WO2015068046A2

WO2015068046A2 - Latching arrangement for vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2015068046A2
Application number: PCT/IB2014/003016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregg A. Henderson
Original assignee: Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
Priority date: 2013-11-07
Filing date: 2014-11-07
Publication date: 2015-05-14
Also published as: EP3065612A4; WO2015068046A3; EP3065612A2

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a floor engaging portion and a handle portion mounted to the floor engaging portion. The handle portion includes a support and a body. The body includes a suction generating device and a dirt collection container. The body is selectively removable from the support. The support includes a first latch and a second latch and at least a portion of the body is positionable between the first latch and second latch. The first latch includes a forcing member that biases the body toward an engaged position with the support. The body includes a retainer corresponding to the second latch. The retainer is engageable with a portion of the second latch when the body is in the engaged position, wherein application of a removal force on the body against the forcing member moves the body from the engaged position enabling the retainer to release from the second latch.

Description

LATCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR VACUUM CLEANER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.

61/901,049, filed on November 7, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to upright vacuum cleaners.

[0003] Upright vacuum cleaners are typically used to clean floor surfaces, such as carpeting. These types of vacuum cleaners, however, can be difficult to maneuver and operate in relatively confined areas. In addition, it is sometimes desirable to clean elevated surfaces, such as drapes, furniture, or steps, with a vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY

[0004] In one embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner including a floor engaging portion and a handle portion mounted to the floor engaging portion. The handle portion includes a support and a body. The body includes a suction generating device and a dirt collection container. The body is selectively removable from the support. The support includes a first latch and a second latch and at least a portion of the body is positionable between the first latch and second latch. The first latch includes a forcing member that biases the body toward an engaged position with the support. The body includes a retainer corresponding to the second latch. The retainer is engageable with a portion of the second latch when the body is in the engaged position, wherein application of a removal force on the body against the forcing member moves the body from the engaged position enabling the retainer to release from the second latch.

[0005] In another embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner including a floor engaging portion and a handle portion mounted to the floor engaging portion. The handle portion includes a support and a body. The body includes a suction generating device. The body is selectively removable from the support. The body includes a first latch and a second latch and at least a portion of the support being positionable between the first latch and second latch. The first latch includes a forcing member that biases the body toward an engaged position with the support. The support includes a retainer corresponding to the second latch. The retainer is engageable with a portion of the second latch when the body is in the engaged position, wherein application of a removal force on the body against the forcing member moves the body from the engaged position enabling the retainer to release from the second latch.

[0006] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0008] Fig. 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 1.

[0009] Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 1, the vacuum cleaner including a body disconnected from a support.

[0010] Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of a vacuum cleaner.

[0011] Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 3.

[0012] Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of another portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 3.

[0013] Fig. 6 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of another portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 3.

[0014] Fig. 7 illustrates two latches for a vacuum cleaner.

[0015] Fig. 8 illustrates an alternative latch for a vacuum cleaner.

[0016] Fig. 9 illustrates a portion of a vacuum cleaner including two latches engaging a body. [0017] Fig. 10 illustrates a portion of a vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

[0019] Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a vacuum cleaner 10. The illustrated vacuum cleaner 10 is an upright vacuum cleaner including a floor engaging portion 14 and a handle portion 18. The floor engaging portion 14 includes a foot 22 that is movable along a surface to be cleaned, such as a carpeted or hard-surface floor. The foot 22 includes a suction nozzle, an agitator, and at least one wheel 26.

[0020] The handle portion 18 is mounted to and extends from the floor engaging portion 14. The handle portion 18 allows a user to move and manipulate the floor engaging portion 14 along the surface. The handle portion 18 is also movable (e.g., pivotable) relative to the floor engaging portion 14 between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position.

[0021] The handle portion 18 includes a support 30 and a body 34. The illustrated support 30 includes an elongated tube 38 extending from the floor engaging portion 14. A grip 42 is located on an end of the tube 38 opposite from the floor engaging portion 14. The body 34, or canister assembly, is removably mounted on the support 30. The body 34 includes a suction generating device 46 and a dirt collection container 50. The suction generating device 46 (e.g., a motor and fan) generates a vacuum or suction force in the vacuum cleaner 10. The dirt collection container 50 helps remove and collect dirt or other particles from an airflow drawn into the vacuum cleaner 10 by the suction force. In some embodiments, the dirt collection container 50 may be in communication with at least one cyclone in the body 34. In other embodiments, the dirt collection chamber 50 may be a filter bag. [0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the support 30 is in fluid communication with the floor engaging portion 14 such that an airflow drawn into the floor engaging portion 14 is directed into the support 30. The support 30 is also in fluid communication with the body 34 through a flexible hose 54 such that the airflow from the floor engaging portion 14 is directed through the support 30, through the hose 54, and into the body 34. After the body 34 filters or otherwise cleans the airflow, the cleaned airflow is directed out of the vacuum cleaner 10 and back into the environment.

[0023] The illustrated vacuum cleaner 10 is operable in a variety of different cleaning modes. Among other modes, the vacuum cleaner 10 is operable when the body 34 is mounted to the support 30, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The vacuum cleaner 10 is also operable when the body 34 disconnected from, or not mounted to, the support 30, as shown in Fig. 2A. When the body 34 is disconnected from the support 30, the body 34 remains in fluid communication with the support 30, and thereby the floor engaging portion 14, through the flexible hose 54. Separating the body 34 from the support 30 allows a user to carry the body 34 apart from the support 30 and the floor engaging portion 14.

[0024] Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a handle portion 58 of another vacuum cleaner. Although not shown, the vacuum cleaner includes similar components and operates in a similar manner to the vacuum cleaner discussed above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

[0025] The handle portion 58 includes a support 62 and a body 66. The support 62 includes two latches 70, 74 that connect the body 66 to the support 62. The first latch 70 is located adjacent a lower end of the support 62, while the second latch 74 is located adjacent an upper end of the support 62. That is, the first latch 70 is closer than the second latch 74 to a floor engaging portion of the vacuum cleaner. At least a portion of the body 66 is positioned between the latches 70, 74 to capture and secure the body 66 between the latches 70, 74.

[0026] The first latch 70 includes a forcing member that applies a spring force on the first latch 70. The first latch 70 engages a portion of the body 66 (e.g., an undercut 78 formed in the body 66) to support the body 66. An upper surface 82 of the first latch 70 is sloped to facilitate properly aligning and connecting the body 66 onto the support 62. The sloped upper surface 82 causes the body 66 to slide toward the support 62 when the body 66 is positioned on the latch 70. The forcing member of the first latch 70 pushes the body 66 toward the second latch 74 (upward in Figs. 3 and 4).

[0027] Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a first latch 86 including a forcing member 90. In the illustrated embodiment, the forcing member 90 is a coil spring located between a stationary latch portion 94 and a movable latch portion 98. The stationary latch portion 94 is fixed to the support 62. The movable latch portion 98 is slidable along the support 62 relative to the stationary latch portion 94. The forcing member 90 biases the movable latch portion 98 away from the stationary latch portion 94.

[0028] Fig. 8 illustrates another example of a first latch 102 including a forcing member 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the forcing member 106 is a resilient elastomeric member that is molded integrally with the first latch 102. A lower end 110 of the latch 102 is fixed to the support 62 so that the lower end 1 10 remains stationary relative to the support 62. An upper end 114 of the latch 102 is not fixed to the support 62 so that the upper end 1 14 is movable along the support 62. The forcing member 106 extends between the lower and upper ends 1 10, 1 14 and can deflect (as shown in broken lines) to move the upper end 114 of the latch 102 toward the lower end 1 10 of the latch 102.

[0029] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the second latch 74 includes a hook 118. The hook 118 engages a retainer 122 formed on the body 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the retainer 122 is a groove that receives the hook 118 to inhibit the body 34 from being pulled away from the support 30. In other embodiments, the second latch 74 may include other suitable projections for engaging the retainer 122 of the body 34.

[0030] Referring back to Figs. 3 and 4, the body 34 is movable relative to the latches 70, 74 between an engaged position, in which the latches 70, 74 engage the body 34 to inhibit removal of the body 34 from the support 30, and a disengaged position, in which the body 34 is removable from the support 30. When the body 34 is mounted to the support 30 in the engaged position, the body 34 rests on the first latch 70. The forcing member of the first latch 70 applies the spring force to the body 34 to urge the body 34 into engagement with the second latch 74 (upward in Figs. 3 and 4). In this position, the second latch 74 engages the retainer 122 on the body 34. The body 34 is thereby captured between the first and second latches 70, 74 to inhibit the body 34 from separating or being pulled away from the support 30. [0031] To disconnect the body 34 from the support 30, a removal force is applied on the body 34 to overcome the spring force of the first latch 70. The removal force compresses the forcing member of the first latch 70 to move the body 34 from the engaged position to the disengaged position (downward in Figs. 3 and 4). In some embodiments, the removal force can be applied by a user directly on the body 34. In other embodiments, one of the body 34 or the support 30 can include a lever (not shown) connected to first latch 70. In such embodiments, a user can actuate the lever to apply the removal force. When in the disengaged position, the second latch 74 disengages (e.g., is moved out of) the retainer 122 of the body 34. The body 34 can then be pivoted away from the support 30 and lifted off of the first latch 70.

[0032] To reconnect the body 34 to the support 30, the body 34 is aligned with and positioned on the first latch 70. The removal force is again applied to the body 34 to compress the forcing member of the first latch 70. While the forcing member is compressed, the body 34 can be pivoted toward the support 30. The removal force is then removed from the body 34 so that the forcing member of the first latch 70 applies the spring force to urge the body 34 back into engagement with the second latch 74 (upward in Figs. 3 and 4).

[0033] In some embodiments, the relative positions of the first and second latches 70, 74 may be switched. For example, the first latch 70 with the forcing member may be located adjacent the upper end of the support 62, while the second latch 74 may be located adjacent the lower end of the support 62. In such embodiments, the body 66 may be removed from the support 62 by applying a removal force to the body 66 that lifts up the body 66 to disengage the second latch 74.

[0034] In further embodiments and in reference to Fig. 10, the body 66 may include the first and second latches 70, 74, and the support 62 may include the retainer 122. In such embodiments, the first latch 70 with the forcing member may be located adjacent a lower end of the body 66, and the second latch 74 may be located adjacent an upper end of the body 66. Alternatively, the first latch 70 with the forcing member may be located adjacent the upper end of the body 66, and the second latch 74 may be located adjacent the lower end of the body 66. The operations to disconnect and connect the body 66 to the support 62 may be generally the same as those described above. [0035] Fig. 9 illustrates a handle portion 126 of another vacuum cleaner. Similar to the handle portion 58 discussed above, the handle portion 126 includes a support 130 and a body 134. The support 130 includes alternative configurations of first and second latches 138, 142 for releasably engaging the body 134.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 9, the handle portion 126 can alternatively include an accordion- style first latch 146. The illustrated alternative first latch 146 includes a single piece elastomer that acts as a spring by itself (similar to the first latch 102 shown in Fig. 8).

[0037] In further embodiments, other suitable latches that include a spring or spring-like member may alternatively be employed to urge the body 134 into engagement with the second latch 142.

[0038] Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a floor engaging portion; and

a handle portion mounted to the floor engaging portion, the handle portion including a support and a body, the body including a suction generating device and a dirt collection container, the body being selectively removable from the support, the support including a first latch and a second latch, at least a portion of the body being positionable between the first latch and second latch, the first latch including a forcing member that biases the body toward an engaged position with the support, the body including a retainer corresponding to the second latch, the retainer is engageable with a portion of the second latch when the body is in the engaged position;

wherein application of a removal force on the body against the forcing member moves the body from the engaged position enabling the retainer to release from the second latch.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forcing member is a spring.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the forcing member is a resilient elastomeric member.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the first latch is molded integrally with the forcing member.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the suction generating device is selectively in fluid communication with the floor engaging portion.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the first latch is

receivable in

an undercut portion of the body.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the upper surface is sloped to facilitate

properly

aligning and coupling the body onto the support.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the removal force is applied directly on the body.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein at least the body and the support has a lever positioned to apply the removal force when the lever is actuated.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the second latch includes a hook, the hook is engageable with the retainer in the engaged position.

11. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a floor engaging portion,

a handle portion mounted to the floor engaging portion, the handle portion including a support and a body, the body including a suction generating device, the body being selectively removable from the support, the body including a first latch and a second latch, at least a portion of the support being positionable between the first latch and second latch, the first latch including a forcing member that biases the body toward an engaged position with the support, the support including a retainer corresponding to the second latch, the retainer is engageable with a portion of the second latch when the body is in the engaged position, wherein application of a removal force on the body against the forcing member moves the body from the engaged position enabling the retainer to release from the second latch.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the forcing member is a spring.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the forcing member is a resilient

elastomeric

member.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the first latch is molded integrally with the forcing member.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the suction generating device is selectively in

fluid communication with the floor engaging portion.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein a bottom surface of the first latch is

receivable

on a portion of the support.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the bottom surface is sloped to facilitate properly aligning and coupling the body onto the support.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the removal force is applied directly on the body.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein at least the body and the support has a lever positioned to apply the removal force when the lever is actuated.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 1, wherein the second latch includes a hook, the hook is engageable with the retainer in the engaged position.