US4168564A — Thermally protected vacuum hose assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 172 words

In a canister type vacuum cleaner comprising, a vacuum tank having an electric powered vacuum unit, an electrical cord assembly connected to said tank and unit for supplying electrical power thereto from a power source, a cleaning instrument for operation remotely from said vacuum tank, an electric motor for driving said cleaning instrument, a vacuum hose assembly operatively connecting said cleaning instrument to said vacuum tank, an electrical system for supplying electrical power from said tank to said cleaning instrument, said electrical system having cooperating electrical leads comprising a pair of wires extending along said hose assembly and serving the dual purpose of electrical conductors and hose reinforcing wires, said dual-purpose wires due to their reinforcing character having a comparatively high electrical resistance which under abnormal electrical operating conditions tends to cause substantial heating thereof and electrical leads of said electrical system operatively associated therewith, the improvement comprising a thermally actuated switch which breaks the electrical circuit through said cooperating electrical leads once a predetermined temperature level is reached by said switch.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 172 words

In a canister type vacuum cleaner comprising, a vacuum tank having an electric powered vacuum unit, an electrical cord assembly connected to said tank and unit for supplying electrical power thereto from a power source, a cleaning instrument for operation remotely from said vacuum tank, an electric motor for driving said cleaning instrument, a vacuum hose assembly operatively connecting said cleaning instrument to said vacuum tank, an electrical system for supplying electrical power from said tank to said cleaning instrument, said electrical system having cooperating electrical leads comprising a pair of wires extending along said hose assembly and serving the dual purpose of electrical conductors and hose reinforcing wires, said dual-purpose wires due to their reinforcing character having a comparatively high electrical resistance which under abnormal electrical operating conditions tends to cause substantial heating thereof and electrical leads of said electrical system operatively associated therewith, the improvement comprising a thermally actuated switch which breaks the electrical circuit through said cooperating electrical leads once a predetermined temperature level is reached by said switch.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

In a vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 the further improvement in which said thermally actuated switch is actuated once the temperature thereof reaches a predetermined temperature within a tolerance range of plus 0° Centigrade and minus 4° Centigrade.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

In a vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cooperating electrical leads are also comprised of an electrical electical cable assembly electrically connected to said pair of wires the further improvement wherein said switch is connected in series with an electrical lead of said cable assembly.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

In a vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said electrical connectors has a pair of electrical elements with each element connected to an associated lead, the further improvement in which said switch is connected between an element and its associated lead.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 68 words

In a vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 4 in which each of said electrical connectors has an electrical insulating material serving as a matrix for and surrounding an embedded portion of each of said electrical elements the further improvement comprising means for connecting and removing said switch between an element and its associated lead while keeping the embedded portion of said element in a protected position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 82 words

In a vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cooperating electrical leads are also comprised of an electrical cable assembly having electrical connectors at opposite ends thereof one of said electrical connectors being electrically connected to a cooperating connector of said tank and the other of said electrical connectors being electrically connected to said pair of wires of said hose assembly, the further improvement wherein said switch is connected in series with an electrical lead of said cable assembly.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

In a vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 the further improvement in which said switch is connected in series with a wire of said hose assembly.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 135 words

In a vacuum hose assembly for a canister type vacuum cleaner comprising, a vacuum hose, a pair of hose connectors provided at opposite end positions of said hose, a pair of wires extending along said hose and serving the dual purpose of electrical conductors and hose reinforcing wires, an electrical connector associated with each hose connector and having said dual-purpose wires connected thereto, said dual-purpose wires due to their reinforcing character having a comparatively high electrical resistance which under abnormal electrical operating conditions tends to cause substantial heating thereof, the improvement comprising, a thermally actuated switch connected in series with at least one of said wires which breaks an electrical circuit through said wires with said hose assembly operatively connected on said vacuum cleaner and once a predetermined temperature level is reached by said switch.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 135 words

In a vacuum hose assembly for a canister type vacuum cleaner comprising, a vacuum hose, a pair of hose connectors provided at opposite end positions of said hose, a pair of wires extending along said hose and serving the dual purpose of electrical conductors and hose reinforcing wires, an electrical connector associated with each hose connector and having said dual-purpose wires connected thereto, said dual-purpose wires due to their reinforcing character having a comparatively high electrical resistance which under abnormal electrical operating conditions tends to cause substantial heating thereof, the improvement comprising, a thermally actuated switch connected in series with at least one of said wires which breaks an electrical circuit through said wires with said hose assembly operatively connected on said vacuum cleaner and once a predetermined temperature level is reached by said switch.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

In a vacuum hose assembly as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said hose connectors is molded against an associated end of said hose and each hose connector has associated end portions of said wires embedded therein, the further improvement in which said switch is connected in series in an associated end portion of a wire.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

In a vacuum hose assembly as set forth in claim 9 the further improvement comprising means for connecting and removing said switch in said associated end portion of said wire.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 69 words

In a vacuum hose assembly as set forth in claim 9 the further improvement in which said associated end portion of said wire has a cutout defining a pair of spaced ends, a pair of tubular members fixed to said spaced ends which cooperate to define a female electrical connector embedded in its hose connector, said switch has a plug adapted to be connected with said female electrical connector.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

In a vacuum hose assembly as set forth in claim 11 the further improvement in which said switch has a main body portion with said plug extending outwardly therefrom and said plug is a quick connect-disconnect type plug.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

In a vacuum hose assembly as set forth in claim 12 the further improvement wherein said wires are copper clad carbon steel wires whereby said hose assembly is of optimum economy.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

In a vacuum hose assembly as set forth in claim 12 the further improvement wherein said switch is of a nonresettable type and must be replaced once it has actuated by reaching said predetermined temperature level.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

In a vacuum hose assembly as set forth in claim 14 the further improvement comprising means on said switch indicating it has actuated.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 63 words

In a vacuum hose assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said vacuum cleaner has a high electrical current actuated fuse installed in an electrical circuit with said wires the further improvement wherein said switch is installed against a part of said hose assembly in said circuit with said fuse and breaks said electrical circuit once said switch reaches said predetermined temperature.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 124 words

In a method of making a vacuum hose assembly for a canister type vacuum cleaner comprising the steps of, providing a vacuum hose, forming a pair of hose connectors at opposite ends of said hose, extending a pair of wires along said hose, said wires serving the dual purpose of electrical conductors and hose reinforcing wires, said dual-purpose wires due to their reinforcing character having a comparatively high electrical resistance which under abnormal electrical operating conditions tends to cause substantial heating thereof, and installing an electrical connector at each end of said wires adjacent an associated hose connector, the improvement comprising the steps of, connecting a temperature responsive electrical device on said assembly to detect temperatures of said hose assembly above a predetermined temperature.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 124 words

In a method of making a vacuum hose assembly for a canister type vacuum cleaner comprising the steps of, providing a vacuum hose, forming a pair of hose connectors at opposite ends of said hose, extending a pair of wires along said hose, said wires serving the dual purpose of electrical conductors and hose reinforcing wires, said dual-purpose wires due to their reinforcing character having a comparatively high electrical resistance which under abnormal electrical operating conditions tends to cause substantial heating thereof, and installing an electrical connector at each end of said wires adjacent an associated hose connector, the improvement comprising the steps of, connecting a temperature responsive electrical device on said assembly to detect temperatures of said hose assembly above a predetermined temperature.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

In a method of set forth in claim 17 the further improvement in which said connecting set comprises connecting said device in the form of a thermally actuated switch in series with at least one of said wires to break the electrical circuit through said wires once said predetermined temperature is reached.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 46 words

In a method as set forth in claim 18 the further improvement comprising providing quick connect-disconnect means on said switch and said one wire to enable easy connection of said switch during said connecting step and similar easy removal of said switch from its connected position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

In a method as set forth in claim 18 the further improvement in which said connecting step comprises connecting said switch in series with an end portion of said one wire which is disposed in an associated hose connector.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-09-24	1983-03-26	1983-09-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-09-24	1987-03-26	1987-09-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-09-24	1991-03-26	1991-09-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Thermally protected vacuum hose assembly

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