Tool storage door for a floor care appliance

• US 6,374,452 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Mion, Luc, Shaanan, Gad, Brousseau, Ivan, Francovich, Walter, McKnight, Darwin T., Essex, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/566,578
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 153/23, 153/271, 153/272
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools

Abstract

A tool storage door for a floor care appliance encloses a tool storage compartment formed on the floor care appliance for storing various floor care accessory tools. The tool storage door receives and supports at least one of the accessory tools. A cutout area is formed in the tool storage door for providing direct and unobstructed visibility to the accessory tool and for allowing a portion of the accessory tool to extend therethrough. A recess which is substantially complementary to the shape of the accessory tool is formed in an underside of the tool storage door for receiving the accessory tool on the tool storage door. A pair of latching tabs extends downwardly from the underside of the tool storage door for releasably retaining the accessory tool within the recess.

Claims

1. A floor care appliance, including:

a housing formed with a tool storage compartment;

an accessory tool removably stored within the tool storage compartment;

a tool door attached to the housing for enclosing the tool storage compartment, said tool door being formed with a cutout area which provides direct visibility to at least a portion of the accessory tool while said accessory tool is stored within the tool storage compartment; and

a latch for releasably securing the accessory tool within the recessed area of the tool door.

2. The floor care appliance defined in claim 1 wherein part of the accessory tool extends through the cutout area when said accessory tool is stored within the tool storage compartment.

3. The floor care appliance defined in claim 1 wherein the tool door is formed with a recessed area for receiving the accessory tool.

4. The floor care appliance defined in claim 3 wherein the recessed area is substantially complementary in shape to part of the accessory tool.

5. The floor care appliance defined in claim 4 wherein the accessory tool attaches to an underside of the tool door;

wherein the tool door includes a retaining wall; and

wherein said retaining wall overlaps the accessory tool to retain said accessory tool within the recessed area of the tool door.

6. A floor care appliance including:

a housing;

a tool storage compartment formed in said housing;

an accessory tool stored within said tool storage compartment, said

accessory tool having a peripheral shape; and

a tool storage door formed with a recessed area for receiving the accessory tool and for enclosing the tool storage compartment, said tool storage door being formed with a cutout which allows a portion of the accessory tool to extend through said tool storage door, said cutout having peripheral edges bounded by said tool storage door and having a shape which is substantially complementary to the peripheral shape of the accessory tool.

7. The floor care appliance defined in claim 6 wherein the recessed area is substantially complementary in shape to part of the accessory tool.

8. The floor care appliance defined in claim 7 wherein the accessory tool attaches to an underside of the tool door.

9. The floor care appliance defined in claim 8 wherein the tool door includes a retaining wall and wherein said retaining wall overlaps the accessory tool to retain said accessory tool within the recessed area of the tool door.

10. The floor care appliance defined in claim 9 further including a latch for releasably securing the accessory tool within the recessed area of the tool door.

11. A floor care appliance, including:

a housing formed with a tool storage compartment;

an accessory tool removably stored within the tool storage compartment;

a tool door attached to the housing for enclosing the tool storage compartment, said tool door being formed with;

a cutout area which provides direct visibility to at least a portion of the accessory tool while said accessory tool is stored within the tool storage compartment, said cutout area having peripheral edges bounded by said tool door;

a recessed area for receiving the accessory tool; and

a latch for releasably securing the accessory tool within the recessed area of the tool door.

12. The floor care appliance defined in claim 11 wherein part of the accessory tool extends through the cutout area when said accessory tool is stored within the tool storage compartment.

13. The floor care appliance defined in claim 12 wherein the recessed area is substantially complementary in shape to part of the accessory tool.

14. The floor care appliance defined in claim 13 wherein the accessory tool attaches to an underside of the tool door.

15. The floor care appliance defined in claim 14 wherein the tool door includes a retaining wall and wherein said retaining wall overlaps the accessory tool to retain said accessory tool within the recessed area of the tool door.