Vacuum cleaner power cord system

• US 6,339,861 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vicki L. Snyder
• Original Assignee: Vicki L. Snyder
• Inventors: Snyder, Vicki L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/767,812
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 153/23, 191/12.R
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/26 Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/36 without essentially involving the use of a core or former internal to a stored package of material, e.g. with stored material housed within casing or container, or intermittently engaging a plurality of supports as in sinuous or serpentine fashion

Abstract

A manually retractable electric power cord system for a mobile appliance, such as an upright vacuum cleaner. The power cord, in combination with the mobile appliance, comprises a coiled power cord that has a memory to restore its coiled shape when in the relaxed or resiled state, and an elongated rod extending generally vertically from the mobile appliance. Hand gripping members are provided along the power cord to help the operator to manually pickup and feed the coiled power cord onto the elongated rod.

Claims

1. In combination with a mobile appliance having an electrical and extendible power cord, a coiled power cord for removably mounting on said appliance, said power cord having shape memory capabilities which allow said power cord to return to its coiled shape from an extended to a retracted state, and a plurality of U-shaped hand gripping members spaced along the length of said power cord;

and

a vertically oriented, elongated rod secured to said appliance, where said rod has an upper end flared away from said appliance, and said rod is of a length for receiving said coiled cord in a fully retracted state.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said appliance is an upright type vacuum cleaner having a base with a vertical housing extending upward therefrom, and said elongated rod is secured to said vacuum cleaner in proximity to said base.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said elongated rod is secured to said vacuum cleaner by means of a semi-flexible bracket.

4. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said elongated rod has a greater cross section along its lower portion.

5. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said base mounts a bracket, and said elongated rod extends vertically therefrom in spaced relation to said vertical housing.

6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said flared end lies within a plane common to said elongated rod, and is angled away from said vertical housing.

7. The combination according to claim 2, further including a handle to facilitate movement of said vacuum cleaner, and said elongated rod is secured to said vertical housing in close proximity to said handle.

8. The combination according to claim 7, wherein said power cord extends along said vertical housing into said base.