Vacuum cleaner having improved steering features
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a base;
a motor housing pivotally attached to said base about a substantially horizontal first axis;
a substantially upright elongate body portion including a handle portion; and
a universal joint assembly defining an air channel capable of facilitating the flow of air from said base to said body portion, said joint assembly itself comprising;
a) an upper universal joint portion rigidly attached to said body portion; and
b) a lower universal joint portion rigidly affixed to said motor housing, one of said upper and lower portions being a male member and the other being a female and said upper and lower universal joint portions being linked such that said upright body portion may be rotated along a second axis relative to said motor housing, such that twisting said upright body portion clockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn right, and twisting said upright body portion counterclockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn left.
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Abstract
An upright steerable vacuum cleaner is provided, which includes the use of a pivotable cylindrical motor housing, as well as a universal joint which is attached to the motor housing, such that twisting at the upper body of the vacuum cleaner clockwise causes the base of the unit to turn right, and twisting in the opposite direction causes it to turn left.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a base; a motor housing pivotally attached to said base about a substantially horizontal first axis; a substantially upright elongate body portion including a handle portion; and a universal joint assembly defining an air channel capable of facilitating the flow of air from said base to said body portion, said joint assembly itself comprising; a) an upper universal joint portion rigidly attached to said body portion; and b) a lower universal joint portion rigidly affixed to said motor housing, one of said upper and lower portions being a male member and the other being a female and said upper and lower universal joint portions being linked such that said upright body portion may be rotated along a second axis relative to said motor housing, such that twisting said upright body portion clockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn right, and twisting said upright body portion counterclockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn left. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a base; a motor housing pivotally attached to said base about a substantially horizontal first axis; a substantially upright elongate body portion including a handle portion; a universal joint assembly defining an air channel capable of facilitating the flow of air from said base to said body portion, said joint assembly itself comprising; a) an upper universal joint portion rigidly attached to said body portion; and b) a lower universal joint portion rigidly affixed to said motor housing, one of said upper and lower portion being a male member and the other being a female and said upper and lower universal joint portions being linked such that said upright body portion may be rotated along a second axis relative to said motor housing, such that twisting said upright body portion clockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn right, and twisting said upright body portion counterclockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn left, and a park lock to facilitate locking of said universal joint responsive to placing said vacuum cleaner in a parked position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a base; a motor housing pivotally attached to said base about a substantially horizontal first axis; a substantially upright elongate body portion including a handle portion; a universal joint assembly defining an air channel capable of facilitating the flow of air from said base to said body portion, said joint assembly itself comprising; a) an upper universal joint portion rigidly attached to said body portion; and b) a lower universal joint portion rigidly affixed to said motor housing, one of said upper and lower portion being a male member and the other being a female and said upper and lower universal joint portions being linked such that said upright body portion may be rotated along a second axis relative to said motor housing, such that twisting said upright body portion clockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn right, and twisting said upright body portion counterclockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn left, and a steering lock to facilitate selective locking of said upper universal joint portion relative to said motor housing. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a base; a motor housing pivotally attached to said base about a substantially horizontal first axis; a substantially upright elongate body portion including a handle portion; a universal joint assembly defining an air channel capable of facilitating the flow of air from said base to said body portion, said joint assembly itself comprising; a) an upper universal joint portion rigidly attached to said body portion; and b) a lower universal joint portion rigidly affixed to said motor housing, one of said upper and lower portion being a male member and the other being a female and said upper and lower universal joint portions being linked such that said upright body portion may be rotated along a second axis relative to said motor housing, such that twisting said upright body portion clockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn right, and twisting said upright body portion counterclockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn left, a park lock to facilitate locking of said universal joint responsive to placing said vacuum cleaner in a parked position; and a steering lock independent of said park lock to facilitate selective locking of said upper universal joint portion relative to said motor housing.
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13. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a base; a motor housing pivotally attached to said base about a substantially horizontal first axis; a substantially upright elongate body portion including a handle portion; a universal joint assembly defining an air channel capable of facilitating the flow of air from said base to said body portion, said joint assembly itself comprising; a) an upper universal joint portion rigidly attached to said body portion; and b) a lower universal joint portion rigidly affixed to said motor housing, one of said upper and lower portion being a male member and the other being a female and said upper and lower universal joint portions being linked such that said upright body portion may be rotated along a second axis relative to said motor housing, such that twisting said upright body portion clockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn right, and twisting said upright body portion counterclockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn left, electrical wire passing through said upper and lower universal joint portions; and a wire storage cavity at least partially defined by said lower universal joint element to facilitate the containment of slack in said wire during pivoting of said upper universal joint portions.
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Specification