Patent Publication Number: US-2017347852-A1

Title: Vacuum cleaner providing hands-free connection and disconnection of a nozzle assembly from a wand assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates generally to the floor cleaning equipment field and, more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner designed to provide for hands-free connection and disconnection of a nozzle assembly from a wand assembly of the vacuum cleaner. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vacuum cleaners are commonly equipped with various cleaning tools suited for different cleaning applications. These tools must be connected and disconnected from the end of the wand assembly. This document relates to a new and improved vacuum cleaner adapted to allow for hands-free connection and disconnection of a nozzle assembly from the wand assembly in a convenient and efficient manner. Advantageously, this eliminates the need to handle the nozzle assembly. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a vacuum cleaner is provided. That vacuum cleaner comprises a housing, a cavity in the housing and a nozzle assembly held in that cavity. A cover conceals the nozzle assembly in the cavity when in a closed position and allows access to the nozzle assembly when in an opened position. A nozzle support holds the nozzle assembly in the cavity. The nozzle support is displaceable between a nozzle storage position when the cover is in the closed position and a nozzle presentation position when the cover is in the opened position. 
     The vacuum cleaner may further include a lock carried on the housing and securing the cover in the closed position. A release button is provided for releasing that lock. 
     A first spring may be provided to bias the cover into the opened position. A second spring may be connected to the nozzle support. The second spring functions to bias the nozzle support into the nozzle presentation position. 
     The nozzle assembly of the vacuum cleaner may include a body having a suction opening. Further the nozzle assembly may include a suction conduit carried on the body. The suction conduit may include an inlet and an outlet. In addition a release lever is carried on the suction conduit. The release lever includes a wand lock displaceable between a wand locking position and a wand releasing position. A third spring may be provided to bias the wand lock into the wand locking position. The suction conduit may further include a pivoting coupler that pivotally secures the suction conduit to the body with the inlet in communication with the suction opening. The wand assembly may further include (a) a coupler for engaging the suction conduit, (b) a latch for engaging the wand lock and (c) a button for releasing the latch from the wand lock. 
     Still further, the nozzle support may provide a pivoting cradle for engaging and holding the suction conduit. The nozzle support may include an actuator that engages the release lever thereby displacing the wand lock into the wand releasing position so that the nozzle assembly may be released and disconnected from the wand assembly and stowed in the cavity of the vacuum cleaner in a hands-free manner. That actuator may comprise a raised shoulder including an arcuate slot for receiving the suction conduit. 
     In accordance with an additional aspect, a vacuum cleaner may be provided that includes a nozzle assembly including a release lever and a wand assembly including a release button. Either the release lever or the release button may be used to release a wand lock and disconnect the nozzle assembly from the wand assembly. 
     The vacuum cleaner may further include a housing carrying a suction generator and a third collection vessel. The housing also carries a nozzle support including an actuator that engages the release lever thereby displacing the wand lock into a wand releasing position to allow the nozzle assembly to be released and disconnected from the wand assembly. 
     That nozzle support includes a pivoting cradle for engaging and holding the nozzle assembly. Further the housing includes a cavity and the nozzle support is held in the cavity. Still further, the housing includes a cover closing the cavity and concealing the nozzle support. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, a method is provided for hands-free connection and disconnection of a nozzle assembly from a wand assembly. That method may be broadly described as comprising the steps of: (a) supporting the nozzle assembly in a cradle on a vacuum cleaner housing, (b) pushing the wand assembly and the nozzle assembly together to connect the wand assembly to the nozzle assembly while the nozzle assembly is held in the cradle, (c) removing the connected wand assembly and the nozzle assembly from the cradle for use, (d) resting the nozzle assembly in the cradle following use and (e) disconnecting the wand assembly from the nozzle assembly in a hands-free manner while the nozzle assembly is supported in a cradle. 
     Still further the method may include the step of moving the nozzle assembly by manipulating the wand assembly so that a release lever on the nozzle assembly engages an actuator on the cradle to release the wand lock and thereby allow the wand assembly to be disconnected from the nozzle assembly while the nozzle assembly is held in the cradle. 
     In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the vacuum cleaner. As it should be realized, the vacuum cleaner is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the vacuum cleaner as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the vacuum cleaner and together with the description serves to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner including the canister assembly, the wand assembly and the nozzle assembly. 
         FIG. 2 a    is a detailed perspective view of the nozzle assembly including the body, the suction conduit pivotally connected to and carried on the body and the release lever carried on the suction conduit. 
         FIG. 2 b    is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are detailed cross-sectional views illustrating the wand lock in, respectively, the wand locking position and the wand releasing position. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view of the nozzle assembly resting in the nozzle support which provides a pivoting cradle for engaging and holding the nozzle assembly and includes an actuator for displacing the wand lock on the nozzle assembly into a wand releasing position whereby the nozzle assembly may be released and disconnected from the wand assembly and stowed in the cavity of the vacuum cleaner in a hands-free manner. 
         FIGS. 5 a -5 d    are schematic sectional views illustrating how the wand assembly is connected to the nozzle assembly in a hands-free manner for use. 
         FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    are detailed schematic sectional views illustrating how the wand assembly is disconnected from the nozzle assembly and the nozzle assembly is left in the nozzle support on the canister assembly in a hands-free manner. 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the nozzle support in a nozzle storage position within the cavity of the canister assembly with the cover in a closed position concealing the nozzle assembly from view. 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the vacuum cleaner, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1  illustrating the vacuum cleaner  10  including, generally, a canister assembly  12 , a nozzle assembly  14  and a wand assembly  16 . As will be appreciated from the following description, the vacuum cleaner  10  is particularly adapted to allow hands-free connection and disconnection of the nozzle assembly  14  from the wand assembly  16 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    illustrating the nozzle assembly  14  in detail. 
     As illustrated, the nozzle assembly  14  includes a body having a lower section  20  and an upper section  22 . Lower section  20  defines a nozzle cavity  24  with a central suction opening. The lower section  20  may further carry one or more brushes  28  and a felt pad  30  to support the nozzle assembly  14  and allow it to glide more freely across a bare floor. (See also  FIG. 4 d   .) 
     The upper section  22  includes two mounting tabs  32 . When the upper section  22  is assembled to the lower section  20 , the mounting tabs  32  extend through the apertures  34  in the lower section and engage locking lugs (not shown) provided on the lower section. 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   , the nozzle assembly  14  also includes a suction conduit  36  carried on the sections  20 ,  22 . The suction conduit  36  includes an inlet  38  and an outlet  40 . The suction conduit  36  also includes a pivoting coupler  42  that pivotally secures the suction conduit to the sections  20 ,  22  with the inlet  38  in communication with the nozzle cavity  24 . More specifically, the upper and lower sections  20 ,  22  include a trunnion mounting section  44  that captures the opposed pivot pins  46  of the pivoting coupler  42  when the upper and lower sections are secured together with the screws  48 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   , the nozzle assembly  14  also includes a release lever  50  including an integral wand lock  52 . The wand lock  52  is sized to match a cutout  54  provided in the sidewall of the suction conduit  36 . It should be appreciated that the wand lock  52  includes an arcuate profile having a radius of curvature matching the sidewall of the suction conduit  36 . Further, the wand lock  52  includes a D-shaped notch  55 . 
     The release lever  50  is carried on the suction conduit  36 . More specifically, the suction conduit  36  includes a pivot support  56  comprising two mounting lugs  57  and two opposed pivot pins  58 . The release lever  50  includes two opposed sockets  60  for receiving the two opposed pivot pins  58  and pivotally mounting the release lever  50  to the suction conduit  36 . Additional details respecting the nozzle assembly  14  may be found in copending U.S. patent application serial no. (attorney docket no. 380-513), entitled “NOZZLE ASSEMBLY FOR VACUUM CLEANER INCLUDING WAND RELEASE LEVER”, also filed on (concurrently herewith) and incorporated herein by reference. 
