Cleaning tool assembly

Abstract

A cleaning tool assembly includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing includes an intake opening and a connection port. The second housing includes a brush. The second housing is releaseably connected to the first housing. Accordingly, the cleaning tool may be utilized with or without a brush feature.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/491,399 filed on Jul. 31, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a cleaning tool assembly for use with floor care cleaning equipment such as a canister vacuum cleaner, an upright vacuum cleaner, a handheld vacuum cleaner, and an extractor or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has long been known to equip canister and handheld vacuum cleaners with cleaning tool assemblies incorporating a simple nozzle body or nozzle body and brush combination. More recently, upright vacuum cleaners and extractors have also been equipped with such manual cleaning tool assemblies.

The present invention relates to a cleaning tool assembly that may be selectively utilized in one of two modes of operation. In the first mode, the cleaning tool comprises a bare nozzle body. In the second mode an accessory housing including a brush is connected to the nozzle body. Advantageously, this versatile cleaning tool may be utilized for a great many applications including those where a brush feature is a hindrance to efficient cleaning (e.g. for cleaning of upholstery and draperies) and those where a brush feature is a significant benefit to efficient cleaning (e.g. cleaning of carpet on stairs).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an improved cleaning tool assembly is provided. The cleaning tool assembly comprises a first housing including an intake opening and a connection port and a second housing including a brush. The second housing is releaseably connected to the first housing so that the cleaning tool assembly may be utilized with or without a brush feature.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the cleaning tool assembly may also be defined as comprising a nozzle body and an accessory housing including a brush and a cavity for receiving the nozzle body. Additionally, the cleaning tool assembly includes a latch for engaging the nozzle body and securing the nozzle body in the cavity.

The latch may comprise a resilient tab including a locking shoulder. Further, the accessory housing may include a top wall and a depending skirt. The depending skirt may be annular in shape. In addition the top wall may include an opening with the resilient tab provided adjacent to the opening.

Still further, the skirt includes at least one shoulder for engaging a portion of the nozzle body when the nozzle body is positioned in the cavity. Further, an inner surface of the top wall also engages at least another portion of the nozzle body.

The brush may comprise a series of tufted bristles secured to the skirt. The series of tufted bristles may be included around the entire skirt if desired. A skirt extension may also be provided alongside the series of tufted bristles thereby effectively stiffening the bristles to thereby enhance their cleaning action.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention a method is provided for securing a brush accessory to a nozzle body. The method comprises the steps of sliding a portion of the nozzle body into an aperture in the brush accessory, pivoting the nozzle body relative to the brush accessory and fully seating the nozzle body in the brush accessory.

In the following description there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrates several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning tool assembly of the present invention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are cross-sectional views illustrating the manner in which the nozzle body is secured to the brush accessory.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 illustrating the cleaning tool assembly 10 of the present invention including a first housing or nozzle body 12 and a second or accessory housing 14.

As also illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the nozzle body 12 includes an intake opening 16 for drawing dirt and debris into the nozzle body and a connection port 18 for connecting to a vacuum cleaning apparatus. The connection may be made through a flexible hose, a cleaning wand or even directly to a vacuum cleaner housing in the case of a handheld vacuum cleaner.

The accessory housing 14 includes a top wall 20 and a downwardly depending skirt 22. A brush, generally designated by reference numeral 24 is carried by the accessory housing 14. In the illustrated embodiment the brush 24 comprises a series of tufted bristles 26 projecting from the skirt 22. As illustrated in the drawing figures the skirt 22 is annular in configuration and the tufted bristles 26 may extend around the entire skirt if desired.

A skirt extension 28 projects from the skirt 22 alongside the inner side of the series of tufted bristles 26. As illustrated, the skirt extension 28 has a length L1 that is approximately one-third to one-half the length L2 of the projecting portion of the tufted bristles 26. Advantageously, the skirt extension 28 functions to support and stiffen the tufted bristles 26 to provide increased brushing action as the cleaning tool assembly 10 is moved across the surface being cleaned.

As further illustrated, an opening 30 is provided in the top wall 20 and at least one shoulder 32 is provided along an inner wall of the skirt 22. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the shoulder 32 extends about three-quarters of the way across the opening 30. While only one shoulder is illustrated in FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that a second, corresponding shoulder may be provided on the opposite sidewall.

A latch, generally designated by reference numeral 34, is carried by the skirt 22 at one end of the opening 30. The latch 34 comprises a resilient tab 36 having a cooperating locking flange 38. The resilient tab 36 may be molded from, for example, plastic such as ABS as an integral part of the accessory housing 14. When the nozzle body 12 is inserted in the opening 30 of the accessory housing 14, a portion of the bottom edge 40 of the nozzle body 12 engages the shoulder 32. The inner surface of the top wall 20 engages a portion 42 of the top wall of the nozzle body 12 and the locking flange 38 engages a margin 44 of the top of the nozzle body 12 opposite the portion 42. As a result, the nozzle body 12 is captured and secured in the accessory housing 14.

In use, the nozzle body 12 may be utilized alone with the connection port 18 connected to the vacuum cleaner. In this operating mode, dirt and debris is drawn directly into the intake opening 16 and then through the connection port 18. Thus, in this mode the cleaning tool assembly 10 is without any form of brush and is therefore particularly suited for cleaning applications not requiring a brush or where a brush would be a detriment (i.e. such as upholstery, curtain and bare floor cleaning).

In a second cleaning mode, the cleaning tool assembly 10 comprises the nozzle body 12 secured in the accessory housing 14.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2a and 2b to illustrate how this is accomplished. The first step of the process is the sliding of a portion or first end of the nozzle body 12 into the aperture or opening 30 in the top wall 20 of the accessory housing 14 (see action arrow A). More specifically, the nozzle body 12 is inserted at an angle so that the end being inserted slides past the end 31 of the shoulder 32 and under the top wall 20 while the opposite end of the nozzle body passes over the top of the resilient tab 36. Once the connection port 18 engages the edge 46 of the top wall 20 defining a portion of the opening 30, the nozzle body 12 is pivoted relative to the accessory housing 14 in the direction of action arrow B. As the nozzle body 12 is pivoted, the bottom end edge of the nozzle body slides along the cam surface 50 of the resilient tab 36 forcing the resilient tab outwardly in the direction of action arrow C. Just as the bottom edge 40 seats on the shoulder 32, the portion 42 of the nozzle body engages the undersurface of the top wall 20 and the margin 44 of the nozzle body slides past the locking flange 38. The resilient memory of the tab 36 then causes the tab to spring back in the direction of action arrow D so that the locking flange 38 engages the margin 44 of the nozzle body thereby tightly securing the nozzle body in the accessory housing 14.

The cleaning tool assembly including both the nozzle body 12 and accessory housing 14 may then be utilized in a second mode of operation by connecting the connection port 18 with a vacuum cleaner. The tufted bristles 26 may then be scrubbed back and forth across the surface being cleaned to brush dirt and debris from that surface. That dirt and debris is then drawn into the intake opening 16 and passes through the connection port 18 to the vacuum cleaner for collection.

Of course, it should be appreciated that nozzle body 12 may again be removed from the accessory housing 14 by engaging the resilient tab 36 and pushing it outward in the direction of arrow C against the skirt 22 until the flange 38 clears the margin 44. The nozzle body 12 is then pivoted to free the margin end of the nozzle body from the resilient tab 36 and then one simply slides the nozzle body 12 out from the opening 30.

In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the concepts of the present invention. The cleaning tool assembly 10 of the present invention provides for two distinct modes of operation. In the first mode, brushless cleaning is possible. In the second mode, a brush is provided to allow scrubbing of a surface to be cleaned. Advantageously, the present invention allows one to quickly and easily change between modes of operation in a simple and efficient manner. As a further advantage, a fastener, in the form of a resilient tab 36, is an integral part of the accessory housing 14 and, therefore, will not be inadvertently lost or misplaced.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. While the illustrated embodiment shows the nozzle body 12 being mounted within an opening in the accessory housing 14, it should be appreciated that the accessory housing 14 could just as easily be mounted inside the margin of the nozzle body 12 if desired.

The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiment do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.

Claims

1. A cleaning tool assembly, comprising:

a first housing including an intake opening and a connection port; and

a second housing including a brush, said second housing being releaseably connected to said first housing whereby said cleaning tool assembly may be utilized with or without a brush feature.

2. A cleaning tool assembly, comprising:

a nozzle body; and

an accessory housing including a brush and a cavity for receiving said nozzle body.

3. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 2 including a latch for engaging said nozzle body and securing said nozzle body in said cavity.

4. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 3, wherein said latch comprises a resilient tab.

5. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 4, wherein said resilient tab includes a locking flange.

6. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 5, wherein said accessory housing includes a top wall and a depending skirt.

7. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 6, wherein said depending skirt is annular.

8. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 7, wherein said top wall includes an opening and said resilient tab is provided adjacent said opening.

9. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 8, wherein said skirt includes at least one shoulder engaging a portion of said nozzle body.

10. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 9, wherein an inner surface of said top wall engages at least a portion of said nozzle body.

11. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 10, wherein said at least one shoulder extends along said skirt at least partially across said opening.

12. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 11, wherein said brush comprises a series of tufted bristles secured to said skirt.

13. The cleaning tool assembly of claim 12, further including a skirt extension alongside said series of tufted bristles.

14. A method of securing a brush accessory to a nozzle body, comprising:

sliding a portion of said nozzle body into an aperture in said brush accessory;

pivoting said nozzle body relative to said brush accessory; and

fully seating said nozzle body in said brush accessory.