U.S. patent number 3,795,938 [Application Number 05/187,747] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-12 for vacuum cleaner attachment for shag rugs.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Wayne L. McNulty. Invention is credited to Achille J. Caporaso.
United States Patent |
3,795,938 |
Caporaso |
March 12, 1974 |
VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT FOR SHAG RUGS
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner attachment for use in cleaning shag type rugs
or carpets includes two pivoted shafts from each of which a series
of comblike rods extend. When the attachment is moved in one
direction, one of such series produces a combing action, and the
other series is displaced by the rug or carpet to a cleaning
position, and when the attachment is moved in the opposite
direction, said one series is cleaned and said other series
produces a combing action.
Inventors: |
Caporaso; Achille J. (San
Dimas, CA) |
Assignee: |
McNulty; Wayne L. (Monrovia,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22690298 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/187,747 |
Filed: |
October 8, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/369;
15/402 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
9/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
9/02 (20060101); A47l 009/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/367,368,369,371-373,402 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hornsby; Harvey C.
Assistant Examiner: Moore; C. K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lyon & Lyon
Claims
We claim:
1. A vacuum cleaner device of the character described including a
generally hollow body having an opening portion for fitting to a
vacuum line; means on said body and extending downwardly therefrom
for contacting a rug or carpet; a single means pivoted on said body
and pivotable thereon for pivoted movement from one position
thereon to a second position thereon; the last-mentioned means
having extending therefrom spaced comblike elements for contacting
said rug or carpet to comb said rug or carpet in one position of
said pivoted means; cooperating stop means acting between said
single pivoted means and said body and limiting pivotal movement of
said pivoted means to said one position when said body is being
moved in one direction to comb said rug or carpet by said comblike
elements; when said body is being moved in the opposite direction,
said single means is pivoted to said second position by engagement
of said comblike elements and said cooperating stop means with said
rug or carpet wherein said comblike elements move into engagement
with said body and stop further pivotal movement; said comblike
elements in said second position being in a position wherein said
comblike elements extend into said body vacuum opening to which
vacuum is applied to subject said comblike elements to vacuum to
clean the same.
2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which a second like pivoted
means is pivoted on said body; the first mentioned pivoted means
and said second pivoted means includes two parallel extending and
spaced rods independently pivotally mounted such that when the
device is moved in said one direction in contact with the carpet or
rug the comblike elements of one of said rods combs said carpet or
rug and the comblike elements of the other rod extend into said
body vacuum opening and that when the device is moved in the
opposite direction the comblike elements of said other rod combs
said carpet or rug and the comblike elements of said one rod extend
to said vacuum opening.
3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the cooperating stop
means includes a projection on said single pivoted means engageable
with said body.
4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said opening portion
is defined by a tubular portion communicating with a flared opening
and said flared opening communicates with a generally rectangular
open portion in the base of said body and said comblike elements
project into said rectangular portion in open said second position
of said pivoted means.
Description
The present invention relates to improved vacuum cleaner
attachments particularly useful in the cleaning of shag type rugs
or carpets.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved
attachment which achieves self cleaning of comblike elements used
in unmatting and cleaning of shag type rugs or carpets.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide an
attachment for unmatting and cleaning of shag type rugs or carpets
involving two pivoted comblike structures, one of which is
effective in one direction of attachment movement to comb and clean
a rug or carpet while the other is in an opportune position for
cleaning after being deflected to such cleaning position.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be
novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This
invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of
operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may
be best understood by reference to the following description taken
in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner attachment for
shag type rugs embodying features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of the bottom of the attachment.
The attachment is primarily for use for cleaning of rugs and
carpets that have long exposed fibrous material extending in
length, for example, one half, three quarters, or one inch and
presently referred to in the rug and carpet business as shag rugs
or carpets.
The device illustrated is in the nature of an attachment to
existing conventional vacuum cleaners which have a vacuum hose
terminating in a conventional connector (not shown) for making a
quickly attachable and detachable connection to the internal
annular grooved portion 10A of the tubular connecting portion 10B
of body 10. This tubular portion 10 flares outwardly and downwardly
and terminates as an elongated vacuum opening 10C within the base
portion 10D of generally rectangular construction that incorporates
a pair of downwardly extending end legs 10E, 10F which serve as rug
or carpet runners and serve to space the vacuum opening 10C as well
as the connecting vacuum grooves or channels 10G, 10H an
appreciable distance above the surface of the rug or carpet (not
shown) upon which such runners 10E, 10F rest.
Flat portions 10J, 10K of the base on opposite sides of opening 10C
and connecting vacuum channels 10G, 10H have loosely pivotally
mounted thereon a pair of rods 11 and 12 respectively using three
spaced hasp-like elements 14, 15 respectively which are secured to
corresponding flat portions 10J, 10K.
Each of these pivoted rods or shafts 11, 12 have extending
therefrom a series of spaced aligned rod stubs 11A, 12A in the
nature of comblike teeth as well as three spaced aligned rod stubs
11B, 12B which extend in a direction perpendicular to the other
corresponding teeth 11A, 12A.
The comblike rods 11A, 12A are staggered relative to each other,
and such condition is maintained because as seen, some of hasp
elements 14 and 15 are between projecting rod stubs 11A, 11B and
correspondingly 12A, 12B, and thus serve to prevent any substantial
longitudinal movement of the rods or shafts 11, 12.
In operation, the attachment connected to vacuum apparatus rests on
the rug or carpet and is move backward and forward as in
conventional vacuuming operations. In the forward movement of the
attachment, the rug is effectively combed by the comb elements 11A
with the rod elements 11B contacting the base flat surface 10J.
During this forward movement the comb elements 12A initially in a
downwardly extending direction are deflected in a clockwise
direction in FIG. 2 and ultimately contact the flat portion 10K
which serves as a stop, the comb elements 12A being maintained in
the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 as a result of contact of
the three stubs 12B with the rug or carpet during such assumed
forward movement in which the other series of comb elements 11A are
maintained in rug or carpet engaging position as a result of the
three stubs 11B contacting the flat surface 10J. When as described
above the comb elements 12A are in their dotted line retracted
position in FIG. 2 the ends of such elements lie above the vacuum
channel in an opportune position for cleaning or removal of any
fibres or other materials which may have become attached to
elements 12A. During movement of the attachment in the opposite,
i.e., reverse, direction, the position of comb elements 11A, 12A
are reversed with the elements 12A now combing or cleaning the rug
or carpet and elements 11A being in opportune position for cleaning
where the applied vacuum forces are believed to be largest.
While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the
appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as
fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
* * * * *