Patent Publication Number: US-11027894-B2

Title: Vacuum cleaner including combined handle and lid latch system and methods of assembling same

Description:
FIELD 
     The field of the disclosure relates generally to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to vacuum cleaner handles and lid latch systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vacuum appliances, in particular vacuum cleaners, typically include handles that facilitate the manual transport of the vacuum cleaners by a user. Such vacuum cleaners, and in particular wet/dry vacuum cleaners, also incorporate latch systems that are used to secure a lid of the vacuum cleaner to a debris collection base or canister. Some vacuum cleaners have handles and latches that negatively impact the ease of use of the vacuum cleaner, as well as the cost of the cleaner, so a better handle and latch design is needed. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a vacuum cleaner includes a canister defining a debris chamber and having a top, a lid mounted to the top of the canister, a debris inlet defined by one of the canister and the lid, and a lid latch rotatably connected to the canister. The lid latch is rotatable between a first position, in which the lid latch is disengaged from the lid, and a second position, in which the lid latch engages the lid to secure the lid to the canister. A bottom of the lid latch is spaced from an exterior surface of the canister to define a handle opening that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening and grip the bottom of the lid latch. 
     In another aspect, a method of assembling a vacuum cleaner system includes mounting a lid to a top of a canister, rotatably connecting a lid latch to the canister such that a bottom of the lid latch is spaced from an exterior surface of the canister to define a handle opening that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening and grip the bottom of the lid latch, and rotating the lid latch from a first position, in which the lid latch is disengaged from the lid, to a second position in which the lid latch engages the lid to secure the lid to the canister. 
     Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure, alone or in any combination. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example vacuum cleaner. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 , showing a latch receiving portion of the vacuum cleaner. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lid latch of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the lid latch in a latched position. 
         FIG. 6  is another sectional view of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the lid latch in an unlatched position. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the lid latch during a first step of assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is another sectional view of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the latch during a second step of assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of another latch receiving portion suitable for use with the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an example vacuum cleaner is indicated generally at  100 . In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum cleaner  100  is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner including a collection drum or canister  102  and a powerhead  104  mounted to a top  106  of the canister  102 . The canister  102  includes a sidewall  108  and defines a debris chamber  208  enclosed by the sidewall  108 . Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the canister  102  defines an inlet  110 . 
     The powerhead  104  includes a lid portion  112  (generally, a lid) and a housing  114  that encloses operational components of the powerhead  104  (e.g., a motor and impeller). The lid  112  is removably attached to the canister  102  so that the lid  112  can be readily removed so as to empty debris or liquids contained within the canister  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lid  112  is formed integrally as one piece of material with the powerhead housing  114 , for example, by a suitable injection molding technique. In other embodiments, the lid  112  may be formed separately from the powerhead  104  and configured to receive the powerhead  104 . In such embodiments, the powerhead  104  may be removably connected to the lid  112 , and function as a blower when detached from the lid  112 . 
     The powerhead  104  also includes a motor  200  and a fan or impeller  202  connected to the motor  200  (collectively referred to as an impeller assembly  204 ). As shown in  FIG. 2 , the motor  200  and impeller  202  are enclosed within the housing  114 . The impeller assembly  204  is operable to generate airflow through the canister  102  from the debris inlet  110  to an outlet  206 . The impeller assembly  204  is operable to draw solid debris, liquid, or both into the debris chamber  208  defined by the canister  102 . In the example embodiment, the inlet  110  is defined by the canister  102 , and the outlet  206  is defined by the powerhead  104 . In other embodiments, the inlet  110  and the outlet  206  may be defined by any suitable portion of the vacuum cleaner  100  that enables the vacuum cleaner  100  to function as described herein. In some embodiments, for example, the inlet  110  may be defined by the lid  112 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum cleaner  100  further includes a filter assembly  210  connected to, and depending downward from, the powerhead  104  and into the debris chamber  208  to filter debris. In operation, when the motor  200  is energized, air flows into the canister  102  through the vacuum inlet  110 , through the filter assembly  210 , and into the powerhead  104  through an air inlet  212 , before being exhausted back into an environment surrounding the vacuum cleaner  100  through the outlet  206 . This vacuum air flow pattern is illustrated generally by the arrows in  FIG. 2 . In the illustrated embodiment, the motor  200  is connectable to a power source by means of a power cord  214 . 
     The vacuum cleaner  100  also includes a lid latch  116  rotatably connected to the canister  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum cleaner  100  includes two lid latches  116  rotatably connected to the canister  102 , and positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the canister  102 . Other embodiments may include any suitable number of lid latches  116  that enable the vacuum cleaner to function as described herein. 
     The lid latch  116  is rotatable between a first, unlatched position, in which the lid latch  116  is disengaged from the lid  112 , and a second, latched position, in which the lid latch  116  engages the lid  112  to secure the lid  112  to the canister  102 . As described in more detail herein, a bottom of the lid latch  116  is spaced from an exterior surface of the canister  102  to define a handle opening that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening and grip the bottom of the lid latch  116 . The lid latch  116  thereby functions as both a latch to secure the lid  112  to the canister  102 , and as a carrying handle that allows the entire vacuum cleaner  100 , including the canister  102 , the powerhead  104 , and the lid  112 , to be picked up and transported. As compared to prior designs, the design of lid latch  116  and associated components of the canister  102  simplify handling and carrying of the vacuum cleaner  100  by allowing a user to secure the lid  112  to the canister  102 , and pick up the vacuum cleaner  100  in a single step by engaging the same component (i.e., the lid latch  116 ). 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the vacuum cleaner  100 , showing details of a latch receiving portion  302  of the canister  102 . The lid latch  116  is omitted in  FIG. 3  to illustrate underlying features. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the latch receiving portion  302  includes two latch mounts  304  spaced laterally apart from one another to define a latch receiving recess  306  between the latch mounts  304 . The latch mounts  304  extend radially outward from an exterior surface  308  of the canister  102 , and include posts  310  that extend into the latch receiving recess  306 . In the illustrated embodiment, each latch mount  304  includes one post  310 . The lid latch  116  is rotatably connected to each of the latch mount posts  310 , such that the lid latch  116  rotates about the two posts  310 . In other embodiments, the lid latch  116  may be rotatably connected to the canister  102  by only one post, or more than two posts. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the latch mounts  304  are integrally formed with the canister  102 . In other embodiments, the latch mounts  304  may be formed separately from the canister  102 , and connected to the canister  102 , for example, by a press-fit connection, screws, pins, or other suitable fasteners (see, e.g.,  FIG. 9 ). In such embodiments, the latch mounts  304  may be formed from one, single, integral piece of material such that only one piece needs to be connected to the canister  102  to connect both latch mounts  304  to the canister. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lid  112  includes a latch seat  312  having an upper surface  314  that engages a portion of the lid latch  116  when the lid latch  116  is in the latched position. The latch seat  312  includes a tooth  316  protruding vertically upward from the upper surface  314 , and configured to inhibit rotation of the lid latch  116  from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the canister  102  also includes a stop tab  318  spaced from the exterior surface  308  of the canister  102 . In some embodiments, the stop tab  318  is formed integrally as one piece of material with the canister sidewall  108 . In other embodiments, the stop tab  318  may be formed as a separate piece (e.g., an integral piece or molding including the latch mounts  304 , see  FIG. 9 ), and connected to the canister  102  for example, by a press-fit connection, screws, pins, or other suitable fasteners. As described further herein, the canister stop tab  318  is configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding stop tab of the lid latch  116  to inhibit over-rotation of the lid latch  116  when the lid latch  116  is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the lid latch  116  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a bottom  402  of the lid latch  116  includes a tubular base  404  extending along a rotational axis  401  from a first end  406  of the base  404  to a second end  408  of the base  404 . In the illustrated embodiment, the base  404  defines a continuous cavity  410  in which posts, for example the posts  310  of  FIG. 3 , are positioned when the lid latch  116  is connected to the canister  102 . For example, the lid latch  116  is rotatably connected to the canister  102  by a first of posts  310  extending into the cavity  410  from the first end  406  of the base  404 , and a second of posts  310  extending into the cavity  410  from the second end  408  of the base  404 . In other embodiments, the cavity  410  may be separated into two or more cavities by an internal structure of the tubular base  404 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the base  404  further defines a first notch  412  and a second notch  414 . The first notch  412  extends into the base  404  from the first end  406  of the base  404 , and the second notch  414  extends into the base  404  from the second end  408  of the base  404 . Each of the first notch  412  and the second notch  414  is sized and shaped complementary to one of the posts  310  to permit passage of a corresponding post  310  therethrough to connect and disconnect the lid latch  116  from the canister  102 . In other embodiments, the base  404  defines fewer or more than two notches extending in the base  404 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the lid latch  116  also includes a stop tab  418  