Vacuum cleaner with cleaning pad

• US 20040134025A1
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ho, C.M., Kalman, Jeffrey M., Matousek, Robert A., Saunders, Craig M., Khalil, David, Wright, Michael F., Murphy, John S., Yokote, Kiyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/403
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/42 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner has a suction nozzle, a housing connected to the suction nozzle and a suction fan and motor assembly mounted to the housing. A dirt collecting receptacle is mounted to the housing and is in communication with the suction nozzle and suction fan and motor assembly. A support plate is pivotally mounted to the housing and selectively holds a cleaning sheet for collecting dust and debris from a surface to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a suction nozzle;

a housing connected to said suction nozzle;

a suction fan and motor assembly mounted to said housing;

a dirt collecting receptacle mounted to said housing and in communication with said suction nozzle and suction fan and motor assembly; and

,

a support plate pivotally mounted to said housing, said support plate selectively holding a cleaning sheet for collecting dust and debris from a surface to be cleaned.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a conduit extending between said suction nozzle and said dirt collecting receptacle.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said conduit comprises a flexible hose.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said dirt collecting receptacle comprises a filter bag.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said dirt collecting receptacle comprises a dirt cup.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein said dirt cup comprises an inlet and an outlet, wherein said inlet communicates with an outlet of said suction nozzle and said dirt cup outlet communicates with an inlet of said suction fan and motor assembly.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, further comprising a filter detachably mounted to said dirt cup.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said cleaning sheet comprises electrostatic material.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said support plate comprises a convex surface.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, further comprising a latch for selectively securing said dirt cup to said housing.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said support plate is pivotably connected to said housing via a universal joint.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said suction nozzle is pivotably connected to said housing.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further comprising a pair of detents for locking said suction nozzle in one of an operating position and a non-operating position.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said suction fan and motor are powered by an alternating current via a power cord.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a removable battery pack mounted to said housing for powering said suction fan and motor.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery mounted to said housing for powering said suction fan and motor and a charging station at which said rechargeable battery can be recharged.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said support plate comprises a top surface having at least one clip for securing said cleaning sheet to said support plate.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a handle extending from said housing.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, further comprising a power switch located on said handle for controlling operation of the suction fan and motor assembly.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, further comprising a spray nozzle mounted to said suction nozzle and a cleaning solution container mounted to said handle for distributing cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned.

21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a power switch located on said housing for controlling operation of said suction fan and motor assembly.

22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a means for holding at least one extra cleaning sheet.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a wiper blade mounted to said suction nozzle.

24. he vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bristles mounted to said suction nozzle.

25. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a support plate selectively holding a cleaning sheet;

a handle pivotably connected to said support plate;

a housing mounted to one of said handle and said support plate;

a suction fan and motor assembly mounted to said housing;

a dirt collecting receptacle mounted to said housing; and

a suction nozzle connected to said housing.

26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 25, wherein said dirt collecting receptacle comprises a dirt cup.

27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 25, wherein said housing is selectively secured to said handle via at least one clip.

28. The vacuum cleaner of claim 25, wherein said support plate is pivotally connected to said handle via a universal joint.

29. The vacuum cleaner of claim 25, further comprising a power switch for controlling operation of the suction fan and motor assembly.

30. The vacuum cleaner of claim 25, wherein said suction nozzle is removably secured to said support plate via at least one clip.

31. The vacuum cleaner of claim 30, wherein said at least one clip is mounted on said support plate and also serves to selectively secure said cleaning sheet to said support plate.

32. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a suction nozzle;

a housing connected to said suction nozzle;

a suction fan and motor assembly mounted to said housing;

a dirt collecting receptacle mounted to said housing and in communication with said suction nozzle and said suction fan and motor assembly;

a handle extending from said housing for grasping to move said vacuum cleaner along a surface to be cleaned;

a switch for providing at least momentary operation of said suction fan and motor assembly; and

a support plate pivotally mounted to said housing, said support plate selectively holding a cleaning sheet for collecting dust and debris from a surface to be cleaned.

33. The vacuum cleaner of claim 32, wherein said switch is spring-biased to an off position.

34. The vacuum cleaner of claim 32, wherein said switch is located on said handle.

35. The vacuum cleaner of claim 32, wherein said switch is located on said housing.

36. The vacuum cleaner of claim 35, further comprising a linkage connecting a button mounted on said handle with said switch.

37. The vacuum cleaner of claim 32, further comprising a source of electrical power operatively connected to said switch for operating said suction fan and motor assembly.

38. A cleaning device having two separate and distinct selective modes of operation, which include a first mode of operation comprising suctioning debris from a surface to be cleaned, and a second mode of operation comprising use of a cleaning sheet to collect dust and debris from the surface to be cleaned, said cleaning device comprising:

a housing;

a suction fan and motor assembly mounted to said housing;

a dirt collecting receptacle mounted to said housing; and

,

a suction nozzle communicating with said suction fan and motor assembly and said dirt receptacle for performing said first mode of operation;

a support plate pivotally mounted to said housing, wherein said support plate selectively holds a cleaning sheet for performing said second mode of operation.

39. The vacuum cleaner of claim 38, wherein said cleaning sheet comprises electrostatic material.

40. The vacuum cleaner of claim 38, wherein said cleaning sheet is pre-wetted with cleaning solution.

41. The vacuum cleaner of claim 38, wherein said dirt collecting receptacle comprises a dirt cup.

42. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing;

a suction fan and motor mounted within said housing;

a handle connected to said housing;

a first cleaning implement pivotally connected to said housing;

a second cleaning implement pivotally connected to said housing; and

,

a dirt collecting receptacle mounted to said housing and in communication with said suction fan and motor assembly.

43. The vacuum cleaner of claim 42, wherein said first cleaning implement comprises a suction nozzle.

44. The vacuum cleaner of claim 42, wherein said second cleaning implement comprises a support plate.

45. The vacuum cleaner of claim 44, further comprising a cleaning sheet selectively secured to said support plate via at least one clip.

46. The vacuum cleaner of claim 44, wherein said dirt collecting receptacle comprises a dirt cup.

47. The vacuum cleaner of claim 43, wherein said suction nozzle is connected to a universal joint.

48. The vacuum cleaner of claim 47, wherein said suction nozzle is pivotable in relation to said universal joint.

49. The vacuum cleaner of claim 47, wherein said support plate is connected to said universal joint.