ELECTRIC FLOOR SWEEPER

Abstract

The invention relates to a sweeper having a handle (2) and a sweeping element (3), a waste collecting reservoir (5), and electric suction means, characterized in that the sweeper also has electric blowing means (6), the suction means and the blowing/ejection means being selectively employed to suck waste into the reservoir or eject waste from the reservoir in an automated manner. The sweeper forms not only an automated waste suction device but also an automated waste discharging device, without it being necessary to manipulate the collecting reservoir in order to dispose of the waste.

Claims

1. Sweeper having a handle (2) and a sweeping element (3), a waste collecting reservoir (5), and electric suction means, characterized in that the sweeper also has electric blowing/ejection means, the suction means and the blowing/ejection means being selectively employed to suck waste into the reservoir or eject waste from the reservoir in an automated manner.

2. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one inlet for sucking waste into the reservoir (5), which is common to an outlet for blowing waste from the reservoir and the sweeper.

3. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that it operates manually and selectively electrically to suck or blow the waste.

4. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a waste suction inlet and a waste ejection outlet in common, forming a valve (52), preferably made of rubber, which opens during suction and blowing.

5. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric suction means and the electric blowing means form a unitary device (6) comprising an electric motor (60) suitable for rotating in two opposite rotational directions, and a fan (62).

6. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one control device (8) for selecting as required a suction function, a blowing function or an electric stop function.

7. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric suction means and the electric blowing means (6) and the reservoir are incorporated in a cylindrical body (7) fixed between the handle (2) and the sweeping element (3).

8. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises air outflow and air inflow apertures (51), placed in particular peripherally in the region of a cylindrical body (7) housing the electric suction and blowing means (6).

9. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an air filter (50) cooperating with the end of the reservoir (5) opposite that through which the waste is sucked or blown.

10. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the reservoir (5) has a transparent window (53).

11. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the sweeping element (3) has a hollow head body (30) at the periphery of which the bristles extend projecting, and in that the sweeper comprises a removable part (35) arranged in the hollow interior of the head body and serving as a means for guiding the waste from the sweeping element towards a common waste suction inlet/waste ejection outlet.

12. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the sweeping element (3) is transverse to the handle (2) and the sweeper is used as a conventional sweeper by making pendulum-type sweeping movements.

13. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the sweeping element (3) comprises a sweeping head (30) and elements (4) for brushing/sweeping the floor such as bristles, the head being provided with an opening (32) for the waste to pass through, preferably elongate, and suitable for communicating with the reservoir (5), the brushing elements (4) being distributed at the periphery of the opening (32).

14. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the sweeping element comprising a multiplicity of bristles with a height of approximately at least 3 cm to 5 cm.

15. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric suction and ejection means operate using a battery, said battery preferably being housed inside the handle.

Description

[0018] The present invention will now be described using examples that are purely illustrative and in no way limit the scope of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of the sweeper according to the invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a view in vertical cross section of the sweeper.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of the sweeper.

[0022] The sweeper 1 shown in the figures is used to sweep a surface such as a floor. According to the invention, the sweeper 1 comprises a grasping handle 2, a sweeping head 3 with bristle-type brushing/sweeping elements 4, a waste collecting reservoir 5, and electric suction and discharge/blowing means which form a common system 6.

[0023] The sweeper 1 according to the invention has three functions, a manual sweeping function, a motorized waste suction function and a motorized waste ejection function so that the user can, while sweeping or after sweeping, automatically suck up the waste and then automatically discharge said waste into a trashcan without having to manipulate the sweeper in the region of the waste collecting reservoir thereof.

[0024] The reservoir 5 and the common electric suction and discharge/blowing means 6 are incorporated in a hollow, elongate body 7 arranged at the interface between the grasping handle 2 and the sweeping head 3.

[0025] The body 7 is preferably cylindrical with a circular cross section.

[0026] The body 7 has a cross section larger than that of the handle 2, the handle 2 having the usual diameter for a sweeper suitable for grasping and manipulating the sweeper.

[0027] The handle 2 is made of aluminum, for example, and is preferably hollow to house various operational elements as well as electric cables and connections.

[0028] The sweeper 1 comprises an actuation device 8 to select the operating mode of the sweeper. The actuation device has in particular three positions, a neutral electric stop position, an electric suction operating position and an electric discharge operating position.

[0029] Preferably, the actuation device 8 is arranged on the handle 2.

[0030] The suction and blowing means 6 operate preferably using a battery 20 which is housed inside the body 7 or in this case the handle 2.

[0031] The battery 20 can by recharged by an electric socket 21 which is positioned preferably at the upper distal end 2A of the handle 2, for example forming part of a cap 22 closing said upper end 2A of the handle. A 7.4-volt battery is sufficient to operate the sweeper.

[0032] The routing of the electric supply and the connection of the different electric elements, such as the socket 21, the battery 20, the actuation device 8 and the suction and blowing means 6, are invisible to the user inside the hollow handle 2.

[0033] The electric suction and discharge/blowing means are combined in the common system 6 which advantageously comprises an electric motor 60 suitable for rotating in two rotational directions, in one or the other direction depending on whether the suction or blowing function is selected.

[0034] The suction and blowing system 6 comprises the motor 60 which is housed in a motor compartment 61, and a fan 62 driven by the motor.

[0035] The electric motor 60 is a 7.4-volt motor, for example, rotating at 59,000 rpm. It is supplied by the battery 20.

[0036] The motor compartment 61 is arranged adjoining the handle 2. Said motor compartment is a one-piece part which comprises a cylindrical distal body 62 in which the motor 60 is housed, a tapered proximal portion 63, and an opposite distal extension 64. The cylindrical distal body 62 is arranged inside the hollow cylindrical body 7 of the sweeper. The opposite distal extension 64 is for fitting in the lower free end 2B of the handle 2. The motor compartment/part 61 allows the body 7 of the sweeper to be fixed to the handle 2. The proximal tapered portion 63 is arranged at the interface between the handle 2 and the body 7; said portion is provided with apertures 65 that open to the exterior of the sweeper for cooling the motor. Downstream of the motor 60 (opposite the handle 2), a rotating spindle 9 is arranged which on one side is fixed to the shaft of the motor 60 and on the opposite side supports the fan 62 so as to drive said fan in the direction of rotation of the motor.

[0037] The sweeper also has, associated with or arranged in the hollow body 7, the collecting reservoir 5, an air filter 50, means 51 of air outflow and inflow with the exterior of the sweeper, and a waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet 52.

[0038] The collecting reservoir 5 is arranged between the fan 62 and the sweeping head 3. The reservoir 5 is cylindrical, and may form a portion of the cylindrical body 7. The reservoir 5 has a longitudinal transparent window 53 displaying the height of the waste, preferably made of a transparent plastics material.

[0039] The air filter 50 is fixed to the upper free end of the reservoir 5. The air filter is for example made of foam and is preferably housed in a circular support fixed for example by snap-clipping to the reservoir 5.

[0040] The air outflow and inflow means 51, to provide the respective functions of air outflow during suction and air inflow during blowing, are formed of a plurality of apertures arranged in the thickness of the body 7 between the air filter 50 and the fan 62.

[0041] The waste suction inlet/waste discharge outlet 52 is arranged at the lower free end of the body 7 and cooperates with the sweeping head 3. Said inlet/outlet is preferably closable. Said inlet/outlet 52 is for example a valve, preferably made of rubber, which opens during suction and blowing.

[0042] Finally, the sweeping head 3 comprises a body 30 which is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, bristles 4 rigidly connected to the body of the head for sweeping, and a waste suction inlet/waste blowing outlet formed by a waste suction/discharge opening 32.

[0043] The head 30 comprises centrally on one of the faces thereof (the face referred to as the upper face), a tubular attachment end-piece 33 allowing the head 30 to be fixed to the lower end of the body 7 of the sweeper. Said tubular end-piece 33 is hollow to provide a passage arranged facing the inlet/outlet 52 of the body 7.

[0044] On the opposite face, referred to as the lower face, the head 30 comprises the opening 32 extending longitudinally to the body of the head to maximize the suction surface, at the periphery of which the bristles 4 of the sweeper are attached. The bristles 4 of the sweeper project from the lower surface of the head body 30 and the aperture 32. Said bristles are made of a synthetic material, for example. The longitudinal aperture 32 cooperates with a central passage 34 arranged in the thickness of the head 30 up to the attachment end-piece 33 for conveying the waste from the aperture 32 to the inlet/outlet 52 of the body 7.

[0045] Preferably, to allow the interior of the head body 30 through which the dust passes to be cleaned, the sweeper head 3 comprises a removable guide part 35 being fixed in the opening 32.

[0046] Some parts of the sweeper, such as the motor compartment 61, the fan 62, the air filter support 50, the valve 52, the head 3, the guide part 35 and the attachment end-piece 33 are made of a plastics material, preferably a recycled plastics material, for example recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

[0047] Consequently, the sweeper according to the invention is easy to use and is normally used for sweeping, by manual sweeping to gather the waste/dust together, and forms, through the electric suction means, a vacuum to suck up the waste after sweeping without having to bend down to scoop up said waste, while also forming an automatic waste discharge device, without having to manipulate the collecting reservoir to dispose of the waste.