Nozzle assembly with one piece body

• US 8,938,851 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2011
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• 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: Dant, Ryan T., Streciwilk, Eric J., Downey, Richard E., Phegley, Shannon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US13/166,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20120324674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 153/83, 153/89, 154/151, 153/34, 153/77, 153/91, 153/92
• US Class Current: 15/389
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/281 the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust
• 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

Abstract

A nozzle assembly for a floor care appliance includes a one-piece body. The one-piece body has a first face and a second face that is opposed to the first face. The first face forms a first cavity while the second face forms a second cavity. A rotary agitator is received in the first cavity. A drive motor is received in the second cavity.

Claims

1. A nozzle assembly for a floor care appliance, comprising:

a one piece body including a first face and a second face opposed to said first face, said first face forming a first cavity and said second face forming a second cavity;

a rotary agitator received in said first cavity; and

a rotary agitator drive motor received and enclosed in said second cavity;

said one piece body being further characterized by a wall having a reverse curve forming a first portion of an exposed top surface and a second portion of a bottom surface of said nozzle assembly.

2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, further including a lower plate received on said body over said first cavity.

3. The nozzle assembly of claim 2, wherein said lower plate includes an opening and said rotary agitator extends at least partially through said opening.

4. The nozzle assembly of claim 2, further including a motor cover received on said body and closing said second cavity.

5. The nozzle assembly of claim 4, including a first fastener securing said lower plate to said body and a second fastener securing said motor cover to said body.

6. The nozzle assembly of claim 5, further including a drive linkage between said drive motor and said rotary agitator, said drive linkage extending through said opening in said body.

7. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein said body includes an opening between said first cavity and said second cavity.

8. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, further including a dirt sensor carried in said second cavity.

9. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein said agitator cavity is visible through said first portion and said drive motor is visible through said second portion.

10. The nozzle assembly of claim 9, wherein said body includes a dirty air conduit in fluid communication with said agitator cavity.

11. The nozzle assembly of claim 10, wherein said translucent body allows visual inspection of an interior of said dirty air conduit.

12. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein said body includes a dirty air conduit in fluid communication with said agitator cavity.

13. The nozzle assembly of claim 12, wherein said body is translucent so as to allow visual inspection of contents in said dirty air conduit and said rotary agitator in said first cavity.

14. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a body including a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly;

a dirt collection vessel carried on said body; and

a suction generator carried on said handle assembly;

said upright vacuum cleaner being characterized by said nozzle assembly including;

a one piece body including a first face and a second face opposed to said first face, said first face forming a first cavity and a second portion of a bottom surface of said nozzle assembly said second face forming a second cavity and a first portion of a top surface of said nozzle assembly;

a rotary agitator received in said first cavity; and

a rotary agitator drive motor received and enclosed in said second cavity.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, further including a lower plate received on said body over said first cavity.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein said lower plate includes an opening and said rotary agitator extends at least partially through said opening.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, further including a motor cover received on said body and closing said second cavity.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein said body is made from a translucent material and forms a first portion of a top surface and a second portion of a bottom surface of said nozzle assembly.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said handle assembly is pivotally connected to said nozzle assembly.