CA2526664C - Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head - Google Patents

Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2526664C
CA2526664C CA2526664A CA2526664A CA2526664C CA 2526664 C CA2526664 C CA 2526664C CA 2526664 A CA2526664 A CA 2526664A CA 2526664 A CA2526664 A CA 2526664A CA 2526664 C CA2526664 C CA 2526664C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
housing
vacuum cleaner
hand
dirt container
held vacuum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA2526664A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2526664A1 (en
Inventor
David Dinunzio
John S. Murphy
Michael F. Wright
Jeffrey M. Kalman
Craig M. Saunders
Richard C. Farone
Robert A. Matousek
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co
Original Assignee
Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/759,512 external-priority patent/US6497001B2/en
Application filed by Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co filed Critical Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co
Publication of CA2526664A1 publication Critical patent/CA2526664A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2526664C publication Critical patent/CA2526664C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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  • Electric Suction Cleaners (AREA)

Abstract

A hand-held vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction fan and a first motor assembly located in the housing and a dirt container detachably mounted on the housing. A suction nozzle is selectively mounted on the housing and is usable both in an attached position and in a detached position for cleaning. A brushroll and a second motor are mounted within the suction nozzle. An electrified hose is connected to the housing and to the suction nozzle. The dirt container includes an inlet in fluid communication with the electrified hose, and an outlet in fluid communication with the suction fan and first motor assembly. A filter assembly is releasably positioned for form an outlet of the dirt container. The dirt container has a latching mechanism for securing the dirt container to the housing. The housing further includes a hollow section formed above the suction fan and first motor assembly for storing a cleaning attachment.

Description

HAND-HELD VACUUM CLEANER WITH A DETACHABLE HEAD
Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable hand-held vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner with a powered rotary brush within a detachable head for suctioning dirt and debris from carpets, floors, and above-floor surfaces.

Portable hand-held vacuum cleaners have become extremely popular for cleaning a variety of surfaces in homes, offices, cars or the like. They_ are utilized typically for small clean-up jobs or for cleaning in hard-to-reach places. These portable vacuum cleaner units are relatively light weight and have a handle in order to enable a user to readily utilize them in places where canister, upright or shop-type vacuum cleaners cannot be used or are inconvenient to use.

While such prior art portable hand-held vacuum cleaners have worked well for their intended purposes, they have been primarily useful for picking up light weight dry debris, such as dust and small particulate matter. Where heavier and more dense particulate matter is encountered, they have been less effective. In fact, even where dust or other lighter particulate matter are desired to be picked up or collected, the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the prior vacuum cleaners has been less than desired.

Another limiting factor of some prior art portable vacuums is the efficiency and effectiveness of the airflow path through the vacuum cleaner units, while depositing debris in a debris canister or container.

Some prior art hand-held vacuum cleaner units do not include brushes which would help loosen dirt or debris from the surface being cleaned prior to vacuuming.

Furthermore, the prior art hand-held vacuums do not have a detachable head for vacuuming in hard-to-reach places or tight places where even a hand-held vacuum cleaner cannot fit.

Other hand-held vacuums are difficult to use in that they are awkward to service. Others are expensive to produce in that they have complex reciprocating brush mechanisms.

Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a new and improved hand-held vacuum cleaner which would overcome the foregoing deficiencies and others while meeting the above-stated needs and providing better and more advantageous overall results.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a new and..improved hand-held vacuum cleaner. More specifically, the hand-held vacuum cleaner has a detachable head or suction nozzle which houses a powered brushroll for loosening dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end, said housing comprising a handle; a suction source housed within said housing; a dirt container detachably mounted on said housing adjacent said second end; and a suction nozzle detachably mounted adjacent said housing first end, said suction nozzle comprising a brushroll and a motor housed within said suction nozzle for rotating said brushroll.

Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may take form in certain components and structures, one embodiment of which will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIGURE 1 with a detachable head separated from a housing;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the detachable head and a dirt container separated from the housing;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the detachable head and a brushroll assembly of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the housing of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the dirt container of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the dirt container of FIGURE 7 in an assembled form and a filter and filter frame thereof;

FIGURE 9A is a side elevational view of the detachable head of the vacuum cleaner of FIGURE 1;
5 FIGURE 9B is a rear elevational view of the detachable head of FIGURE 9A;

FIGURE 10A is a side elevational view of the housing of the vacuum cleaner of FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 10B is a front elevational view of the housing of FIGURE 10A.

Detailed Descriiption of the Embodiment Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating an embodiment of this invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows a hand-held vacuum cleaner A according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The hand-held vacuum cleaner A includes a housing 10 having a first end 12 and a second end 14. A suction nozzle or head 16 is selectively mounted at the housing first end 12 and is usable in both an attached position (shown in FIG. 1) and in a detached position (shown in FIG. 2) for cleaning. A dirt cup or container 18 is detachably mounted on the second end 14 of the housing.

A conventional flexible, elongated electrified hose 20 connects at a first end 22 to the suction nozzle 16 and at a second end 24 to the housing second end 14 and then to the dirt container 18. The hose 20 is electrically conductive to provide power to a motor housed within the suction nozzle.

= The hose 20 has at its ends 22 and 24 conductors which are connected to any suitable transformer relay mounted within the housing 10 and suction nozzle 16, respectively, and electrically connected to a first motor 110 within the housing 10 and to a second motor 70 within the suction nozzle 16, respectively. It is well known in the prior art to use an electrically conductive hose for powering a motor in a vacuum cleaner. A power cord 26 is connected to the housing 10 to power the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Referring to FIG. 3, the hand-held vacuum cleaner has three main components: the detachable head or suction nozzle 16, the housing 10, and the detachable dirt container 18. FIG. 4 illustrates the internal parts of each of these components.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the suction nozzle 16 is comprised of a first housing portion 30 and a second housing portion 32 which are fastened together by suitable fasteners (not shown). A nozzle portion 34 is attached between the first housing portion 30 and the second housing portion 32.
The first and second housing portions 30 and 32, when assembled, form a handle 36. The handle 36 may have..a curved shape as shown in FIG. 1. An indentation 37 can be added onto a top surface of the handle 36 to allow the user to place a thumb or other finger in the indentation to aid in gripping the handle.

A bottom plate 38 is mounted below nozzle portion 34 and defines an opening 40. The opening 40 serves as a suction opening through which dirt, dust and other debris is suctioned into the nozzle 16. A back plate 42 is mounted onto the housing portions 30 and 32 to define the interior of the suction nozzle. If desired, the suction nozzle 16 can be fabricated from a thermoplastic material.

A conventional brushroll 50 is rotatably mounted within the suction nozzle 16. Bristles 52 extend along the circumference of brushroll 50. Bearings 54, 56 are mounted on opposite ends of the brushroll 50 and are mounted onto inside surfaces of the nozzle 16 to aid in rotation of the brushroll 50. A belt 58 is looped around the brushroll 50 and also around a cogged pulley 60 mounted on an output shaft of a motor 70 also housed within the suction nozzle 16. The belt 58 is toothed to engage the cogged pulley 60 and also an appropriately cogged peripheral portion 61 of the brushroll.
The electrified hose 20 is attached to the suction nozzle through a sleeve 80. The sleeve 80 protects the electrical connectors of the hose. The hose 20 is secured into place by rotating a locking cuff 81 on the hose to a locked position. The hose 20 is connected by a connector 82 to motor 70 for powering the motor.

With reference now to FIGURES 2, 9A, 9B, 10A and lOB, a plate 90 is mounted on the back plate 42 of the suction nozzle 16 for slidably engaging a slot 91 in the housing 10. A raised, curved portion 92 of the nozzle also engages a second slot 93 in the housing 10. Raised portion 92 also houses the motor 70 of suction nozzle. The nozzle is secured to the housing through the engagement of the plate 90 and raised portion 92 with slots 91, 93. The slot 91 is tapered from an inlet side 94 of the housing 10 to ensure that the head 16 cannot slide through the slot. Wall 95 also serves to block or stop head 16 from sliding completely through the slot 91. A tab 96 extends into slot 91 and engages a notch 97 in plate 90 and locks the head 16 in place. As the plate 90 enters slot 91, plate 90 pushes on a spring bias on tab 96 thus retracting the tab 96 into the housing. When notch 97 aligns with the tab 96, tab 96 then releases into engagement with the area of notch 97. A
conventional linkage connects the tab 96 to a locking button 98. A tab 99 on raised portion 92 also engages a groove 101 in slot 93. When the nozzle is to be removed from the housing, button 98 is depressed to retract tab 96 and allow head 16 to be pulled out of slots 91, 93 and be removed from the housing 10.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the housing 10 will now be described. The housing 10 comprises a first housing half 100 and a second housing half 102 which are fastened together by suitable fasteners (not shown). If desired, the housing can be fabricated from a thermoplastic material. A suction motor 110 and fan 112 are mounted within the housing 10. A
cap 114 is mounted in the housing halves to secure the motor and fan in place. A filter assembly is mounted adjacent the suction fan and motor. The filter assembly comprises a first frame member 120, a filter 122, a second frame member 123 and a cap 124. The filter serves to filter air before it is drawn into the motor 110 by the fan 112.

Outlet slots 126 are provided on the first and second housing halves 100 and 102 for allowing an exhaust of air from the housing and for providing ventilation and cooling of the suction motor 110. A switch 130, which protrudes through opening 132 of the second housing half 102, is provided for selectively powering the motor 110 as well as the motor 70 (FIGURE 5), The housing 10 further comprises a handle strap 140 which is mounted to a top surface of the housing.

Cooperating openings 142 (only one of which is visible) in the housing halves 100, 102 allow air from the dirt container to be pulled in by the suction fan 112 through the filter 122. Cooperating rear portions 146 (only one of which_is visible) of the housing halves 100, 102 mount a sheath 152 in which is slidably received a cleaning attachment or crevice tool 150. The sheath also forms an inlet mount 154 for the power cord 26 (FIGURE 1) of the vacuum cleaner. Suitable wiring (not shown) connects the 5 power cord 26 to the motor 110 and to a sleeve 160 in which the electrified hose is mounted. End 22 of the electrified hose 20 is pulled out of the suction nozzle .16 and is slidably mounted in an inlet end 148 of the cleaning attachment 150 for above-floor cleaning.
10 The sleeve 160 is mounted on the first housing half 100. The sleeve has an opening 162 for receiving one end of the electrified hose 20. The sleeve 160 protects the electrical connections of the hose 20 and connects the hose to the motor 70 in the suction nozzle 16.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the dirt container 18 comprises a first container portion 180 and a second container portion 182 which are fastened together by suitable fasteners 184 to form a dirt and dust collecting chamber. If desired, the dirt container can be fabricated from a transparent thermoplastic material to enable the user to see the dirt and debris being collected in the dirt container.
As shown in FIGURE 8, filter frame 190 and filter 192 form a filter assembly releasably positioned in the dirt container 18 to form a wall and outlet of the dirt container.
The filter 192 is removable from the filter frame 190 for replacing the filter. The filter assembly is removed from the dirt container to allow emptying of dirt and debris collected within the dirt container. The outlet formed by the filter is adjacent to and in fluid communication with the suction fan and motor assembly 110, 112 within housing 10.
A ring 194 is mounted above an opening 196 in the first container portion to form an inlet which is in fluid communication with the electrified hose 20. A latch 198 is mounted with a clip 200 to the cooperating container portions 180, 182 to detachably secure the dirt container to a catch (not shown) on the housing second end 14.

The hand-held vacuum cleaner operates as follows.
The electrified hose 20 is threaded or slidably connected at a first end 22 to the suction nozzle 16 and at a second end 24 to the housing 10. The suction nozzle 16 may be used attached to the housing (see FIG. 1) or in a detached position (see FIG. 2). The suction nozzle 16 would be used in a detached position to facilitate easier cleaning of stairs, room corners, crevices in sofas and chairs, etc.

The dirt container 18 is secured to the housing through the latch 198 which engages a catch (not shown) on the housing second end 14. The switch 130 is depressed to an "on" position, thus powering the suction fan 112 and motor 110 assembly. The switch 130 also provides power to the hose 20, thus electrifying the hose. The hose 20 in turn provides power to the motor 70 within the suction nozzle 16. The motor 70 causes the brushroll 50 to rotate through the use of the toothed belt 58. The brushroll 50 loosens dirt and debris on the surface being cleaned, enabling easier suctioning of the dirt from the surface.

The suction fan 112 and motor 110 produce an airflow which travels through the suction nozzle opening 40 into the hose 20 and then- into opening 196 of the dirt container. As the dirt and airflow are drawn into the dirt container chamber, dirt is deposited in the dirt container upstream of the filter 192. The filter 192 and its frame 190 prevent the dirt and debris from entering the suction fan and motor assembly.

Air is exhausted from the housing 10 through air outlets 126, serving at the same time to cool the motor 110.
and prevent it from overheating.

Once the cleaning of the surface is completed, the switch 130 is turned to the "off" position. Then, the dirt container 18 can be removed from the housing by depressing the latch 198. The filter 192 and filter frame 190 are removed from the dirt container thus allowing the dirt container to be emptied of dirt and debris.

The invention has been described with reference to one embodiment. Obviously, alterations and modifications will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Claims (7)

1. A hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, said housing comprising a handle;

a suction source housed within said housing;
a dirt container detachably mounted on said housing adjacent said second end; and a suction nozzle detachably mounted adjacent said housing first end, said suction nozzle comprising a brushroll and a motor housed within said suction nozzle for rotating said brushroll.
2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising an electrified hose connected at a first end to said motor housed within said suction nozzle and at a second end to said suction source.
3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising at least one air outlet in a wall of said housing for allowing an exhaust of air from said housing.
4. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said dirt container defines a dirt and dust collecting chamber, said dirt container comprising:

an inlet in fluid communication with said second end of said electrified hose, and an outlet in fluid communication with said suction source.
5. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 4 further comprising a filter assembly releasably positioned adjacent said outlet of said dirt container, said filter assembly comprising a filter and a filter frame.
6. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said dirt container further comprises a latching mechanism for securing said dirt container to said housing second end.
7. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said suction nozzle comprises a handle.
CA2526664A 2001-01-12 2002-01-10 Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head Expired - Fee Related CA2526664C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/759,512 2001-01-12
US09/759,512 US6497001B2 (en) 2001-01-12 2001-01-12 Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head
CA002367174A CA2367174C (en) 2001-01-12 2002-01-10 Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002367174A Division CA2367174C (en) 2001-01-12 2002-01-10 Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2526664A1 CA2526664A1 (en) 2002-07-12
CA2526664C true CA2526664C (en) 2010-03-30

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ID=35589297

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2526664A Expired - Fee Related CA2526664C (en) 2001-01-12 2002-01-10 Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head
CA2526665A Expired - Fee Related CA2526665C (en) 2001-01-12 2002-01-10 Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2526665A Expired - Fee Related CA2526665C (en) 2001-01-12 2002-01-10 Hand-held vacuum cleaner with a detachable head

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Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109124461B (en) * 2017-06-28 2024-03-15 苏州宝时得电动工具有限公司 Handheld dust collector and dust collector assembly
US11497363B2 (en) * 2018-07-20 2022-11-15 Sharkninja Operating Llc Robotic cleaner debris removal docking station
CN110292329A (en) * 2019-07-31 2019-10-01 傲基科技股份有限公司 A kind of scrubbing brush mould group and Wet-dry dust catcher

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CA2526664A1 (en) 2002-07-12
CA2526665C (en) 2010-03-30
CA2526665A1 (en) 2002-07-12

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