US3789454A

US3789454A - Carpet sweeper

Info

Publication number: US3789454A
Application number: US00269632A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Maust; R Drappeu; H Gould
Original assignee: Drackett Co
Current assignee: Drackett Co
Priority date: 1972-07-07
Filing date: 1972-07-07
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05
Also published as: CA977509A

Abstract

The subject invention relates to a carpet sweeper having a minimum of parts, most of which are molded completely of plastic. The sweeper is provided with a dust collecting bin having a lid which provides easy access from the upper portion of the sweeper. A simple gear system transmits rotating motion directly from the wheels to the rotating brush. The housing consists of an upper and lower portion which are both constructed of a molded plastic material. The upper portion has provision to accomodate the dust bin lid and the lower portion has integrally molded means to mount the brush and brush drive system.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Drappeu et al.

Feb. 5, 1974 CARPET SWEEPER [75] Inventors: Robert E. Drappeu; Hughjean Burton Gould, both of Berwyn; Daniel A. Maust, Winfield, all of Ill.

[73] Assignee: The Drackett Company, Cincinnati,

Ohio

[22] Filed: July 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 269,632

[52] U.S. Cl lS/4l R [51] Int. Cl A471 11/00 [58] Field of Search 15/41-48 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,962,740 12/1960 Plantholt 15/41 R 3,003,170 10/1961 Lathrop 3,618,153 11/1971 Coult 15/42 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,013,085 12/1965 Great Britain 15/41 R Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or F irm-George A. Mentis; David J. Mugford; Irving Holtzman [57] ABSTRACT The subject invention relates to a carpet sweeper having a minimum of parts, most of which are molded completely of plastic. The sweeper is provided with a dust collecting bin having a lid which provides easy access from the upper portion of the sweeper. A simple gear system transmits rotating motion directly from the wheels to the rotating brush. The housing consists of an upper and lower portion which are both constructed of a molded plastic material. The upper portion has provision to accomodate the dust bin lid and the lower portion has integrally molded means to mount the brush and brush drive system.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ptented Feb. 5, 1974 3,789,454

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 THIFI Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 CARPET SWEEPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Carpet sweepers presently being used are found to be quite complicated being made of many individual parts, most of which are constructed of metal rendering the units heavy and bulky to use. In addition, the extensive number of parts and the materials used create a high cost of manufacture. It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an inexpensive and easy to use carpet sweeper which is constructed'almost completely of plastic utilizing a small number of integrally molded parts. Further advantages of this'unique construction will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows. The accompanying drawings include:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the carpet sweeper.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the carpet sweeper.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the carpet sweeper showing the inside of the upper and lower housing portions, the brush drive system and the upper baffles.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view along the section lines 4 4 shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view through the section lines 5 5 shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a segmented rear sectional view along the section lines 6 6 shown in FIG. 5. V

The carpet sweeper of the subject invention is constructed of three basic elements: an integrally molded upper housing portion 1, an integrally molded lower housing portion 2, and a brush drive system 3. The upper housing 1 is integrally molded in a light weight plastic, and it is provided with a pivotally mounted handle socket 4 on its upper surface. The handle socket may also be of molded plastic and is attached to the upper housing 1 by virtue of pivot pin 5.

The upper housing 1 is constructed having front wall 6, side walls 7 and 8 and rear wall 9 which from a compartment for enclosing the brush drive system 3. Integrally molded in the vicinity of the front wall 6 are connecting pins 10, 11 and 12 which interlock with

mating sockets

13, 14 and 15 located on the front wall of the lower housing 2. Additional locking pins 16 and 17 are molded towards the rear of the side walls 7 and 8 of the upper housing 1 for interlocking with mating sockets 18 and 19 on the lower housing 2. Support ribs 20 may be molded in the interior of the upper housing 1 for registration with molded support ribs 21 located on the lower housing 2. In order to mount

wheels

23 and 24, semi-cylindrical wheel axle journals 25 are molded into the side walls 7 and 8 of the upper housing 1. The journals 25 essentially mate with similar units 26 molded in the lower housing 2.

Inwardly extending wall member 27 is molded into the rear portion of the upper housing 1 and when the sweeper housings are assembled, the wall member 27 engages a lower housing floor 28 to form a dust collecting bin. A dust bin lid 29 is attached to the exterior of the upper housing 1 in the vicinity of the wall member 27 by means of tabs 30 which are forced fitted into slots 31 in the upper housing 1 and are molded to the lid 29 by means of an integral living hinge 32. The lid 29 is thereby pivotally mounted on the upper housing 1 and may be secured in the closed position by means of a mating latch 33 formed on the rear wall 9 of the upper housing 1. Mating latch 33 engages ridge 34 which is intergrally molded on lid 29.

The lower housing 2 is integrally molded to form dust bin floor 28, which is defined by support ridges 35 which register with the wall member 27 of the upper housing 1. Extending upward from the forward part of the lower housing 2 is a main support rib 21 which registers with the main support rib 20 of the upper housing 1. The support rib 21 is formed in a partial cylinder as best seen in FIG. 5 thereby creating a deflecting wall for a brush 36. An elongated opening 37 is formed in the bottom of the lower housing 2 along the inner face of support rib 21 to accommodate the brush 36. There may be formed at the rear of the opening 37 a toothed ridge 38 which engages the brush 36 to remove surface lint therefrom. Wheel openings 39 are formed in the bottom of the lower housing 2 and are bordered by baffies. The baffles are formed in two parts: a lower portion 40 which is integrally molded into the lower housing 2 and formed having partial journal openings 41 and 42 for wheel axles 46 and the axial ends of brush 36, respectively; and an upper portion 43 which is formed separately having mating

partial journal'openings

44 and 48 which serve to secure the wheel axles 46 and brush 36 in their proper position when the upper housing 1 is secured to the lower housing 2. The side walls of the lower housing 2 are constructed with semicylindrical journal openings 44 which mate the journal openings 25 of the upper housing 1.

The brush drive system 3 consists of the wire wound brush element 36 having gears 45 mounted axially on the ends thereof.

Wheels

23 and 24 are provided integrally molded axles 46 which have inward and outward extending segments relative to the housing and drive gears, such as toothed 47, hubs 47 axially mounted on the inward extending segments thereof said hubs 47 engaging brush gears 45 in a driving relation.

Assembly of the carpet sweeper is accomplished by placing the

wheel assemblies

23 and 24 in their respective openings 39 so that the axles 46 engage the journal openings 41 and 26 of the lower housing. The brush 36 is then inserted into its opening 37 so that the gears 45 engage the toothed hubs 47 of the wheel assemblies 23 and 24. The upper baffles 43 are then inserted completing the inner journal openings for the wheel and brush assemblies. The dust bin lid 29 is then mounted to upper housing. Handle socket 4 is then mounted on the upper housing 1 and this housing is then placed over the lower housing 2 so that the connecting pins l0l2, l6 and 17 engage the mating sockets 1345, 18 and 19 respectively.

We claim:

1. A carpet sweeper having a plastic housing with a dust collecting bin formed therein comprising:

an integrally molded upper housing portion having means to provide access to said dust collecting bin and an integrally molded lower housing portion secured to said upper housing portion and having a brush drive system and means for the rotatable mounting of said brush drive system; wherein said brush drive system comprises:

A. a pair of wheels mounted on axles, said axles having inward and outward extending segments relative to said housing and integrally molded drive gears mounted on said inward segments, B. a brush, and

C. a pair of gears mounted on the axial ends of said brush, said gears being. in engaging relation to said drive gears to receive rotating motion directly from said drive gears;

and said rotatable mounting means comprises:

A. integrally molded mating journal parts constructed in the upper and lower housing portions to accommodate the outward extending segments of the wheel axles,

B. a pair of integrally molded lower baffles constructed in the lower housing portion and spaced inward from the sides thereof, said baffles having partial journal openings molded therein to accommodate the axial ends of said brush and the inward extending segments of the wheel axles, and

C, a pair of separate upper baffles having partial housing portions when they are in their assembled condition.

2. A carpet sweeper as described in claim 1 wherein the upper housing portion is provided with a plastic handle socket which is pivotally mounted to said housing portion by means of a pivot pin.

3. A carpet sweeper as described in claim 1 wherein the access means comprises a molded plastic lid pivotally mounted on the upper housing portion by means of a hinge.

4. A carpet sweeper as described in claim 1 wherein the dust bin comprises inwardly extending wall members integrally molded in both the upper and lower housing portions which mate to form an enclosure for collecting dust picked up by the brush when the plastic housing is assembled.

5. A carpet sweeper as described in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower housing portions are provided with integrally molded mating members which engage in a force fit to secure said housing in the assembled position.

Claims

1. A carpet sweeper having a plastic housing with a dust collecting bin formed therein comprising: , an integrally molded upper housing portion having means to provide access to said dust collecting bin and an integrally molded lower housing portion secured to said upper housing portion and having a brush drive system and means for the rotatable mounting of said brush drive system; wherein said brush drive system comprises: , A. a pair of wheels mounted on axles, said axles having inward and outward extending segments relative to said housing and integrally molded drive gears mounted on said inward segments, B. a brush, and C. a pair of gears mounted on the axial ends of said brush, said gears being in engaging relation to said drive gears to receive rotating motion directly from said drive gears; and said rotatable mouNting means comprises: A. integrally molded mating journal parts constructed in the upper and lower housing portions to accommodate the outward extending segments of the wheel axles, B. a pair of integrally molded lower baffles constructed in the lower housing portion and spaced inward from the sides thereof, said baffles having partial journal openings molded therein to accommodate the axial ends of said brush and the inward extending segments of the wheel axles, and C. a pair of separate upper baffles having partial journal openings which mate with the partial journal openings of said lower baffles to enclose the axial ends of said brush and inward extending segments of said wheel axles in their assembled rotatable condition, said upper baffles being secured by engagement with the upper and lower housing portions when they are in their assembled condition.