US2740147A - Sweeper - Google Patents

Description

M. A. BAILEY April 3, 1956 SWEEPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1953 1! 1 HH M m/1r Marcus 4. Bailey IN V EN T 0R.

Isl QM w M- A. BAILEY April 3, 1956 SWEEPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1953 Fig. 4

8 0 m 2 R m 4 mm 8w. 3 4 A. m 5 H w W M W m/ United States Paterit O 2,740,147 SWEEPER Marcus A. Bailey; Tucker, Ga. Application October 1, 1953, Serial N01 383,478 3 Claims. cl. 15-160) This invention relates to a sweeper, and more specifically provides a sweeper having a pair of adjustable brushes to adjust the width of the effective sweeping path.

An object of this invention is to provide a swee er having a pair of'handles wherein manipulation of 'the'handles causes an adjustment of the width of the sweeping path of the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide asweeper having a pair of caster rollers thereby facilitating the movement of the sweeper.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sweeper having a pair of angular adjustable brushes and a synchronized linkage system for adjusting each brush.

Yet another object of 'this'ihvntion is to provide a sweeper which'may be easily'adjusted and pfopelled'to vary the width of the'sweeping'path. I

A still further objectof this invention is toprovide a sweeper which is simple in construction, easy to operate and adjust and inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the sweeper of this invention with a portion of the handle members broken away;

Figure 2 is an end view looking from the right hand section of Figure 1 showing the relationship between the sweeper brushes and the operating linkages;

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical section taken substantially along the junction between the actuating levers and the connecting members;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken substantially along the longitudinal center line of the sweeper;

Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical section taken substanr tially along section line 55 of Figure 4 showing details of the brush mounting pin; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the brush members with the trash carrying projection along the top edge thereof.

Referring now specifically to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the sweeper of this invention having a pair of elongated brushes 12 extending in angular relation to each other and a pair of handle members 14 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the sweeper 10.

The sweeper 10 includes a generally rectangular plate 16 having a pair of depending U-shaped members 18 adjacent one end thereof with one of the U-shaped members 18 located adjacent the side edge of the plate 16 and the other U-shaped member being located adjacent the opposite side edge of the member 16. The U-shaped members 18 rotatably support a pair of rollers or casters 20 on a suitable axle 22. Adjacent the opposite end of the plate 16 is a pair of suitable apertures adjacent each corner receiving a pivotal shaft 24 which is rigidly secured adjacent one end of the brush member 12 and an off-set wardly of the hub' me mber 3'4and "ture therein for receiving f link'26 is secured toith e up use of v link 26 is 'spaced from the'iupper surface 9 the'pl' by a" suitable bearing wheels 20and positioned on' the upper surface ofth" pl the extension 40 wherein P nd f hssliaf 'ie f at a i ab ssst s swl fl nd. t iw s n. th j c i301 Ai iaq httth 16 is a pair of upstanding pinsj12 rotatably Jsecuri P member 34 thereon; The hub member 34'inclu'des a'segment gear 36 adjacent the bottom 'end 'thereofandfan elongated extending lever 38 projecting from fthe up per edge of 'the hub '34 andan "ear member 4 0 projectingr e arhaving asuitable' apera pivot bolt 42 for adjustably securing handle members 14 about" the pivot bolt" 2't0 the handle"14, lever 38 and segment gear 36 are pivotal about'th'e vertical axislf orrned by the vertical pin 32 and the handle14'is pivo'ted'fabout the horizontal axis formed by the pivot b01642." A 's'uit- 'able fasteningme'anssuch'as a'cotterpin" 46 is inserted through the upper'end of the vertical pin'32for securing the hub 34 thereon. As will be seen in Figure '1',"th'ere are two vertical pins'32 located adjacent opposite corners of the plate 16 and the handles 14 extend 'r'earwardly'threfrom and upwardly inclined to a'r'ubberhand grip'portion '(not'shown). The lever membersf38'extend angularly from the hub 34 and project across the plates '161a'nd cross each othenand' are pivotally attached to 'the'foif-set 'link 26 by a connecting member 48which spaces the ends of the levers 38 fromthe 'links'26 and completes thelinkage connectionv between the brushes" 12 and handles 14. It will be noted that' segmental gears 36 mounted on'the hub 34 are in meshing engagement'and whenthehub34 is pivoted about-the pins 32'bymoving'th'efhan'dles '14 the gears 36 and the levers 38 are synchronized in their pivotal movement due to the meshing of the segment gears 36. Obviously, the off-set links 26 are moved simultaneously and the brushes 12 are pivoted about the shaft 24 at the same time and through the same number of angular degrees. As best shown in Figure 6, the brush 12 may be provided with a longitudinal extension 50 secured to the upper edge of the brush and projecting upwardly therefrom for moving bulky trash over the surface to be swept. The extension 50 is generally right angular in configuration with one of the legs being short and having keyhole slots 52 therein for receiving screw heads 54 inserted in the upper edge of the brush member 12 thereby fastening the extension to the brush 12 in an obvious manner. The brushes 12 are of a special design for the purpose and having an elongated rigid member with the bristles depending therefrom and presenting a flat sweeping surface. It will be noted that the distance from the under surface of the plate to the bottom of the caster wheels 18 is substantially equal to the distance from the under surface of the plate to the bottom edge of the brushes 12; further, the distance between the upper surface of the plate 16 and the various linkages is substantially equal, thereby providing an easy movement of the lever 38, the off-set link 26 and the connecting member 48.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. The brushes 12 are set in the desired position by operating the handles 14, either by moving them toward each other or away from each other and the sweeper 10 is propelled along the surface to be cleaned. Where the area to be cleaned has variou obstructions such as shallow passageway, the brushes 12 may be adjusted to vary the path of sweeping movement by manipulating of the handles 14 thereby eifectively cleaning the entire passageway with one operation of the sweeper. Obviously, this device is especially useful in the cleaning of areas having numerous obstructions wherein the sweeper having a stationary brush must be passed along the surface to be cleaned numerous times to efiiciently clean the surface, whereas the device of this invention will effectivelyclean the surface'with only a single cleaning movement. The

pleasing appearance and protecting the working mechanism from damage and dust. The various parts of this device may be made of suitable castings such as aluminum for light Weight and durability and a housing of cast aluminum may also be provided, however, other materials may be used or employed a desired or may become available. The casters 20 provide an easy propelling support for the sweeper 10 and also provide a pivot point for raising the brushes 12 from the floor and returning the sweeper 10 for a repeat of the sweeping operation. The brushes 12 can be opened to a maximum of 180 degrees and the handles 14 can be pivoted around pivot bolt 42 to a vertical position so that when brushes 12 are opened to 180 degree and handles 14 are pivoted to vertical position, the entire sweeping instrument can be stored in a space not more than two to three inches wider than the longest dimension of frame 16. The brushes 12 will be so designed that they can be switched from side to side, that is interchangeable from one side to the other, thus when the brush fibers become bent back by forward movement, switching brushes will cause the fibers to be bent forward thereby increasing the efliciency of sweeping and adding life to the brushes.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described,

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims:

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a sweeper, a rectangular plate having front and rear ends and sides, a pair of caster wheels at the rear end and opposite sides of said plate, a pair of elongated brushes extending forwardly of the front end of the plate and having rear end pivoted to said front end and opposite sides of the plate for swinging of said brushes laterally with respect to each other, and means for swinging said brushes in synchronism comprising a pair of intermeshing gear segments pivoted on said plate adjacent said rear end and opposite sides of said plate, a pair of rearwardly extending handles on said segments for pivoting the same, a pair of levers on said segments extending forwardly therefrom in crossed relation and swingable oppositely, relatively, by pivoting of said segments, and operating connections between said levers and said brushes.

2. In a sweeper according to claim 1, said operating connections comprising a pair of links fixed to the pivots of said brushes, and a pair of pivoted links connecting said levers to said first named links.

3. In a sweeper according to claim 1, said handles be ing pivoted on said segments for vertical swinging thereon into diflerent positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Clark Oct. 21, 1952

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