Cord-based accessory caddy and hand-held steam vacuum
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a vacuum cleaner main housing including a vacuum source;
a power supply cord extending from the vacuum cleaner main housing and having a plug at the distal end thereof;
an accessory caddy main body;
a cord attachment mechanism connected to the accessory caddy main body, the cord attachment mechanism having a configuration which permits attachment of the accessory caddy main body to the power supply cord when the power supply cord is attached to the plug at the distal end and to the vacuum cleaner main housing at the other end; and
a plurality of separate accessory retention mechanisms connected to the accessory caddy main body, each of the plurality of separate accessory retention mechanisms releasably retaining a different one of a plurality of vacuum accessories on the accessory caddy.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cord attachment mechanism is associated with a main body and adapted to attach the accessory caddy to the power cord. An accessory retention mechanism is associated with the main body and adapted to releasably retain a vacuum accessory on the accessory caddy. The main body is adapted to enable the accessory caddy to be manually repositioned along the cord; for example, by sliding or by removal and reattachment. A single, integral part having two sides separated by a living hinge is used to form the main body. Each side has a cooperating snap-fit member which is adapted to retain the two sides together. A hand-held steam vacuum cleaner is also provided which includes the accessory caddy on its power supply cord.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a vacuum cleaner main housing including a vacuum source; a power supply cord extending from the vacuum cleaner main housing and having a plug at the distal end thereof; an accessory caddy main body; a cord attachment mechanism connected to the accessory caddy main body, the cord attachment mechanism having a configuration which permits attachment of the accessory caddy main body to the power supply cord when the power supply cord is attached to the plug at the distal end and to the vacuum cleaner main housing at the other end; and a plurality of separate accessory retention mechanisms connected to the accessory caddy main body, each of the plurality of separate accessory retention mechanisms releasably retaining a different one of a plurality of vacuum accessories on the accessory caddy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An accessory caddy for a vacuum cleaner having a power supply cord, comprising:
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a main body; a cord attachment mechanism connected to the main body and adapted to attach the main body to the power supply cord; and an accessory retention mechanism connected to the main body and comprising a resilient arm adapted to cooperate with a protruding retention member, wherein the protruding retention member is an elongated rib which engages against an edge of the vacuum accessory to releasably retain the vacuum accessory on the accessory caddy.
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8. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a vacuum cleaner main housing including a vacuum source; a vacuum-cleaner-power-supply cord extending from the vacuum cleaner main housing; an accessory caddy main body; a vacuum-cleaner-power-supply-cord attachment mechanism connected to the accessory caddy main body; a releasable vacuum-cleaner-accessory retention mechanism connected to the accessory caddy main body; and a vacuum-cleaner-power-supply-cord storage mechanism connected to the accessory caddy main body; wherein the accessory caddy is attached to the vacuum-cleaner-power-supply cord by the vacuum-cleaner-power-supply-cord attachment mechanism.
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9. An accessory caddy for a vacuum cleaner having a power cord, comprising:
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a main body; a vacuum-cleaner-power-cord attachment mechanism including cooperating snap-fit components connected to the main body, the cooperating snap-fit components being engageable together to attach the main body to the power cord; and a releasable vacuum-cleaner-accessory retention mechanism connected to the main body and having a resilient arm which extends into a space of a vacuum cleaner accessory during retention, the resilient arm having a position in which a vacuum cleaner accessory will be retained, and being movable to another position in which a vacuum cleaner accessory will be released. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A hand-held steam vacuum cleaner including a vacuum accessory, comprising:
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a housing having a debris collection bowl, a liquid supply tank, a steam outlet opening, and a vacuum inlet all associated with the housing; a power supply cord extending from the housing; an accessory caddy adapted to be attached to the power supply cord and to releasably retain the vacuum accessory, the accessory caddy comprising a single, integral part having two sides separated by a living hinge, each side having a cooperating snap-fit member which is adapted to retain the two sides together. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification