Steering assembly for surface cleaning device

• US 9,282,862 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Henderson, Gregg A., Rukavina, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): JENNINGS, MICHAEL DEANGILO
• Application Number:
  US13/273,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 154/10, 154/11, 151/441, 151/442
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0054 Stands or the like for temporary interruption of work
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

A surface cleaning device having a steering assembly is provided. The surface cleaning device includes a foot, a handle assembly with a user manipulated handle, and a steering assembly coupling the handle assembly to the foot. The steering assembly defines an open path between the handle assembly and the foot and includes a means for biasing the foot with respect to the handle assembly. Movement of the handle assembly stores energy within the biasing means so that the biasing means exerts a corresponding force on the foot.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning device operable to clean a surface, the surface cleaning device comprising:

a foot;

a handle assembly including a user manipulated handle, the handle assembly being pivotally coupled to the foot about a first axis for movement between an upright position and an inclined position; and

a steering assembly coupled to and defining an open path between the foot and the handle assembly, the steering assembly including a biasing member, wherein movement of the handle assembly about a second axis stores energy within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the foot, and wherein the biasing member moves with the handle assembly relative to the foot when the handle assembly pivots between the upright position and the inclined position;

wherein the biasing member includes a resilient compressive member having a first portion rotationally fixed relative to the handle assembly and a second portion rotationally fixed relative to the foot, wherein movement of the handle assembly moves the first portion relative to the second portion to store energy between the first and second portions within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the foot.

2. The surface cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the foot includes a suction opening.

3. The surface cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the surface cleaning device is an upright vacuum cleaner and wherein the handle assembly includes a dirt collection chamber and a motor housing, wherein the open path fluidly couples the suction opening and the dirt collection chamber.

4. The surface cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the surface cleaning device is a canister vacuum cleaner further comprising a canister housing having a dirt collection chamber and a motor housing, and wherein the handle assembly includes a handle and a tube extending between the handle and the foot, wherein the open path fluidly couples the suction opening and the dirt collection chamber.

5. The surface cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the surface cleaning device is a wet vacuum cleaner and wherein the handle assembly includes a liquid recovery chamber and a motor housing, wherein the open path fluidly couples the suction opening and the liquid recovery chamber.

6. The surface cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the foot includes a dispensing port.

7. The surface cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the handle assembly includes a clean liquid tank for carrying liquid and wherein the open path fluidly couples the clean liquid tank and the dispensing port, such that the dispensing port dispenses liquid from the clean liquid tank on the surface.

8. The surface cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the handle assembly includes a heating element that stores liquid, such that said heating element can heat the stored liquid to create steam, and wherein the open path fluidly couples the heating element and the dispensing port such that the dispensing port dispenses steam created by the heating element on the surface.

9. The surface cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a power source and wherein the steering assembly further includes at least one electrical element capable of carrying an electrical current, wherein the open path permits passage of the at least one electrical element from the power source to the foot, such that the power source can provide electrical power to the foot via the electrical element.

10. The surface cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis is collinear with the second axis, and wherein rotation of the handle assembly about the longitudinal axis stores energy within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the foot to encourage turning of the foot.

11. The surface cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the biasing member turns the foot when the foot is moved one of forward and backward.

12. The surface cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the foot includes a foot housing, front wheels rotatably coupled to a front portion of the foot housing, and rear wheels rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the foot housing.

13. The surface cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the resilient compressive member is a resilient compressive conduit.

14. The surface cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the biasing member wraps completely around the open path.

15. A surface cleaning device operable to clean a surface, the surface cleaning device comprising:

a foot;

a handle assembly including a user manipulated handle; and

a steering assembly that pivotally couples and defines an open path between the handle assembly and the foot, the steering assembly including

a first pivot member coupled to a lower portion of the handle assembly such that the first pivot member rotates with the handle assembly about a pivot axis,

a second pivot member coupled to the foot such that the second pivot member rotates with the foot about the pivot axis, the first and second pivot members coupled to each other for relative rotation about the pivot axis, and

a biasing member coupled to the first pivot member and the second pivot member to resist relative rotation between the first pivot member and the second pivot member about the pivot axis, wherein rotation of the handle assembly and the first pivot member about the pivot axis stores energy within the biasing member such that the biasing member exerts a corresponding force on the second pivot member and the foot to encourage turning of the foot;

wherein the open path is generally coaxial with the pivot axis; and

wherein the biasing member exerts the corresponding force on the second pivot member and the foot when the first pivot member and the handle assembly are rotated in either direction about the pivot axis.

16. The surface cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the foot includes a suction opening.

17. The surface cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the surface cleaning device is an upright vacuum cleaner and wherein the handle assembly includes a dirt collection chamber and a motor housing, wherein the open path fluidly couples the suction opening and the dirt collection chamber.

18. The surface cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the surface cleaning device is a canister vacuum cleaner further comprising a canister housing having a dirt collection chamber and a motor housing, and wherein the handle assembly includes a handle and a tube extending between the handle and the foot, wherein the open path fluidly couples the suction opening and the dirt collection chamber.

19. The surface cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the surface cleaning device is a wet vacuum cleaner and wherein the handle assembly includes a liquid recovery chamber and a motor housing, wherein the open path fluidly couples the suction opening and the liquid recovery chamber.

20. The surface cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the foot includes a dispensing port.

21. The surface cleaning device of claim 20, wherein the handle assembly includes a clean liquid tank for carrying liquid and wherein the open path fluidly couples the clean liquid tank and the dispensing port, such that the dispensing port dispenses liquid from the clean liquid tank on the surface.

22. The surface cleaning device of claim 20, wherein the handle assembly includes a heating element that stores liquid, such that said heating element can heat the stored liquid to create steam, and wherein the open path fluidly couples the heating element and the dispensing port such that the dispensing port dispenses steam created by the heating element on the surface.

23. The surface cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the handle assembly includes a power source and wherein the steering assembly further includes at least one electrical element capable of carrying an electrical current, wherein the open path permits passage of the at least one electrical element from the power source to the foot, such that the power source can provide electrical power to the foot via the electrical element.

24. The surface cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the handle assembly includes a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle assembly is parallel to the pivot axis.

25. The surface cleaning device of claim 24, wherein the longitudinal axis and the pivot axis are collinear.

26. The surface cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the biasing member turns the foot when the foot is moved one of forward and backward.

27. The surface cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the foot includes a foot housing, front wheels rotatably coupled to a front portion of the foot housing, and rear wheels rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the foot housing.

28. The surface cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the handle assembly, first pivot member, biasing member, and second pivot member are pivotable as a unit relative to the foot about an incline axis that is perpendicular to the pivot axis.

29. The surface cleaning device of claim 28, wherein the incline axis is horizontal.

30. The surface cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the biasing member surrounds the open path.