Vacuum cleaner height adjustment

• US 5,970,576 A
• Filed: 03/26/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Crine, Michael W., Harsh, Kurt D., Maurer, Edgar A., Wareham, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/824,769
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 15/354, 15/355, 15/356
• US Class Current: 15/354
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools

Abstract

A suction nozzle is provided with a linearly movable, stepped cam which adjusts the height of the suction nozzle by acting against a pivoted wheel carriage. The stepped cam is relatively fixedly positioned by an indexing means including a deflectable arm which is manually deformed to release the fixed indexing and then manipulated in a sideward direction to move the position of the stepped linear cam means.

Claims

1. A height adjustment arrangement for a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, said height adjustment arrangement comprising:

a) a wheel carriage pivotally mounted to said suction nozzle for supporting said suction nozzle on a floor surface;

b) a height adjusting cam linearly movable along said suction nozzle, said height adjusting cam having a cam surface positioned to engage said wheel carriage and cammingly pivot said wheel carriage relative said nozzle when said height adjusting cam is linearly displaced, to thereby adjust the height of said nozzle above a floor surface;

c) an actuator for selectively linearly displacing said height adjusting cam;

d) said actuator comprises a deflectable manual actuation tab extending from said height adjusting cam for operation of said actuator via an operator'"'"'s finger; and

e) wherein said actuation tab is a cantilever.

2. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said manual actuation tab is generally hook shaped to facilitate actuation thereof by an operator'"'"'s finger.

3. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) said suction nozzle includes a frame having a wall with a slot passing therethrough;

b) said height adjusting cam is wider than said slot and is located on a first side of said frame wall;

c) said actuator is wider than said slot and is located on a second side of said frame wall, opposite said height adjusting cam; and

d) one of said height adjustment cam and said actuator has a mounting portion that extends through said slot in said frame wall, said mounting portion is fastened to the other of said height adjustment cam and said actuator, whereby said frame wall is sandwiched between said height adjustment cam and said actuator.

4. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 3, wherein:

a) said mounting portion comprises a pair of resilient hook arms; and

b) the other of said height adjustment cam and said actuator has a pair of hook receiving portions that are sized, shaped and located to receive said resilient hook arms and thereby snap said height adjustment cam and said actuator together.

5. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said hook receiving portions are formed by a pair of through holes in said other of said height adjustment cam and said actuator.

16. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said wheel carriage includes at least one upwardly extending projection that is located for engagement by said cam surface.

17. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said actuation tab includes a generally hook-shaped finger engaging portion located at an outer end of said cantilever.

18. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 17, further comprising:

a) a series of indexing indents formed in said suction nozzle; and

b) wherein said actuation tab is located such that an indexing portion of said actuation tab is selectively received in one of said indexing recesses to maintain said height adjusting cam in a select position; and

c) said actuation tab is formed such that upon deflection of said actuation tab by an operator, said indexing portion is removed from said one indexing recess to facilitate linear displacement of said height adjustment cam to adjust the height of said nozzle above a floor.

19. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said indexing portion comprises an indexing projection that is sized and shaped to be selectively received in each of said indexing recesses.

6. A height adjustment arrangement for a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, said height adjustment arrangement comprising:

a) a wheel carriage pivotally mounted to said suction nozzle for supporting said suction nozzle on a floor surface;

b) a height adjusting cam linearly movable along said suction nozzle, said height adjusting cam having a cam surface positioned to engage said wheel carriage and cammingly pivot said wheel carriage relative said nozzle when said height adjusting cam is linearly displaced, to thereby adjust the height of said nozzle above a floor surface;

c) an actuator for selectively linearly displacing said height adjusting cam;

d) said actuator comprises a deflectable manual actuation tab extending from said height adjusting cam for operation of said actuator via an operator'"'"'s finger;

e) a series of indexing indents formed in said suction nozzle; and

f) wherein said actuation tab is located such that a portion of said actuation tab is serially received in each of said indexing recesses to selectively indexably located said height adjusting cam relative said frame.

7. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 6, wherein upon actuation of said actuation tab by an operator'"'"'s finger, said actuation tab is deflected out of a select one of said indexing recesses for facilitating linear movement of said height adjusting means by an operator.

8. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said actuation tab is a cantilever.

9. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said actuation tab includes an indexing projection that is sized and shaped to be serially received in each of said indexing recesses.

10. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said indexing indents are formed in a plate-like piece affixed to said suction nozzle.

11. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said plate-like piece comprises a wall that is integrally molded as a part of said suction nozzle.

12. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said actuation tab is a cantilever.

13. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said actuation tabs includes a finger engaging portion located at an outer end of said cantilever.

14. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said finger engaging portion is curved to comfortably engaged by an operator'"'"'s finger.

15. A height adjustment arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said finger engaging portion is generally hook-shaped.