SELF-ACTING COMBINATION RUG AND FLOOR VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE

• US 3,798,704 A
• Filed: 02/23/1972
• Issued: 03/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bo Gunnar Mattsson, Lars Gunnar Kilstrom
• Original Assignee: Bo Gunnar Mattsson, Lars Gunnar Kilstrom
• Inventors: Kilstrom, Lars Gunnar, Mattsson, Bo Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, C. K.
• Application Number:
  US05/228,509
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 15/319,355,365,368,371,382,419
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0646 with pneumatic actuation

Abstract

A combination rug and floor vacuum cleaner nozzle has a passageway providing a path of flow for air from a suction inlet to an outlet, the suction inlet being defined by an apertured flat surface part which serves as a working member for cleaning rugs. A brush, which serves as another working member for cleaning floors, is mounted on the nozzle at the vicinity of the suction inlet for movement between upper and lower positions respectively above and below the suction inlet.

Claims

1. A self-acting combination vacuum cleaner nozzle which includes a. a hollow body comprising structure including wall means defining a first passageway having a suction inlet and an outlet adapted to be connected to a source of air at a partial vacuum, b. brush means disposed exteriorly of said wall means at the vicinity of said suction inlet, said brush means having vertically disposed bristles depending downward therefrom, c. first means for mounting said brush means on saId body for movement between upper and lower positions with respect to said suction inlet, said suction inlet functioning to clean a porous surface when said brush means is in its upper position above said suction inlet and said brush means functioning to clean a non-porous surface when it is in its lower position below said suction inlet, d. second means for rendering said first mounting means operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its upper position responsive to flow of air in said first passageway which is at or less than a predetermined speed and for rendering said first mounting means operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its lower position responsive to flow of air in said first passageway which exceeds the predetermined speed, e. said second means including means providing a second passageway having one end in communication with a region of said first passageway and the opposite end thereof in communication with said movable mounting means, and f. said means providing said second passageway including structure which is in the direct path of movement of at least a part of the air flowing in said first passageway when such flow of air exceeds the predetermined speed, the air striking said last-mentioned structure being diverted by the latter into said second passageway to produce a dynamic pressure component of the total air pressure therein to promote movement of said brush means to its lower position by said second means when the flow of air in said first passageway exceeds the predetermined speed.

2. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 1 in which the one end of said second passageway is in communication with a region of said first passageway at the vicinity of said suction inlet.

3. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 1 in which said structure in the direct path of movement of at least a part of the air flowing in said first passageway, when such flow of air exceeds the predetermined speed, comprises a scoop having an opening facing air flowing toward said scoop, said scoop decreasing in cross-sectional area from the opening in the direction air flows therein.

4. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 1 in which a. said second means renders said first mounting means operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its upper position when a partial vacuum of sufficient magnitude is developed responsive to flow of air in said first passageway which is at or less than the predetermined speed, and in which b. said second means renders said first mounting means operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its lower position when a positive pressure at or above atmospheric pressure is developed responsive to flow of air in said first passageway which is above the predetermined speed.

5. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 4 in which a. said first means for mounting said brush means on said body for movement between upper and lower positions with respect to said suction inlet includes flexible diaphragm means, and b. said second means includes structure providing a chamber which is outside said first passageway and defined in part by said flexible diaphragm means, the opposite end of said second passageway being connected to said chamber.

6. A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 5 which includes a. resilient means which, together with the positive pressure at or above atmospheric pressure developed in said chamber responsive to flow of air in said first passageway which is above the predetermined speed, functions to bias said flexible diaphragm and render the latter operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its lower position, b. the partial vacuum of said sufficient magnitude being developed in said chamber responsive to flow of air in said first passageway which is at or less than the predetermined speed functioning to overcome the biasing action of saiD flexible diaphragm means by said resilient means to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its upper position.