US2635708A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

' p 1953 R. c LAMPE 2,635,708

VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT C. LAMPE MW A Arrozzzvim R. C. LAMPE VACUUM CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 21, 1953 Filed June 29, 1948 wm mm mm INVENTOR. ROBERT C: LAMPE S N m T.

April 1953 R. c. LAMPE 2,635,708

' VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 29, 1948 4 She'ets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. ROBERT C. LAMPE BY A W E Arron ns.

p zl, 1953 a c. AMPE 2,ss5;7os

VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 29, 1-948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ROBERT C LAMPE 7 ATTORN Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,635,708 VACUUM CLEANER Robert C. Lam'pe, Stamford, 'Conn-., '"assi'g'nor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Go'nn., a corporation of Delaware Application .iunezs, 1948, Serial No.'35,845

7 Claims.

, 1 This invention relates to suction cleaners and is .particual'rly concerned with portable selfcontained units including a motor fan assembly and a dust "separating mechanism. the device being particularly designed for domestic use.

It is to 'be understood that the device here presented is designed for use with a hose (not illustrated) to which may be selectively applied various cleaning tools through which dust-laden air is drawn from the surface'being cleaned, the "hose being removablyapplied to the present device to deliversuch air to the'dust separating and collecti'n'g receptacle Where entrained dust, dirt and foreign matterfis separated and retained while clean and purified air is discharged.

One of the cbjectso'f 'my invention is to provide in combination "with a vacuum cleaner, a hose couplin so 'mounted'with respect to the housing of the cleaner that when the coupling is moved with respect to the housing in order to permit insertion or removal of -'a dust collecting receptacl'e, the axis of the coupling remains substantially parallel to itself. This has the advantage that, inasmuch as a hose 'conne'ctedfto the coupling does not have to be bent or twisted, the hose offers a minimum resistance to movement of the coupling. 'In addition, the coupling is always maintained in proper alignment so that the hose maybe connected readily thereto.

Another object is to provide in combination with-a cover'mem'b'er, means for moving the dust collecting receptacle to a position for ready removal from the housing as an incident to the movementof the cover. r e

Numerous other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the illustrative embodiment herein presented and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and of which;

Fig. l is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with --my invention showing the cover in partially opened position and with the receptacle withdrawn;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cover in fullyopened position;

Fig. 3 is a top view of a frontcovershown in Figs. land-2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on theline,44 of Fig. 5; I r

Fi 5 is a-horizo-ntal sectional view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. "6 is-a transverse vertical section takenon the line 6-.6 of Fig. 1'; I

Fig. '1 is anisoinetric 'ie'w whens-a of a housing structure; "and Fig. 8 is an isometric view of the f'ront bracket.

It will be apparent from the following detaile'c'i discussion of structural features how the objects 'hereinbefore stated are accomplished.

The base l3 of the structure is a shallow dish like member, preferably of aluminum or mafgn'esium die casting, and issubstantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section, being provided, slightly to the rear of "the transverse center line, with wheel wells 10 which are centrally apeftured at I l to receive the'axle's of the su portin wheels [2. At the forward end of the casting there is provided a recess 13 for'the reception of a front caster M, the shaft I5 of which extends upwardly through anapertured boss T6. The bottom of the casting forwardly ofthe wheel wells lll'i's provided with a pair "of depressions l7 and I8. The left-hand depression I! is relatively wide, its width permitting the reception therein 6f the lower edge of the fan "housing I24 of the motor fan unit I20, as shown in Fig. 6, while 'the'righthand depression H3 is'narrower. Each depression is fitted on'the bottom exterior of the casting with runner surfaces l9 which extend forwardly up the front of the casting and are arranged "to act as sleighs in the movement of the device over obstructions in the .path of travel. Rearwardly 'of the wheelwells there is a central depression 20 also provided with a runner strip 2| which prevents tipping over of the machine when a lifting force is exerted thereon by the hose as a result of moving the device by a tug on the hose.

The casting is also provided with a pair of oppositely dispcsed forwardly positioned bosses 23 which-are internally threaded for the reception of securing screws for a front member For mounting the motor fan unit on the base B there are provided a forward pair of threaded bosses "24 and aniintermediate-pair of threaded bosses 25 towhichare bolted brackets of the motor fan unit, as will be hereinafter described. Slightly to the rear of the bosses 25 there is also provided a pair of threaded bosses 26 which are adapted to support the front portion of a cord reel W. Rearwardly of the bosses '26 there is a pair of bosses "21 arranged for supporting the rear portion of the cord reel. The casting also includes a hollow projection 28 forming an open recess at the rear of the base B for the reception of the conductor plug 29 at the end of the conductor when the latter is wound upon the cord reel. The outer end of the recess is of sufiicient diameter to permit'thepassage therethrough of the plug, while the inner end of the recess is only large enough t'c perrliit the free passage of the conductor, but

not the 'plu g.

Ihe casting also includes a rear outlet box 30 which extends upwardly beyond the normal plane of the top surface of the base, the rear upper extension 3| being provided with an air outlet aperture 32, while the left side wall 33 is provided with an air inlet aperture 34. The arrangement is such that air from the motor fan unit passes into the box 30 by way of the aperture 34 and is exhausted therefrom through the aperture 32. The aperture 32 is provided with a louvered pivotally mounted air discharge door 35 (Fig. 4) the louvers of which direct the air upwardly away from the floor, while the pivotal mounting thereof wardly projecting cars 48 which are apertured to be secured by suitable fastening means to the bosses 23 of the base. Member F stands vertically upright on the base casting B and is provided with a lower wide front section which corresponds to the top outline of the front portion of the base B, the central portion, however, being cut away to form a recess 4| into which the supporting arms of a cover C fit when the cover is closed. Above the recess 41 the member F is further inwardly recessed to form a horizontal platform, beyond which the member F extends vertically upward to form a ring 43 which has a radially inwardly extending flange 44 within which is seated the receptacle compartment hereinafter described. Oppositely disposed portions of the ring 43 are cut away as at 45 to provide for the reception of the extractor fingers of the cover C hereinafter described. The rear wall of the recess Al is also cut away as at 41 to form an aperture therethrough for the accommodation of a front latching finger 48 also to be hereinafter described.

A top housing member T is supported from the base B by engagement with a packing and bumper ring R at its lower edge and is also in engagement with the front member F and constitutes an open fronted body, substantially U- shaped in inverted cross-section and is provided with apertures 50, 50a, 5| and 52 to permit extension therethrough of a front cover operating rod I18, the cord reel control lever 53, the motor switch pedal 90 and the handle 58, respectively. The control lever 53 is pivotally mounted on the top '1' as at 54 and is connected by means of the curved rod 53a with the cord rewind lever 55. The cover C has secured thereto a decorative strip 51 which may be formed of polished metal or other contrasting material, and which is in alignment with the handle 58 and with a similar decorative piece 59 forwardly of the handle and a decorative piece 56 to the rear of the handle. The piece 56 is not only decorative, but also serves to prevent marring and scratching of the surface of the top T by the operators foot if the latter is used to actuate the lever 53 or the pedal 90.

The cover C is of hollow construction as shown in Fig. 4, being apertured in front to receive a hose connection member 50 to which is attached an inlet tube 65 which, when the cover is closed, is inserted through a stiff front end I I l of a dust receptacle H0 as hereinafter exp ained- Th 4 cover C is supported by an outer plate 65 and an inner plate 61. The plates 66 and 61 fit Within the recess 4| of the front bracket F when the cover is closed. The lower end of plate 65 is pivoted to the casting F at '58, while its upper end is pivoted to the member C at 69. Similarly, the lower end of the inner plate 61 is pivoted to the casting F at 10 and its upper end is pivoted to the cover C. A coil spring 12 is mounted about the lower pintle for the inner plate 5! and extends between the casting and the plate to urge the plate and with it the cover C and the outer plate 68 normally to the fully extended outer position shown in Fig. 2. When the device is in operation the parts are retained in the closed position shown in Fig. 4 by the latch member 48 which extends through the aperture M of the casting F, through a registering opening in the inner plate 51, and is'pivotally mounted as at T6 to the casting. A spring 11 is arranged to normally hold the latch in clockwise rotated position and in engagement with the plate 6'1. An operating rod 18, which may be actuated either automatically or by hand as will hereinafter be described, engages the lower leg of the latch 43 through a lost motion connection indicated at '59.

