Abstract:
A cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device may include a handle, an activation mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position by a user of the device, a hollow member having a suction opening at an end of the hollow member, an electrically powered motor configured to produce suction at the suction opening, and a bristle support member pivotable relative to the hollow member. The bristle support member may include a plurality of bristles attached thereto. The bristle support member may be operatively coupled to the activation mechanism. When the activation mechanism is in the first position, the bristle support member may be in a closed position adjacent to the suction opening of the hollow member and the plurality of bristles may be positioned to perform a sweeping function. When the activation mechanism is moved to the second position, the bristle support member may be pivoted away from the suction opening of the hollow member to an open position to provide access to the suction opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/092,237, filed Aug. 27, 2008, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Each and every U.S. patent and patent application mentioned herein is expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention is related to cleaning devices and, more particularly, to a cleaning device that may allow a user to manually sweep a surface to be cleaned and also draw debris from the surface into an interior compartment by suction. 
     2. Related Art 
     Home and office cleaning can be an arduous daily task despite the staggering number of products available to help make the undertaking easier and more efficient. With regard to devices available for cleaning floor surfaces, some of the more common household devices include brooms, mops, electric dustpans, and vacuum cleaners (e.g., handheld or upright vacuums). Vacuum cleaners, for example, may be battery operated or may have a power supply cord. Battery operated vacuum systems, which may or may not be rechargeable, can allow a user to vacuum without worrying if there are electric outlets available around the area to be vacuumed. 
     Notwithstanding the wide variety of upright and handheld vacuum cleaners and electric dustpans available, improved cleaning devices are needed that are economical, practical, and easy for a user to operate. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment of the invention, a cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device may include a handle, an activation mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position by a user of the device, a hollow member having a suction opening at an end of the hollow member, an electrically powered motor configured to produce suction at the suction opening, and a bristle support member pivotable relative to the hollow member. The bristle support member may include a plurality of bristles attached thereto. The bristle support member may be operatively coupled to the activation mechanism. When the activation mechanism is in the first position, the bristle support member may be in a closed position adjacent to the suction opening of the hollow member and the plurality of bristles may be positioned to perform a sweeping function. When the activation mechanism is moved to the second position, the bristle support member may be pivoted away from the suction opening of the hollow member to an open position to provide access to the suction opening. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device may include a handle and an activation mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position by a user of the device. The cleaning device may also include a frame member, a hollow member moveably disposed relative to the frame member and having a suction opening defined at an end of the hollow member. An electrically powered motor may be configured to produce suction at the suction opening. One of the hollow member and the frame member may be connected to an end of the handle and the other of the hollow member and the frame member may be coupled to the activation mechanism. When the activation mechanism is in the first position, the hollow member may be in a retracted position relative to the frame member. When the activation mechanism is in the second position, the hollow member may be in an extended position relative to the frame member. The cleaning device may further include a bristle support member pivotably coupled to the hollow member and including a plurality of bristles attached thereto. When the activation mechanism is in the first position, the bristle support member may be in a closed position adjacent to the suction opening of the hollow member and the plurality of bristles may be positioned to perform a sweeping function. When the activation mechanism is moved to the second position, the bristle support member may be pivoted away from the suction opening of the hollow member to an open position to provide access to the suction opening. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, a cleaning device is provided including means for sweeping debris on a surface, means for producing suction to remove debris from the surface, means for receiving and holding debris removed from the surface, means for pivoting at least a portion of the sweeping means relative to the receiving and holding means to allow the suction producing means to remove debris from the surface, and means for activating the pivoting means and the suction producing means. 
     Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. Unless otherwise indicated, the accompanying drawing figures are not to scale. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a front view of a cleaning device in a “sweeping mode” according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a partial front view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 1  in a “suction mode”; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a partial perspective view of the cleaning device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in “suction mode”; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a partial front view of the cleaning device of  FIGS. 1-3  in “sweeping mode” and showing a suction motor and a switch for powering the motor on and off; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a partial front view of the cleaning device of  FIGS. 1-4  in “suction mode” and showing the suction motor and switch for powering the motor on and off; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a partial side view of a grippable sleeve of an activation mechanism on a handle of the cleaning device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  depict partial perspective views of the cleaning device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  including a hollow member having a latched and hinged dust cup door; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  depict partial perspective views of the cleaning device of  FIG. 7  with the latched and hinged dust cup door open to show the interior dust cup compartment of the hollow member; 
         FIG. 11  depicts a partial perspective view of a cleaning device in “sweeping mode” according to an embodiment of the invention showing a detachable base member detached from a pivotable bristle support member, the base member having bristles attached thereto; 
         FIG. 12  depicts a partial perspective view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 11  in “sweeping mode” and showing the detachable base member attached to the pivotable bristle support member; 
         FIG. 13  depicts a front view of a cleaning device in a “sweeping mode” according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  depicts a partial front view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 13  in the “sweeping mode”; 
         FIG. 15  depicts a partial cross-sectional side view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 13  in the “sweeping mode”; 
         FIG. 16  depicts a partial cross-sectional side view of the cleaning device of  FIGS. 13-15  in the “suction mode”; 
         FIG. 17  depicts a partial cross-sectional side view of the cleaning device of  FIGS. 13-16  in transition between “suction mode” and “sweeping mode”; 
         FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b  depict perspective views of the cleaning device of  FIG. 13  in the “sweeping mode” and the “suction mode,” respectively, as well as an illustration of the movement of a grippable sleeve of an activation mechanism to effect the transition from one mode to the other. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of the invention are discussed herein. While specific embodiments are discussed, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     In the following description of some embodiments of the invention, directional words such as, for example, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” and “downwardly,” “clockwise,” “counter-clockwise,” are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the orientation of the device and its various components as illustrated in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a front view of a cleaning device  10  in a “sweeping mode” according to an embodiment of the invention. The cleaning device  10  may include, for example, a handle portion  12 , and a base portion  14  and may be constructed to perform at least two functions, e.g., sweeping and suction (debris removal).  FIG. 2 , for example, depicts a partial front view of the cleaning device  10  in a “suction mode.” 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle portion  12  may include a handle  16  defined, for example, by an elongated hollow tube which may be held or gripped by a user (not shown). The handle portion  12  may include an activation mechanism comprised of, for example, but not limited to, a grippable sleeve  18  and an elongated rod  19  (see  FIG. 2 ). The grippable sleeve  18  of the activation mechanism may be moveably disposed about the handle  16  and may be manually moved by a user between a first position and a second position. Other equivalent mechanical structures such as, for example, a lever or any type of sliding or twisting grippable protrusion may be used in place of the sleeve  18 . The grippable sleeve  18  is discussed in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 6 . The elongated rod  19  (see  FIGS. 2 and 6 ) may be coupled to the grippable sleeve  18  and may extend within the hollow tube of the handle  16  toward the base portion  14 . 
     The base portion  14  may include a frame member  20  having, for example, a pair of downwardly extending legs  22   a ,  22   b . An inner housing or hollow member  21 , defined by an upper portion  24  and a lower portion  26 , may be moveably or slidably disposed between the legs  22   a ,  22   b . A bristle support member  28  having bristles  30  may be pivotably mounted on the legs  22   a ,  22   b  of the frame member  20  and/or on the lower portion  26  of the hollow member  21 . As one of ordinary skill will recognize, a user of the cleaning device  10  shown in  FIG. 1  may use the device to sweep a surface. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an enlarged partial front view of the base portion  14  of the cleaning device  10  in the “suction mode” according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the handle  16  may be rigidly coupled to the frame member  20  at C by a permanent connection (e.g., adhesive, welded, integral molding, etc.) or by a removeable connection (e.g., threaded, snap-fit, bayonet, fastener(s), set screw, etc.). The elongated rod  19  of the activation mechanism may extend freely through the handle  16  and the frame member  20  and may be coupled to the upper portion  24  of the hollow member  21 . The hollow member  21  may be slidably disposed between the downwardly extending legs  22   a ,  22   b  of the frame member  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the legs  22   a ,  22   b  of the frame member  20  may include one or more first engaging elements  23   a ,  25   a  which may be engaged by one or more second engaging elements  23   b ,  25   b  on the hollow member  21 . When cleaning device  10  is in the “suction mode” depicted in  FIG. 2 , hollow member  21  may be in a downwardly extended position and the bristle support member  28  with bristles  30  may be in a pivoted position (i.e., rearwardly into the page), thereby exposing a bottom surface  29  of the lower portion  26  of the hollow member  21 . A door or panel  32  for accessing an interior compartment of the lower portion  26  of the hollow member  21  can also be seen. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a partial perspective view of the base portion  14  of the cleaning device  10  in “suction mode” with hollow member  21  in an extended position and bristle support member  28  with bristles  30  pivoted away from and exposing the bottom surface  29  of the lower portion  26  of the hollow member  21 . A suction opening  34  may be defined in the bottom surface  29  of the lower portion  26  of the hollow member  21  and may allow debris disposed on a surface being cleaned to be removed from the surface and drawn into the interior of the hollow member lower portion  26  by a suction (vacuum) device (e.g., an electric motor) disposed, for example, in the hollow member upper portion  24  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The bottom surface  29  of the hollow member lower portion  26  may also include a wall member  36  which may be tapered to assist in guiding the debris disposed on the surface toward the suction opening  34 . The wall member  36  may be made of flexible or rigid material such as, for example, plastic, rubber, foam, or a number of small bristles, and may be separately manufactured and secured to the bottom surface  29  or integrally molded thereon. Also shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG.  3 , the bristle support member  28  may include a tapered recess  38  in a top surface thereof for receiving tapered projections  39  at the ends of the legs  22   a ,  22   b  when the cleaning device is returned to “sweeping mode.” This may provide support and stabilization during sweeping. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  depicts a partial front view of the cleaning device  10  in “sweeping mode” and “suction mode,” respectively. According to  FIG. 4 , the elongated member  19  of the activation mechanism may be connected to the hollow member upper portion  24 . The hollow member upper portion  24  may include a suction motor  40  and a switch  42  (e.g., a microswitch) for powering the motor  40  on and off. In the “sweeping mode” ( FIG. 4 ), the hollow member upper portion  24  may be disposed in a first position wherein the switch  42  is depressed against a bottom surface of the frame member  20  such that the motor  40  is off. In the “suction mode” ( FIG. 5 ), the hollow member upper portion  24  may be moved to a second position away from the frame member  20  such that the switch  42  is released and the motor  40  is turned on to create suction within the hollow member lower portion  26 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts a partial side view of a grippable sleeve  18  of an activation mechanism on a handle  16  of the cleaning device  10  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 , the grippable sleeve  18  may include an outer gripping portion and an inner annular portion slidably disposed about handle  16 . The sleeve  18  may include a connection member in the form of a post  50  which may extend transversely through a slot  52  in the handle  16  to define a bayonet-like connection and which may be coupled to an end of the elongated rod  19 . The slot  52  may be defined on each side of the handle  16  and may form, for example, a C-shape or a reverse C-shape. In operation, the sleeve  18  may be gripped by a user (not shown) and from a first position may be rotated in a first direction, moved longitudinally along the handle  16 , and then rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction to secure the sleeve  18  in a second position (see also  FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b ). 