US5115538A — Vacuum cleaners

Claim 1

Independent Claim 116 words

A cordless vacuum cleaner, comprising: a handle connected to a body for pushing said body in a forward direction over a surface to be cleaned and for pulling said body in a rearward direction over said surface; said body containing a power driven brush rotatable about an axis parallel to the surface to be cleaned; vacuum nozzle located adjacent said brush; said brush being disposed immediately adjacent but rearwardly of, a front wall of said body; and said front wall being resiliently yieldable rearwardly when said body is pressed forwardly against a room wall to enable said brush to contact and sweep the surface to be cleaned at an edge location thereof abutting said room wall.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 116 words

A cordless vacuum cleaner, comprising: a handle connected to a body for pushing said body in a forward direction over a surface to be cleaned and for pulling said body in a rearward direction over said surface; said body containing a power driven brush rotatable about an axis parallel to the surface to be cleaned; vacuum nozzle located adjacent said brush; said brush being disposed immediately adjacent but rearwardly of, a front wall of said body; and said front wall being resiliently yieldable rearwardly when said body is pressed forwardly against a room wall to enable said brush to contact and sweep the surface to be cleaned at an edge location thereof abutting said room wall.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 68 words

The cordless vacuum cleaner of claim 1, including: means for rotating said brush to sweep said surface in said rearward direction; and said front wall being pushed rearwardly into contact with a front portion of said brush when said body is pressed forwardly against said room wall, said rotating means causing a lower front portion of said brush to sweep downwardly against and away from said room wall.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The cordless vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said front wall comprises a deformable skirt attached along an upper edge to said body and having a free lower edge.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The cordless vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said skirt, when not being deformed, is spaced from said brush.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a battery supported by said body and electrically connectable to means for rotatably driving said brush.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said front wall comprises a movable element which is biased to normally extend forwardly over said brush, but on being pressed forwardly against the room wall retracts relative to said body to expose said brush to the room wall.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said element moves pivotally about said brush axis.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 50 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said nozzle is located rearward of, adjacent and facing towards said brush, said brush is rotatably driven to sweep downwardly against the room wall towards the surface to be cleaned, and said brush sweeps dirt from said surface rearwardly directly into said nozzle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 102 words

A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a body containing a power driven brush having bristles; means, connected to said body, for pushing said body forwardly and pulling said body rearwardly over a surface to be cleaned; said body having a front wall which is normally spaced from and extends downwardly over a front portion of said brush; and said front wall being resiliently yieldable rearwardly relative to said body when said body is pushed forwardly against a room wall to expose said brush at a junction of said wall with said surface and enable said bristles to sweep said junction to remove dirt therefrom.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 102 words

A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a body containing a power driven brush having bristles; means, connected to said body, for pushing said body forwardly and pulling said body rearwardly over a surface to be cleaned; said body having a front wall which is normally spaced from and extends downwardly over a front portion of said brush; and said front wall being resiliently yieldable rearwardly relative to said body when said body is pushed forwardly against a room wall to expose said brush at a junction of said wall with said surface and enable said bristles to sweep said junction to remove dirt therefrom.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein upon rearward yielding of said front wall said bristles contact and sweep down a bottom part of said room wall at said junction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein said front wall is retractable into said body.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein said front wall comprises a deformable skirt which contacts and presses against said bristles when said front wall yields rearwardly relative to said body.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 101 words

Apparatus for use in vacuum cleaning a surface, comprising: a body containing a power driven brush; a handle connected to said body for pushing said body forwardly and pulling said body rearwardly over said surface; said body having a front wall which is normally spaced from and extends over a front portion of said brush; and said front wall being resiliently yieldable rearwardly relative to said brush when said front wall is pushed forwardly against a room wall to enable said brush to reach and act upon a junction of said wall with said surface to remove dirt from said junction.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 101 words

Apparatus for use in vacuum cleaning a surface, comprising: a body containing a power driven brush; a handle connected to said body for pushing said body forwardly and pulling said body rearwardly over said surface; said body having a front wall which is normally spaced from and extends over a front portion of said brush; and said front wall being resiliently yieldable rearwardly relative to said brush when said front wall is pushed forwardly against a room wall to enable said brush to reach and act upon a junction of said wall with said surface to remove dirt from said junction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein upon rearward yielding of said front wall said brush contacts and sweeps down a bottom part of said room wall at said junction.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said front wall is retractable into said body.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said front wall comprises a deformable skirt which contacts and presses against said brush when said front wall yields rearwardly relative to said brush.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 13, including an electric motor for driving said brush.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 13, including a vacuum nozzle adjacent said brush.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 18, including a fan for sucking air through said vacuum nozzle.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 13, including an electrically driven fan for applying a vacuum in the vicinity of said brush.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-05-26	1995-11-25	1996-05-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-05-26	1999-11-25	2000-05-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-05-26	2003-11-25	2004-05-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vacuum cleaners

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