Abstract:
A pivoting handle and control arrangement is provided for a floor care appliance such as a vacuum cleaner. An actuator rod in the handle is utilized for remotely triggering a switch located in the lower part of the housing. The switch could be utilized for controlling a feature of the floor care appliance such as a surge control for a vacuum cleaner&#39;s suction motor. A trigger positioned on the handle is operatively connected to an actuator rod traversing the interior of the handle. The distal end of the actuator rod is in operative engagement with the switch when the handle is in the upright position. When the trigger is depressed, the actuator rod depresses the switch causing it to close. The feature controlled is thereby energized. When the handle is moved to the folded position, the actuator rod is folded with the handle and moved away from the switch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, the invention relates to controls. Particularly, the invention relates to a pivoting handle and control arrangement for a floor care appliance such as a vacuum cleaner. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of pivoting handles in floor care appliances such as upright vacuum cleaners is old and well known in the art. An example of such an arrangement can be found in Japanese Publication No. 06245889. However, no provision is made in such a pivoting handle arrangement for remotely triggering a switch or other device located in the lower part of the housing. Such a switch could be utilized for controlling a feature of the floor care appliance such as a surge control for a vacuum cleaner&#39;s suction motor. The instant invention is a trigger or button positioned on the handle operatively connected to an actuator rod traversing the interior of the handle. The distal end of the actuator rod is normally in operative engagement with a switch in the lower housing when the handle is in the upright position. When the trigger is depressed, the actuator rod depresses the switch causing it to close thereby energizing an associated feature. When the handle is moved to the folded position, the actuator rod is folded with the handle and moved away from the switch. These and other objectives will be readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In carrying out the invention in one aspect thereof, these objectives and advantages are obtained by providing a machine including a floor care appliance having a pivoting handle and control arrangement. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an actuator rod in the handle is utilized for remotely triggering a switch located in the lower part of the housing. The switch could be utilized for controlling a feature of the floor care appliance such as a surge control for a vacuum cleaner&#39;s suction motor. A button or trigger positioned on the handle is operatively connected to an actuator rod traversing the interior of the handle. The distal end of the actuator rod is in operative engagement with the switch when the handle is in the upright position. When the button or trigger is depressed, the actuator rod depresses the switch causing it to close. The feature controlled is thereby energized. When released, the switch is opened. When the handle is moved to the folded position, the actuator rod is folded with the handle and moved away from the switch. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the invention, illustrative of several modes in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles are set forth by way of example in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner which includes the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 with a partial cutaway portion of the housing and a partial cutaway view of the handle in the upright position; 
     FIG. 3 is the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 with a partial cutaway portion of the housing and a partial cutaway view of the handle in the folded position; and 
     FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic of the multi-speed power and control circuit for the suction motor for a vacuum cleaner incorporating a switch for surging the suction motor, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A vacuum cleaner incorporating the present is shown in FIG.  1  and is indicated generally at  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Vacuum cleaner  10  includes a vacuum cleaner foot  100  and a vacuum cleaner housing  200  connected to the vacuum cleaner foot  100 . The foot  100  is formed with a bottom nozzle opening (not shown) which opens towards a floor surface. A handle  255  is pivotally connected to a housing  200  by a hinge assembly  210 . In the preferred embodiment, the vacuum cleaner is similar to the indirect air bagless vacuum cleaner disclosed in Hoover Case 2649, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/417,866 owned by a common assignee and incorporated by reference fully herein. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner may be a direct air vacuum cleaner or any other type of floor care appliance utilizing suction. The vacuum cleaner  100  is of the type having an agitator (not shown) and positioned within an agitator chamber (not shown) formed in an agitator housing which is part of foot  100 . The agitator chamber, (not shown) communicates with the nozzle opening (not shown) and the agitator (not shown) rotates about a horizontal axis inside the agitator chamber (not shown) for loosening dirt from the floor surface. The loosened dirt is drawn into a suction duct located behind and fluidly connected to agitator chamber (not shown) by a suction airstream generated by a motor-fan assembly (not shown). The suction duct (not shown) directs the loosened dirt to a dirt particle filtration and collecting system positioned in housing  200 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a button or trigger  255  is located at the upper end of a handle portion  250 . Trigger  255  is connected to an actuator rod  256  traversing the interior of handle  250 . When handle  250  is in the upright position, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower end  259  (FIG. 2) is proximate to the plunger on a control device  270  located in housing  200 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, control device  270  is an electrical switch used to control a surge feature of a suction motor (not shown). 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, more detail of the actuator rod  256  traversing the interior  252  of handle  250  is shown. At the upper end of handle  250  is a hand grip  251  and trigger  255 . Trigger  255  is directly connected to actuator rod  256 . Located on the lower portion of actuator rod  256  is a stop  253  for biasing actuator rod  256  upward against a lip or ridge  257  formed in the interior of handle  250 . A spring  258  is located there between which biases actuator rod  256  in the upward direction. When handle  250  is in the upright position, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower end  259  of actuator rod  256  is in the proximate area of control device  270  but not engaging plunger  271  of control device  270 . When trigger  255  is depressed, as when it is desired to activate a feature such as a surge of the suction motor (not shown), the lower end  259  of actuator rod  256  forces plunger  271  of control device  270  downward and the feature is activated. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, control device  270  is an electrical switch which is closed when trigger  255  is depressed. When trigger  255  is released, actuator rod is forced upward by spring  258  and the lower end  259  of actuator rod  256  releases plunger  271  of control device  270  and the feature is deactivated. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the lower end  259  of actuator rod  256  protrudes through the outer ring of the trunnion connecting the handle  250  to the lower housing  200 . The control device  270  is also embedded in the outer ring of the trunnion but in the lower half such that when the handle is in the upright position the lower end of the actuator rod is in the proximal area of the plunger of the control device. This allows actuator rod  256  to engage plunger  271  when trigger  255  is depressed. This allows all components of the arrangement to be enclosed within the handle  250  and the trunnion. The arrangement also allows the handle  250  to be folded into the folded position while removing the lower end  259  of the actuator rod  256  from the proximal area of the plunger  271  of the control device  270 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, handle  250  is shown in the folded position. It is desirable to fold handle  255  in certain instances such as for transport and storage. When handle  255  is in the folded position, the lower end  259  of actuator rod  256  is removed from the proximate area of control device  270  such that plunger  271  cannot be depressed. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, shown is an electrical schematic of the multi-speed power and control circuit  400  for the suction motor Ml for a vacuum cleaner incorporating a switch for surging the suction motor M 1 . The circuit  400  is connected to a conventional 120 vac 60 Hz power source wherein the positive side P 2  of the current source P is connected to a terminal C 1  of a DPDT switch SW 1  and the neutral side P 1  is connected to a terminal T 5  on the neutral side of the suction motor M 1 . The DPDT switch SW 1  has a center off position, a low speed position, and a high speed position. The control circuit  400  controls the speed of the suction motor M 1  by controlling the average voltage applied to the suction motor M 1  based upon the switch setting. The average voltage applied to the suction motor M 1  is controlled by turning on the current to the suction motor M 1  for a discrete amount of time during both the positive and negative portions of the ac cycle. The discrete amount of time the current is turned on during the positive and negative portions of the ac cycle is determined by the position of the switch SW 1 , a resistor R 4  and an R-C network described more fully hereinbelow. 
     In the high speed position, switch SW 1  connects P 2  to T 10  through T 3  to turn the current on to the suction motor M 1 . T 10  is connected to a resistor R 1  which is connected to a capacitor C 1  and a diac D 1 . During the positive portion of the ac cycle, current will not flow through diac D 1  until the voltage applied to it exceeds 30 volts. The time necessary to charge C 1  creates a time delay from the time switch SW 1  is moved from the off position to the high speed position before current begins to flow through diac D 1 . The output side of diac D 1  is connected to the trigger side of a triac TR 1  which controls the flow of current from the current source to the suction motor M 1 . Resistor R 1  reduces the voltage applied to C 1  and diac D 1  otherwise capacitor C 1  would charge too quickly and there would only be a negligible time delay before diac D 1  opens and triac TR 1  turns the current on to suction motor M 1 . The current flows from P 2  via C 1  to C 2  via a jumper J 1  which makes contact with T 4 . T 4  is connected to T 9  on one side of triac TR 1 . Once closed, triac TR 1  allows current to flow to T 8  which is connected to T 6  on suction motor M 1 . A resistor R 3  and capacitor C 2  are placed in parallel with triac TR 1  to smooth any fluctuations in the operation of triac TR 1 . The capacitor C 1  follows the sine wave once the voltage across it reaches 30 volts and 30 volts are applied to diac D 1  causing it to conduct. The built in delay in the current flowing through diac D 1  because of resistor R 1  and capacitor C 1  causes triac TR 1  to turn the current on to the suction motor M 1  for only a portion of the ac cycle thereby reducing the average voltage applied to suction motor M 1 . The current to the suction motor M 1  remains on until the voltage applied to the trigger side of triac TR 1  again reaches 0 volts. This occurs when positive portion of the ac cycle hits the zero voltage threshold. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, R 1 =18 k ohm, R 2  =10 ohms, R 3  =3.3 k ohms, R 4  =12 k ohms, C 1  =0.33 micro farads, C 2  =0.1 microfarads, D 1  is a HT-32A diac, and TR 1  is a BTA16-600BW triac. 
