of said brushes,

(f) each said suction head adapted to contact the floor,

(g) said suction heads adapted to communicate with a suction chamber,

(h) a reversible motor supported by said brush and motor assembly, means connecting said reversible motor to said suction heads and adapted to rotate said suction heads in opposite directions substantially about the peripheries of said rotary brushes,

(i) switch means for actuating said reversible motor,

and

(j) handle means secured to said brush and motor assembly.

9. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) a motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

(d) a housing supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads ripheries of said brushes, (f) each said suction head comprising a hollow, openbottomed member having flat portions adapted to contact the floor,

(g) a pair of suction pipes slidingly secured to said suction heads and communicating with the interiors thereof,

(h) a pair of rotatable suction distributors supportingly engaging said suction pipes and communicating therewith,

(i) a suction chamber, means communicating between said suction distributors and said suction chamber,

(j) a reversible motor supported by said brush and motor assembly,

(k) driving means engaging between said reversible motor and said suction distributors for rotating said suction distributors in opposite directions,

(1) a switch for actuating said reversible motor, and

(In) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly.

10. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) a motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

(d) a housing supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads ripheries of said brushes, f) each said suction bead comprising a hollow, openbottomed member having flat portions adapted to contact the floor,

(g) each said suction head having a rear wall defining a vertical slot,

(h) a pair of suction pipes slidingly secured to said inner walls of said suction heads in registry with said slots,

(i) a pair of driven pulleys rotatably mounted on said housing and rotatable on substantially vertical axes.

(j) a pair of suction distributors mounted on said driven pulleys and rotatable therewith,

(k) said suction distributors supportingly engaging said suction pipes to communicate with and support said suction heads,

(1) a suction chamber, a suction hose communicating between said suction distributors and said suction chamber,

(In) a reversible motor supported by said brush and motor assembly.

(11) a driving pulley rotatable with said reversible motor,

() driving means engaging between said driven pulleys and said driving pulley for rotating said driven pulleys in opposite directions,

positioned near the pepositioned near the pc- (p) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly, and

(q) a switch mounted on said handle for actuating said reversible motor.

11. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) an electric motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

(d) a housing supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads ripheries of said brushes, (f) each said suction head comprising a hollow, openbottomed member in the form of a right angle subtended by an arc,

(g) each said suction head having flat portions adapted to contact the floor,

(h) each said suction head having a rear wall defining a vertical slot,

(i) a pair of suction pipes, each slidingly secured to said rear wall of each said suction head in registry with said slot,

(j) a pair of major pulleys rotatably mounted on said housing and substantially co-axial with said brushes,

(k) a pair of hollow suction distributors mounted on said major pulleys and rotatable therewith,

(1) said suction pipes supportedly engaging in the side portions of said suction distributors,

(m) a suction chamber, a Y-shaped suction hose communicating between said suction distributors and said suction chamber,

(11) a reversible electric motor supported by said hous- (0) a minor dual pulley rotatable with the drive shaft of said reversible electric motor and smaller than said major pulleys,

(p) a pair of. belts drivingly engaging between said major pulleys and said minor pulley, one of said belts crossed over to rotate said major pulleys in opposite directions,

(q) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(r) a three-position, normally-open, switch mounted on said handle for reversible motor.

12. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) an electric motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

((1) a housing supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads ripheries of said brushes, (if) each said suction head comprising a hollow, openbottomed member in the form of a right angle subtended by an arc,

(g) each said suction head having flat portions forming a channel extending between the right angle and the interior of the suction head and adapted to engage the floor,

(h) each said suction head having a rear wall defining a vertical slot,

(i) a pair of inwardly extending vertical ears secured on each side of said slot,

(j) a pair of suction pipes, each having a plate secured to one end thereof, said plate slidingly engaging be tween said earsand said wall of each said suction thead,

(k) a pair of major pulleys rotatably mounted on said housing substantially co-axially with said brushes,

positioned near the pespring-loaded actuating said positioned near the pe- (l) a pair of suction distributors mounted on said major pulleys and rotatable therewith,

(m) each said suction distributor comprising a hollow cylinder defining openings in its top and side portions,

(11) said suction pipes supportedly engaging in the openings in the side portions of said suction distributors,

(o) a suction chamber, a Y-shaped suction hose communicating between the tops of said suction distributors and said suction chamber,

(p) a reversible motor supported by a bracket mounted on said housing,

(q) a minor dual pulley rotatable with the drive shaft of said reversible electric motor and smaller than said major pulleys,

(r) a pair of belts drivingly engaging between said major pulleys and said minor pulley, one of said belts crossed over to rotate said major pulleys in opposite directions,

(s) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(t) a threeposition, normally-open, spring-loaded switch mounted on said handle for actuating said reversible motor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,453 3/1939 Longshore et al 15320 FOREIGN PATENTS 486,499 6/1938 Great Britain.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A ROTARY BRUSH FOR SWEEPING A FLOOR, (B) SAID BRUSH ROTATABLE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS, (C) A MOTOR FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSH, (D) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BRUSH AND SAID MOTOR IN ASSEMBLY, (E) A SUCTION HEAD POSITIONED NEAR THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BRUSH AND ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID FLOOR, (F) SAID SUCTION HEAD ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH A SUCTION CHAMBER, (G) A REVERSIBLE MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID BRUSH AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY, MEANS CONNECTING SAID REVERSIBLE MOTOR TO SAID SUCTION HEAD AND ADAPTED TO ROTATE SAID SUCTION HEAD SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID ROTARY BRUSH, (H) SWITCH MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID REVERSIBLE MOTOR, AND (I) HANDLE MEANS SECURED TO SAID BRUSH AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY.