Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2001-07-10
Moore, Chris K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S361000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256833
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to upright vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to upright vacuum cleaners having a pivotable handle and a lamp assembly. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to an upright vacuum cleaner having a combined concealible lamp and height adjustment mechanism. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to an upright vacuum cleaner with a height control adjustment for a nozzle and agitator.
2. State of the Prior Art
Upright vacuum cleaners include a handle mounted to a base and pivotable between an inclined use position and a generally vertical storage position. Where such vacuum cleaners include an agitation brush it is typical to have a handle-actuated mechanism for lifting the rotating agitation brush from the surface to be cleaned when the handle is in the upright or storage position. In this way, potential damage to the surface is avoided by disengaging the rotating brush from the surface. These mechanical links to the handle for raising and lowering the brush are often complex, resulting in increased manufacturing costs and a greater probability for malfunction. Eliminating or reducing the complexity of the mechanical actuating link responsive to handle position would reduce overall costs and provide a more reliable vacuum cleaner.
Upright vacuum cleaners including a pivotal handle attached to a base module often include a lamp assembly including a lens and lamp mounted to the base module. The lamp is typically illuminated when power to the upright vacuum cleaner is provided. It is also known to include a lamp mounted to a lower portion of the handle with the lens mounted to the base so that, when the handle is in the upright or storage position, the lamp behind the lens and the hood is dimmed or blocked and, when the handle is tilted rearward to an in-use position, the lamp rotates upwardly with the lower handle portion whereby it emerges from behind the hood and illuminates the lens. Where the lamp assembly is mounted to the base module the overall profile of the base module is increased, making it difficult for vacuuming beneath furniture such as sofas. Where the lens and lamp assembly are separately mounted to the base module and lower portion of the handle, the profile is similarly not reduced because of the lens housing. Reducing the profile eases use of the vacuum cleaner, particularly for tasks such as cleaning beneath furniture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention an upright vacuum cleaner includes a handle pivotally mounted to a base module, a lower portion of the handle mounts a lamp assembly which is hidden from view when the handle is in an upright, storage position and is visible when the handle is rotated to a use position. Between the front and back of the base module, a set of wheels or other projections which support the base module are mounted. The handle likewise has at a lower portion a set of wheels which mobilize the vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the pivot axis of the handle with respect to the base is selected so that rotation of the handle assembly from a use position to a storage position pivots a front end of the base module about the base wheels and thereby raises an agitation brush from contact with a surface to be cleaned. The rotation of the handle assembly with respect to the base module to its use position, moves the lamp assembly mounted therein from a hidden position behind a shroud in the base module to an exposed position above the base module for illuminating the surface to be cleaned immediately adjacent the front end of the vacuum cleaner.
Further, according to the invention, an upright vacuum cleaner has a base module with a suction nozzle at a forward portion and a handle pivotally mounted to the base module for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between an upright stored position and reclining use position. A pair of wheels supports the base for movement along a surface to be cleaned. A filter bag is mounted to the handle for recovering dirt from the dirty air. A suction motor is mounted to the handle or the base and has an inlet connected to the suction nozzle through a working air conduit for drawing air through the nozzle and to the filter bag for recovery of dirt. In one embodiment, the cleaning system is a dirty air system wherein the outlet of the suction motor is connected to the filter bag. In another aspect, the cleaning system is a clean air system wherein the inlet of the suction motor is connected to the filter bag whereby the air is drawn from the suction nozzle, through a working air conduit, through the filter bag and to the suction motor.
A lamp housing is formed on the lower portion of the handle and a lamp assembly is mounted in the lamp housing. The lamp assembly includes a lens that is mounted to a front portion of the lamp housing to project light from the lamp housing forwardly of the front of the base module during use of the vacuum cleaner. Preferably, the lens is mounted in an opening in the housing. Alternatively, the lens can be integrally formed in the lens housing.
The base module includes a shroud at a rear portion adjacent the lamp housing. The lens is so positioned in the lamp assembly and the pivot axis of the handle with respect to the base is selected so that the lens is positioned behind the shroud and thus substantially not visible to the user when the handle is in the upright stored position and the lens is positioned above the shroud and thus visible when the handle is in the reclining use position. Typically, the pivot axis is positioned between the handle heels and the base module wheels or projection.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheels are mounted on the handle. Further, the suction motor is preferably mounted on a lower portion of the handle and, preferably, in the lens housing. The lens housing front portion is arcuate in shape and has an axis of rotation concentric with the pivot axis between the axle and the base module.
In one embodiment of the invention, the handle is pivotally mounted to a rear portion of the base module and one or more base module supports, preferably in the form of wheels, are mounted on the central portion of the base module to support the base module on a floor. Wheels are also mounted on the handle. An agitator is mounted to the front portion of the base module. The pivot point of the handle with respect to the base module is selected so that the rotation of the handle from reclining use position to upright storage position pivots the front portion of the base upwardly about the base projecting supports or wheels to move the agitator from contact with the floor to a raised position above the floor. The agitator typically is an elongated cylindrical brush which is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. Other types of agitators such as reciprocal agitators and multiple brushes mounted on vertical axes can also be employed.
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Bissell Homecare Inc.
Moore Chris K.
Rader, Fishman, Grauer & Mc Garry, An Office of Rader, Fishman &
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