TECHNICAL FIELD
The subject disclosure pertains to a surface cleaning apparatus (“surface cleaner”) having a rigid wand section that connects a handheld portion with suction source to a moveable base assembly having a suction nozzle.
BACKGROUND
Powered vacuum cleaners and other surface cleaners are operable for removing entrained dirt and debris from a variety of surfaces, including but not limited to carpeting, hard floors, and fabric surfaces such as upholstery and drapery. Surface cleaners typically include a recovery container and a suction nozzle, with the latter component being located adjacent to a target surface to be cleaned. The suction nozzle is in fluid communication with the recovery container via an intervening length of fluid conduit. Debris-laden air is thus drawn from the target surface, through the suction nozzle, fluid conduit, and dirty air outlet, and into the recovery container v for disposal.
A “stick-type” vacuum cleaner in particular is a relatively lightweight, slim, and maneuverable alternative to a typical bag or canister-equipped upright vacuum cleaner. Stick-type vacuum cleaners are distinguishable from upright models by their slender conduit-carrying body. Relative to an upright vacuum cleaner, a stick-type vacuum cleaner is generally easier to transport and maneuver. As a result, stick-type vacuum cleaners maybe optimal for performing household cleaning tasks that do not require the higher suction power and dirt holding capacity of an upright vacuum cleaner.
BRIEF SUMMARY
A “stick-type” surface cleaner is disclosed herein. A representative construction of the surface cleaner includes a base assembly, a handheld portion, and an integrated hose-and-wand assembly having a rigid wand body that interconnects the base assembly and the handheld portion. Embodiments of the hose-and-wand assembly as contemplated herein combine features of a flexible powered suction hose and a rigid extension or wand. As appreciated in the art, a wand may be used to extend a user's reach and facilitate access to distant or obstructed workspaces such as the corners of floors, walls, or ceilings. The present teachings may therefore improve the overall user experience by addressing, among other potential problems, the potential inconvenience of storing the powered suction hose when the hose is not in use, and of locating and retrieving the hose from storage when the hose is again required to perform a particular cleaning task.
In particular, a hose-and-wand assembly is disclosed herein for use with a surface cleaning apparatus having a handheld portion and a base assembly. The hose-and-wand assembly in an exemplary configuration includes a flexible suction hose having first and second working positions. The hose-and-wand assembly additionally includes electrical conductors connected to or carried by the flexible suction hose, a rigid wand body, and a pair of end couplers. The rigid wand body may define an elongated slot and a wand cavity that is contiguous with the elongated slot. The end couplers, which are connected to opposite ends of the flexible suction hose, are releasably connectable a respective one of the base assembly and the handheld portion. Each end coupler has electrical contacts connected to the electrical conductors. In this embodiment, the elongated slot is configured to: (i) admit the flexible suction hose into the wand cavity for stowage therein in the first working position, and (ii) release the flexible suction hose from the wand cavity in the second working position.
The rigid wand body in one or more non-limiting embodiments may include a pair of rectilinear walls having respective proximal edges that are joined together, and respective distal edges that are spaced apart from each other to define the elongated slot therebetween. The rigid wand body may have arcuate or curvilinear walls in other constructions.
The hose-and-wand assembly may include a pair of retention collars, each respective collar being configured to connect the rigid wand body to the pair of end couplers at either end of the flexible suction hose.
Each of the pair of end couplers may optionally define one or more tab slots. The rigid wand body in such a configuration includes one or more tabs configured to engage a respective one of the one or more tab slots.
The above-noted pair of end couplers may include a respective push-activated latch configured to connect the hose-and-wand assembly to the handheld portion or the base assembly.
The rigid wand body may be characterized by an absence of electrical conductors located therein or thereon.
Also disclosed herein is a surface cleaning apparatus having a base assembly, a handheld portion, and a hose-and-wand assembly. The base assembly may include a suction nozzle and a housing, the housing being connected to or defining the suction nozzle. The handheld portion in one or more embodiments includes a hand grip, a dirty air outlet, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the dirty air outlet. The suction source is configured to generate a working airstream.
The hose-and-wand assembly in a representative construction is configured to connect the handheld portion to the base assembly, and includes a flexible suction hose, electrical conductors, and a rigid wand body. The suction hose defines an air path configured to direct the working airstream from the suction nozzle to the dirty air outlet. The electrical conductors are connected to or carried by the flexible suction hose. The rigid wand body in this embodiment defines an elongated slot and a wand cavity that is contiguous with the elongated slot. The elongated slot is configured to admit into and stow the flexible suction hose in the wand cavity in a first working position of the flexible suction hose, and to release the flexible suction hose from the wand cavity in a second working position of the flexible suction hose. A pair of end couplers are connected to opposite ends of the flexible suction hose and releasably connectable to a respective one of the base assembly and the handheld portion. The end couplers include electrical contacts connected to the electrical conductors.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a surface cleaning apparatus includes a base assembly, a handheld portion, and a hose-and-wand assembly. The base assembly includes a suction nozzle and a housing, with the housing being connected to or defining the suction nozzle. The handheld portion may include a hand grip, a dirty air outlet, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the dirty air outlet, with the suction source being configured to generate a working airstream.
The hose-and-wand assembly in this representative construction, which is configured to connect the handheld portion to the base assembly, includes a flexible suction hose, a rigid wand body, electrical conductors, a pair of end couplers, and a pair of retention collars. The flexible suction hose defines an air path configured to direct the working airstream from the suction nozzle to the dirty air outlet. The rigid wand body includes interconnected rectilinear walls arranged at an angle relative each other to thereby define an elongated slot and a wand cavity. The elongated slot is configured to admit the flexible suction hose into the wand cavity in a first working position of the flexible suction hose, and to release the flexible suction hose from the wand cavity in a second working position of the flexible suction hose.
The electrical conductors in this exemplary embodiment are connected to or carried by the flexible suction hose and configured to electrically connect the handheld portion to the base assembly. The end couplers are connected to the electrical conductors and to opposing ends of the flexible suction hose, and are connectable to a respective one of the base assembly and the handheld portion. Each retention collar is configured to connect to a corresponding one of the end couplers to thereby connect the rigid wand body to the flexible suction hose.
The above summary is not intended to represent every possible construction or aspect of the subject disclosure. Rather, the foregoing summary is intended to exemplify some of the novel aspects and features disclosed herein. The above-summarized features and other features and advantages of the subject disclosure will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of representative embodiments and modes for carrying out the subject disclosure when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only, are schematic in nature, and are intended to be exemplary rather than to limit the scope of the disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustration of a “stick-type” surface cleaner having an integrated hose-and-wand assembly in accordance with the disclosure.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective view illustrations of a hose-and-wand assembly according to a representative embodiment.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustration of the hose-and-wand assembly of FIGS. 2A and 2B according to another embodiment.
FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary configuration of an end coupler usable with the hose-and-wand assembly of FIGS. 1-3A.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustration of the hose-and-wand assembly of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 5 is a plan view illustration of a hose-and-wand assembly according to an alternative construction.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustration of the hose-and-wand assembly of FIG. 5 depicting an integral collar operable for removably clamping the flexible suction hose to the rigid wand body of the hose-and-wand assembly.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustration of the collars and end couplers illustrated in FIG. 6.
The appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, and may present a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features of the present disclosure as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes. Details associated with such features will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to the same or like components in the several Figures, FIG. 1 is an illustration of a surface cleaning apparatus (“surface cleaner”) 10 in the form of an exemplary motor-in-hand “stick” vacuum cleaner. As noted above, a stick vacuum provides a portable design that may be easily transported and operated by a user during the performance of residential or commercial cleaning tasks. The surface cleaner 10 described herein includes a base assembly 20, a handheld portion 30, and an integrated hose-and-wand assembly 40 having a longitudinal axis 40A, with embodiments of the hose-and-wand assembly 40 set forth in further detail below with reference to FIGS. 2A-6.
As appreciated in the art, stick-type vacuums utilize a stiff, lightweight wand with electrical wiring routed therethrough to connect to and power a base assembly and accessory tools, e.g., the base assembly 20 and an exemplary accessory tool (not shown). The present solutions combine a powered flexible suction hose 50 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) and a rigid wand body 42 to form the hose-and-wand assembly 40, with the wand body 42 being easily detachable from the hose-and-wand assembly 40 when a user of the surface cleaner 10 wishes to employ the hose 50 with its freely bendable and extendable range of motion. When such capabilities of the flexible suction hose 50 of FIGS. 2A and 2B are no longer needed, the hose 50 is stowable within the wand cavity 44, thereby eliminating the need to separately store and access the hose 50.
The surface cleaner 10 of FIG. 1 may include a recovery system for removing and temporarily storing debris from a surface 15 to be cleaned. The recovery system may include a suction nozzle 16, a suction source 18 in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 16 for generating a working air stream, and a recovery container 19 for collecting debris passing through a dirty air outlet 190 for later disposal. The suction nozzle 16 may be provided on the base assembly 20, e.g., a wheeled and motorized cleaning head, which in turn is configured to move over the surface 15.
Various constructions of the base assembly 20 of FIG. 1 may be used within the scope of the disclosure, for instance as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,659,968B2, which issued on May 30, 2023, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In one or more embodiments, one or more agitators 22 may be connected to a housing 28 of the base assembly 20 adjacent to the suction nozzle 16. The agitator(s) 22 may be operable for agitating the surface 15 such that entrained debris is more easily lifted and ingested into the suction nozzle 16. The agitator(s) 22 may include, e.g., one or more stationary or rotating brush rolls, and/or a disposable cleaning pad to retain debris that is not otherwise ingested into the suction nozzle 16.
The suction source 18, for example a motorized vacuum pump or fan assembly, may be electrically connected to a power source 24, such as a direct current (DC) battery pack as shown or a power source 240 in the form of a household electrical outlet. Depending on the power configuration of the suction source 18, power connection may occur via an intervening inverter circuit (not shown). A power switch 25 disposed between the suction source 18 and the power source 24 may be actuated by the user to activate or deactivate the suction source 18. An optional separator (not shown) may be disposed within the recovery container 19 in some implementations separating entrained debris from the working air stream.
The handheld portion 30 of FIG. 1 includes the dirty air outlet 190 as well as includes a hand grip 32 for maneuvering the surface cleaner 10. The recovery container 19 may be accessed via a release latch 33 so that the recovery container 19 may be emptied. The handheld portion 30 as a whole may be coupled to the hose-and-wand assembly 40 via an end coupler 140A, which in turn is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 16 and the recovery container 19. While exemplary end couplers 140A and 140B are shown herein as a typical connector configuration type used to connect and disconnect vacuum cleaner hoses and tool accessories, e.g., via activation of a push-activated latch 62, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of connectors may be used to connect the hose-and-wand assembly 40 to the base assembly 20 and the handheld portion 30, including but not limited to quick-connect mechanisms, tubing couplers, twist-to-connect end fittings, etc.
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the rigid wand body 42 defines an elongated slot 144 along its length (L). The elongated slot 144 provides access to the aforementioned wand cavity 44, which is contiguous with the elongated slot 144, with the wand cavity 44 extending along the longitudinal axis 40A of the rigid wand body 42 as shown in FIG. 1. Possible materials of construction for the rigid wand body 42 include, e.g., molded plastic, aluminum such as a piece of extruded aluminum, carbon fiber, or another material that would provide the rigid wand body 42 with the requisite rigidity for performing wand-based cleaning tasks as appreciated in the art. In a possible implementation, the rigid wand body 42 may be constructed as a monolithic piece of extruded aluminum. The rigid wand body 42 in a representative non-limiting embodiment includes a pair of rectilinear walls 45 having respective proximal edges 145 that are joined together, and having the distal edges 245 that are spaced apart from each other to define the elongated slot 144 therebetween. As used herein, “proximal” and “distal” are relative terms, with “distal” referring to the location of the distal edges 245 relative to the shared/common location of the proximal edges 145.
