Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6497001
-
Patent Number
6,497,001
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 12, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 24, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Fay, Sharpe, Fagan, Minnich & McKee, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 015 328
- 015 323
- 015 329
- 015 338
- 015 344
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A hand-held vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction fan and a first motor assembly located in the housing and a dirt container detachably mounted on the housing. A suction nozzle is selectively mounted on the housing and is usable both in an attached position and in a detached position for cleaning. A brushroll and a second motor are mounted within the suction nozzle. An electrified hose is connected to the housing and to the suction nozzle. The dirt container includes an inlet in fluid communication with the electrified hose, and an outlet in fluid communication with the suction fan and first motor assembly. A filter assembly is releasably positioned for form an outlet of the dirt container. The dirt container has a latching mechanism for securing the dirt container to the housing. The housing further includes a hollow section formed above the suction fan and first motor assembly for storing a cleaning attachment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable hand-held vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner with a powered rotary brush within a detachable head for suctioning dirt and debris from carpets, floors, and above-floor surfaces.
Portable hand-held vacuum cleaners have become extremely popular for cleaning a variety of surfaces in homes, offices, cars or the like. They are utilized typically for small clean-up jobs or for cleaning in hard-to-reach places. These portable vacuum cleaner units are relatively light weight and have a handle in order to enable a user to readily utilize them in places where canister, upright or shop-type vacuum cleaners cannot be used or are inconvenient to use.
While such prior art portable hand-held vacuum cleaners have worked well for their intended purposes, they have been primarily useful for picking up light weight dry debris, such as dust and small particulate matter. Where heavier and more dense particulate matter is encountered, they have been less effective. In fact, even where dust or other lighter particulate matter are desired to be picked up or collected, the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the prior vacuum cleaners has been less than desired.
Another limiting factor of some prior art portable vacuums is the efficiency and effectiveness of the airflow path through the vacuum cleaner units, while depositing debris in a debris canister or container.
Some prior art hand-held vacuum cleaner units do not include brushes which would help loosen dirt or debris from the surface being cleaned prior to vacuuming. Furthermore, the prior art hand-held vacuums do not have a detachable head for vacuuming in hard-to-reach places or tight places where even a hand-held vacuum cleaner cannot fit.
Other hand-held vacuums are difficult to use in that they are awkward to service. Others are expensive to produce in that they have complex reciprocating brush mechanisms.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a new and improved hand-held vacuum cleaner which would overcome the foregoing deficiencies and others while meeting the above-stated needs and providing better and more advantageous overall results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and improved hand-held vacuum cleaner. More specifically, the hand-held vacuum cleaner has a detachable head or suction nozzle which houses a powered brushroll for loosening dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned.
According to one aspect of the invention, the hand-held vacuum cleaner comprises a housing having a first end and a second end. A suction fan and a first motor assembly are housed within the housing. A dirt container is detachably mounted on the housing second end, and a suction nozzle is selectively mounted at the housing first end. The suction nozzle is usable both in an attached position and in a detached position for cleaning.
The suction nozzle has a handle. At least one air outlet is provided in a wall of the housing for allowing air to exhaust from the housing and for venting and cooling the motor. The housing further comprises a hollow section formed above the suction fan and first motor assembly for storing a cleaning attachment. A handle is secured to a top surface of the housing.
A brushroll and a second motor are housed within the suction nozzle. An electrified hose is connected at a first end to the suction nozzle and at a second end to the housing second end. The second motor is operatively connected to the electrified hose first end and to the brushroll.
The dirt container defines a dirt and dust collecting chamber. The dirt container comprises an inlet in fluid communication with the electrified hose, and an outlet in fluid communication with the suction fan and first motor assembly. A filter assembly is releasably positioned to form a wall and outlet of the dirt container. The filter assembly comprises a filter and a filter frame. The dirt container further comprises a latching mechanism for securing the dirt container to the housing second end.
One aspect of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved hand-held vacuum cleaner.
Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a hand-held vacuum cleaner that includes a detachable suction nozzle.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a hand-held vacuum cleaner has a detachable suction nozzle or “head” which houses a rotatable brushroll and a motor for powering the brushroll.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a hand-held vacuum cleaner including an electrified hose for providing power to a motor located within a detachable suction nozzle.
Yet still another aspect of the present invention is the provision of the suction nozzle that is detachable from a housing of a vacuum cleaner and is usable in an attached or in a detached position.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may take form in certain components and structures, one embodiment of which will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 1
with a detachable head separated from a housing;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the detachable head and a dirt container separated from the housing;
FIG. 4
is an exploded perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 5
is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the detachable head and a brushroll assembly of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 6
is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the housing of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 7
is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the dirt container of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 8
is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the dirt container of
FIG. 7
in an assembled form and a filter and filter frame thereof;
FIG. 9A
is a side elevational view of the detachable head of the vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 9B
is a rear elevational view of the detachable head of
FIG. 9A
;
FIG. 10A
is a side elevational view of the housing of the vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 10B
is a front elevational view of the housing of FIG.
10
A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating an embodiment of this invention only and not for purposes of limiting same,
FIG. 1
shows a hand-held vacuum cleaner A according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The hand-held vacuum cleaner A includes a housing
10
having a first end
12
and a second end
14
. A suction nozzle or head
16
is selectively mounted at the housing first end
12
and is usable in both an attached position (shown in
FIG. 1
) and in a detached position (shown in
FIG. 2
) for cleaning. A dirt cup or container
18
is detachably mounted on the second end
14
of the housing.
A conventional flexible, elongated electrified hose
20
connects at a first end
22
to the suction nozzle
16
and at a second end
24
to the housing second end
14
and then to the dirt container
18
. The hose
20
is electrically conductive to provide power to a motor housed within the suction nozzle.
The hose
20
has at its ends
22
and
24
conductors which are connected to any suitable transformer relay mounted within the housing
10
and suction nozzle
16
, respectively, and electrically connected to a first motor
110
within the housing
10
and to a second motor
70
within the suction nozzle
16
, respectively. It is well known in the prior art to use an electrically conductive hose for powering a motor in a vacuum cleaner. A power cord
26
is connected to the housing
10
to power the hand-held vacuum cleaner.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, the hand-held vacuum cleaner has three main components: the detachable head or suction nozzle
16
, the housing
10
, and the detachable dirt container
18
.
FIG. 4
illustrates the internal parts of each of these components.
Referring now to
FIG. 5
, the suction nozzle
16
is comprised of a first housing portion
30
and a second housing portion
32
which are fastened together by suitable fasteners (not shown). A nozzle portion
34
is attached between the first housing portion
30
and the second housing portion
32
. The first and second housing portions
30
and
32
, when assembled, form a handle
36
. The handle
36
may have a curved shape as shown in FIG.
1
. An indentation
37
can be added onto a top surface of the handle
36
to allow the user to place a thumb or other finger in the indentation to aid in gripping the handle.
A bottom plate
38
is mounted below nozzle portion
34
and defines an opening
40
. The opening
40
serves as a suction opening through which dirt, dust and other debris is suctioned into the nozzle
16
. A back plate
42
is mounted onto the housing portions
30
and
32
to define the interior of the suction nozzle. If desired, the suction nozzle
16
can be fabricated from a thermoplastic material.
A conventional brushroll
50
is rotatably mounted within the suction nozzle
16
. Bristles
52
extend along the circumference of brushroll
50
. Bearings
54
,
56
are mounted on opposite ends of the brushroll
50
and are mounted onto inside surfaces of the nozzle
16
to aid in rotation of the brushroll
50
. A belt
58
is looped around the brushroll
50
and also around a cogged pulley
60
mounted on an output shaft of a motor
70
also housed within the suction nozzle
16
. The belt
58
is toothed to engage the cogged pulley
60
and also an appropriately cogged peripheral portion
61
of the brushroll.
The electrified hose
20
is attached to the suction nozzle through a sleeve
80
. The sleeve
80
protects the electrical connectors of the hose. The hose
20
is secured into place by rotating a locking cuff
81
on the hose to a locked position. The hose
20
is connected by a connector
82
to motor
70
for powering the motor.
With reference now to
FIGS. 2
,
9
A,
9
B,
10
A and
10
B, a plate
90
is mounted on the back plate
42
of the suction nozzle
16
for slidably engaging a slot
91
in the housing
10
. A raised, curved portion
92
of the nozzle also engages a second slot
93
in the housing
10
. Raised portion
92
also houses the motor
70
of suction nozzle. The nozzle is secured to the housing through the engagement of the plate
90
and raised portion
92
with slots
91
,
93
. The slot
91
is tapered from an inlet side
94
of the housing
10
to ensure that the head
16
cannot slide through the slot. Wall
95
also serves to block or stop head
16
from sliding completely through the slot
91
. A tab
96
extends into slot
91
and engages a notch
97
in plate
90
and locks the head
16
in place. As the plate
90
enters slot
91
, plate
90
pushes on a spring bias on tab
96
thus retracting the tab
96
into the housing. When notch
97
aligns with the tab
96
, tab
96
then releases into engagement with the area of notch
97
. A conventional linkage connects the tab
96
to a locking button
98
. A tab
99
on raised portion
92
also engages a groove
101
in slot
93
. When the nozzle is to be removed from the housing, button
98
is depressed to retract tab
96
and allow head
16
to be pulled out of slots
91
,
93
and be removed from the housing
10
.
Referring now to
FIG. 6
, the housing
10
will now be described. The housing
10
comprises a first housing half
100
and a second housing half
102
which are fastened together by suitable fasteners (not shown). If desired, the housing can be fabricated from a thermoplastic material. A suction motor
110
and fan
112
are mounted within the housing
10
. A cap
114
is mounted in the housing halves to secure the motor and fan in place. A filter assembly is mounted adjacent the suction fan and motor. The filter assembly comprises a first frame member
120
, a filter
122
, a second frame member
123
and a cap
124
. The filter serves to filter air before it is drawn into the motor
110
by the fan
112
.
Outlet slots
126
are provided on the first and second housing halves
100
and
102
for allowing an exhaust of air from the housing and for providing ventilation and cooling of the suction motor
110
. A switch
130
, which protrudes through opening
132
of the second housing half
102
, is provided for selectively powering the motor
110
as well as the motor
70
(FIG.
5
). The housing
10
further comprises a handle strap
140
which is mounted to a top surface of the housing.
Cooperating openings
142
(only one of which is visible) in the housing halves
100
,
102
allow air from the dirt container to be pulled in by the suction fan
112
through the filter
122
. Cooperating rear portions
146
(only one of which is visible) of the housing halves
100
,
102
mount a sheath
152
in which is slidably received a cleaning attachment or crevice tool
150
. The sheath also forms an inlet mount
154
for the power cord
26
(
FIG. 1
) of the vacuum cleaner. Suitable wiring (not shown) connects the power cord
26
to the motor
110
and to a sleeve
160
in which the electrified hose is mounted. End
22
of the electrified hose
20
is pulled out of the suction nozzle
16
and is slidably mounted in an inlet end
148
of the cleaning attachment
150
for above-floor cleaning.
The sleeve
160
is mounted on the first housing half
100
. The sleeve has an opening
162
for receiving one end of the electrified hose
20
. The sleeve
160
protects the electrical connections of the hose
20
and connects the hose to the motor
70
in the suction nozzle
16
.
Referring now to
FIG. 7
, the dirt container
18
comprises a first container portion
180
and a second container portion
182
which are fastened together by suitable fasteners
184
to form a dirt and dust collecting chamber. If desired, the dirt container can be fabricated from a transparent thermoplastic material to enable the user to see the dirt and debris being collected in the dirt container.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, filter frame
190
and filter
192
form a filter assembly releasably positioned in the dirt container
18
to form a wall and outlet of the dirt container. The filter
192
is removable from the filter frame
190
for replacing the filter. The filter assembly is removed from the dirt container to allow emptying of dirt and debris collected within the dirt container. The outlet formed by the filter is adjacent to and in fluid communication with the suction fan and motor assembly
110
,
112
within housing
10
.
A ring
194
is mounted above an opening
196
in the first container portion to form an inlet which is in fluid communication with the electrified hose
20
. A latch
198
is mounted with a clip
200
to the cooperating container portions
180
,
182
to detachably secure the dirt container to a catch (not shown) on the housing second end
14
.
The hand-held vacuum cleaner operates as follows. The electrified hose
20
is threaded or slidably connected at a first end
22
to the suction nozzle
16
and at a second end
24
to the housing
10
. The suction nozzle
16
may be used attached to the housing (see
FIG. 1
) or in a detached position (see FIG.
2
). The suction nozzle
16
would be used in a detached position to facilitate easier cleaning of stairs, room corners, crevices in sofas and chairs, etc.
The dirt container
18
is secured to the housing through the latch
198
which engages a catch (not shown) on the housing second end
14
. The switch
130
is depressed to an “on” position, thus powering the suction fan
112
and motor
110
assembly. The switch
130
also provides power to the hose
20
, thus electrifying the hose. The hose
20
in turn provides power to the motor
70
within the suction nozzle
16
. The motor
70
causes the brushroll
50
to rotate through the use of the toothed belt
58
. The brushroll
50
loosens dirt and debris on the surface being cleaned, enabling easier suctioning of the dirt from the surface.
The suction fan
112
and motor
110
produce an airflow which travels through the suction nozzle opening
40
into the hose
20
and then into opening
196
of the dirt container. As the dirt and airflow are drawn into the dirt container chamber, dirt is deposited in the dirt container upstream of the filter
192
. The filter
192
and its frame
190
prevent the dirt and debris from entering the suction fan and motor assembly.
Air is exhausted from the housing
10
through air outlets
126
, serving at the same time to cool the motor
110
and prevent it from overheating.
Once the cleaning of the surface is completed, the switch
130
is turned to the “off” position. Then, the dirt container
18
can be removed from the housing by depressing the latch
198
. The filter
192
and filter frame
190
are removed from the dirt container thus allowing the dirt container to be emptied of dirt and debris.
The invention has been described with reference to one embodiment. Obviously, alterations and modifications will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Claims
- 1. A hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:a housing having a first end and a second end; a suction fan and a first motor assembly located in said housing; a dirt container detachably mounted on said housing second end; a suction nozzle selectively mounted adjacent said housing first end and usable both in an attached position and in a detached position for cleaning; a hose connected at a first end to said suction nozzle and at a second end to said housing adjacent said second end; said dirt container comprising: an inlet being in fluid communication with said second end of said hose, and an outlet being in fluid communication with said suction fan and first motor assembly.
- 2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a brushroll housed within said suction nozzle.
- 3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 2 further comprising a second motor within said suction nozzle, wherein said second motor is operatively connected to said hose and to said brushroll for powering said brushroll.
- 4. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising at least one air outlet in a wall of said housing for allowing an exhaust of air from said housing.
- 5. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a filter assembly releasably positioned to form said outlet of said dirt container, said filter assembly comprising a filter and a filter frame.
- 6. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said dirt container further comprises a latching mechanism for securing said dirt container to said housing second end.
- 7. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a hollow section formed above said suction fan and first motor assembly, said hollow section receiving an above-floor cleaning attachment.
- 8. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a handle secured to a top surface of said housing.
- 9. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said housing is comprised of a first portion and a second portion which are secured to each other.
- 10. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said suction nozzle comprises a handle.
- 11. A hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:a housing having a first end and a second end, said housing further comprising a handle secured to a top surface of said housing; a suction source housed within said housing; a dirt container detachably mounted on said housing adjacent said second end, wherein said dirt container defines a dirt and dust collecting chamber; a suction nozzle selectively mounted adjacent said housing first end, said suction nozzle comprising a brushroll housed within said suction nozzle; a hose connected at a first end to said motor housed within said suction nozzle and at a second end to said suction source, said dirt container comprising: an inlet in fluid communication with said second end of said hose, and an outlet in fluid communication with said suction source.
- 12. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 11 further comprising at least one air outlet in a wall of said housing for allowing an exhaust of air from said housing.
- 13. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 11 further comprising a filter assembly releasably positioned adjacent said outlet of said dirt container, said filter assembly comprising a filter and a filter frame.
- 14. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said dirt container further comprises a latching mechanism for securing said dirt container to said housing second end.
- 15. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said suction nozzle comprises a handle.
- 16. A hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:a housing having a first end and a second end; a dirt container detachably mounted on said housing adjacent said second end thereof; a suction nozzle detachably mounted adjacent said housing first end, said suction nozzle comprising a brushroll and a mechanism for rotating said brushroll; and a hose connected at a first end to said suction nozzle and at a second end to said housing, wherein said dirt container comprises an inlet in fluid communication with said hose, an outlet, and a filter releasably positioned on said dirt container adjacent said outlet.
- 17. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 16 wherein said hose comprises an electrified hose which is slidably mounted at said hose first end to said suction nozzle and at said hose second end to said housing.
- 18. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 16 further comprising a suction fan and a first motor assembly located in said housing, wherein said dirt cup outlet is in fluid communication with said suction fan and said first motor assembly.
- 19. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 18 wherein said mechanism comprises a second motor mounted in said suction nozzle, wherein said second motor is operatively connected to said brushroll for powering said brushroll.
- 20. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 16 further comprising at least one air outlet in a wall of said housing for allowing an exhaust of air from said housing.
- 21. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 16 wherein said filter assembly comprises a filter and a filter frame.
- 22. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 16 wherein said suction nozzle comprises a handle.
- 23. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said hose comprises an electrified hose.
- 24. A hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:a housing including a suction fan and motor assembly; a dirt container detachably mounted to said housing; a filter mounted in the dirt container; a suction nozzle detachably mounted to said housing in spaced relationship to said dirt container, said suction nozzle comprising: a brushroll, and a mechanism for rotating said brushroll; and, a hose connected at a first end to said suction nozzle and at a second end to one of said dirt container and said housing.
- 25. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 24 wherein said dirt container comprises a dust cup made of a rigid material.
- 26. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 24 further comprising at least one air outlet located in a wall of said housing for allowing an exhaust of air from said housing.
- 27. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 24 wherein said dirt container further comprises a latching mechanism for securing said dirt container to said housing.
- 28. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 24 wherein said housing further comprises a hollow section formed above said suction fan and motor assembly, said hollow section receiving an above-floor cleaning attachment.
- 29. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 24 wherein said housing further comprises a handle secured to a top surface of said housing.
- 30. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein said brushroll comprises bearings mounted at opposite ends of said brushroll, said bearings mounted to said nozzle for enabling a rotation of said brushroll.
- 31. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 24 wherein said suction nozzle comprises a handle.
- 32. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein said hose comprises an electrified hose.
- 33. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein said suction nozzle further comprises a motor for rotating said brushroll.
US Referenced Citations (38)