US2227298A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1940. e. H. CRANMER VACUUM CLEANER Filed Jan. 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ,e/7V//M W BY ,Zrnad.

13% 46 3, ATTORNEY.

Dec. 31, 1940.

G.H.CRANMER VACUUM CLEANE R Filed Jan. 28, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Dec. 31, 1940. CRANMER 2,227,298

VACUUM CLEANE R Filed Jan. 28, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 56 20 1Q ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VACUUM CLEANER Application January 28, 1937, Serial No. 122,691

8 Claims.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to suction nozzles for use in connection with vacuum cleaners.

One of the objects of my invention is to pro- 6 vide a nozzle which may be moved back and forth over the surface undergoing cleaning more smoothly than the nozzles of the prior art. Floor nozzles are usually constructed with an elongated suction opening bounded by lips having surface contacting faces. In order that the nozzle will cover a substantial area when moved back and forth, the lengthwise extent of the opening extends at right angles to the direction of movement. Consequently, the lengthwise lips also extend at right angles to the direction of movement. .Many rugs have a nap consisting of tufts or bunches of bristle-like material secured to a backing. These bunches are arranged in regular rows and usually the bunches, instead of projecting stra ght up from the backing, are all more or less inclined in the same direction. The width of the lengthwise lips is such that one lip usually does not contact more than two rows at. a time, and when directly over a row, is chiefly supported by that row alone. Whenthe nozzle is moved over the nap, the lengthwise lips move from one row of bunches to the next, the bunches bending as the lips pass over them. The nozzle slides smoothly in the direction of the inclination of the bunches, as the bunches bend easily in this direction, but for movement ,in the opposite direction the nap offers more resistance, as the bunches must be bent the wrong way. Moreover, this resistance is not even, as it is relieved to a great extent when one row has been bent, and the nozzle then has a tendency to jump to the next row. .With rugs of certain types particularly those having a comparatively stiff nap, movement of the nozzle in one direction thereover, resultsin a chattering of the nozzle. Furthermore, it is somewhat injurious to the rug to bend the bristles the wrong way.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means for automatically lifting the lengthwise lips 45 slightly out of contact with the rug upon movement of the nozzle in one direction, while for movement in the other direction, the lips contact the rug. Thus, the bristles are not bent the wrong way and the chattering is eliminated.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved thread picking lip for a' -n'ozzle, which is both efficient in removing threads and other objects which tend to adhere to the surface of the rug, and which will not become clogged by threads or any object removed from the mg.

A further advantage of my invention resides in the fact that the aforesaid lifting means cooperates with the thread-picking lip so as to provide improved cleaning. During the forward stroke, when the lips are in contact with the rug, 5 the thread-picking lip dislodges threads and the like, which tend to adhere strongly to the rug. While a substantial amount of such threads are picked up by the air stream, others are held between the lip and the rug at the end of the forward stroke and would not be picked up if the lip remained pressed against the rug. However, due to the fact that the lips are raised slightly from the rug during the rearward stroke, threads and the like caught underneath the thread-picking lip are released and the rush of air, also resulting from lifting the lip, carries them into the nozzle.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view, partially in cross-section of the nozzle shown in Fig. l, and is taken along the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the nozzle shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the lines 5-5 of Figs. 2, 6 and 7;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, as seen from the rear, of a portion of the nozzle shown in preceding figures;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-Sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line I0l0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with certain of the parts in a different position;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I2-l 2 of Fig. 11 and is similar to Fig. 5, but shows certain of the parts in a different position;

Fig. 13 is a front view, partially in cross-section, of a second embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a bottom view, partially in cross-sec- 1' tion, of the nozzle shown in Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines l6l6 of Figs. 13 and 15;

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I1-l| of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I8l8 of Fi 15;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines l9l9 of Fig. 15 and Fig. 20; and

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2020 of Fig. 19.

