Patent attributes
A vacuum broom apparatus for removing particulate debris from surfaces such as those of floors includes a housing which has an upper wall from which protrudes a vacuum inlet tube connectable to a vacuum power source. The housing includes a shroud which protrudes downwardly from the upper wall and peripherally surrounds a broom which protrudes downwardly within the shroud through a bottom opening thereof. One or more vacuum nozzles which communicate with the vacuum inlet tube are positioned adjacent to the broom. Optionally, a front wall of the shroud is elastically flexible to thereby effect an air dam between a lower edge of the front wall and a floor surface against which it may be pressed. Also, the broom may take the form of a block which at least partly encloses a lower entrance opening of the shroud, the block having a lower surface from which bristles protrude downwardly, and a plurality of vacuum passageways interspersed within the bristles and which have lower debris entrance openings in the lower surface of the block, and upper debris exit openings through an upper surface of the block which communicates with a negative pressure region of an interior region of the shroud.
