Upright vacuum with floating head

• US 8,528,166 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• 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: Morgan, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPHAN, BETH A
• Application Number:
  US12/771,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20110265282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 153/50, 153/51, 154/10, 154/11
• US Class Current: 15/410
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with a reduced frictional force between a vacuum base and a cleaning medium is described. The vacuum has a handle, yoke, body, and base. A handle and yoke distinct from, and behind, the base provides a moment arm anterior to the base when a force is applied. The handle and yoke assembly reduce the friction between the cleaning surface and the vacuum, allowing for larger motor and debris capturing capabilities, with easier handling and maneuverability resulting in advanced and superior cleaning capabilities.

Claims

1. A vacuum comprising:

a handle;

a yoke to receive the handle;

a base distinct from the yoke; and

an axle connected to the yoke, wherein the yoke provides a moment arm anterior to the base,

wherein the moment arm is anterior to the base,

wherein the base comprises a lifting device that raises the base off a cleaning surface, and

wherein the lifting device comprises a biasing device to keep the lifting device receded into the base and a ramp to expel the lifting device from the base when the handle is placed in a locked position.

2. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein a force applied to the handle pushes the yoke towards a cleaning surface while reducing a frictional force of the base against the cleaning surface.

3. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein a force applied to the handle propels the base.

4. The vacuum of claim 1, further comprising an airflow duct exiting the base wherein the airflow duct is distinct from the handle.

5. The vacuum of claim 4, further comprising:

a dirt collecting device connected to the airflow duct; and

a sliding connector to connect the dirt collecting device to the handle.

6. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein the handle is hollow and is adapted to receive an electrical cord.

7. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein the yoke includes a handle insert, wherein the handle receives the handle insert.

8. The vacuum of claim 7, wherein the handle insert includes an interior wall that divides the handle insert into two cavities, the interior wall includes a fastener receiver.

9. The vacuum of claim 1, further comprising a wheel connected to the axle.

10. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein the lifting device comprises a wheel.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum cleaner brushroll having a spindle with first and second ends and a longitudinal axis of rotation, and bristle tufts on the spindle arranged in an angularly spaced single-helical row and extending from the spindle at a non-orthogonal angle.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, further comprising a belt receiver having grooves.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the helical row rotates about the spindle prior to the helical row reversing a direction of helix rotation.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the helical row rotates about one and a half times about the spindle prior to the helical row reversing a direction of helix rotation.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the non-orthogonal angle is from about 70°

to about 85°

.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the spindle comprises a light wood.

17. A method of reducing the frictional force between a vacuum base and a cleaning medium, the method providing a vacuum comprising:

providing a handle, a yoke to receive the handle, a base distinct from the yoke, an axle connected to the yoke, to the wherein the moment arm is anterior to the base;

disposing the yoke to provide a moment arm anterior to the base;

applying a force to the handle which causes the yoke to be pushed towards a cleaning surface thereby reducing a frictional force of the base against a cleaning surface,

raising the base off a cleaning surface when the handle is placed in a locked position;

receding a lifting device into the base when the handle is placed in an unlocked position; and

expelling the lifting device from the base when the handle is placed in a locked position.

18. A method of reducing the frictional force between a vacuum base and a cleaning medium, the method providing a vacuum comprising:

providing a handle, a yoke to receive the handle, a base distinct from the yoke, an axle connected to the yoke, wherein the moment arm is anterior to the base;

disposing the yoke to provide a moment arm anterior to the base;

applying a force to the handle which causes the yoke to be pushed towards a cleaning surface thereby reducing a frictional force of the base against a cleaning surface,

expelling dirty airflow from the base with an airflow duct distinct from the handle;

providing a dirt collecting device connected to the airflow duct;

sliding the dirt collecting device along a longitudinal axis of the handle; and

raising the base off a cleaning surface when the handle is placed in a locked position;

receding a lifting device into the base when the handle is placed in an unlocked position; and

expelling the lifting device from tile base when tile handle is placed in a locked position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the force applied to the handle propels the base.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising raising the base off a cleaning surface when the handle is placed in a locked position.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising:

receding a lifting device into the base when the handle is placed in an unlocked position; and

expelling the lifting device from the base when the handle is placed in a locked position.