Canister vacuum cleaner latching means

Claim 2

In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and hood, an adapter for removably mounting a filter bag to said base in said canister, and means carried by the base for releasably connecting a hose end thereto for conducting dirt laden air through the adapter to the filter bag within said canister, the improvement comprising a latching means including: a locking member having a resilient latch portion and first and second locking shoulders; means on said base having a catch portion engaging said first locking shoulder for locking said locking member thereto; a hose latch having a latch portion resiliently biased to engage the hose end and releasably lock the hose end to said hose connecting means, said hose latch further having a locking shoulder engaging said second locking shoulder of said locking member to retain said hose latch secured to said canister base; and a locking shoulder associated with said filter bag adapter, said latch portion of said locking member releasably engaging said adapter locking shoulder to retain said adapter removably secured to said base.

Claim 3

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein a hood latch is removably mounted on said base and is provided with a locking shoulder, a catch is mounted on said hood to be selectively retained by said hood latch for releasably holding said hood in a closed condition on said base, and means are provided on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch locking shoulder to retain said hood latch on said base.

Claim 4

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said base defines an upright wall, said hose end connecting means defining an opening through said wall, said locking member being disposed inwardly of said wall adjacent said hose end connecting means, and said hose latch including a portion extending through said wall, with said latch portion of the hose latch being carried on an outer end thereof to be disposed outwardly of said wall, and said locking shoulder of the hose latch being carried on an inner end thereof to be disposed inwardly of said wall.

Claim 5

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said latch portion of the locking member includes a manipulatable portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers to release said locking shoulder of the bag adapter and permit removal of the bag adapter and filter bag attached thereto from the canister.

Claim 6

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein a hood latch is removably mounted on said base and is provided with a first and second locking shoulders, a catch is mounted on said hood to be selectively retained by said hood latch for releasably holding said hood in a closed condition on said base, means are provided on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch first locking shoulder to retain said hood latch on said base, and a locking catch is provided on said base for engagement by saiD second locking shoulder of said hood latch for further releasably locking said hood latch to said base.

Claim 7

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said locking member defines a rigid mid-portion, a resilient portion upstanding from said mid-portion and having an outer turned end defining said latch portion, and a depending portion provided with a spring finger defining said first locking shoulder.

Claim 8

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein a hood latch is removably mounted on said base and is provided with a locking shoulder, a catch is mounted on said hood to be selectively retained by said hood latch for releasably holding said hood in a closed condition on said base, and means are provided on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch locking shoulder to retain said hood latch on said base, said hood latch being reversably installable on said base and including opposite catch means for releasably engaging said base in either direction of installation to further lock the hood latch to the canister base.

Claim 9

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein each of said canister base, locking member, and hose latch is formed of molded synthetic plastic.

Claim 10

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said base includes a first, vertical slot, and second and third, horizontal slots, said locking member being received in said first slot, said hose latch being received in said second slot, and a hood latch being received in said third slot for cooperation with a catch on said hood for selectively holding said hood closed on said canister base.

Claim 11

In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a hood, and an adapter for removably mounting a filter bag to said base in said canister, the improvement comprising latching means including: a locking member having a resilient latch portion and a locking shoulder; mounting means on said base having a catch portion engaging said locking shoulder for locking said locking member thereto; a locking shoulder associated with said filter bag adapter, said latch portion of said locking member releasably engaging said adapter locking shoulder to retain said adapter removably secured to said base; a portion of the base overlying said mounting means and defining slots; a hood latch mounted on said base portion and provided with first and second locking shoulders and guides received in said slots; means on said base portion cooperating with said first locking shoulder of the hood latch to retain said hood latch mounted to said base portion over said locking member; and a catch mounted on said hood selectively retained by said hood latch second locking shoulder for releasably holding said hood in a closed position on said base.

Claim 12

In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a hood, and an adapter for removably mounting a filter bag to said base in said canister, the improvement comprising latching means including: a locking member having a resilient latch portion and a locking shoulder; mounting means on said base having a catch portion engaging said locking shoulder for locking said locking member thereto; a locking shoulder associated with said filter bag adapter, said latch portion of said locking member releasably engaging said adapter locking shoulder to retain said adapter removably secured to said base; a portion of the base overlying said mounting means and defining slots; a hood latch mounted on said base portion and provided with first and second locking shoulders and guides received in said slots; means on said base portion cooperating with said first locking shoulder of the hood latch to retain said hood latch mounted to said base portion over said locking member; and a catch mounted on said hood selectively retained by said hood latch second locking shoulder for releasably holding said hood in a closed position on said base.

Claim 13

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said hood latch is reversely installable on said base and includes a third locking shoulder, said first and third locking shoulders defining opposite catch means for releasably engaging said base in either direction of installation to lock the hood latch to the canister base.

Claim 14

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 further including resilient means locked to said base by said locking member for releasably locking a hose end in air delivery association with said filter bag adapter.

Claim 15

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said base includes an elongated recess and said locking member is slid into said recess and secured therein by said catch portion of the base engaging said locking shoulder of the locking member.

Claim 16

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein means are provided effectively preventing disengagement of said locking shoulder of the locking member from the catch without destroying the locking shoulder structure.

Claim 17

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said base defines a vertical slot and said locking member is slidable into said slot for engaging said locking shoulder thereof with said catch portion.

Claim 18

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said first locking shoulder of the hood latch is arranged to deadlock said hood latch to said base.

Claim 19

The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 further including means on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch locking shoulder to retain said hood latch on said base.