Floor-mounted disposable system with moveable dust loosening rib insert

A dust and debris disposal system has a floor-mounted housing adapted to be mounted over an opening formed in a floor for receiving debris particles swept thereto, and a set of dust loosening ribs fixed to an projecting forwardly from a posterior portion of the housing. The invention is improved wherein the dust loosening ribs are moveably mounted on the housing. In one embodiment, the dust loosening ribs and a decorative cover are pivotally attached to the housing by means of a hinge. In another embodiment a rib insert is supported by as ledge structure on the housing and may be snap fit relative to the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to floor-mounted, dust and debris disposal systems used in conjunction with a dust and debris gathering device such as a broom or mop. More particularly, the invention pertains to improvements in the internal structure of the disposal system which is engageable with the broom or mop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Applicant is the inventor of U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,749 issued Nov. 2, 1999 which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this patent, there is disclosed a dust and debris disposal system adapted to be mounted over an opening formed in a floor. A housing is anchored to a flat upper surface of the floor around the opening and includes a raised support shell having a plurality of dust loosening ribs extending forwardly and perpendicularly and fixed from a rear portion of the shell. With this construction, dust and debris gathered from the floor with the use of a broom or mop is swept to the front of the housing, and deposited into a dust and debris orifice formed between the front of the housing and the forward tips of the dust loosening ribs. Dust and debris entering the orifice will fall by gravity, typically to a receptacle, beneath the floor. Dust and debris attached to the broom or mop is dislodged therefrom for release into the orifice by engaging the broom or mop against the dust loosening ribs.

Applicant has discovered that the fixed nature of the dust loosening ribs creates some limitations in or drawbacks to the dust and debris disposal system. For example, it is desirable to make the dust loosening ribs movably mounted relative to the housing so as to allow for better maintenance and cleaning of the dust and debris disposal system. Further, it is desirable to make the dust loosening ribs movable so that in the event a person, particularly a child, lodges his/her fingers/hand in the orifice between the tips of the dust loosening ribs and the floor or front of the housing, the ribs will move upwardly to free the jammed fingers/hand without injury thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved floor-mounted dust and debris disposal system which results in a more sanitary and safer work site.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dust and debris disposal system having a set of dust loosening ribs swingably or removably mounted to a floor-mounted housing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dust and debris disposal system having a movable dust loosening rib insert with a decorative cover.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dust and debris disposal system having a housing formed with various mounting structure for allowing a movability of the dust loosening ribs.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a dust and debris disposal system which allows for repositioning of the dust loosening ribs so as to vary the size of the dust and debris orifice.

In one aspect of the invention a dust and debris disposal system has a floor-mounted housing adapted to be mounted over an opening formed in a floor for receiving debris particles swept thereto, and a set of dust loosening ribs fixed to and projecting forwardly from a posterior portion of the housing. The invention is improved wherein the dust loosening ribs are moveably mounted on the housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the dust loosening ribs are pivotably attached to the housing. The housing includes a pair of lateral portions connected to the posterior portion. The dust loosening ribs are attached to a front surface of a dust loosening rib block. The dust loosening rib block has a cover attached thereto which rests on a top surface of the housing, and is pivotally attached to the posterior portion of the housing. The dust loosening ribs are variably spaced from a floor front wall partially defining the opening so as to enable variably sized debris particles swept to the housing to fall through the opening. In another embodiment, the lateral portions and the posterior portion are provided with ledges for supporting the dust loosening ribs. The dust loosening ribs are snap fit on lateral walls of the housing.

In another aspect of the invention, a dust and debris disposal system is adapted to be mounted around an opening formed in a support surface, such as a floor, and used in conjunction with a dust and debris gathering device such as a broom or mop. The disposal system includes a housing having a support shell attached to the floor and formed from a posterior portion connected to a pair of lateral portions, the support surface being open along a front area so that debris particles swept to the housing fall through the opening in the floor. A cover is hingedly attached to the posterior portion of the housing. A dust loosening rib block is attached to a bottom surface of the cover. A dust loosening rib insert having a series of dust loosening ribs is secured to a front edge of the block. At least one chain extends between one of the lateral portions and the bottom surface of the cover.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a dust and debris disposal system is adapted to be mounted in an opening formed in a support surface such as a floor, and used in conjunction with a dust and debris gathering device such as a broom or mop. The disposal system includes a housing having a support shell attached to the floor and formed with a posterior portion, a pair of lateral portions, and a ramped front wall. All the portions extend downwardly along the surfaces forming the opening in the floor. The lateral portions and the posterior portion are provided with support ledges. A dust loosening rib insert includes a series of parallel, spaced apart, dust loosening ribs alternating in length, each rib having a curved buttress attached thereto. The rib insert is movably supported by means of the buttresses engaging the support ledges on the lateral and posterior portions. The dust loosening rib insert may be snap fit on the housing.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a floor-mounted, disposal system which improves the system described in the current inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,749.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 through 4, there shown is a duct and debris disposal system10mounted over an opening12in a floor14for receiving debris particles swept thereto by a mop or broom. The floor14is represented as a two-layer wooden combination having a main floor16and a sub floor18, although the structure is not limiting to the invention. The disposal system10is typically comprised of a generally U-shaped housing20having a support shell22attached to the floor14around the opening12. The support shell22includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart lateral portions24,26orthoganally interconnected by a posterior portion28. The support shell22is open along a front area thereof so that debris particles swept to the housing20fall over a front wall30of the opening12in the floor14typically to a receptacle (not shown) beneath the floor14. Frontal areas32of the lateral portions24,26may be angled so as to guide debris particles to the opening12more expeditiously.

A generally rectangular, decorative cover34is swingably mounted to the posterior portion28by a pair of conventional hinge36, mechanisms each having one leaf38which is attached by fasteners40to the top surface of the posterior portion28, and another leaf42which is joined by fasteners40to an underside of the cover34. A chain48has one end50which is anchored to one side of the underside of the cover34, and an opposite end52secured to an internal wall53of the lateral portion24. The cover34has lateral and posterior segments54,56which overlap the top surfaces of the lateral and posterior portions24,26,28, respectively, so that the cover34may assume a closed, overlapping and generally horizontal position shown inFIG. 1. The cover34is moveable to an open, generally vertical position shown inFIG. 2as restricted by the chain48.

A dust loosening rib block or insert58is fixed, such as by adhesive, to the underside of the cover34. The rib block58has a length which is shorter than the distance between the internal walls53or the lateral portions24,26so that it may fit therebetween when the cover34is closed upon the housing20. A set of dust loosening ribs60are, in turn, connected as such as by adhesive to a front surface of the rib block58. The dust loosening ribs60are formed as spaced grooves in a semi-circular block64and function to separate any dust and debris from a mop or broom moved laterally there along. The semi-circular block64has a length generally equal to the length of the rib block58so that when the cover34is closed (FIG. 1), the dust loosening ribs60fit between the internal walls53of the lateral portions24,26, and lies spaced from the front wall30of the floor opening12. Together, the front tips of the dust loosening ribs60and the front wall30of the floor opening12define a dust and debris orifice into which dust and debris particles are swept. By changing the size of the rib block58or the dust loosening ribs60, the size of the orifice can be altered to accommodate different sized of debris particles.

In the preferred embodiment, the housing20, cover34, rib block58and dust loosening rib60are all fabricated from wood, but it should be understood that the components of the dust and debris disposal system10could well be fabricated of plastic, metal, or any other material.

In use, dust and debris are retrieved from the work site and swept by broom or mop into the orifice and the receptacle beneath the floor14. Further dislodging of dust and debris is achieved by maneuvering the broom or mop along the dust loosening ribs60.

With the structure set forth above, the integral cover34, rib block58and dust loosening ribs60can be swung upwards to allow inspection, cleaning and other maintenance of the internal walls53and the top portions of the lateral and posterior portions24,26,28, respectively, of the housing20. In addition, should a person, especially a child, place his/her finger/hand in the orifice between the tips of the dust loosening ribs60and the front wall30of the floor14, the ribs60will move upwardly to quickly free the jammed finger/hand without injury thereto.

FIGS. 5 through 8illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention which is preferably constructed of plastic. In this version, the housing has a front portion66, a posterior portion68and a pair of lateral portions70,72joined together. Each of the portions66–72depend downwardly into the floor opening to form a neck which guides dust and debris downwardly. The front portion66includes a ramp area74over which duct and debris particles are swept into the opening12. A set of spaced apart dust loosening ribs76is provided on an insert. Each of the ribs76alternates in length and is supported by a curved buttress78formed from a pair of parallel surfaces80having a quarter circle shape.

As seen inFIG. 6, the internal walls82of the lateral and posterior portions68,70,72, respectively, are formed with support ledges84which are engageable with the outermost rib buttresses86and each rear portion of the rear buttresses78. In addition, each outermost buttress86is provided with a nib88which snap fits into an opening90formed in the internal walls82of the lateral portion70,72(FIGS. 6 and 7). If desired, the snap fit feature can be eliminated to form a free floating rib insert76shown inFIG. 8as a second embodiment, wherein the rib insert76is simply supported by means of engagement between the buttresses78and ledges84.

In either design, the rib insert76is moveable away from the housing20for maintenance or to prevent injury from a jammed hand/finger. The snap fit design is intended to enable the rib insert76to separate from the housing20with a small amount of force. A non-snap fit or free floating design allows the rib insert76to more easily be elevated away from the housing20.

It should be understood that the invention contemplates other structures wherein a set of dust loosening ribs60or76is moveably supported on a housing28. For example, the rib insert76ofFIGS. 5 through 8could be attached by a living hinge or other hinge design to the top surface of the posterior portion68. Additionally, other ledges or support structures may be formed on the housing20to cooperate with structure provided on the rib insert60or76.