Circuit breaker control device for a vacuum cleaners dust hopper

• US 5,920,043 A
• Filed: 08/19/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kinergy Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kinergy Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, Chia-Ming, Wang, Chieh-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US08/914,224
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.2, 200/61.21, 200/83 R-83 Z, 200/329-332, 200/52 R, 15/332, 15/325, 15/389, 15/319
• US Class Current: 200/52.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1472 combined with security means, e.g. for preventing use, e.g. in case of absence of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/20 Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a circuit breaking control device responsive to the correct positioning of a dust collecting bag in order to ensure that the vacuum cleaner is not operated without the dust collecting bag. A visible light may be provided to signal that, although the vacuum cleaner main power switch is on, the motors in the vacuum cleaner are not energized because the dust collecting bag is not in place.

Claims

1. A circuit breaking control device for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

a bracket member which moves in response to positioning of a dust collection bag in the vacuum cleaner, and thereby detects whether the dust collecting bag is properly positioned; and

a switch movable in response to movement of the bracket member, said switch being arranged to prevent supply of electricity to an electric circuit connected to at least one motor in the vacuum cleaner when the bracket member fails to detect proper positioning of the dust collecting bag, thereby preventing the motor from being started unless the bag is properly positioned.

2. The circuit breaking control device of claim 1, wherein said bracket is pivotally biased against a dust collection port and arranged to abut the dust collecting bag following insertion of the dust collecting bag between the bracket and said port.

3. The circuit breaking control device of claim 1, wherein said control device further comprises:

a V-shaped lever having first and second arms separated by a fixed angle, the arms arranged to swivel so that when said dust bag detection bracket moves to said de-energized position, said dust bag detection bracket does not abut the first arm, thereby leaving the electric switch in an electrically open position, and when said dust bag detection bracket moves to said energized position, said dust bag detection bracket abuts and displaces the first arm, thereby causing the second arm to abut and displace a circuit-connecting portion of said electric switch, which causes the electric switch to move to an electrically closed position, whereby said vacuum cleaner motors are electrically de-energized in said switch open position and electrically energized in said switch closed position.

4. The circuit breaking control device of claim 3, wherein said control device further comprises:

a sliding knob, said knob having a first end abutting said dust bag detection bracket and a second end abutting said first arm of said V-shaped lever, whereby pressure exerted by the dust bag detection bracket on said first end causes the sliding knob to slide against the first arm of the V-shaped lever, thereby causing the first arm to swivel.

5. The circuit breaking control device of claim 1, wherein:

said vacuum cleaner has a body portion having a receiving recess formed on an inside surface thereof arranged to receive said control device.

6. The circuit breaking control device of claim 1, wherein said control device further comprises:

an indicator light arranged to illuminate when a switch for starting said motor is switched to an on position and said control device fails to detect the absence of a dust collecting bag.