Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-29
2002-11-26
Moore, Chris K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S410000, C242S400100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484349
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to handle assemblies for floor care devices, such as vacuums, buffers, extractors, and the like, and methods for using the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many contemporary floor care devices are electrically powered. Such floor care devices include vacuums, buffers, extractors, steam cleaners, sweepers, carpet shampooers and other similar devices. The electrical power is typically supplied to the floor care device through a power cord that is temporarily or permanently attached to the floor care device.
FIG. 1
is a side elevational view of a floor care device
10
(e.g. an upright vacuum) in accordance with the prior art. As is well known, the floor care device
10
includes a vacuum head
40
that engages a floor surface
12
, and a dirt containment tank
16
coupled to the vacuum head
40
for receiving and storing particulates. An exhaust duct
18
extends between the vacuum head
40
and the containment tank
16
, and a handle support
30
extends upwardly from the containment tank
16
. A handle assembly
20
is attached to an upper end of the handle support
30
. The handle assembly
20
includes a control switch
21
. A power cord
28
is attached to the handle assembly
20
and may extend to a power supply (not shown), such as an electrical outlet. An upper cord hook
32
is attached to the handle assembly
20
, and a lower cord hook
34
is attached to the handle support
30
.
In use, an operator grips the handle assembly
20
and actuates the control switch
21
to transmit power supplied by the power cord
28
to the vacuum head
40
. As will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, the vacuum head
40
includes an airflow propulsion device (not shown) that creates suction at the floor surface
12
, drawing a particulate-laden airstream from the floor surface
12
into the vacuum head
40
. The airflow propulsion device propels the particulate-laden airstream through the exhaust duct
18
and into the dirt containment tank
16
, where the particulates may be filtered from the particulate-laden airstream and stored for later disposal. When not in use, the operator may prepare the floor care device
10
for transport and storage by successively winding or wrapping the power cord
28
about the upper and lower cord hooks
32
,
34
to place the power cord
28
in a stowed position
50
(FIG.
1
).
Typically, the dirt containment tank
16
is pivotably coupled to the vacuum head
40
. This advantageously permits the operator to tilt the containment tank
16
(and the handle support
30
and handle assembly
20
) into an inclined position (not shown), allowing the operator to move the vacuum head
40
under tables, desks, or other furnishings. In many applications, the containment tank
16
may freely pivot so that the operator may incline the handle support
30
until the handle assembly
20
contacts (or nearly contacts) the floor surface
12
.
Although desirable results have been achieved using the floor care device
10
, some possible drawbacks exist. For example, when the operator desires to prepare the floor care device
10
for transport and storage, the operator must successively wind the power cord
28
about the upper and lower cord hooks
32
,
34
. Due to the configuration of the upper and lower cord hooks
32
,
34
, this may be tedious and time-consuming. Furthermore, the next time the operator desires to use the floor care device
10
, the power cord
28
must be successively unwound from the upper and lower cord hooks
32
,
34
. This may also be tedious and time-consuming.
Another possible drawback may occur during wrapping or unwrapping of the power cord
28
from the upper and lower cord hooks
32
,
34
. For example, when the operator begins wrapping the power cord
28
about the lower cord hook
34
, the operator may pull downwardly on the power cord
28
before drawing the power cord
28
about the lower cord hook
34
and then upwardly to the upper cord hook
32
. This action may cause the power cord
28
to bend sharply at a point of attachment
29
between the power cord
28
and the handle assembly
20
. This sharp bending may subject the power cord
28
to bending stresses that may fatigue and ultimately damage the power cord
28
.
Yet another possible drawback is that when the containment tank
16
is fully inclined, the handle assembly
20
may be lowered until a portion of the power cord
28
near the point of attachment
29
contacts the floor surface
12
. This may also cause undesirably large bending stresses to develop in the power cord
28
at the point of attachment
29
that may eventually damage the power cord
28
. The undesirable bending stresses may be particularly acute if the operator accidentally releases the handle assembly
20
, allowing the portion of the power cord
28
near the point of attachment
29
to strike the floor surface
12
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to handle apparatus for floor care devices, such as vacuums, buffers, extractors, and the like, and methods for using the same. In one aspect, a handle assembly for a floor care device includes a main member partially surrounding a cord retaining space that is adapted to receive a plurality of loops of a power cord of the floor care device. A retaining member is moveably attached to the main member, and includes a retaining surface that is positionable proximate the cord retaining space. In a first or “retaining” position, the retaining surface retains the plurality of power cord loops within the cord retaining space, and in a second or “releasing” position, the retaining surface releases the plurality of power cord loops from the cord retaining space. The retaining member may be rotatably, pivotably, or slidably attached to the main member. This permits the loops of the power cord to be quickly and conveniently wrapped or unwrapped from the handle assembly.
In another aspect, a handle assembly for a floor care device includes a main member having a grip portion adapted to be held by an operator of the floor care device, and a base portion attached to the grip portion. The base portion includes an attachment portion adapted to attach to an attachment end of a handle support, and a receiving portion adapted to attach to a first end of a power cord. A support axis projects axially outwardly from the attachment end of the handle support into the attachment portion, and a first axis projects axially outwardly from the first end of the power cord into the receiving portion such that the first axis is approximately parallel to the support axis. Accordingly, when the power cord is wrapped in a stowed position, undesirable bending stresses in the power cord may be reduced or eliminated.
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Cohen Shane P.
Lamb Dennis
Millard Jeffrey A.
Paterson Chris M.
Roberts Terrance Monty
Faegre & Benson LLP
Moore Chris K.
Oreck Holdings LLC
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