brush and vacuum assembly and method of use

Abstract

A brush and vacuum assembly and its method of use are provided. The assembly has a debris box selectively located within a debris box housing. At least one arm extends from a deck that supports at least one brush motor. At least one pin extends through the at least one arm for selective engagement with the debris box housing. The layout permits the debris box to be accessed from a side of the machine.

1 . A brush and vacuum assembly, comprising:
 a debris box selectively located within a debris box housing;   at least one arm extending downwardly from a deck supporting at least one brush motor thereon;   at least one pin extending through said at least one arm for selective engagement with an aperture in said debris box housing.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a debris ramp is attached to said debris box housing. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said debris box housing has an opening for receiving debris from said ramp. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said debris box is removably located within said housing transverse to said ramp. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said arm is fixed with respect to said deck. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first pin extends through said aperture and a second pin extends through said arm and into said housing is a pivot point for said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said track arm is located behind said ramp and above said debris box. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said pin is biased inwardly by a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge pivotally connecting said deck with a floor scrubber frame. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a first part of said hinge is located on a rear edge of said deck and a second part of said hinge is located on front edge of said floor scrubber frame. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein an actuator flange is secured to said front edge of said floor scrubber frame, said actuator flange having an upper portion that is pivotally connected to a first end of an actuator, wherein a second end of said actuator is connected to said deck. 
     
     
         12 . A brush and vacuum assembly, comprising:
 a deck portion supporting at least one brush motor and a vacuum motor thereon, said brush motor selectively driving at least one brush below said deck portion;   at least one arm rigidly connected to and extending downwardly from said deck portion;   a debris ramp, a debris box housing, and at least one curvilinear track all located below said deck portion; and   at least one pin slidably engaged with said at least one arm and selectively engagable with said debris box housing through said arm.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said debris box housing has a debris box slidable within said debris box housing transverse to said debris ramp. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a debris opening is provided in said debris box housing and a first arm is located on one side of said housing and a second arm is located on the other side of said housing. 
     
     
         15 . A brush and vacuum assembly, comprising:
 a deck pivotally connected to a floor scrubbing machine via at least one hinge;   a pin arm extending substantially perpendicularly downward from said deck, said arm having at least one aperture therethrough;   a pin movable within said pin arm;   a side member of a debris box housing having at least one aperture for selectively receiving said pin therein, said debris box housing having a debris box selectively movable parallel to said pin;   a debris ramp oriented transverse to said debris box housing and located in front of said housing.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a trailing edge of said ramp terminates adjacent a debris aperture in said debris housing. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a pivot pin is provided in said pin arm and into said debris box housing. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said debris box is oriented parallel to a hinge axis from said hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein an actuator selectively moves said deck with respect to said floor scrubbing machine. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said debris box has two side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall and a top portion that is at least partially open and defined by the side walls, the rear wall and the front wall.