     As should be appreciated from the following description, the release lever  50  and wand lock  52  are displaceable between a wand locking position illustrated in  FIG. 3 a    and a wand releasing position illustrated in  FIG. 3 b   . A spring  62  biases the release lever  50  and integral wand lock  52  into the wand locking position. More specifically, the spring  62  includes mounting loops  64  at each end that are received over opposed mounting posts  66  carried on the suction conduit  36 . When the nozzle assembly  14  is properly assembled, the spring  62  nests under the suction conduit  36  with the arcuate bottom center section thereof engaging against the tab  68  provided at the bottom of the suction conduit. Further, the release lever  50  extends around the suction conduit  36  with the pivot support  56  concealed in the cavity on the underside of the release lever. Here it should be appreciated that the release lever  50  forms a continuous ring concentrically received around the suction conduit  36  that conceals the spring  62  and the pivot support  56  to provide a very aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 a    illustrating the nozzle assembly  14  connected to the wand assembly  16  including a tubular wand  72  carrying a wand lock mechanism  74  in a housing  76 . More specifically, the wand lock mechanism  74  comprises an actuator  78  including a projecting push button  80  adjacent one end and a locking hook  82  adjacent the other. A spring  84  biases the actuator  78  into the illustrated locking position with the locking hook  82  received in the D-shaped notch  55  and engaging the wand lock  52  integrally formed with the release lever  50  that is carried on the nozzle assembly  14 . Thus, in this position, the nozzle assembly  14  is securely connected to and retained on the wand assembly  16 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5   a - 5   d , the canister assembly  12  of the vacuum cleaner  10  includes a housing  100  holding the suction generator  107  and the dirt collection vessel  110 . The housing  100  also includes a cavity  103  in the top surface thereof. A cover  104  is secured by means of a hinge assembly  106  to the housing  100  and is biased by means of a first spring  108  into an opened position illustrated in  FIG. 4 . When the cover  104  is closed as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it covers the cavity  103 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5   a - 5   d , a nozzle support  112  is pivotally connected to the housing  100  in the cavity  103 . As illustrated, the nozzle support  112  provides a pivoting cradle for engaging and holding the suction conduit  36  of the nozzle assembly  14 . As should be appreciated, the nozzle support  112  is displaceable between a nozzle storage position when the cover  102  is in the closed position (see  FIG. 7 ) and a nozzle presentation or raised position when the cover is in the opened position as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . A second spring  114  functions to bias the nozzle support  112  into the presentation position. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1, 4 and 5   a - 5   d  illustrating a method for hands-free connection of the nozzle assembly  14  with the wand assembly  16 . First one engages the release button  116  on the top of the housing  100 , depressing the button and releasing the lock  118  on the housing that secures the cover  102  in the closed position. When this is done the first spring  108  biases the cover  102  from the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the opened position illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5   a - 5   d  while the second spring  114  biases the nozzle support  112  from the nozzle storage position illustrated in  FIG. 7  to the nozzle presentation position illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5   a - 5   d . As illustrated, the nozzle assembly  14  is cradled in the nozzle support  112  so that the outlet end  40  of the suction conduit is oriented upward. In order to connect the wand assembly  16  to the nozzle assembly  14 , the wand assembly is aligned over the outlet end  40  of the suction conduit  36  and is pressed downwardly in the direction of action arrow A in  FIG. 5 a    until the locking hook  82  on the wand assembly is engaged with the D-shaped notch  55  of the wand lock  52 . See  FIG. 5   b.    
     Next, the wand assembly  16  is pivoted in the direction of action arrow B in  FIG. 5 c    until the release lever  50  clears the actuator or shoulder  120  carried on the nozzle support  112 . That actuator/raised shoulder  120  includes an arcuate slot in which the suction conduit  36  rests when the nozzle assembly  14  is held in the nozzle support  112 . The space projections  122  in the bottom of the cavity  103  engage in two slots (not shown) provided in the bottom of the nozzle assembly  14  to help hold the nozzle assembly in position during the wand connection process. Once the release lever  50  on the nozzle assembly  14  has been pivoted clear of the actuator  120  on the nozzle support  112 , the operator lifts the wand assembly  16  with the attached nozzle assembly  14  from the nozzle support  112  on the canister assembly  12 . 
     After use, the nozzle assembly  14  may be disconnected from the wand assembly  16 . This is done by manipulating the wand assembly  16  so as to engage the nozzle assembly  14  with the nozzle support  112 . More specifically, the nozzle assembly  14  is positioned with the nozzle cavity  24  resting over the spaced projections  122  at the bottom of the cavity  103  while simultaneously nesting the suction conduit  36  with the nozzle support  112 . The wand assembly  16  is then locked or pivoted rearwardly in the direction of action arrow E in  FIG. 6 a    to ensure that the release lever  50  on the nozzle assembly  14  is engaged by the actuator or shoulder  120  on the dirt collection nozzle support  112  as the nozzle assembly is pulled in the direction of action arrow F as illustrated in  FIG. 6 b   . When this is done, the release lever  50  pivots about the pivot pins  58  in the direction of action arrow G (See  FIG. 4 b   ). This serves to pivot the integral wand lock  52  downwardly as illustrated by action arrow H until the D-shaped notch  55  is free of the locking hook  82  thereby allowing the nozzle assembly  14  to be disconnected from the wand assembly  16 . The operator may then pivot the cover  102  into the closed position where it is locked by the lock  118 . In this manner, the nozzle assembly  14  may be connected and disconnected from the wand assembly  16  in hands-free fashion without the need to handle the dirty nozzle assembly. 
     The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.