Retractable electric cord receiving device and ventilation apparatus

• US 20060196688A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC (JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating LLC (Euro-Pro Operating)
• Inventors: Robertson, Terry, Wen, Fan Jian
• Granted Patent: US 7,490,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/135
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/26 Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/04 Kinds or types B65H75/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/42 attached to, or forming part of, mobile tools, machines or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4431 Manual stop or release button
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A cord winding mechanism for an electrically powered device such as a vacuum cleaner. The cord winding mechanism may be used with a device having an electric motor. The mechanism may include a cord receiving member for receiving a cord. The cord receiving member may define an interior space and have an axis. The mechanism may include a biasing member that may transmit a rotational force to the cord receiving member to rotate the cord receiving member about the axis. The mechanism may include a retention member that may selectively prevent the cord receiving member from rotating under the rotational force of the biasing member. The cord receiving member may be adapted to receive at least part of the motor inside the interior space of the cord receiving member. The mechanism may include ventilation openings for providing ventilation An electric motor assembly may include the mechanism and a motor. An electric appliance may include a housing and the assembly.

Claims

1. A cord winding mechanism for use with a device having an electrically powered component, the mechanism comprising:

a cord receiving member adapted to receive a cord, said cord receiving member defining an interior space inside said cord receiving member and having an axis,

wherein said cord receiving member is adapted to receive at least part of the electrically powered component inside the interior space of said cord receiving member.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cord receiving member is configured for receiving at least 50% of the electrically powered component inside the interior space of said cord receiving member.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein said cord receiving member is configured for receiving substantially the entire electrically powered component inside the interior space of said cord receiving member.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said cord receiving member further comprises ventilation openings for providing ventilation to the electrically powered component.

5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cord winding mechanism further comprises:

a biasing member that transmits a rotational force to said cord receiving member to rotate said cord receiving member about the axis.

6. The mechanism of claim 5, wherein the cord winding mechanism further comprises:

a retention member that selectively prevents said cord receiving member from rotating under the rotational force of said biasing member.

7. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cord winding mechanism further comprises:

a handle coupled to said cord receiving member adapted to manually rotate said cord winding mechanism.

8. An electric motor assembly, comprising:

an electric motor serving as said electrically powered component; and

the mechanism of claim 1.

9. An electric motor assembly, comprising:

an electric motor serving as said electrically powered component; and

the mechanism of claim 3.

10. An electrical appliance, comprising:

a housing; and

the assembly of claim 8.

11. An electrical appliance, comprising:

a housing; and

the assembly of claim 9.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the appliance is a vacuum cleaner.

13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the appliance is a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

14. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the appliance is an upright vacuum cleaner.

15. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the appliance further comprises a removable bagless dirtcup.

16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein said removable bagless dirtcup is a substantially parabolic cylinder, and the appliance further comprises an inlet substantially tangential to said removable bagless dirtcup.

17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the appliance further comprises a filter disposed between said removable bagless dirtcup and said housing and fluidly coupled with ventilation openings in said cord receiving member.

18. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the appliance further comprises a toggling power switch.

19. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the appliance is a hand-held appliance.

20. An electric heater assembly, comprising:

a heating element serving as said electrically powered component; and

the mechanism of claim 1.

21. An electrical appliance, comprising:

a housing; and

the assembly of claim 20.

22. A cord winding mechanism for use with a device having an electrically powered component, the mechanism comprising:

cord winding means for receiving a cord, said cord winding means defining an interior space inside said cord winding means and having an axis,

wherein said cord winding means is adapted for receiving at least part of the electrically powered component inside the interior space of said cord winding means.

23. The mechanism of claim 22, wherein the cord winding mechanism further comprises:

biasing means for transmitting a rotational force to said cord winding means for rotating said cord winding means about the axis.

24. The mechanism of claim 23, wherein the cord winding mechanism further comprises:

retention means for selectively preventing said cord winding means from rotating under the rotational force of said biasing means.

25. An electric motor assembly, comprising:

means for electrically rotating a fan serving as said electrically powered component; and

the mechanism of claim 22.

26. An electrical appliance, comprising:

housing means for housing the assembly of claim 25.