U.S. patent number 3,744,082 [Application Number 05/195,922] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-10 for vacuum cleaner and rake.
Invention is credited to Alfred G. Marshall.
United States Patent |
3,744,082 |
Marshall |
July 10, 1973 |
VACUUM CLEANER AND RAKE
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner and rake combination. The rake includes a frame
having tines mounted thereon and projecting downwardly therefrom.
Such rake is secured to the vacuum cleaner with the frame
positioned in advance of the vacuum cleaner housing, whereby it
moves in the path of the cleaner housing on movement of the vacuum
cleaner. Multiple rows of tines are provided with the tines of the
various rows staggered. The tines incline toward the housing of the
vacuum cleaner in projecting downwardly from the frame.
Inventors: |
Marshall; Alfred G. (Woodburn,
OR) |
Family
ID: |
22723376 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/195,922 |
Filed: |
November 5, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/402; 15/246;
15/142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
9/00 (20130101); A47L 9/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
9/00 (20060101); A47L 9/02 (20060101); A47l
009/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/246,402,393,367,364,142 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Petrakes; John
Assistant Examiner: Moore; C. K.
Claims
It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters patent:
1. A rake attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising, in operative
position,
a substantially horizontal frame having a top and a bottom, forward
and trailing edges, and opposed sides joining said forward and
trailing edges,
multiple tines disposed in multiple rows on the bottom of said
frame, the rows extending between said sides of the frame and the
tines of one row being staggered with respect to the tines of other
rows, the tines projecting downwardly and inclining rearwardly
toward the trailing edge of the frame, and
means on opposite sides of said frame projecting rearwardly of the
trailing edge thereof for detachably coupling the frame to the
housing of a vacuum cleaner.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means on opposite sides of
said frame comprises opposed straps projecting rearwardly to
terminate in unjoined ends adapted to straddle the vacuum cleaner
housing, said straps having means adjacent their unjoined ends for
fixedly securing said ends to the vacuum cleaner housing.
3. The combination of a vacuum cleaner including a housing mounted
for movement over the ground, the housing overlying and embracing a
suction area cleaned by the vacuum cleaner,
a frame having a top and a bottom secured to the vacuum cleaner
positioned forwardly of the vacuum cleaner housing, said frame
moving in the path of the cleaner housing and the suction area
embraced thereby with movement of the vacuum cleaner, and
multiple tines disposed in multiple rows on the bottom of said
frame which rows extend transversely of said path, said tines being
mounted on and projecting downwardly from said frame, the tines of
the various rows being staggered and the tines inclining toward the
vacuum cleaner in projecting down from said frame.
Description
This invention relates to vacuum cleaning apparatus of the type
that is utilized in the cleaning of carpets.
So-called shag rugs or carpets have relatively long filaments or
strands forming the surface of the carpet, which are difficult to
clean and properly arrange utilizing the usual vacuum cleaner.
Because of their length, the strands exhibit a tendency to mat in a
disarrayed manner after foot traffic thereover, and when a vacuum
cleaner is run over such a carpet, difficulties are encountered in
removing dirt buried within the matted material. Furthermore, of
course, there is nothing in the vacuum cleaner tending to orient
the strands in other than their matted state.
This invention contemplates an attachment which is securable to a
vacuum cleaner, effective to rake or comb the strands of carpeting
material along a path which coincides with the path of the vacuum
cleaner housing during its back and forth movement over the
carpeting. The attachment includes tines which, with the vacuum
cleaner moved away from the operator serve to straighten out the
shag strands to promote a better cleaning action on the cleaner
housing then moving over the area. On the vacuum cleaner then being
drawn to the operator, a final raking of the vacuumed strands is
produced, to fluff up and properly orient these strands.
An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide novel means
for vacuum cleaning and raking a shag-type carpet.
Another object of the invention is to provide a unique attachment
for a vacuum cleaner, which converts the cleaner into an efficient
instrument for cleaning and raking shag carpets and rugs.
These and other objects and advantages are attained by the
invention, which is described hereinbelow in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rake attachment as contemplated
according to one embodiment of the invention, showing such from its
bottom side, thus to illustrate the tines that project downwardly
in the attachment;
FIG. 2 shows the attachment connected to a vacuum cleaner housing,
and;
FIG. 3 illustrates how the vacuum cleaner housing and attachment
operate in the cleaning of a rug or carpet.
Referring now to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the
invention is illustrated, the attachment is shown at 10, and
includes a frame 12 which may take the form of the rectangular
panel as illustrated. The frame includes a pair of opposed sides
14, 16, a leading edge 18, and a trailing edge 20.
Projecting downwardly from the base of the frame 12 are multiple
tines 22. Such tines are arranged in rows extending between the
opposed sides 14, 16. The tines of the various rows are staggered,
preferably, whereby a more complete and uniform combing or raking
action is provided on the attachment being drawn over a region of
the carpet, without the introduction of excessive frictional drag
in the attachment.
The attachment is mounted on a vacuum cleaner, such as the one
partially shown at 24, with the frame 12 directly in front of the
vacuum cleaner housing 26, such shousing being the usual one that
encloses the suction area cleaned by the vacuum cleaner. The frame
on movement of the vacuum cleaner travels over the same path which
the vacuum cleaner housing travels over.
In the particular embodiment of the invention shown, the means
provided for attaching the attachment to the cleaner housing
comprises a pair of straps 28, 30 extending rearwardly from frame
12. The forward set of ends of the straps are secured to the frame
12 through screws 32, 34. The rearwardly projecting free ends of
the straps are provided with bores 36, 38.
Secured to the cleaner housing are a pair of brackets, such as the
one shown at 40. These are provided with laterally outwardly
projecting pins 42, 44. In conning the attachment to the housing,
the straps are placed in a position straddling the cleaner housing,
and then bowed outwardly slightly, to enable them to be fitted over
the pins 42, 44 of brackets 40. On release of the straps, the free
ends of the straps come together to produce a secure connection.
The connection is such that the attachment is fixedly secured in
place when mounted on the vacuum cleaner housing.
It will be noted that tines 22 incline rearwardly, or toward the
trailing edge of the frame, in projecting downwardly from the
frame. This makes it easier to push the attachment away from the
operator during an initial cleaning pass. The tines tend to rake
deeper on a final cleaning pass and on the attachment being drawn
to an operator.
In utilizing the cleaner and attachment, the operator firsts moves
the vacuum cleaner away from him, with such movement causing the
attachment to move over the carpet in advance of housing 26 with
the tines sliding over the filaments or strands which make up the
shag surfacing of the carpet. This produces a preliminary combing
action in the shag, exposing dirt material whereby on the cleaner
housing moving over the same region such is better picked up by the
vacuum cleaner. On the operator returning the cleaner by pulling it
toward him, there is another vacuuming of this region followed by
the tines of the attachment again combing the area, this time to a
slightly greater depth because of the incline of the tines
described.
The attachment is very easy to use, and has been found to add
little to the manual effort required in moving the vacuum cleaner.
A carpet processed using the attachment and cleaner has a fluffy,
well manicured appearance, without the matted characteristic
apparent when a vacuum cleaner alone is employed.
In the event that it is desired to use the vacuum cleaner for
ordinary floors, and without the attachment, it is a simple matter
to remove the attachment by pulling the straps away from the side
of the housing to release it.
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described,
it is appreciated that variations are possible without departing
from the invention.
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