U.S. patent application number 10/498686 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for lighted wand assembly.
Invention is credited to RobertM Mayes, ChadD Overvaag.
Application Number | 20060075597 10/498686 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32682170 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060075597 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Overvaag; ChadD ; et
al. |
April 13, 2006 |
Lighted wand assembly
Abstract
A hand cleaning tool for a floor cleaning apparatus includes a
wand and a light source that is carried on the wand and oriented
thereto for directing light onto a surface being cleaned. A floor
cleaning apparatus incorporating the hand cleaning tool is also
described.
Inventors: |
Overvaag; ChadD; (Danville,
KY) ; Mayes; RobertM; (Danville, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
32682170 |
Appl. No.: |
10/498686 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
December 18, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US03/40768 |
371 Date: |
June 12, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60435158 |
Dec 18, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/2842 20130101;
A47L 9/30 20130101; A47L 9/2857 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/324 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/00 20060101
A47L005/00 |
Claims
1. A canister vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main housing; a dirt
collector carried by said main housing; a suction generator carried
by said main housing; a wand having a first end and a second end; a
hose providing fluid communication between said first end of said
wand and said suction generator; a control handle connected to said
wand and said hose, said control handle including an actuator
switch to control operation of said canister vacuum cleaner; and a
light source carried on said wand and oriented thereto for
directing light past said second end of said wand onto a surface
being cleaned.
2. A canister vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main housing; a dirt
cup carried on said main housing; a suction generator carried by
said main housing; a wand having a first end and a second end; a
hose providing fluid communication between said first end of said
wand and said suction generator; and a light source carried on said
wand and oriented thereto for directing light past said second end
of said wand onto a surface being cleaned.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said dirt cup includes a
dirt collection chamber having a cylindrical sidewall and a
tangentially directed inlet to provide cyclonic airflow.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said dirt collector is a
replaceable dust bag.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is a
light emitting diode.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is an
incandescent bulb.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is a
florescent bulb.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is a
halogen bulb.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is a
zenon bulb.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further including a lens
directing light from laid light source onto a work area being
cleaned.
11. A canister vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main housing; a dirt
collector carried by said main housing; a suction generator carried
by said main housing; a wand having a first end and a second end; a
hose providing fluid communication between said first end of said
wand and said suction generator; and a light source and a prism
carried on said wand and oriented thereto for directing light
through said prism and past said second end of said wand onto a
surface being cleaned.
12. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a nozzle assembly with
a suction opening; a canister assembly pivotally connected to said
nozzle assembly; a suction generator carried by one of said
canister assembly and said nozzle assembly; a dirt collector
carried by one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly;
a wand and hose assembly carried by one of said canister assembly
and said nozzle assembly and in selective fluid communication with
said suction generator; and a light source carried on said wand and
oriented thereto for directing light past said wand onto a surface
being cleaned.
13. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein said dirt
collector is a dirt cup.
14. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein said dirt cup
includes a dirt collection chamber having a cylindrical shape and a
tangentially directed inlet to provide cyclonic airflow.
15. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12, wherein said dirt
collector is a replaceable dust bag.
16. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein said light
source is a light emitting diode.
17. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein said light
source is an incandescent bulb.
18. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein said light
source is a florescent bulb.
19. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein said light
source is a halogen bulb.
20. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein said light
source is a zenon bulb.
21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12 further including a lens
directing light from said light source onto a work area being
cleaned.
22. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a nozzle assembly with
a suction opening; a canister assembly pivotally connected to said
nozzle assembly; a suction generator carried by one of said
canister assembly and said nozzle assembly; a dirt collector
carried by one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly;
a wand and hose assembly carried by one of said canister assembly
and said nozzle assembly and in selective fluid communication with
said suction generator; and a light source and a prism carried on
said wand and oriented thereto for directing light through said
prism and past said wand onto a surface being cleaned.
23. A hand cleaning tool for a floor cleaning apparatus,
comprising: a wand having a first end and a second end; a hose
connected to said wand; a control handle connected to said wand and
said hose, said control handle including an actuator switch to
control operation of the floor cleaning apparatus; and a light
source carried on said wand and oriented thereto for directing
light past said second end of said wand onto a surface being
cleaned.
24. The tool of claim 23 wherein said light source is a light
emitting diode.
25. The tool of claim 23 wherein said light source is an
incandescent bulb.
26. The tool of claim 23 wherein said light source is a florescent
bulb.
27. The tool of claim 23 wherein said light source is a halogen
bulb.
28. The tool of claim 23 wherein said light source is a zenon
bulb.
29. The vacuum cleaner of claim 23 further including a lens
directing light from said light source onto a work area being
cleaned.
30. A hand cleaning tool for a floor cleaning apparatus,
comprising: a wand having a first end and a second end; and a light
source and a prism carried on said wand and oriented thereto for
directing light through said prism and past said second end of said
wand onto a surface being cleaned.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/435,158 filed on Dec. 18, 2002.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the floor care
equipment field and, more particularly, to a lighted wand assembly
for a floor cleaning appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner or
canister vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Floor care cleaning equipment such as canister vacuum
cleaners and upright vacuum cleaners have long been known in the
art. During operation of such floor cleaning appliances one is
almost ensured of having to clean in a poorly lit location where it
is difficult to see the area of the floor being cleaned. Toward
this end it has long been known to provide a light source on the
powerhead or nozzle assembly to light the surface being
cleaned.
[0004] It should, of course, be realized, however, that many
upright vacuum cleaners are equipped with a wand that may be used
for above floor cleaning. Similarly, the wand of a canister vacuum
cleaner may be utilized for the same purpose. A lighted powerhead
or nozzle assembly is not of any benefit when cleaning above the
floor with the wand alone or the wand and another attachment in the
absence of the powerhead.
[0005] The present invention relates to a light source that is
mounted on the wand to light the surface being cleaned whether it
is the floor or an above floor surface such as a window sill, a
chair bottom or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, a canister vacuum cleaner is provided. That
canister vacuum cleaner includes a main housing and both a dirt
collector and suction generator carried by the main housing.
Additionally, the vacuum cleaner includes a wand having a first end
and a second end. A hose provides fluid communication between the
first end of the wand and the suction generator. Additionally, a
light source is carried on the wand. The light source is oriented
on the wand for directing light past the second end of the wand
onto a surface being cleaned.
[0007] In one possible embodiment of the vacuum cleaner the dirt
collector is a dirt cup. That dirt cup may include a dirt
collection chamber having a cylindrical sidewall and a tangentially
directed inlet to provide cyclonic airflow. In another possible
embodiment the dirt collector is a replaceable dust bag.
[0008] The light source may take a number of forms. The light
source may be one or more light emitting diodes, one or more
incandescent bulbs, one or more flourescent bulbs, one or more
halogen bulbs, one or more zenon bulbs or any mixture thereof.
[0009] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, a floor cleaning apparatus is provided. The floor
cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle-assembly with a suction
opening and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle
assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collector are carried
by one of the canister assembly and the nozzle assembly. A wand and
hose assembly is carried by one of the canister assembly and the
wand assembly and is provided in selective fluid communication with
the suction generator. Additionally, a light source is carried on
the wand and oriented thereto for directing light past the wand
onto a surface being cleaned.
[0010] Still further, the present invention includes a hand
cleaning tool for a floor cleaning apparatus. The hand cleaning
tool includes a wand having a first end and a second end and a
light source carried on the wand and oriented thereto for directing
light past the second end of the wand onto a surface being
cleaned.
[0011] In the following description there is shown and described
several possible embodiments of this invention simply by way of
illustration of some 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 FIGURES
[0012] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present
invention, and together with the description serve to explain
certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an upright vacuum
cleaner equipped with a lighted wand assembly;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a canister vacuum cleaner
also equipped with a lighted wand assembly; and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the light source
and mounting band/bracket connecting the light source to the
wand.
[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] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 showing an upright vacuum
cleaner 1 0 equipped with the hand cleaning tool 12 of the present
invention. The upright vacuum cleaner 10 includes a housing
comprising a nozzle assembly 14 and a canister assembly 16. The
canister assembly 16 further includes a control handle 18 and a
hand grip 20. A control switch 22 is provided for turning the
vacuum cleaner on and off. Of course, electrical power is supplied
to the vacuum cleaner 10 from a standard electrical wall outlet
through an electrical cord 24.
[0018] A pair of rear wheels (not shown) are provided on a lower
portion of the canister assembly 16 and a pair of front wheels
(also not shown) are provided on the nozzle assembly 14. Together,
these wheels support the vacuum cleaner 10 for movement across the
floor. To allow for convenient storage of the vacuum cleaner 10, a
foot latch 30 functions to lock the canister assembly 16 in an
upright position as shown in FIG. 1. When the foot latch 30 is
released, the canister assembly 16 may be pivoted relative to the
nozzle assembly 14 as the vacuum cleaner 10 is manipulated back and
forth to clean the floor.
[0019] In the present preferred embodiment, the canister assembly
14 includes a cavity adapted to receive and hold a dirt container
32 which includes a collection chamber. A suction generator 36,
including a fan and drive motor assembly, is carried on the
canister assembly 14 and functions to generate a vacuum airstream
for drawing dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned. The
suction generator may be carried on the canister assembly 16 or the
nozzle assembly 14 if desired.
[0020] The nozzle assembly 14 includes a main inlet cavity 38 that
houses a pair of agitators 39 which are rotated by the motor of the
suction generator or a separate, dedicated motor relative to the
nozzle assembly.
[0021] The main inlet cavity 38 of the nozzle assembly 14 is
provided in fluid communication with the collection chamber of the
dirt container 32 by means of an airflow system generally
designated by reference numeral 40. That airflow system includes a
T-shaped fitting 42, a wand 44 and a flexible hose 46. During floor
cleaning, the cleaning end 48 of the wand is inserted and held in
the fitting 42. Accordingly, the suction generator 36 draws air and
entrained dirt and debris through the main inlet cavity 38 through
the twin hoses 50 and the fitting 42, then up the wand 44 and
through the flexible hose 46 into the collection chamber of the
dirt cup 32. Dirt and debris collects in the dirt cup 32 as the air
is then drawn through a filter (not shown) made of porous, pleated
filter material or the like and through a secondary filter pad (not
shown) into the compartment housing the suction generator 36. After
passing over and cooling the motor, that air is discharged through
a HEPA filter (not shown) through an exhaust port 52 into the
environment.
[0022] In one possible embodiment, the dirt collection chamber of
the dirt container 32 includes a substantially cylindrical sidewall
and a tangentially directed inlet. This promotes cyclonic airflow
in the collection chamber. That airflow enhances cleaning
efficiency under many operating conditions. Still, it should be
realized that the present invention need not be limited to cyclonic
airflow systems. Accordingly, the dirt collection chamber may
assume substantially any shape and the inlet may assume
substantially any orientation and/or be formed in the sidewall,
bottom wall or top wall of the dirt container 32.
[0023] At certain times and during particular cleaning operations
such as when cleaning along baseboards or when desiring to use the
cleaning tool to clean chair bottoms, draperies, window sills or
the like, the operator withdraws the cleaning end-of the wand 48
from the fitting 42. The flexible hose 46 allows the operator to
manipulate the wand 44 as necessary to complete the cleaning
operation.
[0024] As should further be appreciated from reviewing FIG. 1, a
light source, generally designated by reference numeral 60, is
carried on the wand 44. The light source 60 includes a housing 62
and a means for fastening the housing 62 to the wand 44. As
illustrated, that means is a mounting band or bracket 64 that fits
snugly around the outer periphery of the wand 44 and connects the
light source directly to the wand. Of course, the band 64 is just
one possible means for mounting the light source 60 to the wand 44
and substantially any other appropriate structure could be utilized
including velcro, screws or other fastening mechanisms.
[0025] One or more light emitting diodes 66 are provided in the
front face 68 of the housing 62. The light emitting diodes 66 may
be powered through a circuit board (not shown) that receives power
from the electrical wall outlet. Alternatively, the light emitting
diodes 66 maybe powered by a battery (not shown) held in the
housing 62 or provided in the nozzle or canister assemblies 14, 16
of the vacuum cleaner 10. In either arrangement, the light emitting
diodes 66 direct light over the cleaning end 48 of the wand 44 and
any cleaning tools that might be connected thereto in order to
illuminate the working area and allow the operator to see better
when cleaning. Advantageously, a light source 60 positioned on the
wand 44 in the manner described ensures that the light is directed
at a point where it most benefits the operator.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a canister vacuum cleaner equipped with
the hand cleaning tool 12 of the present invention. More
particularly, the canister vacuum cleaner 100 includes a hose 111
and a canister housing 112. The canister housing 112 includes an
internal chamber 114 as well as a suction inlet 116 and an exhaust
outlet 118 both communicating with that chamber. A suction
generator, in the form of a fan and motor assembly generally
designated by reference numeral 120 is held in the chamber 114.
Additionally, a dust collector in the form of a dust bag 122 is
held in the internal chamber 14 between the suction inlet 16 and
the suction generator 20.
[0027] The vacuum cleaner 110 also includes a nozzle 124 for
picking up dirt and debris. The nozzle 124 includes an inlet 126
and an outlet 128. The nozzle houses a motor driven agitator 130
and a drive motor 132 for driving the agitator. A telescoping wand
assembly generally designated by reference numeral 134 operatively
connects the nozzle 124 to the hose 111 that is connected to the
suction inlet 116 of the canister housing 112.
[0028] As further illustrated, a light source 142 is provided on
the telescoping wand assembly 134 including first and second
sections 136, 138. The light source is held in position by a band
144. The light source 142 is identical to the light source 60 in
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and includes one or more light
emitting diodes 146 for directing light over the cleaning end 148
of the wand 134. This is particularly beneficial when the wand 134
is disconnected at the coupling 150 from the powerhead and
manipulated for purposes of above floor cleaning. More
particularly, the added light source 142 allows the operator to do
a better job when cleaning.
[0029] A detailed illustration of the light source 60, 142 is
presented in FIG. 3. The light source 60, 142 includes a housing
200 holding three LEDs, incandescent bulbs, flourescent bulbs,
halogen bulbs or zenon bulbs 202. Light from the LEDs/bulbs 202 is
directed by lenses and/or prisms 204 along the wand 44, 138 onto a
work area to be cleaned.
[0030] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the
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. For
example, the vacuum cleaner could include a single agitator or more
than two agitators. The vacuum cleaner could include a dust bag
rather than a dirt cup. Further, while the light source 60, 142 of
the illustrated embodiment is described as being light emitting
diodes 66, 146, other light sources could be used. For example, the
light source could comprise light emitting diodes, incandescent
bulbs, flourescent bulbs, zenon bulbs and/or halogen bulbs.
Substantially any known source of light could be utilized.
[0031] 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 embodiment do not
and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims
and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
* * * * *