US4317252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sweeper-scrubber
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
•
Filing: 1980-07-14
•
Granted: 1982-03-02
•
Expires: 2000-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A sweeper-scrubber is provided which has a towable scrubbing unit. The scrubbing unit is substantially self-contained, including scrubbing brushes, a pick-up squeegee, a liquid supply tank, and a recovery tank. The sweeper has an arcuate tow bar with a steerable rear wheel located behind the center of curvature of the tow bar. The scrubbing unit has a hitch which engages the arcuate tow bar and can move longitudinally therealong to achieve a high degree of maneuverability. The scrubbing unit also has a multiple reel assembly for flexible lines which supply hydraulic fluid and electrical power from the sweeper. This assembly takes up slack in the flexible lines.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher W. Knowlton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:59
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L11/00; A47L11/40; A47L11/4063; A47L11/4069; A47L11/29; A47L11/4061; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/131
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
In combination, a sweeper having a rotatable sweeping brush, and connecting means at a rear portion thereof, a scrubbing unit having a rotatable scrubbing brush, a tank for supplying clean water to a surface to be cleaned, a recovery tank, means for returning water from the surface to the recovery tank, and a hitch extending forwardly of the scrubbing unit and connected to said connecting means to enable said scrubbing unit and said sweeper to move in horizontal angular relationship relative to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
In combination, a sweeper having a rotatable sweeping brush, and connecting means at a rear portion thereof, a scrubbing unit having a rotatable scrubbing brush, a tank for supplying clean water to a surface to be cleaned, a recovery tank, means for returning water from the surface to the recovery tank, and a hitch extending forwardly of the scrubbing unit and connected to said connecting means to enable said scrubbing unit and said sweeper to move in horizontal angular relationship relative to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sweeper has a single rear wheel, and means for steering said rear wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said scrubbing unit has a single rear wheel which is pivotally mounted on said scrubbing unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said scrubbing unit has a single rear wheel which is pivotally mounted on said scrubbing unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means is an arcuate member with the concave side facing forwardly and located in a generally horizontal plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said hitch is movably connected to said arcuate member and movable along said member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
In combination, a sweeper having an arcuate member located at a rear portion thereof, said arcuate member having a concave side facing forwardly and a convex side facing rearwardly and located in a generally horizontal plane, and a scrubbing unit having a hitch extending forwardly and having at least one roller engagable with the concave side of said arcuate member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
In combination, a sweeper having an arcuate member located at a rear portion thereof, said arcuate member having a concave side facing forwardly and a convex side facing rearwardly and located in a generally horizontal plane, and a scrubbing unit having a hitch extending forwardly and having at least one roller engagable with the concave side of said arcuate member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said sweeper has a steerable rear wheel located behind the center of curvature of said arcuate member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said scrubbing unit has a single rear pivotable wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said scrubbing unit has a single rear pivotable wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said hitch has at least one additional roller engagable with the convex side of said arcuate member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said hitch has a second roller engagable with the concave side of said arcuate member and said hitch has an additional roller engagable with the convex side of said arcuate member between said one roller and said second roller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination according to claim 11 wherein said hitch has means for moving said additional roller toward and away from said one roller to engage said hitch with said arcuate member and to release said hitch from said arcuate member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination according to claim 13 characterized by said hitch having resilient means for yieldably supporting said one roller and said additional roller relative to said scrubbing unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein said hitch has damping means for damping movement of said one roller and said additional roller relative to said scrubbing unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
In combination, a sweeper having connecting means at a rear portion thereof, a scrubbing unit having a rotatable scrubbing brush, a tank for supplying clean water to a surface to be cleaned, a recovery tank, means for returning water from the surface to the recovery tank, a hitch extending forwardly of the scrubbing unit and connected to said connecting means to enable said scrubbing unit and said sweeper to move in horizontal angular relationship relative to one another, a hydraulically-operated motor for rotating said scrubbing brush, means including flexible line means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said motor from said sweeper, and resilient take-up means mounted on said scrubbing unit for taking up slack in said line means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
120 words
In combination, a sweeper having connecting means at a rear portion thereof, a scrubbing unit having a rotatable scrubbing brush, a tank for supplying clean water to a surface to be cleaned, a recovery tank, means for returning water from the surface to the recovery tank, a hitch extending forwardly of the scrubbing unit and connected to said connecting means to enable said scrubbing unit and said sweeper to move in horizontal angular relationship relative to one another, a hydraulically-operated motor for rotating said scrubbing brush, means including flexible line means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said motor from said sweeper, and resilient take-up means mounted on said scrubbing unit for taking up slack in said line means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein said resilient take-up means comprises a rotatable reel engaging said flexible line means and a resiliently-mounted additional reel engaging said line means and movable toward and away from said rotatable reel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein said connecting means is an arcuate member with the concave side facing forwardly and located in a generally horizontal plane, and said hitch is movably connected to said arcuate member and movable along at least a substantial portion of the length thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 18 wherein said hitch has at least one roller engagable with the concave side of said arcuate member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said hitch has an additional roller engagable with the convex side of said arcuate member, and means for moving said additional roller toward and away from said one roller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE816196C
Cited
US2768837A
Cited
US3311390A
Cited
US3902219A
Cited
US3942218A
Cited
US4041567A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-03-01 | 1985-08-31 | 1986-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-03-01 | 1989-08-31 | 1990-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-03-01 | 1993-08-31 | 1994-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |