US3729769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bowling lane vacuum cleaner
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-08
•
Granted: 1973-05-01
•
Expires: 1991-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum cleaning machine for cleaning the full width of a bowling alley, including the gutters or channels on either side thereof, is disclosed. The machine comprises a pair of vacuum units each connected through a plenum to a nozzle which is generally in the form of an inverted U-shaped elongated channel designed to extend across the width of the bowling lane. The nozzle carries downwardly-extending brushes which serve to loosen the material that is to be picked up by the vacuum units. Each end of the nozzle is adapted to receive an extension which acts as an auxiliary nozzle, with each auxiliary carrying at its outer end a brush arrangement for cleaning the bowling alley gutters. The extensions are fastened to the upper surface of the main nozzle to form air passages which communicate through an opening in the nozzle so that air and entrained particles from the gutters can be drawn into the vacuum units. A pivoted arm is affixed to the front and back of the channel extension and carries at its outer, free end a curved brush which is adapted to the shape of the alley channel so as to loosen the dust which is to be picked up. The material entrained in the air flow of the vacuum cleaner is carried to a suitable storage bag, in conventional manner.
Inventors
- 👤 S Sharpless
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:03
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A bowling alley vacuum cleaner for cleaning the lane and both gutters of an alley simultaneously, comprising: a nozzle extending across the width of said lane, said nozzle having a downwardly-facing opening for cleaning said alley, said nozzle including a first stepped portion defining a first passageway spaced inwardly from one end and including a second stepped portion defining a second passageway spaced inwardly from the other end of the nozzle; first and second lateral nozzle extensions; means for releasably fastening said first extension to said one end of said nozzle in engagement with said first passageway; means for releasably fastening said second extension to said other end of said nozzle in engagement with said second passageway, closure means at each passageway for closing said passageway upon removal of a corresponding nozzle extension; and at least one vacuum unit for drawing air into said nozzle through said downward-facing opening and through said first and second passageways from corresponding extensions and feeding said air to a collection bag, whereby particles entrained by said air are deposited in said collection bag.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A bowling alley vacuum cleaner for cleaning the lane and both gutters of an alley simultaneously, comprising: a nozzle extending across the width of said lane, said nozzle having a downwardly-facing opening for cleaning said alley, said nozzle including a first stepped portion defining a first passageway spaced inwardly from one end and including a second stepped portion defining a second passageway spaced inwardly from the other end of the nozzle; first and second lateral nozzle extensions; means for releasably fastening said first extension to said one end of said nozzle in engagement with said first passageway; means for releasably fastening said second extension to said other end of said nozzle in engagement with said second passageway, closure means at each passageway for closing said passageway upon removal of a corresponding nozzle extension; and at least one vacuum unit for drawing air into said nozzle through said downward-facing opening and through said first and second passageways from corresponding extensions and feeding said air to a collection bag, whereby particles entrained by said air are deposited in said collection bag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said first and second extensions extend across and are shaped to generally conform to the shape of corresponding ones of said gutters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein each of said lateral nozzle extensions forms a vacuum chamber which extends across a corresponding one of said gutters, and duct means for connecting each of said vacuum chambers to said nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein each of said lateral nozzle extensions includes front, back and top walls cooperating with a wall portion of said nozzle to form said duct means, said front, back and top walls being further shaped to form said vacuum chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, further including brush means adjustably mounted on each of said nozzle extensions, said brush means being adapted to contact the surfaces of said gutters as said bowling alley is cleaned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein each said brush means includes at least one brush support plate pivotally mounted on each of said nozzle extensions, and a gutter cleaning brush carried by each of said brush support plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said gutter cleaning brush is removably mounted in a brush holder, said holder being pivotally mounted on said brush support plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vaccum cleaner of claim 5, further including a guide roller assembly adjustably mounted on each of said nozzle extensions, said guide roller assembly being adapted to contact the side wall of a gutter to guide said vacuum cleaner along said bowling alley.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein said guide roller assembly includes a roller support bracket, means for attaching said bracket to said nozzle extension, and roller means mounted on said roller support bracket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, whereiN said nozzle comprises an elongated channel, generally U-shaped in cross-section and opening downwardly, said channel defining a central collection chamber and said first and second stepped portions of said nozzle defining a reduced nozzle chamber at each end, said vacuum unit being connected to said central collection chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further including brush means mounted in said nozzle for contacting the surface of said bowling lane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further including adjustable slider means fastened to said nozzle for supporting said vacuum cleaner during a cleaning operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein said channel is formed by a front wall, a back wall, a first top wall portion for said central collection chamber, and second and third top wall portions for said reduced nozzle chambers, said front and back walls being notched at the junctions of said reduced nozzle chambers with said central collection chamber thereby to define said stepped portion at each end of said collection chamber and wherein said first and second passageways lead from the interior to to the exterior of said nozzle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein each said lateral nozzle extension is fastened to a corresponding said reduced nozzle chamber and in communication with a corresponding one of said passageways.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein each said lateral nozzle extension forms a vacuum chamber which extends across a corresponding one of said gutters and duct means which cooperates with the top wall portion of said reduced nozzle chamber to connect said vacuum chamber with said passageway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein said nozzle extension includes brush means adjustably mounted for contacting the surface of a gutter while said cleaner is in operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein said brush means comprises a pair of brush support plates pivotally mounted on said duct means of each nozzle extension, brush holder means pivotally fastened to each of said support plates, and a gutter brush secured to each of said support plates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein each of said lateral nozzle extensions forms a vacuum chamber which extends across a corresponding one of said gutters and duct means for connecting each of said vacuum chambers to said nozzle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, further including first and second plenum chambers connected to said central collection chamber of said nozzle, a first vacuum unit mounted on said first plenum chamber and a second vacuum unit mounted on said second plenum chamber, said vacuum units drawing air and entrained particles through said nozzle, said lateral nozzle extensions and their corresponding plenum chambers to effect a cleaning operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein said plenum chambers and said nozzle comprise a main frame member, said cleaner further including support wheels and handle means mounted on said main frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
167 words
A bowling alley vacuum cleaner for cleaning the lane and both gutters of an alley simultaneously, comprising: a nozzle extending across the width of said lane; first and second lateral nozzle extensions each forming a vacuum chamber which extends across a corresponding one of said gutters; first duct means for fastening said first extension to one end of said nozzle; second duct means for fastening said second extension to the other end of said nozzle; brush means adjustably mounted on each of said nozzle extensions, each of said brush means comprising a brush support plate pivotally mounted on each side of said nozzle extension, said plates being movable vertically into and out of said gutter to contact the surfaces of said gutters as said bowling alley is cleaned; and at least one vacuum unit for drawing air through said first and second extensions and through said nozzle and feeding said air to a collection bag, wHereby particles entrained by said air are deposited in said collection bag.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
167 words
A bowling alley vacuum cleaner for cleaning the lane and both gutters of an alley simultaneously, comprising: a nozzle extending across the width of said lane; first and second lateral nozzle extensions each forming a vacuum chamber which extends across a corresponding one of said gutters; first duct means for fastening said first extension to one end of said nozzle; second duct means for fastening said second extension to the other end of said nozzle; brush means adjustably mounted on each of said nozzle extensions, each of said brush means comprising a brush support plate pivotally mounted on each side of said nozzle extension, said plates being movable vertically into and out of said gutter to contact the surfaces of said gutters as said bowling alley is cleaned; and at least one vacuum unit for drawing air through said first and second extensions and through said nozzle and feeding said air to a collection bag, wHereby particles entrained by said air are deposited in said collection bag.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 21, wherein each of said brush means further comprises a brush holder pivotally mounted on each of said brush support plates, said brush holders being curved to generally conform to the shape of said gutter, and a gutter brush removably attached to each of said brush holders, said brush being curved to contact the surface of said gutter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein said brush means further includes a stop means for limiting the motion of said brush support plates, the pivotal mountings of said brush support plates and brush holders allowing said gutter brushes automatically to conform to the shape of said gutter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein each of said brush support plates includes a support arm pivotally mounted at one end to its corresponding said nozzle extension and forming at its other end an enlarged baffle plate portion shaped to conform generally to the shape of said gutter, said baffle plate portion being adjacent said vacuum chamber and serving to guide the flow of air thereto along the surface of the gutter during operation of said cleaner, whereby said gutter will be cleaned.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 24, further including a guide roller assembly adjustably fastened to each said nozzle extension, said guide roller assemblies serving to guide said vacuum cleaner along said bowling alley during a cleaning operation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
159 words
A bowling alley vacuum cleaner having a nozzle extending across the width of a lane of said alley and having at least one vacuum unit for drawing air through said nozzle to carry entrained particles to a collection bag, the improvement comprising: first and second lateral extensions for said nozzle, each said extension being shaped to extend across and generally conform to the shape of a bowling alley gutter; means for releasably securing said first extension to one end of said nozzle; means for releasably securing said second extension to the other end of said nozzle; and brush means adjustably mounted on each of said nozzle extensions, each said brush means including at least one brush support plate pivotally mounted on said nozzle extension and movable vertically into and out of said gutter, and a gutter cleaning brush carried by said support plate and adapted to contact the surface of a corresponding gutter as said bowling alley is cleaned.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
159 words
A bowling alley vacuum cleaner having a nozzle extending across the width of a lane of said alley and having at least one vacuum unit for drawing air through said nozzle to carry entrained particles to a collection bag, the improvement comprising: first and second lateral extensions for said nozzle, each said extension being shaped to extend across and generally conform to the shape of a bowling alley gutter; means for releasably securing said first extension to one end of said nozzle; means for releasably securing said second extension to the other end of said nozzle; and brush means adjustably mounted on each of said nozzle extensions, each said brush means including at least one brush support plate pivotally mounted on said nozzle extension and movable vertically into and out of said gutter, and a gutter cleaning brush carried by said support plate and adapted to contact the surface of a corresponding gutter as said bowling alley is cleaned.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 26 wherein said gutter cleaning brush is removably mounted in a brush holder, said brush holder being pivotally mounted on said brush support plate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein each said brush means includes a brush support plate pivotally mounted on each side of said nozzle extension, and a gutter cleaning brush carried by each of said brush support plates.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
65 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein each of said brush support plates includes a support arm pivotally mounted at one to its corresponding nozzle extension and forming at its other end an enlarged baffle plate portion shaped to conform generally to the shape of said gutter, said baffle plate portion cooperating with said nozzle extension to form a vacuum chamber for cleaning said gutter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |