Upright vacuum cleaner

• US 5,850,666 A
• Filed: 01/10/1997
• Issued: 12/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kalman, Jeffrey M., Stephens, Paul D., Thur, Charles J., Saunders, Craig M., Farone, Richard C., Wright, Michael F., Salo, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/781,805
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 15/339, 15/351
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0673 with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner is provided and includes an upper section with a handle (15) and a lower cleaning nozzle section (14, 14'"'"') having a main suction opening (18) formed in the underside (16) thereof. A suction source (M) is provided and an edge cleaning tool (60) having a suction bore (64) formed therethrough is releasably connected to the cleaning nozzle section (14'"'"'). A suction hose (20) selectively connects one of the main suction opening (18) of the nozzle (14'"'"') and the suction bore (64) of the edge cleaning tool (60) with the suction source (M). First and second laterally spaced casters (30a, 30b) extend from the underside (16) of the nozzle (14, 14'"'"') and each caster (30a, 30b) is pivotable respectively about a vertical axis (D,E). First and second laterally spaced fixed wheels (32a, 32b), each rotatable about a single rolling axis (C), are also provided and positioned forward of the first and second casters (30a, 30b). Each fixed wheel (32a, 32b) includes a rolling surface (40a, 40b) and curved inner and outer transition surfaces (42a, 42b), (44a, 44b) connecting its rolling surface (40a, 40b) to the inner and outer sides (42a, 42b), (44a, 44b) of the wheel (32a, 32b).

Claims

1. An upright vacuum cleaner comprising:

an upper section including a handle;

a lower cleaning nozzle section including an underside with a main suction opening formed therethrough;

first and second laterally spaced casters extending from said underside of said nozzle, each of said first and second casters being pivotable relative to said nozzle and including a wheel rotatable about a rolling axis; and

,

first and second laterally spaced fixed wheels positioned forward of said first and second casters and rotatable about only a single rolling axis, each of said first and second forward wheels including a rolling surface and curved inner and outer transition surfaces connecting said rolling surface to inner and outer wheel sides, respectively.

2. An upright vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner and outer curved transition surfaces each comprise a spherical radius of curvature.