Abstract:
A removable suction nozzle inlet adapter is taught for converting the suction inlet of a vacuuming nozzle from a straight line inlet to one having either a convex or concave suction inlet whereby curved carpet and/or upholstery surfaces may be vacuumed. The adapters are particularly useful for use with hand held hot water extractor nozzles upon the curved carpet surface between the step and risers of carpeted stairs and/or the curved carpet transition from the riser to the horizontal step. Further, the invention described and taught may be used to vacuum curved upholstery or carpet surfaces found in the typical household and/or automobile.

Description:
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/046,893 filed on Mar. 24, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,732, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/502,128 filed on Jul. 13, 1995, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The herein described invention relates to vacuum cleaner accessories particularly for hand held vacuum nozzles commonly used with carpet/upholstery extractors. 
     Heretofore carpeted stairs have been vacuumed and/or deep cleaned by hot water extraction techniques using a relatively small hand held suction nozzle of approximately four to five inches in width. The nozzle is typically connected, by a flexible hose, to a vacuum source such as a vacuum cleaner or a hot water extractor. However, when vacuum cleaning or hot water extraction cleaning of carpeted stairs, it is difficult to adequately vacuum the inside corner (where the carpet transitions from the horizontal step to the vertical riser) and the outside corner (where the carpet transitions from the vertical riser to the horizontal step) because of the typical long straight suction inlet of the nozzle. 
     Further such straight suction inlets do not adequately accommodate the many irregular curves found in upholstered furniture. 
     The present invention is intended to overcome the inherent problems discussed above in a novel manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accord with the invention disclosed and taught herein, a unique and novel accessory for converting the straight line suction inlet of the typical hand held suction nozzle into a convex or concave suction inlet is disclosed and taught. 
     Broadly, there is disclosed herein a suction nozzle adapter, that is frictionally retained within the straight line suction nozzle inlet and having an extended suction inlet of a convex, concave, or other arcuate shape. In the embodiment as illustrated herein teaches a convex suction inlet configured to approximate the inside corner radius of carpeted stairs and a concave suction inlet configured to approximate the outside curve of carpeted stairs. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, separate suction inlet adapters are taught for the convex and concave configurations and each includes means for preventing over sprayed fluid from dripping onto the horizontal step when used with a typical hand held hot water extractor nozzle. However, an embodiment having both a convex and concave suction inlet is also disclosed. 
     Although the preferred embodiments taught herein relate to hand held carpet and upholstery extractor nozzles attached to a flexible suction hose, the invention as disclosed herein may also be adapted, by those skilled in the art and without inventive input, for use with a typical dry hand held vacuum cleaner or any other vacuuming nozzle, and is particularly useful for vacuuming household and/or automotive upholstery and carpets where curved surfaces exist. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 presents a front pictorial view of a typical hand held vacuuming nozzle having our convex adapter attached thereto. 
     FIG. 2 presents a rear pictorial view of a typical hand held vacuuming nozzle having our convex adapter attached thereto. 
     FIG. 3 presents a rear pictorial view of our convex adapter separate and apart from the nozzle. 
     FIG. 4 presents a rear elevational view of our convex adapter. 
     FIG. 5 presents a left side elevational view of our convex adapter. 
     FIG. 6 presents a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 presents a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7A presents an enlarged view of the encircled area of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 8 is an illustration of our convex and concave adapters as used to vacuum the inside and outside corners of a carpeted stairway, the associated vacuuming nozzle being removed for clarity. 
     FIG. 9 presents a rear pictorial view of a hand held vacuuming nozzle having our concave adapter attached thereto. 
     FIG. 10 presents a rear pictorial view of our concave adapter separate and apart from the nozzle. 
     FIG. 11 presents a rear elevational view of our concave adapter. 
     FIG. 12 presents a right side elevational view of our concave adapter. 
     FIG. 13 presents a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 14 presents a pictorial view of an alternate embodiment of a convex adapter with reversible and opposing suction inlets having different inlet convexity. 
     FIG. 15 presents a pictorial view of an alternate embodiment of a concave adapter with reversible and opposing concave suction inlets having different inlet concavity. 
     FIG. 16 presents a pictorial view of an alternate embodiment concave/convex adapter with reversible and opposing convex and concave suction inlets. 
     FIG. 17 presents a pictorial view of another alternate embodiment of our invention. 
