Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6484351
-
Patent Number
6,484,351
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 30, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 26, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Marshall, Gerstein & Borun
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner is provided which includes a housing and a latch assembly disposed on the housing. The latch assembly includes a latch that is movable relative to the housing between a first state and a second state. The vacuum cleaner also includes a blower that is disposable on the housing and has a first state wherein the blower is detached from the housing and a second state wherein the blower is disposed on the housing. The blower includes a latching surface disposed adjacent the latch with the blower in the second state. The blower moves the latch between the first state and the second state as the blower is moved between the first state and the second state, and the latch engages the latching surface with the blower in the second state and the latch in the first state to secure the blower to the housing.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a vacuum cleaner with a detachable blower, and, in particular, to a latching system for a vacuum cleaner with a detachable blower.
BACKGROUND
Vacuum cleaners with detachable motorhead/power units, commonly referred to as blowers, are known in the art. When attached to a vacuum cleaner housing, the blower functions as part of the vacuum cleaner assembly. When detached from the vacuum cleaner housing, the blower may be used separately to provide a directable air column for the removal of leaves of other debris from a surface, for example.
In tank-type vacuum cleaners, the vacuum cleaner housing typically includes a lid or lid assembly which is fitted over a tank. The detachable blower is typically disposed on the lid or lid assembly. While the normal operation of the blower would typically tend to secure the detachable blower against the lid or lid assembly, the weight of the blower could cause the blower to become detached from the lid when the blower is non-operational. For example, if the blower is merely disposed on the lid or lid assembly and the user needs to remove the lid to empty the tank, it is possible that the user may tip the lid such that the blower detaches from the lid and falls to the ground. This can cause damage to the blower and injury to the user or others nearby.
One solution is to secure the blower to the lid using a latching system including one or more latches which have surfaces which cooperate with surfaces of the blower to attach the blower to the lid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,364 shows one such latching system. The tank-type vacuum cleaner illustrated includes a vacuum cleaner housing, a blower disposed on the vacuum cleaner housing, and a latching system which permits one-handed detachment of the blower from the housing. In particular, the user depresses the latch illustrated in FIG.
12
and rotates the blower relative to the housing to disengage the bayonet-type locking arrangement. Once the bayonet-type locking arrangement has been disengaged, the user may remove or detach the blower from the housing.
An alternative latching system is showing U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,614. It is thought that the latching system used with the tank-type vacuum cleaner illustrated therein requires an angular movement of a handle to disengage a locking ring from a flange attached to the blower. Once the handle has been moved so as to disengage the locking ring from the flange, the blower may be removed or detached from the housing.
A further alternative latching system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,700. The illustrated tank-type vacuum cleaner is thought to require a pivotal movement of a latch to disengage latching surfaces of the latch and the blower, thereby permitting the blower to be detached from the lid or lid assembly.
All of the above-mentioned latching systems have a similar disadvantage in that the user is required to actively disengage the latch when it is desired to detach the blower from the housing. While the blower may be detached one-handedly, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,364, several movements must be performed to achieve the disengagement. The same can be said of the latches shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,404,614 and 6,055,700.
SUMMARY
A vacuum cleaner is provided that includes a housing and a latch assembly disposed on the housing. The latch assembly includes a latch, which is movable relative to the housing between a first state and a second state. The vacuum cleaner also includes a blower, which is disposable on the housing and has a first state wherein the blower is detached from the housing and a second state wherein the blower is disposed on the housing. The blower includes a latching surface disposed adjacent the latch with the blower in the second state. The blower moves the latch between the first state and the second state as the blower is moved between the first state and the second state, and the latch engages the latching surface with the blower in the second state and the latch in the second state to secure the blower to the housing.
Also provided is a vacuum cleaner with a housing and a latch assembly disposed on the housing, the latch assembly including a latch linearly moveable relative to the housing between an extended state and a retracted state and having a forward edge. The vacuum cleaner also includes a blower disposable on the housing and having a first, detached state wherein the blower is detached from the housing and a second, combined state wherein the blower is disposed on the housing. The blower includes a wall having a first, outer surface which abuts the forward edge with the blower in a third state intermediate between the detached and combined states and a second, latching surface disposed adjacent the latch with the blower in the second state. The outer surface of the blower abuts the forward edge of the latch to move the latch between the extended and retracted states as the blower is moved between the detached and combined states and the forward edge of the latch engages the latching surface with the blower in the combined state and the latch in the extended state to secure the blower to the housing.
Further provided is a vacuum cleaner including a housing, a detachable blower with a handle, and a latching assembly including a latch that engages the blower with the blower disposed on the housing to secure the blower to the housing. The handle of the blower is graspable with both hands to apply an upward force to the blower to disengage the latch from the blower and thereby detach the blower from the housing. Moreover, the housing may include a surface on which the thumbs of both hands are disposed as the upward force is applied to the blower to disengage the latch from the blower.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an isometric view of a vacuum cleaner with a detachable blower secured to a housing using latch assemblies including a first embodiment of a latch;
FIG. 2
is a plan view of the vacuum cleaner;
FIG. 3
is an isometric view of the vacuum cleaner with the blower removed;
FIG. 4
is a partial, cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner taken about line
4
-
4
in
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 5
is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner taken about line
5
—
5
in
FIG. 2
with the blower detached from the housing;
FIG. 6
is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner taken about line
5
—
5
in
FIG. 2
with the blower secured to the housing;
FIG. 7
is a further enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner with the blower secured to the housing showing the cooperation of the blower and the latch;
FIG. 8
is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner taken about line
5
—
5
in
FIG. 2
with the blower in an intermediate position between those shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
;
FIG. 9
is a further enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum. cleaner with the blower in the intermediate position showing the cooperation of the blower and the latch;
FIG. 10
is a side view of the latch shown in
FIGS. 1-9
;
FIG. 11
is a plan view of the latch of
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 12
is a frontal view of the latch of
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 13
is a cross-sectional view of the latch taken about line
13
—
13
in
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 14
is an isometric view of another embodiment of a latch;
FIG. 15
is a side view of the latch of
FIG. 14
;
FIG. 16
is a frontal view of the latch of
FIG. 14
;
FIG. 17
is a plan view of the latch of FIG.
14
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
A vacuum cleaner
20
including a housing
22
and a detachable blower
24
is shown in
FIGS. 1-9
. The blower
24
has a first, detached state wherein the blower
24
is separated from the housing
22
(FIG.
5
), and a second, combined state wherein the blower
24
is disposed on the housing
22
(FIG.
6
). The vacuum cleaner
20
also includes one or more latch assemblies
26
attached to the housing
22
to secure the detachable blower
24
to the housing
22
. Each latch assembly
26
includes a latch
28
disposed in a latch housing
30
. The latch
28
moves relative to the housing
22
between a first, extended state (
FIG. 7
) and a second, retracted state (FIG.
9
), preferably in a linear fashion.
As the blower
24
is moved between the first, detached state and the second, combined state, the blower
24
moves the latch
28
between the first, extended state and the second, retracted state. That is, as the blower
24
is moved from the first state to the second state (FIGS.
5
and
6
), surfaces of the blower
24
and the latch
28
cooperate to move the latch
28
from the first state to the second state (FIGS.
8
and
9
), and to permit the latch
28
to return to the first state with the blower
24
in the second state (FIGS.
6
and
7
). With the blower
24
in the second state and the latch
28
in the first state, the latch
28
engages a latching surface
32
of the blower
24
to secure the blower
24
to the housing
22
(FIG.
7
). Similarly, as the blower
24
is moved from the second state to the first state, the latch
28
will be moved from the first state to the second state, and then will be permitted to return to the first state with the blower
24
in the first state.
To facilitate the movement of the blower
24
between the first and secondstates, the blower
24
is equipped with a wrap-around handle
34
. To move the blower
24
from, for example, the second state to the first state, the user grasps the handle
34
with both hands at the locations marked
36
,
38
in FIG.
1
and applies an upwardly directed force to move the blower
24
in a first direction, as represented by an arrow
40
. If additional leverage is required, the user may place his or her thumbs on a surface of the housing
22
, and in particular on upwardly-facing surfaces of the latch housings
30
, when applying the upwardly directed force; In a similar fashion, the blower
24
may be disposed on the housing with a downward motion, as represented by an arrow
42
, into the second state wherein the latch
28
secures the blower
24
to the housing
22
.
It will be recognized from the foregoing discussion of the vacuum cleaner
20
that the user may detach the blower
24
from the housing
22
with a simple upward motion without the necessity of actuating the latches
28
directly as is typically the case with conventional vacuum cleaners. Similarly, the blower
24
may be secured to the housing
22
with a simple downward motion without the necessity of actuating the latches
28
directly. This latter condition enhances not only the ease of operation of the vacuum cleaner
20
, but it also enhances the safety of the vacuum cleaner
20
because the user is no longer required to remember to actuate the latch
28
to secure the blower
24
to the housing
22
to prevent accidental separation which may cause injury to the user and damage to the blower
24
.
The vacuum cleaner
20
is now discussed in greater detail, beginning with the
22
and the blower
24
shown in
FIGS. 1-4
.
The housing
22
illustrated includes a generally cylindrical tank
44
having a side wall
46
and a bottom wall
48
. The side wall
46
and the bottom wall
48
form a closed end
50
, thereby enclosing an interior space
52
of the tank
44
. An upper rim
54
of the side wall
46
defines an open end
56
opposite the closed end
50
.
Disposed in the side wall
46
is a nozzle
58
, to which may be attached to all manner of vacuum cleaner implements as will be readably recognized. Also provided in the side wall
46
is a drain opening (not shown), which is closed by a plug
60
. The drain opening is provided in the tank
44
to permit the exhaust of fluid from the tank
44
when a vacuum cleaner
20
is used in its so-called “wet vac” mode. Also attached to the side wall
46
are handles
62
are spaced about the circumference of the side wall
46
so that the tank
44
may be tipped to remove the contents thereof.
The tank
44
is mounted on wheels
64
. The wheels
64
are particularly useful when the tank
44
becomes filled either with liquid or dry material, which can make the vacuum cleaner
20
quite heavy and difficult to move or lift.
The housing
22
also includes a lid assembly
65
. The lid assembly
65
includes a lid
66
that is disposed over the open end
56
of the tank
44
and latches
68
that secure the lid
66
to the tank
44
.
The lid
66
is preferably a two-piece assembly consisting of a base
70
and a cover
72
which fit together in a nested relationship, i.e. an edge
74
of the base
70
receives a rim
76
of the cover
72
in a sealing relationship along at least part of an interface
78
between the base
70
and the cover
72
. Moreover, the base
0
has an annular, cup-shaped channel
80
that extends about the periphery of the base
70
and cooperates with the rim
54
of the side wall
46
to form an air-tight seal. The base
70
is held against the rim
54
of the side wall
46
through the action of the latches
68
as mentioned previously.
While a tank-type housing has been illustrated, the vacuum cleaner
20
is not so limited, and may be of various configurations.
As noted above, the vacuum cleaner
20
also includes the detachable blower
24
. The blower
24
includes a housing
82
with a central hub section
84
from which depends the handle
34
, a nozzle
86
and a protrusion
88
.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, the protrusion
88
is received through an opening
90
defined by a wall
92
of the cover
72
and into a depression
94
of the ba se
70
. Surfaces
96
,
98
of the annular wall
92
and the protrusion
88
preferably cooperate to guide the blower
24
in the directions of motion represented by the arrows
40
,
42
. Moreover, with the blower
24
in the second, combined state, the surfaces
96
,
98
resist the blower
24
from being separated from the housing
22
when a force acts on the blower
24
at an angle to the directions of motion represented by the arrows
40
,
42
. Such a force may be generated by grasping the handle
34
at a single point rather than at positions
36
,
38
in
FIG. 1
, or by gravity with the blower
24
and lid assembly
65
disposed at an angle to the horizontal, for example, when the blower
24
and lid assembly
65
are removed from the tank
44
.
The vacuum cleaner
20
also includes the latch assemblies
26
, which are now discussed in greater detail with reference to
FIGS. 5
,
6
, and
8
, and in particular
FIGS. 7 and 9
.
The latch housings
30
are generally rectangularly-shaped, box-like structures that include a first, front wall
100
and a second, rear wall
102
. The front wall
100
has an opening
104
to accept a forward edge
106
of the latch
28
. Similarly, the rear wall
102
has an opening
108
to accept a rearward extension
110
of the latch
28
. With the forward edge
106
received within the opening
104
of the front wall
100
and the rearward extension
110
received in the opening
108
of the rear wall
102
, the latch
28
is constrained to move in a linear fashion between the first and second states mentioned previously.
The latch assemblies
26
also each include a spring
112
disposed between the latch
28
and the rear wall
102
of the latch housing
30
. In particular, with reference to Figs,
10
-
13
, the latch
28
includes a plate
114
with rearwardly extending legs
116
,
118
. The legs
116
,
118
and the rearward extension
110
cooperate to define a pair of bights
120
,
122
which are bounded by surfaces
124
,
126
. The rearward extension
110
is disposed through the coils of the spring
112
, the end of which is received in the bights
120
,
122
and abuts against surfaces
124
,
126
. The end of the spring
112
further cooperates with a post
127
to secure the spring
112
to the latch
28
to form an integral assembly.
The latch
28
further includes two oppositely depending rectangularly-shaped guide walls
128
,
130
. The walls
128
,
130
have shoulders
132
,
134
. The shoulders
132
,
134
abut with the front wall
100
of the latch housing
30
to prevent further motion of the latch
28
in that direction.
The operation of the latch
28
may now be discussed with reference to
FIGS. 5-9
.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, the blower
24
is detached from the housing
22
. As the blower
24
is moved from this state into the state in
FIG. 6
wherein the blower
24
is disposed on the housing
22
, a surface
136
of a wall
138
of the housing
82
of the detachable blower
24
abuts the forward edge
106
of the latch
28
and applies a force opposite the biasing force of the spring
112
. The force applied to the latch
28
through the cooperation of the surface
136
of the housing
82
and the forward edge
106
of the latch
28
causes the latch
28
to move from the state shown in
FIG. 5
to that shown in
FIG. 8
, and in greater detail in FIG.
9
. As the blower
24
moves further in the direction of the arrow
42
, the surface
136
of the wall
138
moves past the forward edge
106
of the latch
28
, the latch
28
returns to the position in FIG.
5
. In this position, the forward edge
106
of the latch
28
cooperates with the latching surface
32
(also defined by the wall
138
of the housing
82
) to secure the blower
24
to the housing
22
. To remove the blower
24
, the steps are reversed.
Thus, the blower
24
may be disposed on the lid assembly
65
and secured through the action of the latches
28
with a simple downward motion. Moreover, through a simple upward force applied to the blower
24
, the blower
24
may be detached from the lid assembly
65
. As stated above, this reduction in effort required to detach and secure the blower
24
to the housing
22
, and in particular the lid assembly
65
, is a significant improvement over conventional latching systems, and improves safety as well in that the user is not required to actively engage the latching system to secure the blower
24
to the housing
22
.
An alternative version of the latch
28
′ is shown in
FIGS. 14-17
. Similar parts are numbered similarly, with the addition of a prime to distinguish this version from that shown in
FIGS. 1-13
, and more particularly in
FIGS. 10-13
.
The latch
28
′ includes a U-shaped frame
140
. The frame
140
is secured at a first end
142
to a plate
144
and terminates at a second end
146
in a cylindrical knob
148
. The plate
144
has a forward edge
106
′ which is disposed through the opening
104
of the front wall
100
of the latch housing
30
with the latch
28
′ disposed in the latch housing
30
. The knob
148
cooperates with the rear wall
102
of the latch housing
30
. A surface
150
of the base
70
of the lid
66
abuts the bight
152
of the U-shaped frame
140
to maintain the latch
28
∝ in the latch housing
30
. It is thus not necessary to provide the opening
108
in the rear wall
102
when using this version of latch.
Preferably, the U-shaped frame
140
operates similar to the spring
112
described with reference to the latch
28
described above. That is, the U-shaped frame
140
biases the forward edge
106
′ of the plate
144
into a first, extended position and resists the movement of the plate into a second, retracted state. Alternatively, additional springs may be secured, for example, between the first and second ends
142
,
146
of the frame
140
to affect the spring force provided.
While two embodiments of latch have been illustrated in
FIGS. 10-17
, still other latch designs are possible, as will be recognized. As just one example, the guide walls
128
,
130
may depend at 90 degrees from the orientation shown such that they would lie in the plane of the plate
114
. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will be obtained from the study of the specification, drawings and appending claims.
