VACUUM CLEANER

• US 3,827,103 A
• Filed: 05/19/1970
• Issued: 08/06/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Appliance Corporation
• Original Assignee: Erwin E. Nordeen, Milton J. Johnson
• Inventors: Nordeen, Erwin E., Johnson, Milton J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, C. K.
• Application Number:
  US05/038,805
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 15/359,354,360,358,333,361
• US Class Current: 15/359
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprising a carriage with wheel supports, a motor driven suction unit on the carriage having a motor shaft that is generally horizontal and transverse to the carriage, a nozzle unit mounted on and enclosing the carriage including the wheels and having a brush contacting front end with the nozzle unit being rockable or pivotable for cleaning contact with the floor and spring means normally urging the nozzle unit brush in the downward direction to provide a floating type nozzle for an upright vacuum cleaner which automatically adjusts to different heights of carpet to retain the brush contacting front end of the vacuum cleaner in proper cleaning relation to carpeting on the floor.

Claims

1. A vacuum Cleaner comprising:

a carriage movable longitudinally over a floor during cleaning thereof;

wheel support means for supporting said carriage;

a motor driven suction unit on said carriage having a motor shaft extending generally axially horizontally and transversely to the carriage, the shaft being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said wheel support means including an axle extending parallel to and forwardly of said motor shaft and having a pair of wheels of said wheel support means rotatable thereon;

a nozzle unit rockably mounted on said carriage having a brush containing front end rockable on said carriage in a downward direction for cleaning contact with the floor, said nozzle unit substantially enclosing said wheel support means; and

a pair of parallel tension springs connected between the opposite ends of said axle outwardly of said wheels on said axle and said nozzle unit urging said nozzle unit in said downward direction.

2. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a carriage movable longitudinally over a floor during cleaning thereof;

wheel support means for supporting said carriage both longitudinally and laterally and including a pair of forward wheels;

a motor driven suction unit on said carriage having a motor shaft generally horizontal and transverse to the carriage, the shaft being rotatable about its central axis, said axis being disposed rearwardly of said forward wheels;

a nozzle unit rockably mounted on said carriage having a brush containing front end rockable on said carriage in a downward direction for cleaning contact with the floor, said nozzle unit substantially enclosing said wheel support means; and

spring means urging said nozzle unit in said downward direction comprising a tension spring having an upper end connected to the nozzle forwardly of said motor shaft and extending downwardly therefrom intermediate said motor shaft and said nozzle front end, and an opposite, lower end connected to the carriage rearwardly of said forward wheels and forwardly of said shaft axis.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said lower end of the spring is connected to said carriage rearwardly of the connection of said uppper end to said nozzle.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 further including a compression spring extending between said nozzle and said carriage rearwardly of said motor shaft below the level of said motor shaft and above the level of said wheel support means.