Vacuum cleaner

• US 5,787,546 A
• Filed: 12/02/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goodin, John W., Tyler, William C., Prindle, Carl E., Bass, Charles J., LeBeau, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TILL, TERRENCE R
• Application Number:
  US08/759,112
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 15/323, 15/331, 15/334, 15/344, 15/383, 15/410, 285/7, 285/903
• US Class Current: 15/344
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/26 with driven dust-loosening tools
• 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 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0045 specially adapted for holding the suction tube
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner 20 includes a housing 22 having a handle 208 and a brush compartment 82 for receipt of a brush assembly 104. A channel 210 is formed in the top of handle 208 and supports a hose 160 therein. A crevice tool 194 is coupled to hose 160 and is located in a continuation of channel 210 at a forward portion of housing 22. A forward portion of crevice tool 194 is located in a receptacle 100 formed in housing 22. A dust cup 52 is attachable to housing 22 and forms a dust collection chamber 47. When the vacuum cleaner 20 is operated in a brush mode, dirt-laden air is collected by operation of the brush assembly 104 over a surface being cleaned. In this mode, openings through crevice tool 194 and hose 160 serve as a conduit for the dirt-laden air to the dust collection chamber 47. Crevice tool 194 and hose 160 may be withdrawn from their nested position in channel 210 and vacuum cleaner 20 can be used in a hose mode where dirt-laden air is collected by passing the crevice tool over the surface to be cleaned.

Claims

1. In a housing for a hand-held vacuum cleaner, which comprises:

the housing formed with a forward end and a rearward end which are spaced from each other and spaced sides, the distance between the forward and rearward ends being greater than the distance between the sides;

the housing having a body section having a rear portion and sides which are coincidental with the rearward end and the sides, respectively, of the housing and a forward portion spaced from the rear portion in a direction toward and spaced rearwardly from the forward end of the housing;

a support section having a forward portion spaced rearwardly from the forward end of the housing, an intermediate portion joined with the body section and a rear portion adjacent the rearward end of the housing;

a linking neck section having a rear portion joined with the forward portion of the body section and the support section, and a forward portion of the linking neck section located adjacent the forward end of the housing;

the body section formed with a forward exterior surface spaced from and interfacing with a rearward exterior surface formed on the linking neck section;

a brush compartment section joined with the forward portion of the linking neck section and located at the forward end of the housing;

a handle forming a portion of the support section and extending from the rear portion of the body section toward the forward end of the housing to a juncture with the rear portion of the linking neck section; and

the handle formed with a channel which faces outwardly in a direction away from the body section.

2. In the housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein the channel is a support section channel, which further comprises:

a body section channel formed in the body section and extending between the juncture and the forward portion of the body section; and

the body section channel joined with the support section channel to form a continuous channel extending from the rear portion to the forward portion of the body section.

3. In the housing as set forth in claim 2, which further comprises:

the support section channel is formed in a concave configuration from the rear portion to the juncture.

4. In the housing as set forth in claim 2, which further comprises:

a receptacle formed in the housing in communication with the body section channel at the forward portion of the body section.

5. In the housing as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises:

the channel is formed in a concave configuration from the rear portion to the juncture.

6. In the housing as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises:

the handle being formed with a rear end and a forward end which are joined integrally with spaced portions of the body section; and

an opening formed between the body section and a portion of the handle between the rear and forward ends thereof.

7. The vacuum cleaner as set fourth in claim 1, which comprises:

the housing having a receptacle formed therein and having at least one wall with an inner surface;

an implement having a forward end located in the receptacle with an outer surface of the implement being in facing engagement with the inner surface of the wall;

the implement being formed on the outer surface with a plurality of protrusions;

each of the plurality of protrusions being formed in a prescribed configuration; and

the inner surface of the receptacle wall being formed with a corresponding plurality of depressions, each of which is formed in a configuration which is complementary to the prescribed configuration for receiving the protrusions of the implement upon assembly of the implement into the receptacle.

8. A hand-held vacuum cleaner, which comprises:

a housing formed with a forward end and a rearward end which are spaced from each other and spaced sides, the distance between the forward and rearward ends being greater than the distance between the sides;

the housing having a body section, a support section and a linking neck section;

the body section having a rear portion and sides which are coincidental with the rearward end and the sides, respectively, of the housing and a forward portion spaced from the rear portion in a direction toward and spaced rearwardly from the forward end of the housing;

the support section having a forward portion spaced rearwardly from the forward end of the housing, an intermediate portion joined with the body section and a rear portion adjacent the rearward end of the housing;

the linking neck section having a rear portion joined with the forward portion of the body section and the support section, and a forward portion of the linking neck section located adjacent the forward end of the housing;

the body section formed with a forward exterior surface spaced from and interfacing with a rearward exterior surface formed on the linking neck section;

a brush compartment section joined with the forward portion of the linking neck section and located at the forward end of the housing;

a handle forming a portion of the support section and extending from the rear portion of the body section toward the forward end of the housing to a juncture with the rear portion of the linking neck section; and

the handle formed with a channel which faces outwardly in a direction away from the body section; and

a hose extending from the rear portion of the body section at least to the juncture and being located in the channel.

9. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises:

the portion of the hose which is located in the channel, and the portion of the channel which has the hose located therein, each being formed with shapes which are complementary to each other.

10. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 8, wherein the channel is a support section channel and which further comprises:

a body section channel formed in the body section and extending between the juncture and the forward portion of the body section; and

the body section channel joined with the support section channel to form a continuous channel extending from the rear portion to the forward portion of the body section.

11. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises:

an implement coupled to the hose adjacent the juncture and located in the body section channel whereby the hose and the implement are located in the continuous channel.

12. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 11, which further comprises:

an implement receptacle formed in the housing in communication with the body section channel at the forward portion of the body section; and

a forward end of the implement, opposite the end which is coupled to the hose, being located in the implement receptacle.

13. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 11, which further comprises:

a coupler for facilitating the coupling between the hose and the implement;

the coupler formed with an opening having threads therein of a prescribed pitch;

the hose formed with a first end and a second end and extending therebetween; and

the hose formed in a helical configuration in the prescribed pitch from the first end to the second end thereof for threaded assembly with the coupler.