VACUUM CLEANER BASE WITH AGITATOR DRIVE ASSEMBLY

• US 20110179596A1
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Krebs, Alan J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,839,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/389
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/045 Friction gearings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2863 Control elements activated by pivoting movement of the upright vacuum cleaner handle

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a base assembly pivotally connected to an upright assembly. The base assembly comprises an agitator and an agitator drive assembly for selectively driving the agitator. The agitator drive assembly includes a drive disk coupled to a motor shaft, a driven disk which engages the drive disk, and a drive coupling between the driven disk to the agitator. The agitator drive assembly can further include a drive disengager for selectively interrupting the transmission of drive force to the agitator. The agitator drive assembly can further include a speed selector for adjusting the relative speed of rotation of the agitator.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a base assembly having a housing, a suction nozzle, and an agitator rotatably mounted to the housing;

a motor comprising a motor shaft; and

an agitator drive assembly between the motor shaft and the agitator for selectively driving the agitator, and comprising;

a drive disk mounted to the motor shaft for rotation about a rotational axis and having a face in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis;

an actuator for selectively uncoupling the agitator drive assembly;

a driven disk rotatably coupled to the actuator for movement therewith and selectively coupled with the drive disk for rotational contact with the face of the drive disk; and

a drive coupling between the driven disk and the agitator;

wherein the driven disk is laterally movable across the face of the drive disk to change the relative speed of the agitator.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a first portion positioned exterior of the housing for user access and a second portion positioned interior of the housing.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the driven disk is rotatably mounted to the second portion.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the first portion is adapted to be moved by the foot of a user from an engaging position wherein the driven disk is in rotational contact with the drive disk and a disengaging position in which the driven disk is disengaged from rotational contact with the drive disk.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 wherein the first portion includes a foot pedal.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 and further comprising a biasing member for biasing the actuator to the engaging position.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 and further comprising a latch for the actuator for maintaining the actuator in the disengaging position.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the motor is vertically oriented.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the motor is positioned within the housing of the base assembly.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a speed selector actuator coupled to the driven disk for selectively moving the driven disk laterally across the face of the drive disk.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 wherein a portion of the speed selector actuator extends exteriorly of the housing.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the speed selector actuator is slidingly coupled to the base assembly.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein moving the driven disk across the face of the drive disk toward an outer perimeter thereof increases the relative speed of the agitator.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the relative speed of the agitator is variably adjustable.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a carriage pivotally mounted to the base housing and coupled with the actuator for movement therewith, wherein the driven disk is carried by the carriage.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, further comprising an axle rotatably coupled to the carriage, wherein the driven disk is coupled to the axle for rotation therewith.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the drive coupling comprises a belt, and the axle comprises a drive pulley for mounting the belt.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, and further comprising:

an upright assembly pivotally mounted to the base assembly for movement between an upright position and a lowered use position, and comprising a handle for facilitating movement of the vacuum cleaner by the user; and

a drive disengager configured to automatically uncouple the driven disk from the drive disk when the upright assembly is moved to the upright position.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the drive disk comprises a flywheel.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the drive coupling comprises a belt.

21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, wherein the agitator drive assembly further comprises a drive pulley coupled with the driven disk and a driven pulley coupled with the agitator, wherein the belt couples the drive pulley with the driven pulley.