Floating nozzle

• US 6,799,351 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc. (1670255 Ontario, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc. (1670255 Ontario, Inc.)
• Inventors: Porath, Steven H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cole, Laura C
• Application Number:
  US10/112,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 152/462, 153/001, 153/25, 154/151, 154/22, 153/54, 153/59, 153/63, 153/77, 153/78, 153/91, D32/21
• US Class Current: 15/377
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools

Abstract

A power nozzle for use with a vacuum cleaner. The power nozzle includes a housing having at least two compartments and a bottom surface, a rotary brush at least partially in a front compartment of the housing, a brush motor at least partially positioned in an back compartment of the housing, a suction opening located in the bottom surface of the housing, a set of front wheels, a set of rear wheels, and a wand connected to the housing. The bottom surface has a front end, a back end, and a non-planar shape. The bottom surface at least partially slopes downwardly at least between the front end of the bottom surface and the set of front wheels.

Claims

1. In a power nozzle for use with a vacuum cleaner, said power nozzle including a housing having at least two compartments and a bottom surface, a rotary brush at least partially in a front compartment of the housing, a brush motor at least partially positioned in a back compartment of the housing, a suction opening located in the bottom surface of the housing, a set of front wheels, a set of rear wheels, and a wand opening adapted to connect to a wand;

said bottom surface having a front end, a back end, and having a non-uniform planar shape between the front end and the back end, said bottom surface at least partially sloping downwardly at least between the front end of the bottom surface and the front wheels, said front set of wheels are spaced from the front end of said bottom surface a distance that is at least half the distance between the front end and back end of said bottom surface such that a position of the front set of wheels in combination with the non-uniform planar shaped bottom surface results in a floating effect, said suction opening is positioned between said front end and said front set of wheels.

2. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said front set of wheels are unadjustable.

3. The power nozzle as defined in claim 2, wherein said rear set of wheels are unadjustable.

4. The power nozzle as defined in claim 3, wherein said a majority of downward slope is substantially linear.

5. The power nozzle as defined in claim 4, wherein a majority of said downward slope begins at a point spaced from the front end of said bottom surface.

6. The power nozzle as defined in claim 5, wherein said downward slope ends at a point spaced from the back end of the suction opening.

7. The power nozzle as defined in claim 6, said bottom surface at least partially slopes upwardly at least between the suction opening and the back end of the bottom surface.

8. The power nozzle as defined in claim 7, wherein a majority of said upward slope is substantially linear.

9. The power nozzle as defined in claim 8, wherein said upward slope begins at a point spaced from the back end of the suction opening.

10. The power nozzle as defined in claim 9, including a dirt guard positioned on and extending downwardly from said bottom surface.

11. The power nozzle as defined in claim 10, wherein said dirt guard is positioned rearwardly of said suction opening.

12. The power nozzle as defined in claim 11, including a screen connected to said suction opening.

13. The power nozzle as defined in claim 12, wherein said screen is detachably connected to said suction opening.

14. The power nozzle as defined in claim 10, wherein said dirt guard is positioned forwardly of said front set of wheels.

15. The power nozzle as defined in claim 14, including a screen connected to said suction opening.

16. The power nozzle as defined in claim 15, wherein said screen is detachably connected to said suction opening.

17. The power nozzle as defined in claim 16, including a motor filter to at least partially filter air entering said back compartment.

18. The power nozzle as defined in claim 17, including a motor filter to at least partially filter air exiting said back compartment.

19. The power nozzle as defined in claim 18, including a safety switch to deactivate said brush motor when said power nozzle is in an improper position.

20. The power nozzle as defined in claim 19, including a rubber bumper.

21. The power nozzle as defined in claim 20, including a side suction opening positioned adjacent said suction opening.

22. The power nozzle as defined in claim 3, said bottom surface at least partially slopes upwardly at least between the suction opening and the back end of the bottom surface.

23. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said a majority of downward slope is substantially linear.

24. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein a majority of said downward slope begins at a point spaced from the front end of said bottom surface.

25. The power nozzle as defined in claim 24, wherein said downward slope ends at a point spaced from the back end of the suction opening.

26. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said downward slope ends at a point spaced from the back end of the suction opening.

27. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, said bottom surface at least partially slopes upwardly at least between the suction opening and the back end of the bottom surface.

28. The power nozzle as defined in claim 27, wherein a majority of said upward slope is substantially linear.

29. The power nozzle as defined in claim 27, wherein said upward slope begins at a point spaced from the back end of the suction opening.

30. The power nozzle as defined in claim 27, wherein said upward slope ends at the back end.

31. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, including a dirt guard positioned on and extending downwardly from said bottom surface.

32. The power nozzle as defined in claim 31, wherein said dirt guard is positioned rearwardly of said suction opening.

33. The power nozzle as defined in claim 32, wherein said dirt guard is positioned forwardly of said front set of wheels.

34. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, including a screen connected to said suction opening.

35. The power nozzle as defined in claim 34, wherein said screen is detachably connected to said suction opening.

36. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, including a motor filter to at least partially filter air entering said back compartment.

37. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, including a motor filter to at least partially filter air exiting said back compartment.

38. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, including a safety switch to deactivate said brush motor when said power nozzle is in an improper position.

39. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, including a rubber bumper.

40. The power nozzle as defined in claim 1, including a side suction opening positioned adjacent said suction opening.

41. A power nozzle for use with a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having a bottom surface, a suction opening located in the bottom surface of the housing, and a wand connection opening adapted to receive a wand;

said bottom surface having a front end, a back end, and a non-uniform planar shape between the front end and the back end, said bottom surface at least partially sloping downwardly at least between the front end of the bottom surface and a back end of the suction opening, said front set of wheels are spaced from the front end of said bottom surface a distance that is at least half the distance between the front end and back end of said bottom surface such that a position of the front set of wheels in combination with the non-uniform planar shaped bottom surface results in a floating effect, said suction opening is positioned between said front end and said front set of wheels.

42. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, including a rotary brush at least partially positioned in said suction opening and a brush motor adapted to rotate said rotary brush.

43. The power nozzle as defined in claim 42, including a set of front wheels and a set of rear wheels.

44. The power nozzle as defined in claim 43, wherein said front set of wheels are unadjustable.

45. The power nozzle as defined in claim 44, wherein said rear set of wheels are unadjustable.

46. The power nozzle as defined in claim 45, wherein said downward slope is substantially linear.

47. The power nozzle as defined in claim 46, wherein said downward slope begins at a point spaced from the front end of said bottom surface.

48. The power nozzle as defined in claim 47, wherein said downward slope ends prior to a back end of the suction opening.

49. The power nozzle as defined in claim 48, said bottom surface at least partially slopes upwardly at least between the front end of the suction opening and the back end of said bottom surface.

50. The power nozzle as defined in claim 49, wherein said upward slope is substantially linear.

51. The power nozzle as defined in claim 49, including a dirt guard positioned on and extending downwardly from said bottom surface.

52. The power nozzle as defined in claim 51, wherein said dirt guard is positioned forwardly of a front set of wheels.

53. The power nozzle as defined in claim 52, including a screen connected to said suction opening.

54. The power nozzle as defined in claim 53, wherein said screen is detachably connected to said suction opening.

55. The power nozzle as defined in claim 54, including a motor filter to at least partially filter air cooling said brush motor.

56. The power nozzle as defined in claim 55, including a safety switch to deactivate said brush motor when said power nozzle is in an improper position.

57. The power nozzle as defined in claim 56, including a rubber bumper.

58. The power nozzle as defined in claim 57, including a side suction opening positioned adjacent said suction opening.

59. The power nozzle as defined in claim 42, including a motor filter to at least partially filter air cooling said brush motor.

60. The power nozzle as defined in claim 42, including a safety switch to deactivate said brush motor when said power nozzle is in an improper position.

61. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, including a set of front wheels and a set of rear wheels.

62. The power nozzle as defined in claim 61, wherein said front set of wheels are unadjustable.

63. The power nozzle as defined in claim 62, including a screen connected to said suction opening.

64. The power nozzle as defined in claim 61, wherein said rear set of wheels are unadjustable.

65. The power nozzle as defined in claim 49, wherein said downward slope is substantially linear.

66. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, wherein said downward slope begins at a point spaced from the front end of said bottom surface.

67. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, wherein said downward slope ends prior to a back end of the suction opening.

68. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, said bottom surface at least partially slopes upwardly at least between the front end of the suction opening and the back end of said bottom surface.

69. The power nozzle as defined in claim 68, wherein said upward slope is substantially linear.

70. The power nozzle as defined in claim 68, wherein said upward slope begins at a point spaced from a back end of the suction opening.

71. The power nozzle as defined in claim 70, wherein said upward slope ends at the back end.

72. The power nozzle as defined in claim 68, wherein said upward slope ends at the back end.

73. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, including a dirt guard positioned on and extending downwardly from said bottom surface.

74. The power nozzle defined in claim 73, wherein said dirt guard is positioned rearwardly of said suction opening.

75. The power nozzle as defined in claim 73, wherein said dirt guard is positioned forwardly of a front set of wheels.

76. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, including a screen connected to said suction opening.

77. The power nozzle as defined in claim 76, wherein said screen is detachably connected to said suction opening.

78. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, including a rubber bumper.

79. The power nozzle as defined in claim 41, including a side suction opening positioned adjacent said suction opening.