Abstract:
A handle arrangement for an ambulatory electrical machine is provided. The handle arrangement includes a housing adapted for movement on a surface. A handle is connected to the housing. The handle includes a casing defining a cavity therein. A switch is mounted on the handle. An electrical cord extends through the cavity and attaches at one end to the switch. A strain relief member is mounted in the cavity. The strain relief member includes a sinuous channel defined therein for accommodating the electrical cord.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners. More particularly, the invention relates to a strain relief member for an electrical cord in a vacuum cleaner and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention may also be amenable for other applications.  
           [0002]    In vacuum cleaners, there is a need for a device that alleviates strain in an electrical cord running through a vacuum cleaner body and connecting to a component thereof. More particularly, cords and/or wires are often used within vacuum cleaners to electrically connect a power source to a switch, light, control, or the like. These cords and/or wires are susceptible to disconnecting from the switch, light, control, or the like due to a strain placed on a particular cord and/or wire connected thereto, especially when the vacuum cleaner is being assembled. Thus, there is a need for a device that prevents or reduces the effects of strains on cords and/or wires in vacuum cleaners.  
           [0003]    The present invention provides a new and improved strain relief member for an electrical cord in a vacuum cleaner for overcoming the above-reference drawbacks and others.  
         Summary of the Invention  
         [0004]    In accordance with the present invention, a handle arrangement for an ambulatory electrical machine is provided.  
           [0005]    More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the handle arrangement comprises a housing adapted for movement on a surface and a handle connected to the housing. The handle comprises a casing defining a cavity therein. A switch is mounted on the handle. An electrical cord extends through the cavity and is attached at one end to the switch. A strain relief member is mounted in the cavity. The strain relief member comprises a sinuous channel defined therein for accommodating the electrical cord.  
           [0006]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a new and improved vacuum cleaner is provided.  
           [0007]    More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a housing section including a handle. The handle has an electrical switch positioned thereon and an electrical cord attached at one end to the switch. A nozzle base section is interconnected with the housing section. The nozzle base section includes a main suction opening formed in an underside thereof. A filter chamber is defined in one of the housing section and the nozzle base section for separating dust and dirt from a suction airstream. A suction source, located in one of the housing section and the nozzle base section, is in fluid communication with the main suction opening. A strain relief member is received in an opening of the handle for minimizing strain on the electrical cord.  
           [0008]    According to still another aspect of the invention, a new and improved vacuum cleaner is provided.  
           [0009]    More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a nozzle section, a housing section connected to the nozzle section and in fluid communication with the nozzle section, and a filter chamber located in one of the housing section and the nozzle section for separating dirt and dust from a suction airstream. A handle is connected to the housing section. The handle comprises a casing and an opening defined within the casing. A switch is located on the handle casing. An electrical cord is connected at one end to the switch and runs through the casing opening. A strain relief member is positioned within the casing opening for alleviating strain on the electrical cord. The strain relief member comprises a sinuous channel through which the electrical cord extends. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner which accommodates a strain relief member according to the present invention in a handle portion thereof;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an elevational perspective view of the handle portion of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the handle portion of FIG. 2 showing the strain relief member;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the strain relief member of FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational perspective view of the strain relief member of FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the handle portion taken along lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 2 showing the strain relief member positioned in the handle portion and engaging a cord in the handle portion;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the handle portion of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the handle portion taken along lines  8 - 8  of FIG. 7; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a connection between the handle portion and a housing of the vacuum cleaner taken along lines  9 - 9  of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows a vacuum cleaner A comprising a base portion  2  and a housing  3  having a handle portion  4 . The base portion  2  comprises a main suction opening  5  formed in an underside thereof. The housing  3  comprises a filter chamber  6  for separating dust and dirt from a suction air stream and a suction source  7  in fluid communication with the main suction opening  5 . While the vacuum cleaner A is illustrated as being of an upright type, it should be appreciated by those of average skill in the art that the present invention described and illustrated herein could also be employed for use on canister vacuum cleaners, wet/dry vacuums and in a variety of other fluid supply or fluid withdrawal environments.  
         [0021]    With reference now to FIG. 6, the handle portion  4  comprises a strain relief member  10  positioned within a generally hollow shell  12  of the handle portion  4 . A pair of switches  14 , 16  (FIG. 2) are positioned on a first closed end  18  of the shell  12 . A cord  20  is operatively connected at one end to the switches  14 , 16 .  
         [0022]    The cord comprises an insulating tubular sheath  22  and a pair of electrical wires  24 , 26 . The wires  24 , 26  pass through the tubular sheath  22  and each terminate at one end into electrical connectors  28 , 30  which are operatively connected to the switches  14 , 16 . The cord  20  extends through the shell  12 , engaging the strain relief member  10  and passing through a second open end  32  of the shell  12 . The strain relief member  10  functions to minimize the strain on the cord  20 .  
         [0023]    With reference now to FIG. 3, the shell  12  comprises a substantially planar rear wall  34  extending between the open end  32  and the closed end  18 . A pair of opposing edges of the rear wall  34  taper inwardly toward one another from the open end  32  to the closed end  18 . A pair of side walls  36 , 38  also extends between the open end  32  and the closed end  18 . The side walls  36 , 38  are each connected along a first edge to the rear wall  34 . The side walls  36 , 38  taper inwardly toward one another from the open end  32  to the closed end  18 . Connected to a second edge of each side wall  36 , 38 , a curved front wall  40  extends between the first open end  32  and the closed end  18 . The curved wall  40  generally tapers inwardly from the open end  32  to the closed end  18 .  
         [0024]    A C-clip fastener  42  is disposed along the rear wall  34  at or near an intermediate portion of the rear wall  34 . The fastener  42  is adapted to receive a tubular vacuum tool or wand (not illustrated). Of course, it is to be appreciated that any other type of fastener could be similarly used and all such fasteners are to be considered within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0025]    A hand grip  44  is connected to the closed end  18  of the shell  12 . The hand grip  44  is of a loop-type and extends outwardly from the shell  12  in a direction generally between the rear wall  34  and the closed end  18 . The hand grip  44  is adapted for manipulation to control the vacuum cleaner A during use or operation thereof.  
         [0026]    With additional reference to FIG. 9, the shell  12  also includes a connecting means located near the open end  32  thereof. The connecting means allows the handle portion  4  to be connected to the housing  3  of the vacuum cleaner A. The connecting means illustrated includes an open front recess  46  (FIG. 2) in the curved wall  40  of the shell  12  and a reinforced bolt recess  48  formed in the rear wall  34  (FIG. 7). The housing  3  includes a corresponding front recess  50  and a corresponding bolt recess  52 . The housing  3  also includes a bolt housing and coverplate structure  54  extending between the recesses  52 , 54 .  
         [0027]    To connect, the respective recesses  46 - 52  are aligned and a bolt  58  is then inserted into the bolt recesses  48 , 52  and threaded into the housing structure  54 . Of course, the connection between the handle portion  4  and the housing  3  may be accomplished by any other suitable connection means.  
         [0028]    With reference to FIG. 5, the strain relief member  10  comprises side walls  60 , 62 , end walls  64 , 66 , and a curved front wall  68 . A sinuous channel  70  is defined within an open rear face of the relief member  10 . The open rear face is located in a plane approximately perpendicular to the generally flat ends of the walls  60 - 66 .  
         [0029]    More particularly, the sinuous channel  70  extends between and passes through the end walls  64 , 66 . With additional reference to FIG. 4, the sinuous channel  70  comprises a first section  72  extending from a first recess  74  in the end wall  66  into the relief member  10 . A second section  76  is connected to the first section  72  and extends therefrom at an angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the first section  72 . A third section  78  is connected to the second section  76  and extends further into the relief member  10  in a direction parallel to the first section  72 . A curved radius  80  connects the second section  76  to the third section  78 . A fourth section  82  is connected to the third section  78  and connects to a second recess  84  in the end wall  64 . The fourth section  82  runs in a direction parallel to the second section  76 , and the second recess  84  is oriented approximately perpendicular to the axis of the fourth section.  
         [0030]    The sinuous channel  70  is formed between opposing walls  86  and  88  defined in the relief member  10 . More particularly, the walls  86  and  88  extend from the curved wall  40  to the open face of the relief member  10  defining a channel  70  through the relief member  10 . The functional depth of the sinuous channel  70  is limited by the recesses  66 , 84  in the end walls  64 , 66  and a plurality of cord supports  90 , best seen in FIG. 4 positioned in the channel. The cord supports  90  can be somewhat U-shaped in cross section to accommodate the cord  20 .  
         [0031]    The cord supports  90  are positioned with the sinuous channel  70  and between the walls  86 , 88 . The cord supports  90  extend upward from the curved wall  68  in the same direction as the walls  86 , 88  extend. However, the cord supports  90  extend upward a distance less than the distance of the walls  86  and  88 . In this manner, the functional depth of the channel  70  is gauged to be appropriate to accommodate the cord  20 .  
         [0032]    The side walls  60 , 62  of the relief member  10  taper inwardly toward one another at an angle substantially similar to taper of the side walls  36 , 38  of the shell  12 . The curved wall  68  also tapers slightly inwardly from the end wall  66  to the end wall  64  (FIG. 8). The taper of the curved wall  68  is substantially similar to the taper of the curved wall  40  of the shell  12  at the intermediate portion thereof.  
         [0033]    The strain relief member  10  includes a tab  92  located on a tab surface  94 . The tab surface  94  is defined on the open end face of the strain relief member  10  and is limited by a portion of the second wall  88 . The tab  92  is adapted to engage a corresponding recess  96  (FIG. 3) in the rear wall  34  of the shell  12 . The recess  96  is located beneath the fastener  42 . Thus, the location of the relief member  10  in the shell  12  can be at or near the location of the fastener  42 . The rigidity of the relief member  10  serves to provide increased structural support to the hollow shell  12 . More specifically, the relief member  10  provides structural support to the shell  12  at the general location of the fastener  42 .  
         [0034]    To assemble the respective components, the strain relief member  10  is slidably received within the shell  12  of the handle portion  4 . With reference to FIG. 6, the tapered surfaces and edges of the shell  12  meet and engage the corresponding tapered surfaces and edges of the relief member  10  when the relief member  10  is at the desired location within the shell  12  (See also FIG. 8). More specifically, the relief member  10  fits snugly within the shell  12  at the desired location at or near the fastener  42  as a result of the mating tapered surfaces. Further, the tab  92  engages the recess  96  at this location to further secure the relief member  10  within the shell  12 .  
         [0035]    The cord  20  is positioned within the sinuous channel  70  of the relief member  10  prior to inserting the relief member  10  into the shell  12 . Thus, the strain relief member  10  and the rear wall  34  of the shell  12  cooperate to trap the cord  20  therebetween. The path of the sinuous channel  70  forces the cord  20  to make a series of ninety degree bends as the cord  20  passes through the strain relief member  10 .  
         [0036]    If desired, the strain relief member  10  can be made from a suitable conventional thermoplastic material, as can the handle portion  4 .  
         [0037]    The resulting assembly of the strain relief member  10 , the shell  12 , and the cord  20  positioned in the strain relief member  10  and trapped between the shell  12  and the strain relief member  10  alleviates strain on the cord  20 . Thus, a tension force applied to the cord  20  is less likely to disconnect the cord  20  from the switches  14 , 16  of the handle portion B. Such tension force would be applied first when securing the handle portion  4  on the housing  3 . In one embodiment, such assembly is done by the consumer upon purchasing the vacuum cleaner from a mass merchant. In order to reduce the size of the container in which the vacuum cleaner is shipped, the handle, with its connected wiring is placed alongside the housing. When the consumer opens the container, he or she needs to secure the handle portion  4  to the housing  3  employing the bolt  58  and the housing and coverplate structure  54 . Any strain on the electrical cords  24  and  26  during this process is alleviated by the strain relief member  10 .  
         [0038]    While the strain relief member has been illustrated as being positioned in the handle portion of an upright vacuum cleaner, it should be appreciated that a suitably configured strain relief member could also be positioned in some other part of the upright vacuum cleaner. Also, strain relief members can be employed in canister vacuum cleaners, hand held vacuum cleaners, carpet extractors, wet/dry vacuum cleaners and the like. Moreover, strain relief members can be employed with the power cord of any electrically powered appliance.  
         [0039]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.