Abstract:
A pressure washer is provided including a housing. A pump is contained within the housing for pressurizing fluid received through a water inlet port and for pumping the pressurized fluid through an outlet port. An application wand is connected to the water outlet for outputting a pressurized stream of fluid. At least one wheel is supported on the housing so as to enable rolling movement of the housing. A first handle is arranged on the housing for movement between a retracted position in which a gripping portion of the handle is arranged relatively closer to the housing and an extended position in which the gripping portion of the handle is arranged relatively further away from the housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to pressure washers, and more particularly, to electric or gasoline-powered pressure washers commonly used for household power spraying and washing applications. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Electric-powered pressure washers have become increasingly popular for use in household cleaning applications, including cleaning decks, patios, siding, automobiles, and the like. Such pressure washers now are economically manufactured and available to the consumer market in most hardware and home improvement retail stores. Such electric-powered pressure washers basically comprise a movable cart or stand, a water pump, an electric motor for powering the pump, and a spray wand and nozzle assembly. Operation of the pressure washer, following coupling of a common garden hose between a home water outlet and the inlet to the pressure washer pump, generates a high pressure liquid discharge up to 1000 psi and more, for power spraying applications. 
         [0003]    While such electric-powered pressure washer must be connected to an electrical outlet, the pressure washer typically is moved by the user from location to location during usage. For this purpose, it is common for the housing of the pressure washer to have a handle which permits the user to lift and carry the pressure washer from location to location. Alternatively, the housing may be supported on wheels and be provided with an upwardly-extending pull handle which enables the pressure washer to be tipped and rolled from location to location. It can be tiresome, of course, for the user to repeatedly lift and carry the wheeless pressure washer. On the other hand, the upstanding pull handle of wheel pressure washers usually requires that the pressure washer and handle be shipped and packaged in disassembled condition, requiring assembly by the customer, which can be inconvenient or cumbersome. Upon assembly, the upstanding handle also can impede compact storage of the pressure washer in the home. Pressure washers manufactured for the consumer market also often are less resistant to abusive handling. If a wheeled pressure washer is forcefully pushed into an obstruction, the wheels or their mounting can be damaged. Items forcefully wedged between the wheels and housing also can inflict damage to the wheel mounting. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheeled pressure washer having a pull handle that can be pre-assembled by the manufacturer, but yet facilitates compact shipping of the pressure washer by the manufacturer and storage by the user. 
         [0005]    Another object is to provide a pressure washer as characterized above which has a pull handle that facilitates both lifting and rolling of the pressure washer during usage. 
         [0006]    A further object provided by a wheeled pressure washer of the above kind which has a handle that can be stored in a retracted position that facilitates carrying of the pressure washer and which can be selectively moved to an extended position to facilitate rolling movement of the pressure washer. 
         [0007]    Yet another object provides a pressure washer of the foregoing type in which the pull handle forms part of a stationary lifting handle when in a retracted position. 
         [0008]    Still a further object is to provide a pressure washer of such type in which the handle is protectively contained from exposure to liquids and contaminants while in a stored position. 
         [0009]    Another object provides such wheeled pressure washer in which the wheels are protected from and less susceptible to damage from obstructions during rolling movement of the pressure washer. 
         [0010]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a pressure washer in accordance with the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the illustrated pressure washer; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the illustrated pressure washer; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the illustrated pressure washer; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partially broken away view of the illustrated pressure washer showing the pull handle thereof in a raised position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a partial side view of the pressure washer with the pull handle in an extended position as shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken in the plane of line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 8A-8C  are enlarged fragmentary sections showing movement of the pull handle between extended and retracted positions; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective of an alternative embodiment of pressure washer in accordance with the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective of the pressure washer shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective of still another alternative embodiment of pressure washer in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a rear perspective of the pressure washer shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
       [0023]    While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown an illustrative pressure washer  10  in accordance with the invention which basically includes a housing or body  11 , preferably molded of plastic, that houses a liquid pump  12  and electric-powered motor  14  for operating the pump  12 , and a operator lance wand  15  ( FIG. 4 ) for connection to the pressure washer via a high pressure fluid transfer hose  16 . The motor  14  and pump  12  may be of a conventional type, and the motor  14  has an electric cord  18  which can be connected to an electrical outlet by a suitable extension cord for permitting movement of the pressure washer  10  by an operator during usage. 
         [0025]    The pump  12  has an inlet  17  on a rear side of the housing  11  connectable to a liquid supply source, such as a home water outlet, by a garden hose or the like and an outlet  19  on a front side to which the high pressure hose  16  is connectable. A nozzle  20  of a selected type is mountable on the operator wand  15 , which typically includes a hand operated trigger valve  21  for allowing the operator to controllably direct a stream of pressurized liquid toward a substrate surface for cleaning. The high pressure hose  16  preferably has a reinforced construction, such a disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,409, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The hose  16  and wand  15  each may be provided with conventional fittings and couplings to effect appropriate fluid tight connections therebetween. While the illustrated pressure washer is powered by an electric motor, it will be understood that alternatively the pressure washer may be powered by a gasoline operated motor. 
         [0026]    The pressure washer housing  11  in this case has a two-part construction comprising a rear body portion  25  and a forwardly-mounted cover portion  26 . The illustrated electric motor  14  and pump  20  are mounted on the rear body portion  25  by appropriate fastening bolts or the like. The rear body portion  25  in this instance has a central rear vertical wall  28  ( FIGS. 8A-8B ) upon which the pump and motor are mounted and forwardly extending side walls  29  which define a cavity within which the pump and motor are partially contained. The forward cover  26  portion similarly has a front wall and rearwardly-extending side walls which define a cavity that mates with the rear body portion  25  for receiving and containing the motor and pump. 
         [0027]    For supporting the hose  16  and cord  18  during storage of the pressure washer, upstanding hooks  32 ,  34  are mounted rearwardly of the rear body portion  25  over which the cord  18  and hose  16  may be hung for storage. A receptacle  35  also mounted rearwardly of the rear body portion  25  is formed with openings  36 ,  38  ( FIG. 3 ) for receiving and supporting the wand  15  and spray nozzle  20  in depending relation during storage, as depicted in  FIG. 4 . An upwardly facing receptacle  39  is mounted near the bottom of the rear body portion  25  for supporting the depending end of the control wand  15 . A support flange  40  in this case extends between the receptacle openings  36 ,  38  for defining a hook receiving opening  41  for a chemical or cleaning solution bottle for use with the pressure washer in a conventional manner. The side walls of the rear body portion  25  and forward cover portion  26  in this instance are formed with air ventilation openings  42  communicating with the motor containing cavity within the housing. 
         [0028]    For facilitating rolling movement of the pressure washer  10  during usage by an operator, the housing  11  is supported by a pair of wheels  45 . The wheels  45  in this case are mounted on stationary axles fixed on the rear body portion  25  adjacent a rear side of the housing  11 . 
         [0029]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the pressure washer has a handle arrangement that facilitates lifting and carrying of the pressure washer during usage, as well as rolling movement. To this end, the pressure washer housing  11  has a stationary lifting handle  48  extending upwardly from the rear body portion  25 . The handle  48  in this case has inverted U-shape which defines a horizontal gripping bar  49  and a clearance space  50  within which the hand of an operator can be positioned for gripping the handle. It will be understood that the stationary handle may be mounted on the rear body portion  25  or alternatively formed as an integral part of the rear body portion  25 . The stationary lifting handle  48 , as indicated above, is convenient for lifting and carrying of the pressure washer  10 . It is not convenient, however, for pulling and rolling of the pressure washer along a floor surface since it would necessitate the operator bending over considerably during such movement of the pressure washer. 
         [0030]    In keeping with the invention, the pressure washer  10  further has a pull handle  52  that is selectively extendible from a retracted position to an extended position that enables the operator to easily grasp and pull the pressure washer along a floor surface without awkward bending movement. The illustrated pull handle  52  comprises an elongated plate  54  having a gripping handle  55  at an upper thereof. The elongated plate  54  is located in substantially parallel relation to the rear wall  28  of the rear body portion  25  and the gripping handle  55  has an inverted U-shape comprising a gripping bar  56  that again defines a horizontal hand gripping opening  58 . The pull handle plate  54  is formed with a grid of forwardly extending reinforcing ribs  59  for enhancing the rigidity of the pull handle. 
         [0031]    For supporting the pull handle  52  for movement between extended and retracted positions, the rear body portion  25  of the housing  11  is formed with a rearwardly-facing recess or track  60  ( FIG. 5 ) complimentary to the shape of the elongated plate  54  for guiding vertical movement of the elongated plate  54 , as depicted in  FIGS. 8A-8C . The rear body portion  25  has a rear cover panel  61  fixed over the recess or track  60  for defining an upwardly-opening containment and sliding chamber  62  for the pull handle plate  54 . It will be appreciated that the chamber  62  substantially encloses the elongated pull handle plate  54  while in a retracted position and, hence, protects the pull handle and its guide track from water and contaminants during usage of the pressure washer. 
         [0032]    For limiting outward extended movement of the pull handle  52 , a latching mechanism  65  is provided between a rear side of the body portion wall  28  and the front side of the pull handle plate  54 . The pull handle plate  54  is formed with an upwardly extending flexible latching flange  66  having a forwardly extending guide and locking rib  68  at an upper end thereof. The latching flange  66  preferably is integrally formed with the pull handle plate  54  and disposed within a recess  69  of the plate  54  for enabling rearwardly biased rearward movement relative to the rear wall  28 . The body portion rear wall  28  in this case is formed with a rearwardly extending camming ledge  70  for urging the flexible latching flange  66  of the pull handle in a rearward direction in response to lifting movement of the handle until reaching a raised position at which the locking rib  68  of the flange  66  springs forwardly into a locking recess  71  defined above the camming flange  70 . A rearwardly extending ledge  72  of the housing wall  28  disposed above the latching recess  71  is engageable by the pull handle latching rib  68  to limit upward pullout movement of the pull handle  52 . Hence, it can be seen that the pull handle  52  can be raised to a predetermined extended position by lifting and pulling the handle  52 . 
         [0033]    To lower the handle  52  to its retracted stored position, a downward force on the pull handle  52  will urge the locking rib  68  over an inclined ramp  75  that defines a lower wall of the locking recess  71  allowing it to ride over the camming ledge  70  as the pull handle  52  is lowered to its stored position. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that in such retracted position, the pressure washer  10  may be more compactly stored. In addition, the pull handle  52  may be factory installed and shipped in such retracted position, thereby eliminating the need for assembly by a customer upon purchase. 
         [0034]    In keeping with a further aspect of the invention, the gripping handle  55  of the pull handle  52  and stationary lifting handle  48  are formed to blend together when the pull handle  52  is in a retracted position to define a unitary, easy-to-grasp lifting handle composite. In this case the stationary lifting handle  48  and the gripping handle  55  are formed with adjacent vertically mating faces  78 ,  79  and have similarly contoured forward  80  and rear faces  81 , respectively, for defining a handle assembly which can be singularly grasped when lifting and carrying the pressure washer. The blending of the handles  48 ,  55  further provide a streamlined and aesthetic appearance when the pull handle  52  is in its stored retracted position. On the other hand, when rolling movement of the pressure washer is more convenient, the pull handle  52  may be easily raised. 
         [0035]    In keeping with a further aspect of the invention, the pressure washer housing wheels  45  are recessed and protectively contained within the housing  11  for minimizing damage from impact with obstructions or with items being forcefully wedged between the wheels and the housing that can inflict damage to the wheel mountings. To this end, in the illustrative embodiment, the pressure washer housing  11  is formed with contoured outwardly flared fenders  85  which encompass a substantial portion of the outer circumferences of the wheels  45  and protect the wheels from damaging impact. The fenders  85  in this case are formed in the rear and forward body portions  25 ,  26  in encompassing relation to the outer circumferences of the wheels. In this case the fenders  85  are disposed in close complementary relation to the outer circumference of the wheels and encompass an arc of at least 120° of the wheel circumferences. The wheels  45  are substantially protected from impact with obstructions when the pressure washer is being moved in a forward direction, and the close spacing between the outer perimeter of the wheels  45  and the fenders  85  prevent items from being wedged between the wheel and housing. The smooth lines of curvature between the outwardly flared fenders  85  and the forward and rear sides of the pressure washer housing  11  further contribute to its aesthetic and streamlined appearance of the pressure washer. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , an alternative embodiment of pressure washer is shown where an item similar to those described above have been given similar reference numerals. The pressure washer  10  in this case has an extendable and retractable pull handle  52  disposed rearwardly of the stationary lifting handle  48  and has a U-shaped configuration with an upper gripping handle  55  disposed at a lower less conspicuous level than the stationary lifting handle  48 . The pull handle  52  similarly is selectively extendable for facilitating pulling movement of the pressure washer and retractable into a stored position, as illustrated. A bracket  35  in this case is disposed to one side of the pressure washer for supporting a wand  15  and spray nozzle  20  in depending relation, with the lower end of the wand  15  being positionable into a recessed pocket  90  in the pressure washer housing  11 . A pressure hose storage bracket  32  is located on an opposite side of the pressure washer, and a bracket  33  is mounted on a rear side of the pressure washer housing  11  for supporting and storing the electrical cord of the pressure washer when not in use. A chemical bottle  92  also is supportable on the bracket  33 . Outwardly flared fenders  85  of the pressure washer housing  11  again encompass and protectively contain the wheels  45 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12  of the drawings, there is shown another alternative embodiment of pressure washer, wherein items similar to those described above have been given similar reference numerals. The pull handle  52  is mounted for retracted and extended position in rearwardly disposed relation to the stationary lifting handle  48 . The pull handle  52  in this case is positioned slightly above the stationary lifting handle  48  when in a retracted position for easy access. The spray wand and spray nozzle supporting receptacles  35  in this instance are disposed on one side of the pressure washer housing  11 , and a high pressure hose supporting hook  32  is disposed on an opposite side. Rearward brackets  33  are provided for supporting the electric cord in a wound condition. The wheels  45  of the pressure washer in this case are disposed in closely-mounted relation to sides of the pressure washer housing without over encompassing fenders.