Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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THREE POSITION CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY
Techriical Field
The present invention relates generally to the
vacuum cleaner art and, more particularly, to a unique
three position control switch assembly for a vacuum
cleaner providing greater versatility and control
convenience to the vacuum cleaner operator.
Background of the Invention
Vacuum cleaners have long utilized snap action
on/off switches in order to control the operational
state of the motor or motors that drive the fan to
produce the vacuum suction and drive the agitator brush
that beats and scrubs dirt and debris from the nap of
the carpet being cleaned. Such control switches have
been provided at various locations. For example, many
designs incorporate an on/off control switch on the
lowermost portion of the housing adjacent the floor.
Others incorporate an on/off control switch in the area
of the hand grip of the handle. Still others
incorporate an on/off control switch at an intermediate
position, either along the handle below the hand grip
or on the canister body which holds the dust bag.
while an on/off control switch on the housing
adjacent the floor may usually be conveniently accessed
for manipulation by means of the foot of the operator,
it should be appreciated-that many operators prefer to
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manipulate the on/off switch by hand. Thus, a switch
mounted in such a low position inconveniently requires
such an operator to stoop or squat in order to reach
the switch which is a significant annoyance. '
It should further be appreciated that an on/off
control switch mounted on the lowermost housing portion
of the vacuum cleaner is often difficult to reach.
Specifically, as the vacuum cleaner is manipulated by
the operator, the handle pivots relative to the
lowermost portion of the housing covering the nozzle
assembly. At certain pivot angles, an operator holding
the hand grip cannot reach an on/off control switch on
the nozzle housing with his/her foot or other means.
Further, the nozzle body in some circumstances may be
underneath a chair, table or other furniture which
blocks the line of sight of the operator to the on/off
control switch thereby preventing, for example,
deactivation of the vacuum cleaner at a time when the
fringe of a throw rug or other object is inadvertently
drawn into the agitator brush. Of course, at such
times rapid degenerization of the vacuum cleaner motor
is desired and any delay may result in damage to the
throw rug or even the vacuum cleaner.
Of course, it should also be appreciated that at
certain pivot angles of the handle a switch along the
intermediate portion of the handle or canister body may
also be difficult to see and/or access readily in this
type of emergency. Thus, at first it appears that the
mounting of the control switch on the operator hand
grip is the solution. Upon further consideration,
however, it should be appreciated that such a hand grip
mounted control switch is often inadvertently triggered
as the operator applies the necessary force to "
manipulate the vacuum cleaner along the floor. This
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can be inconvenient and frustrating for the operator.
" Further, it should be appreciated that such a switch
may make the hand grip uncomfortable to the operator as
the vacuum cleaner is guided across the floor first
pushing and then pulling in a reciprocating forward and
backward motion. Accordingly, a need exists for a
better solution and the development of a more versatile
control switch which meets all the needs of the vacuum
cleaner operator.
l0 Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present
invention to provide a vacuum cleaner incorporating a
novel three position control switch assembly overcoming
the above described limitations and disadvantages of
the prior art.
Still another object of the present invention is
to provide a control switch assembly for a vacuum
cleaner that provides greater versatility and ease of
operation.
Still another object of the present invention is
to provide a vacuum cleaner control switch assembly
providing three distinct operating modes including an
off position, a continuously on position and an
automatic on/off touch control position whereby the
motor of the vacuum cleaner is activated by squeezing
the control switch assembly and deactivated by
releasing the control switch assembly formed in the
hand grip of the vacuum cleaner. Accordingly, sure
positive control of the vacuum cleaner is provided at
all times in accordance with the desire of the
operator-:
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Additional objects, advantages and other novel
features of the invention will be set forth in part in
the description that follows and in part will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination
of the following or may be learned with the practice of
the invention. The objects and advantages of the
invention may be realized and obtained by means of the
instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed
out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and a.n
accordance with the purposes of the present invention
as described herein, a vacuum cleaner is provided
incorporating a novel three position control switch
assembly convenience feature. The vacuum cleaner
includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a
handle. An agitator brush is mounted for relative
rotation on the nozzle assembly. A motor and fan
subassembly are mounted in the housing. Either one or
two motors may be provided for driving the fan and
producing a vacuum suction and driving the agitator
brush which beats and brushes dirt and debris from the
nap of the carpet being cleaned.
The vacuum cleaner also includes the novel three
position control switch assembly. This control switch
assembly is mounted on the handle and includes an off
position, a continuously on position and an automatic
on/off touch control position. In this latter
position, the motors) of the motor and fan subassembly
is activated by squeezing the control switch assembly,
located in the hand grip of the handle, and deactivated
by releasing the control switch assembly. Thus, in
this position when the hand grip assembly is grasped by
the vacuum cleaner operator,-the switch is closed and
the motor is energized to allow vacuuming. Tn
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contrast, immediately upon release of the hand grip,
the motor is deenergized. Hence, the vacuum cleaner is
essentially made immediately responsive to the operator
with the motors) being energized with a squeeze of the
5 hand grip and deenergized with the release of pressure
on the hand grip.
Preferably, the control switch assembly includes a
switch lever and a cooperating switch lever lock for
engaging the switch lever. The switch lever is mounted
for pivotal movement relative to the hand grip of the
handle and the switch lever lock is mounted to provide
relative sliding movement along the handle. The
control switch assembly further includes a microswitch
and a linkage connecting the switch lever to the
microswitch. In accordance with yet another aspect of
the present invention, the switch lever includes a
notch providing two stops and the switch lever lock
includes a cooperating ramming lug received in that
notch. When the control switch assembly is in the off
position the ramming lever engages the first of those
stops. When the control switch assembly is in the
continuously on position, the ramming lug engages the
second of those stops. Cooperating cam faces on the
switch lever and switch lever lock function to allow
the switch lever lock to displace the switch lever into
the off and continuously on positions from the
intermediate, automatic on/off control position.
Advantageously, the control switch assembly
incorporated into the vacuum cleaner of the present
invention provides versatile operation that may be
tailored to the needs of the vacuum cleaner operator.
For example, in a first position, the switch lever lock
functions to lock the switch lever in order to insure
that the vacuum cleaner remains in an off position.
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This is true whether or not the hand grip is grasped and
squeezed by the operator. Thus, the vacuum cleaner may be
manipulated and moved by means of the hand grip without
energizing the vacuum cleaner motor. This allows the
operator to quietly guide the vacuum cleaner from place to
place by grasping the hand grip even when operation of the
vacuum cleaner motor is not desired.
In the on position, the switch lever lock engages
the switch lever and maintains the motor in an energized
state whether or not the hand grip is grasped by the
operator. This is a desired operating condition when, for
example, off the floor cleaning is being completed by means
of the suction hose and auxiliary attachments.
Finally, in the third position the vacuum cleaner
is energized when the operator grips and squeezes the
control handle. When the control handle is released,
however, the motor_ is deenergized. This is a preferred
operating mode when, for example, vacuuming a child's
bedroom where the operator must periodically move shoes,
toys or other objects from the path of the vacuum cleaner.
Thus, when the operator releases the hand grip to move the
object, the motor is deenergized and the agitator brush
ceases to rotate so that when the vacuum cleaner is
stationary, a spot of the carpet is not subjected to
needless wear by t:he agitator brush. When the operator then
again grasps the control handle, the motor is reenergized
and vacuuming continues. Advantageously, this "automatic
response" is provided without any manipulation of a snap
switch. Accordingly, operator convenience is maximized.
According' to one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a three position control switch assembly
for controlling operation of an electric motor, comprising:
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a switch lever and a switch lever lock for engaging said
switch lever, said control switch assembly having an off
position, a continuously on position and an automatic on/off
touch control position whereby said motor is activated by
squeezing said control switch assembly and deactivated by
releasing said control switch assembly, said control switch
assembly being further characterized by a cam lever that
cooperatively engages the switch lever, a microswitch
including a means for biasing said switch lever, and a push
rod linkage that is connected to the cam lever and
selectively engages the microswitch.
Still other objects of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in this art from the
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following description wherein there is shown and
" described a preferred embodiment of this invention,
simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best
' suited to carry out the invention. As it will be
realized, the invention is capable of other different
embodiments and its several details are capable of
modification in various, obvious aspects all without
departing from the invention. Accordingly, the
drawings and descriptions will be regarded as
illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The accompanying drawing incorporated in and
forming a part of the specification, illustrates
several aspects of the present invention and together
with the description serves to explain the principles
of the invention. In the drawing:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vacuum
cleaner of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a detailed, schematical elevational
view showing the control switch assembly in the off
position.
Figure 3a is a view similar to Figure 2 but
showing the control switch assembly in the automatic
on/off touch control position with no pressure on the
hand grip and particularly the switch lever;
Figure 3b is a view similar to Figure 3a with the
control switch assembly in the on/off touch control
s
position and with the application of pressure on the
hand grip and particularly the switch lever; and
Figure 4 is a detailed view similar to Figures 2,
3a and 3b but showing the control switch assembly in
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the continuously on position.
