VACUUM CLEANER INCLUDING A REMOVABLE CANISTER ASSEMBLY
A vacuum cleaner includes a base having a foot and a handle assembly pivotally coupled to the foot, and a canister assembly removably supported by the base. The vacuum cleaner also includes a first engagement member extending from one of the base and the canister assembly. The first engagement member engages the other of the base and the canister assembly to support the canister assembly on the base and inhibit the canister assembly from sliding side-to-side relative to the base. The vacuum cleaner further includes a second engagement member supported by one of the base and the canister assembly. The second engagement member engages the other of the base and the canister assembly to inhibit movement of the canister assembly away from the handle assembly when the canister assembly is supported on the base by the first engagement member.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/681,460, filed Aug. 9, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to upright vacuum cleaners.
Upright vacuum cleaners are typically used to clean floor surfaces, such as carpeting. These types of vacuum cleaners, however, can be difficult to maneuver and operate in relatively confined areas. In addition, it is sometimes desirable to clean elevated surfaces, such as drapes, furniture, or steps, with a vacuum cleaner.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner including a base having a foot with a suction nozzle and a handle assembly pivotally coupled to the foot for movement between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position. The vacuum cleaner also includes a canister assembly removably supported by the base. The canister assembly includes a suction motor operable to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle, and a dirt collection unit in fluid communication with the suction nozzle. The dirt collection unit is configured to collect dirt particles from an airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor. The vacuum cleaner further includes a first engagement member extending from one of the base and the canister assembly. The first engagement member engages the other of the base and the canister assembly to support the canister assembly on the base and inhibit the canister assembly from sliding side-to-side relative to the base. The vacuum cleaner also includes a second engagement member supported by one of the base and the canister assembly. The second engagement member engages the other of the base and the canister assembly to inhibit movement of the canister assembly away from the handle assembly when the canister assembly is supported on the base by the first engagement member.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner including a base having a foot with a suction nozzle and a handle assembly pivotally coupled to the foot for movement between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position. The vacuum cleaner also includes a canister assembly removably supported by the base. The canister assembly includes a suction motor operable to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle, and a dirt collection unit in fluid communication with the suction nozzle. The dirt collection unit is configured to collect the dirt particles from an airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor. The vacuum cleaner further includes a first engagement member extending from a first side of the base, and a second engagement member extending from a second side of the base that is opposite the first side. A portion of the canister assembly extends over a portion of the first side and a portion of the second side of the base to rest on the first and second engagement members and to straddle the base. The vacuum cleaner also includes a third engagement member supported by one of the base and the canister assembly. The third engagement member engages the other of the base and the canister assembly to releasably secure the canister assembly to the base.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
The vacuum cleaner 20 also includes a canister assembly 36 supported by the base 24. The canister assembly 36 generates a vacuum or suction force in the vacuum cleaner 20. The canister assembly 36 also removes and collects dirt or other particles from an airflow drawn into the vacuum cleaner 20 by the suction force.
In the illustrated embodiment, the handle assembly 32 is in fluid communication with the foot 28 such that an airflow drawn into the foot 28 is directed into the handle assembly 32. The handle assembly 32 is also in fluid communication with the canister assembly 36 through a flexible house 40 such that the airflow from the foot 28 is directed through the handle assembly 32, through the hose 40, and into the canister assembly 36. After the canister assembly 36 filters or otherwise cleans the airflow, the cleaned airflow is directed out of the vacuum cleaner 20 and back into the environment.
As shown in
As shown in
The wheels 56 are coupled to the body 52 adjacent a rearward end 76 of the foot 28 (i.e., adjacent the stem 64 and the handle assembly 32). The wheels 56 facilitate moving the foot 28 along the surface being cleaned. In the illustrated embodiment, the foot 28 includes two wheels 56 positioned on opposing sides of the body 52. In other embodiments, the foot 28 may include fewer or more wheels. The wheels 56 may be idle wheels or driven wheels.
The agitator 60 is positioned within the body 52 adjacent the suction nozzle 68. The agitator 60 is coupled to a motor (not shown) that rotates the agitator 60 relative to the body 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the agitator 60 includes an elongated bar or shaft 80 that extends along the length of the suction nozzle 68. The bar 80 supports bristles, beater bars, and/or other suitable structures for agitating carpeting. In other embodiments, other suitable actuators may also or alternatively be employed.
The stem 64 extends from the rearward end 76 of the foot 28. The stem 64 receives a portion of the handle assembly 32 to connect the handle assembly 32 to the foot 28. The illustrated stem 64 is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 68 such that air drawn into the foot 28 through the suction nozzle 68 is directed through the stem 64 and into the handle assembly 32. The stem 64 is also movable (e.g., rotatable) relative to the body 52 to move the handle assembly 32 relative to the foot 28 between the upright storage position (
The illustrated handle assembly 32 includes the extension tube 44 and the grip 48. The extension tube 44 has a first end 84 and a second end 88. As shown in
The illustrated extension tube 44 also defines two conduits 100, 104. The conduits 100, 104 generally extend in parallel between the first and second ends 84, 88 of the extension tube 44. The illustrated conduits 100, 104 are isolated from (i.e., not in fluid communication with) each other. The first conduit 100 provides an airflow pathway from the foot 28 to the flexible hose 40 and, ultimately, to the canister assembly 36. The second conduit 104 provides an electrical pathway from the grip 48 to the foot 28. In particular, the second conduit 104 supports and encloses wires 108 that extend between the first and second ends 84, 88 of the extension tube 44.
As shown in
Referring back to
As discussed above, the handle assembly 32 is movable relative to the foot 28 between a first position (
The illustrated latch 128 includes a foot pedal 132, a wedge 136, and a biasing member 140. The foot pedal 132 extends outwardly from the stem 64 for actuation by a user. In particular, the foot pedal 132 is configured to be depressed by a foot of the user stepping on the foot pedal 132. As shown in
The latch 128 is positioned on the vacuum cleaner 20 so that the foot pedal 132 is inoperable when the canister assembly 36 is supported by the base 24. That is, the foot pedal 132 cannot be actuated by a user to release the handle assembly 32 from the foot 28 while the canister assembly 36 is connected to the base 24 in the first cleaning mode, as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the latch 128 is substantially covered by the canister assembly 36 when the canister assembly 36 is supported by the base 24 such that the latch 128 is inaccessible to a user. As shown in
Referring back to
The separator unit 180 and the dirt collection unit 184 are supported by the body 168 generally above the suction motor 176. In the illustrated embodiment, the separator unit 180 is a cyclonic separator unit. The cyclonic separator unit 180 includes a two-stage cyclone system including a first, upstream cyclone 190 and a second, downstream cyclone 192 positioned within the first cyclone 190. The cyclones 190, 192 are operable to separate dirt particles from an airflow. The cyclonic separator unit also includes a filter 196 to separate additional dirt particles from the airflow. The illustrated filter 196 is positioned downstream of (above in
In operation, when the suction motor 176 is energized, an airflow is drawn by the suction motor 176 into the vacuum cleaner 20 through the suction nozzle 68 in the foot 28. The foot 28 directs the airflow into the first conduit 100 of the handle assembly 32, which directs the airflow into the flexible hose 40 (
The illustrated separator and dirt collection units 180, 184, or dirt cup, are manufactured and assembled together as a subassembly of the canister assembly 36. The separator and dirt collection units 180, 184 are removable from the body 168 to facilitate changing or cleaning the filter 196 and emptying the dirt collection unit 184. In the illustrated embodiment, the canister assembly 36 includes a latch 212 having a manual actuator 216 to selectively secure the units 180, 184 to the body 168. The actuator 216 is actuatable (e.g., depressible) by a user to release the separator and dirt collection units 180, 184 from the body 168. When released, the units 180, 184 can be lifted away from the body 168 and the suction motor 176.
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
The illustrated mounting post 224 is located adjacent the first end 84 of the handle assembly 32 so that a lower portion of the canister assembly 36 is engaged by the mounting post 224. The illustrated mounting post 224 is a pin that extends through the stem 64 of the foot 28. As shown in
The mounting post 224 is configured to be received in a groove 240 of the canister assembly 36 to support the canister assembly 36. As shown in
The recess 172 and the groove 240 are formed in the rear surface 214 of the canister assembly 36 such that a portion of the stem 64 is received within the recess 172 when the canister assembly 36 is supported by the mounting post 224. In particular, a portion of the body 168 of the canister assembly 36 extends over portions of the first and second sides 234, 238 (
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the latch 228 includes a manual actuator 268, a hook 272, and a biasing member 276 (
As shown in
Referring to
The canister assembly 36 can be reconnected to the handle assembly 32 and the foot 28 using a substantially opposite set of motions. First, the groove 240 (
In some embodiments, the relative locations of the mounting post 224 and the latch 228 may be reversed. For example, the latch 228 may be located adjacent the first end 84 of the handle assembly 32, and the mounting post 224 may be located between the grip 48 of the handle assembly 32 and the latch 228. In such embodiments, the canister assembly 36 may still be removed from and reconnected to the handle assembly 32 and the foot 17 in a similar manner as described above. However, a bottom portion of the canister assembly 36 (rather than an upper portion) may be pivoted toward and away from the handle assembly 32 when the canister assembly 36 is installed on and removed from the base 24.
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a base including a foot having a suction nozzle, and a handle assembly pivotally coupled to the foot for movement between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position;
- a canister assembly removably supported by the base, the canister assembly including a suction motor operable to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle, and a dirt collection unit in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the dirt collection unit configured to collect dirt particles from an airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor;
- a first engagement member extending from one of the base and the canister assembly, the first engagement member engaging the other of the base and the canister assembly to support the canister assembly on the base and inhibit the canister assembly from sliding side-to-side relative to the base; and
- a second engagement member supported by one of the base and the canister assembly, the second engagement member engaging the other of the base and the canister assembly to inhibit movement of the canister assembly away from the handle assembly when the canister assembly is supported on the base by the first engagement member.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first engagement member allows the canister assembly to pivot toward and away from the handle assembly,
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the second engagement member engages the other of the base and the canister assembly when the canister assembly is pivoted toward the handle assembly to releasably secure the canister assembly to the base, and wherein the second engagement member is disengageable from the other of the base and the canister assembly to allow the canister assembly to pivot away from the handle assembly.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the canister assembly is liftable off of the base when the canister assembly is pivoted away from the handle assembly.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dirt collection unit is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle through the handle assembly.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the dirt collection unit remains in fluid communication with the suction nozzle through the handle assembly when the canister assembly is not supported by the base.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a first end coupled to the foot and a second end supporting a grip, wherein the first engagement member is located adjacent the first end of handle assembly, and wherein the second engagement member is located between the grip and the first engagement member.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the canister assembly also includes a body, wherein the suction motor is positioned within the body, and wherein the dirt collection unit is supported by the body.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the canister assembly further includes a separator unit supported by the body in fluid communication with the dirt collection unit, and wherein the separator unit is operable to separate the dirt particles from the airflow.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the separator unit and the dirt collection unit are removable from the body.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the canister assembly further includes a handle extending from the separator unit.
12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first engagement member includes a mounting post extending from the foot, wherein the canister assembly defines a groove, and wherein the mounting post extends into the groove to support the canister assembly on the foot.
13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein a surface of the canister assembly that defines the groove rests on the mounting post such that the canister assembly is pivotable relative to the handle assembly about the mounting post.
14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the mounting post includes two end portions extending in opposing directions from the foot, and wherein the two end portions engage the canister assembly at two discrete locations to inhibit rotation of the canister assembly about the handle assembly.
15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the two end portions of the mounting post extend from opposing sides of the base, and wherein a portion of the canister assembly straddles the opposing sides of the base to engage the two end portions of the mounting post.
16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the second engagement member includes a latch, wherein the handle assembly includes a flange, and wherein the latch is supported by the canister assembly and engages the flange.
17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the latch includes a manual actuator, and wherein the manual actuator is movable relative to the canister assembly to disengage the latch from the flange.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein the latch also includes a biasing member, wherein the biasing member biases the latch into engagement with the flange, and wherein the manual actuator is movable against the bias of the biasing member to disengage the latch from the flange.
19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the latch includes a hook that engages the flange.
20. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a base including a foot having a suction nozzle, and a handle assembly pivotally coupled to the foot for movement between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position;
- a canister assembly removably supported by the base, the canister assembly including a suction motor operable to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle, and a dirt collection unit in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the dirt collection unit configured to collect dirt particles from an airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor;
- a first engagement member extending from a first side of the base;
- a second engagement member extending from a second side of the base that is opposite the first side, wherein a portion of the canister assembly extends over a portion of the first side and a portion of the second side of the base to rest on the first and second engagement members and to straddle the base; and
- a third engagement member supported by one of the base and the canister assembly, wherein the third engagement member engages the other of the base and the canister assembly to releasably secure the canister assembly to the base.
21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein the canister assembly is pivotable about the first and second engagement members relative to the base.
22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 21, wherein the third engagement member engages the other of the base and the canister assembly as the canister assembly pivots toward the handle assembly, and wherein the third engagement member is disengageable from the other of the base and the canister assembly to allow the canister assembly to pivot away from the handle assembly.
23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein the canister assembly is liftable off of the base when the canister assembly is pivoted away from the handle assembly.
24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein the dirt collection unit is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle through the handle assembly.
25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein the dirt collection unit remains in fluid communication with the suction nozzle through the handle assembly when the canister assembly is not supported by the base.
26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein the handle assembly includes a first end coupled to the foot and a second end supporting a grip, wherein the first and second engagement members are located adjacent the first end of handle assembly, and wherein the third engagement member is located between the grip and the first and second engagement members.
27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein the canister assembly also includes a body, wherein the suction motor is positioned within the body, and wherein the dirt collection unit is supported by the body.
28. The vacuum cleaner of claim 27, wherein the canister assembly further includes a separator unit supported by the body in fluid communication with the dirt collection unit, and wherein the separator unit is operable to separate the dirt particles from the airflow.
29. The vacuum cleaner of claim 28, wherein the separator unit and the dirt collection unit are removable from the body.
30. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein the first engagement member includes a first boss extending from the base, wherein the second engagement member includes a second boss extending from the base, and wherein the canister assembly defines at least one groove that receives the first and second bosses.
31. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein the third engagement member includes a latch supported by the one of the base and the canister assembly, and wherein the other of the base and the canister assembly includes a flange that is engaged by the latch.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 9, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2014
Inventors: Gregg A. Henderson (Munroe Falls, OH), Jamie Horvath (Lakewood, OH), Matthew J. Doerfler (Wooster, OH), David Khalil (Highland Heights, OH), Chad Pagoria (Cleveland, OH)
Application Number: 13/963,640
International Classification: A47L 5/28 (20060101); A47L 9/10 (20060101);