VEHICLE MOUNTED SWEEPER ASSEMBLY
The present disclosure relates to a fixed universal vehicle mounted sweeper assembly. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the sweeper assembly includes a plurality of brush strips, wherein the brush strips are positioned in a series of rows, such rows spaced apart in substantially parallel arrangement. Each of the plurality of brush strips is mounted to an underside of the assembly via a plurality of receiving channels. Each such cavity is adapted for affixing brush strips to the sweeper assembly. The sweeper assembly is modular, such that the components of such assembly can be packaged in a standard utility skid, and assembled in such a way that the structural integrity of the completed sweeper assembly is maintained.
The present invention relates to a vehicle mounted sweeper accessories and, more particularly to a universal sweeper assembly for releasable securement to various vehicle platforms and plow frame accessories.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVehicle mounted sweepers are known in the art, and a common type of sweeper is a rotary style sweeper. Generally, rotary sweepers are affixed to specially designed vehicles for sweeping only. Due to the considerable amount of dust generated from the rotation of the sweeps, dust collection is generally required. Due to the dust collection, complex electro-mechanical components, and the vehicle itself, these rotary sweepers can be very expensive to purchase and maintain.
The present inventor has appreciated a disadvantage with the rotary sweeper considered above, namely, the need for a custom vehicle mounted sweeper assembly of simple, efficient construction, and compact arrangement, and devoid of complex electro-mechanical components and dust collection deficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo overcome the disadvantages in prior sweeper assemblies (including, as described above), the present invention is simplified to have no moving parts, can be readily assembled by the end user, has a low manufacturing cost, and is universal in a manner that allows the assembly to be mounted to multiple vehicle platforms and vehicle frame accessories.
One object of the present invention is to provide a sweeper assembly of compact component design that can be universally mounted to multiple vehicle platforms, including, but not limited to forks on a forklift, forklift masts, existing snow plow A-frame structures, skid steer coupling attachment, and 3-point hitch attachments, for the purpose of directing the movement of debris on a cleaning surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sweeper assembly that can be universally mounted to any vehicle with a fork attachment.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sweeper assembly of efficient and sturdy design, wherein the disassembled sweeper assembly can be transported on a standard-sized pallet and, upon delivery, assembled and mounted on a vehicle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sweeper assembly wherein the brush strips are readily replaceable.
In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings ate only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Further, while one or more embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention. All such modifications are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
Referring first to
Still referring to
While the sweeping assembly 2 of the present invention could technically function with even a single row of brush strips 12 disposed proximate to the base 6, in a preferred embodiment, and as depicted in
Referring next to
Alternate views of the completed sweeper assembly 2 (
Note that the fork receiving channels 20 (or more generally, receiving members) depicted in
Referring back to
Still referring to
When using the sweeper assembly 2 on a vehicle, the vehicle user can lower the sweeper assembly 2 so that the lower most portion of each of the brush strips 12 is in contact with the surface to be cleaned. The vehicle user may then proceed to move the vehicle in the direction the user wants the debris to move. For example, if sweeping a lane way (or single-lane row in a warehouse), the user may manoeuvre the vehicle down the lane way close to the edge where the debris exists. At the end of the lane way, the user can raise the sweeper assembly 2 and either reverse the vehicle to a starting point and sweep the next row of debris, or shuffle the vehicle over to the next row of debris and lower the sweeper assembly 2 to back grab the debris to the opposite end of the lane way.
Referring next to
Importantly, when the sweeper assembly 2 of the present invention is employed for use in large scale applications (for example, to clean a large warehouse space), in order to facilitate efficient cleaning of a large space, the length of the completed sweeper assembly 2 could be substantial. For example, when used in large scale or industrial applications, it is anticipated that the sweeper assembly 2 (and/or the portion of the sweeper assembly 2 in contact with the surface to be cleaned) could be greater than four (4) feet long, and, more preferably, at least five (5) feet long. In other large scale or industrial applications, it is anticipated that the sweeper assembly 2 (and/or the portion of the sweeper assembly 2 in contact with the surface to be cleaned) could be upwards of seven (7) feet long or even greater than seven (7) feet in length. It is noted that a sweeper assembly 2 within the above-referenced size ranges would be unwieldly to move or transport. In addition, a sweeper assembly 2 within the above-referenced size ranges may, in the absence of additional support and/or stabilizing elements, lack sufficient structural rigidity, such that the sweeper assembly 2 (and its components, including the brush strips 12, which are subject to friction force when in contact with a surface to be cleaned) could be prone to bending or buckling, or other damage. If the structural integrity of the sweeper assembly 2 is compromised in any way, then the sweeper assembly 2 will not function properly. For these reasons, one-piece or unitary construction of individual components of the sweeper assembly 2 of the present invention is not preferred where the sweeper assembly 2 is intended to be sized for large scale and/or industrial-type applications.
In accordance with the foregoing, in the embodiment depicted in
Since standard skids, or wood pallets, for primary use in the transportation of goods, measure roughly forty inches by forty-eight inches (40″×48″), it is desired that no component of the sweeper assembly 2 measures greater than 48″ in its unassembled form. Sizing the sweeper assembly 2 components this way will result in reduced manufacturing and shipping costs, and will have the added benefit of providing the user with an assembly that can be reduced to a compact shape for transportation and/or storage.
Referring to the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Still referring to
In the embodiments shown in
Row 1: (A, B, A)—Brush strip A is installed first, followed by brush strip B, and lastly brush strip A;
Row 2: (B, B)—Brush strip B is installed first, followed by a second brush strip B;
Row 3 (not shown): (A, B, A)—Brush strip A is installed first, followed by brush strip B, and lastly brush strip A; and
Row 4 (not shown): (B, B)—Brush strip B is installed first, followed by a second brush strip B.
In the embodiments shown in
In the embodiments shown in
Row 1: (A, B)—Brush strip A is installed first, followed by brush strip B;
Row 2: (B, A)—Brush strip B is installed first, followed by a second brush strip A;
Row 3 (not shown): (A, B)—Brush strip A is installed first, followed by brush strip B; and
Row 4 (not shown): (B, A)—Brush strip B is installed first, followed by a second brush strip A.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, stand-alone brush strips of two different lengths are depicted in
The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the subject matter of the claims. The described example embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being only illustrative and not restrictive. The present disclosure intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology. The scope of the present disclosure is, therefore, described by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
Claims
1. A vehicle mounted sweeper assembly comprising:
- a mounting frame for mounting the sweeper assembly to a vehicle; and
- a plurality of brush strips releasably connected to and depending from an under-side of the frame.
2. A vehicle mounted sweeper assembly comprising:
- a mounting frame for mounting the sweeper assembly to a vehicle;
- a base affixed to the mounting frame; and
- a plurality of brush strips releasably connected to and depending from an under-side of the base.
3. The sweeper assembly of claim 2 wherein the base is comprised of a first base member and a second base member.
4. The sweeper assembly of claim 3 wherein the first base member and the second base member are of substantially the same length.
5. The sweeper assembly of claim 4 wherein the first and second base members are affixed to the mounting frame such that the abutment point between the first and second base member is substantially centered on the mounting frame.
6. The sweeper assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of brush strips is defined by an at least one brush strip of a first length (length A), and an at least one brush strip of a second length (length B).
7. The sweeper assembly of claim 6, wherein length A and length B are not equal.
8. The sweeper assembly of claim 6, wherein the length B is approximately twice the length of the A.
9. The sweeper assembly of claim 6, wherein the combined length of one brush strip of length A and one brush strip of length B is substantially the same length as the length of the base.
10. The sweeper assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of brush strips further comprises an attachment member for connecting each of the plurality of brush strips to the base.
11. The sweeper assembly of claim 10, further comprising an at least one receiving channel depending from an under-side of the base, the receiving channel for connecting the base to the attachment member of each of the plurality of brush strips.
12. The sweeper assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of brush strips is defined by an at least one brush strip of a first length (length A), and an at least one brush strip of a second length (length B).
13. The sweeper assembly of claim 12, wherein the length B is approximately twice the length of the A.
14. The sweeper assembly of claim 12, wherein the combined length of one brush strip of length A and one brush strip of length B is substantially the same length as the length of the base.
15. The sweeper assembly of claim 12, wherein the brush strips are arranged within the receiving channels such that the abutment points of brush strips in adjacent rows are not in alignment or substantial alignment.
16. The sweeper assembly of claim 2, the plurality of brush strips are arranged in a plurality of rows on the under-side of the base.
17. The sweeper assembly of claim 16, wherein the plurality of brush strips is defined by an at least one brush strip of a first length (length A), and an at least one brush strip of a second length (length B).
18. The sweeper assembly of claim 17, wherein the brush strips are arranged within the receiving channels such that the abutment points of brush strips in adjacent rows are not in alignment or substantial alignment.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 26, 2016
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2017
Inventor: Bruce Edwin SEELEY (Princeton)
Application Number: 15/055,208