US2310268A

US2310268A - Suction cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2310268A
Application number: US344214A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles H Taylor
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1940-07-06
Filing date: 1940-07-06
Publication date: 1943-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1960-02-09

Description

Feb. 9, 1943. c. H. TAYLOR SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1940 INVENTOR CH4 RL 5-5 H. 7ZVLOI2 FIG- 3- WITNESSES:

ATTORNEZ Feb. 9, 1943. TAYLOR 2,310,268

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uni/kw W WITNESSES: INVENTOR a I i 42 CHARLES H. My/Lo ATTOR Y latented Feb. 9, 1943 SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Charles H. Taylor, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 6, 1940, Serial No. 344,214

8 Claims.

My invention relates to suction cleaning apparatus, more particularly to an improved attachment adapter for suction cleaner nozzles whereby a flexible suction hose provided with a hand nozzle or tool may be detachably connected to a suction cleaner nozzle for the cleaning of upholstery, curtains, and the like, and has for an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind.

v A further object is to provide an improved at tachment adapter which is more readily attachable to anddetachable from suction cleaner nozzles.

A further object it to provide an attachment adapter which may be readily attached to or detached from the nozzle of a suction cleaner without having to remove parts of the cleaner, that is, without having to remove parts such as the brush roll belt or cover plates.

A more specific object is to provide an improved attachment adapter having automatic latching means for fastening the same to suction cleaner nozzles. v

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will b apparent from the following description and claims taken in accordance with the accompanying drawings, forming" a part of this applicaticn,in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of a suction cleaner, having my novel attachment adapter connected thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the attachment adapter and the carpet guard to which it is con- --*nected, the suction cleaner being omitted for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the attachment adapter;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2, but showing the nozzle whi h is not shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VV of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 2, but showing the nozzle which is not shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIIVII of Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner h ving another form of my attachment adapter connected thereto.

Referring to Fig. 1 in detail, I show my improved attachment adapter connected to what might be termed a standard type suction cleaner [2. The cleaner comprises a motor housing I3 and a nozzle structure I4. The term nozzle structure as used herein includes a nozzle l8 which is an integral part of the cleaner and a carpet guard 20 which may be removablyattached to the nozzle l8. The cleaner is provided with wheels 23 for supporting the same on the surface being cleaned, and the usual handle 24 and dust bag 25, the handle and the bag being broken away in Fig. 1.

The carpet guard 20 comprises a pair of side lips 21 and a pair of end lips 28 which define the inlet to the cleaner nozzle. The side lips 2-! are joined near their centers by a cross member 29. When the carpet guard is used with a cleaner having a center belt drive brush roll, this member serves as a guard to prevent strings and other foreign matter from becoming entangled with the driving belt. Substantially vertical side walls 32 and end walls 33 are formed integral with the outer edges of the lips 21 and 28, respectively. Each end wall 33 is provided with a stud or projection 34, the purpose of which will be more fully explained hereinafter. The carpet guard 20 may be attached to the nozzle 3 of the cleaner in any satisfactory manner. In the particular embodiment shown, it is clipped over the end of the nozzle and is held in place thereon by spring force and friction between the walls of the nozzle [8 and the

walls

32 and 33 of the carpet guard 20.

It is to be understood that if it is desired to use the attachment adapter with a cleaner which is not equipped with a carpet guard, the projections 34 may be provided on any convenient por tion of the nozzle of the cleaner.

The attachment adapter includes a bottom wall 35, a pair of inclined side walls 36, and a pair of substantially vertical end walls 31 which form a trough or pan 38-forreceiving the nozzle structure I when the attachment adapter is attached to the suction cleaner. The side Walls 36 include portions 43 which act as guides to aid in properly positioning the nozzle structure in the pan. The end walls 31 extend below the plane of the bottom wall 35 and provide legs 39 for supporting the adapter with the bottom wall 35 disposed above the plane of the surface on which the hose connector is used, see Fig. 3. The legs 39 are reinforced by webs 40 which are attached thereto and to the bottom wall 35. A ledge 56 is integral with one of the side Walls 36 of the pan. A tubular hose connection 42 communicates with the interior of the pan 38 and provides means for attaching the usual hose 44, to the end of which a hand tool or nozzle may be connected.

Referring to Fig. 8 which shows a second embodiment of my attachment adapter, the legs 38 are provided with wheels 45 which are attached to the legs 39 by means of axle 48 on which the wheels rotate. The wheels 45 provide a support for the front of the cleaner when the attachment adapter is attached thereto and enables the cleaner and attachment adapter assembly to be more readily drawn about by the hose 44.

As seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the tubular hose connector is offset from-the center of the pan 38. It will be apparent that with this arrangement a more direct path of suction to the hose 44 is provided than would be possible if the hose connector entered the pan 38 at the center thereof. If it entered the pan at the center, it would be obvious that the path of suction would be obstructed to a certain extent by the cross member 29.

A latching mechanism 41 for securing the attachment adapter to the nozzle structure is pivoted to the legs 39 by means oi rivets 4|, as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5. The latching mechanism includes arms 48 which extend vertically and arms 49 which extend horizontally from the rivets 4|. The arms 48 extend through slots 50 in the bottom wall of the pan 38, and project into the pan. They are provided with a cam surface 52 and a latching portion 53. The arms 48 are normally biased into latching position by coil springs 54 which are carried in apertures in the legs 39, as shown best in Figs. 4, 6 and 7.

The arms 49 are connected by a common member 51 which is provided intermediate its ends with a handle portion 55 for moving the latchin mechanism to unlatching position. As seen from the drawings, the arms 48 and the member 51 for substantially a U-shaped yoke which is pivoted on a common axis through rivets 4|. The member 51 extends along the outside of the pan 38 and is concealed by the ledge 58, except at the handle portion 55. As shown on the drawings, in Figs. 2 and 3, the handle portion 55 is positioned over the tubular connector 42, an is provided by forming an arch in the member 51. In this position, the handle portion 55 is easily accessible to the operator, and the operator may readily manipulate it with either hand or foot to release the latching mechanism.

The end walls 31 of the pan 38 and the ledge 56 serve as a guard to protect the latching mechanism 41 from shock or accidental disengagement which might be occasioned by bumping furniture or other articles when the cleaner is v pulled about by the hose.

To connect my attachment adapter to a suction cleaner, the attachment adapter is placed on the floor, the cleaner is slightly tilted, so as to raise the nozzle from the floor, then the cleaner is wheeled up to the attachment adapter and the nozzle structure i4 is lowered into the pan 38. The latching arms 48 being biased into latching position by the springs 54, the projections or buttons 84 on the end walls 33 of the carpet guard will contact the cam surfaces 52 of the arms 48. The weight of the nozzle structure will be sumcient to overcome the bias of the springs 54, and the arms 48 will be rotated out of the path of the projections 34. When the nozzle structure reaches its operating position in the pan, the latching portions 53 of the arms 48 will snap over the projections 88, and thereby latch the adapter to the nozzle structure. The "cleaner may be pulled about by the hose 44, and

there be very little possibility of the adapter becoming detached, for the springs 54 bias the 48 towards latching position at all times. 75

To detach the attachment adapter from the cleaner, the operator merely presses upon the handle portion 55, which operation rotates the arms 48 to disengage the latching portions 53 from the projections 34, then the cleaner is tilted slightly backwards to raise the nozzle structure out of the pan 38. After the nozzle structure has been raised clear of the pan, the cleaner may be wheeled away from the hose connector,

or the hose connector may be withdrawn from under the nozzle.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a latching means for fastening an attachment adapter to a suction cleaner nozzle which is automatic in latching, and very simple and easy to unlatch.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is;

1. In combination, a suction cleaner including a nozzle structure, an attachment adapter adapted to be attached to said nozzle structure, said adapter comprising a hose connection by means of which a cleaning tool may be attached to the same and means providing a passage from the inlet of said nozzle structure to said hose connection, means pivoted to said adapter and operable automatically to engage a portion of said nozzle structure to latch said adapter to said nozzle structure when the latter is placed in operative position relative to said adapter, and a handle which is readily accessible to the operator and operatively associated with said latchtion, and a single member readily accessible to the operator of the cleaner, and coacting with said first and second latching means, for moving said latching means to unlatch said attachment adapter from said nozzle structure.

3. In combination, a suction cleaner including a nozzle structure, an attachment adapter adapted to be attached to said nozzle structure, said adapter comprising a hose connection by means of which a cleaning tool may be attached to the same and means providing a passage from the inlet of said nozzle structure to said hose connection, means pivoted to said attachment adapter for latching the same to said nozzle structure, said latching means being so constructed and positioned that as said nozzle is placed in operative position relative to said adapter the weight of said nozzle will cause said latching means to engage a portion of said nozzle structure thereby latching said adapter to said nozzle structure, separate means normally biasing said latching means toward latching position, and a device that is readily accessible to the operator or the cleaner from above and operatively associated with said latching means ing a nozzle structure, an attachment adapter to be connected to said nozzle structure, said adapter comprising a hose connection by means of which a cleaning tool may be attached to the same and means providing a passage from the inlet of said nozzle structure to said hose connection, latching means pivoted to said attachment adapter near each of its ends for engaging portions of said nozzle structure thereby tastening said attachment adapter to said nozzle structure, means for biasing said latching means toward latching position, and a u-shaped member pivoted near its ends on a common axis and operatively associated with said latching means so that when rotated it moves said latching means to unlatch said adapter from said nozzle structure.

5. In combination, a suction cleaner having an oblong nozzle, an oblong attachment adapter adapted to be connected .to said nozzle, said attachment adapter including a hose connection by means of which a cleaning tool may be attached to the same and means providing a passage from the inlet to said nozzle to said hose connection, latching means pivoted to said attachment adapter near its ends for automatically latching said attachment adapter to said nozzle when placed in operative relation thereto,

means normally biasing said latching means towards latching position, and a single element located in such position that it may be readily moved by the operators foot to unlatch said latching means.

6. In combination, a suction cleaner having an oblong nozzle, an oblong pan attached to said nozzle structure, said pan having a hose connection communicating with the interior thereof by means of which a cleaning tool may be attached to said pan, latching means pivoted to said pan near each end thereof, said latching means be-- ing located within the peripheral boundary of said pan, spring means for. biasing said latching means towards latching position, and a single member coacting between said latching means and located in such position that it may be readily moved by the operators foot to unlatch said latching means.

7. In combination, a suction cleaner including an oblong nozzle, an oblong pan attached to said nozzle, said pan having a hose connection communicating with the interior thereof by means of which a cleaning tool may be attached to said pan, latching means pivoted to said pan "near each end thereof, compression spring means located near each end of said pan for biasing said latching means towards latching position, and a single member coacting between said latching means and located in such position that it may be readily moved by the operators foot to unlatch said latching means.

8. Anoblong attachment adapter that rests on the floor and engages the nozzle of a suction cleaner, said adapter including a hose connection by means of which a cleaning tool is attached to the inlet of the cleaner nozzle, devices pivoted to said adapter near its ends for automatically engaging the nozzle of the cleaner when it is placed in operative position relative to the adapter for latching said adapter to the nozzle, means biasing said latching devices towards latching position, and a device coacting between said latchingdevices and so positioned that the operator of the cleaner may readily move the same towards the floor on which the adapter rests with the foot to unlatch said latching devices.

CHARLES H. TAYLOR.