Lighted wand assembly with remote light source

• US 7,331,083 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mayes, Robert M., Overvaag, Chad D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider; Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/786,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 153/24, 153/271, 153/272, 153/273, 153/274, 153/275, 153/276, 153/277, 15350-353, 154/151
• US Class Current: 15/324
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices

Abstract

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing, a dirt collector, a suction generator, a wand, a hose, a light source, a light director and a light transmitter. The light source is provided on the apparatus at a first point while the light director is provided on the apparatus at a second point remote from the first point. The light transmitter extends between the first and second points. The light source, transmitter and director all function together to direct light from the light source past the wand onto a work area to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A canister vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main housing;

a dirt collector carried by said main housing;

a suction generator carried by said main housing;

a wand having a first end and a second end;

a hose providing fluid communication between said first end of said wand and said suction generator;

a light source carried on said canister vacuum cleaner at a first point; and

a light transmitter extending along said hose and said wand from said light source at said first point to a second point on said canister vacuum cleaner remote from said first point whereby light from said light source is directed past said second end of said wand onto a surface being cleaned.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said dirt collector is a dirt cup.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is an incandescent bulb.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is a flourescent bulb.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is a halogen bulb.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said light source is a xenon bulb.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein a light director is carried on said canister vacuum cleaner at said second point, said light director being selected from a group consisting of a lens, a prism, a reflector, a minor or a combination thereof.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said light transmitter is selected from a group consisting of a light pipe, a fiber optic cable, a fiber optic strand and combinations thereof.

10. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle assembly with a suction opening;

a canister assembly pivotally connected to said nozzle assembly;

a suction generator carried by one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly;

a dirt collector carried by one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly;

a wand and hose assembly carried by one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly and in selective fluid communication with said suction generator;

a light source carried on said floor cleaning apparatus at a first point; and

a light transmitter extending along said wand and hose assembly substantially between said first point and a second point on said floor cleaning apparatus whereby light from said light source is directed past said wand onto a surface being cleaned.

11. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said dirt collector is a dirt cup.

12. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

13. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said light source is an incandescent bulb.

14. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said light source is a flourescent bulb.

15. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said light source is a halogen bulb.

16. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said light source is a xenon bulb.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 wherein a light director is carried on said floor cleaning apparatus at said second point, said light director being selected from a group consisting of a lens, a prism, a reflector, a mirror or a combination thereof.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 wherein said light transmitter is selected from a group consisting of a light pipe, a fiber optic cable, a fiber optic strand and combinations thereof.