Mode control arrangement for a floor

• US 7,673,370 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Frederick, Lynn A., Scheifele, Kevin E., Tong, Chan Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US11/223,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 153/54, 153/55, 153/56, 153/59, 153/60, 153/62, 153/68, 153/73, 153/19, 153/39
• US Class Current: 15/354
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0653 with mechanical actuation, e.g. using a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

The invention is a bare floor cleaning appliance provided with a foot pedal for raising and lowering the suction nozzle while simultaneously energizing and de-energizing the independent drive motor powering a horizontal axis rotary agitator. The foot pedal is depressed once to lower the suction nozzle to a position closest to the floor surface and the horizontal rotary agitator is energized to clean the floor surface. Suction from the motor-fan assembly is used to pick up dirt and used cleaning solution. The foot pedal is depressed one more time to raise the suction nozzle from the floor surface and de-energize the horizontal rotary agitator. In this mode, suction from the motor-fan assembly is used to pick up dry objects including dirt. The foot pedal operates the switch for energizing and de-energizing the independent electric motor by rotating a mode indicator operably connected to the foot pedal. Depressing the foot pedal once rotates the mode indicator to a first position which toggles the switch from the off position to the on position. When rotated into this position, an first indicating portion on the mode indicator is rotated underneath a first viewing window formed in the hood of the cleaner foot. Depressing the foot pedal another time rotates the mode indicator to a second position which toggles the switch from the on position to the off position. A second indicating portion on the mode indicator rotates underneath a second viewing window formed in the hood of the foot. At the same time the first indicating portion is rotated out of sight of the first viewing window.

Claims

1. A floor care appliance, comprising:

a suction nozzle for performing a cleaning operation on a floor surface;

a foot pedal for raising and lowering the suction nozzle in relation to the floor surface;

a rotary agitator;

a drive motor for powering the rotary agitator; and

a switch connected in circuit with the drive motor, the switch having a first position at which the motor is energized and having a second position at which the motor is de-energized, as the suction nozzle is moved in relation to the floor surface; and

an actuator in operative contact with said foot pedal and said switch.

2. The floor care appliance of claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a first arm which urges said foot pedal when said foot pedal is depressed, thereby rotating said actuator.

3. The floor care appliance of claim 2, wherein said actuator includes a second arm which urges against said switch when said actuator is rotated to toggle said switch between said first and second positions.

4. The floor care appliance of claim 1 wherein said actuator includes at least two indicia for indicating the status of said drive motor and height of said suction nozzle.

5. The floor care appliance of claim 4 further including a hood having at least two apertures for viewing said at least two indicia for determining the status of said drive motor and said suction nozzle.

6. A floor care appliance, comprising:

a suction nozzle attached to a base;

a hood fitted over the base;

a pair of apertures formed in the hood;

a foot pedal for raising and lowering the suction nozzle;

a rotary agitator;

a drive motor for powering the rotary agitator; and

a switch connected in circuit with the drive motor, the switch having a first position at which the motor is energized and having a second position at which the motor is de-energized, as the suction nozzle is moved between a first position and a second position;

a mode indicator in operative contact with the foot pedal and the switch for toggling the switch from the first position to the second position as the suction nozzle is raised and lowered;

wherein said mode indicator further includes a first arm which urges said foot pedal when said foot pedal is depressed, thereby rotating said mode indicator; and

wherein said mode indicator includes a second arm which urges against said switch when said mode indicator is rotated to toggle said switch between said first and second positions;

two visual indicia located on the mode indicator with one visual indicia associated with the first position of the switch and the first position of the suction nozzle and the other visual indicia being associated with the second position of the switch and the second position of the suction nozzle wherein the visual indicia are moved into a position where the indicia can be seen through an associated aperture in said hood to indicate the status of said drive motor and said suction nozzle.