Cleaning appliance including a tellscopic wand assembly retaining means

• US 20060085943A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Heatley, Emma Jane, Allard, Matthew James Roger, Dyson, James, Gammack, Peter David
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose

Abstract

A cleaning appliance of the cylinder type includes a main body and a hose and wand assembly including a telescopic wand movable between retracted and extended positions and a flexible hose having a first end connected to the main body and a second end connected to the wand. The wand and the main body include a retainer for releasable attaching the wand to the main body when the wand is in the retracted state and the hose passes around the main body. Alternatively, the wand and the main body include a retainer for releasably attaching the wand to an upper surface of the main body when the wand is in the retracted state. This construction provides a compact storage solution.

Claims

1. A cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising a main body and a hose and wand assembly, the hose and wand assembly comprising a telescopic wand movable between retracted and extended positions and a flexible hose having a first end connected to the main body and a second end connected to the wand,

wherein the wand and the main body incorporate a retainer that releasably attaches the wand to the main body when the wand is in the retracted state and the hose passes at least once around the main body.

2. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hose passes more than once around the main body when the wand is attached thereto.

3. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the hose follows a predetermined path around the main body when the wand is attached thereto.

4. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the hose is retained in a fixed position with respect to the main body at a plurality of points along the length of the hose.

10. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the wand has a handle by which a user may lift the main body when the wand is attached thereto.

11. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 10, wherein the handle may also be used by the user to manipulate the hose and wand assembly during normal use.

12. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 10, wherein the handle extends in a direction which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wand so as to provide a plurality of longitudinally offset positions for lifting the main body and for manipulating the hose and wand assembly.

13. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the wand may be attached to the main body when the main body is oriented for normal use.

14. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 13, wherein the main body has wheels or rollers arranged so as to allow the main body to move across a surface to be cleaned and the wheels or rollers remain in contact with the surface when the wand is attached to the main body.

15. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein a substantial part of the length of the wand, in the retracted position, lies alongside the main body when the wand is attached thereto.

16. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 15, wherein substantially all of the wand, in the retracted position, lies alongside the main body when the wand is attached thereto.

17. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, further comprising a rotation preventer that prevents rotation of the wand when it is attached to the main body.

18. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rotation preventer comprises a first part, mounted on the main body, and a second part mounted on the wand, each part having a face which extends radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wand.

19. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the hose and wand assembly carries a release member for releasing the wand from the main body.

20. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 19, wherein the wand comprises a lock configured to lock the wand in the retracted position and actuation of the release member also releases the lock.

21. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the first and second ends of the hose are located adjacent one another when the wand is attached to the main body.

22. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the first and second ends of the hose are circumferentially spaced apart from one another when the wand is attached to the main body.

23. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the cleaning appliance takes the form of a vacuum cleaner.

5. The cleaning appliance as claimed in 1 or 2, wherein the main body comprises a cyclonic separator having a collecting bin for collecting dirt and debris and the wand is releasably attachable to the collecting bin.

6. A cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising a main body and a hose and wand assembly, the hose and wand assembly comprising a telescopic wand movable between retracted and extended positions and a flexible hose having a first end connected to the main body and a second end connected to the wand, wherein the wand and the main body incorporate a retainer that releasably attaches the wand to an upper surface of the main body when the wand is in the retracted state and the upper surface of the main body comprises a channel for receiving the wand.

7. The cleaning appliance according to claim 6, wherein the retainer is located in the channel.

8. The cleaning appliance according to claim 7, wherein the main body comprises two generally cylindrical containers lying next to one another and wherein the channel lies between the cylindrical containers.

9. The cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the channel has a sufficient depth to allow the wand to lie substantially flush with the upper surface of the main body when the wand is received in the channel.

24. (canceled)