Combined crevice tool and dusting brush

• US 8,402,604 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• 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: Dant, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US12/875,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20120054979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 153/73, 154/00, 154/16, 154/17
• US Class Current: 15/416
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0072 Mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0606 rigidly anchored 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 combined crevice tool and dusting brush includes a main body having a first end including a first suction inlet, a side wall including a second suction inlet, a second end including a discharge outlet and an internal air path. The combined tool and brush further includes a valve body that is received in that air path. The valve body includes a closed end, a discharge end including a discharge opening and a wall including a suction opening. The discharge opening is aligned with the discharge outlet. Further, the valve body is displaceable between two different operating positions.

Claims

1. A tool, comprising:

a main body having a first end including a first suction inlet, a sidewall including a second suction inlet, a second end including a discharge outlet and an internal air path;

a valve body received in said air path, said valve body including a closed end, a discharge end including a discharge opening and a wall including a suction opening, said discharge opening being aligned with said discharge outlet and said valve body being displaceable between a first position wherein said suction opening is in fluid communication with said first suction inlet and a second position wherein said suction opening is in fluid communication with said second suction inlet; and

said tool includes a longitudinal centerline axis A, wherein said first end of said main body is tapered toward said first suction inlet and said taper is offset from said longitudinal axis A.

2. The tool of claim 1, further including an actuator connected to said valve body.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said actuator is a ring received around said sidewall of said main body and said actuator is connected to said valve body through an opening in said sidewall.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein said actuator and said valve body rotate relative to said main body.

5. The tool of claim 1, further including a valve guide provided in said main body.

6. The tool of claim 5, wherein said valve guide includes a first flow opening communicating with said first suction inlet and a second flow opening communicating with said second suction inlet.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein said valve guide includes a wall having a concavity and said second flow opening is formed in said wall in said concavity.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein a portion of said sidewall adjacent said second suction inlet and said concavity define a conically shaped opening and said valve body nests in said conically shaped opening.

9. The tool of claim 1, further including a series of bristle tufts carried on said sidewall around said second suction inlet.

10. The tool of claim 1, wherein said first end of said main body has an elliptical cross section.

11. The tool of claim 1, wherein said second end of said main body and said discharge end of said valve body are both circular in cross section and said discharge end is concentrically received in said second end.

12. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing;

a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;

a suction generator carried on said housing;

a cleaning wand connected to said suction generator; and

a combined crevice tool and dusting brush including;

a main body having a first end including a first suction inlet, a sidewall including a second suction inlet, a second end including a discharge outlet and an internal air path;

a valve body received in said air path, said valve body including a closed end, a discharge end including a discharge opening and a wall including a suction opening, said discharge opening being aligned with said discharge outlet and said valve body being displaceable between a first position wherein said suction opening is in fluid communication with said first suction inlet and a second position wherein said suction opening is in fluid communication with said second suction inlet and

said tool includes a longitudinal centerline axis A, wherein said first end of said main body is tapered toward said first suction inlet and said taper is offset from said longitudinal axis A.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further including an actuator connected to said valve body.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein said actuator is a ring received around said sidewall of said main body and said actuator is connected to said valve body through an opening in said sidewall.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein said actuator and said valve body rotate relative to said main body.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further including a valve guide provided in said main body.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein said valve guide includes a first flow opening communicating with said first suction inlet and a second flow opening communicating with said second suction inlet.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein said valve guide includes a wall having concavity and said second flow opening is formed in said wall in said concavity.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein a portion of said sidewall adjacent said second suction inlet and said concavity define a conically shaped opening and said valve body nests in said conically shaped opening.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further including a series of bristle tufts carried on said sidewall around said second suction inlet.

21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein said first end of said main body has an elliptical cross section.

22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein said second end of said main body and said discharge end of said valve body are both circular in cross section and said discharge end is concentrically received in said second end.