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict partial perspective views of the cleaning device  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the hollow member lower portion  26  of the base portion  14  may include a dust cup door  32  which may be hingedly or removeably coupled to the lower portion  26 . A slidable latch  54 , for example, may be utilized to secure the dust cup door  32  in place. When the latch  54  is moved upward, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the dust cup door  32  may be opened to provide access to the hollow interior  58  of the hollow member lower portion  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a filter device  56  may be removeably disposed at a top of the hollow interior  58  to prevent dust and debris drawn in through channel  59  from entering the suction motor  40  (not shown—see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  depicts a partial perspective view of the base portion  14  of cleaning device  10  in “sweeping mode” according to another embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the pivotable bristle support member  28  may include two portions, a pivoting support portion  28   a  and a detachable base member  28   b  having bristles  30 . In  FIG. 11 , the detachable base member  28   b  is shown detached from the pivoting support portion  28   a . The detachable base member  28   b  may include attachment members  60   a ,  60   b , which may be configured to allow a snap-fit connection with the pivoting support portion  28   a . Other mechanisms for detachably securing the detachable base member  28   b  to the pivoting support portion  28   a  may include, for example, fasteners, latches, detent mechanisms, tongue-in-groove connections, dovetail connections, and other equivalent as one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize. A number of detachable base members  28   b  may be provided for connection to the pivoting support portion  28   a , each having different bristle structures  30  for different sweeping jobs. Different base members  28   b  may have longer bristles, shorter bristles, bristles of differing stiffness and material, and/or differing numbers and types of bristles depending on the job to be undertaken. 
       FIG. 13  depicts a front view of a cleaning device  100  in a “sweeping mode” according to another embodiment of the invention. The handle portion  12  of cleaning device  100  is substantially similar to the handle portion  12  of the cleaning device  10  discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 1-12  and so will not be further discussed in detail. The handle  16  may be connected to a base portion  114 . The base portion  114  may include a frame member  120  having an outer housing  122 . An inner housing or hollow member  121  may include an upper portion  124  and a lower portion  126 . The upper portion  124  of the hollow member  121  may be coupled to the elongated rod  19  (see  FIG. 14 ) and the hollow member  121  may be moveably disposed within the outer housing  122  such that movement of the grippable sleeve  18  of the activation mechanism may cause relative movement between the hollow member  121  and the frame member  120 . A bristle support member  128  having bristles  130  may be pivotably coupled to one or both of the outer housing  122  and/or the hollow member  121  such that relative movement between the hollow member  121  and the outer housing  122  causes the bristle support member  128  to pivot between a first position in the “sweeping mode” and a second position in the “suction mode.” 
       FIG. 14  depicts a partial front view of the base portion  114  of the cleaning device  100  of  FIG. 13  in the “sweeping mode.” As shown in  FIG. 14 , the elongated rod  19  of the activation mechanism may extend through the hollow interior of the handle  16 , into the frame member  120 , and may be coupled at an end to the upper portion  124  of the hollow member  121 . An electrically powered (e.g., battery powered) suction motor  140  may be disposed within the upper portion  124  of the hollow member  121  and may be configured to be powered on and off based on relative movement between the hollow member  121  and the frame member  120  due to user operation of the activation mechanism. 
       FIG. 15  depicts a partial cross-sectional side view of the base portion  114  of the cleaning device  100  of  FIG. 13  during a transition between the “sweeping mode” and the “suction mode.” For example, in  FIG. 15  as a user operates the activation mechanism and moves the elongated rod  19  and hollow member  121  (including upper and lower portions  124 ,  126 ) from a first position (“sweeping mode”) to a second position (“suction mode”) in a direction F 1 , a mechanical arrangement may cause the bristle support member  128  to pivot away from a bottom of the hollow member  121  and outer housing  122  along direction F 2 . The mechanical arrangement may include, for example, but not limited to, a slot  170  in a side of the outer housing  122  which may slidably receive a pin  172  (see  FIGS. 16-17 ) coupling the hollow member lower portion  126  to the bristle support member  128 . A pin  174  may be disposed on the side of the outer housing  122  at a position offset from the slot  170 . The pin  174  may be slidably received in a slot  176  defined in a wall of the bristle support member  128  at a position offset from the pin  172 . 
