Vacuum cleaner with electronic controller

• US 20070136979A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zahuranec, Terry
• Application Number:
  US11/313,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2863 Control elements activated by pivoting movement of the upright vacuum cleaner handle

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus includes a base. The base has a bottom surface, an access opening in the bottom surface, and wheels for wheeling the base over a floor while the bottom surface faces the floor. A cleaning attachment is configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface. An electronic controller is configured to be inserted through the opening into an installed position in the base from which to control an operating condition of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a base having a bottom surface, an access opening in the bottom surface, and wheels for wheeling the base over a floor while the bottom surface faces the floor;

a cleaning attachment configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface; and

an electronic controller configured to be inserted through the opening into an installed position in the base from which to control an operating condition of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base and the controller each include an electrical connector configured such that movement of the controller toward and into its installed position moves the connector of the controller toward and into mechanical and electrical connection with the connector of the base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cover fixed to the controller so as to be moved into an installed position covering the opening by movement of the controller into its installed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising indicia on the base indicating that the opening is for insertion of the controller into the base.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a motor that is in the base and not removable from the base through the opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning attachment is a vacuuming head configured to be supported by the base to clean the floor as the base is wheeled over the floor.

7. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a base having an access opening and an electrical connector;

a cleaning attachment configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface; and

an electronic controller configured to be inserted through the opening into an installed position in the base to control an operating condition of the apparatus, and having an electrical connector configured to be moved toward and into mechanical and electrical connection with the connector of the base by movement of the controller toward and into its installed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a cover fixed to the controller so as to be moved into an installed position covering the opening by movement of the controller into its installed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising indicia on the base indicating that the opening is for insertion of the controller into the base.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a motor that is located in the base and not removable from the base through the opening.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cleaning attachment is a vacuuming head configured to be supported by the base to clean the floor as the base is wheeled over the floor.

12. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a base having an access opening;

a cleaning attachment configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface;

an electronic controller configured to be inserted through the opening into an installed position in the base from which to control an operating condition of the apparatus; and

a cover fixed to the controller so as to be moved into an installed position covering the opening by movement of the controller into its installed position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising indicia on the base indicating that the opening is for insertion of the controller into the base.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a motor that is located in the base and not removable from the base through the opening.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cover includes an indication that identifies the controller and is visible to a user when the cover is in its installed position.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cleaning attachment is a vacuuming head configured to be supported by the base to clean the floor as the base is wheeled over the floor.

17. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a base having an access opening;

a cleaning attachment configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface;

an electronic controller configured to be inserted through the opening into an installed position in the base from which the controller controls an operating condition of the motor; and

and indicia indicating that the access opening is for insertion of the controller into the base.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a motor that is located in the base and not removable from the base through the opening.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the cleaning attachment is a vacuuming head configured to be supported by the base to clean the floor as the base is wheeled over the floor.

20. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a base having an access opening;

a cleaning attachment configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface;

an electronic controller configured to be inserted through the opening into an installed position in the base from which the controller controls an operating condition of the apparatus; and

a cover attached to the controller, configured to have an installed position covering the opening, and having an indication that identifies the controller and being visible to a user when the cover is in its installed position.