VACUUM ACCESSORY TOOL

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner. The accessory tool includes a nozzle body that defines a chamber. The accessory tool further includes a first resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle body, a second resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle body, and a third resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle body. A first elongated inlet aperture extends through the nozzle body directly between the first blade and the second blade and the first inlet aperture allows air to pass therethrough and into the chamber. A second elongated inlet aperture extends through the nozzle body directly between the second blade and the third blade and the second inlet aperture allows air to pass therethrough and into the chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaner accessory tools.

Vacuum cleaners are often supplied with multiple accessory tools. For example, in one type of vacuum, an upright vacuum, the vacuum includes a foot or main nozzle that is in fluid communication with a dirt cup and the dirt cup is in fluid communication with a fan that is operable to generate a suction air flow through the foot and the dirt cup. The main nozzle often includes a brush roll or agitator and the user moves the main nozzle along a surface to be cleaned, typically carpet or other types of flooring. The main nozzle and the dirt cup can be fluidly coupled by a suction hose that is in fluid communication with the fan. An end of the suction hose is often removably coupled to the main nozzle. The user can uncouple this end of the hose from the main nozzle and attach an accessory tool for cleaning furniture, stairs, or other areas where it is not convenient to use the main nozzle.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner. The accessory tool includes a nozzle body that defines a chamber and an outlet conduit that extends from the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the chamber. The outlet conduit is configured to couple the accessory tool to the vacuum cleaner and to provide fluid communication from the chamber to the vacuum cleaner. The accessory tool further includes a first resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle body, a second resilient flexible blade that extend from the nozzle body, and a third resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle body. A first elongated inlet aperture extends through the nozzle body directly between the first blade and the second blade, and the first inlet aperture allows air to pass therethrough and into the chamber. A second elongated inlet aperture extends through the nozzle body directly between the second blade and the third blade, and the second inlet aperture allows air to pass therethrough and into the chamber.

In another embodiment the invention provides a vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner. The accessory tool includes a nozzle body that defines a chamber, and the nozzle body includes an upper end and a lower end. An outlet conduit extends from the upper end of the nozzle body and the outlet conduit is configured to couple the accessory tool to the vacuum cleaner and to provide fluid communication from the chamber to the vacuum cleaner. A nozzle plate is coupled the lower end of the nozzle body. The accessory tool further includes a first discrete resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle plate away from the lower end of the nozzle body and the first blade defines a longitudinal axis and a length measured along the longitudinal axis. A second discrete resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle plate away from the lower end of the nozzle body and the second blade defines a longitudinal axis and a length measured along the longitudinal axis. A third discrete resilient flexible blade extends from the nozzle plate away from the lower end of the nozzle body, and the third blade defines a longitudinal axis and a length measured along the longitudinal axis. A first discrete elongated inlet aperture extends through the nozzle plate directly between the first blade and the second blade, and the first inlet aperture allows air to pass therethrough and into the chamber. A second discrete elongated inlet aperture that extends through the nozzle plate directly between the second blade and the third blade, and the second inlet aperture allows air to pass therethrough and into the chamber.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner accessory tool according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an alternative perspective view of the accessory tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the accessory tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the accessory tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the accessory tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the accessory tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the accessory tool of FIG. 1.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a vacuum cleaner accessory tool 10 that can be coupled to a suction hose of a vacuum cleaner for use with the vacuum cleaner to clean or remove debris from a surface, such as upholstery, furniture, carpeting, other flooring, and the like. As best seen in FIG. 7, the accessory tool includes a nozzle body 14 and a nozzle plate 16 coupled to the nozzle body 14.

Referring to FIG. 7, the nozzle body 14 is generally hollow and defines an interior chamber 20. The nozzle body 14 includes a lower end 24 and an upper end 26. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the nozzle body 14 defines a width 30 and a length 32 that both generally decrease from the lower end 24 toward the upper end 26 such that the nozzle body 14 and the chamber 20 are tapered from the lower end 24 toward the upper end 26. An outlet conduit 36 extends from the upper end 26 of the nozzle body 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet conduit 36 is integrally formed with the nozzle body 14 as a single component. In one embodiment, the outlet conduit 36 and the nozzle body 14 are integrally molded from plastic. Also, the illustrated outlet conduit 36 is generally fixed with respect to the nozzle body 14. In other embodiments, the outlet conduit 36 can be made to pivot with respect to the nozzle body 14. The outlet conduit 36 is used to removably couple the accessory tool 10 to a suction hose of a vacuum cleaner. Typically, the outlet conduit 36 is received within the suction hose and the outlet conduit 36 provides fluid communication between the chamber 20 and the suction hose.

With continued reference to FIG. 7, a suction inlet aperture 40 is located at the lower end 24 of the nozzle body 14. The suction inlet aperture 40 has a length 44 and a width 46, and the illustrated suction inlet aperture 40 is elongated such that the length 44 is greater than the width 46. A wall 50 extends from the lower end 24 of the nozzle body 14 and surrounds the periphery of the suction inlet aperture 40.

The nozzle plate 16 includes a plate portion 54 and a wall 56 that extends from the plate portion 54 around the periphery of the plate portion 54. The nozzle plate 16 has a length 60 (FIG. 4) and a width 62 (FIG. 5) that are sized so that the wall 50 of the nozzle body 14 fits within the wall 56 of the nozzle plate 16. An adhesive can be placed between the walls 50 and 56 to couple the nozzle body 14 and the nozzle plate 16.

The nozzle plate 16 further includes inlet apertures 66 and 68 that extend through the plate portion 54 of the nozzle plate 16 to provide fluid communication through the suction inlet aperture 40 of the nozzle body 14 and into the chamber 20. The illustrated inlet apertures 66 and 68 both have a length 72 and a width 74 (FIG. 3). In the illustrated embodiment, the lengths 72 and the widths 74 of the inlet apertures 66 and 68 are approximately equal and extend substantially along the entire length 44 of the suction inlet aperture 40. In other embodiments the lengths and widths of the inlet apertures 66 and 68 of the nozzle plate 16 may differ. In yet other embodiments, the inlet apertures 66 and 68 can be divided into multiple smaller apertures In the illustrated embodiment, the length 72 of the inlet apertures 66 and 68 is greater than the width 74 so that the inlet apertures 66 and 68 are elongated. Also, the inlet apertures 66 and 68 are discrete apertures. In other words, the apertures 66 and 68 are separate apertures that are finite or have clearly identifiable boundaries. The illustrated embodiment includes only two inlet apertures 66 and 68, and other embodiments can include more or less than two inlet apertures. Also, the illustrated nozzle plate 16 covers the entire suction inlet aperture 40 of the nozzle body 14 except for the inlet apertures 66 and 68, and therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, air and debris only flows into the chamber 20 through the apertures 66 and 68.

Referring to FIG. 7, the nozzle plate 16 further includes a first, a second, and a third blade aperture 80, 82, 84, respectively, that extend through the plate portion 54 of the nozzle plate 16. The second blade aperture 82 is elongated extending along the length 60 of the nozzle plate 16 directly between and adjacent the first inlet aperture 66 and the second inlet aperture 68. The first blade aperture 80 is elongated extending along the length 60 of the nozzle plate 16 directly adjacent the first inlet aperture 66 on the opposite side of the first inlet aperture 66 from the second blade aperture 82. The third blade aperture 84 is elongated extending along the length 60 of the nozzle plate 16 directly adjacent the second inlet aperture 68 on the opposite side of the second inlet aperture 68 from the second blade aperture 82.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, the nozzle plate 16 further includes a first blade 90, a second blade 92, and a third blade 94 that extend from the plate portion 54 of the nozzle plate 16. The blades 90, 92, and 94 have a length 96 and a longitudinal axis 98, 100, and 102, respectively, that extends along the lengths 96 of the blades 90, 92, and 94. In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal axes 98, 100, and 102 of the blades 90, 92, and 94, respectively, are slightly curved, but in other embodiments, the longitudinal axes 98, 100, and 102 of the blades 90, 92, and 94, respectively, can be straight, and in yet other embodiments the accessory tool 10 can include a combination of curved and straight blades. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the lengths 96 of the blades 90, 92, and 94 are about equal, with the second blade 92 being only slightly longer than the first blade 90 and the third blade 94. The illustrated embodiment includes only three blades, which are discrete. In other words, the blades 90, 92, and 94 are separate blades that are finite or have clearly identifiable boundaries. In other embodiments, the accessory tool 10 can include more or less than three blades. Also, although each of the blades 90, 92, and 94 are continuous along their respective longitudinal axes 98, 100, and 102, in other embodiments, each of the blades 90, 92, and 94 can be divided into shorter multiple blade segments.

The blades 90, 92, and 94 each include an end surface 110 that is configured to move along a surface that is cleaned by the accessory tool 10 when used with a vacuum cleaner. The end surfaces 110 generally face away from the nozzle body 14 and the plate portion 54 of the nozzle plate 16. The illustrated end surfaces 110 are generally flat and are co-planer (plane 114 of FIG. 5). In other embodiments, the blades 90, 92, and 94 can have different heights 118 (FIG. 5) so that the end surfaces 110 are not co-planer or the end surfaces may be at an angle so that the ends surfaces 110 are not co-planer.

In one embodiment, the blades 90, 92, and 94 are both flexible and resilient. In such an embodiment the blades 90, 92, and 94 can be formed from thermoplastic polyurethane rubber, other types of rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the blades 90, 92, and 94 are formed by over-molding the blades 90, 92, and 94 through the blade apertures 80, 82, and 84, respectively. Accordingly, the second blade 92 is directly adjacent and directly between the first inlet aperture 66 and the second inlet aperture 68 extending along the length 72 of the apertures 66 and 68. The first blade 90 is directly adjacent the first inlet aperture 66 extending along the length 72 of the aperture 66 on the side of the aperture 66 opposite the second blade 92. The third blade 94 is directly adjacent the second inlet aperture 68 extending along the length 72 of the aperture 68 on the side of the aperture 68 opposite the second blade 92.

In operation, a user couples the accessory tool 10 to a hose of a vacuum cleaner, typically by inserting the outlet conduit 36 into the hose of the vacuum. With the vacuum ‘on’ or generating a suction, air and debris is drawn through the inlet apertures 66 and 68, through the suction inlet aperture 40 and into the chamber 24, and then through the outlet conduit 36 and into the vacuum cleaner. The user moves the inlet apertures 66 and 68 and the blades 90, 92, and 94 along a surface to remove dirt, dust, and other debris from the surface. Meanwhile, the blades 90, 92, and 94 agitate the surface to facilitate removal of the debris from the surface. As the blades 90, 92, and 94 are moved along the surface, the blades 90, 92, and 94 flex, but yet are resilient so that the blades 90, 92, and 94 return to their original shape, which is the shape illustrated. The resilient flexible blades 90, 92, and 94 are particularly well suited for removing hair, such as pet hair, from the cleaning surface. The end surfaces 110 of the three blades 90, 92, and 94 provide multiple points to contact hair to pull or remove the hair from the surface. Also, in some embodiments, the blades 90, 92, and 94 can be somewhat tacky to facility removal of the hair from the surface.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner, the accessory tool comprising: a nozzle body that defines a chamber;an outlet conduit that extends from the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the chamber, the outlet conduit configured to couple the accessory tool to the vacuum cleaner and to provide fluid communication from the chamber to the vacuum cleaner;a first resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle body;a second resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle body;a third resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle body;a first elongated inlet aperture that extends through the nozzle body directly between the first blade and the second blade, the first inlet aperture allowing air to pass therethrough and into the chamber; anda second elongated inlet aperture that extends through the nozzle body directly between the second blade and the third blade, the second inlet aperture allowing air to pass therethrough and into the chamber;wherein the first and the second elongated inlet apertures are the only two inlet apertures of the accessory tool configured to draw air and debris therethrough and into the chamber.

2. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the first, the second, and the third blades are flexible rubber blades.

3. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein each of the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades define a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades are curved.

4. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades each include an end surface that faces away from the nozzle body, the end surfaces configured to be moved along a surface to be cleaned, and wherein the end surfaces of the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades are substantially flat.

5. The accessory tool of claim 4, wherein the end surfaces of the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades are co-planer.

6. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the first elongated inlet aperture has a length measured along a longitudinal axis of the first elongated inlet aperture, wherein the second elongated inlet aperture has a length measured along a longitudinal axis of the second elongated inlet aperture, wherein the lengths of the first and the second elongated inlet apertures are approximately equal.

7. (canceled)

8. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades are the only blades of the accessory tool configured to agitate debris on a surface to be cleaned.

9. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body includes a suction inlet opening, the nozzle body further comprising a nozzle plate coupled to the nozzle body adjacent the suction inlet opening, and wherein the nozzle plate includes the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades and the first and the second elongated inlet apertures.

10. The accessory tool of claim 9, wherein the nozzle plate includes a first blade aperture, a second blade aperture, and a third blade aperture, wherein the first resilient flexible blade extends through the first blade aperture, the second resilient flexible blade extends through the second blade aperture, and the third resilient flexible blade extends through the third blade aperture.

11. A vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner, the accessory tool comprising: a nozzle body that defines a chamber, the nozzle body including an upper end and a lower end;an outlet conduit that extends from the upper end of the nozzle body, the outlet conduit configured to couple the accessory tool to the vacuum cleaner and to provide fluid communication from the chamber to the vacuum cleaner;a nozzle plate coupled the lower end of the nozzle body;a first discrete resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle plate away from the lower end of the nozzle body, the first blade defining a longitudinal axis and a length measured along the longitudinal axis of the first blade;a second discrete resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle plate away from the lower end of the nozzle body, the second blade defining a longitudinal axis and a length measured along the longitudinal axis of the second blade;a third discrete resilient flexible blade that extends from the nozzle plate away from the lower end of the nozzle body, the third blade defining a longitudinal axis and a length measured along the longitudinal axis of the third blade;a first discrete elongated inlet aperture that extends through the nozzle plate directly between the first blade and the second blade, the first inlet aperture allowing air to pass therethrough and into the chamber; anda second discrete elongated inlet aperture that extends through the nozzle plate directly between the second blade and the third blade, the second inlet aperture allowing air to pass therethrough and into the chamber;wherein the longitudinal axes of the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades are curved.

12. The accessory tool of claim 11, wherein the nozzle body is integrally formed as a single component.

13. The accessory tool of claim 12, wherein the nozzle plate is coupled to the nozzle body.

14. (canceled)

15. The accessory tool of claim 11, wherein the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades each include an end surface that faces away from the nozzle plate, the end surfaces configured to be moved along a surface to be cleaned, and wherein the end surfaces of the first, the second, and the third resilient blades are substantially flat.

16. The accessory tool of claim 15, wherein the end surfaces of the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades are co-planer.

17. The accessory tool of claim 11, wherein the first and the second elongated inlet apertures each define a length, wherein the lengths of the first and the second elongated inlet apertures are approximately equal to the lengths of the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades.

18. The accessory tool of claim 11, wherein the first and the second elongated inlet apertures are the only two apertures of the accessory tool configured to draw air and debris therethrough and into the chamber.

19. The accessory tool of claim 11, wherein the first, the second, and the third resilient flexible blades are the only blades of the accessory tool configured to agitate debris on a surface to be cleaned.

20. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third resilient flexible blades extend from a face of the nozzle body, and wherein the outlet conduit extends from the nozzle body at an acute angle relative to the face of the nozzle body.

21. The accessory tool of claim 20, wherein the acute angle is about 55 degrees.

22. A vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner, the accessory tool comprising: a nozzle body that defines a chamber;an outlet conduit that extends from the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the chamber, the outlet conduit configured to couple the accessory tool to the vacuum cleaner and to provide fluid communication from the chamber to the vacuum cleaner;a first blade aperture that extends through a wall of the nozzle body;a second blade aperture that extends through the wall of the nozzle body and is spaced apart from the first blade aperture;a third blade aperture that extends through the wall of the nozzle body and is spaced apart from the first and second blade apertures;a first resilient flexible blade that extends through the first blade aperture away from the nozzle body;a second resilient flexible blade that extends through the second blade aperture away from the nozzle body;a third resilient flexible blade that extends through the third blade aperture away from the nozzle body;a first elongated inlet aperture that extends through the wall of the nozzle body directly between the first blade and the second blade, the first inlet aperture allowing air to pass therethrough and into the chamber; anda second elongated inlet aperture that extends through the wall of the nozzle body directly between the second blade and the third blade, the second inlet aperture allowing air to pass therethrough and into the chamber.

23. The accessory tool of claim 22, wherein the first, second, and third resilient flexible blades are over-molded through the first, second, and third blade apertures, respectively.

24. The accessory tool of claim 22, wherein the nozzle body includes a suction inlet opening, the nozzle body further comprising a nozzle plate coupled to the nozzle body adjacent the suction inlet opening, and wherein the nozzle plate includes the first, second, and third blade apertures and the first and second elongated inlet apertures.