US2793378A - Carpet sweeper of the rotary driven brush type - Google Patents

Description

May 28, 1957 D. E. WILLIAMS ETAL CARPET swERPER 0R THE ROTARY DRIVER BRUSH TYPE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Hay 21, l953 May 28, 1957 D. E. WILLIAMS ETAT. 2,793,378

CARPET swEERER 0R THE ROTARY DRIVER BRUSH TYPE Filed May 21,'1953 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @h im'. l

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United States Patent O lCARPET SWEEPER F THE ROTARY DRIVEN BRUSH TYPE Donald E. Williams, Grand zkapids, Frederick W. `Hertzler, Detroit, and Henry T. Lathrop, Grand Rapids, .Mich., assignors to Bissell -Carpet Sweeper Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application May/121, '-1953, Vseal No. '356,344

is claims. -(cl. 1s4s) This invention relates to improvements in a carpet sweeper 'of the rotary driven brush type.

The main objects of this invention`are:

:Fir-st, to provide a carpet sweeper which is of' relatively small length vin proportion to'thelength ofjthebrush.

iSecond, 'to provide a carpet sweeper which is relatively compact'and light in weightand -at the same time strong and durable, "is attractive in appearance, and may be economically ;'pr`oduced.

'.Third, to provide a Acarpet V'sweeper provided with a dus'tpan having a bottom wall which 'is lfixed relative to the casingandhaving adischarge door 'at Ithe rear of the casing. f

.Fourth, `to 'provide a .carpet sweeper 'with da Arotatable nonoating brush andyerticallyadjustable driving 'wheels orwheel vcoactin'g therewith fto raise and lower'the casing and consequently the blush relative'to 'the surface over which .the 'sweeper is translated.

Objects-relating to details 'and'economies Vof the invention will 'appear from the description to ffollow. The inventionis .defined and -pointed out l'inthe claims.

JA preferred embodiment of the invention i is illustrated in vthe accompanying drawings, lin which:

Fig 1'isa'sideelevationalview of a'sweepereinbodying the ,invention iin dust discharging position, the vdu'stpan door "being indicated in "open position bydotte'dlines, a portion of'the :handle and of ythe 'casing7bi'ng partially broken away. l

Fig. 2is a'vfve'r'tical transversesection on a line'c'orrespov'n'dng'totline of Figs. `Zlfandr-S. 4

lFig. 3 is an :end elevational'view partiallyin'transve'rse section on aline correspondingto d4lin'e r3:--33 of Fig. '4, thehandle beingfoniitted.

LFig. '4 is 'a plan -vi'ew 'with the 45handle e and the vcasing partially broken away.

Fig. 5 is :afbottom view with the'hand1eorriitted.

Fig. l6 -s -a fragmentary *view partially in lsectionxion a line corresponding to lline fo'f Fig `l showing details of the mounting ofthe 4brusilfr vFig 7 isa fragmentaryoiew in section-one line :cor-

respondingto-line 7-'7 ofiFi'g. 3fillustratingfde't'ails of :the

adjustment ofthe carrier-for the brush 'drivingwhels '--Fig l8 -is a fragmentary view inf-section on-a 'line correspondingto line 88 ofFig. f1.

In 'the `ver'ribodimen't' of the invention illustrated f in the accompanying Adrawing, -r`the -ca'sin'g --designated y'generally by "the numeral 51 comprises l'aitop 2, a 'bottom"'3, front walll, rearfwall'i ande'nd -walls f6. nrlhese'walls 'are constituted or I'formed by atop :unit 1or member'7 l'and a' bottom-`unitor member `8 bo'thof v(generally pan' shape, the f top meniber being? inverted upon f'theibottomfmeniber, the ffront, rear and 'side 'fwalls'lhaving telescoping engagement-m9. These units or-mer'nbersfarelfdesirablyformed as Vsheet metal "stampings vfrom 'aluminum "or other "desirable material although wecontemplate that they :may be formed oftpla'stic `The v"f'ormin'g fftheseunits vor membersfgreatlytfacilittesandreducesthecost otmanu- 'facture andi assembling.

The bottom 'member or'unit has inward offsets at the rear corner thereof 4providing Wheel housings 10 for the rear floor Wheels '11 which are mounted on journals or stubshafts`12 projecting from the end walls. The bottom wall 3 has a brush receiving opening 13 extending between "the end walls and transversely of the direction of travel of the sweeper. The portion of the bottom wall at the rear of this opening constitutes the 'bottom of the dustpan.

A dustpan discharge opening 14 yis provided in the rear wall and extended 2into the "top of the ycasing which openin g :is normally 'closed'by the angled door or closure "15 which 'fits flush finito the walls and is hingedly `connected 'to fthe =top Wall by the 5U-shaped'hinge arms 16 pivoted at Y'-17 von brackets 178 lsecured on 'the inner side lof the topwll as shown in Fig. 2. 'These -hinge members 16 are Xe'dly secured to vtheinner-sides of the door '15. U- shaped springs 119 are connected-at one -end to studs 20 on the-brackets I8 4and cat the other end to -studs 21'on the -lh'inge members "16. They 'are so ztensioned that they serve -to 'hold the kdoor in both lclosed and opened positions.

Th'ehandle 22'isprovided with -a vbail 2'3 which springabl-y'embraces the'casingandis pivotallyconnected thereto 'by the pivot ears "24 jand tthe pintles 'Z5 -on the bail. These fp'ivot ears '2`4 are located forward of the center of gravity of the ycasing fand `the vparts carried thereby so that when the sweeper is picked up, as lshown'inl'iig. 1, the sweeper swings 'to 'dust discharge position indicated in TFig. 1.

'The 'piv'o't A'ears :are provided with keepers `26 and '27, thebail springably 'engaging the keepers 27 when the handle is vin tle position shown in lFig. l and with 'the keepers-2o when 'the handle 'is upright. 'When the handle i's disposed at an "angle, as is ls'hown'in Fig. 2, which is common iii-sweeping position, it'is out of engagementiwith eitherlkeeperfsothat thefsw'eeper automatically swingsto 'dus'tl'dishar'ge position'when pi'c'kedrupby the handle and it ima-ydje stored 'in'vertically edgewise' position as shown irl-Fig. lfthusoccupying fa'minimum of space "for storage.

Aibruh'ZS is fof the `rotary 'ty'pe consisting of -a'body or shaft portion 29 in zwhich fthe tufts "30 are mounted. The brush TZ8 is rotatably mounted on the journals 31 projecting into bearings 3711 provided therefor 'in the ends fof thei'brush "shaft These journals 31 are carried by supports 32 mounted on the outer sides of the end wall1setions'o'f the'bottom casingunit withtheljonrnals projecting through openings "33 provided therefor into engagement with Athe brush.

'The supports 'in the 'embodiment illustrated are springable, 4being secured at one ^`en"d by VAthe screws '34 and retained in brush'engaging positionby'thebumper 65. s'thes'e '-'supportsfare yspringable it is 'only necessary to remove one ='suppor't. 'It 'will'be noted-that'the brush ends-are closely adjacent to the end walls which results in utilizing 'substantallythefull length of the sweeper casing. The brush may be 'introduced and removed through the opening'fldny the casing'bottom 'The brush is v'provided with a driven pulley'36 disposed I have slots 49 therein opening to its bottom edges to receive the shaft of the brush with the driven pulley 36 thereof between the walls of the carrier.

The oor engageable driving wheel 37 is provided with a spindle 51 extending through holes 52 provided in the sides of the carrier. These holes are of substantially greater dimensions than the spindle so that the spindle may be floatingly supported by the C-shaped springs 53 which are secured at one end 54 thereof to the wheel carrier and are provided with bearings 55 for the spindle. These springs act to yieldingly urge the driving wheel 50 against the brush pulley 36.

A second or auxiliary driving wheel 38 is provided with a spindle 57 disposed through openings 58 in the wheel carrier and supported by C-shaped springs 59 secured to the carrier at 56 and provided with bearings 60 for the spindle 57. Thus arranged the thrust of the brush driv ing wheels on the brush pulley is substantially opposed so that the brush may rotate freely without undue load on its journals. The wheels 37 and 38 have some floating movement relative to the brush and casing.

A brush housing member or guard 61 is mounted on the bottom of the casing at the front of the opening 13 therein to overhang the brush and is provided at its rear edge with a downwardly directed comb 62, the teeth of which engage end portions of the bristles rearwardly of the vertical plane of the axis of the brush. This comb is desirably provided with long and short teeth as is shown in Fig. 4, the comb being of the type shown in the application of Werner E. Siebert, Serial No. 260,661, filed December 8, 1951.

At the rear of the bnlsh we provide an upwardly projecting deflector member or guard 63 which constitutes the front wall of the dustpan. The member 63 has a comb 64 on its upper edge. This comb 64 is of the conventional type. A bumper 65 is disposed over the joint between the top and bottom units concealing the same and at the same time serving as a bumper. This bumper is desirably substantially elastic so that it may be pulled out or lifted up for manipulation of the journal supports 32 without the necessity of removing the bumper. By adjustably supporting the driving wheels they may be raised and lowered relative to the brush to adapt the sweeper for use on hard surfaces or surfaces having little pile or nap as well as on surfaces having a relatively deep pile or nap and this adjustment may be very quickly accomplished by means of the linger piece 48 which is on the outside of the casing. The door is provided with a finger hold 66.

Theembodiment of our invention illustrated is attractive in appearance, may be economically produced, is relatively light in weight and at the same time is strong and durable. The accumulations in the dustpan may be easily and quickly discharged and the sweeper stored in a vertically upright position as shown in Fig. l.

We have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations of our invention as we believe this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Tn a carpet sweeper the combination of a casing comprising a top, a bottom, and front, rear and end walls, said top, bottom, front, rear and end walls being constituted by top and bottom members of generally pan shape each integrally formed and having complementary telescopingly engaged front, rear and end wall sections, the bottom member having inset portions at the rear corners thereof providing oor wheel housings and having an elongated brush opening in the bottom wall thereof disposed transversely of the direction of travel of the sweeper, the bottom at the rear of said transverse opening constituting a dustpan, the casing having a discharge opening for said dustpan, a rotary brush disposed in said brush opening and journaled on the end walls of the casing with its ends closely adjacent to the inner sides thereof, a wheel carrier of downwardly facing channel section pivotally mounted at its rear end on the bottom member of the casing for Vertical adjustment relative to said brush, the side walls of said carrier having openings therein through which the brush is disposed, a driven pulley on the brush disposed within said carrier, rear and front floor engageable driving wheels disposed Within said carrier and provided with axles, the sides of the carrier having openings floatingly receiving said axles, spring means mounted on said carrier to engage said axles and acting to yieldingly and independently support and to yieldingly urge said driving Wheels into driving engagement with said pulley on said brush, means for vertically adjusting said wheel carrier and supporting it in adjusted positions for raising and lowering said driving wheels relative to the brush, and floor wheels mounted within said wheel housings.

2. In a carpet sweeper the combination of a casing coniprising a top, a bottom, end walls, and front and rear walls, the bottom having a fixed rear portion constituting a dustpan bottom and having an elongated brush opening therein at the front of said dustpan portion disposed transversely of the direction of movement of the sweeper and a centrally disposed opening which opens to and extends rearwardly from said transverse opening, the bottom having upturned flanges at the edges of said centrally disposed opening, said casing having a dustpan discharge opening at the rear thereof provided with an upwardly swingable closure, a wheel carrier of downwardly facing channel section disposed with its rear end between said upturned flanges on said casing bottom and pivotally mounted thereon, the sides of said wheel carrier being provided with openings extending upwardly from their bottom edges, a rotary brush disposed in saidY brush opening and comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on the casing `end walls and disposed through said openings in the side Walls of said wheel carrier and with the ends of the brush closely adjacent to the end walls of the casing,

a driven pulley on the brush disposed within the saidv wheel carrier, a first floor engageable driving wheel disposed within said wheel carrier at the rear of said driven pulley, means on said carrier for yieldably supporting said first driving wheel in driving engagement with said driven pulley, a second oor engageable driving wheel of less diameter than said first driving wheel disposed within said wheel carrier at the front of said driven pulley, means on said carrier for yieldingly supporting said second driving wheel in driving engagement with said driven pulley in opposition to said rst driving wheel, and means for adjustably supporting said wheel carrier on its said pivot for raising and lowering said driving wheels relative to the brush.

3. In a carpet sweeper, the combination of a casing comprising a top, a bottom, end walls, andfront and rear walls, the bottom having a fixed rear portion constituting a dustpan bottom and having an elongated brush opening therein at the front of said dustpan portion disposed transversely of the direction of movement of the sweeper and a centrally disposed opening which opens to and extends rearwardly from said brush opening, the bottom having upturned anges at the edges of said centrally disposed opening, said casing having a dustpan discharge opening at the rear thereof provided with an upwardly swingable closure, a wheel carrier of downwardly facing channel section disposed with its rear end between said upturned anges on said casing bottom and pivotally mounted thereon, the sides of said wheel carrier being provided with openings extending upwardly from their bottom edges, a rotary brush disposed in said brush lopening and comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on the casing end walls and disposed through said openings in the side walls of said wheel carrier and with the ends of the brush closely adjacent to the end walls of the casing, a driven pulley von the brush disposed within the said wheel carrier, a oor engageable drivingA wheel disalla t posed within said wheel ,carrier at the rear of said driven pulley, means on said carrier for yieldably supporting said driving wheel in driving engagement with said driven pulley, and means for adjustably supporting said wheel carrier on its said pivot for raising and lowering said driving wheel relative to the brush.

4. In a carpet sweeper tlle combination of a casing comprising a top, a bottom, and front, rear and end walls, said top, bottom, front, rear and end walls being constituted by top and bottom members of generally pan shape formed as integral units and having complementary telescopingly engaged front, rear and end wall sections, the bottom member having a brush opening in the bottom wall thereof, disposed transversely of the direction of movement of the sweeper, the bottom member at the rear of said transverse opening constituting a dustpan, the casing having a dustpan discharge opening at the rear thereof, a rotatably mounted brush disposed in said opening in said bottom member, a driven pulley on the brush, a brush housing member secured to the bottom at the front edge of said transverse opening therein to overhang the brush and having a comb on its rear edge coacting with the brush, a deector member disposed at the rear of the brush and constituting the front wall of the dustpan and having a comb on its upper edge coacting with the brush, a floor engageable driving wheel drivingly coacting with said pulley on said brush, and rear floor wheels for said casing.

5. In a carpet sweeper the combination of a casing, a rotary brush rotatively mounted in said casing to be raised and lowered therewith, a wheel carrier mounted in said casing centrally thereof relative to the ends of the casing and for vertical adjustment relative to said casing and said brush, said brush being provided with a driven pulley aligned with said carrier, front and rear driving wheels mounted on said carrier in driving engagement with said driven pulley on said brush, means including a grip on the front of the casing and exterior thereof for raising and lowering said carrier and the driving wheels carried thereby relative to the brush, and rear oor wheels coacting with said driving wheels in supporting the sweeper on the surface over which it is translated.

6. In a carpet sweeper the combination of a casing, a rotary brush rotatively mounted in said casing, a wheel carrier mounted in said casing centrally thereof relative to the ends of the casing and for vertical adjustment relative to said casing and said brush, said brush being provided with a driven pulley aligned with said carrier,

front and rear driving wheels mounted on said carrier in.

driving engagement with said driven pulley on said brush, and means for raising and lowering said carrier and the driving wheels carried thereby relative to the brush.

7. In a carpet sweeper the combination of a casing, a wheel carrier mounted in said casing centrally relative to the ends of the casing and for vertical adjustment, a rotary brush rotatably mounted within the casing, a driven pulley on the brush, a rst floor engageable driving wheel yieldably mounted on said Wheel carrier at the rear of said driven pulley, a second floor engageable driving wheel yieldably mounted on said wheel carrier at the front of said driven pulley and in driving engagement therewith, said carrier being disposed in overhanging relation to said pulley and driving wheels, means for adjustably supporting said wheel carrier for raising and lowering said driving wheels relative to the brush, and rear floor wheels for said casing.

8. In a carpet sweeper the combination of a casing, comprising top, bottom, front, rear and end walls, said wall portions being constituted by top and bottom units of ygenerally pan shape and having complementary telescopingly engaged front, rear and end wall sections, the bottom unit having inset portions at the rear corners thereof providing oor wheel housings and having a brush opening in the bottom wall thereof extending between the end wall portions, a rotatable brush disposed in said casing with its ends closely adjacent to the end wall portions of Vsaid bottom unit, journals for said brush provided with supports mounted on the outer sides of the end Wall portions of the bottom unit with the journals projecting therethrough, an elastic bumper strip disposed over and covering the joint between said top and bottom units and extending across the front and ends of the casing in overlying relation to said journal supports, iioor wheels mounted within said wheel housings, and a floor engageable brush driving wheel disposed between the casing end walls and drivingly associated with said brush.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 224,069 Breckenridge Feb. 3, 1880 437,349 Rooney Sept. 30, 1890 642,629 Reynolds Feb. 6, 1900 1,105,048 Townsend July 28, 1914 2,026,414 Burch Dec. 31, 1935 2,178,917 Pullen Nov. 7, 1939 2,515,671 Snyder et al. July 18, 1950 2,537,166 Snyder Ian. 9, 1951 2,657,407 Smith Nov. 3, 1953 2,665,439 More Jan. 12, 1954

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