Maneuverable Domestic Cleaning Appliance

• US 20090077764A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: TTI Floor Care North America (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hazen, David Charles, Khahil, David, Chen, Henry Zhi Hong, Amberik, Andrew A., Collins, David Matthew, Doerfler, Matthew Joseph, Gee, Jack W. II, Ponikvar, Suzanne, Hin, Yung Leong
• Application Number:
  US11/858,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20090077764A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/300.100
• 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 9/0455 Bearing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0461 Dust-loosening tools, e.g. agitators, brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/10 Filters in general B01D; cyclones B04C; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters for machines for cleaning floors A47L11/40
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/20 Means for cleaning filters

Abstract

An upright floor vacuum cleaner comprising (a) a base having a vacuum nozzle disposed for cleaning the floor; (b) an upright handle having one end thereof connected to the base for pivotal movement thereon about a generally horizontal axis; (c) a suction source operative, upon energization, to create a vacuum in said nozzle; and, (d) a plurality of freely rotatable wheels mounted on said base each fully castered about a vertical axis and operative to permit free omni directional movement in translation and rotation of the base on the floor.

Claims

1. A cleaning appliance comprising:

(a) a base having a vacuum nozzle disposed for cleaning the floor;

(b) an upright handle having one end thereof connected to the base for pivotal movement thereon about a generally horizontal axis;

(c) a suction source operative, upon energization, to create a vacuum in said nozzle; and

,

(d) a plurality of freely rotatable wheel assemblies or roller assemblies mounted on said base, each being fully rotatable about a vertical axis and operative to permit free omni directional movement in translation and rotation of the base on the floor.

2. The appliance defined in claim 1, wherein said wheel assemblies each include wheels that are each mounted on an axle having a skewed orientation with respect to the floor.

3. The appliance defined in claim 2, wherein said axle comprises three straight sections connected by two bent sections.

4. The appliance defined in claim 2, wherein said axle is formed integrally from a one-piece member.

5. The appliance defined in claim 2, wherein each wheel is mounted on its respective axle by a first bearing and the axle is mounted to said base by a second bearing.

6. The appliance defined in claim 5, wherein said first bearing comprises a ball race bearing.

7. The appliance defined in claim 5, wherein said second bearing comprises a needle race bearing.

8. The appliance defined in claim 1, wherein said base includes a platform with said wheel assembly mounted thereto and said nozzle mounted thereon and a hood covering said platform and nozzle.

9. The appliance of claim 8, wherein said wheel assemblies are countersunk in said platform.

10. The appliance defined in claim 5, wherein said handle includes a removable dirt cup operative to receive dirt from said nozzle.

11. The appliance defined in claim 1, further comprising electrical contacts provided on said base for engaging an associated charger for re-energizing rechargeable batteries mounted to said handle.

12. The appliance defined in claim 1, wherein each of said wheel assemblies includes a wheel that is castered on a plate attached to said base.

13. The appliance defined in claim 12, wherein said wheel assemblies are all enclosed by a cover of said base.

14. A cleaning appliance comprising:

(a) a base portion including a nozzle;

(b) an upright handle portion pivotally mounted to said base portion;

(c) a vacuum generator disposed in one of said handle portion and said base portion and communicating with the nozzle; and

,

(d) a plurality of wheels or rollers mounted to the base portion for free rolling arrangement wherein an axis of each wheel or roller is mounted for full rotation about a generally vertical axis.

15. The appliance defined in claim 14, wherein each wheel includes a first bearing.

16. The appliance defined in claim 14, further comprising a second bearing for mounting each wheel for swiveling about the vertical axis.

17. The appliance defined in claim 14, further comprising a one piece axle with contra curvature for mounting each wheel to said base portion.

18. The appliance defined in claim 14, wherein each wheel is mounted to a plate in a freely swiveling manner and wherein each plate is attached to the base in a countersunk manner.

19. A cleaning appliance comprising:

(a) base portion including a suction nozzle for movement over a floor surface to be cleaned;

(b) an upright handle pivotally mounted to the base and including a suction generator operatively connected to the suction nozzle;

(c) a user removable dirt cup assembly including a filter disposed thereon associated with one of the upright handle and the base portion; and

,

(d) a wiper for agitating the filter during removal for effecting a shaking of dirt from the filter into the dirt cup.

20. The appliance defined in claim 19, wherein the filter is disposed over an open end of the cup.

21. The appliance defined in claim 19, wherein the filter has a pleated configuration.

22. The appliance defined in claim 21, wherein a plurality of spaced wipers are provided.