A. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to apparatuses and methods related to vacuum cleaners and more specifically to apparatuses and methods related to the installation and adjustment of magnets attached to a vacuum cleaner brush roll (also referred to herein as a brush roller).
B. Description of Related Art
It is well known to provide vacuum cleaners with brush rolls. Brush rolls are typically cylindrically shaped components that have brushes on their outer surfaces. Brush rolls are rotatable about their axial centerline to scrape or rub the brushes against a floor surface to assist in cleaning the floor surface. It is also known to attach permanent magnets to brush rolls. While such magnets may be used for many reasons, typically they are used to determine if the brush roll is rotating and/or to determine the speed at which the brush roll is rotating. For example, such magnets may be utilized in conjunction with a coil to generate an alternating current which is used to activate an indicator light on a brush roll housing of a vacuum cleaner. This indicator light provides a signal to the user that the brush roll is properly rotating.
There are two primary known methods for attaching such magnets to brush rolls. The first is to embed the magnets into the outer surface of the brush roll. This method typically includes the use of press-fit magnets or the use of an adhesive to secure the magnet to the brush roll. While embedded magnets generally work well for their intended purposes, they have drawbacks. One drawback is that once embedded they are very difficult to remove or position adjust. Such magnets are also very difficult to replace, if necessary.
The second known method for attaching permanent magnets to brush rolls is through the use of a magnet holder. Magnet holders are typically ring shaped and mount to the brush roll. Examples of ring shaped magnet holders are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,942 to England titled Self-Powered Rotation Indicator and U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,657 to Zimet titled Brush Roll Rotation Indicator. While magnet holders generally work well for their intended purposes, they have drawbacks also. One drawback is the added complexity and cost that comes with magnet holders. Another drawback is that they are also difficult to remove or position adjust.
What is needed is a brush roll magnet that is easy to remove and adjust and that is also inexpensive and non-complex in its assembly within the brush roll.
Provided is a vacuum cleaner brush roller magnet assembly. The vacuum cleaner brush roller magnet assembly includes a brush roller having a first end, a second end, a cylindrical lateral outer surface and an opening within the cylindrical lateral surface of the brush roller. The brush roller opening has a width, a depth, at least one side surface, a bottom surface and a borehole at the bottom surface of the opening. The brush roller magnet assembly also includes a magnet positioned within the opening. The magnet has an outer surface, a width, a length and an opening which extends along the length of the magnet. The brush roller magnet assembly also includes a connector received within the magnet opening. The connector has a length that is greater than the length of the magnet and has an end portion which extends within the borehole. The length of the magnet is less than the depth of the brush roller opening and the magnet is adjustable to a plurality of varying depths within the brush roller opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the magnet has a width which is less than the width of the brush roller opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the magnet is adjustable to a plurality of varying depths within the brush roller opening by adjusting the length of the portion of the connector which extends within the borehole.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the magnet inserted within the brush roller opening is removable from the brush roller opening through disengagement of the connector from the brush roller.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, magnets of varying strength may be inserted within the brush roller opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, magnets of varying strength positioned within the brush roller opening are adjustable within the brush roller opening by adjusting the length of the portion of the connector which extends into the borehole.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the magnet opening is substantially collinear with an axial centerline of the magnet.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, an axial centerline of the magnet opening is substantially collinear with an axial centerline of the brush roller opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the axial centerline of the magnet opening and the axial centerline of the brush roller opening are substantially collinear with an axial centerline of the borehole.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the magnet and the brush roller opening may have a circular cross-section.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the connector has a head and a body.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the body of the connector has threads on its outer surface and the head of the connector has a tool reception surface that receives a tool which is used to attach and secure the connector to the brush roller and which is also used to detach the connector from the brush roller.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the magnet opening is threaded to engage the threads on the connector and the magnet is adjustable to a plurality of varying depths within the brush roller opening by adjusting the position of the magnet with respect to the connector.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a portion of the connector is press-fit to the magnet through the magnet opening, the brush roller opening includes a side surface which is threaded, the outer surface of the magnet is threaded to engage the threaded side surface of the brush roller opening and the magnet is adjustable to a plurality of varying depths within the brush roller opening by adjusting the connector through the tool reception surface of the connector head to adjust the magnet's position within the brush roller opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the magnet is replaceable.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the connector provides sufficient securement of the magnet to the brush roller under conditions where the magnet would otherwise fall out of the roller brush opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the connector provides sufficient securement of the magnet to the brush roller under conditions where a brush roller's moisture content changes.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the connector provides sufficient securement of the magnet to the brush roller under conditions where a wood brush roller's moisture content changes.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the head of the connector may be larger than the brush roller opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the head of the connector may extend outward from the brush roller opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the head of the connector may be positioned above, below or flush with the cylindrical lateral outer surface of the brush roller.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the connector height may be less than the depth of the brush roller opening.
According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the brush roller magnet assembly may be positioned at any point along the cylindrical lateral outer surface of the brush roller.
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components,
With reference now to
With reference now to
Note that for this embodiment the penny's diameter PD is approximately four times (×4) the magnet's width MW.
With reference now to
In an alternative embodiment, the magnet opening 42 may be threaded to engage the threads on the connector 50. In such embodiments, the magnet is adjustable to a plurality of varying depths within the opening 26 by adjusting the position of the magnet with respect to the connector 50.
In a further alternative embodiment, the connector 50 may be press-fit into the magnet 40 through the magnet opening 42. In such embodiments, the opening 26 may be threaded and the magnet 40 may have an outer surface which is also threaded. The threads on the outer surface of the magnet 40 may therefore, engage on the threads within the opening 26. Through this configuration, a tool may be used to engage the tool reception surface on the connector head to adjust the magnet 40 to various depths within the opening 26 by rotating the magnet within opening 26.
Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Further, the “invention” as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61933511 | Jan 2014 | US |