Latch arrangement for a floor care appliance

• US 20060101608A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Tong, Chan Chi
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0653 with mechanical actuation, e.g. using a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A floor care appliance is provided for cleaning bare surfaces such as tile, marble, linoleum and wood. The floor care appliance includes an accessory hose, telescoping wand and accessory tools for cleaning bare surfaces. A latch having a latch cover is provided for connecting the telescoping wand to the handgrip portion of the accessory hose. The latch and latch cover arrangement could also be utilized for connecting the accessory tools such as a accessory suction nozzle and grout tool to the telescoping wand.

Claims

1. A floor care appliance, comprising:

a base unit;

an accessory hose removably connected to the base unit;

one or more accessories for cleaning a surface removably attached to the accessory hose;

a latch for removably connecting the one or more accessories to the accessory hose; and

a cover for shielding said latch from external impacts.

2. The floor care appliance of claim 1, wherein said one or more accessories includes a telescoping wand.

3. The floor care appliance of claim 1, wherein said one or more accessories includes an accessory suction nozzle.

4. The floor care appliance of claim 1, wherein said one or more accessories includes a grout tool.

5. The floor care appliance of claim 1, wherein said latch includes a resilient member extending from said one or more accessories.

6. The floor care appliance of claim 5, wherein said resilient member extending from said one or more accessories includes an aperture for engaging a projection located on a nipple formed on the accessory hose or the telescoping wand.

7. The floor care appliance of claim 5, wherein said resilient member includes a tab at one end for operating said resilient member.

8. The floor care appliance of claim 1, wherein said cover is integrally formed over said latch on said one or more accessories.

9. A latch for connecting a first tubular section of a floor care appliance to a second tubular section of a floor care appliance, comprising:

a resilient member extending from a one end of one of said first tubular section and said second tubular section;

an aperture formed in the resilient member;

a projection formed on one end of the other of said first tubular section and said tubular section; and

a cover formed over said resilient member.

10. The latch of claim 9, wherein said first tubular section is located on a handgrip at one end.

11. The latch of claim 9, wherein said second tubular section is located on one end of a telescoping wand.

12. The latch of claim 9, wherein said second tubular section is located on one end of a telescoping wand.

13. The latch of claim 9, wherein said second tubular section is located on one end of an accessory suction nozzle.

14. The latch of claim 9, wherein said second tubular section is located on one end of a grout tool.

15. A latch for interconnecting one of an accessory hose, telescoping wand, and accessory tools for a floor care appliance together, comprising:

a resilient member having an aperture;

a projection located on one end of each of said accessory hose and said telescoping wand;

wherein said aperture of said resilient member engages said projection to connect said telescoping wand and said accessory tools to said accessory hose or to connect said accessory tools to said telescoping wand, and further, wherein said latch has a cover formed over said resilient member of said latch for protecting said resilient member from external impacts.

16. The latch according to claim 15, wherein said accessory tools includes an accessory suction nozzle.

17. The latch according to claim 15, wherein said accessory tools includes a grout tool.

18. The latch of claim 15, wherein said resilient member has a tab at one end for operating said resilient member.