     FIG. 18 presents an exploded view of the principal elements comprising the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  19 — 19  in FIG.  17 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show front and rear perspective views, respectively, of a typical hand held hot water extractor vacuum nozzle  10  having our convex nozzle adapter  12  inserted therein. FIG. 3 presents a rear perspective view of convex adapter  12  separate and apart from nozzle  10 . As seen in FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , convex adapter  12  has an upper nozzle engaging portion  14  and a lower suction inlet portion  16 . When in use the upper portion  14  of convex adapter  12  is inserted into the suction inlet  18  of nozzle  10  and held in place by the frictional engagement of front and rear walls  22  and  20  of adapter  12  with the inside walls  26  and  24  of nozzle  10  respectively as illustrated in FIG. 6. A forwardly extending lip  28 , on adapter  12 , is in abutting contact with the forwardly extending ledge  19  of nozzle  10  whereby the clockwise moment, as viewed in FIG. 6, acting upon adapter  12  when translated to the right, during use, is partly resisted. When translated to the left the counterclockwise moment imparted to adapter  12  is partly resisted by tabs  17  and  21 . The upper portion  14  inserted into nozzle  10  also acts to resist the above described moments. 
     As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, adapter  12  basically comprises two generally parallel plates or walls  30  and  32 , sealed on the ends, thereby forming a rectangular suction conduit  34  therebetween. Conduit  34  may be divided by a reinforcing gusset  39  as shown in FIG. 7 or it may be left undivided if desired. As may be seen in FIG. 8, the suction inlet  35  of convex adapter  12  is configured with a convex curve approximating the inside curve generally existing, on carpeted stairs, as the carpet transitions from the horizontal step  33  to the vertical riser  31 . 
     When convex adapter  12  is used for cleaning stairs with a typical hand held hot water extractor type nozzle, as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  6 , the assembly is generally inclined approximately 45° as shown in FIG. 8 (lower portion). A portion of the hot water spray from jet  36  (see FIG. 6) may be expected to impinge upon the rear wall  30  of convex adapter  12 , particularly where the spray pattern, from jet  36 , is intended to alight upon the normally vacuumed horizontal surface immediately behind suction inlet  18 . The impinging spray upon rear wall  30  may be expected to gravitationally run downward from the adapter thereby wetting a portion  37  of the horizontal step  33  below. To prevent this otherwise misdirected flow of impinging fluid, upon the rear surface  30  of adapter  12 , from dripping onto and wetting the horizontal step  33 , an array of side by side grooves  38  (as best shown in FIGS. 4,  7 , and  7 A) are provided within the surface of rear wall  30  to catch the overspray and direct it toward suction inlet  35 . 
     Since the width of the fluid spray pattern emanating from spray jet  36  typically expands to the approximate width of nozzle  10 , overspray will also occur and impinge upon rear wall  30  below and to the right of grooves  38  as viewed in FIG. 8. A pair of inclined strakes  40  and  42  are provided to catch and collect the widthwise overspray not otherwise caught by grooves  38  and direct it toward the suction inlet  35  of adapter  12  thereby preventing it from dripping downward upon the step surface  33 . 
     It is preferred that strakes  40  and  42  be inclined approximately 60° with respect to the horizontal H (see angle A in FIG.  4 ). Thus when adapter  12  (attached to nozzle  10 ) is inclined 45° (as shown in FIG. 8) the lower strake  40  (as shown in FIG. 8) remains at an inclination angle B of approximately 15°. Thus fluid draining downward onto strake  40  from rear wall  30 , of adapter  12 , will flow along inclined strake  40  and be drawn into suction inlet  35 . Although strakes  40  and  42  are shown as being perpendicular to rear wall  30 , strakes  40  and  42  may also be angularly directed upward or possibly have a concave trough like channel to prevent the flow of fluid over the edge thereof. 
     FIG. 9 shows a rear perspective view of vacuum cleaning nozzle  10  with our concave nozzle adapter  52  inserted therein. FIG. 10 presents a rear perspective view of concave adapter  52  separate and apart from nozzle  10 . As seen in FIGS. 9,  10 ,  11 , and  13 , concave adapter  52  has an upper nozzle engaging portion  54  (that portion above the dotted line in FIGS. 10 and 11) and a suction inlet section  56  (that portion below the dotted line in FIGS.  10  and  11 ). When in use the upper portion  54  of concave adapter  52 , is inserted into the suction inlet  18  of nozzle  10  and is held in place by the frictional engagement of walls  60  and  62  of adapter  52  with the inside walls  24  and  26  of nozzle  10 , respectively. 
     As shown in FIGS. 9,  10 , and  13  concave adapter  52 , similar to convex adapter  12 , basically comprises two generally parallel plates or walls  60  and  62  sealed on the ends, thereby forming a rectangular suction channel  64  therebetween. Similar to adapter  12  channel  64  may be divided with a reinforcing gusset. As may be seen in FIG. 8 (top portion), the suction inlet  65  of adapter  52  is configured with a concave curve preferably approximating the outside curve generally existing on carpeted stairs as the carpet transitions from the vertical riser  31  to the horizontal step  33 . 
     When the concave adapter  52  is used for stairs cleaning with a typical hand held hot water extractor type nozzle  10 , as shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the assembly is generally inclined 45° as shown in FIG.  8 . Similar to convex adapter  12 , a portion of the hot water spray from jet  36  may be expected to impinge on the rear wall  60  of concave adapter  52 . Similar to situation with convex adapter  12  described above, impinging spray upon rear wall  60  may be expected to gravitationally run downward from the adapter thereby wetting the horizontal step below. To prevent this otherwise misdirected flow of impinging fluid from wetting the step below, strakes  66  and  68  (similar to strakes  40  and  42  on convex adapter  12 ) are provided to collect the fluid run off from rear wall  60 . Strakes  66  and  68  are preferably slanted approximately 20°, angle C in FIG. 11, below the horizontal. However, when nozzle  10 , with adapter  52  attached thereto, is inclined at the 45° working angle, as seen in FIG. 8, the lower strake  66  is inclined approximately 25°, angle D, below the horizontal. Thus, accumulated fluid will flow away from suction inlet  65  of adapter  52 . To reclaim the fluid run off, recessed channels  70  and  72  (see FIGS. 9,  10 , and  11 ) are provided at each end of adapter  52 . When adapter  52  is inserted into nozzle  10 , channels  70  and  72  cooperate with the inside wall  24  of nozzle  10  to form open ended suction conduits. As seen in FIG. 11, a small triangular opening  74  is formed between the inclined strake  66  and the rearward lip of nozzle  10 , as indicated by the broken line  76 . The accumulated fluid flowing along strake  66  is blocked by end wall  78  (or  79  when inclined in the opposite direction) and drawn into triangular opening  74  by action of the suction communicated to opening  74  through channel  70  from suction nozzle  10 . A similar triangular opening  77  exists at the opposite end of adapter  52  which similarly reclaims fluid when the adapter is tilted in the opposite direction. 
     To prevent accumulated fluid from flowing over the edge of strakes  66  and  68 , a slightly raised elongated barrier or flow fence  82  and  84  is provided along the strake edge. Although no similar flow fence is shown on adapter  12 , a flow fence may also be added to strakes  40  and  42  if desired. Similar to convex adapter  12 , strakes  66  and  68  may also be inclined upwards or provided with a concave trough to prevent accumulated fluid from spilling over the edge. 
     Alternatively rear wall  60  may be extended the full width of adapter  52 , similar to front wall  62 , with an appropriately positioned opening (or possibly a family of openings) extending through rear wall  60  at the intersection of wall  60  with strakes  66  and/or  68  thereby providing a flow path for liquid accumulating upon strake  66  or  68  into suction channel  64 . 
     FIGS. 14,  15 , and  16  show alternate embodiments of suction nozzle adapters. All three embodiments shown are constructed, similarly to the adapters described above, comprising two generally parallel plates or walls, closed at each side thereby forming a suction conduit of rectangular cross-section therebetween. As with adapters  12  and  52 , described above, adapters  110 ,  120 , and  130 , frictionally slide inside a hand held suction nozzle such as nozzle  10 . However, adapters  110 ,  120 , and  130  may be reversed (rotated 180° as indicated by the arrows) so that either of the two opposing suction inlet profiles may be used to vacuum a contoured surface. Either end of adapters  110 ,  120 , and  130  may be inserted into nozzle  10  being retained therein by frictional engagement with the inside walls of suction nozzle  10 . 
     Adapter  110  is provided with two opposing convex suction inlets  112  and  114  having differing convex profiles. Adapter  120  is provided with two opposing concave suction inlets  122  and  124  having differing concave profiles. Adapter  130  is provided with convex suction inlet  134  and opposing concave suction inlet  132 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 17 through 19, a further embodiment of our invention is illustrated. Nozzle  10  is fitted with a removable suction inlet adapter  140 . Adaptor  140  comprises a main body  142  generally having a pair of parallel side walls  144  and  143  closed-off by the end walls  148  and  149  to form an elongate, rectangular suction inlet  145  therebetween and defining an inlet end  146  and an exit end  147 . The inlet end  146  is configured to form a concave suction inlet similar to that as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Projecting outward from the exit end  147  are two spacers  150  and  151  which are frictionally received within the inside walls  24  and  26  of the nozzle  10  as illustrated in FIG.  17 . 
     Received within the adapter main body  142  is rotor assembly  155  generally comprising two parallel, spaced apart walls  156  and  158  having spacers  159  therebetween. Rotor  155  is supported within the adapter main body  142  by axle shaft  162  rotatingly received within journal  163 . Rotor assembly  155  includes four zones or sectors  165 ,  166 ,  167 , and  168  as best illustrated in FIG.  18 . The outer periphery of sectors  165  and  167  are provided with convex curves of varying radii or profiles  171  and  172 . The outer periphery of sectors  166  and  168  are provided varying concave profiles  176  and  177 . 
     By selectively rotating rotor assembly  155 , the operator may select which suction inlet profile,  165 , 166 ,  167 , or  168  is desirable for vacuuming a particular surface. 
     Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.