VACUUM ACCESSORY TOOL

• US 20090183335A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, Douglas A., Huffman, Eric C., Metzger, Eric R., Griffith, Aaron P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/322
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0416 driven by fluid pressure, e.g. by means of an air turbine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0444 for conveying motion by endless flexible members, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices

Abstract

A vacuum accessory tool comprises a nozzle body that forms a suction nozzle and that has an electrical element comprising one or a combination of an illumination element adapted to illuminate a surface to be cleaned, an ion generator or ozone generator to purify a surface to be cleaned and eliminate odors. The tool can further include a power generator for supplying power to the electrical element. The illumination element can further emit light in the ultraviolet spectrum to illuminate stains on the surface to the cleaned.

Claims

1. A vacuum accessory tool comprising:

a nozzle body;

a suction nozzle formed by the nozzle body;

an opening formed in the nozzle body and adapted to be connected to a suction source remote from the nozzle body for generating a working air flow from the suction nozzle through the nozzle body;

at least one electrical element mounted to the nozzle body; and

a power generator mounted to the nozzle body and electrically connected to the at least one electrical element to supply electrical energy to the at least one electrical element.

2. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical element is a light emitting element.

3. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 2 wherein the at least one light emitting element is at least one light emitting diode (LED).

4. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 2 wherein the at least one light emitting element emits light in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum.

5. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 2 wherein the at least one light emitting element emits light that sanitizes or disinfects the surface to be cleaned.

6. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 2 wherein the at least one light emitting element further comprises a convex lens to disperse light emitted from the at least one light emitting element.

7. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 2 wherein the at least one light emitting element is positioned on a leading edge of the nozzle body so as the illuminate the surface to be cleaned forwardly of the suction nozzle.

8. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 2 wherein the at least one light emitting element is positioned on the nozzle body rearwardly of the suction nozzle.

9. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1 wherein the power generator comprises an air-driven turbine for providing mechanical energy that is converted into electrical energy for the at least one electrical element.

10. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 9 wherein the power generator further comprises a motor that is driven by the air-driven turbine and that forms an electromagnetic inductive circuit with the at least one electrical element to supply electrical energy to the at least one electrical element.

11. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 9 wherein the power generator further comprises a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to the air-driven turbine and an inductor coil positioned adjacent the air-driven turbine so as to generate current in an electromagnetic circuit by the magnets cyclically passing across the inductor coil to supply electrical energy to the at least one electrical element.

12. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 9, and further comprising an agitator mounted to the nozzle body and operably coupled to the air-driven turbine for rotation therewith.

13. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 12 wherein the agitator is a brush that is rotatable about a horizontal axis.

14. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1, and further comprising a hair removal element on the nozzle body for aiding in the removal of hair from the surface to be cleaned.

15. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1, and further comprising a fluid delivery element for selectively distributing cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned.

16. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical element is at least one ion generator.

17. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 16 wherein the at least one ion generator is positioned on a leading edge of the nozzle body so as to purify the surface to be cleaned forwardly of the suction nozzle.

18. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 16 wherein the at least one ion generator is positioned on the nozzle body rearwardly of the suction nozzle.

19. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 16 wherein the at least one ion generator is positioned within the nozzle body in the suction nozzle opening.

20. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical element is at least one ozone generator.

21. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 20 wherein the at least one ozone generator is positioned on a leading edge of the nozzle body so as to purify the surface to be cleaned forwardly of the suction nozzle.

22. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 20 wherein the at least one ozone generator is positioned on the nozzle body rearwardly of the suction nozzle.

23. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 20 wherein the at least one ozone generator is positioned within the nozzle body in the suction nozzle opening.

24. A vacuum accessory tool comprising:

a nozzle body;

a suction nozzle formed by the nozzle body;

an opening formed in the nozzle body and adapted to be connected to a suction source remote from the nozzle body for generating a working air flow from the suction nozzle through the nozzle body; and

at least one light emitting element mounted to the nozzle body to illuminate a surface to be cleaned and emits light in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum.

25. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 24 wherein the at least one light emitting element is positioned on the nozzle body so as to illuminate stains on the surface to be cleaned as the vacuum accessory tool is being operated by a user.

26. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 24, and further comprising a fluid delivery element for selectively distributing cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned.