US2907588A - Vacuum cleaner attachment coupling with spring biased latch means - Google Patents

Description

www TW Oct. 6, 1959 E D. THORNWALD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Zwaan or Oct. 6, 1959 E. D. 'rHoRNwALD 2,907,538

VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT COUPLING WITH SPRING BIASED LATCH MEANS Original Filed June 10, 1949 3 Sheets-$heet 2 Oct- 6, 1959 E. D. THoRNwALD VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT CCUPLINC WITH SPRING BIASED LATCH MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filled June 10,

INVENToR. libere!! Thor/naald Farrer Caffe? .zfofneys United States Patent mee Patented O'ct. 6, 1959 .VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT COUPLING WITH SPRING BIASED LATCH MEANS' Everett D. Thornwald, Glenview, Ill., assigner to Clements Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original appiication June 10, 1949, Serial No. 98,296,

now Patent No. 2,708,766, dated May 24, 1955. Divided and this application February 8, 1955, Serial No. 486,824 i i 1 claim. (cl. 28s- 7) Another purpose is to provide a dusting tool adapter which, when inserted in operative position, is effective also to remove the fan belt from the motor pulley which normally drives it.

Another purpose of the present invention isv the provision of an adapter tool for vacuum cleaners in which the tool is inserted into the cleaner and removed from the cleaner by a simple rectilinear movement.

. Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the ensuing specification and claim.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is a partial vertical longitudinal section with the dusting tool adapter in place;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the adapter tool structure,` on a somewhat enlarged scale, and with parts broken away and lwith parts in section;

Figure 4 is a plan View of the ladapter structure shown `in Figure 2; and i Figure 5 is a side elevation of the adapter tool structure shown in Figure 4.

This is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 98,296 led June 10, 1949, now Patent No. 2,708,766.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates any suitable supporting surface such as a oor, rug or carpet. A generally indicates the forward portion or housing of a Vacuum cleaner. It includes a forwardly and downwardly inclined upper wall Z and a forwardly and downwardly inclined lower wall 3, the walls being suitably connected at their sides and terminating at the oor nozzle portion 4. The vacuum cleaner housing has a rear portion 5 which defines` lan outlet passage 6. 7 indicates a motor housing in which is positioned any suitable motor 8, the details of which do not of themselves form part of the present invention. The motor housing is closed at its upper end by a closure plate 9 through which eX* tends a motor shaft 10. Positioned on an upper part 10a of the shaft is the fan body generally indicated as 11 and having any suitable fan blades 12. The upward continuation of the housing wall 3 is apertured as at 13 to provide an air inlet to `the chamber formed by any suitable downwardly extending circumferential wall 14. 15 is any suitable housing or wall portion to which the plate 9 and the motor housing 7 may suitably be secured.

It will be understood that in response to rotation of the rotor of the motor 8, the motor shaft 10a is rotated and thus the fan 11, 12. The result is an iniow of air through the aperture 4a of the lioor nozzle 4, air owing upwardly and rearwardly to the air inlet or suction inlet 13 of the fan chamber. The air is` exhausted or discharged from the fan chamber `or scroll through the outlet .duct 6. It will be understood that any suitable receiving means, bag or duct may be employed to receive the dirty air delivered through the outlet passage 6. Since such' a bag or container or passage does not of itself form part of the present invention, it is not illustrated herein. The actual air passage between the licor nozzle inlet 4a andthe fan suction inlet 13 may be formed in part by anV inner top plate 16. This plate is shown as having Ia normally closed air inlet 17. A preferably removable outer plate 18 overlies the rear portion of the cover plate 16 and is provided with a normally closed air inlet aperture 19. It will be understood that in `the normal use of the device, a hinged or removable closure plate 20 is employedwhich carries an inner bracket 21 to which is movably secured the inner closure plate 22 mounted 'for limited movement upon the positioning'and guiding `elements 23. The plate 2li may be hinged as at 24, for ready removal. It will be understood that when the parts are in the position in which they are shownin Fig. 1, the plate 20 somewhat loosely closes the inlet 19, whereas the plate 22 very snugly closes the air inlet 17. `To prevent any substantial leakage, it may have -a yielding packing ring or gasket 25. lt will be understood that when the fan 11, 12 is rotating, the suction is effective to draw the plate 22 downwardly along the limiting guides 23 as far as the gasket 25 will permit. The result is a simple structure which eiciently prevents any damaging degree of air leakage through the aperture 17. h

Suitably journalled or mounted in the nozzle 4 is a brush generally indicated as 30. The brush structure is not shown in detail, as it does not of itself form part of the present invention. It preferably includes a driven pulley 31 about which passes a belt 32 or suitable material, the belt 32 passing about and driving pulley 33, which may be contoured, as shown in Figure l, to resemble two inwardly converging truncated cones. The pulley 33 may be mounted on any suitable extension ltlb of the motor shaft 10i. Surrounding extension 10b is a iixed conic abutment' 34 which may be conveniently contoured as a continuing extension of the lower cone of the pulley 33. It includes also outwardly extending bottom limiting portions 35 and may be supported in lixed position by cross pieces 36 which extend to and may form part of the cleaner wall 3.

