Blocker door for an agitator duct of a vacuum cleaner

• US 7,055,211 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Tucker, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/417,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 153/28, 153/31, 153/32, 153/34, 153/35, 153/37
• US Class Current: 15/334
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24

Abstract

A blocker door assembly is disclosed. The blocker door assembly includes a carpet engaging nozzle base and a nozzle opening positioned in the base. The blocker door assembly further includes a rotating agitator positioned in the nozzle opening and an outlet duct in fluid communication with the nozzle opening. The blocker door assembly yet further includes a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the duct. The blocker door assembly further includes a blocker door adapted to slide between a open position which places the nozzle opening in fluid communication with the motor fan unit and a closed position which blocks fluid communication between the nozzle opening and the motor fan unit. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A blocker door assembly, comprising:

a carpet engaging nozzle base;

a nozzle opening positioned in the base;

a rotating agitator positioned in the nozzle opening;

an outlet duct in fluid communication with the nozzle opening;

a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the duct;

a blocker door adapted to slide between a open position which places the nozzle opening in fluid communication with the motor fan unit and a closed position which blocks fluid communication between the nozzle opening and the motor fan unit;

a spring which biases the blocker door into the closed position,

an arcuate track defined in the base;

an arcuate blocker door surface adapted to engage the arcuate track;

a tab extending beneath the arcuate blocker door surface; and

a slot defined in the arcuate track, wherein;

the blocker door follows an arcuate path as the blocker door is moved between the open position and the closed position,

the tab is positioned within the slot to align the blocker door relative to the base; and

the tab slides within the slot as the blocker door moves between the open position and the closed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible hose adapted to engage the duct.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flexible hose may be placed on the duct when the blocker door is in the open position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein placing the flexible hose on the duct moves the blocker door to the open position.