Reference will now be made in detail to the
present preferred embodiment of the invention, an
example of which is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Reference is now made to Figure 1 showing in
perspective view, an upright vacuum cleaner 10
incorporating a three position control switch assembly
11 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention. The overall basic design of an
upright vacuum cleaner 10 is generally well known in
the art. Specifically, the upright vacuum cleaner 10
includes a canister assembly 12 pivotally connected to
- a nozzle assembly 14 by means of a hinge assembly (not
shown). A handle 16 is rigidly attached to the top of
the canister assembly 12. The handle l6 includes a
hand grip 18 which carries the control switch assembly
11 for turning the vacuum cleaner on and off. Of
course, electrical power is supplied through a cord
(not shown) .
At the lower portion of the canister assembly 12,
rear wheels 24 are provided to support the weight of
the vacuum cleaner 10 and provide a pivot point about
which the nozzle assembly 14 pivots when the height of
the nozzle assembly is adjusted by manipulation of the
height adjustment switch 26. The operation of the
height adjustment switch 26 and its cooperating
mechanism are described in detail in U.S. Patent
5,467,502 to Johnson et al. Of course, as ~.s known in
the art, a foot latch 28 Locks the canister assembly 12
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in an upright position shown in Figure 1 in order to
allow storage and off the floor cleaning. When the
foot latch 28 is released, the canister assembly 12 may
' be pivoted relative to the nozzle assembly 14 in a
manner well known in the art.
The canister assembly 12 also includes a motor 30
that drives a fan 32 which generates a negative
pressure or vacuum suction in an internal chamber 34
which also houses a dust bag 36. Nozzle assembly 14
includes, at its front portion, a nozzle 38 that houses
a rotating agitator brush 40. The agitator brush 40 is
rotatively driven by the motor 30. Specifically, the
motor 30 includes a drive shaft that is connected to
the agitator brush 40 by means of a belt 44 (not shown)
in a manner well known in the art. Specifically, the
motor 30, fan 32 and brush 40 cooperate to brush and
beat dirt from the nap of a carpet being cleaned and
then draw dirt laden air into the chamber 34 and
thorough the porous walls of the dust bag 36. The bag
36, of course, serves to trap suspended dirt and
particles inside while allowing the airto pass freely
through to the exhaust port 37.
The three position control switch assembly 11 will
now be described in detail with reference to Figures 2,
3a, 3b and 4. As best shown in Figure 2, the control
switch assembly Z1 includes a trigger or switch lever
42 pivotally connected to the housing at the hand grip
18 by means of the pin 46. As shown, the switch lever
42 includes a projecting actuator pad 48 that extends
through the opening 50 in the hand grip for relatively
easy and comfortable engagement by the operator.
Additionally, the distal end of the switch lever 42
includes an integral cam 52 that engages a cam lever 54
pivotally mounted to the housing by means of the pin
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56. The cam lever 54 is operatively connected to one
end of a push rod linkage 58 that extends through the
handle 16 of the vacuum cleaner to the and has an
opposite end that engages a flat spring trip lever 59
for actuating a microswitch 60 mounted remote from the
switch assembly 11 in the handle or the canister
assembly 12.
Thus, as should be appreciated from viewing Figure
3b, when the hand grip 18 is squeezed (note action
arrow A} and the actuator pad 48 is thereby forced into
the hand grip opening 50 as a result of the natural
grip of the operator, the cam 52 engages the cam lever
54 causing it to pivot about the pin 56 (see phantom
line position). This results in the push rad linkage
58 being extended against (note action arrow B) the
lever 59 thereby closing the microswitch 60 and
energizing the motor to provide vacuum cleaner
operation. In contrast, when the hand grip is
released, the switch lever 42 is biased by the flat
spring trip lever 59 to the full line position with the
actuator pad 48 extending from the hand grip opening
50. In this position, the push rod linkage 58 is
retracted (note action arrow C in Figure 2) under the
biasing force of the lever 59 causing the microswitch
60 to open thereby deengerizing the motor.
The actual operation of the switch lever 42 just
described is controlled by means of the switch lever
lock 62. More specifically, the switch lever lock 62
engages the hand grip 18 so as to provide relative
sliding movement along the hand grip. Specifically,
the switch lever lock 62 includes an inwardly
projecting leg 64 that extends through an elongated
opening 66 in the hand grip 18. A backing block 68
insures that the switch lever lock 62 does not pull
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free from the opening 66.
As further shown in Figures 2, 3a, 3b and 4, the
leg 64 carries a ramming lug 70. Lamming lug 70
' projects laterally and is received in a cooperating
S notch 72 in the switch lever 42. As shown, the notch
72 defines two stops. When the switch lever control
assembly 11 is in the off position the switch lever
lock 62 is positioned so that the ramming lug 70
engages the first stop 74 on the switch lever 42. This
engagement prevents the operator from squeezing the
actuator pad 48 into the opening 50. Thus, pivotal
movement of the switch lever 42 about the pin 46 is
also prevented. As a consequence, the control switch
assembly 11 is locked in an off position since the push
rod linkage 58 cannot be extended to closes the lever
59 on the microswitch 60. This is, of course, true
even if the hand grip is engaged by the operator of the
vacuum cleaner since the engagement of the ramming lug
70 with the first stop 74 prevents pivotal movement of
the switch lever 42 and therefore, activation of the
vacuum cleaner motor.
In the automatic on/off touch control position
shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the switch lever lock 62 is
moved in the direction of action arrow D into an
intermediate position wherein the ramming lug 70 is
positioned in a gap between the first stop 74 and the
second stop 76. This gap provides the necessary
CiearanG"e- to allow- p-ivvt cti--Lito'veiucnt- Of th
e--switC:h ic'v'er
42. Accordingly, when the hand grip 18 is disengaged
or no squeezing pressure is exerted, the switch lever
remains in the position shown in Figure 3a and the
motor 30 remains deenergized. However, when squeezing
pressure is provided on the hand grip 18 (note action
arrow A), the actuator pad 48 is depressed into the
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opening 50. As a result, the switch lever 42 pivots
about the pin 46, the cam 52 engages the cam lever 54
which pivots about the pin 56 and the push rod linkage
58 is extended so as to close the lever 59 and thereby
close the microswitch 60 (see phantom line showing in
Figure 3b). Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner motor 30
is then energized. In this way, the vacuum cleaner
provides instantaneous response to operator
manipulation in this position. Specifically, squeezing
of the hand grip results in the energization of the
vacuum cleaner motor and operation of the vacuum
cleaner. Releasing of pressure on the hand grip
results in the return of the control switch assembly to
the position shown in Figure 3a and in full line in
- Figure 3b and the deenergization of the motor. As
should be appreciated, the free operation of the switch
lever 42 between the on/off positions is provided as a
result of the notch 72 which provides clearance for the
ramming lug 70 between the first and second stops 74,
76.
When desired, the control switch assembly 11 may
even be placed in a continuously on position shown in
Figure 4. Specifically, in this position, the switch
lever lock 62 is moved in the direction of action arrow
D along the hand grip 18 so as to slide the ramming lug
70 into engagement with the second stop 76. The
cooperating ramming surfaces 78 and 80 on the lever
respective ramming lug 70 and switch lever 42 allows
this movement and function to force the switch lever 42
_to pivot about the pin 46 into the position as shown.
This functions to also pivot the cam lever and extend
the push rod linkage 58 so as to close the lever 59 and
the microswitch 60 thereby energizing the motor 30 of
the vacuum cleaner 10. Iri this position, the
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engagement of the ramming lug 70 with the second stop
76 functions to maintain the vacuum cleaner
continuously on until vacuum cleaner operation is
interrupted by some other means such as when the
electrical cord is unplugged or the control switch
assembly 11 is moved to another position. Of course,
it should be appreciated that when the control switch
assembly 11 is returned to the off position, the
cooperating ramming surfaces 82 and 84 on the
respective ramming lug 70 and switch lever 42 function
to allow the desired movement and force the switch
lever 42 back into the position shown in Figure 2 with
the ramming lug 70 engaging the first stop 74.
In summary, numerous benefits result from
employing the concepts of the present invention.
Advantageously, the three position control switch
assembly 11 allows the operating characteristics of the
vacuum cleaner to be tuned to the desires of the
operator. More particularly, the control- switch
assembly 11 may be placed in a continuously off or a
continuously on position in accordance with standard
snap action type switches prevalent in the prior art.
As an added alternative and performance feature, the
control switch assembly ll also provides an automatic
on/off touch control position. In this position when
the operator squeezes the hand grip and particularly,
the actuator pad 48, the vacuum cleaner motor 30 is
energized and vacuum cleaner operation is provided.
When the operator releases the pressure on the hand
grip or releases the hand grip all together, the vacuum
cleaner motor is deenergized and vacuum cleaner
operation ceases.
' In many instances, this is a more desirable
operating scheme since automatic operation is
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effectively provided without manipulation of a snap
action switch. In fact, this is a desirable feature
for both commercial and residential applications as the
operator of the vacuum cleaner often has to move
objects to vacuum and it is undesirable to leave the
agitator brush in engagement with the carpet nap when
the vacuum cleaner is maintained in a stationary
position for any length of time. This causes excessive
and undesired wear on the carpet nap. This problem is
easily avoided with the present invention.
The foregoing description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention has been presented for
purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to
the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above
teachings. For example, the present three position
switch finds equal utility when used on other devices
such as, for example, extractors. The embodiment was
chosen and described to provide the best illustration
of the principles of the invention and its practical
application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in
the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments
and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. All such modifications
and variations are within the scope of the invention as
determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly,
legally and equitably entitled.
