Carpet Sweeper Patents (Class 15/41.1)
  • Patent number: 7861351
    Abstract: An electric cleaning sweeper comprises a housing, including a detachable dirt tray placed inside the housing; and at least one openable wall located on the dirt tray wherein the openable wall is responsive to movement of a device located on the handle which can pick up the dirt tray and remove it off the housing to discharge the dust and debris while direct contact of the dirt tray by a human hand is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kwonnie Electrical Products Limited
    Inventor: Ka Nam Ho
  • Patent number: 7861352
    Abstract: A powered sweeper includes a housing, a brushroll chamber disposed in the housing, a brushroll mounted in a brushroll chamber, a dirt chamber disposed in the housing, a drive motor disposed in the housing, and a driven wheel operatively connected to the drive motor. The brushroll rotates in the brushroll chamber and the dirt chamber communicates with the brushroll chamber such that debris is propelled by the brushroll into the dirt chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Mark E. Reindle
  • Patent number: 7854039
    Abstract: A cleaner having a handle assembly rotatable in all directions is disclosed, the handle assembly including a housing; a handle which is capable of being gripped by a user; a connection unit which connects the handle with the housing to rotate in all directions; and an elastic unit which elastically biases the handle to a neutral position. As the handle is capable of rotating in all directions, a user can clean a surface without feeling strain in his or her joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-ju Lee, Hwa-gyu Song, Jea-won Lee, Jeoung-kyo Jeoung, Hee-cheon You, Ki-hyo Jung, Joon-ho Chang, Won-sup Lee
  • Publication number: 20100287717
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an autonomous cleaning machine with a brush cleaning unit to clean a brush unit. The autonomous cleaning machine includes a main body, the brush unit rotatably provided on the main body, first brush cleaning members contacting the brush unit to move foreign substances wound on the brush unit in a lengthwise direction of the brush unit, and second brush cleaning members contacting the brush unit to remove the foreign substances wound on the brush unit from the brush unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwi Chan Jang, Dong Won Kim, Woo Bam Chung, Jae Man Joo, Jun Pyo Hong, Jae Young Jung, Kyung Hwan Yoo
  • Patent number: 7805795
    Abstract: A brush roll is rotatably supported by bearings in a housing of a cleaning brush tool. One of the bearings is incorporated in a removable bearing arrangement that can be rotationally fastened and removed as needed on a cylindrical end of the housing. Preferably collar elements protruding cylindrically from the removable bearing arrangement form bayonet-type catch hooks that selectively engage with bayonet-type catch elements protruding radially outwardly from the cylindrical end sleeve of the housing. A detent on the housing engages a securing element on the removable bearing arrangement to secure the engaged bayonet-type fastening arrangement against rotational release thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Stein & Co. GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Stein, Achim Liffers
  • Publication number: 20100229892
    Abstract: A surface-cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more brushes rotatably driven by a motor in order to collect debris without suction being applied by the apparatus. The apparatus is capable of detecting a resistance or friction level of the surface to be cleaned, and can automatically adjust the rotational speed of the motor, and thereby the rotational speed(s) of the brush(es), based on changes in the surface. Additionally, the apparatus is capable of detecting jamming or locking of a brush and turning off the motor in response to detecting such jamming or locking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Euro-Pro Operating LLC
    Inventors: Chad REESE, Brian R. McGee
  • Publication number: 20100115719
    Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanism for use in a device that comprises a system for collecting dirt and debris from a variety of floor and upholstery surfaces. In particular the mechanism lifts and directs unwanted debris particles to a waste reservoir for the purpose of cleaning and grooming floor surfaces. The debris collection mechanism can be, but is not limited to its use in a handle operated cordless motorized floor sweeper to collect and gather unwanted debris and dust. The device includes a head unit that incorporates two easily removable elongate cylindrical rotating cleaning bars that are driven such that they contra rotate, and are positioned close to one another at the forward region of the head unit. A removable debris reservoir, removable rechargeable power source and handle incorporating a device operation switch are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: DOVIA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: James A. West, Mark D. Teucher, Christopher T. Elsworthy
  • Publication number: 20100088835
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus is disclosed including a nozzle assembly having an agitator cavity and a handle assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. The apparatus further includes a rotary agitator carried on the nozzle assembly in the agitator cavity. A dirt collection vessel is carried on either the nozzle assembly or the handle assembly. A drive linkage interconnects a drive motor with the rotary agitator. The drive linkage includes a ring gear including a dog clutch receiver and a dog clutch carried on the rotary agitator. The dog clutch engages the dog clutch receiver to interconnect the drive motor and the rotary agitator during normal operating conditions. In the event of an agitator Jam, the dog clutch functions to interrupt drive to the rotary agitator and protect the drive motor, rotary agitator and drive linkage from damage that might otherwise result from the overload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: James T. Crouch, Edmundo E. Cortez
  • Patent number: 7676877
    Abstract: A cleaning implement for cleaning a soft or a hard surface comprises a handle, a sweeper head, rotating blades and a collection bin. The bottom wall of the collection bin includes an opening that is covered by a cleaning sheet during the cleaning operation. The height of this bottom wall relative to the surface being cleaned is adjustable by a user. The cleaning implement can be used with a disposable cleaning sheet, which includes protrusions that are capable of removing entangled hair from a carpet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Nicola John Policicchio, Leonard Lik-Hang Tse, William Michael Cannon, Kenton Ray Lynde, Michael Stephen Maile, Robert Allen Godfroid
  • Patent number: 7665172
    Abstract: A powered floor sweeper comprises a foot assembly with a motor driven primary agitator and a pair of edge agitators coupled to wheels such that manual propulsion of the sweeper rotates the wheels and thereby the edge agitators. The sweeper includes a slip clutch mechanism to protect the primary agitator and the motor in case the agitator become jammed. Additionally, the sweeper comprises a ramp assembly along an agitator opening to help collect dirt and dust at the primary agitator. A dust bin removably mounted in an open top dust bin recess is in communication with the agitator opening and receives the dirt and dust collected at the agitator opening. Furthermore, the sweeper comprises a handle assembly having a detent mechanism that interacts with a pivot cradle in the foot assembly to retain the handle assembly in a generally vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Phong Tran, Gary A. Kasper
  • Patent number: 7631387
    Abstract: A cleaning device has an elongated handle attached to a housing. The housing includes a stationary brush extending through the housing. Also, the housing includes a rotatable brush, as well as a debris collector. In a first position the cleaning device is used as a conventional broom. The handle is pivoted to a second position which enables the broom to be used as a debris collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Sclafani, Stefano F. DeCecco, James D. Marshall, Andrew Walker, Corey D. MacTavish, Todd A. Schonewille, Patrick Marcil
  • Patent number: 7617557
    Abstract: A powered sweeper includes a housing, a brushroll chamber disposed in the housing, a brushroll mounted in a brushroll chamber, a dirt chamber disposed in the housing, a drive motor disposed in the housing, and a driven wheel operatively connected to the drive motor. The brushroll rotates in the brushroll chamber and the dirt chamber communicates with the brushroll chamber such that debris is propelled by the brushroll into the dirt chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Mark E. Reindle
  • Patent number: 7591039
    Abstract: A light weight floor sweeper has a sweeper head mounted to an elongated handle by means of a universal pivot or universal joint which allows the floor sweeper head to easily pivot about the handle in any direction to pick up debris under over hanging cabinets or under furniture. The floor sweeper has sweeping brushes mounted around all four sides of the sweeper head to provide sweeping action when the sweeper is moved in any direction. There are corner brushes extending out from the sides of the sweeper head that reach into corners to sweep debris toward the main sweeping brushes. All of the brushes are powered by a small electric motor that drives the brushes to direct the debris into a dust-receiving tray in the sweeper head. A gasket arrangement keeps dust and debris out of the gear housings located at each of the corners of the sweeper head regardless of the direction in which the sweeper head is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventors: Bryan Kaleta, Mahesh Lakhiani
  • Patent number: 7571509
    Abstract: A handheld surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body including at least a rear compartment, a forward compartment and a top volume openly connected to the rear compartment. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment. An electric motor assembly is positioned primarily in the rear compartment, with one or more components of the electric motor assembly residing in the top volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Rosenzweig, Chad Reese
  • Patent number: 7494512
    Abstract: This invention relates to new compositions and methods for cleaning textile substrates, especially carpet and upholstery fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to liquid compositions that contain absorbent particles in a flowable fluid dispersion, which dries to a soil ladened powder, that can be removed by vacuuming, brushing, and/or laundering methods. The composition includes dispersion stabilizing additives such that the composition is presented as a stable dispersion or as a composition that may be easily redispersed prior to application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventors: Steven E. Brown, Marie S. Chan, Michael A. Valenti, Michael J. McDonald, Shannon B. Stancil, J. Michael Metcalf, Patrick D. Moore
  • Publication number: 20080271272
    Abstract: A cleaning device comprises a cleaning composition container (10) and a dispensing section (12), wherein the dispensing section (12) is operable to eject an amount of cleaning composition from the cleaning composition container (10), and wherein the dispensing section (12) comprises a plurality of projections (14) adapted to work the cleaning composition into an item to be cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: RECKITT BENCKISER N.V.
    Inventor: Zefferino Righetto
  • Publication number: 20080271273
    Abstract: A powered sweeper includes a housing, a brushroll chamber disposed in the housing, a brushroll mounted in a brushroll chamber, a dirt chamber disposed in the housing, a drive motor disposed in the housing, and a driven wheel operatively connected to the drive motor. The brushroll rotates in the brushroll chamber and the dirt chamber communicates with the brushroll chamber such that debris is propelled by the brushroll into the dirt chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Mark E. Reindle
  • Publication number: 20080141472
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile floor-cleaning appliance having a housing in which a cleaning tool is mounted, and having a handle holder which is mounted on the housing and is adapted to be connected to a handle in order to guide the appliance along a floor surface which is to be cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Jeutter, Rainer Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 7373685
    Abstract: A mechanical sweeper is disclosed. The mechanical sweeper includes a front housing and a rotating brush secured to the front housing having tangentially extending bristles adapted to engage a surface at an oblique angle. The mechanical sweeper further includes a frame secured to a lower portion of the front housing and a height adjustment column rising from the rear of the frame. The mechanical sweeper still further includes dirt receptacle removably positional on an upper surface of the frame. The front housing and column serve to orient the dirt receptacle in a position relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventor: Peter Ho Ka Nam
  • Patent number: 7367076
    Abstract: A carpet cleaning machine for uniformly spreading a dry carpet cleaning powder onto a surface and working the dry carpet cleaning powder into the surface. The cleaning machine includes base having a hopper integrally formed therein, distribution slots on the bottom of the hopper, a rotary powder agitator inside the hopper, wheels for supporting the base over a floor surface and for rotating the powder agitator, a metering gate for controlling the dispensing of the dry carpet cleaning powder, a trigger located on the cleaner handle for controlling the metering gate, and a plurality of motor driven vertical axis rotary brushes for working the dry carpet cleaning powder into the carpet. The dry carpet cleaning powder is dispensed onto the carpet and allowed to sit for a short period of time to allow the dry carpet cleaning powder to absorb the dirt contained in the carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Inventors: Sergey V. Makarov, Kenneth H. Cooper, Mark A. Stransky, Donald A. Coates, Mark T. Smith, Adrian M. West, Patrick McDermott, John A. MacNeill, Jo Frances Wollschlaeger
  • Patent number: 7340795
    Abstract: A floor sweeper head is mounted to an elongated handle by a universal pivot or universal joint which allows the floor sweeper head to easily pivot about the handle in any direction to pick up debris under over hanging cabinets or under furniture. The floor sweeper has sweeping brushes mounted around all sides of the sweeper head to provide sweeping action in any direction. All of the brushes are powered by a small electric motor. There is a battery mounted on the elongated handle and electrical connections are provided through the elongated handle and through the universal pivot to the electric motor so that power is provided to the brushes regardless of the orientation of the elongated handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Bryan Kaleta
  • Patent number: 7334284
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a surface cleaning strip and means responsive to movement of the surface cleaning apparatus over a surface to be cleaned for positioning the cleaning strip relative to the surface to be cleaned in dependence upon the direction of movement of the surface cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Nicholas Gerald Grey
  • Patent number: 7152267
    Abstract: A light weight floor sweeper having a very low profile sweeper head that uses glides rather than rollers to slide across the surface to be cleaned. The floor sweeper head is mounted to an elongated handle by a universal pivot or universal joint which allows the floor sweeper head to easily pivot about the handle in any direction to pick up debris under over hanging cabinets or under furniture. The floor sweeper has sweeping brushes mounted around all sides of the sweeper head to provide sweeping action in any direction. Furthermore there are corner brushes extending out from the sides of the sweeper head that reach into corners to sweep debris toward the main sweeping brushes. All of the brushes are powered by a small electric motor. The motor drives the brushes to direct the debris into a dust-receiving tray in the sweeper head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Inventor: Bryan Kaleta
  • Patent number: 7143461
    Abstract: A sweeping appliance having a housing having dirt receiving enclosure. A slot-like opening is formed in the underside of the housing. An elongate rotary brush having a plurality of bristles is located towards the front of the sweeping appliance. Front and rear wheels support the housing. A lower regions of the housing is bent to provide a ramp up which particles of dust are swept. A deflector is provided adjacent the brush and extending into the bristles at an angular distance. The deflector halts the progress of the bristles until the brush forces the bristles forward of the deflector, the resilience of the bristles causing them to spring forward. The bristles strike the ground at speed where they impact particles of dirt and force them up the ramp and into the internal enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hayco Manufacturing Limited
    Inventor: Gregory Clegg Spooner
  • Patent number: 7134160
    Abstract: In a cleaning device 10, a dustpan portion 23 is supported to a frame 15 so as to freely oscillate independently from a scraping up body 16 in a vertical direction, and a dust receiving portion 23C of the dustpan portion 23 is supported so as to be disconnected from the frame 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Tawara, Yukio Noda, Tokuji Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7134161
    Abstract: A sweeper comprising a main wheel being capable of spinning in both a counterclockwise and a clockwise direction in response to the broom being moved backwards or forwards. The sweeper has a brush wheel driven by the main wheel and being capable of spinning in one direction irrespective of the spinning direction of the drive wheel. The sweeper has a plurality of intermediate wheels capable of translating the spinning motion from the drive wheel to the brush wheel, and each of the wheels being capable of simultaneous and non-slip spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventor: Telmo Olavo Campos
  • Patent number: 7131162
    Abstract: In a wheel supported floor and carpet push brush of the type having an array of aggressive bristles and another array of bristles which are of lesser diameter than the aggressive bristles carried on the dowel so that the brush can be turned over to bring a selected one of the arrays into operative sweeping position, the improvement wherein the average diameter of the aggressive bristles is no greater than about 0.012 inches with a preferred diameter being about 0.010 inches, and the other array of bristles have an average maximum diameter less than 0.010 inches with a preferred diameter being about 0.008 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7117556
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a body (1) with a front face (201) wherein the front face (201) comprises a non-planar lower edge (203) such that in use the distance between the lower edge (203) and a plane of a surface to be cleaned is not uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Nicholas Gerald Grey
  • Patent number: 7100234
    Abstract: A suction nozzle for a floor care appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner having at least a first channel located above an agitator to carry air and dirt to a suction passageway. The cleaner has several embodiments, one of which has a single channel and a single agitator. Another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and a single agitator. Yet another embodiment has the single channel and dual agitators. Still yet another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts and dual agitators. Further yet still, another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and dual agitators. Several embodiments of an agitator drive assembly are provided using various means to provide rotary power to the agitator(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Vincent L. Weber, Greg A. Bilek
  • Patent number: 7017221
    Abstract: Floor sweeping apparatus (9) of the type having a rotary brush member (20), which in use is driven to rotate about a generally horizontal axis, the brush member (20) having bristle elements (22) that, as the brush member (20) rotates, extend during part of their range of movement through an aperture (13) in a base plate (12) of a housing (10) in which the rotary brush member (20) is rotatably journalled has at least one bristle element (22), hereinafter called an end-most bristle element (25), arranged immediately adjacent to each end of said brush member (20), and a deflector member (26) is provided at each end of the aperture (13) to co-operate with said end-most bristle element (25) at the respective end of the brush member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Company Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Gerald Grey, Graham Robert Sentance
  • Patent number: 7003840
    Abstract: In a cleaning device, the scraping up body and the rotating body rolling the adhesive roll are rotatably supported to the frame, and the adhesive roll is rotatably arranged on the scraping up body and the rotating body in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Tawara, Yukio Noda
  • Patent number: 6971140
    Abstract: In a brush assembly of a cleaner including plural brushes arranged at the bottom surface of a cleaner body radially at regular intervals; plural supporting shafts for rotatively supporting the brushes; and a driving unit connected to the brushes in order to rotate the brushes, by arranging the plural brushes radially, dust and filth can be collected in a wider region, and accordingly a cleaning performance can be improved. In addition, by forming the brushes as a curved shape, it is possible to compact a size of the cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Se Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 6968587
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body including a rear compartment, a forward compartment and an intermediate compartment arranged between the rear and forward compartments. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment. An electric motor is positioned in the rear compartment, and drive means extends between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventor: Nicholas Gerald Grey
  • Patent number: 6918155
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus such as an upright vacuum cleaner, an extractor or a powerhead for a canister vacuum cleaner includes twin agitators that are operatively connected together by means of a worm gear drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Michael S. Yacobi
  • Patent number: 6912753
    Abstract: A manual floor sweeper includes a housing and a brush roller mounted within the housing and rotatable in a sweeping direction. A first drive member is fixed to the brush roller. A second drive member is mounted rotatably with the housing and engagable with the first drive member. A drive carriage is movable between a first position for engaging the first drive wheel when the sweeper is moved in a first direction so as to rotate the brush roller in the sweeping direction and a second position when the sweeper is moved in a second direction for engaging the second drive member so as to move the brush roller in the sweeping direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timmy Hok Yin Sin, Chiu Fai Hui, Kevin Kam Hoi Ma
  • Patent number: 6845538
    Abstract: The lower end of the rotative brush 12 contacts the cleaning subject surface 26. As the driving wheels 14 roll on the cleaning subject surface 26, the rotative brush 12 rotates, while being guided by the sweep-up slope surface 10e1 of the slope surface forming portion 10e, the dust 28 on the cleaning subject surface 26 is swept up by the rotation of the rotative brush 12. The dust 28 is separated from the rotative brush 12 and received in the dust receiver 10a. Substantially at the same time as this, the cleaning subject surface 26 can be wiped while pressing the sheet-like wiping member 24 against the cleaning subject surface 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Yamazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040255411
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body including a rear compartment, a forward compartment and an intermediate compartment arranged between the rear and forward compartments. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment. An electric motor is positioned in the rear compartment for driving the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Nicholas Gerald Grey
  • Publication number: 20040238004
    Abstract: A carpet cleaning machine for uniformly spreading a dry carpet cleaning powder onto a surface and working the dry carpet cleaning powder into the surface. The cleaning machine includes base having a hopper integrally formed therein, distribution slots on the bottom of the hopper, a rotary powder agitator inside the hopper, wheels for supporting the base over a floor surface and for rotating the powder agitator, a metering gate for controlling the dispensing of the dry carpet cleaning powder, a trigger located on the cleaner handle for controlling the metering gate, and a plurality of motor driven vertical axis rotary brushes for working the dry carpet cleaning powder into the carpet. The dry carpet cleaning powder is dispensed onto the carpet and allowed to sit for a short period of time to allow the dry carpet cleaning powder to absorb the dirt contained in the carpet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Sergey V. Makarov, Kenneth H. Cooper, Mark A. Stransky, Donald A. Coates, Mark T. Smith, Adrian M. West, Patrick McDermott, John A. MacNeill, Jo Frances Wollschlaeger
  • Publication number: 20040221406
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a body (1) with a front face (201) wherein the front face (201) comprises a non-planar lower edge (203) such that in use the distance between the lower edge (203) and a plane of a surface to be cleaned is not uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Nicholas Gerald Grey
  • Publication number: 20040205915
    Abstract: A manual floor sweeper includes a housing and a brush roller mounted within the housing and rotatable in a sweeping direction. A first drive member is fixed to the brush roller. A second drive member is mounted rotatably with the housing and engagable with the first drive member. A drive carriage is movable between a first position for engaging the first drive wheel when the sweeper is moved in a first direction so as to rotate the brush roller in the sweeping direction and a second position when the sweeper is moved in a second direction for engaging the second drive member so as to move the brush roller in the sweeping direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timmy Hok Yin Sin, Chiu Fai Hui, Kevin Kam Hoi Ma
  • Publication number: 20040187236
    Abstract: In a cleaning device, the scraping up body and the rotating body rolling the adhesive roll are rotatably supported to the frame, and the adhesive roll is rotatably arranged on the scraping up body and the rotating body in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Tawara, Yukio Noda
  • Publication number: 20040181888
    Abstract: In a cleaning device 10, a dustpan portion 23 is supported to a frame 15 so as to freely oscillate independently from a scraping up body 16 in a vertical direction, and a dust receiving portion 23C of the dustpan portion 23 is supported so as to be disconnected from the frame 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Tawara, Yukio Noda, Tokuji Noguchi
  • Patent number: 6783600
    Abstract: In a cleaning device, the scraping up body and the rotating body rolling the adhesive roll are rotatably supported to the frame, and the adhesive roll is rotatably arranged on the scraping up body and the rotating body in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Tawara, Yukio Noda
  • Patent number: 6779231
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner brushroll including a spindle rotated by a drive belt having grooves in its inner drive surface extending lengthwise around the belt, and a pulley formed in one-piece with the spindle, the pulley having a flat, smooth belt surface parallel to the spindle axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Alfred H. Stegens, Eric A. Stegens
  • Publication number: 20040143919
    Abstract: A floor sweeper for the collection of debris from a surface which comprises a handle pivotatably attached to a body have top and side portions and a open bottom containing at least two sets of wheels, at least one roller brush and one or more collection receptacles. At least segment of the top portion of the body contains is formed of a transparent material, such that a window or similar structure is provided for the sweeper user to observe the function of the sweeper or the amount and type of debris accumulated therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: WILDWOOD INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Brent A. Wilder
  • Patent number: 6760952
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner brushroll characterized by a bristle tufted arrangement that forms multiple dwell positions around the brushroll. In each dwell position, the majority of bristle tufts along the length of the spindle are out of sweeping contact with the carpet which allows the carpet to drawn upwardly toward the mouth of the vacuum cleaner nozzle. The up and down carpet movement that occurs during brushroll rotation enhances its cleaning performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventor: Alfred H. Stegens
  • Publication number: 20040074027
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body (1; 106) including a rear compartment (3; 108), a forward compartment (9; 114) and an intermediate compartment (17; 124) arranged between the rear and forward compartments. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement (11; 116) is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment (9; 114). An electric motor (5; 110) is positioned in the rear compartment (3; 108), and drive means (25, 27, 29; 128, 130, 131) extends between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Nicholas Gerald Grey
  • Publication number: 20040049869
    Abstract: In a cleaning device 10, a scraping up body 16 and the contact rotating body 18 being rotatably supported to a frame 15 in parallel; and an adhesive roll 21 astride the scraping up body 16 and the contact rotating body 18, being put on the scraping up body 16 and the contact rotating body 18 wherein an adhesive sheet 21A of the adhesive roll 21 is wound around a core 21B, and an initial outer diameter of the adhesive roll 21 is set to be equal to or less than 40 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Tawara, Yukio Noda, Akihito Shizuno, Takehiko Uematsu
  • Patent number: 6698055
    Abstract: A sweeping machine of the type having two rotating brushes which in operation sweep material into a sweeping lip assembly is provided. In order to prevent damages to the sweeping lip, the forward area which in use contacts the ground during sweeping operations is configured upwardly elasticly deformable by weakening slots provided in reinforcement structure thereof and/or by different elastic characteristics of molded plastic material forming the sweeping lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Ing. Haaga Werkzeugbau KG
    Inventor: Hermann Haaga
  • Publication number: 20040031111
    Abstract: A disposable dust receptacle can be formed from a foldable blank. It has flaps that close an open end so that the receptacle closes automatically as the receptacle is removed from a cleaning machine. The receptacle can be constructed from a biodegradable material, and is most suitable for use with cleaning machines having rotary brushes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Jose Porchia, Pamela T. Moy