U.S. patent application number 12/858011 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-23 for floor cleaning apparatus with cleaning attachment release mechanism.
Invention is credited to Anthony E. Spiggle.
Application Number | 20120042471 12/858011 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45592886 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120042471 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spiggle; Anthony E. |
February 23, 2012 |
FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS WITH CLEANING ATTACHMENT RELEASE
MECHANISM
Abstract
A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing. A dirt collection
vessel and a suction generator are both carried on the housing. A
cleaning tool receiver is connected to the housing. The cleaning
tool receiver includes a spring loaded detent. In addition, the
apparatus includes a cleaning tool releasably connected to the
cleaning tool receiver. The cleaning tool includes a body having a
latching aperture receiving the spring loaded detent when the
cleaning tool is connected to the receiver. The cleaning tool also
includes a release actuator in the form of a sliding lever. When
manipulated, the release actuator engages the spring loaded detent
and removes the spring loaded detent from the latching aperture so
as to release the cleaning tool from the cleaning tool
receiver.
Inventors: |
Spiggle; Anthony E.;
(Danville, KY) |
Family ID: |
45592886 |
Appl. No.: |
12/858011 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/242 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/347 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/00 20060101
A47L009/00 |
Claims
1. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a housing; a dirt
collection vessel carried on said housing; a suction generator
carried on said housing; a cleaning tool receiver connected to said
housing, said cleaning tool receiver including a spring-loaded
detent; a cleaning tool releasably connected to said cleaning tool
receiver, said cleaning tool including a body having (a) a latching
aperture receiving said spring-loaded detent when said cleaning
tool is connected to said receiver and (b) a sliding lever release
actuator that, when manipulated, engages said spring-loaded detent
and removes said spring-loaded detent from said latching aperture
so as to release said cleaning tool from said cleaning tool
receiver.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning tool receiver is
a cleaning wand.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning tool receiver is
a cleaning wand handle.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning tool receiver is
alternately a cleaning wand and a cleaning wand handle.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sliding lever release
actuator is spring-loaded.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said sliding lever release
actuator includes a lug that engages said spring-loaded detent.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said lug includes a cam
surface.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sliding lever release
actuator is received in a cavity in said body.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said lug and cam surface
extend into said latching aperture beside said spring-loaded
detent.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said floor cleaning apparatus
is a canister vacuum cleaner.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said cleaning tool includes a
brush.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said cleaning tool has an
elongated nose.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said body defines an air flow
pathway and said cavity and said sliding lever release actuator
extend parallel to said airflow pathway.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a spring extending parallel
to said airflow pathway biases said spring-loaded sliding
lever.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spring-loaded detent is
biased and moves in a first plane and said release actuator moves
in a second plane wherein said second plane is substantially
perpendicular to said first plane.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said body defines an air flow
pathway and said sliding lever release actuator moves along a path
parallel to said airflow pathway.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the floor care
equipment field and, more particularly, to a floor cleaning
apparatus incorporating a cleaning attachment release
mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known in the art to provide canister and upright
vacuum cleaners equipped with wand assemblies for specialty
cleaning applications. Similarly, it is well known in the art to
provide various cleaning attachments that may be connected to the
end of a wand assembly or control handle of the wand and that are
particularly useful for various applications such as crevice
cleaning, upholstery cleaning, drapery cleaning and stairway
cleaning.
[0003] In order to provide for proper operation and operating
convenience, the attachments must firmly seat on the end of the
wand during use yet be freely removable by the operator when
desired. Toward this end it is known to provide a spring loaded
locking detent on the wand assembly that is received in a
cooperating aperture on the cleaning attachment to secure the
attachment to the end of the wand. Further, it is known to provide
an actuator on the cleaning attachment that may be pivoted or
depressed to force the detent from the cooperating aperture and
allow removal of the cleaning attachment.
[0004] While such a structure functions well for its intended
purpose, it suffers from a number of drawbacks. Specifically, the
actuator typically includes a pin that engages the detent to force
the detent from the locking aperture of the cleaning attachment.
The longitudinal axis of the pin lies in alignment with the detent
so that the actuator projects a substantial distance radially
outwardly from the cleaning attachment and the wand to which the
cleaning attachment is secured. During some cleaning applications,
the projecting actuator may be caught on an object thereby
interfering with the cleaning task or even inadvertently releasing
the cleaning attachment. It should also be appreciated that the
projecting actuator is not particularly aesthetically
appealing.
[0005] The present invention addresses these shortcomings by
providing a cleaning attachment or tool with a release actuator
that extends in a direction perpendicular to the spring loaded
detent and the wand assembly to which the cleaning attachment is
secured. This reduces the extend of any projection of the actuator
in the direction perpendicular to the wand and thereby provides a
more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, a floor cleaning apparatus is provided. The floor
cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a dirt collection vessel
carried on the housing and a suction generator carried on the
housing. A cleaning tool receiver is connected to the housing. The
cleaning tool receiver includes a spring loaded detent. A cleaning
tool is releasably connected to the cleaning tool receiver. The
cleaning tool includes a body having (a) a latching aperture
receiving the spring loaded detent when the cleaning tool is
connected to the receiver and (b) a sliding lever release actuator.
When manipulated, the release actuator engages the spring loaded
detent and removes the spring loaded detent from the aperture so as
to release the cleaning tool from the cleaning tool receiver.
[0007] More specifically describing the invention the release
actuator is a spring loaded sliding lever. The sliding lever
release actuator includes a lug having a cam surface that engages
the spring loaded detent. The sliding lever release actuator is
received in a cavity in the body of the cleaning tool. The body
also defines an air flow pathway and the cavity, the spring for
loading the sliding lever and the sliding lever all extend parallel
to that air flow pathway. Accordingly, while the spring-loaded
detent is biased and moves in a first plane, the sliding lever
release actuator moves in a second plane wherein the second plane
is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
[0008] In the following description there is shown and described
several different embodiments of the 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 DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings incorporated herein 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:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canister vacuum cleaner
including a cleaning attachment incorporating the novel release
mechanism of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 1a is a schematical block diagram of the vacuum cleaner
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevational view of the cleaning
attachment;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the cleaning tool
attached to the end of the control handle with a spring loaded
detent of the control handle received in a latching aperture on the
cleaning tool in order to secure the cleaning tool in position;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating
operation of the release actuator which removes the detent from the
latching aperture in order to allow removal of the cleaning
attachment from the end of the wand assembly;
[0015] FIG. 4a is a detailed view of the release actuator
positioned in a cavity or channel of the cleaning tool as it is
being moved into position to force the spring loaded detent from
the latching aperture in order to release the cleaning tool;
and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating disconnection
of the cleaning tool from the control handle.
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0018] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 1a illustrating a floor
cleaning apparatus in the form of a canister vacuum cleaner 10. As
illustrated in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 10 includes a canister
assembly 12 comprising a housing 14 supported on ground engaging
wheels 16 (only one illustrated) so as to be freely movable across
the floor. The vacuum cleaner 10 also includes a nozzle assembly 18
including a housing 20 supported on wheels 22 (only one shown in
the drawing figure) so as to also be freely movable across the
floor. A hose and wand assembly 24 connects the canister assembly
12 with the nozzle assembly 18. The hose and wand assembly 24
includes a flexible hose 26, a control handle 28 including actuator
switches 30 for controlling operation of the vacuum cleaner and a
telescoping wand 32 including first and second telescoping sections
34, 36. More specifically, the flexible hose 26 includes a first
cuff 38 that is connected to the hose coupler 40 of the canister
assembly 12 and a second cuff 42 that is connected to the control
handle 28. The telescoping wand assembly 32 includes a first
coupler 33 (see FIG. 3) on the end of the wand section 34 that is
connected to the control handle 28. In addition, the wand assembly
32 includes a second coupler 44 on the end of the wand section 36
that is connected to the wand assembly connector 46 carried on the
nozzle assembly 18. A release lever 48 carried on the nozzle
assembly 18 allows the coupler 44 to be disconnected from the
connector 46 when desired in a manner known in the art.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1a, the housing 14 of the canister
assembly 12 includes a first compartment 50 for holding a dirt
collection vessel 52 and a second compartment 54 for holding a
suction generator 56. The dirt collection vessel 52 may comprise a
replaceable filter bag or a dirt cup. The dirt cup may or may not
include a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed
outlet so as to provide cyclonic air flow for enhanced cleaning
efficiency.
[0020] As further illustrated in FIG. 1a, the housing 20 of the
nozzle assembly 18 includes an agitator cavity 58 for receiving and
holding a rotary agitator 60 that is driven by a suction motor 62.
A suction inlet 64 connects the agitator cavity 58 with the
combined hose and wand assembly 24 which in turn is connected to
the canister assembly 12. During standard operation, the rotary
agitator 60 beats dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying
carpet being cleaned. Simultaneously, the suction generator 56
draws air through the agitator cavity 58 into the suction inlet 64.
Air entrained with dirt and debris is then drawn from the suction
inlet 64 through the telescoping wand 32, control handle 28 and
flexible hose 26 of the combined hose and wand assembly 24 into the
canister assembly 12. Specifically, the air stream is delivered
into the dirt collection vessel 52 where dirt and debris are
trapped. The relatively clean air stream is then drawn into the
suction generator compartment 54 where it passes over the motor of
the suction generator 56 to provide cooling before being exhausted
through a final filter 66 and an exhaust port 68 by which it is
returned to the environment.
[0021] As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a cleaning tool
attachment 100 is secured to the control handle 28 over the end of
the control handle that receives the telescoping wand 32. More
specifically, the first coupler 33 on the end of the wand section
34 extends through the cleaning tool 100 and engages the control
handle 28 in a manner known in the art. The control handle 28 and
cleaning tool 100 may be released from the wand assembly 32 by
pushing the release switch 105 carried on the control handle. This
allows the operator to complete a specialty cleaning task using the
cleaning tool 100. Reference is now made to FIGS. 2, 3, 4a and 5
illustrating in detail the cleaning tool 100 and how the cleaning
tool is attached to the wand receiving end of the control handle
28. As illustrated, the cleaning tool 100 includes a main body 102
that receives a cleaning attachment such as a brush 101. A sleeve
cover 103 is received in the main body 102. The cover 103 may be
retracted to expose the brush attachment 101 or extended to cover
the brush attachment as desired.
[0022] As further illustrated, the main body includes a latching
aperture 104. In addition, the body defines an airflow pathway 106.
The latching aperture 105 extends through the body 102 and
communicates with the airflow pathway 106.
[0023] A release actuator, generally designated by reference
numeral 108, is carried on the body 102. The release actuator 108
comprises a sliding lever 110 received in a cavity 112 formed in
the body 102 that extends along and parallel to the air flow
pathway 106. The sliding lever 110 includes a lug 113 having a cam
surface 114. A compression spring 116 is secured to the end wall
118 of the cavity 112 so that the free end of the spring engages
the end of the sliding lever 110. Thus, the spring 116 also extends
parallel to the air flow pathway 106 while biasing the lever 110 to
a first or home position.
[0024] The cleaning tool 100 is secured to the distal end or
cleaning tool receiver 29 of the control handle 28 by sliding the
body 102 thereof over the distal end and aligning the latching
aperture 104 with a spring loaded detent 120 provided on the handle
28. When the cleaning tool 100 is properly seated on the end 29,
the detent 120 is biased by the spring 122 into the latching
aperture 104 thereby positively securing the cleaning tool 100 onto
the control handle 28. Accordingly, the cleaning tool 100 is
positively secured and remains in position on the control handle 28
as the control handle 28 is manipulated to complete the specialty
cleaning operation.
[0025] If it is desired to remove the cleaning tool 100 from the
control handle 28, the operator engages the release actuator 108.
More specifically, the operator pushes the sliding lever 110
against the force of the biasing spring 116 so that the cam surface
114 on the lug 113 engages the end of the detent 120. As the
sliding lever 110 is moved in the direction of action arrow A
parallel to the air flow pathway 106 (see FIGS. 4 and 4a), the cam
surface 114 forces the detent 120 out of the latching aperture 104
thereby freeing the cleaning tool 100 for removal from the distal
end 29 of the control handle 28. After removing the cleaning tool
100 from the control handle 28 (see FIG. 5), the sliding lever 110
is released. This results in the spring 116 biasing the sliding
lever back to the first or home position thereby opening the
latching aperture 104 for receipt of the detent 120 the next time
it is desired to seat a cleaning tool 100 on the control handle
28.
[0026] As should be appreciated, the spring loaded detent 120 of
the control handle 28 is biased and moves in a first plane while
the release actuator 108/sliding lever 110 moves in a second plane
wherein the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the
first plane. This spacial orientation of structures minimizes the
extent that the release actuator 108 projects outwardly on the
cleaning tool 100 thereby providing a streamlined and more
aesthetically pleasing shape.
[0027] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention have 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 cleaning tool 100 may also be used with
an upright vacuum cleaner instead of a canister vacuum cleaner.
Further, for many vacuum cleaner models, the cleaning tool 100 may
also be attached to the end of the telescoping wand 32 if desired.
The embodiments were 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 in
their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
* * * * *