US3676892A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum cleaner nozzle lifting device
Assignee: Whirlpool Corp
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Filing: 1970-05-19
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum cleaner having an elongated floor portion propellable over a floor during cleaning and supported on the floor by a plurality of spaced front and rear wheels, a nozzle unit forming the floor portion of the cleaner having a front suction opening end carrying a floor contacting brush and rockable or pivotable in a vertical direction with respect to the wheels, a first spring means constantly urging the carriage downwardly at the front end to hold the brush in cleaning position with respect to the floor regardless of the nature of the floor or its covering, a propelling handle rockably attached to the cleaner and movable between an operating position and a storage position, second spring means stronger than the first and operably positioned between the front wheels and the front and operably positioned between the front wheels and the front suction end of the nozzle unit and means operated by the handle in moving the handle to the storage position for distorting the second spring means thereby to apply an overcoming spring force to retain the nozzle unit front end away from the floor against the urging of the first spring means. The cleaner can then be operated in the customary off-the-floor cleaning of furniture, draperies and the like by the use of auxiliary equipment without permitting the brush to contact the floor.
Inventors
- 👤 Erwin E Nordeen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:28
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/22; A47L5/28; A47L5/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A vacuum cleaner having a floor portion propellable over a floor during cleaning, comprising: a plurality of spaced supporting front and rear wheels; a nozzle forming the floor portion of the cleaner having a front suction end carrying a floor contacting brush and rockable in a vertical direction with respect to said wheels; first spring means urging said nozzle downwardly at said front end to hold said brush in cleaning position with respect to said floor; a propelling handle structure rockably attached to said cleaner and movable between an operating position and a storage position; second spring means stronger than the first and operably positioned between said front wheels and said front suction end of the nozzle; and operating means operated by said handle in moving it to said storage position for distorting said second spring means, thereby applying an overcoming spring force to elevate and retain said nozzle front end away from the floor against the urging of said first spring means, said operating means comprising a cam means rockable with said handle, an inner wall portion of said nozzle being formed to provide a downwardly projecting substantially horizontal portion for engagement by said second spring means, said second spring means comprising an arcuate leaf spring and said downwardly projecting portion of said nozzle inner wall being substantially tangent to the curved surface of said leaf spring thereby to facilitate elevation of the front end of said nozzle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A vacuum cleaner having a floor portion propellable over a floor during cleaning, comprising: a plurality of spaced supporting front and rear wheels; a nozzle forming the floor portion of the cleaner having a front suction end carrying a floor contacting brush and rockable in a vertical direction with respect to said wheels; first spring means urging said nozzle downwardly at said front end to hold said brush in cleaning position with respect to said floor; a propelling handle structure rockably attached to said cleaner and movable between an operating position and a storage position; second spring means stronger than the first and operably positioned between said front wheels and said front suction end of the nozzle; and operating means operated by said handle in moving it to said storage position for distorting said second spring means, thereby applying an overcoming spring force to elevate and retain said nozzle front end away from the floor against the urging of said first spring means, said operating means comprising a cam means rockable with said handle, an inner wall portion of said nozzle being formed to provide a downwardly projecting substantially horizontal portion for engagement by said second spring means, said second spring means comprising an arcuate leaf spring and said downwardly projecting portion of said nozzle inner wall being substantially tangent to the curved surface of said leaf spring thereby to facilitate elevation of the front end of said nozzle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
244 words
A vacuum cleaner having a floor portion propellable over a floor during cleaning, comprising: a plurality of spaced supporting front and rear wheels; a nozzle forming the floor portion of the cleaner having a front suction end carrying a floor contacting brush and rockable in a vertical direction with respect to said wheels; first spring means urging said nozzle downwardly at said front end to hold said brush in cleaning position with respect to said floor; a propelling handle structure rockably attached to said cleaner and movable between an operating position and a storage position; second spring means stronger than the first and operably positioned between said front wheels and said front suction end of the nozzle and having a cam follower; and cam means operated by said handle as a result of movement of said handle from said operating position for engaging said cam follower and distorting said second spring means against said nozzle, thereby applying an overcoming spring force to elevate and retain said nozzle front end away from the floor against the urging of said first spring means, said second spring means being arranged to permit movement of said nozzle downwardly By an abnormal downward force on said nozzle notwithstanding the disposition of said handle in said storage position with said cam means causing application of said overcoming spring force by said second spring means, whereby said first and second spring means cooperatively bias the nozzle to resiliently displaceable selected dispositions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
244 words
A vacuum cleaner having a floor portion propellable over a floor during cleaning, comprising: a plurality of spaced supporting front and rear wheels; a nozzle forming the floor portion of the cleaner having a front suction end carrying a floor contacting brush and rockable in a vertical direction with respect to said wheels; first spring means urging said nozzle downwardly at said front end to hold said brush in cleaning position with respect to said floor; a propelling handle structure rockably attached to said cleaner and movable between an operating position and a storage position; second spring means stronger than the first and operably positioned between said front wheels and said front suction end of the nozzle and having a cam follower; and cam means operated by said handle as a result of movement of said handle from said operating position for engaging said cam follower and distorting said second spring means against said nozzle, thereby applying an overcoming spring force to elevate and retain said nozzle front end away from the floor against the urging of said first spring means, said second spring means being arranged to permit movement of said nozzle downwardly By an abnormal downward force on said nozzle notwithstanding the disposition of said handle in said storage position with said cam means causing application of said overcoming spring force by said second spring means, whereby said first and second spring means cooperatively bias the nozzle to resiliently displaceable selected dispositions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said propelling handle structure comprises a motor-fan unit housing provided with an actuator portion forming said operating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said actuator portion comprises a projection formed on said motor-fan housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein an inner wall portion of said nozzle is formed to provide a downwardly projecting substantially horizontal portion for engagement by said second spring means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |