Vacuum cleaner with dual agitator windows

• US 6,289,552 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Corporation Of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: McCormick, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/575,912
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 153/24, 153/39, 153/25
• US Class Current: 15/324
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a nozzle that incorporates an agitator cavity. A rotary agitator is received in the agitator cavity. A light source is held in an illumination compartment carried on the housing. A first window divides the illumination compartment from the agitator cavity and a second window provides an outer facing for the illumination compartment. The light source illuminates the agitator which is viewed through the first and second windows.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a housing including a nozzle having an agitator cavity;

an agitator in said agitator cavity mounted for rotation relative to said housing;

a suction generator carried on said housing;

an illumination compartment carried on said housing;

a light source held in said illumination compartment;

a first window dividing said illumination compartment from said agitator cavity; and

a second window providing an outer facing for said illumination compartment.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said second window at least partially overlies said first window in a vertical plane.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said light source at least partially overlies said agitator in a vertical plane.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said first window, said second window, said light source and said agitator at least partially overlie each other in a vertical plane.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said first window is transparent and at least partially overlies said agitator thereby providing a direct light path between said light source and said agitator.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said second window is transparent and incorporates at least one prism for bending light forward to illuminate an area in front of said vacuum cleaner.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further including a bumper guard secured to said nozzle assembly, said bumper guard including an opening.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein said second window includes a front portion that matches said opening in said bumper guard.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein said bumper guard opening and said front portion are arch shaped.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said second window includes a raised central section and slopes downwardly adjacent each side.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said nozzle is hammerhead shaped.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein said first and second windows overlie a suction inlet in fluid communication with said agitator cavity and said suction generator.

13. A vacuum cleaner including a nozzle housing for holding a rotary agitator, said vacuum cleaner further including an agitator window assembly, comprising:

first and second windows at least partially overlying said agitator and a light source for projecting light into a gap formed between said first and second windows so as to illuminate said agitator.

14. A method of illuminating and viewing an agitator of a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

providing an illumination compartment overlying said agitator;

flooding said illumination compartment with light; and

viewing said agitator through windows providing a sight path through said illumination compartment.