Dirt cup cleaner with nose conversion

• US 5,713,103 A
• Filed: 04/25/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Frederick, Lynn A., Keebler, A. Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/637,522
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 15/331, 15/334, 15/350, 15/323
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner conversion arrangement is disclosed which, particularly, may be advantageously applied to a dirt cup cleaner. In this application, the conversion hose confluently communicates with the dirt cup when the cleaner is in converted condition so that suction air flows from the dirt cup to the motor-fan system of the vacuum cleaner in either of its floor or hose modes of operation. The conversion arrangement generally includes a conversion adapter having a closure means for sealing off its conversion hose and stanchions for conveniently mounting the ends of the same hose when it is not in use. The closure means may take the form of an outer door or an internal flapper valve plate.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner including:

a) a dirt cup;

b) a nozzle suction tube leading to said dirt cup;

c) a communicating port in said dirt cup to confluently connect said dirt cup to said nozzle suction tube;

d) a conversion port in said nozzle suction tube to confluently connect to a hose conversion arrangement; and

e) a motor-fan system for said cleaner for providing a suction flow of air through said dirt cup.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein:

a) said hose conversion arrangement includes an adaptor having

1) a hose;

2) a mount having said hose conversion port;

b) said mount also including at least one stanchion utilized for hose storage purposes.

24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein:

a) a vacuum cleaner hose end is insertable in said conversion port;

b) said vacuum cleaner hose end extends across said nozzle suction tube to provide a seal for it.

25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein:

a) said hose conversion arrangement includes an adaptor having a hose conversion port; and

b) a hose is mounted with said vacuum cleaner.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim I wherein:

a) suction air passing through said conversion port also then passes through said dirt cup towards said motor-fan system.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim I wherein:

a) a closure means is provided for selectively closing said conversion port.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein:

a) said closure takes the form of an outer door swingably mounted to said cleaner.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein:

a) said closure takes the form of a flapper valve plate swingably mounted to said cleaner.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 wherein:

a) said flapper valve plate includes a manipulating handle.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 wherein:

a) said flapper valve plate moves from an open to a closed position and from a closed to an open position; and

b) detents are provided at the open and closed position of said flapper valve plate to help maintain said flapper valve plate in either of the said positions.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim I wherein:

a) said hose conversion arrangement includes a mount having said hose conversion port; and

b) said hose conversion port being aligned and coincident with said communicating port in said dirt cup.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 wherein:

a) said nozzle suction tube includes, adjacent the dirt cup, a horizontal bore portion disposed generally between the hose conversion port and the communicating port in said dirt cup.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 wherein:

a) said bored horizontal portion communicates, at its termination with said conversion port and said communicating port.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein:

a) a part of said bored horizontal portion is formed by a stub conduit; and

b) an adapter array is mounted telescopically over said stub conduit.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12 wherein:

a) said adaptor array includes a movable closure which may selectively open and close said hose conversion port.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 wherein:

a) said movable closure takes the form of a hinged door.

15. A hose conversion adaptor for mounting on a vacuum cleaner including:

a) a bracket having a hose access hole therein; and

b) said bracket also having at least one integral hose storing stanchion disposed transversely spaced from said hose access hole.

16. The hose conversion adaptor of claim 15 wherein:

a) a closure is selectively movably mounted thereon to open and close said hose access hole.

17. The hose conversion adaptor of claim 16 wherein:

a) said closure takes the form of a horizontally hinged door.

18. The hose conversion adaptor of claim 17 wherein:

a) a torsion spring urges said door to said closed condition.

19. The hose conversion adaptor of claim 18 wherein:

a) said door includes an inner seal extending around but inset from its periphery.

20. The hose conversion adaptor of claim 19 wherein:

a) said bracket mounts to said vacuum cleaner telescopically over a stub conduit of said vacuum cleaner.

21. The hose conversion adaptor of claim 20 wherein:

a) said door inner seal engages an end face of said stub conduit when said door is in said closed condition.

22. The vacuum cleaner of claim I wherein:

a) a vacuum cleaner hose end is insertable in said conversion port;

b) said vacuum cleaner hose end has an orienting shape;

c) said conversion port also has at least a partly congruent orienting shape; and

d) said vacuum cleaner hose end includes a latch part;

e) whereby proper insertion of said vacuum cleaner hose end in said conversion port

properly locates said latch part for latching action.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 22 wherein:

a) said orienting shapes are D shaped in cross section.