U.S. patent application number 10/226804 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-26 for vacuum tool for vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Rogers, Jason T., Rogers, Willie E..
Application Number | 20040034963 10/226804 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31887322 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040034963 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rogers, Willie E. ; et
al. |
February 26, 2004 |
Vacuum tool for vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A flexible vacuum hose is coupled to a vacuum tool. The vacuum
tool defines an elongated closed housing formed of mirror-image
half portions. An elongated aperture passes through the tool
housing to form a carrying handle in the upper portion of the
housing. The housing further includes a closed end opposite the
flexible hose coupler. A generally planar bottom plate is secured
to the bottom edge of the housing to form an interior cavity within
the housing. The bottom plate defines a plurality of small diameter
apertures arranged in a generally uniform pattern upon the bottom
plate. Air is drawn out from the interior cavity by the vacuum
source producing a diffuse generally uniform vacuum air flow
upwardly through the apertures in the bottom plate.
Inventors: |
Rogers, Willie E.; (Santa
Ana, CA) ; Rogers, Jason T.; (Santa Ana, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Roy A. Ekstrand
Ste. 150
3158 Redhill Ave.
Costa Mesa
CA
92626
US
|
Family ID: |
31887322 |
Appl. No.: |
10/226804 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/415.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/415.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/02 |
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A vacuum cleaner tool comprising: a housing having an interior
cavity, a handle, a vacuum hose coupler in communication with said
interior cavity and an open lower side having a lower edge; and a
bottom plate having a generally planar bottom surface and a
plurality of apertures extending through said bottom plate, said
bottom plate being attached to said lower edge such that said
interior cavity is closed and said plurality of apertures are in
communication with said interior cavity.
2. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 1 wherein said
housing is formed of a pair of mirror image half portions joined
along common edges.
3. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 2 wherein said handle
is formed above an elongated aperture extending through said
housing.
4. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 3 wherein said
housing defines a front surface positioned such that one of the
user's hands may be placed thereon.
5. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 4 wherein said
housing defines a generally keystone shaped cross section.
6. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 5 wherein said
plurality of apertures are arranged in a generally uniform
pattern.
7. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle
is formed above an elongated aperture extending through said
housing.
8. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 7 wherein said
housing defines a front surface positioned such that one of the
user's hands may be placed thereon.
9. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 8 wherein said
housing defines a generally keystone shaped cross section.
10. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 1 wherein said
housing defines a front surface positioned such that one of the
user's hands may be placed thereon.
11. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 10 wherein said
housing defines a generally keystone shaped cross section.
12. The vacuum cleaner tool set forth in claim 11 wherein said
plurality of apertures are arranged in a generally uniform pattern.
Description
SPECIFICATION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This application relates generally to vacuum cleaners and
particularly to vacuum tool used therewith for cleaning areas such
as carpeted stairs.
[0003] 2. Background of the Invention
[0004] Vacuum cleaners are well known in the art and have become a
basic staple in cleaning equipment. While the basic electric
powered vacuum cleaning device has been provided in a virtually
endless variety of configurations and designs, for the most part,
vacuum cleaners are provided as either upright, canister, or
centralized vacuum systems. Despite this substantial variety of
structure and design, all vacuum cleaners include basically the
same apparatus. A vacuum fan or suction device is driven at a high
rate of speed by an electric motor and drive apparatus. The drive
apparatus often comprises a flexible drive belt. A vacuum tool,
often referred to as a vacuum head, is coupled to the suction side
of the vacuum fan. As the fan is driven, air is drawn into the
vacuum tool at a sufficient velocity to carry dirt or other
material into the vacuum cleaner. A filter and separator is
provided within the vacuum unit which is operative upon the stream
of moving air and dirt or other material to separate the dirt and
other air born material from the air flow. This allows the air flow
to be vented outwardly from the vacuum cleaner. The separated dirt
or other vacuumed material is accumulated within a designated
portion of the vacuum cleaner. In many vacuum cleaners, the dirt
accumulator takes the form of a replacable throw-away cartridge or
bag.
[0005] One common variant of the vacuum cleaner is provided by an
elongated hollow flexible hose which may be operatively coupled at
one end to the vacuum source of the vacuum cleaner. The remaining
end is configured to operatively couple to a vacuum tool head or
other type of vacuum tool. For the most part, the purpose of this
variant is to aid the operator in reaching areas of the
to-be-cleaned environment which are difficult to access with the
entire vacuuming apparatus.
[0006] In a typical home or other building environment, one of the
most challenging portions of the environment to be vacuumed is
found in carpeted stairs. The multiple levels and small portions of
surface area found in a typical carpeted stair renders the use of
conventional vacuums such as upright vacuums to be nearly
impossible. As a result, conventional vacuuming cleaning of
carpeted stairs or the like is carried forward by the above
described flexible hoses and tool heads. However, the use of such
tools on carpeted stairs have proven to be difficult and
inefficient. The type of vacuum tool provided by practitioners in
the art utilizes a relatively small generally wedged shaped housing
defining an interior cavity and a long narrow vacuum slot. The
housing is coupled to the end of the vacuum hose. The basic problem
arising in such vacuum tools is found in the tendency for the
vacuum suction to draw or force the tool head against the carpet
surface during the vacuum process. This suction force increases the
resistance or drag encountered by the user as the head is moved
across the carpeted stair surface. This problem has proven
difficult to overcome in that vacuum cleaner manufacturers realize
the need for substantial vacuum air flow for efficient pick-up of
dirt and other material while also realizing that the resulting
resistance or drag unduly tires the user. Faced with this basic
problem, practitioners in the art have attempted to employ various
mechanisms which allow the vacuum air flow, or at least a portion
of it, to move through the vacuum tool during contact with the
carpet surface. This is typically accomplished by forming a
plurality of ribs or teeth along the slot portion of the tool or
providing other bypass vents within the vacuum system. While
bypassing a portion of the vacuum air flow does reduce the drag
induced by the vacuum suction, it to some extent reduces the
material carrying capacity and capability of the vacuum tool. For
the most part, this compromise of competing characteristics of the
conventional vacuum tool has remained the best solution heretofore
available.
[0007] There remains therefore a continuing need in the art for
ever more improved, efficient and easy to use vacuum cleaning
tools. In particular, there remains a continuing need in the art
for a vacuum tool which effectively and efficiently vacuums
carpeted surfaces such as stairs or the like without inducing undue
fatigue and effort for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention
to provide and improved vacuum tool. It is a more particular object
of the present invention to provide an improved vacuum tool for use
in a vacuum cleaner which is efficient and effective in cleaning
carpeted stairs or the like. It is a still more particular object
of the present invention to provide an improved vacuum tool which
effectively and efficiently carries dirt or other material from the
vacuumed surface while maintaining relative ease of movement across
the surface.
[0009] In accordance with the present invention there is
provided
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The features of the present invention, which are believed to
be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention, together with further objects and advantages
thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like
elements and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a vacuum tool
constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the
users hand in phantom line depiction;
[0012] FIG. 2 sets forth a top plan view of the present invention
vacuum tool;
[0013] FIG. 3 sets forth a left side view of the present invention
vacuum tool;
[0014] FIG. 4 sets forth a section view of the present invention
vacuum tool taken along section lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 sets forth a bottom view of the present invention
vacuum tool.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a vacuum tool
attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention and
generally referenced by numeral 10. Vacuum tool 10 is preferably
fabricated of a molded plastic material and includes an elongated
hollow housing 11 formed of mirror-image half portions 12 and 13.
Half portions 12 and 13 are joined along a common seam 14 by
conventional attachment methods such as adhesive attachment, sonic
or chemical welding or other methods of attachments. Alternatively,
housing 11 may fabricated as a single molded or blow molded
component should the need for such one piece fabrication arise.
Housing 11 further defines a closed end 18, a surface 19 and an
elongated aperture 16. Aperture 16 extends entirely through half
portions 12 and 13 which are commonly joined within elongated
aperture 16 by a common seam 24. The position of elongated aperture
16 with respect to housing 11 forms a convenient handle portion 15
extending above and across elongated aperture 16. A generally
cylindrical coupler 21 is formed in half portions 12 and 13 and
extends rearwardly from housing 11. Coupler 21 facilitates
attachment of a vacuum hose fitting 23 which in turn is secured to
a flexible vacuum hose 22. Hose 22 and fitting 23 may be fabricated
in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and will be
understood to be coupled to a conventional vacuum cleaner apparatus
(not shown) which may comprise virtually any vacuum cleaner source
or type.
[0017] Vacuum tool 10 further includes a generally planar generally
rectangular bottom plate 17 joined to the lower edge of housing 11
to form a seam 20. The attachment of bottom plate 17 to the lower
edge of housing 11 is carried forward using virtually any
convenient fabrication techniques such as adhesive attachment,
chemical or sonic welding, or the like. The essential function of
attachment between bottom plate 17 and housing 11 as well as the
attachment between half portions 12 and 13 of housing 11 is the
creation of a substantially air-tight sealed seam in which the sole
path for air to enter or exit housing 11 is found in coupler 21 and
apertures 40 (seen in FIG. 5) formed in bottom plate 17 as set
forth therein.
[0018] In operation and with vacuum hose 22 coupled to a source of
vacuum, air is drawn upwardly into the interior of housing 11 in
the manner set forth below in FIG. 4 and is carried outwardly from
vacuum hose 22 via coupler 21 and fitting 23. Of importance to note
in FIG. 1 is the convenient shape found in vacuum tool 10. As shown
in phantom line depiction of a users pair of hands, the placement
of handle 15, aperture 16 and surface 19 facilitates a convenient
two handed grasp of vacuum tool 10. This in turn allows excellent
control and manipulation of vacuum tool 10 during operation upon a
typical carpeted stair or other surface. In addition, the
fabrication of handle 15 and the generally flat character of bottom
plate 17 allows the user to employ a one handed grasp of handle 15
to guide and manipulate vacuum tool 10 as desired. Accordingly,
vacuum tool 10 will be seen to be readily capable of both one
handed and two handed operation which in both operations is
characterized by the users ability to grip the vacuum tool
directly. This is a substantial advantage over most prior art
systems which require some gripping of the vacuum hose or vacuum
hose coupling to manipulate the tool. In addition, and as will be
seen below in greater detail, the generally rectangular bottom
shape with slightly angled closed end 18 (better seen in FIG. 2)
greatly facilitates both front to back and side to side cleaning
motions of the present invention vacuum tool. In accordance with an
important aspect of the present invention described below in
greater detail, the placement of a plurality of apertures 40 (seen
in FIG. 5) which are generally distributed upon the entire
undersurface of bottom plate 17 provides substantially improved
agitation of the carpet surface being cleaned in response to motion
of the present invention vacuum tool. In addition, the large common
housing with which all of the apertures are in communication (seen
in FIG. 4) as interior cavity 30 provides a substantially uniform
vacuum draw for all bottom plate apertures. As a result, the
cleaning efficiency of the vacuum tool 10 is greatly improved over
the prior art devices.
[0019] FIG. 2 sets forth a top view of vacuum tool 10 which, as
described above, includes a housing 11 formed of mirror-image half
portions 12 and 13. Half portions 12 and 13 are joined along a
common seam 14 and a common seam 24 (seen in FIG. 1). Housing 11
defines an elongated aperture 16 extending through housing 11 and
forming a bridging handle 15 in the upper portion of the housing.
Housing 11 further defines a vacuum hose coupler 21 having a
generally cylindrical shape and a generally flat upper surface 19.
Housing 11 further defines an angled end 18 which forms a closed
end for the cavity within housing 11 and which includes oppositely
angled generally mirror-image and surfaces. The use of angled
surfaces in closed end 18 facilitates the cleaning within difficult
to reach corner portions and the like. A generally planar bottom
plate 17 better seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 is secured to the bottom edge
of housing 11 in a sealed attachment.
[0020] FIG. 3 sets forth a left side view of vacuum tool 10 which,
as described above, includes a housing 11 formed of mirror-image
half portions 12 and 13. Half portions 12 and 13 are joined along a
common seam 14. Half portions 12 and 13 are mutually joined along
seam 14 and are further joined to a bottom plate 17 at a seam 20.
Housing 11 further defines a handle 15 described above. An interior
cavity 30 is formed within the interior of housing 11. The
substantial size of interior cavity 30 promotes the uniform airflow
through cleaning apertures 40 (seen in FIGS. 4 and 5) which, as
described below in greater detail, substantially improve cleaning
and material agitation.
[0021] FIG. 4 sets forth a section view of vacuum tool 10 taken
along section lines 4-4 in FIG. 3. Vacuum tool 10 includes a
housing 11 having a half portion 13 and a mirror-image half portion
12 (seen in FIG. 1). It will be understood that half portions 12
and 13 are mirror images of each other joined along a common seam.
Accordingly, the descriptions set forth in FIG. 4 will be
understood to apply equally well to half portions 13 and the
completed combination thereof comprising housing 11 (seen in FIG.
1).
[0022] As described above, housing 11 includes a handle 15 formed
above an elongated aperture 16 together with a surface 19. A closed
end 18 (better seen in FIG. 2) is formed at the forward end of
housing 11 while a generally cylindrically vacuum coupler 21 is
formed at the opposite end thereof. A generally planar bottom plate
17 is joined to the bottom edge of housing 11 to complete the
enclosure of interior cavity 30. A plurality of vacuum apertures 40
are formed in bottom plate 17 in the manner better seen in FIG. 5.
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention,
the use of a substantial number of apertures 40 distributed
generally uniformly throughout bottom plate 17 together with the
large volume of interior cavity 30 cooperate to provide a
substantially uniform airflow upwardly through apertures 40 in the
manner indicated by arrows 42. Thus, as the attached vacuum joined
to coupler 21 (in the manner shown in FIG. 1) draws air outwardly
through coupler 21 from interior cavity 30 in the direction
indicated by arrow 41, air is draw upwardly through apertures 40 in
the manner shown by arrows 42. Because the volume of interior
cavity 30 is very large relative to the apertures formed in bottom
plate 17 and coupler 21, a diffusing of air flow takes place as air
is drawn outwardly from interior cavity 30. This diffused air flow
through the substantial number of apertures 40 provides improved
agitation of carpet fiber material and a generally uniform vacuum
draw to carry away dirt and other particulate material on the
vacuumed carpet. Because of the substantial number of small
apertures formed in bottom plate 17, the action of vacuum air draw
into interior cavity 30 does not result in the disproportionate
increase in friction or resistance which is encountered in prior
art devices utilizing elongated slot apertures. The distribution of
apertures in bottom plate 17 is formed to provide significant
bearing surface between the vacuum apertures to avoid the increased
resistance encountered in prior art devices.
[0023] Thus, in accordance with an important aspect of the present
invention, the carpet fiber materials in the stair carpeting or
other carpeting being vacuumed using tool 10 are substantially
agitation as the user moves tool 10 across the surface. In
addition, the entire vacuum air flow exiting interior cavity 30 of
tool 10 through coupler 21 is used in vacuuming action. Unlike
venting or comb structures used in prior art devices to relieve
undo resistance of tool movement, the widely distributed small
diameter large number of apertures used on bottom plate 17 of tool
10 employ the entire air flow in the material vacuuming process. As
a result, no vacuum air is wasted and all vacuum air is drawn
upwardly carrying particulate matter such as dirt or the like.
[0024] FIG. 5 sets forth a bottom view of vacuum tool 10 which
facilitates examination of the distribution of vacuum apertures 40.
As described above, vacuum tool 10 includes a bottom plate 17
having a plurality of apertures 40 formed therein. Coupler 21 also
formed in housing 11 and described above, extends beyond bottom
plate 17. In accordance with an important aspect of the present
invention, vacuum apertures 40 and numerous and relatively small
diameter which allow the vacuum apertures to be generally uniformly
distributed throughout the bottom surface of bottom plate 17. As a
result, substantial bearing area between apertures is provided
while a great amount of vacuum air in total may be drawn through
the plurality of vacuum apertures 40. As a result, the resistance
to movement of vacuum tool 10 is substantially reduced while the
proportionate part of vacuum air flow employed in particulate
removal is maximized. Virtually no vacuum air flow is wasted in the
present invention tool. In the preferred fabrication of the present
invention, apertures 40 are uniformly distributed throughout the
surface of bottom plate 17. In a further preference, the offset
spacing of alternate rows of apertures 40 is believed to add
further uniformity of air flow into the interior of vacuum tool 10
while providing substantially improved agitation of carpet fiber
material.
[0025] What has been shown is an improved vacuum tool for use with
virtually any vacuum cleaner through a flexible hose coupling. The
improved vacuum tool is capable of manufacture using low cost mass
production methods such as blow molding or the like. The tool is
readily fabricated of relatively inexpensive plastic materials and
is light-weight and durable. The inventive vacuum tool may be used
with virtually any vacuum cleaner and may be optimized for
particular types of carpeting. For example, it may be preferred in
response to different carpet textures to increase the number of
vacuum apertures (apertures 40 seen in FIG. 5) or conversely,
decrease the number of apertures. Similarly, the optimizing of the
inventive vacuum tool may involve adjusting the diameters of vacuum
apertures as well as their spacing upon the bottom plate. Thus it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present
invention vacuum tool is low in cost of manufacture, light-weight
and easy to use, capable of modification to improve a particular
cleaning or carpet vacuuming operation, and relatively simple to
handle and manipulate in either one handed or two handed vacuuming
operations.
[0026] While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the
appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *