SURFACE TREATING APPLIANCE

• US 20110088210A1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: WHITE, James, Smith, Charles William Owen, Reid, Paul Barry
• Granted Patent: US 9,326,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/410
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0054 Stands or the like for temporary interruption of work
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

A surface treating appliance includes a surface treating head rotatably connected to a yoke, and a main body pivotably moveable relative to the yoke about a pivot axis between an upright position and a reclined position. A retaining mechanism is provided for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke when the main body is in the upright position. The retaining mechanism includes a locking member which is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke, and an actuator for urging the locking member towards its deployed position. To provide a compact appliance, the actuator moves with the main body about the pivot axis to urge the locking member towards its deployed position as the main body is moved to the upright position.

Claims

1. A surface treating appliance comprising:

a surface treating head rotatably connected to a yoke;

a main body pivotably moveable relative to the yoke about a pivot axis between an upright position and a reclined position; and

a retaining mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke when the main body is in the upright position, the retaining mechanism comprising;

a locking member moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position to inhibit rotation of the head relative to the yoke; and

an actuator moveable with the main body about the pivot axis to urge the locking member towards the deployed position.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the yoke comprises an aperture through which the locking member is moveable between the stowed position and the deployed position.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a casing housing a fan unit for creating a fluid flow through the appliance, and the actuator is moveable relative to the casing.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a biasing member for biasing the actuator away from the casing.

5. The appliance of claim 4, wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient element located between the casing and the actuator.

6. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the actuator is slidably moveable relative to the casing.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the casing comprises a pair of grooves each for receiving a rib formed on a respective side of the actuator.

8. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the locking member is slidably moveable relative to the yoke.

9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a locking member housing connected to the yoke for retaining the locking member.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the locking member housing comprises a stop member for inhibiting movement of the main body relative to the yoke beyond the upright position.

11. The appliance of claim 1, comprising a biasing member for biasing the locking member towards its stowed position.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient member located between the yoke and the locking member.

13. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a drive face for engaging a driven face of the locking member.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the drive face and the driven face are each angled relative to the direction in which the actuator moves between the stowed position and the deployed position.

15. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a pair of aims which are located within a recess formed in the head when the locking member is in the deployed position.

16. The appliance of claim 1, comprising a pair of wheels rotatably connected to the yoke for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface, the motor casing and the actuator being located between the wheels.

17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein each of the wheels comprises at least one rim, and the locking member is moveable between the rims of the wheels between the stowed position and the deployed position.