Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-29
2002-11-26
Snider, Theresa T. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S339000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484348
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to cleaning devices, and more particularly, to vacuum devices having integrated cord storage and movable tool holders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many contemporary cleaning devices are electrically powered. Such cleaning devices include vacuums, buffers, extractors, steam cleaners, and other similar devices. The electrical power is typically supplied to the cleaning device through a power cord. When not in use, the power cord may be removed from the cleaning device, or may be wrapped about a portion of the cleaning device for transport and storage.
FIG. 1
is an isometric view of a vacuum device
10
in accordance with the prior art. As is well known, the vacuum device
10
includes a housing
12
having an intake port
14
coupled to a hose
16
, and an exhaust port
18
. A vacuum unit
20
(not shown) is disposed within the housing
12
. A power cord
22
is attached to the housing
12
for providing electrical power to the vacuum unit
20
. The housing
12
includes a handle
24
for carrying the vacuum device
10
. A control switch
26
is disposed in the handle
24
for controlling the power supplied to the vacuum unit
20
. A pair of cord hooks
28
project outwardly from a lateral side of the housing
12
for wrapping the power cord
22
when not in use.
In use, an operator grips the handle
24
and actuates the control switch
26
to transmit power supplied by the power cord
22
to the vacuum unit
20
. As will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, the vacuum unit
20
creates suction within the hose
16
, drawing a particulate-laden airstream into the housing
12
through the intake port
14
. The particulate-laden airstream may then pass through a removable filter element (e.g. a disposable paper bag) where particulates may be filtered from the particulate-laden airstream and captured for later disposal. The vacuum unit
20
then exhausts a filtered airstream out of the housing
12
through the exhaust port
18
. After using the vacuum device
10
, the operator may prepare the device for storage or transport by successively winding the power cord
22
about the cord hooks
28
, placing the power cord
22
in a stowed position (FIG.
1
).
The vacuum device
10
may also include a tool holder
30
attached to the housing
12
. The tool holder
30
includes retaining projections
34
that may be engaged with one or more vacuum tools
32
(e.g. nozzles, brushes, etc.) to engage and retain the vacuum tools
32
until they are needed. The vacuum tools
32
may be attached to an attachment end
17
of the hose
16
for different cleaning applications.
Although highly beneficial results have been achieved, some aspects of the vacuum device
10
may be improved. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1
, the vacuum device
10
is a hand-held device that may be used in a variety of applications. As such, it may be desirable to further optimize the portability and versatility of the vacuum device
10
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to vacuum devices having integrated cord storage and pivotable tool holders. In one aspect, a vacuum apparatus includes a housing, an airflow propulsion device, and a power cord. The housing includes an outer surface having a recess disposed therein, the recess being sized to receive a plurality of loops of the power cord. First and second cord retainers are disposed within the recess and project outwardly from the housing, the first and second cord retainers being sized to retain the plurality of loops of the power cord. The outer surface may be a bottom surface of the apparatus. Because the power cord may be disposed within the recess on the bottom surface, the center of gravity of the apparatus may be lowered, thereby improving the stability of the vacuum apparatus for transport and storage.
In another aspect, the housing includes a cord mount disposed within the recess, the fixed end of the power cord being connected to the cord mount such that a localized portion of the power cord proximate the cord mount is directed approximately toward the first cord retainer. Alternately, the localized portion of the power cord may be inclined with respect to the base surface, or parallel with the base surface. In this way, bending stresses within the localized portion may be reduced or eliminated.
In another aspect, a vacuum apparatus includes a housing, an airflow propulsion device, and a tool holder pivotably attached to the housing proximate an outer surface thereof. Because the tool holder is pivotable, the versatility of the vacuum device may be improved.
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Irby Steven P.
Moshenrose Paul A.
Paterson Chris M.
Faegre & Benson LLP
Oreck Holdings LLC
Snider Theresa T.
LandOfFree
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