Surface-Cleaning Apparatus with Height Adjustable Base

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning debris is presented. The apparatus includes a housing having a battery, a DC motor and a switch. A belt attaches to the floor brush and DC motor for rotating the floor brush. Front wheels are positioned forward of the floor brush. A height adjustable rear wheel is positioned centrally at a rear of the apparatus. The rear wheel has a first height for operating the apparatus on a hard surface such that the debris is brushed from the surface and friction between the floor brush and the surface is minimized and a second height for operating the apparatus on a soft surface such that the debris is brushed from the surface and friction between the floor brush, the housing and the surface is minimized thus reducing electricity consumption and providing a smooth movement of the apparatus over the surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present Utility patent application claims priority benefit of the U.S. provisional application for patent Ser. No. 60 / 862,761 filed on Oct. 24, 2006 under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The contents of this related provisional application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to surface cleaning apparatuses. More particularly, the invention relates to a surface cleaning apparatus, for example, without limitation, for a floor or upholstery, incorporating an elongate rotating brush arrangement and an electric motor or mechanical system for rotating the brush.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses with rotating brushes and electric motors or mechanical systems for rotating the brush do not enable efficient usage on different surfaces. Types of applicable surfaces are hard surfaces and soft surfaces. For example, without limitation, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]In one embodiment, a surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning debris from the surface is presented. The apparatus includes a housing including an upper body having a battery, a DC motor for operating a part of the apparatus, and a switch for connecting the battery to the DC motor. A forward compartment includes a floor brush, a belt attachable to the floor brush and DC motor for rotating the floor brush when the DC motor is activated and front wheels positioned forward of the floor brush for rolling on the surface. A lower body includes a dust tray for collecting the debris brushed by the floor brush and a height adjustable rear wheel positioned centrally at a rear of the lower body. The rear wheel includes a first height for operating the apparatus on a hard surface where the lower body and the floor bush are at a first distance from the surface such that the debris is brushed from the surface and friction between the floor brush and the surface is minimized thus reducing scratching of the surface and electricity consumption of the apparatus. The rear wheel includes a second height for operating the apparatus on a soft surface where the lower body and the floor bush are at a second distance from the surface such that the debris is brushed from the surface and friction between the floor brush, the housing and the surface is minimized thus reducing electricity consumption of the apparatus and avoiding the surface from blocking movement of the apparatus over the surface to provide smooth movement of the apparatus over the surface. A lower handle is included for moving the apparatus over the surface. In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a wheel holder for holding the rear wheel. The wheel holder includes a post with a spring disposed thereon. The spring provides a suspension function for flexible movement at different positions. In a further embodiment, the apparatus further includes a wheel adjust button for alternatively selecting the first and second heights. In yet other embodiments, the rear wheel further includes a plurality of heights between the first and second height and a turn wheel selects a one of the plurality of heights for optimizing debris removal, minimizing electricity consumption and providing smooth movement of the apparatus over the surface. In still another embodiment, the apparatus further includes an extension attachable to the lower handle and an upper handle attachable to the extension for moving the apparatus over the surface by the upper handle. Other embodiments further include means for charging the battery, a light positioned forward of the forward compartment and operable by the switch to illuminate an area of the surface in front of the apparatus and a release button for releasing the dust pan from the lower bottom for emptying debris from the dust pan.

[0020]In another embodiment, a surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning debris from the surface is presented. The apparatus includes means for housing the apparatus, mean for operating a part of the apparatus for cleaning debris, means for brushing the debris from the surface, means for collecting the brushed debris, means for adjusting the height of a rear wheel, where, at a first height for operating the apparatus the housing means and the brushing means are at a first distance from the surface such that the debris is brushed from the surface and friction between the brushing means and the surface is minimized thus reducing scratching of the surface and electricity consumption of the apparatus and, where, at a second height for operating the apparatus, the housing means and the brushing means are at a second distance from the surface such that the debris is brushed from the surface and friction between the brushing means, the housing means and the surface is minimized thus reducing electricity consumption of the apparatus and avoiding the surface from blocking movement of the apparatus over the surface to provide smooth movement of the apparatus over the surface and means for moving the apparatus over the surface. In another embodiment the apparatus further includes means for a suspension function for flexible movement at different positions. In yet another embodiment the apparatus further includes means for providing a plurality heights between the first and second height for optimizing debris removal, minimizing electricity consumption and providing smooth movement of the apparatus over the surface.

[0021]In another embodiment, an apparatus for adjusting the height of a surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning debris from the surface is presented. The apparatus includes a wheel assembly including a wheel and an axle, the wheel configured for rolling on a hard surface and a soft surface. A wheel holder retains the wheel assembly such that the wheel and axle may freely rotate about an axis of the axle. An adjustment platform contains at least a portion of the wheel holder such that the wheel holder may move vertically with respect to the adjustment platform. The adjustment platform is configured to be positioned centrally at a rear portion of the surface cleaning apparatus where the wheel extends below a bottom of the surface cleaning apparatus and means for adjusting the vertical position of the wheel holder relative to the adjustment platform such that the height of the surface cleaning apparatus relative to the surface may be adjusted for the hard and soft surfaces, whereby the surface cleaning apparatus may be optimized for debris removal and smooth movement of the surface cleaning apparatus over the surface. A further embodiment includes means for a suspension function for flexible movement at different positions. In other embodiments the adjusting means includes a first height for operating the surface cleaning apparatus on the hard surface and a second height for operating the surface cleaning apparatus on the soft surface, the adjusting means further includes teeth and grooves means for providing the first and second heights and a wheel adjust button for alternatively selecting the first and second heights. In still further embodiments the adjusting means includes a plurality heights for optimizing debris removal and providing smooth movement of the apparatus over the surface, the adjusting means further includes a screw means for providing the plurality of heights and the apparatus further includes a turn wheel for selecting a one of the plurality of heights.

Problems solved by technology

Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses with rotating brushes and electric motors or mechanical systems for rotating the brush do not enable efficient usage on different surfaces.

If the bristle ends are too close to the surface to be cleaned, the bristles may harshly scratch the surface, and the electricity consumption of the apparatus will significantly increase.

Also, the distance between a blocking bar and the surface to be cleaned affects the cleaning effectiveness and the smooth operation of the apparatus.

However, if the blocking bar is too close to the surface to be cleaned, the friction between the blocking bar and the surface may make it difficult to move the cleaning apparatus across the surface.

Sometimes, rubbish is left behind due to a jumping action of the cleaning apparatus caused by too much fiction.

Existing surface cleaning apparatuses often sacrifice smooth operation for cleaning effectiveness or vice versa in these situations.

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