it will be understood that the cleaner housing may be supported by any suitable means, but front supporting rollers 40 and rear supporting rollers 41 are indicated. ln the normal use `of the device, when the operator is merely moving the cleaner over a floor surface, the closures 20 and '22 remain in the full line position in which they are shown in Fig. l. The belt 32 passes about the pulleys 31 and 33. The rotation of the motor simultaneously operates the fan 11, 12 and the brush 3i). `Thus, the brush brushes the surface undergoing cleaning Vand the dust particles are drawn with the in flowing air upwardly through the nozzle aperture 4a upwardly and rearwardly between the walls 3 and 16 and downwardly through the fan chamber inlet 13 for escape through the exhaust duct 6.

It is important to provide an adequate connection between dusting tools and the Vacuum cleaner, as where the user wishes to clean walls, furniture, drapes and the like. VIt is important, however, that when a Vdusting tool adapter` is used, the operator is able to leave the cleaner on the loor in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, but if the brush is allowed to continue its rotation during the use of the dusting tool, it is then necessary either to turn' the'housing over or to `elevate it in such fashion that the brush will not engage the surface over which the cleaner is placed. A purpose of the present invention is to provide an adequate and eflicient dusting tool adapter which may be .easily and quickly inserted by a simple rectilinear movement along the axis of the fan and motor. This `single movement being all that is required Aboth to insert the adapter and to remove the belt from its normal driving relationship with the motor pulley. The dusting tool adapter herein show n adequately performs the above described functions.

The adapter includes three main elements, namely: the adapter sleeve or tubular portion 45, the actuating handle 60 and the swivelled tool connection generally indicated as 70. Considering lirst the tubular member 45, -it may be generally cylindrical and is provided with a keyway orv slot 46 which engages a key 3b in the upwardly extending arcuate wall 3a, and thus limits the sleeve 45 to rectilinear movement toward and from the inlet aperture 13. It also insures that the notch 47 of the lower edge of the sleeve 45 is properly positioned to engage and surround the adjacent portions of the belt 32. The sleeve 45 also carries a plurality of spring latches 48, each of which has an inwardly extending cam portion 49 and an outwardly extending latch portion 50 which extends outwardly throulgh a suitable aperture 51 and is provided also with a downwardly extending limit end 52. The spring latches 48 will over-ride the edges of the wall 16 which surround the aperture 17, when the adapter is moved toward the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. After the latch portions have over-ridden the edges of the wall 16, they move yieldingly into the latching position in which they are shown in Fig. 3. Thereby, any unintended retrograde movement of the sleeve 45 is prevented.

As will be clear from Fig. 2, the sleeve actually bends the belt 32 out of its normal alignment. The part of the belt 32 which actually normally engages the pulley 33 is moved from the pulley into the position in which it is shown in Figure 2. This result is obtained by thrust fingers 53 which are preferably of spring stock and which may be mounted on any suitable cross structure 54 which is secured to and moves unitarily with the sleeve 45. The

. spring fingers 53 may have preloading lingers 54a which limit their inward movement. The lingers 53 also have outwardly inclined lower end portions 55. Thus, when the adapter sleeve 45 is moved toward and into the position in which it is shown in Figure 2, one result is 1 they are shown in Fig. 3.

while being held against longitudinal movement along the axis of the sleeve 45. Thus the operator, leaving the vacuum cleaner in a xed position in a room, can work from it, as from a fixed base, and clean walls and furniture within a substantial radius. Of course the tool may also be moved readily along the floor, but constant movement is not necessary.

In order Yto insert and remove the dusting tool adapter, there is provided the handle element generally indicated as 60. It is shown as including opposite outward handle extensions 6l, formed and adapted for ready manipulation. Its upper side is circumferentially apertured as at 62, in line with the outer sleeve 73 of the hose connection. It will be understood that the bottom of the channel 62 limits the upward movement of the handle 60, referring to the parts as shown in Fig. 3, while the shoulder 56 limits the downward movement of the handle 60. Extending downward from the handle 60 are latch release fingers 63. These extend downwardly through thev shoulder 56 of the sleeve 45 and terminate in end hooks or offsets or loops 64 which are opposed to the cam surfaces 49 of the spring latches 48. It will be understood that when the user is urging the sleeve toward the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the handle 60 actually engages and thrusts against the shoulder 56. The springs 48, and their cam portions 49, are elfective normally to hold the release elements 63 in the position in which The user simply pushes the sleeve 45 rectilinearly into place as soon as Vhe has engaged the slot 46 with the guiding lug 47. When the latches have snapped over the edges of the aperture 17 and are in latching position beneath the wall 16, the

- operator releases the handle 60 and the dusting tool is that the lower ends of the fingers over-ride or extend p outwardly from the upper edge of the pulley 33 and engage the belt 32. The belt 32 is thereby moved out of contact with the constantly rotating pulley 13 and is moved against and held against the iixed supporting abutment 34, 35. Since the conic abutment 34 constitutes a continuation of the conic `surface of the pulley 33, there is no resistance except the elasticity of the belt 32 itself. However, the belt, after it has moved out around the fixed cone 34, abuts against the transverse portion 35 and is held firmly in position out of contact with the rotating pulley 33, until the dusting tool adapter is again removed. v

The sleeve 45 has an inwardly extending portion 56 which terminates in an upwardly extending portion sleeve 57 of reduced diameter. This portion 57 is also provided with a circumferential slot 58. Surrounding the portion 57 is the tubular inner end 71 of the hose connection 70. Any suitable means are provided for relative axial movement of the sleeve 57 and the surrounding hose connection sleeve 71. For example, any suitable penetrating element 72 may be mounted on or secured to the sleeve 71, it being formed and adapted to enter the circumferential channel 58. 'Ihe Vhose connection also includes an outer sleeve 73 which terminates as at `74 in a plane perpendicular to the fan and motor axis andV substantially spaced from the inwardly extending sleeve portion or shoulder 56. It will be understood, however, that the hose connection swivels freelyinrelation to the sleeve 45 ready for use. When the operator again Wishes to remove the dusting tool adapter, all that he has to do is to grasp the handle 60 or its portion 61 and pull outwardly along the axis of the motor. Referring to the position of the parts in Fig. 3, the handle 60 moves from the full line position to the dotted line position. In the course of this movement, the release rods 63, through their lower end 64, cam the spring latches 48 inwardly suliiciently so that the latching ends 50 clear the edges of the aperture 17 in the wall 16. 'Ihe operator simply continues his upward pull on the handle 60 and withdraws the now released sleeve 45. As a matter of fact, under many conditions the tension on the belt 32, as will be clear from Fig. 2, is considerable. It may be sufficient actually to expel the sleeve 45. In any event, it assists and hastens its upward withdrawal. The operator thereafter returns the closure 20 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. l and the device is ready for use as a floor cleaner.

It will be understood that the inclination or conicity of the fixed support 34 is sufficient so that there isl no tendency of the belt 32 to remain in the position of Fig. 2. lt promptly snaps back into the position of Fig. l, and the brush is thereafter directly driven from the motor.

lt will be realized that whereas there has been shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless, many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, wished that the description and drawings be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting the invention to the speciiic details herein set out.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

The structure herein described and shown provides` a compact and eliicient lioor engaging and floor supported vacuum cleaner which penetrates readily into corners and beneath furniture, having a relatively small overall height. It also includes a highly advantageous dusting tool adapter provision.

The lvacuum cleaner will be seen to include a motor having a forwardly and upwardly inclined axis. This motor is *housedV within the motor housing 7, the bottom of which is not far above the floor surface. The fan and fan chamber lare located above the motor. The suction inlet 13 to the fan chamber is in the upper wall of the fan chamber. The housing is downwardly and forwardly inclined toward the oor nozzle with an air passage which `extends upwardly and rearwardly from the liloor nozzle 4 to the fan chamber suction inlet 13. It is a matter of an instant or two when the operator wishes to connect the machine to dusting tool use, to flip the cover plate 20 into the open position and to insert the converter or adapter'sleeve 45 into position. A single movement of the adapter sleeve simultaneously makes an adequate connection between the tool and the fan chamber, seals off the connection between the Hoor nozzle and the fan chamber and removes the brush belt from the motor pulley. `A single movement in the opposite direction releases the` spring latches which hold the adapter in place, withdraws the adapter, and releases the belt to its original position on the pulley 33. The operator then merely flips the closure 20 back into the position of Fig. 1, and the vacuum cleaner is again ready for `floor use.

It will be understood ythat the adapter herein shown can be inserted while the cleaner is in operation and the motor rotating. However, this is not a recommended practice and it is preferable that the operator switch oli the motor while making the insertion.

I claim:

In -an adapter for vacuum cleaners, a tubular duct insert, 'a latch mounted on said insert and adapted for 6 latching engagement with the vacuum cleaner to which the adapter is applied, a handle mounted for limited movement along the insert, a hose connection on the insert, a shoulder on the insert for limiting the movement of the handle along the insert toward the vacuum cleaner into which the insert is being inserted, whereby the handle is adapted positively to thrust the insert toward operative position, a latching release finger on the handle and extending .through said shoulder, said finger having a hook adapted to release the latch in response to retrograde movement of the handle from the vacuum cleaner and along the insert, and a limiting connection between the handle and the insert adapted to end their relative movement after a predetermined retrograde movement of the handle, whereby the handle is adapted positively to withdraw the insert from the vacuum cleaner after release of said latch.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,402 Baylis Mar. 14, 1916 1,915,552 Shindel June 27, 1933 2,150,765 Forsberg Mar. 14, 1939 2,159,242 Yanag --.1- May 23, 1939 2,378,587 Sherrer June 19, 1945 2,461,024 Baumgardner Feb. 8, 1949 2,667,371 Holte Jan. 26, 1954 216824580 Trimble v -vw- July 6, 19.54

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