Combination stand alone and canister vacuum cleaner
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner system operable alternatively as a stand alone vacuum cleaner or as a canister vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a nozzle assembly for directing dirt into said vacuum cleaner system;
first receptable means for collecting dirt when said vacuum cleaner system is operated as a stand alone vacuum cleaner;
second receptacle means for collecting dirt when said vacuum cleaner system is operated as a canister vacuum cleaner; and
alternate directing means for alternatively directing dirt from said nozzle assembly to said first receptacle means when said vacuum cleaner system is operated as a stand alone vacuum cleaner or to said second receptacle means when said vacuum cleaner system is operated as a canister vacuum cleaner, said alternate directing means including an outlet port, and a tube assembly, said tube assembly extending from said nozzle assembly to said outlet port, said tube assembly defining a first air flow passageway extending to said outlet port for directing dirt to said second receptacle means through said outlet port and a second air flow passageway for directing dirt away from said outlet port to said first receptacle means.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner is provided that is alternatively operable as a stand alone, upright vacuum cleaner and as a canister vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly having a beater brush, a suction fan and a motor that drives both the beater brush and suction fan. A dirt tube assembly includes a first air flow passageway that directs dirt from the nozzle assembly to a dirt box and also includes a second air flow passageway that directs dirt from the nozzle assembly to a handle. The handle includes an air flow passageway that is coupled to the second air flow passageway in the dirt tube assembly. The handle is alternatively interconnectable with a cap for sealing the handle air flow passageway to operate the vacuum cleaner as a stand alone, upright vacuum cleaner wherein dirt is directed from the nozzle by the nozzle suction fan through the first air flow passageway to the dirt box. The handle is also interconnectable with a hose assembly coupled to a canister unit having a suction fan driven by a motor such that dirt is directed by canister suction fan from the nozzle assembly through the second air flow passageway to the hose assembly and a canister dirt receptacle to operate the vacuum cleaner as a canister vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner may also be operated in a clean out mode to automatically clean out the dirt box. Further, when operated as a canister vacuum cleaner, the nozzle suction fan and canister suction fan operate together to provide improved cleaning action.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner system operable alternatively as a stand alone vacuum cleaner or as a canister vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a nozzle assembly for directing dirt into said vacuum cleaner system; first receptable means for collecting dirt when said vacuum cleaner system is operated as a stand alone vacuum cleaner; second receptacle means for collecting dirt when said vacuum cleaner system is operated as a canister vacuum cleaner; and alternate directing means for alternatively directing dirt from said nozzle assembly to said first receptacle means when said vacuum cleaner system is operated as a stand alone vacuum cleaner or to said second receptacle means when said vacuum cleaner system is operated as a canister vacuum cleaner, said alternate directing means including an outlet port, and a tube assembly, said tube assembly extending from said nozzle assembly to said outlet port, said tube assembly defining a first air flow passageway extending to said outlet port for directing dirt to said second receptacle means through said outlet port and a second air flow passageway for directing dirt away from said outlet port to said first receptacle means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 46)
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5. A vacuum cleaner system for cleaning floor surfaces comprising:
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a stand alone vacuum cleaner including a floor-contacting nozzle assembly having a swivel, dirt receptacle means for collecting dirt, an outlet port and alternate directing means for alternatively directing dirt from said nozzle assembly to said dirt receptacle means or from said nozzle assembly to said outlet port, said alternate directing means including a tube assembly which is coupled directly to said swivel; an external container including an inlet port disposed on said external container, a motor, a fan driven by said motor for generating suction within said container and a dirt-collecting receptacle for receiving dirt through said inlet port; and means for pneumatically interconnecting said outlet port on said stand alone vacuum cleaner to said inlet port on said external container to direct dirt from said outlet port to said inlet port. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vacuum cleaner system for cleaning floor surfaces comprising:
