Rotary brush scooper device

Abstract

A rotary brush scooper device for scooping, sweeping and picking up loose material from a ground surface includes a base housing which includes an interconnected pair of wheels, drive assembly, and rotary brush member, as well as a lower shelf, a receptacle area, and handle portion. Positioned under the brush member, in front of the receptacle area, the lower shelf extends below the base housing such that it is adjacent to a ground surface over which the rotary brush scooper device is rolling and operative to lift loose material present off the ground surface as it passes thereover. Through action of the drive assembly, the rotation of the wheels as the rotary brush scooper device is rolled along the ground surface in a forward direction causes the brush member to be rotated in a sweeping direction, thereby sweeping loose material on the lower shelf into the receptacle area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotary brush scooper device, comprising:
 a base housing defining a frame and including a lower shelf and a receptacle area, wherein said lower shelf extends below the frame of the base housing and is operative to lift loose material present off a target surface as the base housing traverses over the target surface;   at least one wheel integral with said base housing so as to enable the base housing to roll along a target surface;   a rotary brush member integral with said base housing and configured to rotate over the lower shelf and sweep loose material on the lower shelf into the receptacle area; and   a drive assembly operative to transfer rotation from the at least one wheel to the brush member.   
     
     
         2 . The rotary brush scooper device of  claim 1 , wherein said lower shelf includes a plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The rotary brush scooper device of  claim 1 , wherein brush member includes four discrete rows of bristles. 
     
     
         4 . The rotary brush scooper device of  claim 1 , wherein said base housing additionally includes a handle portion which adapts the rotary brush scooper device to either be grasped and pulled manually or attached to a discrete device which will pull it. 
     
     
         5 . The rotary brush scooper device of  claim 1 , wherein two wheels are integral with said base housing, positioned on opposing sides thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The rotary brush scooper device of  claim 5 , additionally comprising an axle which extends through the base housing and connects said wheels. 
     
     
         7 . The rotary brush scooper device of  claim 6 , wherein said drive assembly includes an axle sprocket that is fixed to the axle, a brush sprocket that is fixed to the brush member, and a chain which connects the axle sprocket and brush sprocket such that rotating the axle sprocket drives the chain to cause the brush sprocket to rotate in the same direction. 
     
     
         8 . The rotary brush scooper device of  claim 6 , wherein the drive assembly includes a chain guard cover operative to enclose at least a portion of the chain, axle sprocket, and brush sprocket.