Vacuum cleaner accessory tool

• US 8,261,407 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bozzelli, Robert F., Charlton, Chris, Chick, Andy, Doerfler, Matt, Allemann, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US12/552,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20110047744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 153/65, 153/67, 153/75, 153/87, 153/98, 154/16, 154/21
• US Class Current: 15/365
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0416 driven by fluid pressure, e.g. by means of an air turbine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0673 with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/068 Nozzles combined with a different cleaning side, e.g. duplex nozzles or dual purpose nozzles

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner is operable to draw air through a suction hose to clean a surface. The accessory tool includes a housing that defines a chamber, and the housing includes an exterior surface and an interior surface. An outlet conduit is in fluid communication with the chamber, and the outlet conduit is configured to couple the accessory tool to the suction hose. A suction inlet aperture extends through the housing to provide fluid communication into the chamber. The accessory tool further includes a brush assembly extending from the exterior surface of the housing, and the brush assembly includes an auxiliary aperture to provide fluid communication into the chamber.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner operable to draw air through a suction hose to clean a surface, the accessory tool comprising:

a housing that defines a chamber, the housing including an exterior surface and an interior surface;

an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the chamber, the outlet conduit configured to couple the accessory tool to the suction hose;

a suction inlet aperture that extends through the housing to provide fluid communication into the chamber;

a brush assembly extending from the exterior surface of the housing, the brush assembly including an auxiliary aperture to provide fluid communication into the chamber; and

an agitator rotationally coupled to the housing at least partially within the chamber and adjacent the suction inlet aperture.

2. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the brush assembly includes a base member coupled to the housing and a brush member that extends from the base member, wherein the auxiliary aperture extends through the base member adjacent the brush member.

3. The accessory tool of claim 2, wherein the brush assembly includes a plurality of brush members arranged in a row along the base member, wherein the brush assembly includes a plurality of auxiliary apertures arranged in the row.

4. The accessory tool of claim 2, wherein the housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing, wherein the lower housing includes the suction inlet aperture, and wherein the upper housing includes an elongated aperture that receives the base member to couple the brush assembly to the housing.

5. The accessory tool of claim 4, wherein the auxiliary aperture includes a first portion that extends through the base member of the brush assembly and a second portion that extends through the upper housing.

6. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the brush assembly includes a base member coupled to the housing and a brush member that extends from the base member, wherein the brush member includes nylon bristles.

7. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the brush assembly includes a base member coupled to the housing and a brush member that extends from the base member, wherein the brush member includes a rubber knob.

8. The accessory tool of claim 1, further comprising an air turbine positioned within the chamber, wherein the air turbine is operable to rotate the agitator.

9. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a leading end and a trailing end opposite the leading end, wherein the outlet conduit extends from the trailing end, and wherein the brush assembly extends from the leading end.

10. A vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner operable to draw air through a suction hose to clean a surface, the accessory tool comprising:

a housing that defines a chamber, the housing including an exterior surface and an interior surface;

an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the chamber, the outlet conduit configured to couple the accessory tool to the suction hose;

a suction inlet aperture that extends through the housing to provide fluid communication into the chamber; and

a brush assembly having a base member and a brush member that extends from the base member, the base member removably coupled to the exterior surface of the housing such that the brush member extends from the exterior surface of the housing;

wherein the housing includes an elongated aperture that receives the base member to removably coupled the brush assembly to the housing and wherein the housing defines a leading end and a trailing end opposite the leading end, wherein the outlet conduit extends from the trailing end, wherein the brush assembly extends from the leading end such that the brush member forms a forward most point of the accessory tool.

11. The accessory tool of claim 10, wherein the base member is coupled to the housing at least partially within the elongated aperture using an interference fit.

12. The accessory tool of claim 10, wherein the housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing coupled to the upper housing, wherein the lower housing includes the suction inlet aperture, and wherein the upper housing includes the elongated aperture.

13. The accessory tool of claim 10, further comprising,

an agitator rotationally coupled to the housing at least partially within the chamber and adjacent the suction inlet aperture, the agitator including a plurality of flexible resilient blades;

and

a drive member operable to rotate the agitator.

14. The accessory tool of claim 10, further comprising,

an agitator rotationally coupled to the housing at least partially within the chamber and adjacent the suction inlet aperture;

and

an air turbine positioned within the chamber, wherein the air turbine is operable to rotate the agitator.

15. The accessory tool of claim 10, wherein the brush assembly includes a plurality of brush members arranged in a row, and wherein the brush members are formed from nylon bristles.

16. The accessory tool of claim 10, wherein the brush assembly includes an auxiliary aperture that extends through the base member of the brush assembly and the housing to provide fluid communication into the chamber.

17. The accessory tool of claim 16, wherein the brush assembly includes a plurality of brush members arranged in a row along the base member, wherein the brush assembly includes a plurality of auxiliary apertures arranged in the row.

18. A vacuum cleaner accessory tool configured for use with a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner operable to draw air through a suction hose to clean a surface, the accessory tool comprising:

a housing that defines a chamber, the housing including an exterior surface and an interior surface;

an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the chamber, the outlet conduit configured to couple the accessory tool to the suction hose;

a suction inlet aperture that extends through the housing to provide fluid communication into the chamber; and

a brush assembly extending from the exterior surface of the housing, the brush assembly including an auxiliary aperture to provide fluid communication into the chamber,

wherein the brush assembly includes a base member coupled to the housing and a brush member that extends from the base member, wherein the auxiliary aperture extends through the base member adjacent the brush member, and

wherein the housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing, wherein the lower housing includes the suction inlet aperture, and wherein the upper housing includes an elongated aperture that receives the base member to couple the brush assembly to the housing.

19. The accessory tool of claim 18, wherein the auxiliary aperture includes a first portion that extends through the base member of the brush assembly and a second portion that extends through the upper housing.