Patent US5377376A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5377376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile surface cleaning machine
Assignee: Nilfisk Inc
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Filing: 1993-08-23
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Granted: 1995-01-03
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Expires: 2013-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A surface cleaning machine (10) is disclosed in the preferred form as a combination sweeping-scrubbing apparatus including a sweeping brush (18) for sweeping debris into a hopper (20) and a one piece squeegee (112) for picking up solution after four staggered, disc brushes (122). The squeegee (112) is U-shaped having a longitudinal extent greater than that of the disc brushes (122) located intermediate the legs (124) of the squeegee (112). The drive wheel (16) is located in front of the disc brushes (122), the squeegee (112) and the solution applying means (128). The squeegee (112) is raised and lowered relative to the frame (12) by an actuator (104) which pivots an L-shaped member (94), the leg (96) of which abuts against and pivots a lever (84) interconnected to the mount (62) for the squeegee (112) by a turnbuckle (88). The hopper (20) is raised and simultaneously tilted by a single cylinder (30 ) which pivots the upper arm (24) of a parallelogram including a lower arm (36). The hopper (20) is pivotally mounted to an end of a hopper arm (48), the opposite end of which is pivotally mounted to the end of the upper arm (24), and is further pivotally mounted to the end of the lower arm (36). The hopper (20) is simultaneously tilted at a generally constant dump angle as the hopper (20) is raised from a lowered position in a horizontal debris collecting condition to a raised position with the hopper (20) in a dumping condition.
Inventors
- 👤 David Wood
- 👤 Randy Brunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:06
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01H; E01H1/00; E01H1/02; E01H1/04; E01H1/047; A; A47; A47L; A47L11/00; A47L11/28; A47L11/282; A47L11/283; A47L11/40; A47L11/4013; A47L11/4025; A47L11/4036; A47L11/4041; A47L11/4044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
Machine for movement along a surface having debris comprising, in combination: a frame; a hopper for holding debris collected from the surface; and means for raising the hopper relative to the frame from a lowered position with the hopper in a horizontal debris collecting condition to a raised position with the hopper in a dumping condition and for simultaneously tilting the hopper as the hopper is raised from the lowered position to allow dumping of the debris from the hopper at multiple levels above the surface comprising, in combination: a first arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame and a second end; means for pivoting the first arm relative to the frame about the first end; means for operatively connecting the hopper to the second end of the first arm for raising and simultaneously tilting the hopper as the first arm is raised relative to the frame by the pivoting means comprising, in combination: a second arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame spaced from the first end of the first arm and having a second end pivotally mounted to the hopper; and a rotation arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the first arm intermediate the first and second ends and having a second end pivotally mounted to the second arm intermediate the first and second ends.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
Machine for movement along a surface having debris comprising, in combination: a frame; a hopper for holding debris collected from the surface; and means for raising the hopper relative to the frame from a lowered position with the hopper in a horizontal debris collecting condition to a raised position with the hopper in a dumping condition and for simultaneously tilting the hopper as the hopper is raised from the lowered position to allow dumping of the debris from the hopper at multiple levels above the surface comprising, in combination: a first arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame and a second end; means for pivoting the first arm relative to the frame about the first end; means for operatively connecting the hopper to the second end of the first arm for raising and simultaneously tilting the hopper as the first arm is raised relative to the frame by the pivoting means comprising, in combination: a second arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame spaced from the first end of the first arm and having a second end pivotally mounted to the hopper; and a rotation arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the first arm intermediate the first and second ends and having a second end pivotally mounted to the second arm intermediate the first and second ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the operatively connecting means comprises, in combination: a hopper arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the second end of the first arm and a second end pivotally mounted to the hopper spaced from the second end of the second arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The machine of claim 2 wherein the hopper has an end opposite the frame and an end adjacent the frame, with the end opposite the frame including a dumping door, with the end opposite the frame located vertically below the end adjacent the frame in the raised position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The machine of claim 1 further comprising, in combination: a plurality of brushes carried by the frame in a longitudinally staggered arrangement and having a longitudinal extent; and a one piece squeegee having a U-shape including first and second legs integrally extending from the opposite ends of a central portion, with the first and second legs having free ends, with the squeegee having a longitudinal extent greater than the longitudinal extent of the brushes, with the brushes located in the squeegee intermediate the first and second legs and with the free ends of the first and second legs extending beyond the longitudinal extent of the brushes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
The machine of claim 4 further comprising, in combination: means for raising and lowering the one piece squeegee relative to the frame comprising, in combination: a lever having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the lever being pivotally mounted to the frame about a lever axis; means for connecting the squeegee to the second end of the lever for movement therewith; a first leg having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the leg being pivotally mounted to the frame about a leg axis, with the second end of the first leg abutting with the lever intermediate the first and second ends; and means for pivoting the first leg about the leg axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein the pivoting means comprises, in combination: a second leg having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the second leg being interconnected to the first end of the first leg; and means for pivoting the second leg about the leg axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