Claims
- 1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:a housing; a latch assembly disposed on the housing, the latch assembly comprising a latch moveable relative to the housing between a first state and a second state; and a blower disposable on the housing and having a first state wherein the blower is detached from the housing and a second state wherein the blower is disposed on the housing, the blower comprising a latching surface disposed adjacent the latch with the blower in the second state, the blower moving the latch between the first state and the second state as the blower is moved between the first state and the second state and the latch engaging the latching surface with the blower in the second state and the latch in the first state to secure the blower to the housing.
- 2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly further comprises a spring attached to the latch to bias the latch into the first state.
- 3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the blower further comprises a blower housing comprising a wall having an outer surface, the outer surface abutting the latch to move the latch between the first and second states as the blower is moved between the first and second states.
- 4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the latch comprises a forward edge which abuts the outer surface of the blower housing and a rearward extension which cooperates with the housing to constrain the latch to move in a linear fashion.
- 5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the latch is disposed in a latch housing having a first wall with an opening therethrough through which the forward edge of the latch is disposed and a second wall with an opening therethrough through which the rearward extension is disposed.
- 6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the latch comprises a plate.
- 7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the latch comprises a guide wall with a shoulder that abuts the first wall with the latch in the first state.
- 8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the latch assembly further comprises a spring to bias the latch into the first state and the latch further comprises a guide wall with a shoulder, the spring disposed between the second wall and the shoulder of the guide wall.
- 9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the spring is a coil spring and is disposed about the rearward extension of the latch.
- 10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a U-shaped frame which cooperates with the vacuum cleaner housing to bias the latch into the first state.
- 11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the U-shaped frame has first and second ends, the latch further comprises a planar section secured to the first end of the U-shaped frame, and the planar section defines a forward edge which cooperates with the latching surface to secure the blower to the housing.
- 12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the latch is disposed in a latch housing having a first wall with an opening therethrough through which the forward edge of the latch is disposed, a second wall against which the rearward extension is disposed, and a third wall on which the U-shaped frame is disposed.
- 13. A vacuum cleaner comprising:a housing; a latch assembly disposed on the housing, the latch assembly comprising a latch linearly moveable relative to the housing between an extended state and a retracted state and having a forward edge; and a blower disposable on the housing and having a first, detached state wherein the blower is detached from the housing and a second, combined state wherein the blower is disposed on the housing, the blower comprising a wall having a first, outer surface which abuts the forward edge with the blower in a third state intermediate between the detached and combined states and a second, latching surface disposed adjacent the latch with the blower in the second state, the outer surface of the blower abutting the forward edge of the latch to move the latch between the extended and retracted states as the blower is moved between the detached and combined states and the forward edge of the latch engaging the latching surface with the blower in the combined state and the latch in the extended state to secure the blower to the housing.
- 14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the latch further comprises a rearward extension which cooperates with the housing to constrain the latch to move in a linear fashion.
- 15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the latch is disposed in a latch housing having a first wall with an opening therethrough through which the forward edge of the latch is disposed and a second wall with an opening therethrough through which the rearward extension is disposed.
- 16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the latch comprises a plate.
- 17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the latch comprises a wall with a forwardly-facing surface that abuts the first wall of the latch housing with the latch in the first state.
- 18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the latch assembly further comprises a spring to bias the latch into the first state and the latch further comprises a wall with a rearwardly-facing surface, the spring disposed between the second wall and the rearwardly-facing surface of the wall.
- 19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the spring is a coil spring and is disposed about the rearward extension of the latch.
- 20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the latch further comprises first and second legs which depend rearwardly and are disposed on either side of the rearward extension so as to define first and second bights, the first bight between the first leg and the rearward extension and the second bight between the second leg and the rearward extension, an. end of the spring being received in the first and second bights with the spring disposed about the rearward extension of the latch.
- 21. A vacuum cleaner comprising:a housing; a detachable blower comprising a handle; and a latching assembly comprising a latch which engages the blower with the blower disposed on the housing to secure the blower to the housing, the handle of the blower being graspable with both hands to apply an upward force to the blower to disengage the latch from the blower and thereby detach the blower from the housing.
- 22. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 21, wherein the housing includes a surface on which the thumbs of both hands are disposed as the upward force is applied to the blower to disengage the latch from the blower.
US Referenced Citations (6)