Detachable accessory holder

• US 7,159,272 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Holsten, Stuart V, Tomasiak, Mark J
• Primary Examiner(s): Till; Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/063,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 152/570.1, 152/570.5, 152/571, 153/23, 153/53, 220/23.4, 220/23.86, 220/480, 220/481, 220/697, 220/735, 220/736
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0018 integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner

Abstract

The present invention provides a holder for storing accessories on a wet/dry vacuum. The holder securely attaches to the vacuum and readily detaches therefrom. The detachable holder may be detached with the accessories. While an operator dumps debris out of the drum of the vacuum, detaching the holder prevents the accessories from being inadvertently spilled out of or discarded from the holder. The detachable accessory holder fully secures to a bracket attached to the vacuum. The secure attachment prevents the holder from falling off or tipping on the vacuum. To attach the holder to the bracket and vacuum, grooves on the holder are set on to an axle of the vacuum. As the holder is pivoted about the axle, tabs and a latch on the holder engage slots and a step on the bracket. To remove the holder, the operator presses on the latch and lifts the holder from the bracket and the appliance.

Claims

1. An appliance having accessories comprising:

a first pivot portion on the appliance;

a first connection portion on the appliance;

a holder for holding the accessories being removable from the appliance;

a second pivot portion on the holder being rotatably connectable to the first pivot portion of the appliance, the first and second pivot portions permitting rotation of the holder in a rotational direction when connected; and

a second connection portion on the holder being positively coupleable to the first connection portion of the appliance,

the first and second connection portions at least restricting removal of the holder from the appliance in the rotational direction when positively coupled.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a vacuum.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the second pivot portion of the holder comprises a groove defined at a lower end of the holder.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the first pivot portion of the appliance comprises an axle on the appliance.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the second connection portion of the holder comprises a tab situated at an upper end of the holder.

6. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the first connection portion of the appliance comprises a slot defined at an upper end of the appliance.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the tab positively couples to the slot in a first radial direction.

8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the first connection portion of the appliance comprises a ramp adjacent the slot and engaging the tab of the second connection portion, the ramp displacing the holder in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction.

9. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a movable member on the holder selectively permitting or restricting removal of the holder from the appliance in a radial direction.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the movable member comprises a first positive stopping surface being movable relative to a second positive stopping surface on the appliance.

11. A device for an appliance having accessories comprising:

means for holding the accessories;

means for removably connecting the holding means to the appliance, the holding means being rotatable in a rotational direction about the removably connecting means; and

first means for restricting removal of the holding means from the appliance in the rotational direction.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the removably connecting means comprises a groove defined at a lower end of the holding means.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the groove removably and rotatably connects to an axle of the appliance.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the first restricting means comprises a connection portion of the holding means positively coupleable to the appliance in a first radial direction.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the connection portion comprises a tab situated at an upper end of the holding means.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the tab is positively coupleable to a slot defined at an upper end of the appliance.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising means for displacing the first member in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction.

18. The device of claim 11, further comprising second means for restricting removal of the holding means from the appliance in a radial direction.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the second restricting means comprises a first positive stopping surface on the holding means movable relative to a second positive stopping surface on the appliance.