Dirt cup with dump door in bottom wall and dump door actuator on top wall

• US 20050229355A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Streciwilk, Eric J., Crouch, James T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/352
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A floor cleaning appliance includes a housing carrying both a suction generator and a dirt cup. The dirt cup includes a sidewall, a top wall and a dump door. A latch is provided to secure the dump door in a closed position. An actuator for releasing that latch is remotely positioned on the top wall. A linkage is carried on the sidewall and operatively connects the actuator with the latch.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning appliance, comprising:

a housing;

a suction generator carried on said housing; and

a dirt cup carried on said housing to collect dirt and debris drawn into said appliance by said suction generator;

said dirt cup being characterized by a sidewall, a top wall and a dump door, said dirt cup carrying at least a portion of a latch for securing said dump door in a closed position, said top wall including an actuator for releasing said latch and opening said dump door and said sidewall carrying a linkage for operatively connecting said actuator to said latch.

2. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein said linkage is carried on an exterior surface of said sidewall.

3. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 1 wherein said top wall includes a carrying handle.

4. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 3, wherein said actuator is provided on said carrying handle.

5. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 4, wherein said carrying handle pivots relative to a main body of said top wall.

6. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 5, wherein said carrying handle includes a cavity and said actuator is received in said cavity.

7. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 6, wherein said actuator includes an elongated lug extending through said cavity.

8. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 7, wherein said linkage includes an elongated member mounted so as to allow sliding movement relative to said sidewall.

9. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 8 wherein said sidewall includes a guide track and said elongated member includes a guide track follower.

10. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 9 wherein said guide track is substantially L-shaped and defines a channel with said sidewall.

11. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 10 wherein said elongated member includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a top wall forming a cavity holding said guide track follower and said guide track follower includes a first series of guide tabs extending from said first sidewall and a second series of guide tabs extending from said second sidewall, said first series of guide tabs being received for free sliding movement in said channel.

12. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 8, wherein said elongated member includes a first end engaging said elongated lug of said actuator and a second end engaging said latch.

13. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 12, wherein said second end has a cam surface.

14. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 10, wherein said latch includes a cooperating locking tab and locking element.

15. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 14, wherein said locking element is resilient.

16. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 15, wherein one of said locking tab and said locking element is mounted on said sidewall and the other of said locking tab and said locking element is mounted on said dump door.

17. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 15, wherein said sidewall carries said locking tab and said dump door carries said locking element, said locking element engaging said locking tab when said dump door is in a closed position.

18. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 16, wherein said dump door is connected to said sidewall by a hinge.

19. The floor cleaning appliance of claim 18, wherein said top wall is a lid and said main body includes a mounting skirt that engages said sidewall and secures said top wall thereto.

20. A method of constructing a dirt cup for a floor cleaning appliance, comprising:

providing a dirt cup with a top wall, a sidewall and a dump door;

positioning an actuator for opening said dump door on said top wall; and

positioning at least a portion of a latch for said dump door on said dump door; and

positioning a linkage between said actuator and said latch on said sidewall.