US20060090284A1

US20060090284A1 - Steam-type electric broom

Info

Publication number: US20060090284A1
Application number: US10/979,152
Authority: US
Inventors: Chung-Ming Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-03
Filing date: 2004-11-03
Publication date: 2006-05-04

Abstract

A steam-type electric broom mainly includes upper and lower hoods, a brooming mechanism, a suction mechanism, a steam supply mechanism, and a wiping mechanism. The brooming, suction, steam supply, and wiping mechanisms are electrically connected to a power supply having an operating section, so as to be driven by the power supply via the operating section to clean dirt and dust.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a steam-type electric broom, and more particularly to an electric broom including brooming, suction, steam supply, and wiping mechanisms for thoroughly cleaning different dirt and dust at the same time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most of the currently available steam-type cleaning apparatus are provided only with the function of supplying steam during cleaning. However, there are times the steam does not effectively clean some types of dirt and dust, and other type of cleaning device, such as an electric broom, is relied upon to remove such dirt and dust. In this case, the steam supply and the brooming must be separately and sequentially performed to inevitably extend the entire time needed to complete the cleaning work.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a multi-functional cleaning apparatus to shorten the time needed to complete different cleaning works.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a steam-type electric broom that provides the function of brooming.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a steam-type electric broom that provides the function of vacuum cleaning.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a steam-type electric broom that provides the function of spraying steam.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a steam-type electric broom that provides the function of wiping.
To achieve the above and other objects, the steam-type electric broom of the present invention mainly includes an upper hood, a lower hood, and a brooming mechanism, a suction mechanism, a steam supply mechanism, and a wiping mechanism located between the upper and the lower hoods.
The brooming, suction, steam supply, and wiping mechanisms are electrically connected to a power supply having an operating section, so as to be driven by the power supply via the operating section to effectively clean dirt and dust.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 is an exploded top perspective view showing an operating section included in a steam-type electric broom according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded top perspective view showing a reservoir included in the steam-type electric broom of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an assembled top perspective view showing the operating section and the reservoir included in the steam-type electric broom of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded top perspective view showing a brooming mechanism included in the steam-type electric broom of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the brooming mechanism of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an assembled, isometric, rear top perspective view showing an internal structure of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an assembled, isometric, front top perspective view showing the internal structure of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is an exploded bottom perspective view showing a suction mechanism included in the steam-type electric broom of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded bottom perspective view showing a steam supply mechanism included in the steam-type electric broom of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an exploded bottom perspective view showing a first embodiment of a wiping mechanism included in the steam-type electric broom of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is an assembled, isometric, front bottom perspective view of the steam-type electric broom of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is an exploded bottom perspective view showing a second embodiment of the wiping mechanism included in the steam-type electric broom of the present invention; and
FIG. 13 is an assembled view of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 10 in which a steam-type electric broom according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. As shown, the steam-type electric broom of the present invention mainly includes a brooming mechanism 11 (see FIG. 4), a suction mechanism 12 (see FIG. 8), a steam supply mechanism 13 (see FIG. 9), and a wiping mechanism 14 (see FIG. 10), all of which are electrically connected to a power supply 15 (see FIG. 1). The power supply 15 includes an operating section 151 consisting of a first switch 151 a, a second switch 151 b, and circuit boards 151 c separately connected to the two switches 151 a, 151 b, and is electrically connected to a first driving unit 152 (see FIG. 6). Through operation of the operating section 151, the power supply 15 is actuated to drive the brooming mechanism 11, the suction mechanism 12, the steam supply mechanism 13, and the wiping mechanism 14 to clean dirt and dust.
As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, all the brooming mechanism 11, the suction mechanism 12, the steam supply mechanism 13, and the wiping mechanism 14 are mounted between an upper hood 16 and a lower hood 17. The upper hood 16 is provided at predetermined positions with a handle connection hole 161 and a water inlet 162. A cap 161 a having a through hole 161 b is located at an inner side of the handle connection hole 161, and a sealing element 161 c and an elastic disc 161 d are sequentially connected to a top of the cap 161 a for a pivotal element 161 f provided at a lower end of a handle 161 e of the electric broom to connect thereto. The pivotal element 161 f is formed from an upper and a lower case 161 i, 161 j, and a joining ring 161 k. The upper and the lower case 161 i, 161 j respectively include an engaging head 161 g, 161 m located between the handle connection hole 161 on the upper hood 16 and the elastic disc 161 d below the handle connection hole 161 to pivotally connect the handle 161 e to the upper hood 16. A handle grip 161 h is provided at an upper end of the handle 161 e.
Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3. A cap 162 a and a cover plate 162 d are connected to an upper and a lower side, respectively, of the water inlet 162. The cover plate 162 d below the water inlet 162 is closed to a top of a reservoir 162 g on the lower hood 17 via a gasket 162 e. The reservoir 162 g is internally provided with a separator 162 f and heating elements 162 h having front ends separately received in receiving holes 162 i provided at one side of the reservoir 162 g.
Please refer to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 in which the brooming mechanism 11 included in the present invention is shown. As shown, the brooming mechanism 11 includes a front cover 163 connected to a front side of the upper hood 16, a first and a second pivoting support 171 a, 171 b provided on two lateral sides of the lower hood 17, a shaft 171 c rotatably supported on the first and the second pivoting support 171 a, 171 b, a length of spiral brush 171 k provided along the shaft 171 c, and a transmission shaft 171 d located between the shaft 171 c and the first pivoting support 171 a to connect to and be rotated by a transmission belt 152 a, which is connected at another end to the first driving unit 152 (see FIG. 6).
FIGS. 7, 8, and 11 shows the suction mechanism 12 included in the present invention. As shown, the suction mechanism 12 includes an open-bottomed recess 171 p formed on the lower hood 17 (see FIG. 8), a cap 171 m and a blade fan 171 n mounted in the recess 171 p, a second driving unit 171 i located above the recess 171 p to connect at a lower end to the blade fan 171 n, a suction inlet 171 z provided at one side of the recess 171 p, and an elastic baffle 171 y normally shielding the suction inlet 171 z. When the blade fan 171 n is operated to produce a suction flow, the elastic baffle 171 y is instantaneously sucked inward by the produced suction flow to open the suction inlet 171 z, allowing external dirt and dust to be sucked via the suction inlet 171 z into a dust collecting space 171 o inside the lower hood 17 (see FIG. 7). And, when the blade fan 171 n stops operating, the elastic baffle 171 y returns to its home position under an elastic restoring force thereof, and thereby completely shields the suction inlet 171 z again.
FIGS. 9 and 11 shows the steam supply mechanism 13 included in the present invention. As shown, the steam supply mechanism 13 includes an open-bottomed transverse channel 171 q provided on the lower hood 17, and a bent plate 171 r and a sealing cover 171 s sequentially mounted in the channel 171 q.
Please refer to FIGS. 10 and 11 in which the wiping mechanism 14 included in the present invention is shown. As shown, the wiping mechanism 14 includes an open-bottomed room 171 t having pivoting supports 171 e provided at two lateral ends thereof, a pivot shaft 171 v supported in the room 171 t via bearings 171 u, 171 h that are connected to two ends of the pivot shaft 171 v and located in the two pivoting supports 171 e, and a wiper 172 f wrapped around the pivot shaft 171 v. The pivot shaft 171 v is formed from an upper and a lower shell 171 f, 171 g. To assemble the wiping mechanism 14 to the bottom of the lower hood 17, first mount a spring element 171 w between the pivot shaft 171 v and a locating element 171 j coaxially connected to an inner side of the bearing 171 u, and then connect the pivot shaft 171 v to a transmission belt 172 e above the lower hood 17 (see FIG. 7), and then connect the transmission belt 172 e to a third driving unit 172 (see FIG. 7).
As can be seen from FIG. 11, the lower hood 17 is provided with rollers 171 x that allow the electric broom of the present invention to smoothly move over a place to be cleaned, such as a floor.
FIGS. 12 and 13 shows another embodiment of the wiping mechanism 14 included in the present invention. In this embodiment, the wiping mechanism 14 includes a wiping plate 172 b mounting to a bottom of the lower hood 17 through engagement of a plurality of fixing means 172 c provided on the wiping plate 172 b with a plurality of receiving means 172 a correspondingly provided on the bottom of the lower hood 17. To assemble the wiping plate 172 b to the lower hood 17, first position an elastic element 172 d between the wiping plate 172 b and the receiving means 172 a, and then connect the fixing means 172 c to the receiving means 172 a. A wiper 172 g may be removably attached to the wiping plate 172 b.
The first and the second switch 151 a, 151 b may be otherwise provided on the handle grip 161 h instead of locating on the upper hood 16.
With the above arrangements, the steam-type electric broom of the present invention provides multiple functions, including brooming, vacuum cleaning, spraying steam, and wiping, enabling a user to conveniently complete different cleaning works at the same time with only one tool.
The present invention has been described with some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A steam-type electric broom, comprising a hood, a brooming mechanism, a suction mechanism, a steam supply mechanism, and a wiping mechanism; said broom, suction, steam supply, and wiping mechanisms being electrically connected to a power supply having an operating section; whereby said broom, suction, steam supply, and wiping mechanisms are driven by said power supply via said operating section to clean dirt and dust.

2. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hood is formed from an upper and a lower hood.

3. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 2, wherein said upper hood includes a front cover connected to and shielding a front side of said upper hood.

4. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 2, wherein said upper hood is provided at predetermined positions with a handle connection hole and a water inlet.

5. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating section includes a first and a second switch.

6. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second switches are provided on a handle grip above said upper hood.

7. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second switches are located on said upper hood.

8. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating section includes circuit boards.

9. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wiping mechanism includes a wiping plate and a wiper removably attached to said wiping plate.

10. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wiping mechanism includes a third driving unit, a pivot shaft connected to said third driving unit, and a wiper wrapped around said pivot shaft.

11. A steam-type electric broom, comprising upper and lower hoods, a brooming mechanism, a suction mechanism, a steam supply mechanism, and a wiping mechanism; said brooming mechanism including a first driving unit, a shaft connected to said first driving unit, and a length of spiral brush mounted on said shaft; said suction mechanism including a blade fan and a second driving unit connected to said blade fan; said steam supply mechanism including a cover plate, heating elements, and a reservoir connected to said cover plate; said broom, suction, steam supply, and wiping mechanisms being electrically connected to a power supply having an operating section; whereby said broom, suction, steam supply, and wiping mechanisms are driven by said power supply via said operating section to clean dirt and dust.

12. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 11, wherein said upper hood includes a front cover connected to and shielding a front side of said upper hood.

13. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 11, wherein said upper hood is provided at predetermined positions with a handle connection hole and a water inlet.

14. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 11, wherein said operating section includes a first and a second switch.

15. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first and second switches are provided on a handle grip above said upper hood.

16. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first and second switches are located on said upper hood.

17. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 11, wherein said operating section includes circuit boards.

18. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 11, wherein said wiping mechanism includes a wiping plate and a wiper removably attached to said wiping plate.

19. The steam-type electric broom as claimed in claim 11, wherein said wiping mechanism includes a third driving unit, a pivot shaft connected to said third driving unit, and a wiper wrapped around said pivot shaft.