Abstract:
A cord management system operable to reduce or eliminate various forces exerted on a vacuum cleaner power cord. The system includes a swiveling strain relief incorporated into the vacuum handle and collars, used to connect sections of a dirty air conduit, having exterior portions that enable the power cord to be retained in a secure manner.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to cleaning devices, and more particularly, to vacuum cleaners having cord management systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many contemporary cleaning devices are electrically powered. Such devices include vacuums, buffers, extractors, steam cleaners and other similar devices. Electrical power is typically supplied to the cleaning device through a power cord. The cord is routed from the power supply to a switch provided in the handle of the cleaning device for controlling the flow of electricity to a motor in the cleaning device. For this purpose, a first power cord adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet, is muted through the handle to the switch, and a second power cord is extended from the handle and into the head of the vacuum cleaner to power the vacuum cleaner motor. Although the routing scheme described above has many benefits, it does posses possess some inherent drawbacks that affect the ease-of-use and reliability of the cleaning device. 
     One drawback to the prior art routing scheme is the attachment between the first power cord and the handle of the cleaning device. Typically, the power cord enters a void formed in the handle and attaches to a power switch. In order to protect the connection between the first power cord and the switch from being pulled apart during use, the cord is tied down before a small extension or loop formed in the first power cord. When strain is placed on the power cord during use, the tie-down resists any tugging or pulling that would separate the cord from the switch. However, this design does little to protect the cord at the handle interface. The forces exerted upon the cord during use can come from various direction. For example, if the power cord is caught under the foot of an operator the forces exerted on the cord are in a downward direction thus resulting in the power cord being pulled outward and downward from the handle. Over time, repetition of this bending results in a sustained connection between the power cord and the switch but a degradation in the outer jacket of the power cord. Degradation of the power cord can result in breach of the cord insulation and possible shorts resulting in lower product life. 
     Another drawback to the prior art routing scheme is the attachment between the second power cord and the handle. The prior art scheme incorporates a plug in the handle that is used to supply power from the switch to the second power cord. The second power cord is inserted into the handle plug on one end and wired to the vacuum motor on the other end. The drawback to this design is the handle plug attachment. When in use, the second power cord is subjected to various forces that can pull the second power cord from the handle plug, resulting in power interruption. 
     Still another drawback with the second power cord is the necessity to supply cord clips to keep the second power cord routed close to the vacuum handle. The cord clips are metal or plastic circular pieces that mount on the upper and lower sections of the vacuum handle and secure the cord against pulling or tugging free when the vacuum is in use. However these cord clips are easily damaged and require additional maintenance and expense for the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for a cord management system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a swiveling strain relief incorporated into the vacuum handle for protecting a power cord from the various forces exerted upon it. The strain relief can be of a single axis (wheel-type) or multi-axis (ball-type) design. 
     In another embodiment, the second power cord may be hardwired into the handle. Hardwiring the second power cord eliminates the possibility of the cord being pulled from its handle connection and interrupting power to the vacuum motor. 
     In another embodiment, collars, used to connect sections of a dirty air conduit, have exterior portions that enable the power cord to be retained in a secure manner. The collar clip can be made out of molded plastic allowing for a more robust part that is not prone to failure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of an upright vacuum cleaner. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the upper portion of the upright vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the handle in  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a strain relief according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a strain relief according to an additional embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of a collar clip according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are views of an upright vacuum cleaner  100  in accordance with the present invention. The vacuum cleaner  100  includes a head  102  that may contain a vacuum motor and fan, a rotary brush, or other such components (not shown) that are known in the art. A handle  103  is pivotably attached to the head for maneuvering and controlling the head. 
     The purpose of the head  102  and its components is to provide suction at the level of the floor  104 , which may be a wood floor, or may be covered with carpet, throw rugs, tile, linoleum or other floor coverings. As is well known, the air entrains particulates such as dirt, sand, lint, crumbs and other food particles, and other materials that may be found on a floor. 
     The particulate-laden air (dirty air) is exhausted from the head  102  via an exhaust conduit  106 , which is pivotably mounted to the head to permit rotation through about 90 degrees from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation as indicated by the arrow  108 . The particulate-laden air is transmitted upward along a dirty air conduit  110  to a dirty air exhaust duct  112 . The dirty air conduit  110  of the present embodiment may be made of any of a variety of materials, such as steel or aluminum tubing, but should be sufficiently stiff to serve both as a conduit and as a portion of the handle  103  of the vacuum cleaner  100 . 
     A clamp  109  is mounted on the exhaust conduit  106  of the vacuum cleaner  100  by known means such as screws or other fasteners. A spring clip  111  is mounted on the clamp and is adapted to clip into a slot in the bag clamp  113 . The bag clamp  113  is adapted to grip the bottom of a flexible bag case  136 , when the two halves thereof are assembled. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in which like elements have like numbering, the dirty air conduit  110  is maintained in engagement with the exhaust conduit  106  as follows. A slot  114  in the lower end of the dirty air conduit  110  is adapted to receive and be substantially filled by a tab (not shown) on the interior wall of the exhaust conduit  106 . The tab and slot prevent the exhaust conduit  106  and dirty air conduit  110  from rotating relative to one another. 
     An annular shoulder may be provided in the exhaust conduit  106  to receive the bottom end  116  of the dirty air conduit  110 . Such shoulder preferably has a width approximately equal to that of the wall thickness of the dirty air conduit  110 . The dirty air conduit is held in place by a collar  118  and elastomeric ring  120 . The collar  118  and ring  120  are adapted to slide onto the dirty air conduit  110  and the collar  118  is configured to receive the ring  120  therein. 
     The collar  118  threadedly engages the lower end of the exhaust conduit  106  and screws down onto it. The elastomeric ring  120  is thereby compressed between a shoulder internal to the collar  118  and the upper end of the exhaust conduit  106 . The compression of the ring forces the ring  120  to expand into tight engagement with the adjacent surface of the dirty air conduit 110 , which retains the dirty air conduit  110  against axial movement out of engagement with the exhaust conduit  106  in normal use. 
     The lower end  122  of the exhaust duct  112  includes a threaded region  124  ( FIG. 2 ) and can be mounted to the dirty air conduit  110  in like manner to the mounting of the dirty air conduit  110  to the exhaust conduit  116 . A tab (not shown) on the interior of the exhaust duct  112  is received in a slot  126  in the upper end of the dirty air conduit  110 , substantially filling the clot  126 . A collar  128  and elastomeric ring  130  are slid over the upper end  132  of the dirty air conduit  110 , and the collar is screwed onto the lower end  122  of the exhaust duct  112 , compressing the ring  130  and causing it to frictionally engage the adjacent wall of the dirty air conduit  110 . 
     The vacuum cleaner  100  is provided with the bag case  136  into which the dirty air may be exhausted from the dirty air exhaust duct  112 . The bag case  136  is made of a flexible material that is resistant to wearing and ripping, and that is either air pervious or includes vents to allow the escape of air. The bag case  136  is adapted to be mounted over the mouth section  138  of the dirty air duct  112 . 
     The upper end  150  of the exhaust duct  112  includes a threaded section  152 . A plurality of vertical slots  154  extend to the upper end of the exhaust duct  112 . The threaded section  152  and the slots  154  cooperate with a collar  156  to form a collet-like connector for receiving and gripping an upper handle segment  158 . 
     A two-piece handle (or grip)  160  for permitting a user to grip the end of the handle  103  is mounted to the upper end of the upper handle section  158  by fasteners such as screws. The two halves of the handle  160  is made of a thermoplastic material, and bonded together by known methods such as vibratory welding or use of adhesives. 
     A switch  170  may be provided in the handle  160  for controlling the flow of electricity to the motor in the head  102  of the vacuum cleaner  100 . For this purpose, a first power cord  162  adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet may be routed through the handle  160  to switch  170 , and a second power cord  164  may extend from switch  170 , through handle  160  and into head  102  of the vacuum cleaner  100  to power the vacuum cleaner motor. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the handle  160 . Handle  160  comprises two mating halves, first power cord  162 , switch  170 , second power cord  164  and strain relief  302 . First power cord  162  is also connected to switch  170  via power terminals  308  and routed along inlet channel  304  and through strain relief  302 . Second power cord  164  is routed along outlet channel  306  and connected to switch  170  via power terminals  308 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a swivel strain relief. Strain relief  400  is a single axis (wheel-type) design comprised of halves  402  and  404 . Power cord  462  is routed through the interior cavity  406 . The interior cavity  406  is contoured to form a small passage in which a small portion  410  of power cord  462  resides, preventing strain from damaging power cord  462 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of another preferred embodiment of a swivel strain relief. Strain relief  500  is a multi axis (ball-type) design comprises of halves  502  and  504 . Power cord  562  is routed through the interior cavity  506 . The interior cavity  506  resides, preventing strain from damaging power cord  562 . 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the collar assembly of the floor care apparatus  100  of  FIG. 2 . The collar  128  includes an external surface  602  having at least one retaining member  604 . Retaining member  604  comprises legs  608  &amp;  609 . Legs  608  &amp;  609  are located proximate one another such that gap  607  is formed. Gap  607  is sized as to allow power cord  164  to be held in place. 
     The detailed descriptions of the above embodiments are not exhaustive descriptions of all embodiments contemplated by the inventors to be within the scope of the invention. Indeed, persons skilled in the art will recognize that certain elements of the above-described embodiments may variously be combined or eliminated to create further embodiments, and such further embodiments fall within the scope and teachings of the invention. It will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described embodiments may be combined in whole or in part to create additional embodiments within the scope and teachings of the invention. 
     Thus, although specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings provided herein can be applied to other handle and exhaust duct coupling assemblies for floor care machines, and not just to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying figures. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims.