Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9615708B2/en
Timestamp: 2020-04-04 04:01:20
Document Index: 247292493

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 201310485447', 'Application No. 201310485330', 'Application No. 201310479507', 'Application No. 201310485943', 'Application No. 201310485447', 'Application No. 2014']

US9615708B2 - Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with agitator lifting mechanism - Google Patents
Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with agitator lifting mechanism Download PDF
US9615708B2
US9615708B2 US14/730,833 US201514730833A US9615708B2 US 9615708 B2 US9615708 B2 US 9615708B2 US 201514730833 A US201514730833 A US 201514730833A US 9615708 B2 US9615708 B2 US 9615708B2
US14/730,833
US20150265119A1 (en
2015-06-04 Application filed by Electrolux AB filed Critical Electrolux AB
2015-06-04 Priority to US14/730,833 priority patent/US9615708B2/en
2015-08-07 Assigned to AKTIEBOLAGET ELECTROLUX reassignment AKTIEBOLAGET ELECTROLUX ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KOWALSKI, GREGORY JAMES
2015-09-24 Publication of US20150265119A1 publication Critical patent/US20150265119A1/en
2017-04-11 Publication of US9615708B2 publication Critical patent/US9615708B2/en
A vacuum cleaner having a base, an agitator cleaner, an agitator, and a motor. The agitator extends in a longitudinal direction and is mounted to the base to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the agitator and to move between a first position in which the agitator is spaced from the agitator cleaner and a second position in which the agitator engages the agitator cleaner. The motor is operatively associated with the base and configured to rotate the agitator about the longitudinal axis of the agitator while the agitator is in the second position to remove debris from the agitator by interaction between the agitator and the agitator cleaner.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/838,035 filed Mar. 15, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a a vacuum cleaner having a base, an agitator cleaner, an agitator, and a motor. The agitator extends in a longitudinal direction and is mounted to the base to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the agitator and to move between a first position in which the agitator is spaced from the agitator cleaner and a second position in which the agitator engages the agitator cleaner. The motor is operatively associated with the base and configured to rotate the agitator about the longitudinal axis of the agitator while the agitator is in the second position to remove debris from the agitator by interaction between the agitator and the agitator cleaner. An actuator may be operatively connected to the agitator to move the agitator from the first position to the second position.
an agitator cleaner;
an agitator extending in a longitudinal direction and mounted to the base to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the agitator and to move between a first position in which the agitator is spaced from the agitator cleaner and a second position in which the agitator engages the agitator cleaner;
a motor operatively associated with the base and configured to rotate the agitator about the longitudinal axis of the agitator while the agitator is in the second position to remove debris from the agitator by interaction between the agitator and the agitator cleaner.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the agitator to move the agitator from the first position to the second position.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a pedal positioned to be contacted by an operator.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein:
the pedal comprises a pivoting lever;
the agitator is mounted to the base on a pivoting arm; and
a linkage connects the pivoting lever to the pivoting arm.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the agitator extends outside the base a sufficient distance to contact an underlying surface when the agitator is in the first position, and does not extend outside the base a sufficient distance to contact the underlying surface when the agitator is in the second position.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the agitator to move the agitator from the first position to the second position to thereby simultaneously remove the agitator from contact with the underlying surface and place the agitator into contact with the agitator cleaner.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein an outer perimeter of the agitator extends outside the base when the agitator is in the first position, and does not extend outside the base when the agitator is in the second position.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the agitator cleaner is fixedly mounted in the base.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a first support assembly and a second support assembly configured to collectively support the base on a surface to be cleaned.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein:
the agitator is mounted in the base adjacent an inlet nozzle and comprises one or more agitating devices;
wherein the one or more agitating devices extend through the inlet nozzle when the agitator is in the first position, and do not extend through the inlet nozzle when the agitator is in the second position.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the agitator cleaner is located in the base adjacent an inlet nozzle, and the agitator is positioned between the agitator cleaner and the inlet nozzle.
12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the agitator cleaner comprises a straight edge that extends in the longitudinal direction.
13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the agitator cleaner comprises a flexible sheet of material configured to allow the agitator cleaner to flex to prevent the generation of excessive force against the agitator.
14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the agitator comprises:
a spindle extending along the longitudinal direction from a first spindle end to a second spindle end;
agitating devices arranged between the first spindle end and the second spindle end and projecting a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis; and
one or more support surfaces projecting a second radial distance from the longitudinal axis, the second radial distance being less than the first radial distance.
15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the agitating devices comprise at least one helical row of bristles, and the one or more support surfaces comprise at least one helical protrusion.
16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein:
the agitating devices extend through the inlet nozzle when the spindle rotates and the agitator is in the first position; and
17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the motor is mounted to the base.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a handle pivotally connected to the base, and wherein the motor is mounted in the handle and comprises a suction motor.
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KOWALSKI, GREGORY JAMES;REEL/FRAME:036279/0462