Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02476121 2004-07-30
CLEANING TOOL AS SEMBLY
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Serial No. 60/491,399 filed on July 31, 2003.
The present invention relates generally to a cleaning tool assembly
for use v~rith floor care cleaning equipment such as a canister vacuum
cleaner, an upright vacuum cleaner, a handheld vacuum cleaner, and an
S extractor or the like.
It has long been known to equip canister anal handheld vacuum
cleaners with cleax~.ing tool assemblies incorporating a simple noazle body
or nozzle body and brush combination. More recently, upright vacuum
cleaners and extractors have also been equipped with. such manual cleaning
tool assemblies.
The present invention relates to a cleaning toot assembly that may be
selectively utilized in one of two modes of operation. 3n the first mode, the
cleaning tool comprises a bare nozzle body. In the second mode an
accessory housing including a brush is connected to the nozzle body.
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Advantageously, this versatile cleaning tool may be utilized for a great
many applications including those where a brush feature is a hindrance to
efficient cleaning (e.g. for cleaning of upholstery and draperies) and those
where a 'brush feature is a significant benefit to efficient cleaning (e.g.
cleaning of carpet on stairs).
Iii accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, an improved cleaning tool assembly is provided. The
cleaning, tool assembly comprises a first housing including an intake
opening and a connection port and a second housing including a brush.
The second housing is releaseably connected to the first housing so that the
cleaning tool assembly may be utilized with or without a brush feature.
In. accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the
cleaning tool assembly may also be defined as comprising a nozzle body
and an accessory housing including a brush. and a cavity for receiving the
nozzle body. Additionally, the cleaning tool assembly.includes a latch for
engaging the nozzle body and securing the nozzle body in the cavity.
The latch may comprise a resilient tab including a locking shoulder.
Further, the accessory housing may include a top wall and a depending
skirt. The depending skirt may be annular in shape. In addition the top
wall may include an opening with the resilient tab pr~vided adj scent to the
opening.
Still further, the skirt includes at least one shoulder for engaging a
portion of the nozzle body when the nozzle body is positioned ixa the cavity.
Further, an inner surface of the top wall also engages at least another
portion of the nozzle body.
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The brush may comprise a series of tufted bristles secured to the
skirt. The series of tufted bristles may be included around the entire skirt
if ,
desired. A skirt extension may also be provided alongside the series of
tufted bristles thereby effectively stiffening the bristles to thereby enhance
their cleaning action.
Ire. accordance with sill another aspect of the present invention a
method is provided for securing a brush accessory to a nozzle body. The
method comprises the steps of sliding a portion of the nozzle body into an
aperture in the brush accessory, pivoting the nozzle body relative to the
brush accessory and fully seating the nozzle body in the brush accessory.
In the following description 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.
The accompanying drawing incorporated in and foi~uiug a part of
the specification, illustrates severai aspects of the present invention, and
together with the description sexve to explain certain principles of the
invention. In. the drawing:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning tool
assembly of the present invention;
Figures 2a and 2b are cross-sectional views illustrating the manner
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in which the nozzle body is ssaared to the brush accessory.
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.
1',~' stalled T~escription of the Inve
Reference is now made to Figure 1 illustrating the cleaning tool
assembly 10 of the present invention including a first housing or nozzle
body 12 and a second or accessory housing 14.
As also illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b, the nozzle body 12 includes
an intake opening 16 for drawing dirt and debris into the nozzle body and a
connection port 18 for connecting to a vacuum cleaning apparatus. The
connection may be made tlu-ough a flexible hose, a cleaning wand ar even
directly to a vacuum cleaner housing in the case of a handheld vacuum
Cleaner. '
1 S The accessory housing 14 includes a top wall 20 and a downwardly
dependi~ag skirt 22. A brush, generally designated by reference numeral 24
is carried by the accessory housing 14. In the illustrated embodiment the
brush 24 comprises a series of tufted bristles 26 projecting from the skirt
22. As illustrated in the drawing figures the skirt 22 is annular in
configuration and the tufted bristles 26 may extend around the entire skirt if
desired.
A skirt extension 2$ projects from the skirt 22 alongside the inner
side of the series of tufted bristles 26. As illustrated, the skirt extension
28
has a length L1 that: is appraximately one-third to one-half the length L2 of
the projecting portion of the tufted bristles 26. Advantageously, the skirt
extension 28 functions to support and stiffen the tufted bristles 26 to
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CA 02476121 2004-07-30
provide increased brushing action as the cleaning tool assembly 10 is
moved across the surface being cleaned.
As further illustrated, an opening 30 is provided in. the top wall 20
and at least one shoulder 32 is provided along an inner wall of the skirt 22.
5 As illustrated in Figure 1, the shoulder 32 extends about three-quarters of
the way across the opening 30. While only one shoulder is illustrated in
Figure 1, it should be appreciated that a second, corresponding shoulder
may be provided on the opposite sidewall.
A latch, generally designated by reference numeral 34, is carried by
IO the skirt 22 at one end of the opening 30. The latch 34 comprises a
resilient
tab 36 having a coopezatiug locking flange 38. The resilient tab 36 may be
molded from, for example, plastic such as ABS as an integral part of the
accessory housing 14. When the nozzle body 12 is inserted in the opening
30 of the accessory housing 14, a portion of the bottom edge 40 of the
nozzle body 12 engages the shoulder 32. The inner surface of the top wall
engages a portion 42 of the top wall of the nozzle body 12 and the
locking Mange 38 engages a margin 44 of the top of the nozzle body 12
opposite the porNoz~ 42. As a result, the nozzle body 12 is captured and
secured in the accessory housing 14.
20 In use, the nozzle body 12 may be utilized alone with the connection
port 18 connected to the vacuum cleaner. In. this operating mode, dirt and
debris is drawn directly into the intake opening 16 and then through the
connection port 18. Thus, in this mode the cleaning tool assembly 10 is
without any form of brush and is therefore particularly suited for cleaning
applications not requiring a brush or where a brush would be a detriment
(i.e. such as upholstery, curtain and bare floor cleaning).
1n a second cleaning mode, the cleaning tool assembly 10 comprises
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the nozzle body 12 secured in the accessory housing 14.
Reference is now made to Figures 2a and 2b to illustrate how this is
accomplished. The first step of the process is the sliding of a portion or
first end of the nozzle body 12 into the aperture or opening 30 in the top
wall 20 of the accessory housing 14 (see action arrow A). More
specifically, the nozzle body 12 is inserted at an angle so that the end being
inserted slides past the end 31 of the shoulder 32 and under the top wall 20
while the opposite end of the nozzle body passes over the top of the
resilient tab 36. Once the connection port 18 engages the edge 46 of the
top wall 20 defrning a portion of the opening 30, the nozzle body 12 is
pivoted relative to the accessory housing 14 in the direction of action arrow
B. As the nozzle body 12 is pivoted, the bottom end edge of the nozzle
body slides along the cam surface 50 of the resilient tab 36 forcing the
resilient tab outwardly in the direction of action arrow C. Just as the
bottom edge 40 seats on the shoulder 32, the portion 42, of the nozzle body
engages the undersurface of the tap wall 20 and the margin 44 of the nozzle
body slides past the locking flange 38. The resilient memory of the tab 36
then causes the tab to spring back in the direction of action arrow D so that
the locking flange 3$ engages the margin 44 of the nozzle body thereby
tightly securing the nozzle body in the accessory housing 14.
The cleaning tool assembly including both the nozzle body 12 and
accessory housing 14 may then be utilized in a second mode of operation
by connecting the connection port 18 with a vacuum cleaner. The tufted
'bristles 26 may then be scrubbed back and forth across the surFace being
cleaned do brush dirt and debris from that surface. That dirt and debris is
then drawn into the intake opening 16 and passes through the connection
port 18 to the vac~xuu~ cleaner far collection.
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Of course, it should be appreciated that nozzle body 12 may again be
removed from the accessory housing 14 by engaging the resilient tab 36
and pushing it outward in the direction of arrow C against the shirt 22 until
the flange 38 clears the margin 44. The nozzle body 12 is then pivoted to
free the margin end of the nozzle body from tb.e resilient tab 36 and then
one simply slides the nozzle body 12 out from the opening 30.
In. summary, numerous benefits result from employing the concepts
of the present invention. The cleaning tool assembly 10 of the present
invention provides for two distinct modes of operation. In the first mode,
brushless cleaning is possible. In the second mode, a brush is provided to
allow scrubbing of a surface to be cleaned. Advantageously, the present
invention allows one to quickly and easily change between modes of
operation in a simple and efficient manner. As a further advantage, a
fastener, in the form of a resilient tab 36, is an integral part of the
accessory
housing 14 and, therefore, will not be inadvertently lost or misplaced.
The fvre~;oing description of the 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. While the illustrated embodiment shows the nozzle body
12 being mounted within an opening in the accessory housing 14, it should
be appreciated that the accessory housing 14 could just as easily be
mounted inside the margin. of the nozzle body 12 if desired.
Tie 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
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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 a;nd equitably enfiitled. The drawings and preferred embodiment do
not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims and
their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
