Patent Publication Number: US-6983511-B2

Title: Multipurpose tool for cleaning machines

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a multipurpose tool for cleaning machines. 
   The tool is particularly suitable for carpet sweepers with one or two motors. 
   Tools suitable only for removing dust are known which are constituted by a box-like body that can move on wheels and in which the front advancement part lies transversely to the main direction of motion so as to form a housing that rotatably accommodates a bristled brushing roller that is moved at high speed (on the order of 2,000 to 5,000 rpm), by virtue of transmission means, by an electric motor accommodated within the box-like body. 
   Such body is articulated to a coupling element that is suitable to provide the detachable connection to the cleaning machine by means of a duct for aspirating the dirt removed by the roller. 
   Such tools are suitable only for use on carpets or fitted carpeting, since otherwise the high rotation rate of the brush, required to remove the dirt from the pile, on hard floors would spread the dirt more, producing the opposite of the intended effect. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The aim of the present invention is to provide a tool that by way of simple and rapid operations can be converted from a tool for removing dust and dirt from fitted carpeting and/or carpets or the like into a tool for removing dust and dirt from smooth floors. 
   Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a tool that is easy to use even for non-specialized users. 
   Another important object is to reduce the number of accessories for cleaning machines. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can be manufactured with known technologies. 
   This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a multipurpose tool for cleaning machines, which comprises a box-like body that is interchangeably associable with a cleaning machine provided with an electric motor, said box-like body being movable on wheels, a front advancement part thereof being arranged transversely to a main direction of motion so as to form a housing that is open downward and accommodates a bristled roller that is moved, by virtue of transmission means, by an electric motor accommodated within the body, said body being articulated to a coupling element that is suitable to provide a detachable connection to the machine with a dirt suction duct, said tool being characterized in that it comprises a cover that is detachably associable below said housing at an open region where said roller is located, said cover having at least one suction slot and means for closing the region to the rear of said roller between the housing and the floor. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tool according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the tool of  FIG. 1  in a first configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially sectional side view of the tool in the configuration of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are sectional bottom views of a cover used in the first configuration; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the tool of  FIG. 1  in a second configuration; 
       FIG. 7  is a partially sectional side view of the tool in the configuration of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are sectional bottom views of a cover used in the second configuration. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1  to  5 , a tool according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
   The tool  10  is interchangeably associable with a cleaning machine, for example a vacuum cleaner, not shown, which is adequately provided with an electric motor. 
   Moreover, the tool  10  comprises a box-like body  11 , which in this case is made of plastics, that can move on four wheels  12  arranged in pairs; the front advancement part of the body lies transversely to a main direction of motion so as to form a housing  13  that is open in a downward region, is wider than the remainder of the box-like body  11 , and rotatably accommodates a bristled roller  14 . 
   The roller  14  is moved, by virtue of belt drive means, by an electric motor, not shown in the figures, that is accommodated within the box-like body  11 . 
   The box-like body  11  is articulated to a coupling element  15 , which is suitable to provide the detachable connection to the cleaning machine and incorporates means for electrical connection to the electrical mains for the electric motor, said means being constituted in this case by a plug, not shown in the figures. 
   The coupling element  15  has, in this case, a tubular cavity  17 , which leads into the region of the roller  14  and is suitable to be associated with the tubular stem of the machine that constitutes a suction duct. 
   The roller  14 , in this embodiment, comprises bristles  19 , which are arranged according to a geometry that converges at the center. 
   According to the invention, the tool  10  comprises a cover  20 , which is detachably associable below the housing  13  at the open region  21  where the roller  14  is located. 
   The cover  20  has, in this case, a comb-like front shape (with arrow-shaped teeth  28 ), which forms a set of suction slots  22 , and a covering felt  23 , which constitutes a means for closing the region to the rear of the roller  14  between the housing  13  and the floor  24 . 
   The felt  23 , which follows the profile of the cover  20 , also constitutes an element for resting on the floor  24  that is particularly suitable for delicate floors, such as wood floors, and allows to polish while vacuuming. 
   In this case, the cover  20  has three slotted holes  25  for fixing it to the housing  13 ; the slotted holes lie transversely to a main direction of motion, and respective T-shaped elements  26  can be inserted therein and are rigidly coupled to the housing  13  in corresponding regions and can rotate about their own axis of symmetry between a position in which the head can pass through the respective hole  25  and a position in which said head straddles said hole. 
   The holes  25  are formed in recessed regions  27  of the housing  13 . 
   With reference now to  FIGS. 6  to  9 , the tool  10  also comprises a cover  120 , which is detachably associable below the housing  13  at the open region  21  in which the roller  14  is located, so that the tool  10  may be selectively configured in a second configuration. 
   The cover  120  has, in this case, a single suction slot  122  (which lies transversely to the main direction of motion), and a lip  123  made of rubber or equivalent elastomeric material, which constitutes a means for closing the region to the rear of the roller  14  between the housing  13  and the floor  24 . 
   The lip  123  rests on the floor  24  and flexes, and is particularly suitable for hard floors such as ceramics, terracotta, marble, et cetera. 
   In order to fix it to the housing  13 , the cover  120  also is provided with three slotted holes  125 , which lie transversely to the main direction of motion and in which said T-shaped elements  26 , rigidly coupled to said housing  13 , can be inserted. 
   In practice it has been observed that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects. 
   It is in fact noted that the tool according to the invention can be easily associated with a cleaning machine (for example a vacuum cleaner), which is only required to have an electric motor, and can be converted by means of simple and quick operations from a tool for removing dust and dirt from fitted carpeting and/or carpets or the like into a tool for removing dust and dirt from smooth floors. 
   In this manner, the user can purchase a cleaning machine that allows him to perform several operations, with a considerable saving in terms of purchase and maintenance costs and great advantages in terms of storage space saving. 
   The tool according to the invention combines the above features with high effectiveness in operation and great adaptability to various requirements of application in view of its structural flexibility and its adjustments. 
   The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. 
   All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 
   In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements. 
   The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2001A000125 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.