The elongated slot 144 and the wand cavity 44 are sized, shaped, and contoured, i.e., configured, to admit and stow the flexible suction hose 50 in a first working position of the hose-and-wand assembly 40, i.e., a stowed position. The elongated slot 144 and the wand cavity 44 are additionally configured to release the flexible suction hose 50 in a second working position of the hose-and-wand assembly 40, i.e., a deployed position. The surface cleaner 10 may be operated with the base assembly 20 attached to the hose-and-wand assembly 40 configured in the first working position for conventional floor cleaning. Moreover, while still in the first working position, a user of the surface cleaner 10 may detach the base assembly 20 from the hose-and-wand assembly 40 and use the hose-and-wand assembly 40 and its still-connected rigid wand body 42, such as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Under such use, an accessory tool (e.g., a crevice tool, smaller nozzle, or the like) may also be attached to the hose-and-wand assembly 40 in place of the base assembly 20. The hose-and-wand assembly 40 is thus usable as rigid extension tool to reach difficult to access locations, such as corners, along ceilings, or beneath furniture. The flexible suction hose 50 remains captive within the elongated wand cavity 44 in the first working position, with the air path defined in part by the flexible suction hose 50 conducting the working airstream along the longitudinal axis 40A (see FIG. 1).
As shown in FIG. 2B, the user may separate the flexible suction hose 50 from the rigid wand body 42 as indicated by arrow B to thereby transition to the second working position, one in which the rigid wand body 42 is temporarily detached from the flexible suction hose 50 and set aside. In such a position, the flexible suction hose 50 remains connected to the handheld portion 30 of FIG. 1 at one end, with a free end of the flexible suction hose 50 possibly separated from the base assembly 20 to provide an alternative suction inlet 160. An accessory tool (not shown) such as a motorized or unpowered brush-equipped attachment may be connected to the end coupler 140B in the second working position to facilitate cleaning.
Thus, the surface cleaner 10 may be operated with the base assembly 20 attached to the hose-and-wand assembly 40 in the first working position to provide a rigid structure for maneuvering the base assembly 20 across a floor surface through manipulation of the handheld portion 30 by a user. Further, the surface cleaner 10 may be operated with an accessory tool (e.g., crevice tool, powered or unpowered mini-brush tool, or the like) connected to the hose-and-wand assembly 40 in either the first working position (i.e., hose stowed) or the second working position (i.e., hose deployed) depending on whether a rigid or flexible structure is needed or preferred for the requisite cleaning task.
The flexible suction hose 50 of FIGS. 2A and 2B also include electrical conductors 167, e.g., conductive wires and contacts. The electrical conductors 167 may be connected to or carried by the flexible suction hose 50. The flexible suction hose 50 is thus configured as a powered hose configured to electrically connect the handheld portion 30 to the base assembly 20 of FIG. 1 (or an accessory tool) in the second working position. Integration of the electrical conductors 167 into the flexible suction hose 50 allows electrical power from the power sources 24 or 240 of FIG. 1 to flow through the intervening handheld portion 30 and to electrical contacts 67 disposed in or on the end couplers 140A and 140B and electrically connected to the electrical conductors 167. Exemplary electrical contacts 67 are shown on the end coupler 140A of FIG. 3B for the purpose of illustration.
The rigid wand body 42 of FIGS. 2A and 2B is thus characterized by an absence of the electrical conductors 167, instead acting as an outer partial sleeve that allows the hose-and-wand assembly 40 to selectively function as a rigid wand in the first working position. The pair of end couplers 140A and 140B, which are connected to the electrical conductors 167 and to opposing ends of the flexible suction hose 50, are thus connectable to a respective one of the base assembly 20 and the handheld portion 30 as noted above.
Referring now to FIG. 3A, an embodiment of the hose-and-wand assembly 40 is shown as a hose-and-wand assembly 400 in which the rigid wand body 42 has an arcuate cross-sectional shape. That is, the wand body 42 may be cylindrical and define the wand cavity 44 along the longitudinal axis 40A. Access to the wand cavity 44 is via the above-described elongated slot 144 having a slot width (W). The flexible suction hose 50 in such an embodiment may be admitted into the wand cavity 44 through the slot width (W) of the elongated slot 144, with the spring force of the rigid wand body 42 and the construction of the distal edges 245 helping to retain the flexible suction hose 50 within the wand cavity 44 in the first working position of FIG. 3A.
In a possible construction, the rigid wand body 42 of FIG. 3A may define or include one or more tabs 42T, with each of the end couplers 140A and 140B defining one or more tab slots 52. The tabs 42T are configured to engage a respective one of the one or more tab slots 52. Such a tab-and-slot structure may also be incorporated into the V-shaped configuration of FIGS. 2A and 2B. To retain the rigid wand body 42 to the end couplers 140A and 140B, therefore, a user may insert the tabs 42T into the tab slots 52 via compression of the rigid wand body 42, i.e., by gently squeezing the rigid wand body 42 to narrow the width (W), then releasing the rigid wand body 42 to allow the tabs 42T to engage with the tab slots 52. As illustrated in FIG. 4, therefore, the hose-and-wand assembly 40 forms an integral piece containing the flexible suction hose 50 and the rigid wand body 42 via engagement of the tabs 42T with the tabs slots 52 of the end couplers 140A and 140B. The working airstream (arrow AA) thus flows through the air path 500 of the flexible suction hose 50 via the end coupler 140B before passing through the oppositely disposed end coupler 140A in this non-limiting embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 3B, one end of the hose-and-wand assembly 40 is connected to the end coupler 140A. For instance, the handheld portion 30 of FIG. 1 may be configured to receive the end coupler 140A so that electrical power may be provided to the hose-and-wand assembly 40 via the electrical conductors 167 running along or within the flexible suction hose 50. In the illustrated construction, the end coupler 140A may include a cylindrical pipe 146 surrounding the longitudinal axis 40A, with the working airpath passing through the pipe 146 and into the handheld portion 30 of FIG. 2.
A push-activated latch 62, e.g., one that may be activated by a pushing or pressing action of a user's thumb or finger, may be arranged on the end coupler 140A to facilitate connection and disconnection of the end coupler 140A from the handheld portion 30, or to and from the base assembly 20 in a different construction. Electrical contacts 67 may be presented on a facing surface 65F of the end coupler 140A to electrically connect the handheld portion 30 to the electrical conductors 167 of the flexible suction hose 50 (see FIG. 2B). The end coupler 140A also includes a coupler body 65 providing sufficient structural rigidity and support, with alignment holes 63 assisting location and alignment with a mating tool (not shown). Similar electrical contacts 67 may be present on the end coupler 140B for connecting electrical power to any powered components thereof, as appreciated in the art.
Referring briefly to FIGS. 6 and 7, the rigid wand body 42 may be alternatively secured to the end couplers 140A and 140B via an interference or press fit in one or more implementations. To that end, each of the end couplers 140A and 140B may be selectively connected to and detached from a corresponding retention collar 150, with the retention collars 150 being connected or formed integrally with the rigid wand body 42 and disposed at opposing ends of the rigid wand body 42 in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated configuration, the rigid wand body 42 includes the optional rectilinear walls 45 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B), with the rectilinear walls 45 arranged at an acute angle relative each other, e.g., about 45° to about 90° in a non-limiting angular range. As noted above, other configurations may use curvilinear or arcuate walls, and therefore the rectilinear embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is non-limiting.
The flexible suction hose 50 is thus disposed within the elongated wand cavity 44 and connected to the end couplers 140A and 140B at either of its ends. In this particular construction, the retention collar 150 is integrally formed with an outer surface of the rigid wand body 42, e.g., the distal edges 245 as shown. The pair of retention collars 150 are formed integrally/contiguously with the distal edges 245, such that the retention collar 150 is formed with the rest of the rigid wand body 42. Each retention collar 150 may include or define one or more arcuate slots 151S. To mate up with such slots 151S, the end couplers 140A and 140B disposed on opposing ends of the flexible suction hose 50 may include or define arcuate tabs or ribs 141R.
The ribs 141R may be lined up with the slots 151S as indicated by double-headed arrows XX in FIG. 7, and then inserted/press fit into the slots 151S by a user to secure the end couplers 140A and 140B to the retention collars 150, e.g., via a slight friction or interference fit. In certain embodiments, the slots 151S may include a detent (not shown) to facilitate secured engagement between the end couplers 140A and 140B and corresponding retention collars 150. With the ends of the flexible suction hose 50 located and retained in this manner, retention of the flexible suction hose 50 along the length of the flexible suction hose 50 occurs via the distal edges 245. In various embodiments, either the end couplers 140A and 140B or the retention collars 150 include at least one rib 141R and the other of either the end couplers 140A and 140B or the retention collars 150 include at least one slot 151S corresponding to the at least one rib 141R for selectively securing each end coupler 140A, 140B to the rigid wand body 42 via the pair of retention collars 150.
Thus, the hose-and-wand assembly 40 takes on an integral construction from the perspective of FIG. 6, i.e., with the exemplary end coupler 140B in this instance appearing as an extension of the rigid wand body 42, and with the retention collar 150 being integral with the rigid wand body 42 as noted above. A working face 60 of the end coupler 140B is thus exposed at an end of the hose-and-wand assembly 40 for use in the first or second working positions described above.
The various structural modifications described herein therefore improve the overall user experience by addressing, among other potential problems, the potential inconvenience of storing a powered suction hose when the hose is not in use, and of locating and retrieving the stored hose from storage when the hose is again required to perform a particular cleaning task. These and other potential benefits will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing disclosure and supporting Figures.
The following Clauses provide some representative configurations of the present wand assembly and suction cleaning apparatus as disclosed herein.
- Clause 1: A hose-and-wand assembly for use with a surface cleaning apparatus, the surface cleaning apparatus having a handheld portion and a base assembly, the hose-and-wand assembly comprising: a flexible suction hose having a first working position and a second working position; electrical conductors connected to or carried by the flexible suction hose; a rigid wand body defining an elongated slot and surrounding a wand cavity that is contiguous with the elongated slot; and a pair of end couplers connected to opposite ends of the flexible suction hose and releasably connectable to a respective one of the base assembly and the handheld portion, the pair of end couplers each having electrical contacts connected to the electrical conductors, wherein the elongated slot is configured to: admit the flexible suction hose into the wand cavity for stowage therein in the first working position; and release the flexible suction hose from the wand cavity in the second working position.
- Clause 2: The hose-and-wand assembly of clause 1, wherein the rigid wand body includes a pair of rectilinear walls having respective proximal edges that are joined together, and respective distal edges that are spaced apart from each other to define the elongated slot therebetween.
- Clause 3: The hose-and-wand assembly of either of clauses 1 or 2, further comprising: a pair of retention collars each configured to connect the rigid wand body to the pair of end couplers.
- Clause 4: The hose-and-wand assembly of any of clauses 1-3, wherein each of the pair of retention collars is formed integrally with the rigid wand body and disposed at opposing ends of the rigid wand body.
- Clause 5: The hose-and-wand assembly of either of clauses 3 or 4, wherein one of either the end couplers or the retention collars include at least one rib and the other of either the end couplers or the retention collars include at least one slot corresponding to the at least one rib for selectively securing each end coupler to the rigid wand body via the pair of retention collars.
- Clause 6: The hose-and-wand assembly of any of clauses 1-3, wherein each of the pair of end couplers defines one or more tab slots, and wherein the rigid wand body includes one or more tabs configured to engage a respective one of the one or more tab slots.
- Clause 7: The hose-and-wand assembly of any of clauses 1-6, wherein the pair of end couplers include a respective push-activated latch configured to connect the hose-and-wand assembly to the handheld portion or the base assembly.
- Clause 8: The hose-and-wand assembly of any of clauses 1-7, wherein the rigid wand body is characterized by an absence of electrical conductors located therein or thereon.
- Clause 9: A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising: a base assembly including a suction nozzle and a housing, the housing being connected to or defining the suction nozzle; a handheld portion including a hand grip, a dirty air outlet, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the dirty air outlet, the suction source being configured to generate a working airstream; and a hose-and-wand assembly configured to connect the handheld portion to the base assembly, the hose-and-wand assembly including: a flexible suction hose defining an air path, the air path being configured to direct the working airstream from the suction nozzle to the dirty air outlet; electrical conductors connected to or carried by the flexible suction hose; a rigid wand body defining an elongated slot and a wand cavity that is contiguous with the elongated slot, wherein the elongated slot is configured to admit into and stow the flexible suction hose in the wand cavity in a first working position of the flexible suction hose, and to release the flexible suction hose from the wand cavity in a second working position of the flexible suction hose; and a pair of end couplers connected to opposite ends of the flexible suction hose and releasably connectable to a respective one of the base assembly and the handheld portion, the pair of end couplers having electrical contacts connected to the electrical conductors.
