Latching arrangement for a floor care appliance with mounted accessory appliance

• US 4,467,493 A
• Filed: 09/16/1982
• Issued: 08/28/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Buchtel, Dean H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US06/418,731
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 15/323, 15/410, 15/336, 15/339, 15/328
• US Class Current: 15/323
• 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 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners

Abstract

The invention is provided in a floor care appliance with a rigid housing having a pocket for nesting an accessory appliance. A latch means maintains the accessory appliance within the pocket and is releasable to permit removal of the accessory appliance. The latch means includes a catch, with the floor care appliance, movable into and out of engagement with an opposite locking portion of the accessory appliance.

Claims

1. A floor care appliance and accessory appliance including;

(a) a latching arrangement for maintaining said accessory appliance with said floor care appliance;

(b) said latching arrangement including a catch engageable in a linearly extending slot in said accessory appliance;

(c) said catch moving linearly relative to the linear extent of said slot;

(d) said latching arrangement including an operator -engageable linkage having a thrust link disposed adjacent to said catch and moving with said linkage to move said catch linearly relative to said slot;

(e) said thrust link pivoted to a swinging link also forming a part of said latching arrangement, said swinging link swinging with said linkage to move said catch;

(f) a spring attached to said linkage to urge against movement of said linkage in one direction of movement, and

(g) a locking link attached to said swinging link and carrying said catch for movement of said catch linearly relative to said slot.

2. A floor care appliance and accessory appliance as set out in claim 1 wherein;

(a) said locking link is guided by a track.

3. A floor care appliance and accessory appliance as set out in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said linearly extending slot includes a lip, said catch engaging with said lip.

4. A floor care appliance and accessory appliance as set out in claim 3 wherein:

(a) said catch includes a cam surface to enable movement of said lip to locking position.

5. A floor care appliance and accessory appliance as set out in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said locking link moves along an axis and has said catch mounted therewith to extend through a wall of said floor care appliance transversely of said axis and perpendicular of the lateral extent of said locking link to engage said accessory appliance to lock said accessory appliance to said floor care appliance.

6. A floor care appliance and an accessory appliance including:

(a) a latching arrangement for maintaining said accessory appliance with said floor care appliance;

(b) said latching arrangement including a catch engageable in a linearly extending slot in said accessory appliance;

(c) said catch moving linearly relative to the linear extent of said slot,

(d) said latching arrangement including an operator engageable linkage having a thrust link disposed adjacent to said catch and moving with said linkage to move said catch linearly relative to said slot;

(e) said thrust link pivoted to a swinging link also forming a part of said latching arrangement, said swinging link swinging with said linkage to move said catch; and

(f) a locking link attached to said swinging link and carrying said catch for movement of said catch linearly relative to said slot.