Floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner

• US 20030145427A1
• Filed: 02/06/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kalman, Jeffrey M., Matousek, Robert A., Saunders, Craig M., Farone, Richard C., Murphy, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,772,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/415.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00

Abstract

A floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner includes a central housing. A left nozzle head is movably secured to the central housing. A right nozzle head is movably secured to the central housing, wherein a portion of the left nozzle head and a portion of the right nozzle head extend into the central housing and move around a vertical axis passing through the central housing.

Claims

1. A floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a central housing;

a left nozzle head movably secured to said central housing; and

a right nozzle head movably secured to said central housing, wherein a portion of said left nozzle head and a portion of said right nozzle head extend into said central housing and move around a vertical axis passing through said central housing.

2. The floor nozzle of claim 1, wherein said left nozzle head includes a dirt path ring;

and

said right nozzle head includes a dirt path ring, wherein said left nozzle dirt path ring and said right nozzle dirt path ring are mounted to said central housing and cooperate to define a dirt path.

3. The floor nozzle of claim 2, wherein said left nozzle head includes a suction inlet;

and

said right nozzle head includes a suction inlet, wherein said suction inlet of said left nozzle head and said suction inlet of said right nozzle head are in fluid communication with said dirt path.

4. The floor nozzle of claim 2, wherein said left nozzle head and said right nozzle head independently pivot about an axis of said central dirt path.

5. The floor nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member for biasing said left nozzle head and said right nozzle head into one end position in relation to said central housing.

6. The floor nozzle of claim 5, wherein said left nozzle head and said right nozzle head independently rotate throughout a range defined by an extended position and a retracted position of said left and right nozzle heads in relation to said central housing.

7. A floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a central housing;

a left nozzle head rotatably secured to said central housing;

a right nozzle head rotatably secured to said central housing;

a dirt path extending through said central housing and communicating with said left and right nozzle heads; and

a biasing member for urging said left and right nozzle heads into one end position in relation to said central housing.

8. The floor nozzle of claim 7, wherein said biasing member comprises a spring.

9. The floor nozzle of claim 8, wherein said spring comprises a pair of arms for respectively biasing said left nozzle head and said right nozzle head in said one end position.

10. The floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein said left nozzle head includes a suction inlet;

and

said right nozzle head includes a suction inlet, wherein said suction inlet of said left nozzle head and said suction inlet of said right nozzle head are in fluid communication with said dirt path.

11. The floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein said left nozzle head and right nozzle head independently rotate about a pivot axis extending through said central housing.

12. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein said left nozzle head includes at least one dirt path ring;

and

said right nozzle head includes at least one dirt path ring, wherein said at least one left nozzle dirt path ring and said at least one right nozzle dirt path ring define a portion of said dirt path.

13. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein said left nozzle head and said right nozzle head independently rotate about a pivot axis extending through said central housing in a range defined by an extended position and a retracted position of said left and right nozzle heads in relation to said central housing.

14. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein said left nozzle head includes a suction inlet;

and

said right nozzle head includes a suction inlet, wherein said suction inlet of said left nozzle head and said suction inlet of said right nozzle head are in fluid communication with said dirt path.

15. A floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a base plate;

a top cover connected to said base plate;

a left nozzle head including at least one central dirt path ring, wherein said at least one left nozzle central dirt path ring is rotatably secured between said base plate and said top cover;

a right nozzle head including at least one central dirt path ring, wherein said at least one right nozzle central dirt path ring is rotatably secured between said base plate and said top cover; and

said at least one left nozzle central dirt path ring and said at least one right nozzle central dirt path ring are vertically aligned and define a central dirt path.

16. The floor nozzle of claim 15, further comprising a dirt path bottom cover secured between said base plate and said top cover, said bottom cover including a distal end;

and

said base plate including a distal end, wherein said at least one left nozzle central dirt path ring and said at least one right nozzle central dirt path ring are rotatably secured between said distal end of said base plate and said distal end of said dirt path bottom cover.

17. The floor nozzle of claim 16, wherein said left nozzle head includes a suction inlet;

and

said right nozzle head includes a suction inlet, wherein said suction inlet of said left nozzle head and said suction inlet of said right nozzle head are in fluid communication with said central dirt path.

18. The floor nozzle of claim 15, wherein said base plate includes a left guide post and a right guide post;

said left nozzle head defines a slot including a first end and a second end, wherein said left guide post engages said left nozzle slot; and

said right nozzle head defines a slot including a first end and a second end, wherein said right guide post engages said right nozzle slot.

19. The floor nozzle of claim 18, wherein said left nozzle head defines an extended position when said left guide post contacts a wall of said first end of said slot defined in said left nozzle head;

and

said right nozzle head defines an extended position when said right guide post contacts a wall of said first end of said slot defined in said right nozzle head.

20. The floor nozzle of claim 19, wherein said left nozzle head defines a retracted position when said left guide post contacts a wall of said second end of said slot defined in said left nozzle head;

and

said right nozzle head defines a retracted position when said right guide post contacts a wall of said second end of said slot defined in said right nozzle head.

21. The floor nozzle of claim 20, wherein said left nozzle head and said right nozzle head independently rotate throughout a range defined by said extended position and said retracted position.

22. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a nozzle head including a first section and a second section, said second section being pivotable around a vertical axis in relation to said first section;

a housing connected to said nozzle head;

said housing defining at least one chamber and at least one cavity;

a motor assembly disposed in said at least one chamber; and

a filter assembly disposed in said at least one cavity.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 22, further comprising a dust cup received in said at least one cavity, wherein said filter assembly is mounted in said dust cup.

24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein said nozzle head further comprises a third section, wherein said third section is pivotable around a vertical axis in relation to said first section.

25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein said first section and said second section cooperate to define a dirt path, and wherein said second section includes a suction inlet that is in fluid communication with said dirt path.