US2702325A

US2702325A - Vacuum cleaner switch

Info

Publication number: US2702325A
Application number: US356413A
Authority: US
Inventors: John T Ferraris
Original assignee: Electrolux Corp
Current assignee: Electrolux Corp
Priority date: 1953-05-21
Filing date: 1953-05-21
Publication date: 1955-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1972-02-15

Description

Feb. 15, 1955 J. FERRARIS 2,702,325

VACUUM CLEANER SWITCH Filed May 21, 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F INVENTOR Jomv 7.7592005 A ORNEY Feb. 15, 1955 J. T. FERRARIS, 2,702,325

VACUUM CLEANER SWITCH Filed May 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR hm Joy/v 272-20921;

ATTORNEY Feb. 15, 1955 2 J. T. FERRARIS 2,702,325

VACUUM CLEANER SWITCH Filed May 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m 'I. 0 j} m 22 INVENTOR Jomv ffseemels RNEY Feb. 15, 1955 J, T, FERRARls 2,702,325

vAcwu CLEANER SWITCH Filed May 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 s 335 736 90 73a 33a 86 IN VEN TOR. Jomv [E ma/J A TTORNE Y.

United States Patent VACUUM CLEANER SWITCH John T. Ferraris, Cos Cob, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1953, Serial No. 356,413

Claims. (Cl. 200-50) This invention relates to an improved vacuum cleaner switch and especially to automatic operating means for actuating and locking it in deenergizing position under predetermined conditions.

More particularly, it embraces a novel combination of elements for insuring the retention of an established connectlon which is automatically broken upon the opening of the cover or some similarly actuated structure during the conventional operation of a household vacuum cleaner.

Heretofore, a number of switching devices have been designed for manual or automatic operation. Still others have been attached to various parts of the body of the cleaner, each however, with certain specific objects in view. All of these switching mechanisms have been found subject to many seemingly unavoidable shortcomings and in particular, none have been found adequate for effecting the objects and purposes of this invention.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved type of switch which may readily be operated either manually or by a mere flick of the operators foot.

It is a further prime object of this invention to provide a switch which is responsive to the release of the vacuum cleaner cover to be automatically actuated to its oit position.

Another object is to provide a switching mechanism which, upon the attainment of a predetermined operating condition within the cleaner, is locked into its deenergizing position.

Still another object is to require the operator to replace a certain object, such as to insert a new dust collecting bag, and to reset the switch in order to effect a more eflicient cleaning operation.

Still other and further objects will become apparent upon reading the following description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tank type vacuum cleaner with a portion of its outer casing broken away and its top trim assembly in section to show an assembled view of one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the switch and switch receptacle in position on a cleaner with its top trim assembly broken away to show the details of the switch structure more clearly;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view with a portion showing the switch in section and locked in off position, the cover being open; the closed position of the cover is shown in broken lines;

Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the switch assembly of Fig. 3 with the top trim assembly removed, showing the cover in opened position;

Figure 5 is a larger detailed sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4 with the cover closed and the switch in on position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the switch assembly taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the switch and its insulating housing as devised for this particular embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cover actuated element or yoke of the switch assembly;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the switch bracket on which the element of Fig. 8 is slidably mounted; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the insulator and spring member which press the switch unit shown in Fig. 7 into engagement with its actuating rocker casing.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment 2,702,325 Patented Feb. 15, 1955 shown in the accompanying drawings, ahousing 10 of a conventional tank-type vacuum cleaner has suitably secured thereto a pair of runners 12 which support the cleaner in a substantially horizontal position. One end of housing 10 forms a dust container compartment opening in a substantially vertical plane and provided with a closure member 16. This closure member 16 comprises a portion 18 pivotally mounted at 19 to pneumatically seal a front cover ring 22, and when opened, cover 16 extends anteriorly from the housing 10. A hose connector element 24 is pivotally carried by the portion 18 of closure member 16 and is adapted to orient the hose connector 24 in paralleled position throughout its traveled are.

A top trim assembly or trim piece 26 is appropriately secured to the upper portion of housing 10 and upon removal (see Fig. 2) shows the detailed structure of the switch assembly 30.

Switch assembly 30 is adapted to fit into switch pocket 50, Fig. 5, which is pressed out of housing 10, or preferably as shown, it is a separate piece press fitted and spot welded into a cut-out portion of housing 10. v

A spring 90, surmounted by a switch bottom insulator 92 presses switch 60, Fig. 1, up into its nylon switch case 62 while the latter is held securely in place along its edges 62a and 62b which fit snugly under and against elitending lips a and 70b (see Fig. 9) of switch bracket Yoke is mounted on and around switch bracket 70 so that the under side of projections 80a and 80b ride on their

respective rail members

700 and 70d, respectively, on each side of switch bracket 70.

Springs

82, 84 attached at one end to

lugs

86 and 88, respectively, of yoke 80 and at the other end to

lugs

76 and 78, respectively, of switch bracket 70 serve to hold the yoke and switch bracket together in mounted assembly.

After yoke 80 is thus assembled on switch bracket 70 spring bias 90, Fig. 10, and switch bottom insulator 92 are placed into switch pocket 50. Then nylon switch case 62, Fig. 7, together with its encased toggle switch, having rocker arm 64 protruding as shown in Fig. 7, is inserted through the center opening of switch bracket 70 and yoke 80, the assembly being securely fixed in position by the insertion of

lugs

70e, 70; under the top lip of front ring 22 (see Fig. 5) while rear wing 72 is fastened to the housing 10 by retaining means 74.

Rocker 31 is then readily slipped into place by closing cover 16 whereupon lugs 17a and 17b press against depending ears 87a and 87b of yoke 80 causing yoke 80 to slide back along rail members 70c and 70d. In this position, the depending sides of rocker 31 are readily passed downward into the center opening of switch bracket 70 and yoke 80. Under these conditions and with rocker arm 64 pressed forward, as shown in Fig. 3, slots 33a and 33b (cut in the depending sides of rocker 31) are readily mounted on pivot pins 73a and 73b, respectively, of switch bracket 70 while cam followers 31a and 31b are simultaneously passed under the upwardly

sweeping cams

81a and 81b, respectively, of yoke 80.

A metal liner 35, Fig. 5, serves to retain and center a nylon insulating button 37 which protects the unit against short-circuits and the operator against electrical shock during switch manipulation. When the top trim assembly 26 is secured in place by fastening means 27, the switch assembly is complete and rocker 31 may be swung to its on or oil positions without any possibility of disarrangement of its various parts, the encircling edges of top assembly 26 holding the cylindrical surface of rocker 31 securely thereunder.

In operation, with the switch in on position (see Fig. 5), the release of cover 16, either manually by operating latch 15, Fig. 1, or by automatic means such as pneumatically or electrically energized devices, causes lugs 17a and 17b to release depending ears 87a and 87b of yoke 80 whereupon springs 82 and 84 pull yoke 80 forward. The forward motion of yoke 80 causes cams 81a and 31b to press cam followers, 31a and 31b downward and forward which results in a counter-clockwise rotation of rocker 31 on its mounting pivots 73a and 73b into its off position. This actuates rocker arm 64 to its forward position as shown in Fig. 3 and hence throws the a toggle switch to its circuit breaking position shown in Fig. 1 and locks cam followers 31a and 31b under the horizontal part of

cams

81a and 81b respectively, see Fig. 3. Thus, with the cover in opened position, it is impossible to throw rocker 31 to its on position unless depending ears 87a and 8712 are pressed inwards against their biasing spring action.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein more specifically described is merely illustrative and not limitative of the scope of this invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing said cover, switching means to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a switch bracket fixed to said casing for mounting said switching means, a trim piece on said casing overlying said switching means and formed with an aperture, a manually operable rocker pivotally mounted on said switch bracket and extending through said aperture to actuate said switching means to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a resiliently operable yoke member slidably mounted on said switch bracket underneath and spaced from said trim piece and normally ineffective to actuate said rocker, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projecting member on said rocker contactable by and operatively actuatable by said cam surface, and means operatively connecting said cover and said resiliently operable yoke member whereby opening of said cover causes the resiliently operable yoke member to actuate said rocker to deenergize said cleaner, and a fiat portion on said cam surface to restrain said projecting member by overlying the latter and restraining said switching means against a manual operation.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising i a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing said cover, a switch bracket fixed to said casing, switching means for energizing and deenergizing said cleaner, a cut away center opening in said switch bracket for mounting said switching means, a trim piece on said casing overlying said switching means and formed with an aperture, a manually operable rocker pivotally mounted on said switch bracket and extending through said aperture for actuating said switching means to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a resiliently operable yoke member mounted for slidable movement on :said switch bracket underneath and spaced from said trim piece and normally ineffective for actuating said rocker, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projecting member on said rocker contactable by and operatively actuatable by said cam surface, and means operatively connecting said cover and said resiliently operable yoke member whereby opening said cover causes the resiliently operable yoke member to actuate said rocker to deenergize said cleaner, and a portion on said cam surface efiective upon further slidable movement of said yoke member to restrain said projecting member and lock said switching means against manual operation.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing said cover, a switch bracket fixed to said casing, switching means for energizing and deenergizing said cleaner, a cut away center opening in said switch bracket for mounting said switching means, a manually operable rocker pivotally mounted on said switch bracket for actuating said switching means to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a top trim member fixed to said casing and superposed over the rocker for holding the latter pivotally mounted on said bracket, a resiliently operable yoke member mounted underneath and spaced from said trim member for slidable movement on said switch bracket and normally ineffective for actuating said rocker, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projecting member on said rocker contactable by and operatively actuatable by said cam surface, and means operatively connecting said cover and said resiliently operable yoke member whereby opening said cover causes the resiliently operable yoke member to actuate said rocker to deenergize said cleaner, and a portion on said cam surface effective upon further slidable movement of said yoke member to restrain said projecting member and lock said switching means against manual operation.

4. Ina vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing said cover, a switch bracket fixed to said casing, a center opening in said switch bracket, an insulating switch box fitted into said center opening, switching means within said switch box to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a switch arm extending from said switch box to operate said switching means, a manually operable rocker pivotally mounted on said switch bracket and adapted to actuate said switch arm to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a top trim assembly fixed to said casing superposed over the rocker and having edges encircling the rocker :for holding the latter pivotally mounted on said switch bracket, a resiliently operable yoke member slidably mounted on said switch bracket and normally ineffective to actuate said rocker, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projecting member on said rocker extending against and .actuatable by said cam surface and means operatively connecting said cover and said resiliently operable yoke member whereby opening of said cover causes the resiliently operable yoke member to actuate said rocker to deenergize said cleaner.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having an opening, .a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing said cover, a switch bracket fixed to said casing, a center opening in said switch bracket, an insulating switch box fitted into said center opening, switching means Within said switch box to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a spring between said casing and said insulating switch box for holding said box and switching means in place within said center opening, a switch armextending from said switch box to operate said switching means, a manually operable rocker casing pivotally mounted on said switch bracket and adapted to actuate said switch arm to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a top trim assembly fixed to said casing superposed over the rocker casing and having edges encircling the rocker casing for holding the latter pivotally mounted on said switch bracket, a resiliently operable yoke member slidably mounted on said switch bracket and normally ineffective to actuate said rocker casing, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projecting member on said rocker casing extending against and .actuatable by said cam surface and means operatively connecting said cover and said resiliently operable yoke member whereby opening of said cover causes the resiliently operable yoke niember to actuate said rocker casing to deenergize said c eaner.

McClatchie Feb. 16, 1926 Senne July 2 8, 1953