Air-powered vacuum cleaner floor tool

• US 4,307,485 A
• Filed: 09/04/1979
• Issued: 12/29/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dessig, William R. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US06/072,204
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 15/325, 15/377, 15/387, 15/389, 15/392, 15/410, 15/351
• US Class Current: 15/325
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0416 driven by fluid pressure, e.g. by means of an air turbine

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner floor tool is provided which comprises a housing and an air-powered turbine motor within the housing. An agitator partially extends from the housing and is coupled to the turbine motor and driven thereby. At least one end of the agitator is supported by a substantially L-shaped spring metal strip having one end supported in a notch in the base plate of the floor tool and the other end supported on a stub on the base plate of the floor tool. The base plate of the floor tool is removably mounted on the housing and forms a wall thereof. The agitator extends from the housing through an opening in the base plate, and air passes through this opening into the turbine motor. The floor tool is coupled to a vacuum cleaner wand or hose by means of an elbow coupling, and the elbow coupling has a latch which comprises a protrusion on the elbow itself and a latch plate having a protrusion thereon, the latch plate being spring-biased towards the elbow coupling. The elbow latch enables the wand to be fixed in a vertical position with relation to the floor tool for storage, and enables the wand to be moved to a rotatable position during use. A bumper strip surrounds the housing, and a cover covers the housing. The cover has a notch therein which engages the bumper strip and holds it in place.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner floor tool comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) an air-powered turbine motor;

(c) agitator means partially extending from said housing, said agitator means being coupled to said turbine motor and being driven thereby;

(d) base plate means removably mounted on said housing and forming a wall thereof, said agitator means extending from said housing through an opening in said base plate means, said base plate means including a slot means, a stud means, said slot means and said stud means being positioned on a line perpendicular to the axis of said agitator means, and a spring means, wherein said slot means receives one end portion of said spring means and wherein the other end portion of said spring means is supported by the stud means, wherein at least one end of said agitator means is supported by said spring means;

(e) wand coupling means for coupling said turbine motor to a vacuum cleaner wand, said wand coupling means having a first portion rotatably mounted in said housing, an extension extending from said first portion, and a latch means for holding said extension means in a fixed state or in a rotatable state, said latch means comprising a first protrusion extending from said first portion, and a plate member pivotally mounted in said housing, said plate member having a second protrusion thereon, said second protrusion being opposed to said first protrusion, wherein when said first protrusion is on one side of said second protrusion, said extension is in said fixed state and when said first protrusion is on the other side of said second protrusion, said extension is in said rotatable state.

2. A vacuum cleaner floor tool comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) an air-powered turbine motor;

(c) agitator means partially extending from said housing, said agitator means being coupled to said turbine motor and being driven thereby;

(d) base plate means removably mounted on said housing and forming a wall thereof, said agitator means extending from said housing through an opening in said base plate means, wherein air passes through said opening in said base plate means into said turbine motor, said base plate means including at least one slot means, at least one stud means, said slot means and said stud means being positioned on a line perpendicular to the axis of said agitator means, and spring means, wherein said slot means receives one end portion of said spring means and wherein the other end portion of said spring means is supported by said stud means, and wherein one end of said agitator means is supported by said spring means.

3. A vacuum cleaner floor tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein said one end portion of said spring means has a bulged portion therein for engaging the sides of said slot means, thereby holding said spring means in said slot means.

4. A vacuum cleaner floor tool as set forth in claim 2 including a bumper strip mounted on said housing and surrounding said housing;

said floor tool further including a cover means for covering said housing, said cover means having notch therein, said notch engaging said bumper strip and holding said bumper strip against said housing to prevent said bumper strip from separating from said housing.

5. A vacuum cleaner floor tool comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a bumper strip mounted on said housing and surrounding said housing;

(c) cover means covering said housing, said cover means having notch means therein, said notch means engaging said bumper strip and holding said bumper strip against said housing to prevent said bumper strip from separating from said housing;

(d) an air-powered turbine motor;

(e) agitator means partially extending from said housing, said agitator means being coupled to said turbine motor and being driven thereby;

(f) base plate means removably mounted on said housing and forming a wall thereof, said agitator means extending from said housing through an opening in said base plate means, wherein air passes through said opening in said base plate means into said turbine motor, said base plate means including a slot means, a stud means, said slot means and said stud means being positioned on a line perpendicular to the axis of said agitator means, and spring means, wherein said slot means receives one end portion of said spring means and wherein the other end portion of said spring means is supported by said stud means, and wherein one end of said agitator means is supported by said spring means; and

(g) wand coupling means for coupling said turbine motor to a vacuum cleaner, said coupling means having a first portion rotatably mounted in said housing, an extension extending from said first portion, and a latch means for holding said extension in a fixed state or in a rotatable state, said latch means comprising a first protrusion extending from said first portion and a plate member pivotally mounted in said housing, said plate member having a second protrusion thereon, said second protrusion being opposed to said first protrusion, wherein when said first protrusion is on one side of said second protrusion, said extension is in said fixed state and when said first protrusion is on the other side of said protrusion, said extension is in said rotatable state.

6. A vacuum cleaner floor tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said latch member includes spring means for biasing said plate means towards said first portion.

7. A vacuum cleaner floor tool as set forth in claim 6 wherein said plate member includes a slot therein and said housing includes a projection for engaging said slot such that said plate member pivots about said projection.

8. A vacuum cleaner floor tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said one end of said spring means has a bulged portion therein for engaging the side of said slot means, thereby holding said spring means in said slot means.