Referring to the drawings, reference character I0 designatesgenerally my improved nozzle. The nozzle I0 includes a hollow body member ll provided with an elongated suction opening 42 at what is normally the bottom of the nozzle and a small circular opening l3 at what is normally the top of the nozzle. Opening I3 is formed in a substantially flat surface l4 provided with grooves l5 extending tangential to the opening. The rear wall I6 of the hollow body is formed with a circular opening which rotatably receives a hollow elbow member I1. The horizontal end of elbow I1 is closed by a wall I 8 which abuts against the forward wall IQ of the body II, and the elbow is secured in place by means of a screw 26 threaded into wall 18 and having a head received in a recess 2| formed in the forward wall. A portion of the cylindrical wall of elbow H in alignment with openings l2 and I3 is cut away, as is shown at 22. In the position of the parts shown, particularly in Fig. 4, opening I3 is closed by elbow 11 while opening I2 communicates with the interior of the elbow through the opening 22. If the nozzle body is rotated through around elbow l1, thus bringing opening I3 to the bottom and opening l2 to the top, the opening l3 will communicate with the interior of the elbow while the opening l2 will be closed.

Openings I2 is bounder by rear wall I6, forward wall l9 and end walls 23 and 24. The lower edge or lip of forward wall 19 is preferably formed with a smooth face 25, while the lips of end walls 23 and 24 are likewise formed with smooth faces 26 and 21, respectively. Faces 26 and 21 are slightly arcuate, as may be seen particularly in Fig. 12. The lower edge of rear wall I6 is formed with a semi-cylindrical groove 28 in. which is rotatably received a rod 29, as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 9. A portion of the surface of rod 29 is smooth and cylindrical, while another portion thereof is formed with a plurality of teeth 30. The outer surface contacting faces 3| of the .teeth are straight. A lengthwise slot 32 intersects teeth 30 dividing the teeth into outer portions 33 and inner portions 34. The depth of the crosswise slots 35 forrned between the teeth 30 varies from a maximum at the outer end of the slotto a minimum at the inner end thereof which communicates with the nozzle opening [2. This reduction in depth results in a decrease" in the cross-sectional area of each slot.

Rigidly secured to one end of rod 29 is an arm 35. The arm may be secured to the rod by means of a pin 36. The arm is provided with a finger engaging piece 31 and with a finger en gaging notch 38. A recess 39 is formed in forward wall 19 for receiving arm 35 when in the position shown, and a recess 40 receives the arm when in a position substantially 180 from the first position. A flat spring 400. is disposed between arm 35 and end wall 23 for frictionally resisting turning of the arm and rod 29.

The end of rod 29 to which arm 35 is secured is formed with a cylindrical projection 4| which is adapted; to be received in a cylindrical bore formed in end wall 23. The opposite end of rod 29 is formed with a recess into which extends a pin 42 carried by end wall 24. The rod 29 is thus rotatably retained within the semi-cylindrical groove 28 and may be turned through 180 by turning arm 35 against the friction of spring 40a. With the arm in the position shown'in Figs. 3, 4, '7 and 8 the teeth are exposed, while if the arm is rotated through approximately 180, the teeth are turnedto a position within the groove 28 and. the smooth cylindrical face of the rod is exposed. Accidental rotation of the rod is prevented by spring 4lla and, when the nozzle is on the floor, by the fact that the end of the arm 35 must project below the bottom of the nozzle inorder to be turned from one position to the other.

End walls 23 and 24 extend rearwardly beyond rear wall I6 to form wing portions 45 and 46. The smooth faces 26 and 21 thus have a greater contact area than they would if the end walls terminated at'rear wall I6. Each end wall is formed with a recess extending inwardly from its smooth face 45 and 46, respectively, and members 41 and 48 are movably positioned within these recesses. Inasmuch as members 41 and 48 are identical, only the member 41 located at the left end of the nozzle as viewed in Fig. 2 need be described. Member 41 is provided with a surface contacting face 49 which conforms in contour with the face 26 of end wall 23 and forms a substantial part of this face. Member 41 is pivotally secured within the recess by means of a pin 50 having a head 5| threaded into the outer portion 23a of end wall 23 and having a shank 52 extending through a cylindrical opening in member 41 and engaging a recess formed in the inner por-- tion 231) of the end wall. Pin 56 is located about opposite the end of forward wall 19, that is, near the front of the nozzle.

Member 41 is formed with a bore 53 within which is received a coil spring 54. Spring 54 extends into a recess 55 formed in the upper horizontal portion 230 of the end wall 23. The effect of spring 54 is to yieldingly project member 41 to the position shown in Fig. 12 where its face 49 extends beyond the face 26 of the end wall.

Member 41 is formed with a slot 51 within which is received a flat portion of a latch member 58. A pin 59'is threaded into member and extends through a circular hole in latch 58, whereby the latch is pivotable about the pin. The latch is formed with an opening 60 of suficient size so that spring 54 may pass therethrough without contacting the latch regardless of the position of the latter. Latch 58 includes a knurled or roughened portion 6|, at right angles to the fiat portion,

. which may be contacted with the finger to pivot the latch back and forth. From the upper part of portion 61 there extends another portion 62 having projections 63 and 64 at opposite sides. Outer portion 23a of the end wall is formed with a narrow slot 65 while inner portion 23b is formed with a comparatively wide slot 66. When the latch member is in the position shown in Fig. 6, with projection 63 received within narrow slot 65, it holds member 41 in a position with itsface 49 flushed with face 26 of the end wall. 'On the other hand, when latch 58 is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 11, projection 64 engages within slot 66 and limits the distance which spring 54 is able to project the member 41. 1

A rigid tubular member 10 is adapted to be secured within the outer end of elbow l1 and serves as a handle for moving the nozzle over the floor.

Tubular member I0 also serves to connect the interlor of elbow I! with a suitable source of suction through the medium of a flexible hose. The operation of the above described device is as follows:

For cleaning an ordinary rug, rod 29 is rotated.

to a position in which its smooth face is exposed. The nozzle, being connected to a source of suction as above described, is moved forward and backward over the surface. Air flows into the nozzle through the opening l2. A portion of this air is drawn through the material of the rug while the remainder passes underneath the nozzle lips. Thus, dirt imbedded in the rug or lying on its upper surface is removed by the air and carried to the vacuum cleaner unit.

In the event that an occasional thread is encountered on the rug which adheres to the surface of the rug so strongly that the air flowing into opening |2 does not remove it, the nozzle body l8 may be rotated through 180 around elbow I! so as to bring the small opening l3 into contact with the rug. The more concentrated flow of air combined with the whirling produced by the tangential grooves I5 will remove the thread.

If there is a comparatively large number of threads on the rug, it would be inconvenient to go over the entire rug with the small nozzle opening 3. In this event, rod 29 is turned to the position shown particularly in Figs. 3, 7 and 9 so thatthe teeth 38 are exposed. Most of the air drawn into the nozzle now passes through the grooves 33 between the teeth. This results in a much greater flow of air under the rear lip than was the case previously when both the rear and the front lips were smooth. This greater flow of air is better able to remove threads, lint and other materials which cling to the surface of the rug.

Due to the fact that the cross-sectional area of grooves 33 decreases toward the inner ends of the grooves, the velocity of air increases as it passes through the grooves. This increased velocity near the inner ends of the grooves and in the region of lengthwise groove 32 tends to prevent threads and the like from getting caught in the lengthwise grooves, and around the inner portions 34 of the teeth. This effect is increased by locating the lengthwise grooves 34 close to the inner ends of the cross-wise grooves 33.

If the nozzle has a tendency to chatter as it is moved back and forth over the rug, latches 58 are movedfrom the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 11, thereby releasing the spring-pressed members 41 and 48. The strength of spring 54 is such that, upon forward movement of the nozzle when the operator naturally bears down on tubular member 18, the members 41 and 48 are forced into the recesses so thatthe faces 49 are substantially flushed with the faces of the end walls, and the nozzle operates as above described. However, on the rearward stroke of the nozzle, the operator does not bear down on the tubular member 10 and the springs 54 are able to project the members 41 and 48 to the position shown in Fig. 12. In this position,

the faces 49 project beyond the faces 26 and 21' some of the threads are moved over the rug without being picked up, the spring -pressed members are released in the manner above described, and hence lift-the lips slightly on the reverse stroke. This releases the threads which may have become caught between the threadpicking lip and the rug during the forward stroke,

when the lip closely engages the rug, and such threads are picked up and carried into the nozzle In the embodiment now under consideration the toothed bar forming the rear lip of the nozzle is not rotatable, as it was in the first embodiment, but is rigidly fixed in the nozzle body. This rod, designated by reference character 88, is formed at one end with a portion 8| of reduced diameter which is received within an opening formed in portion 23b of the end wall 23. The other end of the rod is formed with two flattened wing portions 82 and, as will be seen particularly in Figs. 19 and 20, these wing portions are adapted to be received in a slot 83 extending upwardly from the bottom face of portion 24b of end wall 24. The central part of slot 83 is enlarged so as to receive a pin 84 which extends into a bore 85 formed in rod 88. Thus, the wing portions 82 received in slot 83 prevent rotation of the rod while pin 84, the diameter of which is bigger than the end portions of the slot 83, holds the wing portions in the slot. Pin 84 may be inserted before member 48 is secured in place. When the latter member is secured in place it prevents-accidental removal of the pin.

Rotatably mounted on rod 88 is a tubular masking member 86. Member 86 is not a complete cylinder, but is formed with a portion cut away so as to provide an open space 81. The left hand end of member 86, as viewed in Fig. 15, encloses a bushing 88 rotatably mounted on the extension 8| of rod 88. Bushing 88 is formed with a rib 89 which engages within a slot 98 formed in masking member 86, whereby relative rotation between the bushing and the masking member is prevented. Integral with bushing 88 is a handle member 9| which may be rotated through approximately 180 from the position shown in Figs. 15 to a position in which the end of the handle is received in a recess 92. Aspring 23b of end wall 23 to prevent accidental rotation of the bushing.

In the position of the handle 9| and masking member 86 shown particularly in Figs. 15 and 18, the masking member serves to cover the teeth 38 of rod 80, thus presenting the smooth outer face of the masking member to the surface undergoing cleaning. .If it is desired to employ the teeth 30, the handle 9| is turned through approx mately 180, as above described so as to bring the opening 81 of the masking member in alignment with the teeth30, whereby the teeth are exposed.

The latch mechanism for members 41 and 48 includes a latch member 95 slidable with respect to the member 4 or 48. Inasmuch as both latch 93 is disposed between bushing 88 and portion 60 mechanisms are the same only the one used in conjunction with member 4'! will be described. Member 41 is formed with a horizontally extending slot 96, a vertically extending recess 91, a horizontally extending recess 98, and a vertically extending slot 99. Latch member 95 includes a portion I00 disposed in slot 96, a portion IOI disposed in recess 91, a portion I02 disposed in recess 98 and a portion I03 disposed in slot 99. A spring I04 is disposed behind portion IOI within recess 91 and serves to prevent unintended movement of the latch member 95. Portion I02 of the latch memberis formed with projections I05 and I06, which correspond to similar projections 63 and 64, shown particularly in Figs 6 and 11. The length of the latch member is somewhat less than the width of member 41 whereby it may be slid with respect to member 41 so that projection I05 may extend into the narrow slot 65 formed in outer portion 23a of end wall 23, or so that projection I06 may extend into the wide slot 66 formed in'the inner portion 23b of the end wall. With the latch in the former position, member 41 is held with its lower face 49 substantially flush with the lower face '26 of end wall 23. When the latch is moved to the latter position, that is with projection I06 extending into slot 66, spring 50 is able to pivot member 41 about pin 50 to an extent which is limited by the projection striking the bottom of the slot.

The embodiment just described may be used in the same manner to accomplish the same results as has been described in connection with the first embodiment. Consequently, a repetition of the description of the operation is not necessary.

While I have shown two more or less specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only, and that the scope of my invention is to be limited only by the appended claims when viewed in the light of the prior art.

Certain'subject matter, herein disclosed but not claimed, is claimed in my co-pending divisional application, Serial No. 178,199, filed December 6, 1937.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved forward and backward over a surface to be cleaned, a hollow body having front, back and end lips formed with surface contacting faces and defining an elongated nozzle opening having a lengthwise extent at right anles to the direction of nozzle movement, said body being formed with recesses extending inwardly from the faces of said end lips, members within said recesses extending parallel to said direction and pivoted at their forward ends to said body, said members having faces for slidably contacting said surfaces and being pivotable between a position in which the faces thereof are substantially flush with'the adjacent lip facesand a position in which the faces thereof project beyond said adjacent lip faces, and means for yieldingly pivoting said members to the latter of said positions.

