Vacuum having inlet and storage features

• US 7,716,783 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sheddy, Gregg L., DiPasquale, Kathy E., Maid, Spencer G., Wright, Stuart J., Kunz, Michael P., White, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US11/870,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 153/23, 153271-3277, 153/14, 153/24
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1436 Connecting plates, e.g. collars, end closures
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/26 Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A vacuum including a housing and a suction device disposed within the housing is provided with hose and power cord storage features. A pivotal inlet coupling facilitates storage of the hose. A separately formed inlet body facilitates easier formation of the inlet. A cord wrap feature allows easier storage and removal of the power cord.

Claims

1. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a suction device disposed in said housing; and

an inlet coupling pivotally mounted to said housing and having a hose mounted thereto, said inlet coupling being movable between a hose storage position and a use position, said inlet coupling having a tubular body including a bend therein such that a distal end of said inlet coupling is angled relative to a proximal end of said inlet coupling;

wherein in said storage position, said distal end of said coupling extends generally tangentially to an adjacent surface of said housing and in said use position, said distal end extends generally perpendicular to the adjacent surface of said housing.

2. The vacuum of claim 1, further comprising a handle extending from said head portion, said handle at least partially defining a channel for receiving said hose therein an a storage position.

3. A vacuum comprising:

a housing including a canister portion and a head portion disposed on said canister portion;

a suction device disposed in said housing; and

an inlet coupling pivotally mounted to said canister portion and having a hose mounted thereto, said inlet coupling being movable between a hose storage position and a use position, said inlet coupling having a tubular body including a bend therein such that a distal end of said inlet coupling is angled relative to a proximal end of said inlet coupling;

wherein in said storage position, said distal end of said coupling extends toward said head portion and in said use position, said distal end extends away from said canister portion.

4. The vacuum according to claim 3, wherein said head portion includes at least one channel for receiving said hose therein in a storage position.

5. The vacuum of claim 4, further comprising a handle extending from said head portion, wherein said handle at least partially defines said channel.

6. The vacuum according to claim 3, wherein said inlet coupling is pivotally mounted to a wall of a recess in said canister portion.

7. The vacuum according to claim 6, wherein said recess is formed in an exterior surface of said canister portion.

8. The vacuum according to claim 7, wherein in said storage position, said distal end of said coupling is received within said recess and extends towards said head portion, and in said use position, said distal end of said inlet coupling protrudes from said recess and extends away from said canister portion.

9. A vacuum comprising:

a housing including a canister portion and a head portion, said head portion including a pair of channels for receiving a hose therein in a storage position;

a pair of handles extending from said head portion, said pair of handles at least partially defining said pair of channels;

a suction device disposed in said housing;

an inlet coupling pivotally mounted to said canister portion and having said hose mounted thereto, said inlet coupling being movable between a hose storage position and a use position, said inlet coupling having a tubular body including a bend therein such that a distal end of said inlet coupling is angled relative to a proximal end of said inlet coupling;

wherein in said storage position, said distal end of said coupling extends toward said head portion and in said use position, said distal end extends away from said canister portion.

10. The vacuum of claim 9, wherein said inlet coupling is pivotally mounted to a wall of a recess in said canister portion.