- Clause 10: The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 9, wherein the rigid wand body includes a pair of rectilinear walls having: respective proximal edges that are joined together; and respective distal edges that are spaced apart from each other to define the elongated slot therebetween.
- Clause 11: The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 10, wherein the pair of rectilinear walls are arranged at an acute angle with respect to each other.
- Clause 12: The surface cleaning apparatus of any of clauses 9-11, wherein each of the pair of end couplers defines one or more tab slots, and wherein the rigid wand body includes one or more tabs configured to engage a respective one of the one or more slots.
- Clause 13: The surface cleaning apparatus of any of clauses 9-12, further comprising: a pair of retention collars, each respective retention collar of the pair of retention collars being configured to connect the rigid wand body to the pair of end couplers.
- Clause 14: The surface cleaning apparatus of any of clauses 9-12, wherein each of the pair of retention collars is formed integrally with the rigid wand body.
- Clause 15: The surface cleaning apparatus of any of clauses 9-14, wherein the rigid wand body is constructed of molded plastic, aluminum, or carbon fiber.
- Clause 16: The surface cleaning apparatus of any of clauses 9-15, wherein the rigid wand body is constructed from the aluminum, and wherein the aluminum includes a monolithic piece of extruded aluminum.
- Clause 17: The surface cleaning apparatus of any of clauses 9-16, wherein the pair of end couplers include a respective push-activated latch configured to connect the hose-and-wand assembly to the handheld portion or the base assembly.
- Clause 18: A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising: a base assembly including a suction nozzle and a housing, the housing being connected to or defining the suction nozzle; a handheld portion including a hand grip, a dirty air outlet, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the dirty air outlet, the suction source being configured to generate a working airstream; and a hose-and-wand assembly configured to connect the handheld portion to the base assembly, the hose-and-wand assembly including: a flexible suction hose defining an air path, the air path being configured to direct the working airstream from the suction nozzle to the dirty air outlet; a rigid wand body having interconnected rectilinear walls arranged at an angle relative each other to thereby define an elongated slot and a wand cavity, the elongated slot being configured to admit the flexible suction hose into the wand cavity in a first working position of the flexible suction hose, and to release the flexible suction hose from the wand cavity in a second working position of the flexible suction hose; electrical conductors connected to or carried by the flexible suction hose and configured to electrically connect the handheld portion to the base assembly; and a pair of end couplers connected to the electrical conductors and to opposing ends of the flexible suction hose, the pair of end couplers being connectable to a respective one of the base assembly and the handheld portion; and a pair of retention collars, each respective retention collar of the pair of retention collars being configured to connect the rigid wand body to the pair of end couplers.
- Clause 19: The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 18, wherein the rigid wand body is constructed of extruded aluminum.
- Clause 20: The surface cleaning apparatus of either of clauses 18 or 19, wherein each of the pair of retention collars is formed integrally with the rigid wand body.
The subject disclosure may be embodied in many different forms. Representative examples are shown in the various drawings and described in detail below, with the understanding that the descriptions are exemplifications of the disclosed principles and not limitations of the broad aspects of the disclosure. To that end, elements and limitations described below, but not explicitly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, singly or collectively, by implication, inference, or otherwise. Moreover, the drawings discussed herein may not be to scale, and are provided purely for instructional purposes. Thus, the specific and relative dimensions shown in the Figures are not to be construed as limiting.
Additionally, unless specifically disclaimed: the singular includes the plural and vice versa; the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the words “any” and “all” shall both mean “any and all”; and the words “including,” “containing,” “comprising,” “having,” along with permutations thereof and similar terms, shall each mean “including without limitation.” Further, the words “example” or “exemplary” are used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. Moreover, words of approximation, such as “about,” “almost,” “substantially,” “generally,” “approximately,” and the like, may each be used herein in the sense of “at, near, or nearly at,” or “within 0-5% of,” or “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances,” or any logical combination thereof, for example.
While some of the best modes have been described in detail, various alternative designs may exist for practicing the present teachings defined in the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include combinations and sub-combinations of the described elements and features. The detailed description and the drawings are supportive and descriptive of the present teachings, with the scope of the present teachings defined solely by the claims.
Patent Application
20250235062
