Patent Application
20180353033
The field relates to vacuum cleaning systems and, in particular, upright vacuum cleaners that include an electrical connection interface to connect to a detachable power cord and a battery.
Vacuum cleaners typically include a power cord that extends from the vacuum cleaner and connects to a power source. During operation, the maneuverability and range of the vacuum cleaner may be limited by the power cord. In addition, the vacuum cleaner may not be able to reach some areas while the power cord is connected to the power source. Moreover, the power cord may experience stress and may be disconnected from the vacuum or the power source as a user attempts to maneuver the vacuum cleaner.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In one aspect, a vacuum cleaning system includes an upright vacuum cleaner operable in a cordless mode and a corded mode. The upright vacuum cleaner includes a cleaning head for removing debris from a floor, a debris tube connected to the cleaning head for receiving the debris, and an electrical connection interface. The vacuum cleaning system also includes a battery and a power cord adapted for connection to the electrical connection interface. The upright vacuum cleaner operates in the cordless mode when the battery is connected to the electrical connection interface. The vacuum cleaner operates in the corded mode when the power cord is connected to the electrical connection interface.
In another aspect, an upright vacuum cleaner is operable in a cordless mode and a corded mode. The vacuum cleaner includes a cleaning head for removing debris from a floor, a debris tube connected to the cleaning head for receiving the debris, and a handle assembly attached to the debris tube. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a support plate extending from the debris tube to support a battery. The upright vacuum cleaner further includes an electrical connection interface attached to one of the handle assembly, the debris tube, and the support plate. The electrical connection interface is adapted for connection to the battery and a power cord. The upright vacuum cleaner operates in the cordless mode when the battery is connected to the electrical connection interface and operates in the corded mode when the power cord is connected to the electrical connection interface.
Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure, alone or in any combination.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In this embodiment, electrical connection interface 108 conforms to standards set by industry authorities. In particular, in this embodiment, electrical connection interface 108 conforms to standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Examples of suitable IEC electrical connection interfaces include, without limitation, IEC types A-N sockets and IEC types A-N plugs. In this embodiment, electrical connection interface 108 includes an IEC Appliance type C18 Inlet. As a result, electrical connection interface 108 is compatible with batteries and power cords that include IEC Appliance and Interconnection Couplers. For example, in this embodiment, battery 104 and power cord 106 include IEC type C13 and C18 connectors, respectively. In other embodiments, vacuum cleaner 102 may include any electrical connection interface 108 that enables vacuum cleaner 102 to operate as described.
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Debris tube 126 is fluidly connected to blower 122 and a filter assembly 128. Air and debris travel up debris tube 126 and are discharged into filter assembly 128, where debris is filtered from the air and collected. Filter assembly 128 is disposed within a filter housing 130. Filter housing 130 may include rigid (e.g., plastic) and/or flexible (e.g., fabric) components.
In this embodiment, filter housing 130 includes an access door 132 to allow access to filter assembly 128 (e.g., to insert or remove a filter). Filter assembly 128 may include any filter that allows air to pass through and retains at least some debris within filter assembly 128. For example, in some embodiments, filter assembly 128 may include a flexible filter such as a bag filter. In other embodiments, filter assembly 128 may include a rigid filter.
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Cord holder 136 includes an annular body 142 and a hook 144. Annular body 142 defines an opening 146. Hook 144 extends from one side of annular body 142 towards an opposite side of annular body 142. Hook 144 extends partially across opening 146 such that a gap is formed between a distal end of hook 144 and annular body 142. In addition, hook 144 is curved and extends away from annular body 142. In this embodiment, cord holder 136 may be formed as a single piece. In other embodiments, vacuum cleaner 102 may include any cord holder 136 that enables vacuum cleaner 102 to operate as described.
In this embodiment, cord holder 136 secures power cord 106 to handle 140. For example, a user may position power cord 106 in opening 146 by sliding power cord 106 through the gap between hook 144 and annular body 142. Then, the user may extend power cord 106 across hook 144 and apply tension to one side of power cord 106 to trap power cord 106 against hook 144. In addition, clips 147 are positioned along debris tube 126 to secure power cord 106 to vacuum cleaner 102 and route power cord 106 towards cord holder 136. In some embodiments, vacuum cleaner 102 may include characters to indicate to a user how to route power cord 106. When power cord 106 is secured to vacuum cleaner 102, cord holder 136 and clips 147 maintain an amount of slack in power cord 106 between handle assembly 134 and electrical connection interface 108 to relieve stress on power cord 106 during operation of vacuum cleaner 102. Accordingly, cord holder 136 and clips 147 may prevent power cord 106 being disconnected from electrical connection interface 108 due to tension in power cord 106 during operation.
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Compared to conventional vacuum cleaning systems, the vacuum cleaning systems of embodiments of the present disclosure have several advantages. For example, embodiments of the upright vacuum cleaner include an electrical connection interface to connect to a battery and a power cord such that the upright vacuum cleaner may operate in a corded mode and a cordless mode. The electrical connection interface is configured to inhibit connecting to the battery and the power cord at the same time. In particular, the electrical connection interface is occupied by either the battery or the power cord when the vacuum cleaner operates in the corded mode and the cordless mode, respectively. The electrical connection interface may be a standardized electrical connection interface to simplify assembly and increase the compatibility of the vacuum cleaner with batteries and power cords. Also, the electrical connection interface provides a secure connection to the battery and the power cord. In addition, in the cordless mode, the battery may be connected to the vacuum cleaner such that the weight of the battery is evenly distributed throughout portions of the vacuum cleaner. In the corded mode, the power cord may be secured to the vacuum cleaner such that tension in the power cord is reduced and the power cord is prevented from disconnecting from the vacuum cleaner. In addition, embodiments of the vacuum cleaning system are easier to assemble and operate than previous vacuum cleaning systems.
As used herein, the terms “about,” “substantially,” “essentially” and “approximately” when used in conjunction with ranges of dimensions, concentrations, temperatures or other physical or chemical properties or characteristics is meant to cover variations that may exist in the upper and/or lower limits of the ranges of the properties or characteristics, including, for example, variations resulting from rounding, measurement methodology or other statistical variation.
When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The use of terms indicating a particular orientation (e.g., “top”, “bottom”, “side”, etc.) is for convenience of description and does not require any particular orientation of the item described.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing[s] shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
