Vacuum appliance having push and pull handles

• US 20020124345A1
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David E. Beth, Stuart V. Holsten
• Original Assignee: David E. Beth, Stuart V. Holsten
• Inventors: Holsten, Stuart V., Beth, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,543,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning appliance includes a vacuum cleaner drum having a bottom wall, a sidewall, and a rim surrounding an open upper end with a lid detachably mounted to the rim and extending across the open upper end of the vacuum cleaner drum. A motor powered blower is at least partially received within the lid for creating a vacuum in the drum. A first handle is connected to a first side of the vacuum cleaner drum or the lid and may be used for pushing the appliance in a direction of travel, and a second handle is connected to a second side of the drum or the lid generally opposite the first side for pulling the appliance in the travel direction. One or both of the handles may include mechanisms for securely and easily mounting the handle to the lid or the drum of the vacuum.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaning appliance comprising:

a vacuum cleaner drum having a bottom wall, a sidewall, and a rim surrounding an open upper end;

a lid detachably mounted to the rim and extending across the open upper end of the vacuum cleaner drum;

a motor powered blower at least partially received within the lid for creating a vacuum in the drum;

a first handle connected to a first side of at least one of the vacuum cleaner drum or the lid; and

a second handle connected to a second side of at least one of the vacuum cleaner drum or the lid generally opposite the first side.

2. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 1, further comprising a bearing pocket and a rib on one of the drum or the lid, wherein the second handle comprises:

a grip portion;

at least two side portions each having a first end attached to the grip portion, a second end, and a bottom surface defining a slot therein;

a plurality of journals arranged adjacent the second ends along an axis, each of the journals positioned to engage the bearing pocket and to rotate within the bearing pocket about the axis; and

each of the slots positioned to engage the rib so as to secure each of the journals in the bearing pockets after the handle is rotated through a predetermined angle about the axis.

3. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 2 wherein the second handle further comprises an attachment portion extending from each of the side portions, the attachment portions having a first bore therethrough at a point remote from the axis, such that when the journals are engaged in the bearing pockets and the handle is rotated by a predetermined angle about the axis, the attachment portions contact the lid of the wet-dry vacuum appliance and each of the first bores aligns with a second bore in the lid, the first and second bores adapted to receive a fastener to secure the handle.

4. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the motor powered blower is detachably mounted to the lid for independent operation separate from the drum.

5. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 3, wherein the lid comprises a plurality of handle attachment recesses adapted to receive the attachment portions of the second handle when the second handle is rotated by the predetermined angle.

6. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 5, wherein the bearing pockets are disposed within the handle attachment recesses.

7. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 1, further comprising a tool caddy supported by front and rear wheels and adapted to receive the bottom end of the drum, the caddy including a plurality of spaced recesses for receiving a corresponding number of vacuum tools.

8. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 1, further comprising a journal mounted on one of the drum or the lid, the second handle comprising:

a grip portion;

at least two side portions each having a first end attached to the grip portion and a second end; and

a plurality of bearing pockets arranged adjacent the second ends along an axis, each of the pockets positioned to slidably engage the journal and to rotate on the axis about the journal; and

an attachment portion extending from each of the side portions, each of the attachment portions having a first bore therethrough at a point remote from the axis, such that when the journals are engaged in the bearing pockets and the handle is rotated by a predetermined angle about the axis, the attachment portions contact the appliance and each of the first bores aligns with a second bore in the appliance, the first and second bores adapted to receive a fastener to secure the handle and prevent further rotation about the axis.

9. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 1, further comprising a rib defined on one of the drum or the lid, the second handle comprising:

a grip portion;

at least two side portions each having a first end attached to the grip portion;

an attachment portion extending from each of the side portions, each of the attachment portions having a first bore therethrough; and

wherein each of the side portions further comprises a bottom surface defining a slot therein, each of the slots positioned to engage the rib so as to place the second handle in a position of alignment between the first bores in the handle and corresponding second bores in the appliance after the handle is rotated through a predetermined angle about a handle axis.

10. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 1, further comprising a bearing pocket defined in one of the drum or lid, the second handle comprising:

a grip portion;

at least two side portions each having a first end attached to the grip portion and a second end;

a plurality of journals arranged adjacent the second ends along an axis, each of the journals positioned to engage the bearing pocket and to rotate within the bearing pocket about the axis; and

an attachment portion having a first bore therethrough at a point remote from the axis, such that when the journals are engaged in the bearing pockets and the handle is rotated by a predetermined angle about the axis, the attachment portions contact the appliance and each of the first bores aligns with a corresponding second bore in the appliance, the first and second bores adapted to receive a fastener to secure the handle and prevent further rotation about the axis.

11. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 1, further comprising a bearing pocket and a slot defined in one of the drum or the lid, the second handle comprising:

a grip portion;

at least two side portions each having a first end attached to the grip portion, a second end, and a bottom surface;

a plurality of journals arranged adjacent the second ends along an axis, each of the journals positioned to engage the bearing pocket and to rotate within the bearing pocket about the axis; and

and at least one rib formed in the bottom surface, the rib located along the axis and positioned to engage the slot so as to secure the journals in the bearing pockets after the handle is rotated through a predetermined angle about the axis.

13. The vacuum cleaning appliance of claim 12, the third means comprising:

a handle;

support means for the handle;

first mounting means disposed on the support means, adapted to engage second, complementary mounting means fixed on one of the drum or the lid and then to permit rotation of the support means on an axis passing through the second mounting means;

means for preventing further rotation of the support means after a predetermined rotation of the support means about the axis; and

means for securing the handle to one of the drum or the lid after the predetermined rotation.

12. A wet-dry vacuum cleaning appliance comprising:

a vacuum cleaner drum having a bottom wall, a sidewall, and a rim surrounding an open upper end;

a lid detachably mounted to the rim and extending across the open upper end of the vacuum cleaner drum;

first means for creating a vacuum within the drum;

second means for pushing the appliance in a direction of travel; and

third means for pulling the appliance in the travel direction.