Floor cleaning appliance

• US 9,999,333 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC (JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC (JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited)
• Inventors: Thorne, Jason Boyd, Xu, Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/659,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20150183108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 15 491, 15 501, 15 502, 15 522, 15 98, 15319, 15410, 15411, 15DIG 10, 451350, 451351, 451353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/24 Frames for mops; Mop heads handles B25G
• 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 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/28 Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2863 Control elements activated by pivoting movement of the upright vacuum cleaner handle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/32 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/38 Hinged, pivoted, swivelling, or folding joints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/10 Handles, reels and switches

Abstract

A pivoting and swiveling floor treatment appliance includes a lock-prevention member that prevents a body from becoming pivotally locked in a forward/backward direction when a portion of the body is in a swiveled position. The lock-prevention member may move relative to an appliance head and to a portion of the body that swivels. In some embodiments, components of the lock-prevention member contribute to locking the swivel of the body when the body is pivotally locked.

Claims

1. A floor treatment appliance comprising:

an appliance head to treat a floor surface;

a body having a lower body portion pivotally connected to the appliance head, the lower body portion being pivotable about a first axis between a use position and a locked position in which the body is pivotally lockable, the body including a swivel joint that allows an upper body portion of the body to swivel about a second axis transverse to the first axis relative to the appliance head between at least a home swivel position and a non-home swivel position; and

a sensor component that prompts a stopping of operation of at least one powered component of the appliance when the body is brought to the locked position with the body in the home swivel position,

wherein the sensor does not prompt a stopping of operation of the at least one powered component of the appliance when the body is pivoted as far forward as possible with the body in the non-home swivel position.

2. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged on the appliance head.

3. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged in the body on a moveable member that moves relative to the upper body portion of the body that swivels relative to the appliance head and moves relative to the appliance head.

4. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 3, wherein the moveable member prevents the body from reaching the locked position when the body is in the non-home swivel position.

5. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 3, wherein the moveable member comprises a blocker positioned to contact the appliance head to prevent the body from reaching the locked position when the body is in the non-home swivel position.

6. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 3, wherein the moveable member comprises a pin assembly.

7. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 6, wherein the pin assembly comprises at least two pins.

8. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 6, wherein the pin assembly comprises two parallel, connected pins.

9. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 3 wherein the body further comprises a swivel disk that rotates relative to the moveable member and wherein when the body is in the non-home swivel position, the swivel disk limits the distance which the moveable member can move relative to the body.

10. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 9, wherein the moveable member comprises at least two pins and wherein the swivel disk includes openings that align with the pins when the body is in the home swivel position to allow the pins to slide into the openings when the body is brought to the locked position.

11. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 10, wherein the moveable member includes a blocker positioned to contact the appliance head to move the pins into the openings when the body is brought to the locked position.

12. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 10, wherein the moveable member is biased to move the pins out of the openings when the body is in the use position.

13. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 1, further comprising a swivel-prevention member that prevents the body from swiveling when in the locked position.

14. A floor treatment appliance as in claim 13, wherein the swivel-prevention member locks the swivel joint when the body is in a pivotally locked position.