One piece switch holder and foot operated hinge actuator for vacuum cleaner switch

Claim 2

In an electrical device having an electrical switch provided with a projecting actuator portion, the improvement comprising: wall means on said device defining a cavity having an insertion opening and exposure opening; and a one-piece combination switch holder and switch operator element inserted through said insertion opening to be removably received in said cavity, said element having a firs portion defining switch holding means carrying the electrical switch in said cavity with the actuator portion exposed through said exposure opening of the cavity, a second portion defining an engagement means for selectively engaging said exposed actuating portion of the switch, and a third portion defining hinge means hingedly connecting said engagement means to said switch holding means, said hinge means including a portion within said cavity and being arranged to dispose said engagement means adjacent said actuating portion of the switch whereby preselected movement of said engaging means causes operation of said actuating means to operate the switch.

Claim 3

The switch mounting structure of claim 1 wherein said hinge means comprise a double hinge having a first hinge element connected to said switch holding means, a second hinge element connected to said engagement means, and a connecting portion extending between said hinge elements.

Claim 4

The switch mounting structure of claim 1 wherein said combination switch holder and switch operator element comprises a unitary molded synthetic resin element.

Claim 5

The switch mounting structure of claim 1 wherein said switch holding means disposes said switch in said cavity with the actuator portion of the switch extending outwardly through said exposure opening.

Claim 6

The switch mounting structure of claim 1 wherein said engagement means is biased to a position spaced from said actuator portion of the switch.

Claim 7

The switch mounting structure of claim 1 wherein said engagement means comprises a first portion to be moved by the user, and a second, switch-engaging portion engaging said switch actuator portion for operating the switch as the result of a preselected movement of said first portion by the user.

Claim 8

The switch mounting structure of claim 1 wherein said switch holding means comprises a generally parallelepiped receptacle having an open portion for passing of the switch therethrough, and an opening opposite said open portion for extension of said switch actuator portion therethrough with the switch received in the receptacle.

Claim 9

The switch mounting structure of claim 1 wherein said engagement means comprises a foot pedal adjacent said hinge meanS and a force transfer means movable with said foot pedal to engage and operate said switch actuator portion as a result of depression of said foot pedal.

Claim 10

In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion, and an electrical switch provided with a projecting actuator portion, the improvement comprising: means on said vacuum cleaner housing portion defining a cavity having an insertion opening and an exposure opening; and a one-piece combination switch holder and switch operator element removably received in said cavity, having a first portion defining switch holding means carrying the electrical switch in said cavity with the actuator portion exposed through said exposure opening of the cavity, a second portion defining an engagement means for selectively engaging said exposed actuating portion of the switch, and a thrid portion defining hinge means hingedly connecting said engagement means to said switch holding means, said hinge means including a portion within said cavity and being arranged to dispose said engagement means outwardly of said vacuum cleaner housing portion adjacent said actuating portion of the switch whereby preselected movement of said engaging means causes operation of said actuating means to operate the switch.

Claim 11

In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion, and an electrical switch provided with a projecting actuator portion, the improvement comprising: means on said vacuum cleaner housing portion defining a cavity having an insertion opening and an exposure opening; and a one-piece combination switch holder and switch operator element removably received in said cavity, having a first portion defining switch holding means carrying the electrical switch in said cavity with the actuator portion exposed through said exposure opening of the cavity, a second portion defining an engagement means for selectively engaging said exposed actuating portion of the switch, and a thrid portion defining hinge means hingedly connecting said engagement means to said switch holding means, said hinge means including a portion within said cavity and being arranged to dispose said engagement means outwardly of said vacuum cleaner housing portion adjacent said actuating portion of the switch whereby preselected movement of said engaging means causes operation of said actuating means to operate the switch.

Claim 12

The switch mounting structure of claim 9 wherein said vacuum cleaner comprises an upright vacuum cleaner and said housing portion comprises a base portion of the vacuum cleaner.

Claim 13

The switch mounting structure of claim 9 wherein said housing portion comprises a base portion of the vacuum cleaner and said engagement means defines a foot pedal exposed outwardly of said base portion to be operated by the user''s foot.

Claim 14

The switch mounting structure of claim 9 wherein said vacuum cleaner housing portion comprises a suction nozzle.

Claim 15

The switch mounting structure of claim 9 wherein said vacuum cleaner housing portion comprises a suction nozzle having a bottom plate, a portion of the bottom plate underlying said cavity and retaining said combination switch holder and switch operator element therein.