Vacuum cleaner with all components in floor traveling head

• US 5,765,258 A
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rorke, Anthony Brooks, Potvin, Deborah L., Krehel, Gregg C., Melito, M. Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): TILL, TERRENCE R
• Application Number:
  US08/920,778
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 15/352, 15/347, 15/349, 15/351, 15/363, 15/377, 15/383, 15/412, 15/339, 15/344, 15/DIG. 1, 15/DIG. 10
• US Class Current: 15/352
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/32 Carpet-sweepers combined with suction cleaners A47L7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/01 Rechargeable batter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/10 Handles, reels and switches

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a floor traveling head with wheels and an elongate handle pivotably connected to the head. The head has two motors; one connected to an impeller and one connected to a rotatable brush. The head has rechargeable batteries therein for supplying electricity to the motors and a three position electrical switch. All working components of the vacuum cleaner, including an air filter and dust/dirt collection cup, are in the floor traveling head. The handle has no working components thereon.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner having a floor traveling head and an elongated handle pivotably connected to the head, the head having wheels to travel along a floor, a vacuum and collection system, and a rotatable brush, said vacuum and collection system and said rotatable brush comprising working components of said vacuum cleaner, further comprising:

said collection system comprising a cup, said head including an upper wall having means forming an opening therein, said cup being mounted within said opening of said head and being removable from said head solely through said opening, a rear wall of said cup being formed by a detachable filter; and

all of said working components of the vacuum cleaner are located in the floor traveling head and the handle has no working components thereon, wherein the vacuum and collection system includes a switch, an impeller, and an impeller drive motor electrically connected to said impeller through said switch.

2. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 1 wherein a foot pedal is pivotably connected to a wall of the head and is positioned to actuate the switch.

3. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 2 wherein the floor traveling head comprises a housing, said housing having two generally clam shell housing members that are connected to each other to form substantially the entirety of the housing.

4. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 3 wherein said collection cup includes a top wall formed from transparent material, said top wall of said cup lying in the same generally horizontal plane as said top wall of the head when the cup is mounted in the top wall of the head.

5. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a second motor operably connected to the rotatable brush and electrically connectable to a source of electrical power by said switch.

6. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 1 wherein said collection cup includes a top wall formed from transparent material, said top wall of said cup is angled to substantially match an angle of the top surface of the floor traveling head and forms a portion of the top surface of the floor traveling head when the cup is mounted in the top wall.

7. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 6 wherein said opening has a width and length and said cup has a width and length, the width and length of said cup being substantially coextensive with the width and length of said opening for enabling said cup to be removable through said opening.

8. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 6 wherein the floor traveling head comprises a housing, said housing having two generally clam shell housing members that are connected to each other to form substantially the entirety of the housing.

9. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 1 wherein the floor traveling head comprises a housing, said housing having two generally clam shell housing members that are connected to each other to form substantially the entirety of the housing.

10. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 1 wherein said opening has a width and length and said cup has a width and length, the width and length of said cup being substantially coextensive with the width and length of said opening for enabling said cup to be removable through said opening.

11. A vacuum cleaner having a floor traveling head and an elongated handle pivotably connected to the head, the head having wheels to travel along a floor, a vacuum and collection system, and a rotatable brush, said vacuum and collection system and said rotatable brush comprising working components of said vacuum cleaner, further comprising:

said collection system comprising a cup removably mounted in a top wall of the head, a rear wall of said cup being formed by a detachable filter;

said collection cup including a top wall formed from transparent material, said top wall of said cup is angled to substantially match an angle of the top surface of the floor traveling head and forms a portion of the top surface of the floor traveling head when the cup is mounted in the head; and

all of said working components of the vacuum cleaner are located in the floor traveling head and the handle has no working components thereon, wherein the vacuum and collection system includes a switch, an impeller, and an impeller drive motor electrically connected to said impeller through said switch.

12. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with claim 11, wherein the floor traveling head comprises a housing, said housing having two generally clam shell housing members that are connected to each other to form substantially the entirety of the housing.