IMPROVEMENTS IN CARPET SWEEPERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, BYRON HENRY EVERS of 79 Mark Lane, London in the County of Middlesex,
Merchant do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARPET SWEEPERS a communication to me from abroad by William H. Castle,
Mechanician of the State of Ohio United States of America to be as follows :—
The invention refers to a carpet sweeper, mounted upon four wheels, journalled to
the outter surface of a plate, which are pivoted eccentrically to end castings of the
sweeper, and provided with a spring that normally holds its attatched wheel in
contact with friction. bands, upon ends of brush roll, said plates adapted to receive
positive movement towards each other, when downward pressure is applied to the
sweeper.
The brush-roll being kept in place by means of a bracket, with a screw shank,
having bearings for axle of brush roll, which can be lowered or raised by means of
a nut, regulating brush roll.
The dust pans having thin edges at right angles to each other, the lower end,
being pivoted to end castings, and kept in position by means of a spring, fastened to
top end of dust-pans, by dropping into a notch in end castings.
The handle shank has on each side of lower end a projecting spur, journalled into
plates, attatched each side of slot, on the lower surface of sweeper case, said shank,
having also at lower end, a lip, and off set, in connection with a spring; so as to
allow the handle being securely held in any position, said handle shank, passing
through the above slot, in the inclined portion of sweeper body.
Metal end castings having interior flanges, off sets, open bottom, and slots, in
combination with screw shank, brush roll, dust pans, and sweeper body.

page_text: I, BYRON HENRY EVERS, of 79 Mark Lane in the City of London, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARPET-
SWEEPERS" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Fig 1, represents an end view of my invention, showing while in use position of
handle partly broken away. Fig 2, represents a transverse section through the
Sweeper, showing means for holding handle perpendicular while not in use, also
.showing position of dust-pans pivoted to the end castings, and the means for
holding said pans locked when in place. Fig 3 represents a perspective view of one
of the end or wheel castings with plates attached to which supporting wheels are
journaled, also showing spring for keeping said wheels continuously pressed against
the friction-roll. Fig 4, represents a transverse view of a portion of lower end of
handle. Fig 5, represents a longitudinal view of lower end of handle with socket
and part of wood handle attached. Fig 6, represents a longitudinal section taken
through one end, on the line X X, Fig 1, showing means for adjusting the brush-
roll. Fig 7, represents a perspective view of one of the plates for holding handle in
place. Fig 8, represents a perspective view of one of the brackets for holding and
adjusting the brush-roll detached from the machine. Fig 9, represents a bottom
plan view of a Carpet-sweeper embodying my improvements, the majority of the
brushes and one of the dust-pans having been removed.
In the drawings, A represents the sweeper, having the usual form of cover, i. e;
flat central portion a and sloping or inclined portions a' one of said incline portions
having a slot, a³ through which passes the shank b of the handle B.
The handle B is of wood (preferably) as is usual, and is provided at its lower end
with a shank b screw-threaded at its upper end, and having its lower end provided
with laterally-projecting lugs b', circular in cross-section, and terminating at their
outer ends in points 6 (see Fig 5) the lugs b¹, rest in depressions c', formed in
plates C secured to the lower surface of the inclined top portion, a¹, that contains
the slot a³, at each side of said slot. B' represents a rib or flange projecting
downwardly from the lower end of shank b, against which (when the handle is in
position) bears a spring C², attached to the under surface of the casing below the
slot a³, as will be readily seen from the drawings, the above spring being adapted
to, in conjunction with the rib B' on shank, keep the handle in any desired position.
It will be observed that the rib or flange B' upon the lower end of the handle-
shank b, is, at all times, engaged by the spring C³, thereby being adapted to be held
in any desired position, as above described. D represents one end of the casing,
consisting of a metal casting (the other end being of similar construction) having
its upper inner edge provided with a flange d, for its attachment to the cover, and
provided at its middle with a cut-away portion or slot D¹, for the passage of the
brush-roll E as shown. The end castings D are further provided, upon their outer
surfaces, near the top thereof, with offsets d¹ having the form of a rectangular loop
or strap, and having a slot d' formed therein as shown, to receive the screw-shank f
(see Fig 8) of a plate F that holds the brush-roll E, in proper position. The screw-
shank of the bracket F, (Fig 8) passes through the slots di in the offsets d', and
when it is desired to raise or lower said bracket F, for the purpose of adjusting the
brush-roll, it is only necessary to loosen the thumb-nut as would be readily
understood. The offsets or loops d' are cast with and form part of the end
castings D by which construction greater strength is insured to the said loops, and

page_text: the end castings themselves present a neater appearance. The bracket F is angular
with a screw-threaded shank, riveted at fa and bends downwardly at f' as shown;
and upon the inner surface of the parts is cast a flange f the inner edges ƒ of
which furnish guides and counter-sunk stop for the vertical movement of the
brush-roll. Each end of the brush-roll is provided with outwardly-projecting pins
that enter and move between the flange and operate in connection with said
flanges, to guide the brush-roll vertically. The ends of the brush-roll are provided
with slightly enlarged portions E' circular in form, and preferably surrounded with
a strip of raw-hide, leather or Rubber e¹ that rests upon and is supported by the
peripheries of the supporting-wheels G as shown in Figs 1 and 9 the wheels G are
journaled upon studs g projecting from the lower ends of plates H which are pivoted
at h to the end D, said plates upon their inner sides are provided each with a
spur h¹. The spring I having one of its ends i secured to the inner side of the
castings D and its other end allowed to press against the spur h' of plates H.
Upon the inner side of castings D near the top are spurs N against which the
spring I always bears. By this construction it will be readily understood that the
wheels G will be at all times kept against the surface of the brush-roll E¹ and it
will be also readily understood that the brush-roll may be easily and quickly
withdrawn from the sweeper, the spring I yielding to such withdrawal.
L represents the dust-pans which are pivoted to the ends D at points 1. M
represents springs attached at m to the dust-pans L, inclosing said pans the spring
drops into notches K sides of castings D it will be readily understood that the
pressure of the spring M will cause it at all times to be in notch K (except when
open) and that they will readily yield to outward pressure being applied to said
spring. The pans are turned, as shown in dotted lines Fig 2, for the purpose of
discharging their contents-It will be seen that when force or downward pressure
applied to the sweeper it will cause the lower ends of plates H to move toward
each other, and thereby produce great friction between the surface of the wheels,
and the drive-roll upon the ends of the brush-roll, whereby the latter will be
rotated. When said brush-roll is to be removed it is only necessary to grasp and
draw it outward, the spring I yielding to admit of such action.
Each end of sweeper is made alike,. i. e; provided with two wheels, G and their
described attachments, the ends are made of iron, in order to make the parts
compact and extend the brush as near the casing as possible. It will be observed
that the wheels, hangers, set-screws, and bearings are all within the overhanging
ends of the casing, whereby the sweeper can run close to the wall or furniture
without scratching or injuring the same. Both bearings of the brush-roller being
placed exteriorly to the end plates, D, the winding of threads &c, &c; thereon is
avoided. When the handle is lowered to the position indicated in Fig 1, the
casing serves as a fulcrum therefor, and enables the operator to conveniently lift
the sweeper over obstacles instead of rolling it. I attach especial importance to
the feature of my invention which comprises means for keeping the bearing-rolls
pressed continuously against the brush-roll to support the same, and also permit of
its ready removal, as described, and I would have it understood that I do not limit
myself to the particular construction of the plates H, and springs I, since it is
obvious that these parts can be modified in various ways without departing from
the principal of my invention. Having now particularly described and ascertained
the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed
I declare that what I claim is :-
1st In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the brush-roll, the brackets
having counter-sunk bearings therefor, the plates eccentrically pivoted to the end
castings, and each carrying a drive-wheel, the four drive-wheels wholly supporting
the brush-roll, and means substantially as described, for continuously pressing said
wheels against the brush-roll, as, and for the purposes set forth.
2nd In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the brush-roll, the brackets
having guiding slots for the bearings thereof, the plates eccentrically pivoted to

page_text: the end castings and each carrying a journal-stud at its lower end, the four drive-
wheels mounted upon said studs and wholly supporting the brush-roll, and means
substantially as described, for continuously pressing said wheels against the brush-
roll, as, and for the purposes set forth.
3rd In a carpet-sweeper mounted upon four wheels, each of said wheels being
journaled to the outer surface of a plate, and each of said plates being pivoted
eccentrically to the end castings within the overhanging ends of the sweeper top,
and provided with a spring that normally holds its attached wheel in contact with
friction-bands upon the ends of the brush-roll, the said plates adapted to receive
positive movement toward each other when downward pressure is applied to the
sweeper, all combined substantially as herein described.
4th In a carpet-sweeper, having four wheels, the plates H, constructed sub-
stantially as herein described, having the spur portion h¹ and pivoted eccentrically
to the end castings of the sweeper within the overhanging ends of the top thereof,
in combination with the wheels journaled upon studs projecting outwardly from
the lower ends of said plates, whereby the periphery of each of said wheels is made
to bear against and support the brush-roll at each end thereof, and when downward
pressure is applied to the sweeper, said plates and wheels will receive positive
movement toward each other, as, and for the purpose set forth.
5th In a Carpet-sweeper, the metal end-castings D, constructed substantially as
berein described, having the interior flanges d, offsets d', having open bottom, and
slots d², in combination with the bracket F, brush-roll E, wheels G and sweeper-
body A as and for the purpose set forth.
6th In a carpet-sweeper, the brackets F constructed substantially as described,
having the shank f, provided with a thumb-nut f¹, outwardly-bent portions f³, and
downwardly bent portion 4, provided with flange f³, in combination with the
offsets d¹ projecting from and made integral with the end-castings D and thumb-
out f¹, whereby the bracket F, is rendered adjustable up or down in said offsets,
substantially as herein described.
7th In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of the dust-pans pivoted to end
castings at having their edges at right-angles to each other with springs M the
free ends of which drop into notches K, substantially as shown and described.
8th In a carpet-sweeper, the handle-shank b constructed as described, and having
its lower end provided with a rib B¹ said shank being provided upon its sides with
latterally-projecting spurs 6 journaled in plates C secured to the lower surface of
the inclined portions a¹ of the top at each side of the slot a³, in combination with
the spring C whereby said spring is held at all times in connection with the rib B'
of the shank, and the handle securely held in any desired position substantially as
herein described, and for the purposes set forth.
Dated DOLL J. Desemba 1004