The machine of claim 1 further comprising, in combination: a squeegee; and means for raising and lowering the squeegee relative to the frame comprising, in combination: a lever having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the lever being pivotally mounted to the frame about a lever axis; means for connecting the squeegee to the second end of the lever for movement therewith; a first leg having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the leg being pivotally mounted to the frame about a leg axis, with the second end of the first leg abutting with the lever intermediate the first and second ends; and means for pivoting the first leg about the leg axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine of claim 7 wherein the pivoting means comprises, in combination: a second leg having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the second leg being interconnected to the first end of the first leg; and means for pivoting the second leg about the leg axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 8 wherein the leg axis is parallel to and spaced from the lever axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
180 words
Machine for movement along a surface having debris comprising, in combination: a frame; a hopper for holding debris collected from the surface; and means for raising the bopper relative to the frame from a lowered position with the hopper in a horizontal debris collecting condition to a raised position with the hopper in a dumping condition and for simultaneously tilting the hopper as the hopper is raised from the lowered position to allow dumping of the debris from the hopper at multiple levels above the surface comprising, in combination: a first arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame and a second end; means for pivoting the first arm relative to the frame about the first end; a hopper arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the second end of the first arm and a second end pivotally mounted to the hopper; and means for pivotally mounting the hopper about a pivot axis spaced from the second end of the hopper arm and moveable along an arc when the first arm is pivoted relative to the frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
180 words
Machine for movement along a surface having debris comprising, in combination: a frame; a hopper for holding debris collected from the surface; and means for raising the bopper relative to the frame from a lowered position with the hopper in a horizontal debris collecting condition to a raised position with the hopper in a dumping condition and for simultaneously tilting the hopper as the hopper is raised from the lowered position to allow dumping of the debris from the hopper at multiple levels above the surface comprising, in combination: a first arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame and a second end; means for pivoting the first arm relative to the frame about the first end; a hopper arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the second end of the first arm and a second end pivotally mounted to the hopper; and means for pivotally mounting the hopper about a pivot axis spaced from the second end of the hopper arm and moveable along an arc when the first arm is pivoted relative to the frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The machine of claim 10 wherein the pivotally mounting means comprises, in combination: a second arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame spaced from the first end of the first arm and having a second end pivotally mounted to the hopper spaced from the second end of the hopper arm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The machine of claim 11 wherein the pivotally mounting means further comprises, in combination: a rotation arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the first arm intermediate the first and second ends and having a second end pivotally mounted to the second arm intermediate the first and second ends.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
The machine of claim 10 further comprising, in combination: a plurality of brushes carried by the frame in a longitudinally staggered arrangement and having a longitudinal extent; and a one piece squeegee having a U-shape including first and second legs integrally extending from the opposite ends of a central portion, with the first and second legs having free ends, with the squeegee having a longitudinal extent greater than the longitudinal extent of the brushes, with the brushes located in the squeegee intermediate the first and second legs and with the free ends of the first and second legs extending beyond the longitudinal extent of the brushes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
124 words
The machine of claim 13 further comprising, in combination: means for raising and lowering the one piece squeegee relative to the frame comprising, in combination: a lever having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the lever being pivotally mounted to the frame about a lever axis; means for connecting the squeegee to the second end of the lever for movement therewith; a first leg having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the leg being pivotally mounted to the frame about a leg axis, with the second end of the first leg abutting with the lever intermediate the first and second ends; and means for pivoting the first leg about the leg axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine of claim 14 wherein the pivoting means comprises, in combination: a second leg having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the second leg being interconnected to the first end of the first leg; and means for pivoting the second leg about the leg axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 15 wherein the leg axis is parallel to and spaced from the lever axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
The machine of claim 10 further comprising, in combination: a squeegee; and means for raising and lowering the squeegee relative to the frame comprising, in combination: a lever having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the lever being pivotally mounted to the frame about a lever axis; means for connecting the squeegee to the second end of the lever for movement therewith; a first leg having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the leg being pivotally mounted to the frame about a leg axis, with the second end of the first leg abutting with the lever intermediate the first and second ends; and means for pivoting the first leg about the leg axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine of claim 17 wherein the pivoting means comprises, in combination: a second leg having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the second leg being interconnected to the first end of the first leg; and means for pivoting the second leg about the leg axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 18 wherein the leg axis is parallel to and spaced from the lever axis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The machine of claim 10 wherein the hopper has an end opposite the frame and an end adjacent the frame, with the end opposite the frame including a dumping door, with the end opposite the frame located vertically below the end adjacent the frame in the raised position.
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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) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-07-04 | 1999-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-02 | 2002-07-04 | 2003-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-02 | 2006-07-04 | 2007-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |