Patent US3820808A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3820808A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stair holding device for vacuum cleaner
Assignee: Sunbeam Corp
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Filing: 1973-05-14
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1993-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for holding a canister or tank-type vacuum cleaner in an upwardly inclined position on a stairway is disclosed. A pendum-like lock crank passes through the lower interior of the housing of the cleaner and has a pair of downwardly bent locking arms extending outside of the housing. A resilient protrusion is mounted on the bottom of the housing. When the lowermost portion of the lock crank is rotated forward of this protrusion, the mechanism is retained in a disengaged position. When the lowermost portion of the lock crank is rotated rearward of the protrusion, the pendulum action of the lock crank positions the locking arms in contact with the rear wheels of the cleaner such that they can engage so as to lock the vacuum cleaner on the stairway when the front end of the cleaner is at a higher level than the rear end.
Inventors
- 👤 E Brunning
- 👤 R Nickelson
- 👤 D Grover
- 👤 M Schild
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:16
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/22; A47L5/36; A47L5/367; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2133; Y10T74/2141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A mechanism for holding a wheeled vehicle on an incline comprising locking means suspended on said vehicle so as to hang in a non-locking position when said vehicle is positioned on a horizontal surface and so as to hang in a locking position when said vehicle is positioned on an incline greater than a predetermined angle with respect to said horizontal surface, said locking means comprising wheel-engaging means which are in rotation-locking engagement with at least one wheel of said vehicle when said locking means is in said locking position and disengaging means mounted on said vehicle for selectively disengaging said locking means, said disengaging means constructed to restrict the movement of said locking means so as to prevent said locking means from assuming said locking position when disengagement of said locking means is desired.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A mechanism for holding a wheeled vehicle on an incline comprising locking means suspended on said vehicle so as to hang in a non-locking position when said vehicle is positioned on a horizontal surface and so as to hang in a locking position when said vehicle is positioned on an incline greater than a predetermined angle with respect to said horizontal surface, said locking means comprising wheel-engaging means which are in rotation-locking engagement with at least one wheel of said vehicle when said locking means is in said locking position and disengaging means mounted on said vehicle for selectively disengaging said locking means, said disengaging means constructed to restrict the movement of said locking means so as to prevent said locking means from assuming said locking position when disengagement of said locking means is desired.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said disengaging means comprises a resilient element that is constructed to yield sufficiently to allow for passage of at least a part of said locking means past said disengaging means when a force is applied to said locking means so as to press said locking means against said disengaging means, said disengaging means being constructed such that said locking means is prevented from moving, due to the force of gravity that is exerted on said locking means when said vehicle is positioned on an incline of greater than said predetermined angle with respect to said horizontal surface, into said locking position by said disengaging means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mechanism of claim 1 further comprising stop means mounted on said vehicle, said stop means being positioned so as to restrict said locking means from engaging said wheels with excessive force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The mechanism of claim 1 for a vehicle having wheels that have at least one resilient tire wherein said wheel-engaging means comprises at least one resilient element which engages a respective tire when said vehicle is to be held on said incline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said locking means is a lock crank having an interior section that extends into said vehicle and at least one wheel-engaging exterior section that extends over a respective wheel, said interior section of said lock crank having a section which is positioned at a substantially lower position than any section of said exterior portion of said lock crank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said locking means is a lock crank having a first section and a second section, each of said sections having an interior portion that extends into said vehicle and an exterior wheel-engaging portion that extends over a respective wheel, the inner ends of said interior portions of said lock crank being at a substantially lower position than the wheel-engaging outer ends of said exterior portions of said lock crank and a coupling section joining said inner ends of said interior sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
A wheel-locking mechanism for a vehicle having a housing, a pair of wheels mounted on said vehicle and a hole in said housing over each of said wheels, comprising a lock crank having an interior portion which extends through said holes into said housing and at least one exterior portion which extends outwardly of said housing through one of the holes over one of the wheels, said lock crank being suspended in said holes in said housing such that said exterior portions of said lock crank do not engage their respective wheels when said vehicle is positioned on a horizontal surface and such that said exterior portions engage theiR respective wheels in rotation-locking engagement when said vehicle is positioned on an incline greater than a predetermined angle with respect to said horizontal surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
A wheel-locking mechanism for a vehicle having a housing, a pair of wheels mounted on said vehicle and a hole in said housing over each of said wheels, comprising a lock crank having an interior portion which extends through said holes into said housing and at least one exterior portion which extends outwardly of said housing through one of the holes over one of the wheels, said lock crank being suspended in said holes in said housing such that said exterior portions of said lock crank do not engage their respective wheels when said vehicle is positioned on a horizontal surface and such that said exterior portions engage theiR respective wheels in rotation-locking engagement when said vehicle is positioned on an incline greater than a predetermined angle with respect to said horizontal surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The wheel-locking mechanism of claim 7 wherein said housing has a pair of side walls, said wheels are rear wheels and said holes are located in said side walls such that said exterior portions of said lock crank engage the upper and front portion of their respective wheels when said vehicle is positioned on an incline of greater than said predetermined angle with respect to said horizontal surface so as to prevent said vehicle from rolling backwards down said incline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
The wheel-locking mechanism of claim 7 further comprising a resilient disengaging means that is constructed to yield sufficiently to allow for passage of at least a part of said lock crank past said disengaging means when a force is applied to said lock crank so as to press said lock crank against said disengaging means, said disengaging means being constructed such that said lock crank is prevented from moving, due to the force of gravity that is exerted on said lock crank when said vehicle is positioned on an incline of greater than said predetermined angle with respect to said horizontal surface, into said locking position by said disengaging means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wheel-locking mechanism of claim 9 wherein said disengaging means comprises a resilient element that is removably secured to the bottom of said housing of said vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The wheel-locking mechanism of claim 7 having wheels that have resilient tires wherein said wheel-engaging means comprises at least one resilient element that is constructed to engage its respective tire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The wheel-locking mechanism of claim 7 wherein said locking means is a lock crank having an interior section that extends into said housing and at least one wheel-engaging exterior section that extends over a respective wheel, said interior section of said lock crank having a section which is positioned at a substantially lower position than any section of said exterior portion of said lock crank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
The wheel-locking mechanism of claim 7 wherein said locking means is a lock crank having a first section and a second section, each of said sections having an interior portion that extends into said vehicle and an exterior wheel-engaging portion that extends over a respective wheel, the inner ends of said interior portions of said lock crank being at a substantially lower position that the wheel-engaging outer ends of said exterior portions of said lock crank and a coupling section joining said inner ends of said interior sections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
The wheel-locking mechanism of claim 9 wherein said housing has a pair of side walls, said wheels are rear wheels and said holes are located in said side walls such that said exterior portions of said lock crank engage the upper and front portion of their respective wheels when said vehicle is positioned on an incline of greater than said predetermined angle with respect to said horizontal surface so as to prevent said vehicle from rolling backwards down said incline.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The wheel-locking mechanism of claim 14 wherein said disengaging means comprises a resilient element that is removably secured to the bottom of housing of said vehicle adjacent the front portion of said rear wheels and slightly forward of said holes in said side walls.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
110 words
A wheel-locking mechanism for a tank type vacuum cleaner having a tank and supporting wheels at one end thereof comprising a pendulum member pivotally supported on said tank and including a wheel-engaging portion, said member in the horizontal position of said tank being positioned with said portion out of engagement with said wheels, pivotal movement of said member as a consequence of raising the other end of said tank causing said portion to engage at least one of said wheels, said portion and said member being positioned when engaged with said one wheel to permit rotation in one direction and lock said one wheel againSt rotation in the other direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
110 words
A wheel-locking mechanism for a tank type vacuum cleaner having a tank and supporting wheels at one end thereof comprising a pendulum member pivotally supported on said tank and including a wheel-engaging portion, said member in the horizontal position of said tank being positioned with said portion out of engagement with said wheels, pivotal movement of said member as a consequence of raising the other end of said tank causing said portion to engage at least one of said wheels, said portion and said member being positioned when engaged with said one wheel to permit rotation in one direction and lock said one wheel againSt rotation in the other direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |