Multi-stepped appliance accessory holder

• US 20040124199A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Tomasiak, Mark J., Holsten, Stuart V., Martin, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/738
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose

Abstract

The present invention provides a multi-stepped accessory holder for an appliance having accessories that have dissimilar inner diameter connections, such as accessories with a male and/or a female ends. The female end of an accessory has a first inner diameter, and the male end of an accessory has a second inner diameter. The accessory holder includes a base having a first perimeter, and an upper portion mounted atop the base that has a second perimeter. The second perimeter of the upper portion is smaller than the first perimeter of the base. When the female end of an accessory is placed upon the accessory holder, the female end engages the first perimeter of the base. If it is desired that an accessory'"'"'s male end be placed upon the holder, the male end engages the second perimeter of the accessory holder'"'"'s upper portion.

Claims

1. A holder for holding accessories of an appliance, the accessories having a first inner diameter connection and/or a second inner diameter connection, the first inner diameter connection being larger than the second inner diameter connection, the holder comprising:

a first member having a first perimeter; and

a second member having second perimeter, the first perimeter being larger than the second perimeter, the first member being positioned at a vertical distance below the second member, wherein when the accessories'"'"' first inner diameter connection is placed upon the holder, the first inner diameter connection engages the first perimeter, and when the accessories'"'"' second inner diameter connection is placed upon the holder, the second inner diameter connection engages the second perimeter.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the first member is a base and the second member is an upper portion, the upper portion being mounted atop the base.

3. The holder of claim 2, further comprising a shoulder formed by the upper portion being mounted atop the base, wherein when the second inner diameter connection engages the second perimeter, the accessory sets atop the shoulder.

4. The holder of claim 2, wherein the upper portion has a top portion, the top portion being flush with a surface surrounding the holder.

5. The holder of claim 2, wherein the upper portion has a top portion, the top portion having a slope.

6. The holder of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are integral.

7. The holder of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are located in a parallel configuration.

8. The holder of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are located in a perpendicular configuration.

9. The holder of claim 1, wherein an outer shell surrounds the holder forming a wall around the holder and forming a continuous space between the holder and the wall, wherein the accessory is placed between the wall and the holder.

10. The holder of claim 1, wherein the holder is located on a caster foot of the appliance.

11. The holder of claim 1, wherein the holder is located on the appliance.

12. The holder of claim 1, wherein the holder is located on a top surface of the appliance.

13. The holder of claim 1, wherein the holder is located on a device designed to house a plurality of the holders.

14. The holder of claim 1, wherein when the first perimeter is engaged by the accessories'"'"' first inner diameter connection, the first inner diameter connection is at a female end of the accessories.

15. The holder of claim 1, wherein when the second perimeter is engaged by the accessories'"'"' second inner diameter connection, the second inner diameter connection is at a male end of the accessories.

16. The holder of claim 1, wherein the first member further includes at least one first projection, the first inner diameter connection engaging the first projection.

17. The holder of claim 16, wherein when the first member has a plurality of the first projections, the first projections are positioned apart about the periphery of the first member at an equal distance.

18. The holder of claim 16, wherein when the first member has a plurality of the first projections, the first projections are positioned apart about the periphery of the first member at an unequal distance.

19. The holder of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first projections are surface projections.

20. The holder of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first projections are lobe projections.

21. The holder of claim 16, wherein the first projection is oriented so that removal or insertion of the accessory is complemented in relation to the holder'"'"'s location relative to the appliance, the accessories, or a component of the appliance.

22. The holder of claim 1, wherein the second member further includes at least one second projection, the second inner diameter connection engaging the second projection.

23. The holder of claim 22, wherein when the second member has a plurality of the second projections, the second projections are positioned apart about the periphery of the second member at an equal distance.

24. The holder of claim 22, wherein when the second member has a plurality of the second projections, the second projections are positioned apart about the periphery of the second member at an unequal distance.

25. The holder of claim 22, wherein at least one of the second projections are surface projections.

26. The holder of claim 22, wherein at least one of the second projections are lobe projections.

27. The holder of claim 22, wherein the second projection is oriented so that removal or insertion of the accessory is complemented in relation to the holder'"'"'s location relative to the appliance, the accessories, or a component of the appliance.

28. The holder of claim 22, wherein the first member further includes at least one first projection, the first inner diameter connection engaging the first projection.

29. The holder of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first projections or at least one of the second projections are surface projections.

30. The holder of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first projections or at least one of the second projections are lobe projections.

31. The holder of claim 28, wherein the first projection and/or second projection is oriented so that removal or insertion of the accessory is complemented in relation to the holder'"'"'s location relative to the appliance, the accessories, or a component of the appliance.

32. A holder for holding accessories of an appliance, the accessories having a first inner diameter connection and/or a second inner diameter connection, the first inner diameter connection being larger than the second inner diameter connection, the holder comprising:

at least two post members, the post members each having a lower step and an upper step mounted atop the lower step;

a first perimeter formed by the lower step; and

a second perimeter formed by the upper step, the first perimeter being larger than the second perimeter, the post members being positioned apart within the holder wherein when an accessory'"'"'s first inner diameter connection is placed upon the holder, the first inner diameter connection engages the lower step of each post member, and when an accessory'"'"'s second inner diameter connection is placed upon the holder, the second inner diameter connection engages the upper step of each post member.

33. The holder of claim 32, wherein the post members are positioned apart within the holder so that removal or insertion of the accessory is complemented in relation to the holder'"'"'s location relative to the appliance, the accessories, or a component of the appliance.

34. An appliance having a holder for holding accessories of the appliance, the accessories having a first inner diameter connection and/or a second inner diameter connection, the first inner diameter connection being larger than the second inner diameter connection, the holder comprising:

a first member having a first perimeter; and

a second member having second perimeter, the first perimeter being larger than the second perimeter, the first member being positioned at a vertical distance below the second member, wherein when the accessories'"'"' first inner diameter connection is placed upon the holder, the first inner diameter connection engages the first perimeter, and when the accessories'"'"' second inner diameter connection is placed upon the holder, the second inner diameter connection engages the second perimeter.

35. A method for holding accessories of an appliance, the accessories having a first inner diameter connection and/or a second inner diameter connection, the first inner diameter connection being larger than the second inner diameter connection, the method comprising:

placing the first inner diameter connection on a first member, the first member having a first perimeter that is engaged by the first inner diameter connection; and

placing the second inner diameter connection on a second member, the second member having a second perimeter that is engaged by the second inner diameter connection, wherein the first perimeter is larger than the second perimeter.

36. A method for forming an appliance accessory holder, the accessories having a first inner diameter connection and/or a second inner diameter connection, the first inner diameter connection being larger than the second inner diameter connection, the method comprising:

forming a first member having a first perimeter;

forming a second member having a second perimeter that is smaller than the first perimeter; and

placing the first member in a position relative to the second member, wherein when the accessories'"'"' first inner diameter connection is placed upon the holder, the first inner diameter connection engages the first perimeter, and when the accessories'"'"' second inner diameter connection is placed upon the holder, the second inner diameter connection engages the second perimeter.

37. A holder for holding accessories of an appliance, the accessories having a first inner diameter connection and/or a second inner diameter connection, the holder comprising:

a first projecting means for engaging the accessories'"'"' first inner diameter connection, the first projecting means being coupled to a base to form a first perimeter; and

a second projecting means for engaging the accessories'"'"' second inner diameter connection, the second projecting means being coupled to an upper portion to form a second perimeter, the upper portion mounted atop the base, wherein the first inner diameter connection is larger than the second inner diameter connection, and the first perimeter is larger than the second perimeter.