Accessory storage for a vacuum cleaner

• US 5,373,606 A
• Filed: 07/12/1993
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Moine, David W., Bosyj, Nick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/089,323
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 15/323, 16/18 R, 16/18 CG, 211/70.6, 248/89
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2200/49 Domestic appliances, e.g. vacuum cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/00 Castors in general; Anti-clogging castorscastors for large containers B65D90/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0023 in the form of specific adaptations to the form of the object
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0049 the rolling axle being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0057 the rolling axle being offset from swivel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0068 the swivel axis being vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0073 the swivel axis being symmetrical to wheel or wheels

Abstract

The present invention relates to the storage of vacuuming accessories upon a vacuum cleaner particularly a utility type cleaner. A unique structure is taught whereby the tubular portion of the accessory is telescopingly placed over a post-like structure or within a walled cavity each having at least three sides. In the post-like structure, the three sides are joined one to the other by curved sections each of which tangentially engage the inside surface of the accessory'"'"'s tubular section. Similarly in the walled cavity structure, the outside surface of the accessory'"'"'s tubular portion tangentially engages the inside surface of each cavity wall.

Claims

1. In a castered wheel support used to support thereon a tank type utility vacuum cleaner wherein said wheel support includes vacuuming accessory storage means, the improvement wherein said storage means includes a plurality of vertically extending walls, said walls cooperating to form an open ended enclosure for removably receiving therein the tubular portion of a first vacuum cleaning accessory, whereby said tubular portion of said first accessory, when received within said enclosure, tangentially engages at least three of said walls thereby making line contact with said walls;

said storage means further including a vertically extending post for telescopingly receiving thereon the tubular portion of a second vacuum cleaning accessory, said post having at least three vertically extending sides, said sides joined one to the other by convex surfaces whereby the inside surface of said second tubular portion tangentially engages said convex surfaces thereby making line contact therebetween.

2. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least three of said walls are planar walls.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sides are planar.

4. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said post is axially aligned and positioned within said open ended enclosure.

5. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said post includes a pilot hole for securing thereto a castered wheel assembly.

6. The improvement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said pilot hole is positioned at the junction of two of said sides.

7. In an outrigger castered wheel support used to support a tank type canister vacuum cleaner wherein said wheel support includes accessory support means the improvement wherein said support means includes a vertically extending three-sided triangularly shaped post wherein the triangle apexes define a circumscribing circle having a given diameter whereby said vacuum cleaning accessory, having an internal diameter approximate said circle diameter, may be telescopingly placed upon said post thereby frictionally engaging said triangle apexes.

8. The castered wheel support as claimed in claim 7 wherein said post sides are joined one to the other by a plurality of convex surfaces, said convex surfaces tangentially engaging said accessory internal diameter thereby making line contact therewith.

9. The castered wheel support as claimed in claim 8 wherein said convex surfaces engage said accessory'"'"'s internal diameter throughout an arcuate angle.

10. In an outrigger castered wheel support used to support thereon a tank type canister vacuum cleaner wherein said wheel support includes accessory support means for the storage of vacuum cleaning accessories thereon the improvement comprising three vertically extending side walls forming a hollow triangularly shaped open ended cavity defining an inscribed circle therein having a diameter whereby said vacuum cleaning accessory having an outside diameter approximately equal to said inscribed circle may be telescopingly received within said triangular cavity thereby frictionally engaging said side walls.

11. The castered wheel support as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said side walls tangentially engage said accessory outside diameter thereby making line contact therebetween.

12. The castered wheel support as claimed in claim 11 wherein said side walls include contact pads projecting from at least one of said side walls, each said contact pad engaging said accessory outside diameter.

13. The castered wheel support as claimed in claim 12 wherein said contact pad includes a concave curved surface having a configuration approximating the outside configuration of said accessory for frictional engagement therewith.

14. Accessory storage means for use with a vacuum cleaner said means including a three-sided triangularly shaped post wherein the triangle apexes define a circumscribing circle having a given diameter whereby a vacuum cleaning accessory having an internal diameter approximately equal to said circle diameter may be telescopingly placed upon said post thereby frictionally engaging said triangle apexes.

15. The storage means as claimed in claim 14 wherein said post sides are joined one to the other by a plurality of convex surfaces said convex surfaces tangentially engaging said accessory'"'"'s internal diameter thereby making line contact therewith.

16. The storage means as claimed in claim 15 wherein said convex surfaces engage said accessory internal diameter throughout an arcuate angle.

17. Accessory storage means for use with a vacuum cleaner, said means including at least three vertically extending side walls, said walls forming a hollow triangularly shaped cavity defining an inscribed circle therein having a given diameter whereby a vacuum cleaning accessory having an outside diameter approximately equal to said inscribed circle may be telescopingly placed within said triangular cavity thereby frictionally engaging said side walls.

18. The storage means as claimed in claim 17 wherein each side wall tangentially engages said accessory outside diameter thereby making line contact therebetween.

19. The storage means as claimed in claim 18 wherein said side walls include contact pads projecting from at least one of said side walls, each said contact pad engaging said accessory'"'"'s outside diameter.

20. The storage means as claimed in claim 19 wherein each of said contact pads includes a concave surface having a configuration approximating a portion of the outside configuration of said accessory for frictional engagement therewith.

21. The storage means as claimed in claim 19 wherein at least one of said contact pads tangentially engages the outside surface of said vacuum cleaning accessory thereby making line contact therewith.