Vacuum Cleaner Suction Tool With Movable Nozzles For Cleaning Deep Pile Shag Rugs

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a suction cleaning tool having a plurality of elongated tube-like nozzles extending downwardly from a manifold supported from a base member by means permitting limited movement thereof relative to said member. Rapid movement is imparted to the manifold and hence to the nozzle by a suitable electric motor secured to the base member. The movement may be in a horizontal plane either back and forth, orbital or pivotal, or in a vertical plane. Also, an elongated suction nozzle may be supported beneath the suction nozzle, member in a manner permitting vertical movement of the nozzle. The base member is provided with a supporting element, such as a wheel at each end, which may be resiliently mounted with respect to the base member. At the center of the base member there is an elbow member to which may be coupled a hollow wand which serves as both a manipulating handle and suction conduit means, to the opposite end of which may be connected a flexible suction hose leading to a source of suction in a vacuum cleaner. The elbow is connected to both the manifold and the elongated suction nozzle, and valve means, preferably operable by a control handle on the wand, is provided for selectively connecting the elbow to either the manifold or the nozzle, or to both.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 152,714, filed June 24, 1971 now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, so-called shag rugs have become quite popular. The fibers forming the pile are exceedingly long, usually several inches, thus making vacuum cleaning of such a rug very difficult. The ordinary suction nozzle, which is elongated in a direction at right angles to the normal direction of the movement of the nozzle, resists movement over the rug as the lips of the nozzle tend to dig into the pile. Moreover, inasmuch as the nozzle will only slide over the fibers, the nozzle opening is held so far above the base of the rug as to prevent the air flow from penetrating deeply enough to remove deeply embedded dirt. In addition, the use of an ordinary nozzle tends to mat down the fibers, giving the surface of the rug an unattractive appearance. A suction nozzle provided with a motor-driven rotary brush has all the above disadvantages, and in addition, the long fibers are apt to get wrapped around the brush and the rotary brush causes undesirable fuzzing or untwisting of the rub fibers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The elongated tube-like nozzles of the suction tool in accordance with the present invention are able to penetrate the pile so that their lower open ends are close to the base of the rug and hence the air flow into the nozzles is able to entrain and remove deeply embedded dirt. The rapid movement imparted to the tube-like nozzles by the motor serves to loosen dirt by agitation and to make it easier to move the nozzles through the pile as the suction tool is moved back and forth. If the rapid movement of the tube-like nozzle is in a vertical direction, the suction is applied at different elevations within the pile and consequently is able to entrain not only deeply embedded dirt, but also dirt which is only part way down. The elongated suction nozzle, being vertically movable with respect to the base member and urged downwardly only by its own light weight, floats on the upper surface of the rug with little tendency to dig in and hence does not impede movement of the tool and is in a position to remove surface litter. The valve means permit the operator to concentrate suction at either the tube-like nozzles for deep dirt cleaning or at the floating nozzle for surface cleaning, or to distribute the suction between the two. Whether or not suction is applied to the tube-like nozzles, they act as a comb when the suction tool is moved back and forth over the rug, giving a pleasing appearance to the latter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suction cleaning tool in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view, partially broken away, on an enlarged scale of the tool shown in FIG. 1, but with a decorative hood removed;

FIG. 3 is a top view, partially broken away, of the nozzle shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view, partially broken away, of the tool shown in the preceeding Figures;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a suction cleaning tool in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale taken on the line 10--10 of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawings, reference character 10 designates an elongated base member from the opposite ends of which depend brackets 12 carrying supporting wheels 14. Supported below the base member 10 by a pair of flexible rubber mounts 16 is an elongated manifold 18 from the bottom of which extends a plurality of spaced tube-like nozzles 20. These mounts permit limited horizontal movement of the manifold. The manifold is connected by a piece of flexible tubing 22 to a branch 23 of a "Y" connection 24 which also serves as an elbow to which may be connected a wand 26, all of which constitute conduit means, the angle of the elbow being such that the wand extends rearwardly and upwardly from the base member 10 as is shown in FIG. 1. The upper end of the wand may be connected by means of a flexible hose with a vacuum cleaner containing a motor-fan unit for creating suction.

Mounted on the upper side of base member 10 is an electric motor 28 having a driving pulley 30 which is engaged by a belt 32. The latter runs over a pair of idler pulleys 34, rotatably mounted on a shaft 36 supported by a block 38 secured to the lower side of base member 10, and drives a pulley 40 fixed to a shaft 42 which is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing carried by the base member. Extending from the lower end of shaft 42 is a pin 44 which is off center with respect to the shaft as is shown particularly in FIG. 6. This pin is received in a bearing formed in a disc 46 which is rigidly secured to manifold 18. Consequently, rotation of pulley 40 and shaft 42 imparts an orbital motion to disc 46, manifold 18 and the tube-like nozzles 20, the manifold being movable in this manner by virtue of the flexible mounts 16 and the flexible tubing 22.

An elongated suction nozzle 50 having gliding pads 51 at opposite ends and wide lips 53 is supported below base member 10 so as to be capable of vertical movement. As is shown particularly in FIG. 2, the nozzle 50 is provided with a pair of vertical tubes 52 communicating with the interior of the nozzle adjacent to the opposite ends thereof. Tubes 52 are telescopically received within tubes 54 depending from base member 10. The upper ends of the tubes 52 are formed with outwardly extending flanges 56 which cooperate with inwardly extending flanges 58 at the lower ends of tubes 54 to prevent complete separation of the tubes. In its lower-most position shown in FIG. 5, the lower surface of nozzle 50 is slightly above the lower ends of nozzles 20, while in its upper-most position shown in FIG. 2, the lower surface of nozzle 50 is substantially above the lower ends of nozzles 20.

Member 10 is formed with apertures 60 in alignment with tubes 54 and a channel member 62 extends over the apertures and along one side of motor 28 to beyond the rear edge of member 10 where it is connected by a conduit 64 with the other branch 65 of "Y" connection 24.

A butterfly valve member 66 (FIG. 4) is secured to a pivotally mounted pin 68, which is located between the two branches of the "Y" and extends through the upper wall thereof, where it carries an arm 70 (FIG. 3). Secured to the outer end of the arm is a stiff wire 72 which, except for its end portions, is enclosed in a spirally wound wire shroud 74 which extends along the wand 26 to a plate 76 secured to the wand near the upper end of the latter. Pivotally mounted on the plate is a control handle 78 the rear end of which is connected to the wire 72. Thus, movement of the handle 78 is transmitted by the wire 72, arm 70 and pin 68 to the valve 66. The plate 76 may be marked appropriately to indicate the position of the valve, which by means of the handle may be set in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 4 so as to connect both the manifold 18 and the nozzle 50 to the wand 26, or in either of its extreme positions so as to block the flow of air from either the manifold or the nozzle, respectively.

A decorative hood member 80 is secured to the top side of base member 10 so as to protect and conceal the motor 28 and other parts carried on the base member.

when using the tool on a deep pile shag rug, the wheels 14 sink into the pile, but support the base member 10 above the upper surface of the pile, while the tube-like nozzles penetrate the pile so that their lower open ends are close to the base of the rug. The elongated nozzle 50, on the other hand, by reason of the gliding pads 51 and wide lips 53 rests on the upper surface of the pile, the telescopic connection between the nozzle and the base member permitting the former to ride or float on the surface, thus accommodating itself to piles of different depth.

For the removal of deeply embedded dirt, the valve 66 is positioned to close off branch 65 and connection 64, thus causing all the air to enter through the tupe-like nozzles 20. The cleaning tool is then moved back and forth, the oribtal movement imparted to the nozzles 20 greatly reducing the resistance to movement of the nozzles through the pile. The rapid orbital movement also aids in loosening dirt and the air flow into the lower open ends of the nozzles is able to entrain and remove deeply embedded dirt. The movement of the tool back and forth causes the nozzles 20 to comb the fibers of the pile, thus producing an attractive appearance of the rug.

While there has been shown and described means for imparting orbital movement to the manifold 18 and nozzles 20, similar results would be obtained if a reciprocating linear movement in a horizontal plane were imparted to these parts, or if they were cause to pivot back and forth about a horizontal axis.

If it is desired to remove surface litter, the valve is shifted to the opposite position, which closes the passage through branch 23 and tubing 22, thus concentrating the suction at nozzle 50. As the nozzle rides on the surface of the pile, it is able to pick up dirt and litter from the surface. The orbital motion of the tube-like nozzles 20 aids in their movement through the pile, as previously described and the vibration imparted to the cleaning tool prevents the telescopic connections between tube 52 and 54 from sticking, thus assuring that the nozzle 50 will drop down and ride on the surface of the rug.

If it is desired to accomplish both deep dirt and surface litter cleaing at the same time, the valve 66 may be set at the intermediate position shown in FIG. 4 so that the air flow is distributed between both the nozzle 50 and the nozzles 20, but of course, this results in less air flow through each.

There is thus provided a suction cleaning tool which may be moved with relative ease through the deep pile of a shag rug and which is able to remove both embedded dirt and surface litter and in addition imparts an attractive appearance to a rug of this type.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, reference character 80 designates a base member to the opposite ends of which are secured wheels 82. As shown, the wheels are rotatably mounted on the vertical legs 84 of angle members 86, the horizontal legs 88 of which are resilient and are secured to the base 80 at only their inner ends by rivets 90 or the like. The resilient legs are so formed that when in unstressed condition, their outer ends extend downwardly somewhat so that the base 80 is spaced a greater distance above the floor than is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, but if a sufficient force is applied downwardly to the tool through the wand, such as the wand 26 of FIG. 1, connected to an elbow 92, the base member 80 may be lowered by deforming the horizontal legs 88 to the position shown in FIG. 8.

Elbow 92 is connected through a swivel joint to a coupling 94 fixed to base 80. A piece of flexible tubing 96 connects coupling 94 to an outlet opening 98 formed in a manifold 100 which is mounted for limited vertical movement with respect to base 80. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the manifold is provided with vertically extended pins 102 at opposite ends which extend through openings formed in the horizontal arm 104 and 106 of brackets 108 secured to base 80. Coil springs 110 and 112 are disposed around pins 102 between the manifold and arms 104 and 106 respectively and tend to center the manifold vertically. The lower side of manifold 100 carries a plurality of spaced tube-like nozzles 114.

Mounted on base 80 below the tube 96 is an electric motor 116 on the shaft of which is secured a collar 118 carrying an eccentrically located pin 120. This pin engages a horizontal slot 122 formed in a block 124 fixed to manifold 100.

In operation, rotation of the motor shaft causes the eccentric pin 120 to travel in a circular path. This causes the block 124 and the manifold 100 to be reciprocated rapidly in a vertical direction, as this is the only motion permitted by the pins 102 and the brackets 108. The parts are so proportioned that, with the eccentric pin in its lower most position and with the resilient arms 88 of the wheel brackets 86 deformed by downward force exerted by the operator through the wand, the lower ends of nozzles 114 are about even with the bottom of wheels 82, as is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. However, if the resilient arms 88 are not deformed, the lower most position of nozzles 114 is somewhat above the bottom of the wheels and hence above the surface on which the tool is resting.

In cleaning a shag rug, the cleaning tool is moved back and forth over the rug by means of the wand, such as the wand 26 shown in FIG. 1, the wheels 82 sinking into the pile, but supporting the base 80 thereabove. The tube-like nozzles 114 penetrate the pile and this penetration is aided by the vertical vibratory motion of the nozzle imparted thereto by the electric motor and the eccentric. This motion also aids in working the nozzles 114 through the pile as the cleaning tool is moved by the wand and it also has an agitating effect which loosens embedded dirt. In addition, because of their vertical movement, the lower ends of nozzles 114 are at continuously changing elevations above the base of the rug and hence are better able to remove dirt which is not all the way to the bottom of the pile.

As above stated, if downwardly directed force is not applied to the wand, the lower ends of the nozzles 114 at the lower most point of their travel will be somewhat above the bottoms of the wheels 82. If the operator desires deeper penetration of the nozzles 114, this may be accomplished by bearing down on the wand with sufficient force to deflect the resilient arms 88 of the wheel supporting brackets 86 to the position shown in FIG. 8, so that the nozzles at the lower limit of their travel will be about level with the bottoms of the wheels.

If desired, a surface cleaning nozzle, such as nozzle 50 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, may be incorporated in this second embodiment.

While two more or less specific embodiments of the invention has been shown, it is to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustration only, and the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a suction cleaning tool for cleaning high pile shag rugs, a base member, means for movably supporting said member above the surface of a rug, a manifold, means for supporting said manifold beneath said members in a manner permitting limited movement thereof relative to said member, a plurality of spaced tube-like nozzles open at their lower ends and having substantially greater length than diameter, said nozzles depending from said manifold for penetrating the pile of the rug, conduit means for connecting the interior of said manifold to a source of suction to cause flow of air into said manifold through said nozzles, a motor mounted on said base member, and transmission means between said motor and said manifold for imparting rapid limited movement to said manifold and depending nozzles.

2. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 1 in which said transmission means imparts rapid limited horizontal movement to said manifold and depending nozzles.

3. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 1 wherein said transmission means imparts rapid orbital movement to said manifold and depending nozzles.

4. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said member comprises wheels extending below the lower ends of said depending tube-like nozzles.

5. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 1 in which said means for permitting limited movement limits the movement of said manifold to a vertical direction and said transmission means imparts limited movement in a vertical direction to said manifold and depending nozzles.

6. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 5 in which the means for permitting limited movement includes a vertically extending rod secured to said manifold adjacent each end thereof, the rods passing through vertical bosses extending through said base member.

7. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 5 in which said transmission means includes a shaft rotatably mounted horizontally with respect to said base member, said shaft carrying a projection excentrically mounted with respect thereto and engaging a horizontal slot formed in said manifold near the center thereof.

8. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 7 in which said shaft is the shaft of said motor.

9. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 5 in which the means for movably supporting said member includes a surface contacting element near each end of said member and resilient means connecting each element to said member and urging the latter upwardly with respect to said elements.

10. A suction cleaning tool as described in claim 10 including resilient damping means between said manifold and said base member.