       FIGS. 16 and 17  depicts partial cross-sectional side views of the base portion  114  of the cleaning device  100  of  FIGS. 13-15 , showing the transition between the “sweeping mode” and the “suction mode.” In operation, as the hollow member lower portion  126  is moved in direction F 1  by the activation mechanism (not shown), pin  172  on the hollow member lower portion  126  slides downward within the slot  170  of the outer housing  122 . At the same time, the slot  176  on the bristle support member  128  moves relative to the pin  174  until the pin  174  reaches an upper end of the slot  176 . Continued movement of the pin  172  in direction F 1  initiates rotation of the bristle support member about pin  172  in direction F 2 . During rotation of support member  128 , pin  174  slides within slot  176 . The suction motor  140  may be turned on when hollow member lower portion  126  is extended to its downwardmost position (e.g., when pin  172  reaches a lowermost end of slot  170 ) and support member  128  is pivoted to a rotational endpoint along direction F 2 . With suction motor  140  on, dust and other debris can be removed from the surface to be cleaned by suction through an opening  180  at the bottom of the outer housing  122  and hollow member lower portion  126 . The cleaning device  100  may be returned to the “sweeping mode” by moving the hollow member lower portion  126  in direction F 3  with the activation mechanism. Movement of the hollow member lower portion  126  in direction F 3  causes the bristle support member  128  to pivot back to its original position covering opening  180 . A bottom portion  139  of the outer housing  122  may be tapered and may be received in a tapered recess  138  defined in a top surface of the bristle support member  128 . 
       FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b  depict perspective views of the cleaning device of  FIG. 13  in the “sweeping mode” ( 100 ) and the “suction mode” ( 100 ′) respectively. Also depicted in  FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b  is an example movement of the grippable sleeve  18  of the activation mechanism to effect the transition from one mode to the other. In  FIG. 18   a , for example, the cleaning device  100  is shown in the “sweeping mode.” In “sweeping mode,” the sleeve  18  may be in a first position and the hollow member upper and lower portions  124 ,  126  may be in a retracted position relative to a bottom of the outer housing  122 . The motor  140  may be “off” and the bristle support member  128  may be substantially aligned with the longitudinal extension of the cleaning device  100  such that a user can utilize the device  100  to sweep a floor or surface in a conventional manner. Once sweeping is completed and/or suction (debris removal) is required, the user may operate the activation mechanism to transition to cleaning device  100 ′ in “suction mode” (see  FIG. 18   b ). 
     In order to transition the cleaning device  100  to “suction mode,” a user may grip the sleeve  18  and move the sleeve  18  in accordance with the sequential movements (A, B, C) shown in  FIG. 18   a . First, the sleeve  18  may be twisted in direction A from a first locked position. Second, the sleeve  18  may be moved longitudinally downward along handle  16  in direction B. Third, the sleeve  18  may be twisted in direction C (opposite direction A) to lock the sleeve  18  in a second position. When sleeve  18  is in the second position, the cleaning device  100 ′ may be in “suction mode.” When the cleaning device  100 ′ is in “suction mode” as shown, for example, in  FIG. 18   b , the hollow member upper and lower portions  124 ,  126  may be in an extended position relative to a bottom of the outer housing  122 . The motor  140  may be “on” and the bristle support member  128  may be pivoted away from the bottom of the outer housing  122  to an offset position such that a user can utilize the device  100 ′ to suck up or remove debris from a floor or surface. In order to transition the cleaning device  100 ′ from “suction mode” back to “sweeping mode,” a user may again grip the sleeve  18  and move the sleeve  18  in accordance with the sequential movements (A′, B′, C′) shown in  FIG. 18   b . First, the sleeve  18  may be twisted in direction A′ from the second locked position. Second, the sleeve  18  may be moved longitudinally upward along handle  16  in direction B′. Third, the sleeve  18  may be twisted in direction C′ (opposite direction A′) to lock the sleeve  18  in the first position. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the described embodiments, but should instead be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.