U.S. patent application number 11/606557 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-05 for floor care apparatus equipped with electroluminescent light source.
Invention is credited to Chad D. Overaag.
Application Number | 20080127447 11/606557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39473518 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080127447 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Overaag; Chad D. |
June 5, 2008 |
Floor care apparatus equipped with electroluminescent light
source
Abstract
A floor care apparatus includes a housing carrying a suction
generator, a dirt collection vessel and an electroluminescent light
source.
Inventors: |
Overaag; Chad D.; (Danville,
KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
39473518 |
Appl. No.: |
11/606557 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/324 ; 15/325;
15/347; 15/415.1; 362/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/009 20130101;
A47L 9/2857 20130101; A47L 9/2842 20130101; A47L 9/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/324 ; 15/347;
15/325; 15/415.1; 362/91 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/30 20060101
A47L009/30; A47L 9/14 20060101 A47L009/14; A47L 9/00 20060101
A47L009/00; A47L 9/02 20060101 A47L009/02 |
Claims
1.) A floor care apparatus, comprising: a housing; a suction
generator carried on said housing; a dirt collection vessel carried
on said housing; and an electroluminescent light source carried on
said housing and directed so as to illuminate a work area adjacent
said floor care apparatus.
2.) The floor care apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
electroluminescent light source is a flexible strip.
3.) The floor care apparatus of claim 2, wherein said flexible
strip is held in a channel on said vacuum cleaner.
4.) A floor care apparatus, comprising: a housing including a
nozzle assembly; a suction generator carried on said housing; a
dirt collection vessel carried on said housing; an
electroluminescent light source carried on said nozzle assembly and
directed so as to illuminate a work area adjacent said floor care
apparatus.
5.) The floor care apparatus of claim 4 further including a bumper
carried on said nozzle assembly.
6.) The floor care apparatus of claim 5, wherein said
electroluminescent light source is mounted to said bumper.
7.) The floor care apparatus of claim 6, wherein said bumper
includes a channel and said electroluminescent light source is
received in said channel.
8.) The floor care apparatus of claim 7, wherein said bumper is
resilient.
9.) The floor care apparatus of claim 8, wherein said
electroluminescent light source is a flexible strip.
10.) The floor care apparatus of claim 6, wherein said dirt
collection vessel is a dirt cup.
11.) The floor care apparatus of claim 10, wherein said dirt cup
includes a cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and
an outlet.
12.) The floor care apparatus of claim 6, wherein said dirt
collection vessel is a filter bag.
13.) The floor care apparatus of claim 6, wherein said nozzle
assembly includes a suction inlet and a rotary agitator is carried
on said nozzle assembly adjacent said suction inlet.
14.) The floor care apparatus of claim 6, wherein said housing
further includes a canister assembly.
15.) The floor care apparatus of claim 14, wherein said dirt
collection vessel is carried on said canister assembly.
16.) The floor care apparatus of claim 15, wherein said canister
assembly is pivotally connected to said nozzle assembly.
17.) A method of illuminating a work area on a floor in front of a
floor care apparatus, comprising: equipping said floor care
apparatus with an electroluminescent light source.
18.) The method of claim 17 further including positioning said
electroluminescent light source on a nozzle assembly of said floor
care apparatus.
19.) The method of claim 18, further including mounting said
electroluminescent light source on a bumper secured to said nozzle
assembly of said floor care apparatus.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the floor care
equipment field and, more particularly, to a floor care apparatus
equipped with an electroluminescent light source.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 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 domestic, commercial
and industrial environments. In order to achieve the desired dirt
and dust removal, most vacuum cleaners incorporate a rotary
agitator. The rotary agitator is provided to beat dirt and debris
from the nap of the carpet or rug while a pressure drop or vacuum
is used to force air entrained with this dirt and debris into the
nozzle of the vacuum cleaner. The particulate laden air is then
drawn into a dirt collection vessel. The air is then drawn through
a filter before being directed through the motor of the suction
generator to provide cooling. Finally, the air is filtered to
remove any fine particles of carbon from the brushes of that motor
or other dirt that might remain in the air-stream before being
exhausted back into the environment.
[0003] It has long been known to equip the nozzle assembly of a
canister vacuum cleaner, upright vacuum cleaner or extractor with a
headlight for illuminating the work area so as to allow the
operator to more efficiently and effectively guide the vacuum
cleaner during the cleaning operation. U.S. Pat. No. 2,208,523 to
Coleman discloses an early vacuum cleaner equipped with a tubular
incandescent lamp, reflector and lens in order to direct light over
the work area. More recent advances in technology have led to
efforts to further improve illumination of the work field in front
of a floor cleaning apparatus. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,498
to Lawrence et al. discloses a vacuum cleaner headlight system
incorporating a light pipe. U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,735 to Dilger et
al. discloses a vacuum cleaner equipped with a lighting system
comprising a plurality of ultra-bright light-emitting diodes.
[0004] The present invention relates to a floor care apparatus
equipped with a new and further improved lighting system that is
economical to build while also allowing greater design flexibility
and the positioning of a light source along the lower portion of
the nozzle assembly adjacent the work field or surface area to be
cleaned so that maximum illumination and benefit is achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, a floor care apparatus is provided comprising a
housing, a suction generator carried on the housing and a dirt
collection vessel carried on the housing. The housing is further
equipped with an electroluminescent light source that is directed
so as to illuminate a work area adjacent to the floor care
apparatus. The electroluminescent light source may take the form of
a flexible strip and that flexible strip may be held in a channel
on the vacuum cleaner.
[0006] Alternatively, the present invention may be described as a
floor care apparatus comprising a housing including a nozzle
assembly wherein a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel
are both carried on that housing. Still further, the invention
includes an electroluminescent light source carried on the nozzle
assembly and directed so that it illuminates a work area adjacent
the floor care apparatus.
[0007] More specifically describing the invention the floor care
apparatus includes a bumper carried on the nozzle assembly. The
electroluminescent light source is mounted to the bumper.
Typically, the bumper includes a channel and the electroluminescent
light source is received in that channel. The bumper may be made
from a resilient material and the electroluminescent light source
may be a flexible strip.
[0008] Still further describing the invention the dirt collection
vessel may take the form of a dirt cup. That dirt cup may include a
cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an outlet
in order to provide for cyclonic air-flow. Alternatively, the dirt
collection vessel may take the form of a filter bag such as a
standard vacuum cleaner bag.
[0009] In addition, the nozzle assembly may include a suction inlet
and a rotary agitator may be carried on the nozzle assembly
adjacent the suction inlet. Still further, the housing may include
a canister assembly. Typically, the dirt collection vessel is
carried on the canister assembly. In one possible embodiment, the
canister assembly is pivotably connected to the nozzle
assembly.
[0010] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention a method is provided for illuminating the work area on a
floor in front of a floor care apparatus. The method comprises the
equipping of the floor care apparatus with an electroluminescent
light source. More specifically describing the method, the method
may include the positioning of the electroluminescent light source
on a nozzle assembly of the floor care apparatus. Still further,
the method may include the mounting of the electroluminescent light
source on a bumper secured to the nozzle assembly of the floor care
apparatus.
[0011] In the following description there is shown and described
several preferred embodiments 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 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 DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification, illustrates several aspects of the present
invention and together with the description serves to explain
certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first possible embodiment
of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second possible embodiment
of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematical side elevational view illustrating
the electroluminescent light source; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a detailed, cross-section view illustrating how
the electroluminescent light source is mounted in the channel on
the nozzle assembly bumper.
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of this invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 showing the floor care
apparatus 10 of the present invention in the form of an upright
vacuum cleaner equipped with an electroluminescent light source 12.
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
10 on and off. Of course, electrical power is supplied to the
vacuum cleaner 10 from a standard electrical wall outlet through an
electrical cord (not shown).
[0019] A pair of rear wheels (not shown) provided on the 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 (not shown) functions to lock the canister assembly in
an upright position as shown in FIG. 1. When the foot latch 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.
[0020] In the presently illustrated embodiment, the canister
assembly 14 includes a cavity adapted to receive and hold the dirt
collection vessel 32. The dirt collection vessel 32 may take the
form of a dirt cup 34 including a cylindrical side wall 36, a
tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet. A
primary filter 40 may be provided in the dirt cup 34 over the
axially directed outlet. The primary filter 40 is cylindrical in
shape and concentrically received within the cylindrical side wall
36 of the dirt cup 34. Such a structural arrangement induces
cyclonic air flow in the dirt cup 34 and provides for enhanced
cleaning efficiency. In an alternative design, the canister
assembly 14 includes a closed compartment that houses a filter or
vacuum cleaner bag, of a type known in the art, that functions as
the dirt collection vessel 32.
[0021] The nozzle assembly 14 includes a suction inlet 44. A rotary
agitator 46 is carried on the nozzle assembly 14 so as to extend
across the suction inlet 44. A suction generator 48, including a
fan and a cooperating drive motor, is carried on the canister
assembly 16. The suction generator 48 functions to generate a
vacuum air stream for drawing dirt and debris from the surface to
be cleaned. The rotary agitator 46 may be connected by power take
off to the motor of the suction generator 48 or may be driven by a
separate, dedicated agitator drive motor. While the suction
generator 48 is illustrated as being carried on the canister
assembly 16, it should be appreciated that, alternatively, it could
be carried on the nozzle assembly 14 if desired.
[0022] During normal vacuum cleaner operation, the rotary agitator
46 functions to beat dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying
carpet. The suction generator 48 functions to draw a vacuum air
stream into the suction inlet 44. Dirt and debris from the carpet
is entrained in the air stream, which is then drawn by the suction
generator 48 through the tangentially directed inlet 38 into the
dirt cup 34. Dirt and debris is captured in the dirt cup 34 while
relatively clean air is drawn through the main filter 42. That air
stream passes over the motor of the suction generator 48 to provide
cooling before being exhausted through a final filter, such as a
HEPA filter (not shown) before being exhausted through an exhaust
port 38 into the environment.
[0023] An alternative embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated, the canister vacuum cleaner
50 also incorporates an electroluminescent light source 52. More
particularly, the canister vacuum cleaner 50 includes a hose 54 and
a canister housing 56. The canister housing 56 includes an internal
chamber as well as a suction inlet 60 and an exhaust outlet both
communicating with that chamber. A suction generator, in the form
of a fan and motor assembly and generally designated by reference
numeral 64, is held in the chamber. In the illustrated embodiment a
filter bag 66 is held in the internal chamber between the suction
inlet 60 and the suction generator 64.
[0024] As further illustrated the vacuum cleaner 50 includes a
nozzle assembly 70 for picking up dirt and debris. The nozzle 70
includes an inlet 72 and an outlet 74. The nozzle assembly 70
houses a motor driven agitator 76 and a drive motor 78 for driving
the agitator. A telescoping wand assembly, generally designated by
reference numeral 71, operatively connects the nozzle assembly 70
to the hose 54 that is connected to the suction inlet 60 of the
canister housing 56. The wand assembly 71 includes a telescoping
wand 73, a control handle 75 and an on/off actuator switch 77.
[0025] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a schematical
illustration of the light source 12, 52. As illustrated the light
source 12, 52 comprises a first, transparent electrode 100, a
second, rear electrode 102 and an intermediate layer 104 of
phosphor material. Typically, the phosphor material is a zinc
sulphide powder doped with manganese. When an AC voltage is applied
between the electrodes 100, 102, the emitter breaks down and
conducts current. The current excites the manganese ions which give
off light. Such a light source 12, 52 may be made very thin (less
than 0.3 mm thick). It is flat and fully flexible. It is also
rugged, distributes light over a wide angle, is relatively
inexpensive to produce and produces very little heat when emitting
light.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates one possible mounting of the
electroluminescent light sources 12, 52 to the respective nozzle
assemblies 14, 70. As illustrated, each nozzle assembly 14, 70
includes a bumper 80 formed of a resilient material. Each bumper 80
incorporates a channel 82 for receiving and holding the light
sources 12, 52. Each light source 12, 52 is mounted in the channel
82 of the bumper 80 carried on the nozzle assembly 14 or 70. The
light source 12, 52 may be mechanically fastened in the channel 82
by means of cooperating shoulders 84 on the bumper 80 as
illustrated or by adhesive, by friction fit or other appropriate
means. Each bumper 80 is secured to the housing of the nozzle
assemblies 14, 70 by any means of mechanical fastening known to
those skilled in the art. Advantageously, the electroluminescent
light sources 12, 52 are thin and flexible so as to allow mounting
in the resilient bumper 80 at the very front and base of the nozzle
assembly 14, 70. From this position the light sources 12, 52 are
best located to illuminate the work area immediately in front of
the nozzle assembly 14, 70 so as to better aid the operator during
cleaning.
[0027] 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, a protection, transparent shield may be provided over the
light source 12, 52 if desired. 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.
* * * * *