Head assembly for a vacuum cleaning apparatus having dual-individually floating heads
First Claim
1. A floating head assembly for a vacuum cleaning apparatus, comprising:
- a stationary support within the vacuum cleaning apparatus;
dual, independently floating vacuum heads adjacent to the stationary support, each having an inlet opening at one end thereof adjacent to a surface to be cleaned, and an outlet opening spaced from the inlet opening, the vacuum heads defining a portion of respective vacuum pathways extending from the respective inlet opening to a dirt collection zone within the vacuum cleaning apparatus; and
means for attaching each vacuum head to the stationary support in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cleaning head assembly for a vacuum cleaning apparatus of the wet, dry and wet/dry types includes a rotatably driven brush carried within and laterally spanning the head assembly. A pair of floating vacuum heads are positioned on opposite sides of a housing for the brush, and each defines a portion of a vacuum pathway having an inlet opening adjacent to the surface to be cleaned, which extends from the inlet opening to a dirt collection zone within the vacuum cleaning apparatus. The floating vacuum heads are each attached to the brush housing in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween. In this regard, a track fixed to the brush housing engages a generally vertically extending flange extending from a vacuum head such that the flange moves within the track to control movement of the vacuum head relative to the brush housing. A roller spaces the flange from the track to minimize frictional contact therebetween, and a stop pin limits relative movement between the vacuum head and the track. A spring is provided to bias the vacuum head downwardly to place the inlet opening adjacent to the surface to be cleaned.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A floating head assembly for a vacuum cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a stationary support within the vacuum cleaning apparatus; dual, independently floating vacuum heads adjacent to the stationary support, each having an inlet opening at one end thereof adjacent to a surface to be cleaned, and an outlet opening spaced from the inlet opening, the vacuum heads defining a portion of respective vacuum pathways extending from the respective inlet opening to a dirt collection zone within the vacuum cleaning apparatus; and means for attaching each vacuum head to the stationary support in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cleaning head assembly for a vacuum cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a rotatably driven brush carried within and laterally spanning the head assembly, the brush being adapted to loosen and agitate dirt on a surface to be cleaned; a first floating vacuum head vertically movable relative to a housing for the brush and defining a portion of a first vacuum pathway having a first inlet opening adjacent to the surface to be cleaned and laterally spanning the head assembly on one side of the brush, the first vacuum pathway extending from the first inlet opening to a dirt collection zone within the vacuum cleaning apparatus; a second floating vacuum head vertically movable relative to the housing for the brush and defining a portion of a second vacuum pathway having a second inlet opening adjacent to the surface to be cleaned and laterally spanning the head assembly on a second, opposite, side of the brush relative to the first inlet opening, the second vacuum pathway extending from the second inlet opening to the dirt collection zone within the vacuum cleaning apparatus; and means for selectively drawing a vacuum through the first or the second vacuum pathways. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A cleaning head assembly for a vacuum cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a rotatably driven brush carried within and laterally spanning the head assembly, the brush being adapted to loosen and agitate dirt on a surface to be cleaned; a vacuum head defining a portion of a vacuum pathway, having an inlet opening adjacent to the surface to be cleaned and laterally spanning the head assembly on one side of the brush, the vacuum pathway extending from the inlet opening to a dirt collection zone within the vacuum cleaning apparatus; and means for attaching the vacuum head to a housing for the brush in a manner permitting free-floating movement of the vacuum head relative the brush housing, wherein the attaching means comprises a track fixed to the brush housing which engages a flange extending from the vacuum head such that the flange moves within the track to control movement of the vacuum head relative the brush housing. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification