United States Patent 1 Cain [ 1 Nov. 13, 1973 TOOL CADDY [75] Inventor: Jay M. Cain, East Aurora, NY.
[73] Assignee: The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio [22] Filed: July 3, 1972 {21] Appl. No.: 268,604
[52] U.S. Cl. 15/257 A, 211/86 [51] Int. Cl A471 9/00 [58] Field of Search 15/257 A, 257 R,
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,450,172 Stoner 15/323 Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin Attorney-Alfred G. Gross et a1.
[57] ABSTRACT A tool caddy attachment for an elongated tank-type suction cleaner is provided to carry tools commonly used by an operator of the suction cleaner. The tool caddy is adapted to be supported by the suction cleaner when the suction cleaner is in its horizontal operating position, and also when it is in its upright or storage position. The tool caddy is also capable of standing in an upright position independent of attachment with the cleaner.
6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures sum 1 0F 3 PATENTEU NM 1 3 I973 PAIENTEURQHB ma 3.771.191
SHEET 2 OF, 3
PATENT) NOV 13 I973 sum 3 or 3 TOOL CADDY BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tank-type suction cleaner is used to clean a variety of surfaces and places. In order to be effective throughout its range of cleaning, a number of different nozzles applicable to the different cleaning situations encountered are required to be attached to the end of a flexible hose which connects the tool to the suctionproducing means in the suction cleaner.
It is important that the tools be kept in a place where they are readily accessible by the cleaner operator in order to allow the operator to have at hand the proper tool for a particular cleaning situation. It is common to have the tools stored in cavities formed within thesuction cleaner body. It is also common to store tools on an auxiliary device which is affixed to the outside of a suction cleaner. However, the majority of the latter devices are not readily removable from the cleaner and they do not lend themselves to use when the cleaner is both in an operating position and in a storage position. Furthermore, these devices are difficult to store when they are removed from the suction cleaner.
The instant invention is adapted to be supported by the suction cleaner when the latter is in its normal operating position and also when it is placed in its upright or storage position. The invention is also capable of standing in an upright position independently of attachment with the cleaner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elongated tank-type suction cleaner in its normal operating position having a tool caddy attachment complete with tools mounted thereon.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tool caddy attachment detached from the suction cleaner without showing any tools mounted thereon.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a tank-type suction cleaner in its vertical or storage position with an empty tool caddy attachment affixed thereto. a
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of an empty tool caddy attachment.
FIG. 5 is a view of the top surface of a tool caddy with the tool caddy shown standing in an upright position independent of attachment with a suction cleaner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An elongated tank-type suction cleaner is shown in FIG. 1 in its horizontal or operating position. Affixed to the top surface of the suction cleaner 10 is a tool caddy 12 having a number of different cleaning tools mounted thereon. The tool caddy 12 is formed with a pair of elongated side members 14 extending in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to the suction cleaner l0.
A handle 16 extends transversely of the elongated side members 14 and connects one end of each of the elongated side members 14 together. The opposite ends of the elongated side members 14 are joined together by a base member 18. The base member 18 has a pair of feet 20, one of said feet being affixed to each of said elongated side members 14. The opposite ends of said feet are connected by a rib 22 which extends in a direction parallel to that of the handle 16.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the feet 20 project upwardly from and perpendicular to the top surfaces of the elongated side members 14. Thus, the rib 22 is displaced upward from the plane of the top surface of the tool caddy 12. The purpose for having the rib 22 displaced upwardly is to provide a stable base which allows the tool caddy to stand in a vertical position when it is not supported by the suction cleaner.
A supporting surface 26 extends transversely of the elongated side members 14 and connects the two at a point between the handle 16 and the base member 18. A lip 28 adjacent the end of the supporting surface 26, nearest the handle 16, also extends between the elongated side members 14. As can be seen in FIG. 2, an aperture 30 in the tool caddy 12 is formed between the lip 28, the handle 16 and the elongated side members 14. The purpose of this aperture 30 will be discussed in detail hereinafter. v I
Adjacent the supporting surface 26, at its end facing the base member 18, is an upwardly facing U-shaped collar 32 which receives therein the swiveled elbow portion 34 of a rug and floor nozzle 36. The nozzle portion of the rug and floor nozzle 36 rests on the support ing surface 26.
Adjacent the collar 32 is a pair of bridges 38 and 40, which bridges respectively form rectangular apertures 42 and 44. The rectangular nose 46 of a crevice tool 48 is wedged within the apertures 42 and 44 for storage therein.
Adjacent the outside surfaces of the elongated side members 14 and extending between the midpoint thereof and the base member 18 is a pair of tool support flanges 50 and 52. The tool flanges have openings for receiving the collars of various nozzles 54, 56 and 58. The nozzles thus rest in a vertical position with respect to the tool support flanges 50 and 52. The tool support flanges 50, 52 give a saddle-shaped appearance to the tool caddy 12.
The tool caddy 12 has a plurality of feet 60 which engage the top surface 62 of the suction cleaner 10 for support thereon. The aforementioned feet 60 are best seen in FIG. 4. If the tool caddy 12 is placed on the elongated suction cleaner 10, when the latter is in its horizontal or operating position, the tool caddy feet 60 engage the cleaner top surface 62. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cleaner handle 64 projects through the aperture 30 in the tool caddy 12 such thatthe transversely extending grip portion 66 of the handle 64 is closely adjacent, and generally coextensive with, the tool caddy handle 16.
The aperture 30 is proportioned such that an operator can insert his hand therein when the cleaner handle grip portion 66 and the tool caddy handle 16 are in nested relationship. Thus, the cleaner handle grip portion 66 and the tool caddy handle 16 may be grasped together by an operator for transporting purposes.
When the suction cleaner 10 is in its storage or vertical position as shown in FIG. 3, the cleaner end portion 68, opposite the handle 16, rests on a floor surface 70. The tool caddy 12 remains affixed to the suction cleaner when in a vertical or upright position since the caddy handle 16 is interengaged with the cleaner handle 64. I
If it is desired to remove the tool caddy 12 from a suction cleaner 10, when the latter is in its storage position, the operator need only grasp the caddy handle 16 and lift the tool caddy 12 vertically upward. This will cause the cleaner handle 64 to pass out of the aperture 30 in the tool caddy 12.
The tool caddy 12 can then rest on a surface apart from the suction cleaner in a vertical position by engaging the surface with its base member 18 and the ends 51 of its tool support flanges 50 and 52. As can be seen in FIG. 5, when standing in a vertical position unsupported by the suction cleaner 10, the tool caddy l2 stands with its handle 16 projecting upwardly. The tool support flange ends 51 and the bottom of the ,rib 22 provide a base for supporting the tool caddy in the upright position. The tool caddy 12 can be supported by a suction cleaner 10 in either its horizontal position or its upright or storage position. The cleaner can also be supported on a surface in a vertical position independent of engagement with the cleaner.
In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modifled without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the hereindisclosed embodiment is illustrative only and that my invention is not limited thereto.
1 claim:
1. A tool caddy attachment for an elongated tanktype suction cleaner normally operated in a horizontal position, said cleaner having a handle means adjacent one end and adapted to be stored in an upright position on its opposite end, which attachment comprises:
a frame formed of a pair of elongated members having means for supporting cleaner tools;
a handle extending transversely of and connecting said elongated members at one end thereof;
said frame being adapted to receive said cleaner handle means between said elongated members with said caddy handle interengageable with said cleaner handle means to restrict relative longitudinal movement between said caddy and said cleaner when the latter is in either its operating or its storage position.
2. A tool caddy attachment as described in claim 1 wherein; said cleaner handle includes a transversely extending grip portion located adjacent said caddy handle when the latter is interengaged with said cleaner handle so that said cleaner handle grip portion and said caddy handle may be grasped together by an operator for transport purposes.
3. A tool caddy attachment as described in claim 1 wherein; said frame includes a transverse member adjacent said frame handle to fonn an opening in said frame through which said suction cleaner handle projects when said cleaner handle is interengaged with said frame handle.
4. A tool caddy attachment as described in claim 3 wherein; said suction cleaner includes a horizontal top surface and vertically extending side walls and said frame is generally saddle-shaped and a portion of said elongated members extend over and closely embrace a portion of said suction cleaner side walls.
5. A tool caddy attachment as described in claim 4 wherein; said frame includes a transverse member extending between and connecting the ends of said elongated members opposite said frame handle.
6. A tool caddy attachment for a tank-type suction cleaner having a pair of elongated members; said elongated members extending longitudinally relative to the axis of said tank-type suction cleaner and providing tool-holding means; a handle extending transversely of and connecting one end of each of said elongated members; said caddy being adapted to rest upon and to be supported by said tank-type suction cleaner when horizontally disposed; base means formed at and extending transversely between the ends of said elongated members opposite said handle and connecting the ends thereof; said base means including at least one offset portion, offset relative generally to the remainder of said base means so that said caddy may stand upright and unassisted when separated from said tank-type suction cleaner with said handle located uppermost in this position.