Cord retainer for vacuum cleaner
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cord retainer for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a right shaft and a left shaft, the right and left shafts extending substantially horizontally outward, the right and left shafts each comprising a first stop and a second stop, the right shaft being pivotally connected to a right cord lock, the left shaft being connected to a left cord lock, the right and left cord locks each comprising a base for receiving one of the right and left shafts respectively and a leg portion that extends substantially perpendicularly outward from its respective base, the right cord lock comprising a first stop for engaging the first stop of the right shaft, the right cord lock also comprising a second stop for engaging the second stop of the right shaft, the right cord lock being pivotable along an arc limited by engagement of the first stops of the right shaft and right cord lock and by engagement of the second stops of the right shaft and right cord lock, the left cord lock comprising a first stop for engaging the first stop of the left shaft, the left cord lock also comprising a second stop for engaging the second stop of the left shaft, the left cord lock being pivotable along an arc limited by engagement of the first stops of the left shaft and left cord lock and by engagement of the second stops of the left shaft and left cord lock.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner has a cord retainer for holding looped cord in a horizontal position against the housing of the vacuum cleaner. The cord retainer includes two cord locks that are pivotally mounted to the vacuum cleaner housing. The cord locks are limited in their pivotal movement from a horizontal or near horizontal position to a vertical or near vertical position. The cord locks are mounted onto shafts which, in turn, are either integrally molded with the vacuum cleaner housing or connected to the vacuum cleaner housing in a suitable fashion.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A cord retainer for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a right shaft and a left shaft, the right and left shafts extending substantially horizontally outward, the right and left shafts each comprising a first stop and a second stop, the right shaft being pivotally connected to a right cord lock, the left shaft being connected to a left cord lock, the right and left cord locks each comprising a base for receiving one of the right and left shafts respectively and a leg portion that extends substantially perpendicularly outward from its respective base, the right cord lock comprising a first stop for engaging the first stop of the right shaft, the right cord lock also comprising a second stop for engaging the second stop of the right shaft, the right cord lock being pivotable along an arc limited by engagement of the first stops of the right shaft and right cord lock and by engagement of the second stops of the right shaft and right cord lock, the left cord lock comprising a first stop for engaging the first stop of the left shaft, the left cord lock also comprising a second stop for engaging the second stop of the left shaft, the left cord lock being pivotable along an arc limited by engagement of the first stops of the left shaft and left cord lock and by engagement of the second stops of the left shaft and left cord lock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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5. The cord retainer of claim I wherein the first stop of the right shaft engages the first stop of the right cord lock when the right cord lock is in a first position,
the second stop of the right shaft engages the second stop of the right cord lock when the right cord lock is in a second position, the first stop of the left shaft engages the first stop of the left cord lock when the left cord lock is in a first position, the second stop of the left shaft engages the second stop of the left cord lock when the left cord lock is in a second position, the legs of the right and left cord locks being substantially coplanar and oppositely directed when the right and left cord locks are in their respective first positions, the legs of the right and left cord locks being substantially parallel and upwardly directed when the right and left cord locks are in their respective second positions.
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11. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a housing, the housing being connected to a right shaft and a left shaft, the right and left shafts extending outward from the housing, the right and left shafts each comprising a first stop and a second stop, the right shaft being pivotally connected to a right cord lock, the left shaft being connected to a left cord lock, the right and left cord locks each comprising a hollow base for receiving one of the right and left shafts respectively and a leg portion that extends substantially perpendicularly outward from its respective base, the hollow base of the right cord lock comprising a first stop for engaging the first stop of the right shaft, the hollow base of the right cord lock comprising a second stop for engaging the second stop of the right shaft, the hollow base of the left cord lock comprising a first stop for engaging the first stop of the left shaft, the hollow base of the left cord lock comprising a second stop for engaging the second stop of the left shaft, the first stop of the right shaft engaging the first stop of the right cord lock when the right cord lock is in a first position, the second stop of the right shaft engaging the second stop of the right cord lock when the right cord lock is in a second position, the first stop of the left shaft engaging the first stop of the left cord lock when the left cord lock is in a first position, the second stop of the left shaft engaging the second stop of the left cord lock when the left cord lock is in a second position, the legs of the right and left cord locks being substantially coplanar and substantially oppositely directed when the right and left cord locks are in their respective first positions, the legs of the right and left cord locks being substantially parallel and upwardly directed when the right and left cord locks are in their respective second positions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A cord retainer for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a right shaft and a left shaft, the right and left shafts extending substantially horizontally outward, the right and left shafts each comprising a first stop and a second stop, the right shaft being pivotally connected to a right cord lock, the left shaft being connected to a left cord lock, the right and left cord locks each comprising a base for receiving one of the right and left shafts respectively and a leg portion that extends substantially perpendicularly outward from its respective base, the right and left cord locks being interchangeable. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A tank-type vacuum cleaner having a tank and an upper housing closing the tank and from which a power cord extends, the vacuum cleaner including a cord retainer, the cord retainer comprising:
at least one cord retainer mounting on the upper housing from which the cord extends and wherein the cord retainer moves from a first position in which the cord is retained to a second position in which the cord is released.
Specification