Handle operated power drive link lockout

• US 6,282,747 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jeffrey A., Louis, Jeffrey S., Thomas, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/603,599
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 153/402, 180/19.3
• US Class Current: 15/340.2
• 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 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2863 Control elements activated by pivoting movement of the upright vacuum cleaner handle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

A self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner is provided having a lower portion and an upright handle portion pivotally attached to the floor engaging portion for a pivotal motion between an upright storage position and a pivotal operating position including a transmission operatively connected to a drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to the transmission for driving the drive wheel in forward and reverse. A clutch engaging member is pivotally mounted to the floor engaging portion adjacent to the transmission for pivotal motion about a pivot axis located generally at a forward portion of the clutch engaging member. Operably associated with the clutch engaging member is a transverse linking member that reciprocates from a neutral position in first and second directions in response to pivotal motion of a bottom link. The reciprocation of the transverse link selectively moves said clutch engaging member from a neutral position to a forward drive position and a reverse drive position. A finger link member carried on the housing assembly is selectively positioned in a channel formed on the bottom link, relative to the pivotal positioning of the housing assembly. Pivotal motion of the finger link engages the bottom link member when the housing assembly and handle portion are in an operative inclined position and does not engage the bottom link member when the housing assembly and handle portion are in a storage upright position.

Claims

1. A self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner having a floor engaging portion, a housing assembly pivotally attached to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion between a generally upright storage position and a pivotal inclined operating position, and a handle portion carried on said housing assembly at a position spaced from said floor engaging portion, said handle portion being adapted for limited reciprocal movement relative to said housing assembly, at least one floor engaging drive wheel mounted to and extending out a lower surface of said floor engaging portion, a transmission operatively connected to said drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to said transmission for selectively driving said drive wheel in forward and reverse, wherein the improvement comprises:

a clutch engaging member pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion adjacent to said transmission for pivotal motion about a first pivot axis located generally at a forward portion of said clutch engaging member;

a first linkage for selectively moving said clutch engaging member from a neutral position to a drive position, said first linkage being carried on said floor engaging portion; and

,

a second linkage for selectively engaging said first linkage, said second linkage being carried on said housing assembly and being operable in response to said reciprocal movement of said handle portion, said second linkage being operably positioned relative to said first linkage when said housing assembly is in the inclined operating position and being inoperably positioned relative to said first linkage when said housing assembly is in the upright storage position.

2. The self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said first linkage includes:

a transverse linking member operably connected to said clutch engaging member at a location spaced from said first pivot axis and being adapted for reciprocal movement in first and second directions, respectively, from a neutral position to selectively move said clutch engaging member from said neutral position to one of said drive positions; and

,

a longitudinal linking member pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion about a second pivot axis spaced from said transmission, said longitudinal linking member being operably connected at a first end thereof to said transverse linking member whereby pivotal motion of said longitudinal linking member causes said reciprocal movement of said transverse linking member.

3. The self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein:

said second;

linkage includes a finger link member having a first end portion, said finger link member being pivotally mounted to said housing assembly at a location spaced from said first end portion for pivotal motion about a third pivot axis; and

said longitudinal linking member includes opposed walls defining an open-ended channel at a second end of the longitudinal linking member wherein said walls are modified V-shaped to provide a local constriction in said channel; and

wherein said first end portion is positioned at said local constriction when said housing assembly is in said inclined operating position, and wherein said first end portion is spaced from said local constriction when said housing assembly is in said upright storage position.

4. The self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said second linkage includes:

a finger link member having a first end portion, said finger link member being pivotally mounted to said housing assembly at a location spaced from said first end portion for pivotal motion about a third pivot axis.

5. The self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein said finger link member further includes:

an arm portion spaced from said first end portion being operably connected to said handle portion at a location spaced from said third pivot axis and being responsive to said reciprocal motion of said handle portion to pivot said finger link member about said third pivot axis.

6. The self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein said finger link member further includes:

an arcuate portion encompassing said first end portion.

7. A method of actuating a transmission in a self-propelled vacuum cleaner having a floor engaging portion, a housing assembly pivotally attached to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion between a generally upright storage position and a pivotal inclined operating position, and a handle portion carried on said housing assembly at a position spaced from said floor engaging portion, said handle portion being adapted for limited reciprocal movement relative to the housing assembly, at least one floor engaging drive wheel mounted to and extending out a lower surface of said floor engaging portion, a transmission operatively connected to said drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to said transmission for selectively driving said drive wheel in forward and reverse, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a clutch engaging member pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion adjacent to said transmission for pivotal motion about a first pivot axis located generally at a forward portion of said clutch engaging member;

providing a first linkage for selectively moving said clutch engaging member from a neutral position to a drive position, said first linkage being carried on said floor engaging portion;

providing a second linkage for selectively engaging said first linkage, said second linkage being carried on said housing assembly and being operable in response to said reciprocal movement of said handle portion, said second linkage being operably positioned relative to said first linkage when said housing assembly is in said inclined operating position and being inoperably positioned relative to said first linkage when said housing assembly is in said upright storage position;

inclining said housing assembly to operably position said second linkage;

manipulating said handle portion to operate said second linkage and thereby selectively engage said first linkage; and

,

selectively moving said clutch engaging member with said first linkage from said neutral position to said drive position.

8. A linkage mechanism for actuating a transmission in a self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner having a floor engaging portion, a housing assembly pivotally attached to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion between a generally upright storage position and a pivotal inclined operating position, and a handle portion carried on said housing assembly at a position spaced from said floor engaging portion, said handle portion being adapted for limited reciprocal movement relative to said housing assembly, at least one floor engaging drive wheel mounted to and extending out a lower surface of said floor engaging portion, wherein said transmission is operatively connected to said drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to said transmission for selectively driving said drive wheel in forward and reverse, the linkage mechanism including:

a clutch engaging member pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion adjacent to said transmission for pivotal motion about a first pivot axis located generally at a forward portion of said clutch engaging member;

a transverse link member operably connected to said clutch engaging member at a location spaced from said first pivot axis and being adapted for reciprocal movement in first and second directions, respectively, from a neutral position to selectively move said clutch engaging member from said neutral position to said drive position;

a bottom linking member pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion about a second pivot axis spaced from said transmission, said bottom linking member being operably connected at a first end thereof to said transverse linking member whereby pivotal motion of said bottom linking member causes said reciprocal movement of said transverse linking member, said bottom linking member comprising opposed walls defining an open-ended channel at a second end of the bottom linking member wherein said walls are modified V-shaped to provide a local constriction in said channel; and

,

a finger link member having a first end portion and an arm portion spaced from said first end portion, said finger link member being pivotally mounted to said housing assembly at a location spaced from said first end portion for pivotal motion about a third pivot axis wherein said first end portion is positioned at said local constriction when said housing assembly is in said inclined operating position whereby pivotal motion of said finger link member causes selective pivotal motion of said bottom link, and wherein said first end portion iss spaced from said local constriction when said housing assembly is in said upright storage position whereby pivotal motion of said finger link member does not cause pivotal motion of the bottom link, said arm portion being operably connected to said handle portion at a location spaced from said third pivot axis and being responsive to said reciprocal motion of said handle portion of pivot said finger link member about said third pivot axis.