Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02206798 l997-06-03
PATENT
~I~ORNEY DOaOEr NO: 0618~/8C8001
TOY VACUUM CLEANER
The invention relates to vacuuming.
In one general aspect, the invention features a toy
vacuum cleaner capable of picking up lightweight objects
such as nylon fabric pieces. The toy vacuum cleaner
includes a housing defininq an interior cavity, a battery-
operated motor positioned in the housing, a fan positioned
in the housing, and wheels connected to the housing. By
contrast, vacuum cleaners intended for use as cleaning tools
typically include impellers instead of fans. The fan is
configured to be driven by the motor through, for example, a
drive shaft connected between the fan and the motor.
F ho~liments of the invention may include one or more
of the following features. The housing may be sized and
shaped to resemble a miniature "shop vac". A chamber may be
positioned on top of the housing. The chamber may include a
first port between the chamber and the interior cavity of
the housing and a second port between the chamber and an
external environment. The fan may be positioned at the
first port, and the vacuum may further include a screen
positioned between the interior cavity and the chamber. The
screen helps to prevent materials from being drawn into the
fan. In addition, the housing may include an opening
through which materials may be discharged.
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The chA h~r may be defined by a cover positioned on
top of the housing. The cover may be made from transparent
plastic and may be removably and/or rotatably mounted on top
of the housing.
A nozzle may be positioned on top of the housing.
If so, the cover may be rotatable from a first position in
which the second port is aligned with the nozzle and a
second position in which the second port is ~pa~ed frrm the
nozzle. The cover may include stops configured to prevent
the cover from rotating beyond an arc defined by the first
and second positions. A translucent hose may be attached to
the nozzle.
The toy vacuum cleaner may also include a battery
positioned in the interior cavity and connected to the
motor, and a switch connected between the battery and the
motor. The motor may be reversible so that the toy vacuum
cleaner may also function as a blower. The switch may be
configured to be selectably positioned in a first position
in which the motor is deactivated, a second position in
which the motor rotates in a first direction, and a third
position in which the motor rotates in a second direction.
A collection of colorful fabric pieces or other
objects may be provided with the toy vacuum cleaner. The
toy vacuum cleaner is configured to produce suction
~5 sufficient to pick up the fabric pieces. The colorful
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fabric pieces may be viewed as they travel through the
translucent hose and move around in the chamber defined by
the transparent cover. The movement of the colorful fabric
pieces entertains the small children for whom the toy vacuum
cleaner is designed, which substantially increases the play
value of the toy.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the
invention ~~ill become app~rent from the following detailed
description when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIGS. 1-3 are, respectively, front, rear and side
views of a toy vacuum cleaner;
FIG. 4 is an alternative side view of the toy vacuum
cleaner of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the toy vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of wiring connections
between the power source, switch and motor of the toy vacuum
cleaner of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a toy vacuum cleaner 10
includes a housing unit 15 having a cover 20 and a bottom
portion 25. Cover 20 and bottom portion 25 may be made from
plastic. Two releasable latches 30 (only one shown) are
formed as part of the cover 20 and bottom portion 25 of the
housing unit 15, and are arranged to hold those components
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in place. The cover 20 also includes a side aperture 95
that permits air to flow out of the housing unit 15.
The toy vacuum cleaner 10 is supported by three
wheels. Two large wheels 35 are attached to the front sides
of the bottom portion 25 and one small wheel 40 is attached
to the rear of the bottom portion. The toy vacuum cleaner
10 also includes a ~lear plastic housing 45 attached to the
top of the cover 20. The housing 45 defines a chamber 48.
The cover 20 includes an extension 55 to which is
attached a nozzle 50. The extension 55 includes an opening
57 that communicates with the nozzle 50 and with an opening
in the housing 45. The nozzle 50 extends horizontally from
the opening 57. A removable, translucent hose 60 is
attached to the nozzle 50 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The hose 60 is
attached by sliding the hose 60 onto the nozzle 50. The
hose 60 is held on the nozzle 50 by an interference fit.
The hose 60 is configured to be grasped by the hand of a
child using the toy vacuum cleaner 10 to pick up material
such as the nylon fabric pieces 70 shown in FIG. 1. As
shown in FIG. 3, the nylon pieces 70 are received within the
clear plastic housing 45 after they have been vacuumed up
through the hose 60. Fabric pieces 70 can be observed as
they spin around in the clear plastic housing 45.
Referring also to FIG. 4, the housing 45 includes a
side opening 75 and two rotation stops 130, 132. FIG. 3
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shows the housing 45 positioned with the side opening 75
aligned with the opening 57 in the extension 55 of the cover
20. When the housing 45 is in this position, a negative
pressure created in the chamber 48 creates a negative
pressure in the hose 60 that permits the hose to pic~ up the
fabric pieces 70. When the side opening 75 is aligned with
the opening 57, the rotation stop 130 rests against the
e~tension 55 of the cover 20 and th~ rotation stop 132 is
spaced from the extension 55.
FIG. 4 shows the housing 45 positioned with the side
opening 75 not being aligned with the opening 57 in the
extension 55 of the cover 20. In this alignment, negative
pressure in the chamber 48 draws air through the opening 57
into the chamber 48, and negative pressure is not created in
the hose 60. The rotation stop 132 rests against the
extension 55 of the cover 20 and the rotation stop 130 is
spaced away from the extension 55. The arc of rotation of
the housing 45 is limited by the positioning of the stops
130, 132.
Referring to FIG. 5, a three-bladed fan 85 is
mounted in the housing unit 15 beneath the cover 20. A
screen 90 is formed in the cover 20 and serves to prevent
objects in the chamber 48 from reaching the fan 85. The fan
85 produces a negative pressure in the chamber 48 that
~5 results in an air flow that enters the chamber 48 through
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the opening 75, passes through screen 9o and emerges from
housing unit 15 through the side aperture 95. Nylon fabric
pieces 70 that are vacuumed into the chamber 48 are
intercepted by the screen 90 and do not reach the fan 85.
Instead, the fabric pieces move around within the chamber
48. The fabric pieces are made from fabric having different
colors so that movement of the fabric pieces creates
changinq, colorfu~ pattern~ tkat entertain a child playing
with the toy vacuum cleaner 10 and increase the play value
of the toy.
The housing unit lS contains the fan 85 and a
reversible motor 80. As shown in FIG. 6, a drive shaft 105
couples the motor 80 to the fan 85. Rotation of the shaft
lOS and the fan 85 by the motor 80 creates a negative
lS pressure and accompanying suction that draws air and the
fabric pieces 70 into the c~Arh~r 48 in the clear plastic
housing 45. The air exits the housing un~t lS through the
side aperture 9S. The fabric pieces 70 are blocked by the
screen 90 and trapped in the ch~ her 48.
The motor 80 may be reversed to create a positive
pressure in the chamber 48 and a negative pressure in the
housing unit lS. The negative pressure in the housing unit
lS causes air to flow into the housing unit 15 through the.
side aperture 95. The air then flows from the housing unit
15 into the chamber 48. Finally, the positive pressure in
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the chamber 48 causes air to flow out of the chamber 48
through the opening 75 (and through the hose 60 if the hose
is aligned with the opening 75). The flow of air out of the
chamber 48 causes the fabric pieces 70 to exit the chamber
48.
The motor 80 is powered by a battery 110. A switch
115 is positioned on the top of the cover 20 for convenient
engagement by means of the thumb of a child utilizing the
toy vacuum cleaner 10. The switch 115 operates to
selectively supply electric power from the battery 110 to
the motor 80 for activation of the motor 80. Electrical
wiring 120 interconnects the battery 110, the switch 115,
and the motor 80.
When switch 115 is placed in an ON position, motor
15 80 iS activated by the battery 110 and causes the fan 8S to
operate. Operation of fan 85 causes an air flow (indicated
by the arrows 67 in FIG. 1) inwardly through hose 60 and
outwardly through side aperture 95. The screen 90 prevents
any of the fabric pieces 70 or other materials from passing
into the fan 85 and motor 80. When the switch llS is in an
OFF position, the motor 80 is deactivated.
The switch llS may be placed in a third position
that causes the motor 80 and the fan 8 5 to rotate in a
reverse direction. This causes the fabric pieces 70 to blow
around the interior of the clear plastic housing 4S. The
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fabric pieces 70 may also fly out of the housing 45 when the
blower is turned on from either the opening 65 in the hose
60 or through the side opening 75 of the housing 4S.
To remove the fabric pieces 70 from the clear
plastic housing 45, the latter is opened by simply rotating
the plastic housing 45. Because the plastic housing 45
consists of transparent, impact-resistance plastic, the
contents of the chamber 48 can be viewed without opening the
housing 45.
Other embodiments are within the following claims.
For example, the chamber defined by the transparent housing
may include an enclosed portion in which fabric pieces are
permanently positioned. The enclosed portion would include
holes positioned to permit air flow from the fan to cause
the fabric pieces to move around within the enclosed
portion. In addition, the fabric pieces could be replaced
with pieces of vinyl or other sheet materials, pieces of
styrofoam, or any other lightweight material.
