Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-17
2001-11-06
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S329000, C015S352000, C015SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311366
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to battery powered vacuum cleaners which may be converted from an upright cleaner to a canister cleaner and, further, to a canister cleaner which may be carried by a shoulder strap for on the floor or off the floor cleaning operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Battery powered upright cleaners are typically designed to perform specific cleaning functions such as bare floor cleaning and small area cleaning on carpets and rugs. These vacuum cleaners are useful as an accessory to a full size carpet cleaner for small jobs. It is desirable, however, to have a cleaner which is versatile enough to perform the functions of a full size vacuum but possess the advantages of a portable stick vac and a portable canister vac which may be carried by a shoulder strap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a powerful upright style battery powered vacuum cleaner, but which may be converted into a portable canister cleaner for both on the floor and off the floor cleaning operations. The vacuum cleaner includes an upper body containing a battery, a suction motor, a multi-position extension handle, and a removable dust cup. The upper body is pivotally connected to a floor engaging nozzle assembly ahead of a brush roll air intake orifice. Toward the rear of the nozzle assembly are two rearwardly extending projections which are spaced apart and to which rear wheels are mounted. The mounting projections are spaced apart to allow the upper body assembly to pivot 90 degrees from the vertical storage position to a ground-hugging overall height that aids in gaining cleaning access under low objects such as beds, chairs, couches, etc.
Consistent with the objective to provide a low profile for the cleaning operations described above, the motor and fan unit in the upper body is mounted so that the axis of fan rotation is angularly related to the longitudinal axis of the upper body, and so that the fan presents an elliptical envelope of rotation when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper body. This arrangement permits the height of the upper body housing to be reduced for the previously described cleaning operations.
According to a further aspect of this invention, the upper body provides a containment chamber. The containment chamber is provided with a substantially planar filter which extends from a distal end to a proximal end of the containment chamber to separate the chamber into an airflow chamber and a dirt chamber. The direction of flow of dirt-laden air is substantially parallel to the filter so that dirt is not built up on the filter but tends to be swept away by the incoming air stream. The containment chamber is easily removed and emptied without removing the filter during each disposal operation. Periodically, the filter may be cleaned by removing it from the containment chamber. According to a further aspect of this invention, the fan comprises an impeller having a pair of circular faces one of which has a circular central opening therethrough. A plurality of spaced curved vanes are provided between the plates extending outwardly from the central opening to an outer periphery of each plate. A windguard supports the motor and fan unit.
The windguard comprises spaced mounting plates, the first one of which supports the motor and a second one of which has an air cone conduit. The fan is located between the plates and a plurality of exhaust vanes connect the plates just outward of the path of travel of the fan to extend a short distance from the end of the plates. The vanes extending from the plates are received in lateral slots in the housing to aid in supporting the entire assembly. An air guard cylinder extends axially from the central opening of the fan and is received in the circular opening of the air cone conduit in closely spaced relationship. The other end of the air guard cylinder forms a laterally elongated opening which communicates with an elongated aperture in an end wall of the containment chamber. Air is thus drawn in from the containment chamber into the eye of the fan and then radially outwardly through the vanes between the plates to the outside environment.
The motor housing is connected to a lower accessory receiving assembly by a longitudinal spine. The containment chamber is removably mounted on the spine between the motor housing and the accessory receiving assembly. A tubular opening is defined by the accessory receiving assembly and is in fluid communication with an intake opening in the containment chamber. The floor and rug cleaning housing wall nozzle is attached to the accessory receiving assembly by an outlet tube which is pivotally connected to the floor and rug cleaning nozzle. The tube may be removed from the accessory receiving assembly and a hose may be connected to the assembly to convert the unit into a canister cleaner.
A handle is telescoped into the spine of the vacuum cleaner and may be adjusted to project at different extensions from the cleaner to accommodate persons of different height. For canister cleaning operations the handle may be entirely removed from the unit, a carrying strap may be attached to the cleaner and the cleaner may be carried about as a portable on or off the floor cleaning unit.
Molded into the housing is a compartment for the battery providing accessibility from the exterior of the housing. A disconnect connection is provided on the housing to electrically engage the battery and to provide terminals for leads which run along the spine of the vacuum to the motor housing and to a switch provided at the upper portion of the housing. Leads may also extend to the accessory mounting assembly to be associated with quick disconnect connectors on the rug nozzle to a brush roll motor so that a powered brush roll accessory may be provided.
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Bobrosky Vincent
Sepke Arnold L.
Pearne & Gordon LLP
Till Terrence R.
White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
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