SURFACE CLEANER WITH FOLDING UPRIGHT HANDLE AND METHOD OF PACKAGING SAME
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a base module for movement along a surface;
a segmented handle assembly comprising an upper handle portion removably attached to a lower handle portion, said lower handle portion pivotally attached to the base module;
a debris recovery system comprising;
a recovery container associated with one of the base module and segmented handle assembly, a suction nozzle associated with the base module, a working air conduit extending between the recovery container and the suction nozzle; and
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery container for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery container to thereby draw debris from a surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery container;
the improvement comprising;
said lower handle portion comprises a base section, a pivot section, and a pivot mounting, the pivot section being pivotally attached to the base section by the pivot mounting for rotation of the pivot section about the pivot mounting so that the pivot section can be folded to a first position against the base section to place the extraction cleaner into a compact configuration, and unfolded to a second, upright position to form the handle assembly for maneuvering the extraction cleaner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable surface cleaner comprises a cleaner base and an upright handle assembly pivotably connected to the cleaner base. A lower portion of the handle comprises an upper, pivot section and a lower, base section joined by a horizontal pivot axis so that the pivot section can rotate downwardly to fold against the base section to form a compact configuration for packaging, shipment, and display and pivot upwardly for assembly of the upright handle assembly prior to use.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a base module for movement along a surface;
a segmented handle assembly comprising an upper handle portion removably attached to a lower handle portion, said lower handle portion pivotally attached to the base module;
a debris recovery system comprising;
a recovery container associated with one of the base module and segmented handle assembly, a suction nozzle associated with the base module, a working air conduit extending between the recovery container and the suction nozzle; and
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery container for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery container to thereby draw debris from a surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery container;
the improvement comprising;
said lower handle portion comprises a base section, a pivot section, and a pivot mounting, the pivot section being pivotally attached to the base section by the pivot mounting for rotation of the pivot section about the pivot mounting so that the pivot section can be folded to a first position against the base section to place the extraction cleaner into a compact configuration, and unfolded to a second, upright position to form the handle assembly for maneuvering the extraction cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of packaging a portable surface cleaning apparatus that includes a handle pivotally mounted to a base that is adapted to move along a floor surface comprises the steps of:
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forming the upright handle with separate upper and lower portions that can be separated from each other for shipment and can be easily joined together in an aligned relationship at a destination by a customer;
forming the lower portion of the upright handle with upper and lower sections that can be manipulated into a relatively compact relationship for shipping and can be easily configured into a less compact aligned relationship for customer use;
mounting the lower section of the handle lower portion to the base for pivotal movement with respect to the base;
separating the upper and lower portions from each other;
manipulating the upper and lower sections into the more compact relationship;
placing the base with the lower section pivotally mounted thereto into a packaging container;
placing the upper section of the lower portion of the handle into the shipping container in the more compact relationship;
placing the upper portion of the handle into the packaging container; and
closing the container. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a base module for movement along a surface;
a handle assembly pivotally attached to the base module;
a debris recovery system carried by the base module and comprising;
a recovery container carried by the base module, a suction nozzle associated with the base module, a working air conduit extending between the recovery container and the suction nozzle; and
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery container for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery container to thereby draw debris from a surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery container;
the improvement comprising;
said handle comprises a base section, a pivot section, and a pivot mounting, the pivot section being pivotally attached to the base section by the pivot mounting for rotation of the pivot section about the pivot mounting so that the pivot section can be folded to a first position against the base section to place the extraction cleaner into a compact configuration, and unfolded to a second, upright position to form the handle assembly for maneuvering the extraction cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification