Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLOOR CARE APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHT SOURCE
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the floor care equipment field
and, more particularly, to a floor care apparatus equipped with an
electroluminescent light source.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A vacuum cleaner is an electro-mechanical appliance utilized to effect the
dry removal of dust, dirt and other small debris from carpets, rugs, fabrics
or other
surfaces in domestic, commercial and industrial environments. In order to
achieve
the desired dirt and dust removal, most vacuum cleaners incorporate a rotary
agitator. The rotary agitator is provided to beat dirt and debris from the nap
of the
carpet or rug while a pressure drop or vacuum is used to force air entrained
with
this dirt and debris into the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner. The particulate
laden air
is then drawn into a dirt collection vessel. The air is then drawn through a
filter
before being directed through the motor of the suction generator to provide
cooling. Finally, the air is filtered to remove any fine particles of carbon
from the
brushes of that motor or other dirt that might remain in the air-stream before
being
exhausted back into the environment.
It has long been known to equip the nozzle assembly of a canister vacuum
cleaner, upright vacuum cleaner or extractor with a headlight for illuminating
the
work area so as to allow the operator to more efficiently and effectively
guide the
vacuum cleaner during the cleaning operation. U.S. Patent 2,208,523 to Coleman
discloses an early vacuum cleaner equipped with a tubular incandescent lamp,
reflector and lens in order to direct light over the work area. More recent
advances
in technology have led to efforts to further improve illumination of the work
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in front of a floor cleaning apparatus. For example, U.S. Patent 5,207,498 to
Lawrence et al. discloses a vacuum cleaner headlight system incorporating a
light
pipe. U.S. Patent 6,672,735 to Dilger et al. discloses a vacuum cleaner
equipped
with a lighting system comprising a plurality of ultra-bright light-emitting
diodes.
The present invention relates to a floor care apparatus equipped with a new
and further improved lighting system that is economical to build while also
allowing greater design flexibility and the positioning of a light source
along the
lower portion of the nozzle assembly adjacent the work field or surface area
to be
cleaned so that maximum illumination and benefit is achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described
herein, a floor care apparatus is provided comprising a housing, a suction
generator carried on the housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on the
housing. The housing is further equipped with an electroluminescent light
source
that is directed so as to illuminate a work area adjacent to the floor care
apparatus.
The electroluminescent light source may take the form of a flexible strip and
that
flexible strip may be held in a channel on the vacuum cleaner.
Alternatively, the present invention may be described as a floor care
apparatus comprising a housing including a nozzle assembly wherein a suction
generator and a dirt collection vessel are both carried on that housing. Still
further, the invention includes an electroluminescent light source carried on
the
nozzle assembly and directed so that it illuminates a work area adjacent the
floor
care apparatus.
More specifically describing the invention the floor care apparatus includes
a bumper carried on the nozzle assembly. The electroluminescent light source
is
mounted to the bumper. Typically, the bumper includes a channel and the
electroluminescent light source is received in that channel. The bumper may be
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made from a resilient material and the electroluminescent light source may be
a
flexible strip.
Still further describing the invention the dirt collection vessel may take the
form of a dirt cup. That dirt cup may include a cylindrical sidewall, a
tangentially
directed inlet and an outlet in order to provide for cyclonic air-flow.
Alternatively,
the dirt collection vessel may take the form of a filter bag such as a
standard
vacuum cleaner bag.
In addition, the nozzle assembly may include a suction inlet and a rotary
agitator may be carried on the nozzle assembly adjacent the suction inlet.
Still
further, the housing may include a canister assembly. Typically, the dirt
collection
vessel is carried on the canister assembly. In one possible embodiment, the
canister assembly is pivotably connected to the nozzle assembly.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention a method is
provided for illuminating the work area on a floor in front of a floor care
apparatus. The method comprises the equipping of the floor care apparatus with
an electroluminescent light source. More specifically describing the method,
the
method may include the positioning of the electroluminescent light source on a
nozzle assembly of the floor care apparatus. Still further, the method may
include
the mounting of the electroluminescent light source on a bumper secured to the
nozzle assembly of the floor care apparatus.
In the following description there is shown and described several preferred
embodiments 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 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.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the
specification, illustrates several aspects of the present invention and
together with
the description serves to explain certain principles of the invention. In the
drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first possible embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second possible embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 3 is a schematical side elvational view illustrating the
electroluminescent light source; and
Figure 4 is a detailed, cross-section view illustrating how the
electroluminescent light source is mounted in the channel on the nozzle
assembly
bumper.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments
of this invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference is now made to Figure 1 showing the floor care apparatus 10 of
the present invention in the form of an upright vacuum cleaner equipped with
an
electroluminescent light source 12. The upright vacuum cleaner 10 includes a
housing comprising a nozzle assembly 14 and a canister assembly 16. The
canister assembly 16 further includes a control handle 18 and a hand-grip 20.
A
control switch 22 is provided for turning the vacuum cleaner 10 on and off. Of
course, electrical power is supplied to the vacuum cleaner 10 from a standard
electrical wall outlet through an electrical cord (not shown).
A pair of rear wheels (not shown) provided on the lower portion of the
canister assembly 16 and a pair of front wheels (also not shown) are provided
on
the nozzle assembly 14. Together, these wheels support the vacuum cleaner 10
for
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movement across the floor. To allow for convenient storage of the vacuum
cleaner 10, a foot latch (not shown) functions to lock the canister assembly
in an
upright position as shown in Figure 1. When the foot latch is released, the
canister
assembly 16 may be pivoted relative to the nozzle assembly 14 as the vacuum
cleaner 10 is manipulated back and forth to clean the floor.
In the presently illustrated embodiment, the canister assembly 14 includes a
cavity adapted to receive and hold the dirt collection vessel 32. The dirt
collection
vessel 32 may take the form of a dirt cup 34 including a cylindrical side
wa1136, a
tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet. A primary filter
40 may
be provided in the dirt cup 34 over the axially directed outlet. The primary
filter
40 is cylindrical in shape and concentrically received within the cylindrical
side
wall 36 of the dirt cup 34. Such a structural arrangement induces cyclonic air
flow
in the dirt cup 34 and provides for enhanced cleaning efficiency. In an
alternative
design, the canister assembly 14 includes a closed compartment that houses a
filter
or vacuum cleaner bag, of a type known in the art, that functions as the dirt
collection vessel 32.
The nozzle assembly 14 includes a suction inlet 44. A rotary agitator 46 is
carried on the nozzle assembly 14 so as to extend across the suction inlet 44.
A
suction generator 48, including a fan and a cooperating drive motor, is
carried on
the canister assembly 16. The suction generator 48 functions to generate a
vacuum air stream for drawing dirt and debris from the surface to be cleaned.
The
rotary agitator 46 may be connected by power take off to the motor of the
suction
generator 48 or may be driven by a separate, dedicated agitator drive motor.
While the suction generator 48 is illustrated as being carried on the canister
assembly 16, it should be appreciated that, alternatively, it could be carried
on the
nozzle assembly 14 if desired.
During normal vacuum cleaner operation, the rotary agitator 46 functions to
beat dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet. The suction
generator
48 functions to draw a vacuum air stream into the suction inlet 44. Dirt and
debris
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from the carpet is entrained in the air stream, which is then drawn by the
suction
generator 48 through the tangentially directed inlet 38 into the dirt cup 34.
Dirt
and debris is captured in the dirt cup 34 while relatively clean air is drawn
through
the main filter 42. That air stream passes over the motor of the suction
generator
48 to provide cooling before being exhausted through a final filter, such as a
HEPA filter (not shown) before being exhausted through an exhaust port 38 into
the environment.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure
2. As illustrated, the canister vacuum cleaner 50 also incorporates an
electroluminescent light source 52. More particularly, the canister vacuum
cleaner
50 includes a hose 54 and a canister housing 56. The canister housing 56
includes
an internal chamber as well as a suction inlet 60 and an exhaust outlet both
communicating with that chamber. A suction generator, in the form of a fan and
motor assembly and generally designated by reference numeral 64, is held in
the
chamber. In the illustrated embodiment a filter bag 66 is held in the internal
chamber between the suction inlet 60 and the suction generator 64.
As further illustrated the vacuum cleaner 50 includes a nozzle assembly 70
for picking up dirt and debris. The nozzle 70 includes an inlet 72 and an
outlet 74.
The nozzle assembly 70 houses a motor driven agitator 76 and a drive motor 78
for driving the agitator. A telescoping wand assembly, generally designated by
reference numeral 71, operatively connects the nozzle assembly 70 to the hose
54
that is connected to the suction inlet 60 of the canister housing 56. The wand
assembly 71 includes a telescoping wand 73, a control handle 75 and an on/off
actuator switch 77.
Reference is now made to Figure 3, which is a schematical illustration of
the light source 12, 52. As illustrated the light source 12, 52 comprises a
first,
transparent electrode 100, a second, rear electrode 102 and an intermediate
layer
104 of phosphor material. Typically, the phosphor material is a zinc sulphide
powder doped with manganese. When an AC voltage is applied between the
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electrodes 100, 102, the emitter breaks down and conducts current. The current
excites the manganese ions which give off light. Such a light source 12, 52
may
be made very thin (less than 0.3 mm thick). It is flat and fully flexible. It
is also
rugged, distributes light over a wide angle, is relatively inexpensive to
produce
and produces very little heat when emitting light.
Figure 4 illustrates one possible mounting of the electroluminescent light
sources 12, 52 to the respective nozzle assemblies 14, 70. As illustrated,
each
nozzle assembly 14, 70 includes a bumper 80 formed of a resilient material.
Each
bumper 80 incorporates a channel 82 for receiving and holding the light
sources
12, 52. Each light source 12, 52 is mounted in the channel 82 of the bumper 80
carried on the nozzle assembly 14 or 70. The light source 12, 52 may be
mechanically fastened in the channel 82 by means of cooperating shoulders 84
on
the bumper 80 as illustrated or by adhesive, by friction fit or other
appropriate
means. Each bumper 80 is secured to the housing of the nozzle assemblies 14,
70
by any means of mechanical fastening known to those skilled in the art.
Advantageously, the electroluminescent light sources 12, 52 are thin and
flexible
so as to allow mounting in the resilient bumper 80 at the very front and base
of the
nozzle assembly 14, 70. From this position the light sources 12, 52 are best
located to illuminate the work area immediately in front of the nozzle
assembly
14, 70 so as to better aid the operator during cleaning.
The foregoing 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. For
example, a protection, transparent shield may be provided over the light
source 12,
52 if desired. 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
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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. 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.
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