Agitator motor projection system for vacuum cleaner

• US 6,351,872 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• 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:
  US09/575,945
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 153/39, 153/61, 153/34, 153/77, 153/90, 153/32
• US Class Current: 15/334
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a housing incorporating a handle assembly and a nozzle assembly, a suction fan and cooperating suction fan drive motor carried on the housing, a rotary agitator held in the nozzle assembly, an agitator drive motor carried on the housing and a motor control and protection circuit. The motor control and protection circuit includes a handle switch to de-energize the agitator motor when the handle is displaced to an upright storage position. The motor control and protection circuit may also include an above-floor switch and cooperating activation to de-energize the agitator drive motor when the nozzle assembly is displaced above the floor for bare floor cleaning. Additionally, the motor control and protection circuit may include a hose switch and activator, a selection switch and activator, a circuit breaker and a temperature sensor switch.

Claims

1. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a housing including a handle assembly and a nozzle assembly;

a suction fan and cooperating suction fan drive motor carried on said housing;

a rotary agitator held in said nozzle assembly;

an agitator drive motor carried on said housing; and

a motor control and protection circuit, said motor control and protection circuit being characterized by a handle switch and a handle actuator cooperating with said handle switch to de-energize said agitator motor when said handle is displaced to an upright storage position.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes an above-floor switch and an above-floor actuator cooperating with said above-floor switch to de-energize said agitator drive motor when said nozzle assembly is displaced a predetermined distance above the floor for bare floor cleaning.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said vacuum cleaner further includes a hose and said motor control and protection circuit further includes a hose switch and a hose actuator cooperating with said hose switch to de-energize said agitator drive motor when an end of said hose is released and manipulated for cleaning.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a selector switch and a selector actuator cooperating with said selector switch for selectively de-energizing said agitator drive motor independent of said suction fan drive motor.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a circuit breaker to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if current drawn thereby exceeds a predetermined first value.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a temperature sensor switch to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if temperature of said agitator drive motor exceeds a predetermined second value.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a temperature sensor switch to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if temperature of said agitator drive motor exceeds a predetermined second value.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a circuit breaker to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if current drawn thereby exceeds a predetermined first value.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a temperature sensor switch to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if temperature of said agitator drive motor exceeds a predetermined second value.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a selector switch and a selector actuator cooperating with said selector switch for selectively de-energizing said agitator drive motor independent of said suction fan drive motor.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a circuit breaker to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if current drawn thereby exceeds a predetermined first value.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a temperature sensor switch to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if temperature of said agitator drive motor exceeds a predetermined second value.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said vacuum cleaner further includes a hose and said motor control and protection circuit further includes a hose switch and a hose actuator cooperating with said hose switch to de-energize said agitator drive motor when an end of said hose is released and manipulated for cleaning.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a selector switch and a selector actuator cooperating with said selector switch for selectively de-energizing said agitator drive motor independent of said suction fan drive motor.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a circuit breaker to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if current drawn thereby exceeds a predetermined first value.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said motor control and protection circuit further includes a temperature sensor switch to interrupt power to said agitator drive motor if temperature of said agitator drive motor exceeds a predetermined second value.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said handle switch is a normally open microswitch mounted in said handle for rotation about said handle actuator as said handle is displaced to and from said upright storage position.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein said handle actuator includes a cam surface defining a semicircular arc about a pivotal axis of said handle, said semicircular arc of said cam surface engaging a trigger of said microswitch when said handle is in other than said upright storage position.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said cam surface includes a non semicircular arc portion where said trigger of said microswitch disengages from said cam surface when said handle is in said upright storage position thereby de-energizing said agitator drive motor.