Electrostatic cloth attachment for vacuum head

• US 7,337,494 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Great Star Tools USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shop-Vac Corporation (Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Company Limited)
• Inventors: Baer, Mark, Crevling, Robert L. Jr., Girton, Cory F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider; Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/854,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 154/03, 152/462, 154/151, 154/16
• US Class Current: 15/403
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/40 Cleaning implements actuated by electrostatic attraction; Devices for cleaning same; Magnetic cleaning implements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0686 Nozzles with cleaning cloths, e.g. using disposal fabrics for covering the nozzle

Abstract

A vacuum head assembly is disclosed which includes a vacuum head detachably connected to a secondary head, which is designed to carry an electrostatic cloth. The secondary head assumes a horizontal position behind the vacuum head so that the scoop of the vacuum head moves across the surface to be cleaned first followed by the secondary head, equipped with the electrostatic cloth. The cloth thus engages the floor after the scoop of the vacuum head. The secondary head carrying the electrostatic cloth may be easily connected to and disconnected from the vacuum head thereby rendering the vacuum head suitable for both hard and soft (i.e., carpeted) surfaces.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner that has:

a vacuum head with a front side and a rear side;

a pair of spaced apart brackets on the rear side of the vacuum head;

a secondary head that accommodates a cloth;

a pair of spaced apart brackets on the secondary head; and

a tongue-in-groove connection that detachably connects the brackets on the vacuum head with the brackets on the secondary head.

2. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1, in which the vacuum cleaner also has a pair of latches that secure the secondary head brackets to the vacuum head brackets when the secondary head brackets are connected to the vacuum head brackets by the tongue-in-groove connection.

3. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1, in which the vacuum cleaner also has:

one latch that is connected to one of the secondary head brackets and is flexibly biased into engagement with one of the vacuum head brackets when the tongue-in-groove connection is connected; and

another latch that is connected to the other of the secondary head brackets and is flexibly biased into engagement with one of the vacuum head brackets when the tongue-in-groove connection is connected.

4. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1, in which the vacuum cleaner also has:

one latch that is connected to one of the vacuum head brackets and is flexibly biased into engagement with one of the vacuum head brackets when the tongue-in-groove connection is connected; and

another latch that is connected to the other of the vacuum head brackets and is flexibly biased into engagement with one of the secondary head brackets when the tongue-in-groove connection is connected.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 in which the tongue-in-groove connection comprises each vacuum head bracket comprising a groove and each secondary head bracket comprising a tongue, the secondary head brackets being configured so the tongue of one of the secondary head brackets can be slidably received in the groove of one of the vacuum head brackets and the tongue of the other secondary head bracket can be slidably received in the groove of the other vacuum head bracket.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 in which the tongue-in-groove connection comprises each vacuum head bracket comprising a tongue and each secondary head bracket comprising a groove, the secondary head brackets being configured so the groove of one of the secondary head brackets slidably receives the tongue of one of the vacuum head brackets and the groove of the other secondary head bracket slidably receives the tongue of the other vacuum head bracket.

7. A vacuum cleaner head assembly comprising:

a vacuum head comprising a front side and a rear side connected to a suction hose port, the rear side of the vacuum head further comprising a pair of spaced apart brackets,

the assembly further comprising a secondary head for accommodating a cloth, the secondary head comprising a pair of spaced apart brackets,

the vacuum head brackets and secondary head brackets being detachably connectable by a tongue-in-groove connection, and

the assembly further comprising a pair of latches to secure the secondary head brackets to the vacuum head brackets when the secondary head bracket are connected to the vacuum head brackets by the tongue-in-groove connection.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the vacuum head brackets are connected to the vacuum head with the suction hose port disposed therebetween.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the tongue-in-groove connection comprises each vacuum head bracket comprising a groove and each secondary head bracket comprising a tongue, the secondary head brackets being configured so the tongue of one of the secondary head brackets can be slidably received in the groove of one of the vacuum head brackets and the tongue of the other secondary head bracket can be slidably received in the groove of the other vacuum head bracket.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein one latch is connected to one of the secondary head brackets and the other latch is connected to the other of the secondary head brackets and each of the latches is flexibly biased into engagement with one of the vacuum head brackets when the tongues are received in the grooves.

11. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the tongue-in-groove connection comprises each vacuum head bracket comprising a tongue and each secondary head bracket comprising a groove, the secondary head brackets being configured so the groove of one of the secondary head brackets slidably receives the tongue of one of the vacuum head brackets and the groove of the other secondary head bracket slidably receives the tongue of the other vacuum head bracket.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein one latch is connected to one of the vacuum head brackets and the other latch is connected to the other of the vacuum head brackets and each of the latches is flexibly biased into engagement with one of the secondary head brackets when the tongues are received in the grooves.

13. A vacuum cleaner head assembly comprising:

a vacuum head comprising a front side and a rear side connected to a suction hose port, the rear side of the vacuum head further comprising a pair of brackets spaced apart and connected to the rear side of the vacuum head on either side of the suction hose port,

each vacuum head bracket comprising a slot,

the assembly further comprising a secondary head for accommodating an electrostatic cloth, the secondary head comprising a pair of spaced apart brackets, each bracket of the secondary head comprising a tongue, the brackets of the secondary head being configured so the tongue of one of the secondary head brackets can be slidably received in the slot of one of the vacuum head brackets and the tongue of the other secondary head bracket can be slidably received in the slot of the other vacuum head bracket, and

the secondary head brackets each further comprising a latch to secure the secondary head brackets to the vacuum head brackets when the tongues of the secondary head bracket are received in the slots of the vacuum head brackets.