Patent Publication Number: US-2012042471-A1

Title: Floor cleaning apparatus with cleaning attachment release mechanism

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
     The present invention relates generally to the floor care equipment field and, more particularly, to a floor cleaning apparatus incorporating a cleaning attachment release mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     It is well known in the art to provide canister and upright vacuum cleaners equipped with wand assemblies for specialty cleaning applications. Similarly, it is well known in the art to provide various cleaning attachments that may be connected to the end of a wand assembly or control handle of the wand and that are particularly useful for various applications such as crevice cleaning, upholstery cleaning, drapery cleaning and stairway cleaning. 
     In order to provide for proper operation and operating convenience, the attachments must firmly seat on the end of the wand during use yet be freely removable by the operator when desired. Toward this end it is known to provide a spring loaded locking detent on the wand assembly that is received in a cooperating aperture on the cleaning attachment to secure the attachment to the end of the wand. Further, it is known to provide an actuator on the cleaning attachment that may be pivoted or depressed to force the detent from the cooperating aperture and allow removal of the cleaning attachment. 
     While such a structure functions well for its intended purpose, it suffers from a number of drawbacks. Specifically, the actuator typically includes a pin that engages the detent to force the detent from the locking aperture of the cleaning attachment. The longitudinal axis of the pin lies in alignment with the detent so that the actuator projects a substantial distance radially outwardly from the cleaning attachment and the wand to which the cleaning attachment is secured. During some cleaning applications, the projecting actuator may be caught on an object thereby interfering with the cleaning task or even inadvertently releasing the cleaning attachment. It should also be appreciated that the projecting actuator is not particularly aesthetically appealing. 
     The present invention addresses these shortcomings by providing a cleaning attachment or tool with a release actuator that extends in a direction perpendicular to the spring loaded detent and the wand assembly to which the cleaning attachment is secured. This reduces the extend of any projection of the actuator in the direction perpendicular to the wand and thereby provides a more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a floor cleaning apparatus is provided. The floor cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a dirt collection vessel carried on the housing and a suction generator carried on the housing. A cleaning tool receiver is connected to the housing. The cleaning tool receiver includes a spring loaded detent. A cleaning tool is releasably connected to the cleaning tool receiver. The cleaning tool includes a body having (a) a latching aperture receiving the spring loaded detent when the cleaning tool is connected to the receiver and (b) a sliding lever release actuator. When manipulated, the release actuator engages the spring loaded detent and removes the spring loaded detent from the aperture so as to release the cleaning tool from the cleaning tool receiver. 
     More specifically describing the invention the release actuator is a spring loaded sliding lever. The sliding lever release actuator includes a lug having a cam surface that engages the spring loaded detent. The sliding lever release actuator is received in a cavity in the body of the cleaning tool. The body also defines an air flow pathway and the cavity, the spring for loading the sliding lever and the sliding lever all extend parallel to that air flow pathway. Accordingly, while the spring-loaded detent is biased and moves in a first plane, the sliding lever release actuator moves in a second plane wherein the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. 
     In the following description there is shown and described several different embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of some of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a canister vacuum cleaner including a cleaning attachment incorporating the novel release mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   a  is a schematical block diagram of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed side elevational view of the cleaning attachment; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view showing the cleaning tool attached to the end of the control handle with a spring loaded detent of the control handle received in a latching aperture on the cleaning tool in order to secure the cleaning tool in position; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  but illustrating operation of the release actuator which removes the detent from the latching aperture in order to allow removal of the cleaning attachment from the end of the wand assembly; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a detailed view of the release actuator positioned in a cavity or channel of the cleaning tool as it is being moved into position to force the spring loaded detent from the latching aperture in order to release the cleaning tool; and 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating disconnection of the cleaning tool from the control handle. 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 and 1   a  illustrating a floor cleaning apparatus in the form of a canister vacuum cleaner  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the vacuum cleaner  10  includes a canister assembly  12  comprising a housing  14  supported on ground engaging wheels  16  (only one illustrated) so as to be freely movable across the floor. The vacuum cleaner  10  also includes a nozzle assembly  18  including a housing  20  supported on wheels  22  (only one shown in the drawing figure) so as to also be freely movable across the floor. A hose and wand assembly  24  connects the canister assembly  12  with the nozzle assembly  18 . The hose and wand assembly  24  includes a flexible hose  26 , a control handle  28  including actuator switches  30  for controlling operation of the vacuum cleaner and a telescoping wand  32  including first and second telescoping sections  34 ,  36 . More specifically, the flexible hose  26  includes a first cuff  38  that is connected to the hose coupler  40  of the canister assembly  12  and a second cuff  42  that is connected to the control handle  28 . The telescoping wand assembly  32  includes a first coupler  33  (see  FIG. 3 ) on the end of the wand section  34  that is connected to the control handle  28 . In addition, the wand assembly  32  includes a second coupler  44  on the end of the wand section  36  that is connected to the wand assembly connector  46  carried on the nozzle assembly  18 . A release lever  48  carried on the nozzle assembly  18  allows the coupler  44  to be disconnected from the connector  46  when desired in a manner known in the art. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1   a,  the housing  14  of the canister assembly  12  includes a first compartment  50  for holding a dirt collection vessel  52  and a second compartment  54  for holding a suction generator  56 . The dirt collection vessel  52  may comprise a replaceable filter bag or a dirt cup. The dirt cup may or may not include a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet so as to provide cyclonic air flow for enhanced cleaning efficiency. 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 1   a,  the housing  20  of the nozzle assembly  18  includes an agitator cavity  58  for receiving and holding a rotary agitator  60  that is driven by a suction motor  62 . A suction inlet  64  connects the agitator cavity  58  with the combined hose and wand assembly  24  which in turn is connected to the canister assembly  12 . During standard operation, the rotary agitator  60  beats dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet being cleaned. Simultaneously, the suction generator  56  draws air through the agitator cavity  58  into the suction inlet  64 . Air entrained with dirt and debris is then drawn from the suction inlet  64  through the telescoping wand  32 , control handle  28  and flexible hose  26  of the combined hose and wand assembly  24  into the canister assembly  12 . Specifically, the air stream is delivered into the dirt collection vessel  52  where dirt and debris are trapped. The relatively clean air stream is then drawn into the suction generator compartment  54  where it passes over the motor of the suction generator  56  to provide cooling before being exhausted through a final filter  66  and an exhaust port  68  by which it is returned to the environment. 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a cleaning tool attachment  100  is secured to the control handle  28  over the end of the control handle that receives the telescoping wand  32 . More specifically, the first coupler  33  on the end of the wand section  34  extends through the cleaning tool  100  and engages the control handle  28  in a manner known in the art. The control handle  28  and cleaning tool  100  may be released from the wand assembly  32  by pushing the release switch  105  carried on the control handle. This allows the operator to complete a specialty cleaning task using the cleaning tool  100 . Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4   a  and  5  illustrating in detail the cleaning tool  100  and how the cleaning tool is attached to the wand receiving end of the control handle  28 . As illustrated, the cleaning tool  100  includes a main body  102  that receives a cleaning attachment such as a brush  101 . A sleeve cover  103  is received in the main body  102 . The cover  103  may be retracted to expose the brush attachment  101  or extended to cover the brush attachment as desired. 
     As further illustrated, the main body includes a latching aperture  104 . In addition, the body defines an airflow pathway  106 . The latching aperture  105  extends through the body  102  and communicates with the airflow pathway  106 . 
     A release actuator, generally designated by reference numeral  108 , is carried on the body  102 . The release actuator  108  comprises a sliding lever  110  received in a cavity  112  formed in the body  102  that extends along and parallel to the air flow pathway  106 . The sliding lever  110  includes a lug  113  having a cam surface  114 . A compression spring  116  is secured to the end wall  118  of the cavity  112  so that the free end of the spring engages the end of the sliding lever  110 . Thus, the spring  116  also extends parallel to the air flow pathway  106  while biasing the lever  110  to a first or home position. 
     The cleaning tool  100  is secured to the distal end or cleaning tool receiver  29  of the control handle  28  by sliding the body  102  thereof over the distal end and aligning the latching aperture  104  with a spring loaded detent  120  provided on the handle  28 . When the cleaning tool  100  is properly seated on the end  29 , the detent  120  is biased by the spring  122  into the latching aperture  104  thereby positively securing the cleaning tool  100  onto the control handle  28 . Accordingly, the cleaning tool  100  is positively secured and remains in position on the control handle  28  as the control handle  28  is manipulated to complete the specialty cleaning operation. 
     If it is desired to remove the cleaning tool  100  from the control handle  28 , the operator engages the release actuator  108 . More specifically, the operator pushes the sliding lever  110  against the force of the biasing spring  116  so that the cam surface  114  on the lug  113  engages the end of the detent  120 . As the sliding lever  110  is moved in the direction of action arrow A parallel to the air flow pathway  106  (see  FIGS. 4 and 4   a ), the cam surface  114  forces the detent  120  out of the latching aperture  104  thereby freeing the cleaning tool  100  for removal from the distal end  29  of the control handle  28 . After removing the cleaning tool  100  from the control handle  28  (see  FIG. 5 ), the sliding lever  110  is released. This results in the spring  116  biasing the sliding lever back to the first or home position thereby opening the latching aperture  104  for receipt of the detent  120  the next time it is desired to seat a cleaning tool  100  on the control handle  28 . 
     As should be appreciated, the spring loaded detent  120  of the control handle  28  is biased and moves in a first plane while the release actuator  108 /sliding lever  110  moves in a second plane wherein the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. This spacial orientation of structures minimizes the extent that the release actuator  108  projects outwardly on the cleaning tool  100  thereby providing a streamlined and more aesthetically pleasing shape. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the cleaning tool  100  may also be used with an upright vacuum cleaner instead of a canister vacuum cleaner. Further, for many vacuum cleaner models, the cleaning tool  100  may also be attached to the end of the telescoping wand  32  if desired. The embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiments do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims in their fair and broad interpretation in any way.