Steering assembly for surface cleaning device
First Claim
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1. A surface cleaning device operable to clean a surface, the surface cleaning device comprising:
- a foot;
a handle assembly including a user manipulated handle, the handle assembly being pivotally coupled to the foot about a first axis for movement between an upright position and an inclined position; and
a steering assembly coupled to and defining an open path between the foot and the handle assembly, the steering assembly including a biasing member, wherein movement of the handle assembly about a second axis stores energy within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the foot, and wherein the biasing member moves with the handle assembly relative to the foot when the handle assembly pivots between the upright position and the inclined position;
wherein the biasing member includes a resilient compressive member having a first portion rotationally fixed relative to the handle assembly and a second portion rotationally fixed relative to the foot, wherein movement of the handle assembly moves the first portion relative to the second portion to store energy between the first and second portions within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the foot.
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Abstract
A surface cleaning device having a steering assembly is provided. The surface cleaning device includes a foot, a handle assembly with a user manipulated handle, and a steering assembly coupling the handle assembly to the foot. The steering assembly defines an open path between the handle assembly and the foot and includes a means for biasing the foot with respect to the handle assembly. Movement of the handle assembly stores energy within the biasing means so that the biasing means exerts a corresponding force on the foot.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A surface cleaning device operable to clean a surface, the surface cleaning device comprising:
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a foot; a handle assembly including a user manipulated handle, the handle assembly being pivotally coupled to the foot about a first axis for movement between an upright position and an inclined position; and a steering assembly coupled to and defining an open path between the foot and the handle assembly, the steering assembly including a biasing member, wherein movement of the handle assembly about a second axis stores energy within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the foot, and wherein the biasing member moves with the handle assembly relative to the foot when the handle assembly pivots between the upright position and the inclined position; wherein the biasing member includes a resilient compressive member having a first portion rotationally fixed relative to the handle assembly and a second portion rotationally fixed relative to the foot, wherein movement of the handle assembly moves the first portion relative to the second portion to store energy between the first and second portions within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the foot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A surface cleaning device operable to clean a surface, the surface cleaning device comprising:
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a foot; a handle assembly including a user manipulated handle; and a steering assembly that pivotally couples and defines an open path between the handle assembly and the foot, the steering assembly including a first pivot member coupled to a lower portion of the handle assembly such that the first pivot member rotates with the handle assembly about a pivot axis, a second pivot member coupled to the foot such that the second pivot member rotates with the foot about the pivot axis, the first and second pivot members coupled to each other for relative rotation about the pivot axis, and a biasing member coupled to the first pivot member and the second pivot member to resist relative rotation between the first pivot member and the second pivot member about the pivot axis, wherein rotation of the handle assembly and the first pivot member about the pivot axis stores energy within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the second pivot member and the foot to encourage turning of the foot; wherein the open path is generally coaxial with the pivot axis; and wherein the biasing member exerts the corresponding force on the second pivot member and the foot when the first pivot member and the handle assembly are rotated in either direction about the pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification