US3754294A

US3754294A - Carpet sweeper

Info

Publication number: US3754294A
Application number: US00214825A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Fukuba
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: HOKY KK
Priority date: 1972-01-03
Filing date: 1972-01-03
Publication date: 1973-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-28

Abstract

An arcuate frame top plate is formed with a longitudinally elongated groove for receiving the lower end of a handle. Box frames for supporting friction wheels at the opposite ends of a rotary brush and rolling wheels for driving the rotary brush are fixed to the opposite sides of the top plate. Dust receptacles pivoted to the opposing inner sides of the box frames are provided on their opposite sides with auxiliary brush supports which are exposed from the opposite sides of the box frames and are manipulated for opening the receptacles when the dust therein is discharged.

Description

United States Patent Fukuba Aug. 28, 1973 [5 CARPET SWEEPER 3,268,936 8/1966 Fukuba 15 42 x [76] Inventor: mm Fukuba, 232082, 3,628,211 12/1972 Fukuba 15/42 Matsugaoka Nagareyama' Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts Japan AttorneyThomas B. Van Poole et al. 22 F! d: .3 1972 l 1 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 214,825

An arcuate frame top plate is formed with a longitudinally elongated groove for receiving the lower end of [5 2] US. Cl. 15/42 a handle. Box frames for supporting friction wheels at [51] Int. Cl A47l 11/33 the opposite ends of a rotary brush and rolling wheels [58] Field of Search ..lS/4148 for driving the rotary brush are fixed to the opposite sides of the top plate. Dust receptacles pivoted to the opposing inner sides of the box frames are provided on [56] References Cited their opposite sides with auxiliary brush supports which UNITED STATES PATENTS are exposed from the opposite sides of the box frames 2 663 888 12/1953 Thiele 15/41 R and manipuiated mining the eceptacles when 2,975,449 3/1961 Liddell et al 15 41 R the dust harem dlscharged- 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3 SheetsSheet 1 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5

CARPET SWEEPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A carpet sweeper is known which comprises a rotary brush disposed at the center of flat under face of the frame cover and dust receptacles provided in front and rear of the brush so that the dust can be swept off the floor into the dust receptacles by the brush. The carpet sweeper of this type has the drawback that the dust once swept into the dust receptacle tends to be caught on the rotary brush due to the vibration of the frame during sweeping operation and is drawn out onto the floor again. To prevent such trouble, an improved sweeper is proposed which is equipped with a comblike cleaner to be wedged into the brush or raised therefrom in accordance with the direction of rotation of the brush. However, the provision of such cleaner involves additional problems in that unless consideration is given to the method of assemblage, the sweeper requires a greater trouble and more time for assemblage. To eliminate this drawback, it has been suggested to form the main body of the sweeper and frame portions to be attached to the opposite sides of the main body as separate units and to incorporate the comblike cleaner into the sweeper when these units are assembled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in a carpet sweeper of the type described which comprises an assembly of a sweeper main body and frame portions to be attached to the opposite sides of the main body which are formed separately.

An object of this invention is to provide a carpet sweeper comprising a frame top cover made of a metal plate and side box frames molded of plastics and fixed to the opposite ends of the frame top cover, the side box frames supporting constituent elements of the sweeper such as rolling wheels, rotary brush, combs for the brush and dust receptacles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carpet sweeper wherein auxiliary brush supports projecting from the opposite sides of the dust receptacles are exposed sidewise from the opening parts formed in the box frames so that the dust receptacles can be opened with ease by moving the auxiliary brush supports by the hand when dust is to be discarded.

Still another object of this invention is to provide simple means at the front and rear ends of the frame top plate to obtain a boxlike structure and to attach shock absorbing members at these ends so as to protect fumiture when the sweeper is used.

Other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a carpet sweeper of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same with part broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the same; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing other portions in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, a frame top plate 1 is provided, at the center of its top face, with an elongated groove member for mounting a handle 2 therein' The top plate 1 made of a thin metal plate is smoothly curved in an arcuate form as seen in side elevation. Box frames 3 made of a synthetic resin material is fixed to the opposite sides of the top plate I.

The box frames 3 on the left and right are symmetric. Each of the box frames 3 is in the form of a box and has an interior space defined by an outer side wall 6 and inner side wall 7 for accommodating rolling wheels 5. The rolling wheels 5 impart rotation to a transverse rotary brush 4 supported below the center of the top plate 1 and support the carpet sweeper above the floor.

The opposite side ends of the top plate 1 are fitted into grooves 11 formed in the outer faces of opposing inner side walls 7 of the box frames 3 with application of an adhesive, whereby the parts are fixed together. Alternatively, the top plate 1 may be simply fitted with the box frames and secured thereto by driving screws into threaded portions formed.

The rotary brush 4 has such length that it extends between the

inner side walls

7 and 7 of the box frames 3 put together as described above. As already known, driven

wheels

9 and 9 are mounted on the opposite ends of a shaft extending from the opposite ends of the brush. Each of the driven

wheels

9 and 9 is positioned within the space of each box frame 3 and a pin bore formed in the outer end face of the driven wheel 9 receives therein short pins 10 projecting from the outer wall 6 of the box frame 3, the driven wheel 9 thus being rotatably supported on the pin 10.

Like the driven whee] 9, the rolling wheels 5 for imparting rotation to the driven wheel 9 are disposed in the box frame. A bearing shaft for carrying the roll ing wheel 5 extends horizontally from the lower end of a vertical rod 12 whose upper horizontal end 12b is received in a retainer groove 13 formed in the ceiling of the box frame 3. The bearing shaft 12a extends through a bore of the rolling wheel 5 and terminates at its end 12a, which is guided by a vertical rib 14 on the inner face of the box frame 3 so as to keep the rolling wheel 5 in proximity to the driven wheel 9. 7

Dust receptacles l5 and 15 are provided in front and rear of the rotary brush 4 between the

opposite side frames

3 and 3 as if to close the under portion of the arcuate top plate 1. The dust receptacle 15 comprises a wavelike bottom plate and

opposite side plates

16 and 16 which are made integrally of a synthetic resin. Short pins 17 projecting from the inner faces of the box frames 3 fit in holes 16' formed in the opposite side plates 16 of the dust receptacle 15, whereby the receptacle is supported'on the box frames in downwardly pivotally movable manner.

To assure the engagement of the rear end of each dust receptacle'lS with a cushion member 18 at each of the front and rear edges of the top plate 1, small grooves 19 are formed at the opposite lower sides of front edge of the dust receptacle 15 which front edge faces the rotary brush and similar small grooves 19 are also formed in the other dust receptacle 15 in opposite relationship. Inverted U-shaped wire springs 20 are provided between the opposing grooves 19 so as to always urge the rear edges of the dust receptacles into pressing contact with the cushion members 18 about the short pins 17. The dust receptacle 15 can be easily moved pivotally to be opened downward from the top plate for the discharge of dust accumulated therein by placing the finger on a support 21 and pushing the same downward. The support 21 for supporting an auxiliary brush 8 will be described below.

Downwardly extending brushes 8 are disposed on the opposite sides of each dust receptacle 15 to sweep the floor below the

box frames

3 and 3 which the rotary brush 4 can not sweep. The brushes 8 further serve to prevent pitching and rolling to be produced when the sweeper is moved back and forth by the elongated handle 2 for sweeping.

Each brush 8 is firmly fitted into the brush support 21 formed integrally with the dust receptacle 15 and extending from each side plate 16 of the dust receptacle toward under the box frame 3. The support 21 in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a bifurcated part and a base 28 of the brush 8 is inserted into the support 21 from outside. Since the support 21 extends from the side plate 16 of the dust receptacle toward under the box frame 3, the inner side wall 7 and outer side wall 6 of the box frame 3 are formed with

tunnellike recesses

22 and 23 for permitting the support 21 to project.

In order to enable the user to push open the dust re- 7 ceptacle l5 easily against the action of the springs 20, the end of the support 21 is positioned at the outer side wall 6 of the box frame 3, the aforementioned recess 23 in the outer side wall 6 being such that a sufficient space is left above the support 21 so that the user can place his finger on the end of the support 21 from above.

The cushion member 18 to be engaged by the rear end of the dust receptacle 15 is provided on each of the front and rear ends of the top plate 1. Each end of the top plate 1 includes a vertical portion 24, a horizontal portion 25 and another vertical portion 26 further extending upward from the end of the horizontal portion 25. The cushion member 18 made of a rubberlike material is provided over the bent portion thus formed and covers the same both from inside and outside. The cushion material 18 includes a flat portion 27 in its under face with which the rear edge of the dust receptacle 15 is brought into pressing contact. The external portion of the cushion member 18 serves to mitigate the shock to be produced when the sweeper strikes against furniture or the like during sweeping.

To mount the handle 2 at the center of the top plate 1, there is provided a rod 30 under the top plate 1. The rod 30 is supported at its opposite ends on bearing portions 31 formed in the box frames 3. The rod 30 extends through a hole in the lower end of the handle 2 at the center of the top plate 1. To receive the lower end of the handle, the top plate 1 is formed with an elongated groove in which there is formed a recessed member 32. The lower end of the handle 2 is attached to the rod 30 within the recess of the recessed member 32, the recess being so elongated that the handle 2,

when inclined downward along the recess, will be parallel with the floor. A securing member 33 for the recessed member 32 is adhered thereto with the top plate 1 disposed therebetween.

The lower end of the handle 2 is first inserted into the recessed member 32 and, in this state, the rod 30 is loosely passed through the holes therein. The recessed member 32 is then fitted to the under side of the elongated groove of the top plate. The securing member 33 is then adhered to the recessed member 32 for connection to the plate 1. The opposite ends of the rod 30 are then inserted in the bearing portions 31 of the box frames 3. Although the handle 2 comprises a piece of rod, as seen in the drawing, it may be composed of several shorter segments of pipe such as a fishing rod.

As already known, a plate spring is disposed at the bottom of the grooved member 32 to push up the flat end of the handle 2 upward with its high resilient force and thereby keep the handle 2 in an upright position. The drawings further show cleaner combs 35 for the rotary brush and a lever 36 for pivotally supporting the combs on the inner side wall 7.

In accordance with this invention, the dust receptacles for this type of carpet sweeper are made easier to handle by eliminating inconveniences heretofore experienced. In the case where a manipulating portion of the dust receptacle is projected outward from the cover, dust tends to come out through the grooves therefor provided, but such drawback is avoided in the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment but can be practiced with other modifications. For example, the support for the auxiliary brush may be in the form of a box which is open at its under face so as to fit the brush therein from below. Further the opposite ends of the cushion member may extend to the ends of the box frames to mitigate the shock to be produced upon the box frames hitting furniture.

What is claimed is:

l. A carpet sweeper including a frame cover comprising an arcuate top plate having side edges but not having side walls, first and second side box frames made of synthetic resin fixed to the side edges of the frame cover, rolling wheels in each box frame mounted on bearing shaft means carried solely by said box frame, inwardly facing grooves on each of said box frames, said side edges of said top plate being received in said inwardly facing grooves and secured therein, a rotary brush means, friction wheels mounted on opposite ends of said rotary brush means in frictional contact with said rolling wheels, dust receptacles disposed on opposite sides of said rotary brush in facing relationship thereto, said dust receptacles having side walls, pivot means connecting said dust receptacles to the side box frames so as to be opened downwardly, a handle supporting rod extending across the width of said arcuate top plate to be spaced beneath said arcuate top plate and supported on each end by said side box frames, a push handle connected to and supported by said handle supporting rod and extending outwardly therefrom and auxiliary brush supporting means extending outwardly from the opposite sides of said dust receptacles through recesses provided in said side box frames and auxiliary brush means extending downwardly from said auxiliary brush supporting means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary brush supporting means are formed on opposite side walls of said dust receptacles.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary brush supporting means are respectively formed on the side walls of said dust receptacles and said recesses through which said brush supporting means extend comprise inverted U-shaped openings extending upwardly from the lower edge portions of said box frames.

Claims

1. A carpet sweeper including a frame cover comprising an arcuate top plate having side edges but not having side walls, first and second side box frames made of synthetic resin fixed to the side edges of the frame cover, rolling wheels in each box frame mounted on bearing shaft means carried solely by said box frame, inwardly facing grooves on each of said box frames, said side edges of said top plate being received in said inwardly facing grooves and secured therein, a rotary brush means, friction wheels mounted on opposite ends of said rotary brush means in frictional contact with said rolling wheels, dust receptacles disposed on opposite sides of said rotary brush in facing relationship thereto, said dust receptacles having side walls, pivot means connecting said dust receptacles to the side box frames so as to be opened downwardly, a handle supporting rod extending across the width of said arcuate top plate to be spaced beneath said arcuate top plate and supported on each end by said side box frames, a push handle connected to and supported by said handle supporting rod and extending outwardly therefrom and auxiliary brush supporting means extending outwardly from the opposite sides of said dust receptacles through recesses provided in said side box frames and auxiliary brush means extending downwardly from said auxiliary brush supporting means.