With respect to this construction it will be noted that when the plate 61 is released by actuation of the latch 48 the plates 56 and 61 will move clockwise on their pivots 68 and 10, but will move in substantially parallel fashion to carry with them the cover C in an outwardly and downwardly directed arcuate path, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the hose connector 60 thus remaining horizontal in all positions of the cover.

Extending inwardly from two sides of the cover C, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is provided a pair of hooked extractor fingers 80, the inner ends of which are formed with inclined surfaces a terminating in abrupt shoulders 80b. The inclined surfaces 80a enable the inner ends of the fingers to be sprung past the stiff front end Hi of the dust receptacle H0 during inward movement of the cover, the ends being received within the recesses 45 of the casting F. Upon outward movement of the cover C, the shoulders 80b of fingers 80 engage the stiff end of the receptacle to move the receptacle outwardly during the initial movement of the cover to the position shown in Fig. 1. During further movement of the cover to the fully open position shown in Fig. 2, the shoulders 80b slide off the lower edge of the end Ill, leaving the receptacle H9 in the position shown in Fig. 2. The fingers 80 are preferably carried by an internal cover plate 8| which also carries a sealing gasket 82 surround ing the inlet tube 65 in such manner that when the cover is closed the inlet tube will be sealed into engagement with the front end III of the receptacle I ll).

When the cover is closed it will be understood that in such closing movement the edges of the aperture of the internal plate 6! will cam back the latch 48 against the tension of the spring 17 so that the latch will be inserted through the opening of the plate and will be returned by spring force to the latching position shown in Fig. 4 to secure the cover in closed position until actuation of the latch.

For enclosing the dust receiving receptacle H5 there i provided an impervious receptacle corn partment formed by an elongated casin 35 which is substantially oblong in transverse section. As best shown in Fig. 4, its open front end is mounted upon a rearwardly extending flange 86 of the member F, while the rear end .isclosed by an end cap 81 to which is secured an apertured vertical bracket 88 through which extends the vertical switch operating rod 189 to the upper end of which is secured the operating .knob 50, which protrudes through the aperture 51 of the top T. .A spring 9l encircles the rod 89 and abuts against a .pin 92 thereon so .as to lightly urge the rod downwardly against the button 1 M of an electric switch I l6. s

The casing 85 is provided at the lower righthand corner, as viewed in Fig. .6, and adjacent the front thereof with an air discharge tube J95 through which air is directed to the motor fan unit hereinafter described. .A flexible coupling 96 is interposed in the tube 95 so as to preclude the transmissionof vibration from the motorfan unit to the casing. The top external surface of the casing 85 is provided with handle brackets 98 to which are .pivotally mounted links 99 which in turn pivotally engage the handle 58, which is normally retained bygravlity, within the aperture 52 of the top T, but may be raised therefrom to permit grasping of the handle for bodily carrying the device.

Mounted within the casing 85 there is pro vided a perforated inner liner I00 which conforms in general configuration to that of the casing 85 and is provided at its opened front end with an outwardly extending flange which is seated within a rubber gasket lDl which in turn is mounted within the radial flange t' l of the member B, it being noted that the front surface of the gasket is inwardly spaced from the front surface of the member F at this point so that the stiff front plate Ill of the dust receptacle may be seated against 'the front face of the gasket llll within the confines of the surrounding ring 43 of the memberF.

The rear end of the liner It is closed by an impervious rigid end cap Hi2 which may .be permanently secured thereto as by welding or the like. For securing the casing 85 and the liner H10 in the assembled position as shown in rigid relationship with the member there is provided a bolt Hi l which extends through the rear end cap 8'! of the casing 85 and the rear end cap H12 of the liner 160. By drawing the caps together by tension applied by bolt ltd, the gasket 'Illl will be drawn tightly against its seat on the flange Mof ring 43, while the casing 85 will in turn be thrust forwardly to secureit around the flange '86 and in abutment with the ring '43.

The dust receptacle itself is here disclosed as comprising a flexible air p'ervious b'ody H'll which in transverse section conforms in shape to the oblong transverse configuration of the liner Hill. While the material of the body may be of any pervious structure which will prevent the ipassage of dust and dirt, it is preferably formed of inexpensive disposable material, such as paper. The front end of body .l I9 is secured to a stiff front plate I H which is preferably of inexpensive material, such as cardboard, and which is centrally apertured at H2 to receive the inlet tube 65 of the cover C. The peripheral configuration and dimensions of the front plate I H are such that it will be snugly received within the rin 43 of the member F-and will lie against the front face of the gasket HH and be sealed thereagainst when the cover C is closed. By this construction, in conjunction with the sealing gasket 82 of the front cover, it will be seen that with -the cover closed, all of the air passing through the tube 65 is introduced into the pervious :b'od-y Hi), from which it flows through the pervious walls of the 6 body :and through the perforated liner H10 and thence from. the casing .85 to the discharge tube 95. Inasmuch as this closed passageway does not include the outer casing T, the latter need not-be airtight.

.Inthe operation of the device it willbe understood that with the cover opened as shown in Big. 2 a'dust receptacle H 0 mayfbe'inserted into the liner H383, the front .plate I'H .of the receptacle being guided towards seating within the member F by the platform '42 formed by the forward extension of the member F. As the cover is moved to closing ,position through the position shown in Fig. '1 and to the position shown in Fig. 4, the tube 65 is introduced into the aperture N2 of the receptacle and on final inward movement the gasket 82 engages the front ,plate Hi to clamp the .latter in sealing engagement with the gasket 1.61 to complete the sealing securement of the receptacle. During such Jinward movement the extractor fingers 8B are sprung out by engagement of the inclined surfaces a with the frontplate I ll so that the inner ends of te fingerspush past the plate and come to rest within the recesses 45 with the shoulders 89b seated behind the plate "Hi. When the motor fan unit is energized to draw air therethrough, it produces a suction in the chamber 85 to cause an inflow of air through the inlet tube 65, and passage of dust-laden air through the air .pervious body -l It will extract dust and dirt there-from which dust and 'dirt is retained within the receptacle .H'U. When the receptacle is sufficientlyloade'd with dirt whereby resistance to the flow of "air "th'erethrough is such as to reduce the de'sired cle'ariing efliciency the cover Cis released by -operation of th'e'l'atch 4'8 and is opened by pressure "from the spring 12. The cover moves in the arcilate'path shown in Figs. '1 and 2 andin suchmovem'e'nt'the inner ends 89b of the extracting fingers 88 which'are seated behind the plate I ll] draw the front plate 1 H and with it the body "MD of the receptacle forwardly to the position shown :in Fig. l where it may be readily grasped to be further and fully withdrawn and disposed of. Further movement of the cover to the position shown in Fig. 2 will cause the inner ends 8% of the'eXtr'a-cting fingers 80 to slide from the bottom of theplate I'll and bereleased therefrom.

The motor fan unit, designated generally by reference character I 20 comprises a motor housing I22 and a fanrhousing I24. An electricmotor is contained within the housing I22, the shaft I26 of which motor projects into-the-fanhousing El 24 where it carries a conventional centrifugal fan'rotor. The air conduit communicates-with an opening :formed in an end cap i128 secured to the end of the motor housing bppos'ite from the 'fan "housing. The fan housing is provided with an air discharge passage 130 which communicates with the interior of the outlet box-30 by means of ase'ction I32 of rubber tubing connected between passage [30 and *elbow [33 secured to the outlet box'in alignment with opening34 therein. From here the air is discharged through the :opening 32 .in the outlet box, the vanes '35 directing the air upwardly and away from the surface supporting the cleaner. The rubber tubing I32 is interposed between the fan housing and the outlet box in order to prevent transmission :of vibration from the motor fan unit to the base .B.

The =motor fan unit .is supported 'on the bosses -24 and v2.5 of the base B '?by means of a pair of brackets I34. As shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, blocks I36 of rubber or other suitable resilient material are vulcanized to the brackets I34 and to plates I38 secured to the sides of the motor housing I22. Straps I40 are also secured to plates I38 and extend outside the brackets I34, being normally spaced therefrom, but located close enough thereto so that under shock the straps will contact the brackets before the shear or tension forces acting on the rubber become suflicient to damage it.

In order to open the front cover C automatically when the pressure drop through the receptacle III) has reached a predetermined value, a pair of Sylphon bellows I42 and I43 is mounted on a bracket I44 secured to the underside of the bottom wall of chamber 85. The interior of bellows I42 is in communication with the interior of chamber 85 through a hollow bolt I46. The interior of bellows I43 is in communication with the interior of the receptacle IIO through a flexible rubber tube I48 which extends from the bottom of the bellows I43, below the motor housing I22, through a suitable opening in the front casting F into the recess 4I thereof, and thence through an opening in the lower wall of the cover C to connect with an opening in the side of the inlet tube 65, the interior of which tube is in direct communication with the interior of the receptacle I I0. The bellows I42 and I43 are arranged to actuate limit switches I50 and I52, respectively. Switch I50 is normally open, that is when atmospheric pressure is applied to both the exterior and interior of bellows I42. However, when the bellows is collapsed by suflicient reduction of the interior pressure, switch I50 is closed. Switch I52, on the other hand, is closed when both sides of bellows I43 are subjected to atmospheric pressure, and is opened by collapse of the bellows resulting from sufiicient reduction of the interior pressure.

The switches I50 and I52 are connected in series with a solenoid I64 which is likewise mounted on the underside of the bottom wall of compartment 85. This solenoid includes an armature I66 to which is connected the rod 18 by means of a pin. A spring I bears against a washer I12 on the armature I66, thus tending to move the armature and connected parts to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4. Connected to the left end of the armature is a rod I16 Which terminates in a button I18 projecting through the opening 50 in the rear end of the casting T. In the neighborhood of switch I I6 the rod I16 is divided into two branches which extend on opposite sides of the switch, as is shown in Fig. 5.

Switch II6 is of the usual snap toggle type provided with the actuating button H4. The toggle pin I80 of the switch is extended through the side walls of the switch housing and the projecting ends of the pin are received in slots I94 formed in the two branches of rod I16, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The switch thus may be actuated in two different manners. First, depression of the switch button I I4 by means of the knob 90 and rod 89 serves to operate the switch in well known manner. When the switch is actuated in this manner the pin I80 may travel through the slots I94 without moving the rod I16. The second way in which the switch may be operated is by lengthwise movement of the rod I16, caused either by the solenoid I64 or manual depression of the button I18. Such movement of the rod I16 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, moves the pin I80 in the same direction and the switch is so constructed that 8 movement of the pin in this direction opens the switch.

Switch I I6 is connected in the motor circuit in the usual manner so as to start and stop the motor. Switch I I6 also is in series with the limit switches I42 and I43 and th solenoid I69 so that the solenoid is deenergized whenever switch H6 is open, regardless of the condition of the limit switches I50 and I52.

The automatic controls operate in the following manner. It is assumed that the switch II6 has been manually thrown by means of the knob 90 to the closed position so that the motor is operating to draw air into the receptacle IIO. When there is little or no dirt within the receptacle, the pressure drop through the porous walls thereof is at a minimum and consequently, the

, suction outside the receptacle I I 0, which acts on the interior of bellows I42 is but a slight amount greater than the suction within the receptacle which acts on the interior of bellows I43. Under these conditions both the bellows I42 and I43 will be partially collapsed, and the construction and arrangements of the parts are such that the bellows I43 will be collapsed sufficiently to open the circuit through the switch I52. Bellows I42 may or may not be collapsed sufficiently to close the circuit through switch I50, but this is immaterial inasmuch as the two switches are in series and hence the fact that switch I52 is open assures that the solenoid I64 is not energized. Consequently, the spring I10 holds the armature I66 in the position shown in Fig. 4 and spring 11 is able to hold the latch 48 in engagement with the front cover C so as to hold the latter in closed position. As more and more dirt is collected within the receptacle I I0, the pressure drop through the porous walls of the receptacle I I0 increases so that the absolute pressure within the bellows I42 decreases, while that within the bellows I43 increases. This causes the bellows I42 to collapse further until the circuit through the switch I50 is closed. The increase in absolute pressure within the bellows I 43 causes this member to expand until the circuit through switch I52 is closed. When both of these switches are closed the circuit is completed to the solenoid I64, and the energization thereof moves the armature I66 and the rods 18 and I16 connected therewith to the right. This movement of rod 18 pivots the latch 48 against the bias of spring 11 so as to release the front cover C, whereupon the spring 12 associated with the hinge 10 tends to pivot the arm 61 in a direction to open the cover. However, the suction existing within the compartment 85 and acting on the sealing gasket 82 tends to hold the cover closed and consequently the latter does not immediately open all the way. Movement of rod I16 by the armature of the solenoid causes pin I of switch I I6 to be moved to the right, thus throwing the switch to the off position. This shuts off the power to the motor, thus causing the fan to slow down and hence the suction within the chamber 85 is reduced and the cover is opened by the force of spring" aided by gravity.

Opening of switch II6 also opens the solenoid circuit so that the armature I66 is returned to its left-hand position by the spring I10. The consequent movement of rod I16 does not, however, move the pin I80 so as to close the switch I I6, inasmuch as the length of slot I94 is at least as great as the throw of the pin I80. Movement of rod 18 to the left enables the spring 11 to pivot the latch 48 to latching position, but by this time the cover has been opened be free of thelatch.

As the cover opens, the'abrup't surfaces 80b on the extractor fingers B'Oengage the rear face of the stiff plate H'l of the receptacle llil, thus drawing the receptacl out of the compartment 85 to the position shown in Fig. 1'. As was previously described, upon further movement of" the cover C, the extractor fingers -80 slip off the lower end of the plateH l, leaving the receptacle I-l-il in the position shown in Fig. 2, while the :CQVBI' opens all the way to the position" likewise shown in this figure. Y

The operator may now withdraw the receptacle H from the compartment 85 and replace it by a new receptacle. The cover "C is thereupon closed by lifting it and pushing it rearwardly until it is engaged by the latch 48. Due to the slot 19 in the rod 13, the latch may be pivoted sufiiciently to engage the front cover without having to move the rod 18 and the parts connected thereto. The motor may again be started by depressing the knob 90 so as to close the switch. During this movement the pin I80 merely travels through the slot I94 without having to move the rod 1 16.

If for any reason it is desired to remove the receptacle I I0 before the automatic controls open the front cover, this may be done by pressing the button I18 inwardly. This has exactly the same effect as though the armature I66 were moved to the right by energization of the solenoid I64, and hence it is not necessary to repeat the description of the operation of the various parts.

While there has been shown one more or less specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustration only, and that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing enclosing a dust receptacle compartment, an opening in said compartment in a substantially vertical plane, a dust receptacle insertable into and removable from said opening, a closure member for said opening, and means including an arm secured to said closure member and adapted to en age the dust receptacle and to move the dust receptacle through said opening upon opening said closure member.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing enclosing a dust receptacle compartment, an opening in said compartment in a substantially vertical plane, a dust receptacle having a rigid end plate insertable into and removable from said opening, a closure member for said opening, and means including a resilient arm secured to said closure member having a hooked end positioned to snap behind said plate upon closure of said closure member and to withdraw said dust receptacle outwardly through said opening upon opening of said closure member.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing enclosing a dust receptacle compartment, an opening in said compartment in a substantially vertical plane, a dust receptacle having a rigid end plate insertable into and removable from said opening, a closure member for said opening, means for movably securing said closure member to said housing including parallel linkage for maintaining said closure member parallel to itself during opening and closing thereof, and a pair of resilient arms secured to said closure member and extending into said compartment when said sufliciently so as to a s-mos 10 member is closed, said arms'having hooked ends positioned to snap behind said plate'upon closure of said member and to engage said plate upon opening of said member to withdraw said dust receptacle outwardly through said opening.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing enclosing a dust receptacle compartment, an opening in said compartment in a substantially vertical plane, adust receptacle having a rigid end plate insertable into and removable from said opening, a closure member for said opening, means for movably securing said closure member to said housing including parallel linkage for guiding said member parallel to itself in an arcuate downward path from closed position to an open position in which the top of said member is below the bottom. of said opening, and a pair of resilient arms secured to" said member and" ex: tending into said compartment when said member is closed, said arms having hooked ends positioned to snap behind said plate upon closure of said member and to engage said plate to withdraw said dust receptacle outwardly through said opening during the first portion of the downward opening movement of said member and to thereafter be disengaged from said plate by the continued downward movement of said member.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing having a dust receptacle compartment therein with an opening to the exterior, a dust receptacle insertable into and removable from said opening with an inlet located at substantially said opening, a hose coupling member having a conduit adapted to communicate with said inlet and having a pivotal mounting on said casing, and an arm on said member having a lost motion connection to said receptacle whereby upon withdrawal movement of said member communication with said inlet is first broken and thereafter said arm is effective to draw the dust receptacle outwardly.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a horizontal housing having a dust receptacle compartment therein with an end opening to the atmosphere, a dust receptacle insertable into and removable from said compartment through said opening, a movable member associated with said compartment end, hose coupling means carried by said member for connecting one end of a suction hose thereto, and parallel linkage means interconnecting said housing and said member for movably supporting said member with respect to said housing so that said member and said hose coupling means move together through an arc from a first position adjacent said opening where the axis of said coupling means is horizontal to a second position remote from said opening where the axis of said coupling means is also horizontal.

'7. In a, vacuum cleaner, a horizontal housing having a dust receptacle compartment therein with an opening to the atmosphere, a dust receptacle insertable into and removable from said compartment through said opening, a movable end member for said housing adjacent the opening therein, hose coupling means carried by said member for connecting one end of a suction hose thereto, parallel linkage means interconnecting said housing and said member for movably supporting said member with respect to said housing so that said member and said hose coupling means move together through an are from a first position adjacent said opening where the axis of said coupling means is horizontal to a second position remote from said opening where the ll axis of said coupling means is also horizontal, spring means for operating said linkage means to move said hose coupling means from said first to said second position, releasable means for holding said member and said hose coupling means in the first of said positions, and means for releasing said releasable means whereby said spring means operates said linkage means to move said hose coupling means and the end of the hose attached thereto to said second position away from said opening.

- ROBERT C. LAMPE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number D. 149,664

Number 15 Number Name Date Templin May 3, 1910 Kelsey Dec. 13, 1910 Saylor Apr. 15, 1913 Allen Jan. 12, 1915 Engberg et al Feb. 10, 1931 Bieth Dec. 10, 1935 Muentener Feb. 16, 1937 Salt Jan. 16, 1945 Nufier et al. Nov. 6, 1945 Nufier et al Apr. 6, 1948 Snyder Jan. 4, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Dec. 11, 1937

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