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a stand alone vacuum cleaner including a floor-contacting nozzle assembly, dirt receptacle means for collecting dirt, an outlet port and air flow passageway means for alternatively directing dirt from said nozzle assembly to said dirt receptacle means or from said nozzle assembly to said outlet port, said air flow passageway means including a tube assembly for receiving dirt from said nozzle assembly; a first outlet in said tube assembly for directing dirt to said dirt receptacle means an external container including an inlet port disposed on said external container, a motor, a fan driven by said motor for generating suction within said container and a dirt-collecting receptacle for receiving dirt through said inlet port; means for pneumatically interconnecting said outlet port on said stand alone vacuum cleaner to said inlet port on said external container to direct dirt from said outlet port to said inlet port; and a second outlet in said tube assembly for directing dirt outwardly from said outlet port to said pneumatically interconnecting means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A vacuum cleaner operable alternatively as a stand alone vacuum cleaner and as a canister vacuum cleaner with a hose assembly coupled to a canister having a suction fan driven by a motor to collect dirt in a receptacle, comprising:
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a nozzle assembly for directing dirt into said vacuum cleaner; receptacle means for collecting dirt when said vacuum cleaner is operated as a stand alone vacuum cleaner; a tube assembly having a first air flow passageway for directing dirt from said nozzle assembly to said receptacle means and having a second air flow passageway for directing dirt from said nozzle along a second path; and a handle having an air flow passageway coupled to said second air flow passageway, said handle being alternatively interconnectable with a means for sealing said handle air flow passageway such that dirt is directed from said nozzle assembly through said first air flow passageway to said receptacle means to operate said vacuum cleaner as a stand alone vacuum cleaner and with said hose assembly such that dirt is directed by said cannister suction fan from said nozzle assembly through said second air flow passageway and said handle air flow passageway to said hose assembly and canister receptacle to operate said vacuum cleaner as a canister vacuum cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A vacuum cleaner operable alternatively as a stand alone vacuum cleaner or as a canister vacuum cleaner with a hose assembly coupled to a canister having a suction fan driven by a motor to collect dirt in a receptacle, comprising:
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a nozzle assembly having a beater brush, a suction fan and a motor for driving said beater brush and suction fan; receptacle means for collecting dirt when said vacuum cleaner is operated as a stand alone vacuum cleaner; a dirt tube assesmbly having a first air flow passageway coupled to said nozzle assembly and having a second air flow passageway coupled between said first air flow passageway and said receptacle means; a wand assembly having an air passageway therein coupled to said first air flow passageway; and a handle having an air flow passageway coupled to said wand air flow passageway, said handle being interconnectable with a means for sealing said handle air flow passageway such that dirt is directed from said nozzle assembly by said nozzle suction fan through said first and second air flow passageways to said receptacle means to operate said vacuum cleaner as a stand alone vacuum cleaner and alternatively interconnectable with said hose assembly such that dirt is directed by said canister suction fan from said nozzle assembly through said first air flow passageway, said wand air flow passageway and said handle air flow passageway through said hose assembly to said canister receptacle to operate said vacuum cleaner as a canister vacuum cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A vacuum cleaner system for cleaning floor surfaces comprising:
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a stand alone vacuum cleaner including a floor-contacting nozzle assembly, dirt receptacle means for collecting dirt, said dirt receptacle means including an air inlet means having an open state to permit air external to said vacuum cleaner to enter said dirt receptacle means when said vacuum cleaner system is operated in a clean out mode, an outlet port and air flow passageway means for alternatively directing dirt from said nozzle assembly to said dirt receptacle means or from said nozzle assembly to said outlet port; an external container including an inlet port disposed on said external container, suction means for generating suction within said container and a dirt-collecting receptacle for receiving dirt through said inlet port; means for pneumatically interconnecting said outlet port on said stand alone vacuum cleaner to said inlet port on said external container to direct dirt from said outlet port to said inlet port; and clean out mode means for preventing air flow from said nozzle assembly to said air flow passageway means when said vacuum cleaner system is operated in said clean out mode so that said suction means is operable to cause air to flow into said inlet means and direct dirt collected in said dirt receptacle means to said outlet port through said pneumatically interconnecting means to said inlet port for collection in said dirt-collecting receptacle.
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Specification