US3722024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foot pedal operated adjustable rug nozzle for vacuum cleaner
Assignee: Panasonic Corp of North America
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Filing: 1971-11-10
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A mounting structure for adjustably mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle for selective disposition in different rug cleaning dispositions. The nozzle position is adjusted by pressing down with the user''s foot on a pedal to incrementally raise the front end of the nozzle to different desired elevations for use in cleaning any one of a plurality of rugs having different height pile. The mounting structure is further arranged to permit the movement of the nozzle to lower positions by an urging thereof such as by the user''s foot on the upper surface of the nozzle. An indicator is provided for indicating the elevational setting of the nozzle.
Inventors
- 👤 J Schmitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:34
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/22; A47L5/28; A47L5/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A mounting structure for adjustably mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle for selective disposition in different rug cleaning positions, comprising: a wheeled truck; means for pivotally mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle to the truck for selective angular elevation thereof about a horizontal axis; a ratchet having a plurality of teeth; means mounting the ratchet to the truck; a spring catch; means for mounting the spring catch to the nozzle for releasably selectively engaging different ones of the teeth of said ratchet for releasably selectively holding the nozzle in corresponding different angularly related rug cleaning positions; lever means movably carried by the nozzle for selectively engaging the ratchet for angularly elevating the nozzle relative to the truck and permitting said catch to releasably hold the nozzle in the selected angularly elevated position; and means for biasing the lever means away from engagement with the ratchet to permit pivoting of the nozzle angularly downwardly by application of a force to the nozzle sufficient to overcome the nozzle holding action of the spring catch against the ratchet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A mounting structure for adjustably mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle for selective disposition in different rug cleaning positions, comprising: a wheeled truck; means for pivotally mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle to the truck for selective angular elevation thereof about a horizontal axis; a ratchet having a plurality of teeth; means mounting the ratchet to the truck; a spring catch; means for mounting the spring catch to the nozzle for releasably selectively engaging different ones of the teeth of said ratchet for releasably selectively holding the nozzle in corresponding different angularly related rug cleaning positions; lever means movably carried by the nozzle for selectively engaging the ratchet for angularly elevating the nozzle relative to the truck and permitting said catch to releasably hold the nozzle in the selected angularly elevated position; and means for biasing the lever means away from engagement with the ratchet to permit pivoting of the nozzle angularly downwardly by application of a force to the nozzle sufficient to overcome the nozzle holding action of the spring catch against the ratchet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The Vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said nozzle carries a rotatable beater means, and the mounting structure is arranged to dispose the nozzle in a lowermost position wherein the beater means engages low pile carpeting having an upper surface substantially in the plane of the bottom of said truck.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said nozzle carries a rotatable beater means, and the mounting structure is arranged to dispose the nozzle in a first elevated position wherein the beater means engages medium height pile carpeting having an upper surface slightly above the plane of the bottom of said truck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said nozzle carries a rotatable beater means, and the mounting structure is arranged to dispose the nozzle in a second elevated position wherein the beater means engages shag pile carpeting having an upper surface above the plane of the bottom of said truck.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said nozzle carries a rotatable beater means, and the mounting structure is arranged to dispose the nozzle in a third elevated position wherein the beater means engages deep shag pile carpeting having an upper surface substantially above the plane of the bottom of said truck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said lever means includes a foot pedal adapted to be engaged by the user''s foot to effect the angular elevation of the nozzle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said lever is arranged to elevate the nozzle incrementally by a succession of operations of the lever with the nozzle being held in the different elevated positions by said catch between the successive elevation operations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said lever carries means selectively engaging the ratchet tooth forward of the tooth engaged by the catch in the position to which the nozzle is raised during an elevation operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
A mounting structure for adjustably mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle for selective disposition in different rug cleaning positions, comprising: a wheeled truck; means for pivotally mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle to the truck for selective angular elevation thereof about a horizontal axis; a ratchet having a plurality of teeth; means mounting the ratchet to the truck; a spring catch; means for mounting the spring catch to the nozzle for releasably selectively engaging different ones of the teeth of said ratchet for releasably selectively holding the nozzle in corresponding different angularly related rug cleaning positions; a lever pivotally carried by the nozzle; a pawl carried by the lever for selectively engaging the ratchet teeth as an incident of a swinging of the lever about the pivotal mount thereof; and means biasing the lever to release said pawl from the ratchet teeth upon release of the lever by the user permitting the catch to releasably retain the nozzle in the selected elevational position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
A mounting structure for adjustably mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle for selective disposition in different rug cleaning positions, comprising: a wheeled truck; means for pivotally mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle to the truck for selective angular elevation thereof about a horizontal axis; a ratchet having a plurality of teeth; means mounting the ratchet to the truck; a spring catch; means for mounting the spring catch to the nozzle for releasably selectively engaging different ones of the teeth of said ratchet for releasably selectively holding the nozzle in corresponding different angularly related rug cleaning positions; a lever pivotally carried by the nozzle; a pawl carried by the lever for selectively engaging the ratchet teeth as an incident of a swinging of the lever about the pivotal mount thereof; and means biasing the lever to release said pawl from the ratchet teeth upon release of the lever by the user permitting the catch to releasably retain the nozzle in the selected elevational position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 9 wherein said nozzle includes a top portion adapted to be urged downwardly by the user''s foot to swing the nozzle against the releasable holding action of said catch about the pivotal mounting of the nozzle on said truck selectively to any one of the lower angular positions thereof below an upper angularly adjusted position of the nozzle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 9 wherein said catch comprises a formed metal strip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 9 wherein said catch defines a rounded tooth releasably engaging said ratchet teeth and adapted to ride over said teeth during a downward movement of the nozzle as by the downward urging thereof by the user''s foot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 9 wherein said pawl engages the ratchet one tooth above the tooth engaged by the catch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 9 wherein said truck includes front wheels and rear wheels and said nozZle is disposed in a lowermost position with said front wheels spaced above the top of the carpet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 9 further including indicia means on the nozzle for indicating the selected elevational positions of the nozzle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 9 further including indicia means on the nozzle adjacent said lever for indicating the selected elevational positions of the nozzle.
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) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |