US3727263A

US3727263A - Multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle

Info

Publication number: US3727263A
Application number: US00183510A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Johansson
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Electrolux AB
Priority date: 1970-09-30
Filing date: 1971-09-24
Publication date: 1973-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-17
Also published as: FR2108091A1; JPS53152456U; GB1311079A; DE2146316B2; CA936312A; IT939376B; FR2108091B1; DE2146316A1; DE2146316C3; SE351363B; AU3403971A; NL7111623A; SU402177A3; CH530782A; BR7105390D0; ZA715785B; AR200104A1

Abstract

A multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle has a flat surface tool and a brush at the vicinity of a suction inlet for respectively cleaning rugs and floors. The flat surface tool and brush are movable with respect to one another and alternately moved into cleaning position by mechanism having a single operating member movable forward and backward between first and second positions and to which an external force only can be applied in one direction to impart movement thereto from its first to a second blocked position to bring the brush into cleaning position. The operating member cannot be moved directly from its second blocked position to its first position. The operating member can only be returned to its first position by initially moving it in the same one direction beyond the second blocked position to a third position. When the operating member, which is resiliently biased to its first position, is released after it has been moved to its third position, it can bypass the second blocked position and return to its first position to bring the flat surface tool into cleaning position.

Description

[58] ,Field of Search United States Patent 1191 Johansson MULTI-PURPOSE VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE [75] Inventor: Axel Harry Johansson, Enskede,

Sweden [73] Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm,

Sweden [22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 183,510

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 30, 1970 Sweden ..13232/70 [52] US. Cl. ..l5/373 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47l 9/06 ..l5/364, 365, 367,

1451 Apr. 17, 1973 Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Assistant ExaminerC. K. Moore Attorney-Edmund A. Fenander [5 7] ABSTRACT A multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle has a flat surface tool and a brush at the vicinity of a suction inlet for respectively cleaning rugs and floors. The flat surface tool and brush are movable with respect to one I another and alternately moved into cleaning position by mechanism having a single operating member movable forward and backward between first and second positions and to which an external force only can be applied in one direction to impart movement thereto from its first to a second blocked position to bring thebrush into cleaning position. The operating member cannot be moved directly from its second blocked position to its first position. The operating member can only be returned to its first position by initially moving it in the same one direction beyond the second blocked position to a third position. When the operating member, which is resiliently biased to its face tool into cleaning position.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEQ APR 1 71875 sum 2 m 3 mm I 1 MULTI-IURPOSE VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention A multi -purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle has a flat surface tool formed with an opening defining a suction inlet. A brush is mounted for movement on the nozzle between upper and lower positions. When the brush is in its upper position the flat surface tool is rendered operable to remove dust and dirt from porous objects like carpet and rugs. When the brush is in its lower position the brush, which is at the vicinity of the suction inlet, is rendered operable to remove dust and dirt from smooth objects like floors. a

2. Description of the Prior Art In a known multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle of the kind heretofore provided the brush is moved between its upper and lower positions respectively above and below the flat surface tool by mechanism having two foot-operated pedals. One pedal functions to move the brush into cleaning position and the other pedal functions to move the brush out of its cleaning position. a

In another known muIti-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle the brush is moved into its upper and lower positions with respect to the flat surface tool by mechanism employing a pair of springs which can be adjusted to hold the brush in either of two stable positions to which it has been moved. The flat surface tool is formed with elongated sides while the brush intermediate its ends is operatively connected to the central part of the flat surface tool at the region of an air outlet socket. The brush is moved into its cleaning position by depressing the brush intermediate its ends and is retracted from its cleaning position by depressing one of the elongated sides.

In another known multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle a force is applied on the nozzle body to move one of the operating surfaces toits cleaning position while another. operating surface is moved to its cleaning position by mechanism actuated by a footoperated pedal. I

The known multi-purpo se vacuum cleaner nozzles referred to above all require several operations to alternately render different cleaning surfaces operable to perform a specific kind of cleaning, which is objec tionable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of my invention to provide a multipurpose vacuum cleaner nozzle in which first and second operating surfaces for performing different types of cleaning are movable with. respect to one another and alternately moved into cleaning position by improved mechanism having a single operating member movable forward and backward and to which an external force only can be applied in a single direction to impart forward movementthereto. I accomplish this by providing mechanism to move the second operating surface between upper and lower positions with respect to the first operating surface. The mechanism includes an operating member movable between first and second positions when it is employed to render the mechanism operable to move the second operating surface between its upper and lower positions. When an external force is applied in one direction to the operating member it can freely move forward in such direction from its first to its second position. But an external force cannot be applied to the operating member in the opposite direction to move the latter backward from its second to its first position.

Instead, the operating member is temporarily held in its second position in which the second operating surface has been moved to its lower position rendered operable to perform cleaning. In effect, the operating member is blocked from moving backward from its second to its first position. However, the operating member can be returned to its first position to render the first operating surface operable to perform cleaning by initially applying external force to the operating member in the aforementioned one direction to move the latter to a third position which is beyond the second position. When the operating member, which is biased to its first position, is released after it has been moved to its third position, it can bypass the second blocked position and return to its first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a combination rug and floor vacuum cleaner nozzle embodying my invention with the brush in its lower position and operative to perform cleaning;

FIG. 2 is a view, taken at line Il-Il of FIG. 1, to illustrate partsof the nozzle more clearly; 3

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of parts shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line IV-IV of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. and 6 are views similar to FIG. 4 with the parts in different positions with respect to one another.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the combination rug and I floor vacuum cleaner nozzle embodying my invention comprises an elongated hollow body 10 provided with an upwardly inclined tubular member 11 adapted to be connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum, such as a vacuum cleaner, for example. i A flat surface member 12 disposed lengthwise of the body 10, which is open at the bottom, is fixed by screws l2ato the lower ends of elongated vertically disposed elements 13, the upper ends of which are fixed to the underside of the top of the body 10. Wall structure 14 midway between the ends of the body 10 defines a passageway 15 through which dust laden air flows to the tubular member 11 from a suction inlet 16 formed at the lower open end of the elongated member 12. The member 12 provides a smooth gliding surface for cleaning a porous object like a carpet or rug. Air sucked into the suction inlet 16 throughout its length moves toward the center part of the body 10 and then flows upward through the passageway 15 to the tubular member 11.

A brush 61 of annular form is disposed about the flat surface member 12. The brush comprises a brush back 48a of rectangular shape, as shown in FIG. 2, from which bristles 48 depend downward. A pair of holders l7 and 18, which are disposed symmetrically with respect to the passageway 15, are fixed to the brush back 48a and serve to support the brush. The

holders

17 and 18 are provided with sleeves 19 which extend upward therefrom and are vertically movable in guide bolts 20, the upper ends of which are fixed to the body 10. With this construction the brush 61 is movable between a lower operative position and an upper inoperative position.

Mechanism for moving the brush 61 vertically with respect to the flat surface member 12 comprises a footoperated pedal 21 having a larger portion accessible exteriorly of the body and a portion extending downward through an opening 22 therein. The pedal 21 is angularly movable on a shaft 23 joumaled in pillow blocks or standards 24 fixed to the top of the body 1 1 and depending downward therefrom. The shaft 23 is held in openings at the bottoms of the blocks 24 by vertically disposed members 25 which extend upward from the flat surface member 12, the top surfaces of which bear against the openings in the blocks 24 and hold the shaft 23 in the openings when the pedal 21 is operated.

Upward movement is imparted to the pedal 21 by a spring 28, the lower end of which is disposed about a boss 29 provided on the flat surface member 12. An inverted cup-shaped part 27 having an outward extending flange 31 at its open end is disposed about the upper end of the spring 28 and serves as a cover therefor. As best seen in FIG. 1, the cover 27 extends through an opening in the brush holder 17 with its closed end bearing against the bottom of the pedal 21 at the region of a recess 26 therein. The brush holder 17 at the opening therein is provided with a raised portion defining an inward extending flange 30 which is in the path of movement of the flange 31 of the cover 27 when upwardmovement is imparted thereto by the spring 28. When the flange 31 coacts with the flange 30 in the manner just explained upward movement is imparted to the brush holder 17.

Movement imparted to the brush holder 17 is transmitted to the brush holder 18 by mechanism including an elongated rod 32 having a longer central part and radial arms at opposite ends terminating in stub shafts 32a parallel to the central part. The central part of the rod 32 at spaced points is supported and joumaled between vertically disposed

legs

33 and 34 extending downward and upward, respectively, from the body 10 and flat surface member 12. The brush holders l7 and 18 are provided with openings to receive the stub shafts 320. When the brush holder 17 is moved upward and downward the stub shaft 32a operatively associated therewith moves angularly about the axis of the central part of the rod 32. In this manner the angular movement is imparted by the central part of the rod to the stub shaft 32a operatively associated with the brush holder 18 which moves in unison with the brush holder 17. with the mechanism shown in the drawing and just described, the vertical movement imparted to the brush 61 will be primarily rectilinear in character.

Downward movement of the pedal 21 is imparted to the brush holder 17 by a spring 56 having its upper end bearing against the underside of the pedal at the recess 26 therein. The spring 56 is disposed about the cover 27 with its lower end bearing against the raised inwardly extending flange 30 of the brush holder 17. When the pedal 21 is released and inactive the spring 56 biases and urges the pedal upward with parts thereof within the body 10 in intimate physical contact with the underside thereof, as best shown in FIG. 4, thus insuring quiet operation of the nozzle 60 when the flat surface member 12 is being employed to clean a porous surface like a carpet or rug 62, for example.

The mechanism operatively associated with the pedal 21 for moving the brush 61 to different vertical positions with respect to the flat surface member 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, includes a pin 35 which projects lengthwise of the body 10 from the pedal 21 and coacts with a catch 36 having the configuration shown in the drawing. As best shown in FIG. 3, the catch 36 is angularly movable about the axis of a horizontal shaft 37 and loosely mounted thereon so that it is tiltable from a plane perpendicular to the horizontal shaft, as will be explained presently. One end of the shaft 37 is supported on a block or standard 38 provided on the flat surface member 12. The other end of the horizontal shaft 37 is supported by a vertical side of a bracket 39, a horizontal side of which is fixed by screws 39a to spaced

lugs

40 and 41 depending from the top of the body 10, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The bracket 39 also includes a leg 42 which, as shown in FIG. 3, is inclined to the vertical and slopes from the vertical side of the bracket toward the catch 36. In FIGS. 4 to 6 the catch is biased to move counterclockwise on the shaft 37 by a spring 43 having one end thereof fixed to the lower end of the leg 42 and the other end thereof fixed to the catch 36 at 36a. As seen in FIG. 2, the bracket 39 is formed with a stop 54 which is in the path of movement of the catch 36 and functions to limit the counterclockwise movement of the catch in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The pin 35 extending from the pedal 21 coacts with the catch 36 which has an outer cam surface 44 over which the pin is adapted to ride. Further, the catch is formed with a recess 45 which is defined by

surfaces

57, 58 and 59. Also, the catch includes a lip 46 which is bent out of the plane of the catch and slopes vertically downward lengthwise of the body 10 in a direction from the pin 35. The lip 46 forms an inclined surface against which the extreme outer end of the pin 35 can slide. As best seen in FIG. 3, the catch 36 is fixed to a hollow sleeve 47, the inner diameter of which is materially larger than that of the shaft 37 so that the catch can tilt to the right and assume its illustrated dotted line position in a manner that will be explained presently.

The catch 36 is resiliently biased toward the left in FIG. 3 by a helical spring which is disposed about a cylindrical-shaped member 49 rigidly fixed to the shaft 37. One end of the spring 50 bears against the vertical side of the bracket 39 and the opposite end thereof bears against the right side of the catch. A stop 51 fixed to the shaft 37 limits movement of the catch 36 to the left in FIG. 3, the stop being spaced from the catch by a washer 52.

When the combination rug and floor nozzle just described and shown in the drawing is employed to clean a porous surface 62 like a rug or carpet, as shown in FIG. 4, the brush 61 is at a higher level than the flat surface member 12 and the latter is rendered operable to perform cleaning when the nozzle 60 is connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum. Under these conditions the pedal 21 is in its solid line position A in FIG. 3 with the pin 35 above the catch 36 and the latter bearing against the stop 54, as seen in FIG. 2. The

spring 28 freely functions to bias the brush holder 17 vertically upward, and, through the elongated rod 32 interconnecting the

brush holders

17 and 18, the brush holder 18 also is urged vertically upward. Hence, the sleeves 19 fixed to the brush holders l7 and 18 move upward on the guide bolts 20 to their extreme upper positions in which the sleeves 19 engage the upper ends of the guide bolts 20 at 55, as indicated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the brush 60 is in its raised position illustrated in FIG. 4 and rendered inoperative to perform cleaning.

When the nozzle 60 now is moved over a smooth surface 63, such as a floor, for example, the brush 61 desirably is rendered operable to perform cleaning, as illustrated in FIG. 5, by stepping on the foot-operated pedal 21 and moving it downward. With downward movement of the pedal 21 the pin 35 slides downward on the cam surface 44 of the catch 36 and imparts clockwise movement thereto against the biasing action of the spring 43. When the pin 35 leaves the surface 44 it moves toward the surface 57 of the catch which functions to stop the pin 35. When the downward force in the pedal 21 is released counterclockwise movement is imparted to catch 36 by the spring 43 which causes the pin 36 to enter the recess 45 of the catch. At the same time the spring 28 becomes effective to impart upward movement to the pedal 21. However, the pin 35 during such upward movement of the pedal 21 engages the surface 58 of the catch which functions as a stop to limit upward movement of the pin 35 and pedal 21 to V which it is fixed. When this occurs the pin 35 bears against the lip 46, as shown in FIG. 5, to limit counterclockwise movement of the catch 36.

It has been stated above that, when the pedal 21 is depressed, the brush 61 is rendered operable to perform cleaning and shifts from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5. The shifting of the brush 61 from its upper position to its lower posi tion takes place at the same time that the pin 35 moves from its position seen in FIG. 4 to its position seen in FIG. 5. When the pedal 21 is depressed the spring 56 between the recess 26 of the pedal and the flange 30 of the brush holder 17 is compressed and imparts downward movement to the brush holder 17. Downward movement also is imparted to the brush holder 18 by reason of the connection of these components effected by the elongated rod 32 and radial arms thereof having the stub shafts 32a.

When this occurs the pedal 21 and brush 61 will have been moved downward as far as they can go, the pedal now being in its dotted line position 13 in FIG. 3 with the pin 35 at the surface 58 of the catch 36 against the lip 46. When the nozzle 60 now is moved over a porous surface 62, such as a rug, for example, the brush 61 desirably is' rendered inoperable to perform cleaning and the flat surface member 12 is positioned at a level of the brush 61. This is so because the movement of the pedal 21 is transmitted by the cover 27 to the spring 28 and is absorbed by the latter which can move downward freely, as best seen in FIG. 1.

During movement of the pedal 21 from its dotted line position B to its dotted line position C, the pin 35 will move downward at one side of the lip 46 and then come to a stop at the surface 59, as shown in FIG. 6. When this occurs the pin 35 no longer will bar movement of the catch 36 and the spring 43 is rendered operable to move the catch counterclockwise until it engages the stop 54, as seen in FIG. 2. This brings the lip 46, which is inclined to the vertical in the manner explained above, in vertical alignment with and above the pin 35.

When the pedal 21 now is released, the spring 28 becomes effective to force the brush holder 17 upward.

This also imparts upward movement to the brush holder 18 through the connection 32 between the

brush holders

17 and 18. This upward movement of the

brush holders

17 and 18 raises the brush 61 to its upper position seen in FIG. 4. This takes place because the pin 35, as it moves upward with the pedal 21 when it is released, acts on the side of lip 46 which is inclined to the vertical. Since the catch 36 is loosely mounted on the shaft 37 in the manner explained above, the pin 35 becomes effective to tilt the catch out of its path of movement and permit the pin to move upward with the pedal 21 and assume a position above the catch, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the pin 35 returns to this positionthe pedal 21 is in its solid line position .A in FIG. 3.

In view of the foregoing it will now be understood that the flat surface tool 12 and brush 61 are movable with respect to one another and alternately moved into cleaning position by mechanism shown in the drawing and described above and having a single operating member 21 movable forward" (downward) and backward (upward) between first and second positions illustrated respectively in FIGS. 4 and 5. The operating member 21 comprises a foot-operated pedal to which an external force only can be applied in one direction to impart movement thereto from its first position in FIG. 4, to its second] blocked position in FIG. 5 to bring the brush 6] into cleaning position. As explained above, the operating member 21 cannot be moved directly from its second blocked position in FIG. 5 to its first position in FIG. 4 either by'applying external force thereto or with the aid of any biasing means.

The operating member 21 can only be returned from its second blocked position to its first position in FIG. 4 by initially moving it forward" (downward) in the same one direction beyond the second blocked position in FIG. 5 to 'a third position in FIG. 6. As explained above, the operating member 21 is resiliently biased upward to its first position by the spring 28. When the operating member 21 is released after being moved to its third position, it is urged upward by the spring 28 and now can bypass the second blocked position in FIG. 5 and return to its first position in FIG. 4 to bring the flat surface tool 12 into cleaning position.

Further, the catch 36 serves as a blocking means movable between a first inactive position seen in FIGS.

4 and 6 and a second active position shown in FIG. 5. In

the operating member 21 from moving from its second position to its first position in FIG. 4. The blocking means or catch 36 is moved from its first inactive position in FIG. 4 to its second active position in FIG. 5 by means including the part 35 responsive to movement of the operating member 21 from its first position in FIG. 4 to its second position in FIG. 5 in the manner explained above, that is, initially acting on the surface 44, then striking the surface 57 and then acting on the surface 58 after the spring 43 has moved the catch counterclockwise. In this way the catch or blocking means 36 is rendered operable to block the operating member 21 from movement from its second position to its first position.

In FIG. 5 the part 35 of the operating member 21 bears against the inclined lip 46 which functions as a stop at the surface 58 of the catch 36. The stop 46 is rendered inoperable to engage the part 35 of the operating member 21 and keep the catch or blocking means in its second active position in FIG. 5 responsive to movement of the operating member 21 to its third position in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6 the blocking means or catch 36 is biased to its first inactive position by the spring 43 when the operating member 21 has been moved to its third position.

In FIG. 6 the lip 46, which previously served as a stop for the part 35, now is disposed above the part 35 and substantially in vertical alignment therewith. As explained above, the lip 46 provides an inclined surface at an acute angle to the plane in which the catch or blocking means 36 is normally movable. When the operating member 21 is released after being moved to the dotted line position C in FIG. 3, the spring 28 acts on the

brush parts

17 and 18 and becomes effective to move the brush 61 upward, the inclined surface of the v lip 46 being in the path of movement of the part 35. This causes the catch or blocking means 36 to be tilted from the plane in which it normally moves, and, when so tilted by the part 35, the latter can move past the blocking means or catch 36 which enables the operating member 21 to move from its third position in FIG. 6

to its first position in FIG. 4.

It will now be clear that I have provided an improved mechanism for alternately bringing the flat surface tool 12 and brush 6] into a cleaning position with the aid of a single operating member 21 to which an external force only can be applied in a forward" (downward) direction to impart movement thereto.

Iclaim:

1. A vacuum cleaner nozzle which includes a. first and second operating surfaces for performing different types of cleaning;

said nozzle comprising a body including means defining a first passageway having a suction inlet at the vicinity of said operating surfaces and an outlet adapted to be connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum; said first passageway providing a path of flow for air between the inlet and outlet;

0. means for mounting said second operating surface on said body for movement between upper and lower positions with respect to said first operating surface; said first operating surface functioning to clean an object with which it is in contact when said second operating surface is in its upper position and said second operating surface functioning to clean an object with which it is in contact when it is in its lower position;

. mechanism for moving said second operating surface between its upper and lower positions, said mechanism including an operating member movable between spaced first and second positions when it is employed to render said mechanism operable to move said second operating surface between its upper and lower positions;

. said operating member being freely movable from its first to its second position and in its second position being blocked from moving therefrom to its first position;

f. blocking means movable to a first inactive position and a second active position, said blocking means in its second active position blocking said operating member from movement from its second position to its first position;

. said blocking means being moved from its first inactive position to its second active position by means including said operating member moving from its first position to its second position whereby said blocking means is rendered operable to block said operating member from movement from its second position to its first position;

. movement of said blocking means from its second active position to its first inactive position is effected by means including said operating member moving in a direction from its first position through its second position to a third position beyond its second position; and,

i. when said blocking means has been moved to its first inactive position and said operating member is in its third position, said blocking means is rendered inoperable to block movement of said operating member from its third position to its first position.

2. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. means for journaling said blocking means for pivotal movement about an axis between its first inactive position and second active position;

. resilient means for biasing said blocking means for movement in one direction to its first inactive position;

. aid operating member including a part;

. said blocking means being constructed and formed I to provide a first surface engaged by said part during movement of said operating member from its first toward its second position to impart movement of said blocking means in a direction opposite to said one direction against the biasing action of said resilient means and (2) to provide a second surface engaged by said part during movement of said operating member from its first to its second position to render said resilient means operable to bias said blocking means in said one direction; said blocking means having a stop on said second surface which defines the second active position of said blocking means in which the latter blocks said operating member from movement from its second position to its first position.

3. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 2 in which a. said means for journaling said blocking means is so constructed and formed that said blocking means normally is pivotally movable about its axis in a plane perpendicular thereto and, in addition, is tiltable from such plane;

. said stop being inoperable to engage said part and keep said blocking means in its second active position when said operating member has been moved to its third position beyond said second position; said blocking means being biased to its first inactive position by said resilient means when said operating member has been moved to its third position;

c. said stop on said blocking means being formed by an element providing an inclined surface at an acute angle to the plane in which said blocking means is normally movable; and

. said blocking means being tiltable from said plane in which it is normally movable responsive to movement of said part against the inclined surface of said element, said blocking means when tilted establishing a path of movement for said part past said blocking means to enable said operating member to move from its third position to its first position.

4. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 3 in which said operating member is manually movable from its second'position-to its third position, and first spring means for biasing said operating member from its third position to its first position.

5. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 4 in which said second operating surface is defined by brush means, said mechanism being operable to move said brush means to its lower position responsive to movement of said operating member from its first to its second position, and second spring means forming a component of said mounting means for said brush means to bias said brush means to its upper position responsive to movement of said operating member to its first position.

6. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 5 in which said second spring means comprises at least one spring having one end thereof arranged to act against said body with which said first operating surface is associated; an inverted cup-shaped member disposed about the other end of said one spring; said cup-shaped member having an outward extending flange at the open end thereof; said brush means including a part having an opening through which said cup-shaped member extends; said part at the opening therein having an inward extending flange overlying the outward extending flange of said cup-shaped member to render said one spring operable to bias said brush means to its upper position responsive to movement of said operating member to its first position; and the outward extending flange of said cup-shaped member being mova ble from the inward extending flange of said brush means part at the opening therein responsive to movement of said operating member from its second to its third position, whereby said operating member becomes disengaged from said brush means.

7. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 6 in which said first spring means is operatively disposed between said operating member and said brush means.

. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth 11'] claim 7 in which said brush means is elongated and said mechanism for moving said brush means and operating member therefor coact with one end of said brush means; elongated means operatively connected to said one end of said brush means and to the opposite end thereof; and means including said elongated means for rendering said mechanism operable to move the opposite end of said brush means between its upper and lower positions.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner nozzle which includes a. first and second operating surfaces for performing different types of cleaning; b. said nozzle comprising a body including means defining a first passageway having a suction inlet at the vicinity of said operating surfaces and an outlet adapted to be connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum; said first passageway providing a path of flow for air between the inlet and outlet; c. means for mounting said second operating surface on said body for movement between upper and lower positions with respect to said first operating surface; said first operating surface functioning to clean an object with which it is in contact when said second operating surface is in its upper position and said second operating surface functioning to clean an object with which it is in contact when it is in its lower position; d. mechanism for moving said second operating surface between its upper and lower positions, said mechanism including an operating member movable between spaced first and second positions when it is employed to render said mechanism operable to move said second operating surface between its upper and lower positions; e. said operating member being freely movable from its first to its second position and in its second position being blocked from moving therefrom to its first position; f. blocking means movable to a first inactive position and a second active position, said blocking means in its second active position blocking said operating member from movement from its second position to its first position; g. said blocking means being moved from its first inactive position to its second active position by means including said operating member moving from its first position to its second position whereby said blocking means is rendered operable to block said operating member from movement from its second position to its first position; h. movement of said blocking means from its second active position to its first inactive position is effected by means including said operating member moving in a direction from its first position through its second position to a third position beyond its second position; and, i. when said blocking means has been moved to its first inactive position and said operating member is in its third position, said blocking means is rendered inoperable to block movement of said operating member from its third position to its first position.

2. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. means for journaling said blocking means for pivotal movement about an axis between its first inactive position and second active position; b. resilient means for biasing said blocking means for movement in one direction to its first inactive position; c. said operating member including a part; d. said blocking means being constructed and formed (1) to provide a first surface engaged by said part during movement of said operating member from its first toward its second position to impart movement of said blocking means in a direction opposite to said one direction against the biasing action of said resilient means and (2) to provide a second surface engaged by said part during movement of said operating member from its first to its second position to render said resilient means operable to bias said blocking means in said one direction; said blocking means having a stop on said second surface which defines the second active position of said blocking means in which the latter blocks said operating member from movement from its second position to its first position.

3. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 2 in which a. said means for journaling said blocking means is so constructed And formed that said blocking means normally is pivotally movable about its axis in a plane perpendicular thereto and, in addition, is tiltable from such plane; b. said stop being inoperable to engage said part and keep said blocking means in its second active position when said operating member has been moved to its third position beyond said second position; said blocking means being biased to its first inactive position by said resilient means when said operating member has been moved to its third position; c. said stop on said blocking means being formed by an element providing an inclined surface at an acute angle to the plane in which said blocking means is normally movable; and d. said blocking means being tiltable from said plane in which it is normally movable responsive to movement of said part against the inclined surface of said element, said blocking means when tilted establishing a path of movement for said part past said blocking means to enable said operating member to move from its third position to its first position.

4. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 3 in which said operating member is manually movable from its second position to its third position, and first spring means for biasing said operating member from its third position to its first position.

6. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 5 in which said second spring means comprises at least one spring having one end thereof arranged to act against said body with which said first operating surface is associated; an inverted cup-shaped member disposed about the other end of said one spring; said cup-shaped member having an outward extending flange at the open end thereof; said brush means including a part having an opening through which said cup-shaped member extends; said part at the opening therein having an inward extending flange overlying the outward extending flange of said cup-shaped member to render said one spring operable to bias said brush means to its upper position responsive to movement of said operating member to its first position; and the outward extending flange of said cup-shaped member being movable from the inward extending flange of said brush means part at the opening therein responsive to movement of said operating member from its second to its third position, whereby said operating member becomes disengaged from said brush means.

8. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 7 in which said brush means is elongated and said mechanism for moving said brush means and operating member therefor coact with one end of said brush means; elongated means operatively connected to said one end of said brush means and to the opposite end thereof; and means including said elongated means for rendering said mechanism operable to move the opposite end of said brush means between its upper and lower positions.