U.S. patent application number 11/196582 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for upright vacuum cleaner incorporating releaseable locking mechanism for wand assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA. Invention is credited to Richard J. Fischer, J. Erik Hitzelberger.
Application Number | 20060026789 11/196582 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35767568 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060026789 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fischer; Richard J. ; et
al. |
February 9, 2006 |
Upright vacuum cleaner incorporating releaseable locking mechanism
for wand assembly
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to an upright vacuum
cleaner including a housing having a canister assembly, a nozzle
assembly and a connector for releasably holding the wand assembly.
Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried
on the housing. In addition the upright vacuum cleaner includes a
removable wand assembly, a lock and a lock release.
Inventors: |
Fischer; Richard J.;
(Nicholasville, KY) ; Hitzelberger; J. Erik;
(Danville, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Assignee: |
PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH
AMERICA
|
Family ID: |
35767568 |
Appl. No.: |
11/196582 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60598749 |
Aug 4, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/334 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/32 20130101; A47L
9/0045 20130101; A47L 9/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/334 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/28 20060101
A47L005/28 |
Claims
1. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising; a housing including a
canister assembly, a nozzle assembly and a connector for releasably
holding said wand assembly; a suction generator carried on said
housing; a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing; a
removable wand assembly; a lock carried on one of said housing and
said wand assembly; and a lock release carried on one of said
housing and said wand assembly.
2. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said removable
wand assembly further includes a control handle.
3. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said lock is a
spring loaded detent on one of said housing and said wand assembly
and a cooperating aperture on the other of said housing and said
wand assembly.
4. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said lock is a
spring loaded detent carried on said wand assembly and a
cooperating locking aperture on said housing.
5. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein said lock release
is a lever.
6. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein said lever is
pivotally mounted to said housing.
7. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said lever
includes a release lug aligned with said locking aperture.
8. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein said lever is
substantially L-shaped.
9. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said canister
assembly and said nozzle assembly are pivotally connected
together.
10. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said dirt
collection vessel is a dirt cup.
11. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein said dirt cup
holds a filter.
12. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said dirt
collection vessel is a bag filter.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/598,749 filed on 4 Aug. 2004.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the floor care
equipment field and, more particularly, to an upright vacuum
cleaner equipped with an electrified hose and telescopic wand
assembly having a releaseable locking mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A vacuum cleaner is an electro-mechanical appliance utilized
to effect the dry removal of dust, dirt and other small debris from
carpets, rugs, fabrics or other surfaces in both domestic and
industrial environments. In order to achieve the desired dirt and
dust removal, a rotary agitator is provided to beat dirt and dust
from the nap of the carpet and a pressure drop or vacuum is used to
force air entrained with this dirt and dust into the nozzle of the
vacuum cleaner. The particulate-laden air is then drawn through a
bag-like filter, a dirt cup or a cyclonic separation chamber and
filter combination which traps the dirt and dust, while
substantially clean air is exhausted by an electrically operated
fan that is driven by an on board motor. It is this fan and motor
arrangement that generates the drop in air pressure necessary to
provide the desired cleaning action. Thus, the fan and motor
arrangement is commonly known as the vacuum or suction
generator.
[0004] Upright vacuum cleaners are presently very popular with
consumers. An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a nozzle assembly
and canister assembly that are pivotally connected together. The
nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet and may also include a
rotary agitator. The nozzle assembly and canister assembly glide
across the floor on wheels so as to allow for ease of cleaning.
[0005] It is known in the art to provide upright vacuum cleaners
with a hose and specialty tools to allow for above floor cleaning
such as of furniture, upholstery or drapes or to allow cleaning in
tight corners or areas where furniture or other impediments prevent
the nozzle assembly from being moved across the floor to provide
the desired cleaning. The present invention relates to an upright
vacuum cleaner equipped with a removable wand assembly having a
locking mechanism that securely holds the wand assembly to the
housing of the upright vacuum cleaner while also allowing that wand
assembly to be easily released for cleaning applications by simply
engaging a pivoting lever with the toe or foot of the operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, an upright vacuum cleaner is provided. The
upright vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a canister
assembly, a nozzle assembly and a connector for releasably holding
that wand assembly. A suction generator and dirt collection vessel
are both carried on that housing. The upright vacuum cleaner
further includes a removable wand assembly. A lock is carried on
one of the housing and the wand assembly. Additionally, a lock
release is carried on one of the housing and the wand assembly.
[0007] In accordance with additional aspects of the present
invention the removable wand assembly further includes a control
handle. In addition, in one possible embodiment the lock is a
spring loaded detent on the connector or the wand assembly and a
cooperating aperture on the other of the connector and the wand
assembly. Still further the lock release is a lever. That lever is
pivotally mounted to the housing and includes a release lug aligned
with the locking aperture. Further the lever is substantially
L-shaped.
[0008] Still further the canister assembly and nozzle assembly are
pivotally connected together in the manner of an upright vacuum
cleaner. The dirt collection vessel may be a dirt cup or a bag
filter. If a dirt cup, the vessel may hold a filter.
[0009] In the following description there is shown and described a
preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of
illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the
invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of
other different embodiments and its several details are capable of
modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from
the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be
regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part
of this specification, illustrates several aspects of the present
invention, and together with the description serves to explain
certain principles of the invention. In the drawing:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side elevational view of an
upright vacuum cleaner of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the
handle and wand assembly in a manual cleaning position; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a detailed rear elevational view illustrating the
connector and release lever on the rear of the vacuum cleaner of
the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4a is a detailed rear elevational view with a housing
cover removed to clearly show the release lever and lock when in
the locked position; and
[0015] FIG. 4b is a view similar to FIG. 4a but showing the release
lever and lock in position to release the wand from the
connector.
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to
an upright vacuum cleaner 10 including a housing comprising both a
nozzle assembly 12 and a canister assembly 14. The canister
assembly 14 is pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly 12. The
upright vacuum cleaner 10 rides over the floor surface being
cleaned on wheels 15 carried on the housing.
[0018] The nozzle assembly 12 includes a suction inlet 16. A rotary
agitator 18 carried on the nozzle assembly 12 is mounted adjacent
to or in the suction inlet 16. The rotary agitator 18 includes
bristle tufts 20, brushes, wipers or the like to beat dirt and
debris from the nap of an underlying carpet being cleaned as the
agitator is rotated at high speeds with respect to that carpet and
the nozzle assembly 12.
[0019] The canister assembly 14 includes a dirt collection vessel
22 housed in a receiver or internal cavity 23. In the illustrated
embodiment the dirt collection vessel 22 is a dust bag of permeable
filter material adapted to entrap dirt and debris while allowing
the passage of clean air through the bag. In an alternative
embodiment the dirt collection vessel 22 may take the form of a
dirt cup and filter combination. Such a dirt cup may or may not
provide for cyclonic air flow. Further, the dirt cup may be
equipped with a filter.
[0020] The canister assembly 14 also includes a telescopic handle
and wand assembly generally designated by reference numeral 24. The
telescopic handle and wand assembly 24 includes first and second
telescopic wand sections 26, 28 connected together by a locking
coupler 30 similar to the structure shown and described in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,148,474 to Ohara et al. and owned by the assignee of the
present invention. A control hand grip 32, including a
multiposition actuator switch 33, is provided at the end of the
wand section 26 opposite the coupler 30. The end of the wand
section 28 opposite the coupler 30 is received in a connector 34
mounted to the rear of the canister assembly 14. A flexible hose 36
extends from the control handle 32 to the inlet 38 connected to the
dirt collection vessel 22. A power cord (not illustrated) includes
a plug for connecting to a standard electrical wall outlet and
providing power for the vacuum cleaner.
[0021] During standard floor cleaning operation, the rotary
agitator 18 scrubs and beats dirt and debris from the nap of an
underlying carpet being cleaned. A suction generator 40 draws air
entrained with that dirt and debris through the suction inlet 16,
the connector 34, the wand section 28, the wand section 26, the
control handle 32, the hose 36 and the inlet 38 into the dirt
collection vessel 22. The dirt and debris is captured in the dirt
collection vessel 22 while the now relatively clean air is drawn
over the motor of the suction generator 40 in order to provide
cooling. That air is then exhausted through a final filter (not
shown) and returned to the environment through the exhaust port
41.
[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 2 the handle and wand assembly 24
includes a distal end that is removable from the canister assembly
14 to allow manipulation and specialty cleaning. More specifically,
the distal end of the wand section 28 is removable from the
connector 34. As best illustrated in FIG. 3-5, the distal end of
the wand section 28 includes a spring loaded detent 50 that is
biased so as to project through a hole 52 in the sidewall of the
wand section. When the handle and wand assembly 24 is fully seated
in the connector 34, the end 54 of the wand section 28 is seated
against the bottom of the connector. Thus, the main air path from
the canister assembly 14 to the handle and wand assembly 24 is
tightly sealed for maximum cleaning efficiency. The detent 50 is
biased into a lock opening 58 in the connector 34 to insure the
integrity of the connection and seal.
[0023] When it is desired to release the handle and wand assembly
24 for above floor cleaning, the lock release 60 is manipulated.
The lock release 60 comprises an L-shaped lever 62 connected to the
canister assembly 14 by a pivot pin 66. The operator simply engages
the toe plate 68 of the lever 62 and depresses. This causes the
lever 62 to pivot about the pivot pin 66 (see action arrow A in
FIG. 4a). A lug 70 on the lever 62 is aligned with the lock opening
58. When the lever 62 is depressed, this lug 70 engages the detent
50 and pushes the detent 50 against its spring bias out of the lock
opening 58. When the detent 50 clears the lock opening 58 (note
FIG. 4b), the handle and wand assembly 24 may be freely removed
from the connector 34 to allow above floor cleaning.
[0024] The telescopic sections 26, 28 of the handle and wand
assembly 24 may then be retracted or extended as desired to produce
a wand of desired length. The handle and wand assembly 24 is then
manipulated by the operator through the control handle 32. In this
mode of operation air including dirt and debris is drawn into the
open distal end of the handle and wand assembly 24. That air then
travels through the wand section 28, the wand section 26, the
control handle 32, the hose 36 and the inlet 38 into the dirt
collection vessel 22. There the dirt becomes trapped and clean air
then passes over the motor of the suction generator 40 before being
exhausted through the final filter into the environment.
[0025] Upon finishing the manual cleaning application, the handle
and wand assembly 24 is returned to the connector 34. As this is
done, the spring loaded detent 50 is again aligned with the lock
opening 58. The detent 50 has sufficient force from the biasing
spring to force the lug 70 from the locking opening 58 thereby
locking the handle and wand assembly 24 back in the connector
34.
[0026] The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications
or variations are possible in light of the above teachings.
[0027] The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best
illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical
application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and
equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiments do not
and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims
and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
* * * * *