Nozzle assembly including cord reel and agitator drive motor

• US 8,528,167 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2011
• 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: Hawkins, Kyle A., Fry, Michael L., Marsh, Samuel A., Dant, Ryan T., Phegley, Shannon D., Streciwilk, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/331,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20120167332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 154/13, 15D/IG.10
• US Class Current: 15/413
• 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 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• 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 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A floor care apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. A cord reel is carried on the nozzle assembly in a cord reel compartment. A rotary agitator drive motor is carried on the nozzle assembly in an airflow pathway which directs cooling air toward the cord reel in the cord reel compartment.

Claims

1. A floor care apparatus, comprising:

a body including a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly pivotally attached to said nozzle assembly;

a suction generator carried on said body;

a dirt collection vessel carried on said body;

a rotary agitator carried on said nozzle assembly in a rotary agitator cavity;

a cord reel carried on said nozzle assembly in a cord reel compartment; and

a rotary agitator drive motor carried on said nozzle assembly in an airflow pathway directing cooling air exhausted from said suction generator toward said cord reel in said cord reel compartment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cord reel compartment includes a cooling air inlet and a discharge outlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said nozzle assembly includes a suction generator compartment and said suction generator is held in said suction generator compartment.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said suction generator compartment includes an exhaust port and said airflow pathway extends from said exhaust port of said suction generator compartment to said cooling air inlet of said cord reel compartment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including a filter covering said exhaust port of said suction generator compartment.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said nozzle assembly includes a housing having a removable cover whereby said cover is removed to access said airflow pathway including said agitator drive motor and said filter covering said exhaust port.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said airflow pathway is adjacent and parallel to said agitator cavity.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet in fluid communication with said agitator cavity and said airflow pathway crosses said suction inlet.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, further including a handle mount pivot carried on said nozzle assembly, said handle mount pivot being positioned between said cord reel compartment and said suction generator compartment.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said cord reel compartment, said handle mount and said suction generator compartment are all provided on a first side of said airflow pathway while said agitator cavity is provided on a second side of said airflow pathway.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nozzle assembly includes a housing having a bottom plate and an electrical cord opening.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including an electrical power cord wound on said cord reel and having an end projecting through said electrical cord opening.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said electrical cord opening is provided no more than 17 vertical centimeters above said bottom plate when said vacuum cleaner is positioned on a floor in an operating position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said electrical cord opening opens rearwardly away from said agitator cavity.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first vent is provided in said housing in communication with said airflow pathway and a second vent is provided in said housing in communication with said cord reel compartment, whereby a first portion of an airstream from said suction generator passes over said agitator drive motor before being exhausted from said first vent directly from said airflow pathway into ambient air while a second portion of said airstream from said suction generator is passed over said cord reel to provide cooling before being exhausted from said second vent directly from said cord reel compartment into ambient air.