Vacuum cleaner with all components in floor traveling head

• US 5,671,499 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krehel, Gregg C., Melito, M. Anthony, Rorke, Anthony Brooks, Potvin, Deborah L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): TILL, TERRENCE R
• Application Number:
  US08/584,651
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 15/347, 15/349, 15/351, 15/352, 15/363, 15/377, 15/383, 15/412, 15/DIG. 1, 15/DIG. 10, 15/339, 15/344
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/32 Carpet-sweepers combined with suction cleaners A47L7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/01 Rechargeable batter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/10 Handles, reels and switches

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a floor traveling head with wheels and an elongate handle pivotably connected to the head. The head has two motors; one connected to an impeller and one connected to a rotatable brush. The head has rechargeable batteries therein for supplying electricity to the motors and a three position electrical switch. All working components of the vacuum cleaner, including an air filter and dust/dirt collection cup, are in the floor traveling head. The handle has no working components thereon.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner having a floor traveling head and an elongate handle connected to the floor traveling head, the floor traveling head comprising:

a housing having the handle pivotable connected thereto;

a vacuum and collection system located in the housing, the system including a motor, an impeller, and a collection unit;

a rotatable brush mounted within the housing;

said vacuum and collection system and said rotatable brush comprising working components of said cleaner said working components of the vacuum cleaner are mounted in the floor traveling head and the handle has no working components of the vacuum cleaner supported thereon; and

said housing having two general clamshell housing members that are connected to each other to form substantially the entirety of the housing.

2. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 1 further comprising rechargeable batteries located in the housing and connected by a switch to the motor.

3. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 2 wherein the switch comprises a three position switch.

4. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 3 further comprising a foot pedal connected to the housing and suitably positioned to actuate the switch.

5. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 2 further comprising a second motor connected to the brush to rotate the brush, the second motor being electrically connected to the batteries by the switch.

6. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 2 further comprising an electrical socket connected to the batteries by a printed circuit board.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having a floor traveling head and an elongated handle pivotably connected to the head, the head having wheels to travel along a floor, a vacuum and collection system, and a rotatable brush, said vacuum and collection system and said rotatable brush comprising working components of said vacuum cleaner the improvement comprising:

all said working components of the vacuum cleaner are located in the floor traveling head and the handle has no working components thereon, wherein the vacuum and collection system includes rechargeable batteries located in the head, a three position switch connecting the batteries to a first impeller drive motor and said head includes a foot pedal pivotable connected to a housing of the head and positioned to actuate the switch.

8. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 7 further comprising a second motor operably connected to the brush to rotate the brush and electrically connectable to the batteries by the three position switch.

9. A vacuum cleaner having a floor traveling head with wheels and an elongate handle connected to the head, the floor traveling head comprising:

a housing having the handle pivotably connected thereto;

a first motor located inside the housing;

an impeller connected to the motor;

a combined collection basket and filter assembly removably mounted to the housing;

rechargeable batteries connected to the housing;

a switch connecting the batteries to the motor, the switch being connected to the housing; and

a rotatable brush connected to the housing.

10. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 9 further comprising a second motor located inside the housing, the second motor being operably connected to the brush to rotate the brush and electrically connectable to the batteries by the switch.

11. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 10 wherein the switch is a three position switch.

12. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 9 wherein the housing comprises two general clamshell housing members that are connected to each other to enclose the first motor, the batteries, and the impeller therebetween, the two housing members forming substantially the entirety of the housing.

13. A vacuum cleaner having a floor traveling head with wheels and an elongate handle having a front and a rear, pivotably connected to the head, the vacuum cleaner comprising:

a vacuum and collection system located in the head;

at least two rechargeable batteries mounted in the handle and electrically connectable to a motor of the vacuum and collection system; and

said handle having at least two holes in said rear that said batteries are slidingly received into to make an electrical connection with said motor.

14. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 13 wherein the handle has a spring clip terminal which the batteries are inserted into.