configured to cooperatively engage the canister stop tab  318  ( FIG. 3 ) upon rotation of the lid latch  116  from the latched position to the unlatched position to inhibit over-rotation of the lid latch  116  beyond the unlatched position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lid latch  116  of the illustrated embodiment also includes an arcuate latching portion  416  depending from a top  424  of the lid latch  116 . The latching portion  416  is configured to deflect upward from an initial position to a second, deflected position upon engagement with the lid  112  such that the latching portion  416  exerts a downward biasing force against the lid  112  when the lid latch  116  is in the second, latched position. The latching portion  416  includes a latch tooth  422  that engages the latch seat tooth  316  ( FIG. 3 ) to inhibit rotation of the lid latch  116  from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the example lid latch  116  further includes a finger tab  420  extending upward from the latching portion  416 . When the lid latch  116  is connected to the canister base  102  and in the latched position, the finger tab  420  is spaced from a radial outer surface  502  ( FIG. 5 ) of the lid  112  to enable a user to insert their fingers between the finger tab  420  and the lid  112 , and exert an outward force on the finger tab  420  to move the lid latch  116  from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
     Additionally, in this embodiment, the lid latch  116  includes a curved body  426  extending from the base  404  to the top  424  of the lid latch  116 . The curved body  426  is configured to deflect or bend from an initial, curved position, to a second, straightened position when the lid latch  116  is latched to the lid  112  to enable the latch tooth  422  to traverse the latch seat tooth  316 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a portion of the vacuum cleaner  100 , showing the lid latch  116  in the second, latched position.  FIG. 6  is another sectional view of the portion of the vacuum cleaner  100 , showing the lid latch  116  in the first, unlatched position. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bottom  402  of the lid latch is spaced from the exterior surface  308  of the canister  102  to define a handle opening  504  that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening  504  and grip the bottom  402  of the lid latch  116 . The lid latch  116  thereby functions as both a latch to secure the lid  112  to the canister  102 , and as a carrying handle that allows the entire vacuum cleaner  100  to be picked up and transported. The bottom  402  of the lid latch  116  may also be referred to as a handle portion. 
     The size of the handle opening  504 , or the spacing between the exterior surface  308  of the canister  102  and the bottom  402  of the lid latch  116 , may have any suitable size that enables the vacuum cleaner  100  to function as described herein. In some embodiments, for example, the bottom  402  of the lid latch  116  is spaced from the exterior surface  308  by a distance of between 0.5 to 3.0 inches, more suitably between 0.75 inches and 2.5 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom  402  of the lid latch  116  is spaced 1.0 inches from the exterior surface  308  of the canister  102 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the lid latch  116  is connected to the canister  102 , the posts  310  (only one shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) is received within the cavity  410  defined by the tubular base  404 , thereby rotatably connecting the lid latch  116  to the post  310 . Further, when the lid latch  116  is in the latched position, the latching portion  416  (specifically, the latch tooth  422 ) engages the latch seat  312 , causing the latching portion  416  to deflect upwards and exert a downward biasing force against the lid  112 . The latch tooth  422  in  FIG. 5  is shown as overlapping the latch seat  312  for illustrative purposes to show the amount by which the latching portion  416  would deflect when the lid latch  116  is in the latched position. In practice, the latch tooth  422  would engage and rest on the upper surface of the latch seat  312 , causing the latching portion  416  to deflect upwards. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the lid latch  116  is in the latched position, the latch seat tooth  316  engages the latch tooth  422  and inhibits rotation of the lid latch  116  from the latched position to the unlatched position, thereby keeping the lid  112  secured to the canister  102 . The latch seat tooth  316  requires a sufficient amount of force to be applied to the lid latch  116  to cause the latching portion  416  to deflect upwards and over the latch seat tooth  316  in order to rotate the lid latch  116  from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the lid latch  116  is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position, the lid latch stop tab  418  rotates into engagement with the canister stop tab  318 , which prevents further rotation of the lid latch  116 . The stop tabs  318  and  418  thereby inhibit over-rotation of the lid latch  116 , which might otherwise result in the lid latch  116  becoming disconnected from the vacuum cleaner  100  during use. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the vacuum cleaner  100 , showing the lid latch  116  during a first step of assembly.  FIG. 8  is another sectional view of the vacuum cleaner  100 , showing the lid latch  116  during a second step of assembly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , prior to assembly, the lid latch  116  is initially disconnected from the canister  102 . During the first step of assembly, the lid latch  116  is positioned in a substantially inverted orientation relative to the latched position, and the lid latch  116  is positioned relative to the posts  310  such that the notches  412  and  414  are aligned with corresponding posts  310 . 
     During the second step of assembly, the lid latch  116  is rotatably connected to the canister  102  by inserting the posts  310  through respective first and second notches  412  and  414  and into the cavity  410  such that the lid latch  116  is rotatable about the posts  310 . Once the posts  310  are positioned within the cavity, the lid latch  116  is rotated about the posts  310  from a rotational position beyond the first position, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , towards the second position such that the lid latch stop tab  418  engages the canister stop tab  318  (both shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The lid latch stop tab  418  is configured to deflect inward upon engagement with the canister stop tab  318  during rotation of the lid latch  116  from a rotational position beyond the first position towards the second position such that the lid latch stop tab  418  traverses the canister stop tab  318 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lid latch stop tab  418  deflects inward toward the cavity  410  upon engagement with the canister stop tab  318 . Continued rotation of the lid latch  116  towards the second, latched position causes the lid latch stop tab  418  to traverse the canister stop tab  318 , and deflect back outward away from the tubular base  404  to its original position, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     After the lid latch stop tab  418  traverses the canister stop tab  318 , the lid latch  116  is in the first position. The lid latch  116  can be subsequently rotated from the first position, in which the lid latch is disengaged from the lid  112 , to the second, latched position to complete assembly of the vacuum cleaner  100 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of another latch receiving portion  902  suitable for use with the vacuum cleaner  100 . In this embodiment, the latch receiving portion  902  includes latch mounts  904  formed separately from a canister  906 . Each latch mount  904  includes a post  908  for connecting a lid latch (e.g., lid latch  116 , not shown in  FIG. 9 ) to the canister  906 . In this embodiment, the latch mounts  904  are formed together as one, single, integral piece  910 , as by a molding process. Additionally, in this embodiment, a stop tab  912  is included on the integral piece  910 . The latch mounts  904  and stop tab  912  may be connected to the canister  906  by connecting the integral piece  910  to the canister  906 , for example, by a press-fit connection, screws, pins, or other suitable fasteners. 
     Embodiments of the combined vacuum cleaner handles and lid latches described herein provide improved ease of use as compared to previous vacuum cleaners. For example, embodiments described herein combine the functionality of vacuum cleaner carry handles and lid latches into a single component, thereby enabling a user to interact with the same component to both secure components of the vacuum cleaner together, and carry the vacuum cleaner. Moreover, by combining the carry handles and lid latches into a single component, the vacuum cleaners of the present disclosure reduce the risk of the lid being inadvertently decoupled from the canister when a user carries the vacuum cleaner by the handle portion of the lid latch. Moreover, embodiments of the lid latches described herein are arranged such that the latches are in intimate contact with a user&#39;s hands when the vacuum cleaner is transported, thereby enabling the user to quickly and easily transition between lifting or carrying the vacuum cleaner, and latching or unlatching the lid from the canister. 
     Example embodiments of vacuum cleaners are described above in detail. Aspects of the vacuum cleaners are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of the vacuum cleaners may be used independently and separately from other components described herein. For example, the handle and lid latch described herein may be used with a variety of vacuum cleaning assemblies and systems, including and without limitation, vehicular vacuum cleaning systems, wet/dry vacuum cleaners, canister vacuum cleaners, upright vacuum cleaners, and backpack vacuum cleaners. 
     When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The use of terms indicating a particular orientation (e.g., “top”, “bottom”, “side”, etc.) is for convenience of description and does not require any particular orientation of the item described. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing[s] shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.