Patents Assigned to Hoover Company
  • Removable hose and tool caddy for a vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 6260233
    Abstract: A hose and tool caddy removably mounts to an upright vacuum cleaner. The hose and tool caddy stores the vacuum cleaner hose and accessory tools, such as a dusting brush, furniture nozzle, extension wand and crevice tool, which are used for above-the-floor cleaning. When the upright vacuum cleaner is being used for floor care, the hose and tool caddy may be removed from the upright vacuum cleaner and hung-up. The hose and tool caddy includes a base and a guide member. The base is formed with a looped channel for receiving the hose, a pair of resilient C-clamps for supporting the dusting brush and furniture nozzle and a vertically extending channel for receiving the extension wand with the crevice tool stored therein. The upright vacuum cleaner includes a track member for slidably receiving the guide member when the hose and tool caddy is being mounted to the upright vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Wareham, David M. J. Allgeier, Nick M. Bosyj, Arne J. Diehl, Douglass A. King, Keith G. Minton, John C. Porter
  • Carpet extractor with headlights
    Patent number: 6253414
    Abstract: A carpet extractor is disclosed having scrub brushes located behind a transparent suction nozzle, whereby the brushes are visible through the nozzle. A main frame of the extractor is formed with transparent portions adjacent to the ends of the brushes, so that he brushes are also visible from the sides of the extractor. Headlights are provided on either side of the suction nozzle for illuminating the floor adjacent to the suction nozzle. The headlights are formed so that a portion of the light emitted by the headlights passes through a transparent portion of the main frame adjacent to the brushes and illuminates the brushes for improved viewing of he brushes. The headlights are also formed so that a portion of the light emitted by the headlights passes through the edge walls of the suction nozzle and illuminates the soiled cleaning liquid traveling through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Sidney H. Bradd, John D. Essex
  • Carpet extractor fluid supply system
    Patent number: 6247202
    Abstract: A novel carpet extractor is disclosed having a first cleaning liquid conduit that communicates a supply reservoir with a cleaning liquid distributor via a first valve and a second cleaning liquid conduit that communicates the supply reservoir with the liquid distributor via a second valve. The first valve is actuated by a main trigger and the second valve is actuated by a surge button, both of which are conveniently located in the hand grip on the handle of the machine for propelling the machine over a floor surface. A first normal flow of cleaning liquid is obtained for normal cleaning by depressing the trigger and a second greater flow of cleaning liquid is obtained by depressing the button and the trigger simultaneously. A mechanism is preferably included that will open the first valve in the event an operator depresses only the surge button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Erik D. Lesco, David G. Mueller, Kevin L. Thomas
  • Vacuum cleaner suction nozzle configuration
    Patent number: 6237189
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle is provided with inner front and rear ducts and a duct cover piece disposed within the agitator chamber. This chamber is formed by a tunnel piece that is at least partly user observable from above the nozzle. The nozzle includes a hood piece which melds with its underbody at, at least, a portion of their juncture. This is occasioned by an offset in their underbody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Edgar A. Maurer, Richard A. Wareham, David W. Moine, Kurt D. Harsh, Kenneth L. Symensma
  • Carpet extractor brush assembly
    Patent number: 6189174
    Abstract: Floor care apparatus is disclosed wherein a powered brush assembly having a multiplicity of rotary brushes is suspended within the apparatus such that the brush assembly floats freely upon the surface being cleaned without supporting any of the machine's weight. The rotary brushes are generally configured as spur gears and function in a gear train wherein one brush drives all other gear brushes in the system. Axially projecting brush bristles are embedded in each gear tooth such that there is no unbrushed area between adjacent brushes in the brush line. The portion of the gear tooth wherein the bristles are embedded includes a recessed profile to allow for circumferential expansion of the tooth, upon insertion of the brush bristles, thereby preventing gear tooth interference. The brush assembly is particularly suitable for hot water carpet extractors of the upright design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Darwin S. Crouser, Edgar A. Maurer, Timothy B. Hisrich
  • Hand scrub tool with interchangeable scrub drives
    Patent number: 6185781
    Abstract: A compact, hand held carpet and upholstery extractor nozzle is provided having an air turbine and a compact gear reduction operatively connected to and driven by said turbine. At least a pair of scrub modules are interchangeably attachable to said gear reduction. A first scrub modules includes at least a pair of vertical axis scrub brushes for cleaning upholstery, carpeting and the like. When said first scrub module is attached to said gear reduction, the scrub brushes are operatively connected to and driven by said gear reduction. A second scrub module includes a single vertical axis scrub pad that is driven by said gear reduction for scouring hard surfaces, such as tiles, tubs, counter tops, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Miller, Robert W. Bauman, Donald A. Coates, Arne J. Diehl, John D. Essex, Adam C. Sclafani
  • Vacuum cleaner agitator control
    Patent number: 6158084
    Abstract: A self-propelled vacuum cleaner is provided having an upper handle portion and a carriage pivotally mounted to a lower end of the handle portion for pivotal motion relative the handle portion about a horizontally extending carriage axis. A transmission drivingly connected to at least one drive wheel mounted on the carriage, whereby the at least one drive wheel propels the vacuum cleaner over a floor surface. A nozzle body pivotally mounted to the carriage for pivotal motion relative the carriage about a generally horizontally extending nozzle axis, the nozzle body having a downward facing suction opening. The nozzle axis being generally horizontally offset from the carriage axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Vincent L. Weber, Jeffrey A. Morgan, Kenneth L. Symensma, Glenn E. Specht
  • Cyclonic dirt cup assembly
    Patent number: 6146434
    Abstract: A cyclonic dirt cup assembly for a vacuum cleaner has a generally conical truncated cone positioned within a dirt cup of the vacuum cleaner. The dirt cup has a wall formed with an air inlet opening for receiving a stream of dirt-laden air within the dirt cup. The cone is pivotally connected to a frame member which is removably mounted within the dirt cup. A baffle extends outwardly from a wall of the cone and is positioned adjacent the air inlet opening of the dirt cup for directing the stream of dirt-laden air in a cyclonic manner. The baffle includes a top wall, a side wall and a bottom wall. The baffle walls, the wall of the dirt cup and a wall of the cone form an air directing compartment which receives the dirt-laden air input through the inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Adam C. Scalfani, Douglas E. Gerber, A. Ronald Keebler, Raymond L. Lawter, Daniel R. Miller
  • Upright carpet and upholstery extractor
    Patent number: 6138322
    Abstract: A novel upright carpet cleaning extractor is disclosed which may be conveniently converted from the floor cleaning mode to the upholstery and/or stair cleaning mode. The overall configuration and operation of the extractor is similar to that of a typical upright vacuum cleaner and may be operated in the forward or reverse direction similar to a typical upright vacuum cleaner. When in the floor cleaning mode, cleaning solution is supplied to a solution distributor by gravity flow. However, when converted to the upholstery cleaning mode an auxiliary, air turbine driven cleaning solution pump is automatically energized for supplying pressurized cleaning solution to an upholstery or stair cleaning nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Darwin S. Crouser, Gregg A. McAllise, Jeffery A. Morgan, Fred S. Sindlinger
  • Hand held turbine powered extractor nozzle
    Patent number: 6134746
    Abstract: A compact, hand held carpet and upholstery extractor nozzle is provided having a pair of air turbine powered vertical axis rotary scrub brushes located adjacent the extractor nozzle. The turbine has at least one ambient air inlet and an outlet that communicates with a suction tube extending from the extractor nozzle. A compact gear reduction operatively connects the air turbine to the scrub brushes. A turbine outlet baffle is preferably provided that extends from an upstream edge of the turbine outlet, into the suction tube and over and beyond the turbine outlet to direct air, liquid and debris flowing through the suction tube over and beyond the turbine outlet opening. A downstream end of the baffle is open and suction openings pass through the baffle, for providing fluid communication between the suction tube and the turbine outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Miller, Douglas C. Barker, John A. Leonatti, Kenneth L. Symensma
  • Self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner with offset agitator and motor pivot points
    Patent number: 6131238
    Abstract: A self-propelled vacuum cleaner is provided having an upper handle portion and a carriage pivotally mounted to a lower end of the handle portion for pivotal motion relative the handle portion about a horizontally extending carriage axis. A transmission drivingly connected to at least one drive wheel mounted on the carriage, whereby the at least one drive wheel propels the vacuum cleaner over a floor surface. A nozzle body pivotally mounted to the carriage for pivotal motion relative the carriage about a generally horizontally extending nozzle axis, the nozzle body having a downward facing suction opening. The nozzle axis being generally horizontally offset from the carriage axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Vincent L. Weber, Jeffery A. Morgan, Kenneth L. Symensma, Glenn E. Specht
  • Filter cartridge
    Patent number: D440294
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: Greg A. Bilek
  • Vacuum cleaner upper portion
    Patent number: D442344
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: William G. Alford, David W. Moine, Richard R. Tucker
  • Vacuum cleaner nozzle
    Patent number: D443741
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Parr, Lynn A. Frederick
  • Headlight for a carpet extractor
    Patent number: D445206
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Wareham
  • Headlight for a carpet extractor
    Patent number: D445517
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: James A. McGill, Kevin S. Waltz
  • Carpet extractor lower portion
    Patent number: D431887
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Sidney H. Bradd, John D. Essex
  • Vacuum cleaner tool caddy
    Patent number: D434886
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Wareham, David M. J. Allgeier, Keith G. Minton
  • Vacuum cleaner nozzle
    Patent number: D434887
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Wareham
  • Vacuum cleaner tool storage area
    Patent number: D435152
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: Ronald J. Stephens