2, In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned, a hollow body having lips formed with surface contacting faces and defining a, nozzle opening, a member movably carried by said body and having a smooth face of substantial area for slidably contacting said surface, a movable latch device on said member, said latch device in one position holding the member with the face thereof in substantial alignment with the faces of said lips, and means for yieldingly projecting said member beyond the faces of said lips to support said nozzle with said lips spaced from said surface, said latch device in another position limiting the distance said member is projected.

3. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned, a hollow body having lips formed with surface contacting faces and defining a nozzle opening, a member movably carried by said body and having a smooth face of substantial area for slidably contacting said surface, a movable latch device on said member, said body being formed with a narrow slot on one side of said member and with a comparatively wide slot on the other side of said member, said latch device being movable into said narrow slot for holding the member in a position with the face thereof substantially in alignment with the faces of said lips, and means for yieldingly projecting said member beyond the faces of said lips to support said nozzle with said lips spaced from said surface, said latch device being movable into said wide slot for releasing said member and for limiting the distance said member is projected.

4. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned, a hollow body having lips formed with surface contacting faces and defining a nozzle opening, a member movably carried by said body and having a smooth face of substantial area for slidably contacting said surface, a latch device slidably mounted on said member, said body being formed with a narrow slot on one side of said member and with a comparatively wide slot on the other side of said member, said latch device being slidable into said narrow slot for holding the member in a position with the face thereof substantially in alignment with the face of said lips, means for yieldingly projecting said member beyond the faces of said lips to support said nozzle with said lips spaced from said surface, said latch device being slidable into said wide slot for releasing said member and for limiting the distance said member is projected, and a spring restraining sliding movement of said latch device.

5. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved forward and backward over a surface to be cleaned, a hollow body having front, back and end lips formed with surface contacting faces and defining an elongated nozzle opening having a lengthwise extent at right angles to the direction of nozzle movement, said body being formed with recesses extending inwardly from the faces of said end lips, members within said recesses extending parallel to said direction and pivoted at their forward ends to said body, said members having faces for slidably contacting said surfaces and being pivotable between a position in which the faces thereof are substantially fiush with the adjacent lip faces and a position in which the faces thereof project beyond said adjacent lip faces, means for yieldingly pivoting said members to the latter of said positions, and means for retaining said members in the former position against the force exerted by said first mentioned means. i

6. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved back and forth over a surface to be cleaned, a body having lips formed with surfacecontacting faces and defining a nozzle opening, at least one of said lips being formed with lint-engaging projections, non-rotatable members movably carried by said body and having faces of substantial area for slidably contacting said surface, means for confining movement of said members to a substantially up and down direction, said members being movable between a position in which the faces thereof are substantially flush with the faces of said lips and a position in which the faces thereof protrude beyond the faces of said lips, and resilient means for yieldingly moving said members to the protrudingposition, the resiliency of said means being such that said members areflush during the forward stroke of the nozzle under the downwardly directed thrust normally applied during the forward stroke, and protrude during the rearward stroke when said thrust is normally reduced, whereby the projections on said lips alternately engage said surface to dislodge objects adhering thereto and are spaced therefrom for permitting flow of air under the grooved lip to remove the dislodged objects.

'7. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved back and forth over a surface to be cleaned, a body having lips formed with surface-contacting faces and defining a nozzle opening, at least one of said lips being formed with grooves dividing its face into a plurality of projections, non-rotatable members movably carried by said body and having faces of substantial area for slidably contacting said surface, means for confining movement of said members to a substantially up and down direction, said members being movable between a position in which the faces thereof are substantially flush with the faces of said lips and a position in which the faces thereof protrude body having a forward lip and a rear lip formed with surface-contacting faces and defining a nozzle opening, said rear lip being formed with lintengaging projections, members pivotally carried by said body and having faces of substantial area for slidably contacting said surface, said members being pivoted at their forward ends to the forward part of said body and being movable between a position in which the faces thereof are substantially flush with the faces of said lips and a position in which the faces thereof protrude beyond the faces of said lips, and resilient means for yieldingly moving said members to the protruding position, the resiliency of said means being such that said members are flush during the forward stroke of the nozzle under the downwardly directed thrust normally applied during the forward stroke, and protrude during the rearward stroke when said thrust is normally reduced, whereby the projections on said lips alternately engage said surface and are spaced therefrom.

GEORGE HORACE CRANMER.

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