     During the negative portion of the ac cycle, current will not flow through diac D 1  until the voltage applied to it falls below−30 volts. Due to the direction of the current being reversed, the poles of capacitor C 1  are charged oppositely than during the positive portion of the ac cycle. Like during the positive portion of the ac cycle, the time necessary to charge C 1  creates a time delay from the time switch SW 1  is moved from the off position to the high speed position before current begins to flow through diac D 1 . Once the voltage across capacitor C 1  reaches−30 volts, current is free to flow through diac D 1  and a−30 volts is applied to the trigger side of triac TR 1 . Upon the application of the−30 volts to its trigger side, TR 1  will turn the current on to the suction motor M 1  and the trigger side follows the original sine wave. The current will remain on until the trigger side again reaches 0 volts. The built in delay in the current flowing through diac D 1  because of resistor R 1  and capacitor C 1  causes triac TR 1  to turn the current on to the suction motor M 1  for only a portion of the ac cycle thereby reducing the average voltage applied to suction motor M 1 . The current flows from P 2  via C 1  to C 2  via a jumper J 1  which makes contact with T 4 . T 4  is connected to T 9  on one side of triac TR 1 . Once closed, triac TR 1  allows current to flow to T 8  which is connected to T 6  on suction motor M 1 . The current to the suction motor M 1  remains on until the voltage applied to the trigger side of triac TR 1  reaches 0 volts. This occurs when negative portion of the ac cycle hits the zero voltage threshold. 
     When switch SW 1  is in the low speed position, the circuit works similarly except that P 2  is connected via C 1  to T 1 . T 1  is connected to T 3  via a resistor R 4  which creates a voltage drop before P 2  is connected to T 10 . This increases the amount of time C 1  requires to charge and creates a larger time delay before the voltage applied to diac D 1  exceeds 30 volts during the positive portion of the ac cycle, and a larger time delay before the voltage applied to diac D 1  reaches below−30 volts during the negative portion of the ac cycle. Of course, diac D 1  will not conduct current until the voltage applied thereto is at or exceeds 30 volts or is at or falls below−30 volts and cause triac TR 1  to turn the current on to the suction motor M 1 . Since TR 1  turns the current on for shorter periods of time during each of the positive and negative portions of the ac cycle, the average voltage applied to the suction motor M 1  is reduced resulting in a slower speed. The current flows from P 2  via C 1  to C 2  via a jumper J 1  which makes contact with T 2 . T 2  is connected to T 4  which is connected to T 9  on one side of triac TR 1 . Once closed, triac TR 1  allows current to flow to T 8  which is connected to T 6  on suction motor M 1 . 
     Additionally, the control circuit is equipped with a surge switch SW 2  which essentially bypasses the entire R-C network and applies the full 120 vac current to sucton motor M 1 . Switch SW 2  turns the current on to the suction motor M 1  when dosed only when switch SW 1  is in the high speed or low speed positions. When SW 1  is in the high speed position, P 2  is connected to C 1  and C 1  is connected to C 2  via a jumper J 1 . C 2  is connected to T 4  which is connected to T 2 . T 2  is connected to T 11 . T 11  is connected to T 12  when SW 2  is closed. T 12  is then connected to T 8  which is connected to T 6  on suction motor M 1 . Since energy follows the path of least resistance, and there is very little resistance from P 2  to T 8  when SW 2  is closed, the current flows directly to the suction motor M 1  bypassing flowing from T 2  or T 4  to T 9 . Similarly, when SW 1  is in the low speed position, P 2  is connected to C 1  and C 1  is connected to C 2  via a jumper J 1 . C 2  is connected to T 2  which is connected to T 11 . T 11  is connected to T 12  when SW 2  is closed. T 12  is then connected to T 8  which is connected to T 6  on suction motor M 1 . 
     Accordingly, the pivoting handle and control arrangement for a vacuum cleaner is simplified, provides an effective, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all of the enumerated objectives. While there has been shown and described herein a single embodiment of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.