U.S. patent application number 09/796546 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-13 for multipurpose tool for cleaning machines.
This patent application is currently assigned to LINDHAUS S.r.l.. Invention is credited to Massaro, Michele.
Application Number | 20010049855 09/796546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11451792 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010049855 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Massaro, Michele |
December 13, 2001 |
Multipurpose tool for cleaning machines
Abstract
A multipurpose tool for cleaning machines, comprising a box-like
body which is interchangeably associable with a cleaning machine
adequately provided with a power outlet and is movable on wheels; a
front advancement part of the body is arranged transversely to a
main direction of movement, so as to form a housing which
accommodates a roller which is provided with bristles and is moved,
by way of transmission means, by an electric motor which is
accommodated within the body. The body is articulated to a
connecting element adapted to provide a detachable connection to
the machine with a dirt suction duct. The bristle-fitted roller is
replaceable, and an inlet of the suction duct can be opened and
closed by way of the presence of a passage flow control flap.
Inventors: |
Massaro, Michele; (Noventa
Padovana, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MODIANO & ASSOCIATI
Via Meravigli, 16
MILANO
20123
IT
|
Assignee: |
LINDHAUS S.r.l.
|
Family ID: |
11451792 |
Appl. No.: |
09/796546 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/328 ;
15/383 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/4044 20130101;
A47L 11/4041 20130101; A47L 11/34 20130101; A47L 9/0411 20130101;
A47L 5/30 20130101; A47L 9/0009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/328 ;
15/383 |
International
Class: |
A47L 005/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2000 |
IT |
PD2000U000026 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A multipurpose tool for cleaning machines, comprising a box-like
body which is interchangeably associable with a cleaning machine
provided with a power outlet and is movable on wheels, a front
advancement part of said body being arranged transversely to a main
direction of movement, so as to form a housing which accommodates a
replaceable roller which is provided with bristles and is moved, by
way of transmission means, by an electric motor accommodated within
the body, said body being articulated to a connecting element which
is adapted to provide a detachable connection to the machine with a
dirt suction duct, wherein an inlet of said suction duct can be
opened and closed by way of a passage flow control flap.
2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said flap can slide in a
seat of said box-like body between a position in which it closes
transversely said inlet of the suction duct and a position in which
it completely clears said inlet.
3. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said roller has a
pivot-like mating end which can be inserted and removed from a
complementarily shaped seat of a driven pulley which is rotatably
coupled to said body, said roller being fully removable by way of
an axial translation movement after extracting a partition which is
inserted in guides in the opposite part of said body and includes
another recess for another pivot-like end of said roller.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a multipurpose tool for
cleaning machines.
[0002] The tool is particularly suitable for electric brooms and
carpet cleaners with one or two motors.
[0003] Cleaning products for carpets, fitted carpets and the like,
while being very effective in cleaning, must be distributed
appropriately, since simply spreading them does not allow them to
penetrate deeply within the pile.
[0004] In order to adequately distribute such products, tools have
been produced which are substantially composed of a box-like body
being movable on wheels and whose front advancement part lies
transversely to the main direction of movement so as to form a
housing which rotatably accommodates a distribution roller which
bears bristles and is moved, by way of transmission means, by an
electric motor which is accommodated within said body.
[0005] The body is articulated to a connecting element adapted to
provide a detachable connection to the cleaning machine.
[0006] Means are provided for electrically connecting to the mains
the electric motor of machines normally provided with two rollers
which rotate in mutually opposite directions and propel said
cleaning products deeply.
[0007] Tools suitable only for removing dust are also known; they
are constituted by a box-like body which is movable on wheels and
whose front advancement part lies transversely to the main
direction of movement so as to form a housing which rotatably
accommodates a brushing roller which bears bristles and is moved,
by way of transmission means, by an electric motor which is
accommodated within the body.
[0008] The body is articulated to a connecting element which is
adapted to provide a detachable connection to the cleaning machine
by means of a duct for aspirating the dirt removed by the
roller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The aim of the present invention is to provide a tool which,
by way of simple and quick operations, can be converted from a tool
for removing dust and dirt to a tool which allows to distribute
cleaning products for fitted carpets, carpets or the like.
[0010] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to
provide a tool which is simple to use even for non-specialized
users.
[0011] Another important object of the invention is to reduce the
number of accessories for cleaning machines.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool
which produces effective distribution of the cleaning products.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus which can be manufactured with known technologies.
[0014] This aim and these and other objects which will become
better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a multipurpose tool for
cleaning machines which comprises a box-like body which is
interchangeably associable with a Cleaning machine provided with a
power outlet and is movable on wheels, a front advancement part of
said body being arranged transversely to a main direction of
movement, so as to form a housing which accommodates a replaceable
roller which is provided with bristles and is moved, by way of
transmission means, by an electric motor which is accommodated
within the body, said body being articulated to a connecting
element adapted to provide a detachable connection to the machine
with a dirt suction duct, characterized in that an inlet of said
suction duct can be opened and closed by way of a passage flow
control flap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will become better apparent from the following detailed
description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of
non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool according to the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top view of the tool of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an opening/closure flap
which is comprised within the tool of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a partially sectional side view of the tool of
FIG. 1 in the configuration which is suitable for dirt suction;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the tool in the configuration of
FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a partially sectional side view of the tool of
FIG. 1 in the configuration suitable for washing;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the tool in the configuration of
FIG. 6;
[0023] FIG. 8 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of the
tool.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a tool according to the
invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
[0025] The tool 10 is interchangeably associable with a cleaning
machine, for is example a vacuum cleaner, not shown, which is
adequately provided with a power outlet.
[0026] The tool 10 further comprises a box-like body 11, which in
this case is made of plastics; the body is movable on four wheels
12 which are arranged in pairs and whose front advancement part
lies transversely to the main movement direction so as to form a
housing 13 which is wider than the remaining box-like body 11 and
accommodates a roller 14 fitted with bristles.
[0027] The roller 14 is moved, by way of transmission means
described hereinafter, by an electric motor 30, schematically shown
in the figures, accommodated in the box-like body 11.
[0028] The box-like body 11 is articulated to a connecting element
15, which is adapted to provide the detachable connection to the
cleaning machine and includes mains connection means for the
electric motor, which in this case are constituted by a plug, not
shown in the figures.
[0029] The connecting element 15 has, in this case, a tubular
cavity 17 which leads to the region of the roller 14, is adapted to
be associated with the tubular stem of the machine and constitutes
a suction duct.
[0030] In this embodiment, the roller 14 comprises two sets of
bristles 19 which are arranged in a pattern which converges at the
center.
[0031] The above-cited transmission means, in this case, comprise a
toothed belt 20 which meshes with a toothed pulley, not shown in
the figures, which is associated the said electric motor 30 and
with a toothed pulley 21 which is rotatably coupled to the body 11
and is associated with the roller 14.
[0032] The pulley has an axial recess, for example a splined one,
in which it is possible to insert and remove a complementarily
shaped pivot-like end 22 of the roller 14, which can be removed
completely by axial translation movement after extracting a
partition 23 which is inserted in C-shaped guides 24 in the
opposite part of the body 11 and includes an other recess for
another pivot-like end 25 of the roller 14.
[0033] According to the invention, the body 11 contains a seat 26
for the sliding of a flap 27 which is movable between a position in
which it closes transversely the inlet of the cavity 17 and a
position in which it completely clears said inlet.
[0034] The flap 27 has a tab 27a which protrudes from the body 11
in order to allow its actuation.
[0035] With the roller 14, it is convenient that the cavity 17 be
free in order to allow to aspirate the removed dirt.
[0036] With particular reference now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the figures
show the tool 10 in the configuration for distributing moist
cleaning microsponges with the machine acting as a carpet
cleaner.
[0037] The roller 14 is replaced by a bristle-fitted distribution
roller 28 whose bristles are arranged in a fishbone arrangement,
and the flap 27 is arranged so as to close the inlet of the cavity
17, so as to prevent any loss of microsponges.
[0038] In practice, it has been observed that the present invention
has achieved the intended aim and objects.
[0039] It should in fact be noted that the tool according to the
invention can be easily associated with a cleaning machine (for
example a vacuum cleaner), which is only required to have a power
outlet in order to use it in two modes: a brushing and dry-cleaning
mode, and a wet-cleaning mode using microsponges.
[0040] In this manner, the user can purchase a cleaning machine
which allows him to perform multiple operations, with considerable
savings in terms of purchase and maintenance costs and great
advantages in terms of storage space saving.
[0041] The tool according to the invention combines with the
above-noted features a high operating efficiency and great
adaptability to various application requirements by way of its
structural flexibility and its adjustments.
[0042] The present invention is susceptible of modifications and
variations within the scope of the inventive concept; the details
may further be replaced with other technically equivalent
elements.
[0043] The materials and the dimensions may be any according to
requirements.
[0044] The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No.
PD2000U000026 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
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