US2325821A - Suction cleaner - Google Patents

Description

s- 3, 1943. H. B. WHITE 2,325,821 I SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR y 5. W71

'Hagr 7 iie ORNEY Aug. 3, 1943. H. B. WHITE SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR Harry B. While B Y 8W ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 3, 1943 SUCTION CLEANER Harry B. White, Canton; Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a cor- I poration of Ohio Application May 4, 1942, Serial No. 441,653

Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and more particularly to new and novel nozzle height adjusting and converter-barrier-adjusting means in a suction cleaner. More specifically the invention comprises an improved suction cleaner in which the converter barrier is moved from obstructing position by a downward force upon the rear of the machine, and also in which the nozzle height is adjusted by a similar force.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner.- It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved nozzle-height adjusting means in a'suction cleaner. A further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel suction cleaner nozzle-height adjusting construction in which a downward force exterted upon the rear of the machine can place the machine in condition for the attachment of dusting tools and can, at the operators election, change the, nozzle height adjustment. Still another object of the invention is to provide new and simplified means of controlling the position and relationship of certain parts in a suction cleaner for off-the-floor cleaning and on-the-floor cleaning. A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the downward force exerted upon the rear of the machine moves the converter barrier to inoperative position to enable the operator to attach dusting tools and also, at the election of the operator, eifects a change in the nozzle height adjustment. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification-and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed and in which the same reference character refers to the same parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a side view of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain parts being broken away and the nozzle being shown in its low nozzle position, the dotted lines showing in part the position of the converter barrier and nozzle height adjusting means upon the attachment of a converter element;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but shows the position of the parts with the nozzle inits high nozzle position; 1

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the nozzleheight-controlling means.

The modern suction cleaner is primarily intended for cleaning rugs and carpets but it is also capable of cleaning drapes, curtains, etc., positioned above the fioor. To accomplish this latter function it is necessary that dusting tools be attached to the suction-creating means of the machine in order that the suction may be made effective at a distance from the cleaner body. The usual modern suction cleaner embodies driven surface-agitating means within its nozzle and, when the machine is converted for oif-the-fioor use, no useful purpose results from permitting those means to remain in contact with the surface covering. Accordingly, it is desirable that the nozzle end of the cleaner-be raised to an inoperative position during off-the-floor cleaning. This off-the-fioor or inoperative nozzle position is higher than any operative position which the nozzle-height controlling means normally provides in on-the-floor cleaning. It is sufiiciently high that the nozzle or at least all agitating elements therein are spaced from and are out of contact with the surface covering therebelow.

Furthermore, it is necessary that a suction cleaner be capable of cleaning all types of surface coverings. Today these coverings vary over a wide plane, some having thin short pile while others have thick long pile. In the suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention means are present to provide a low nozzle position and a high nozzle position so that all types of coverings can be cleaned without difficulty. It is seen, then, that in the suction cleaner described the nozzle will have at least three positions', it might have more. First, an inoperative nozzle position, which is assumed during off-thefloor cleaning; second, a low operating position; and third, a high operating position. A preferred embodiment of such a suction cleaner will now be described.

In the drawings a modem suction cleaner is illustrated and-is seen to comprise a main casin fan chamber and is formed atits end with a rearwardly facing wall or flange 1. A motor hood 9 overlies the main casing l and houses the unshown driving motor.

Additionally,- there is a detachable bag ill the ring H of whichis suitably connected to the rear flange l of the exhaust outlet by manually operable nuts l2. Also, the cleaner handle I4 is pivotally connected to the cleaner body at a point within the motor hood 9. The front of the machine is supported by front wheels, one'of which is indicated at l5, and these may be fixedly attached to the cleaner body. The rear of the machine is carried by adjustable rear wheels 16. Body I is provided with a dusting tool converter seat l8, shownin dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2 which, when the converter barrier is removed, is adapted to receive and seat the converter element of a dusting tool unit to enable that element to connect to the suction-creating means of the cleaner.

In the form of the invention disclosed the nozzle adjustment is accomplished by the raising or lowering of the rear of the cleaner body upon the rear supporting wheels I6. Adjustment could be obtained by adjusting the front wheels but as disclosed it is the rear wheels which are adjustable. The means by which they are adjusted will now be described.

Rear wheels I6 are rotatably mounted upon a shaft I! carried by a bracket l8 pivoted to the underside of the exhaust passageway 6 upon an axis by a support stud 2| depending from the exhaust outlet. Forward of the pivotal axis 28, bracket i9 is formed as a barrier arm 22 which extends into and partially across the converter seat l8. In the low nozzle position, illustrated in Figure 1, barrier 22 contacts the underside of fan chamber 5 to limit the downward movement of the rear wheels l6 under the urging of coil springs 24 positioned between bracket i8 and the underside of exhaust outlet 6. When so related, the nozzle is in its low operating position and dusting tools cannot be inserted into the seat i8 by virtue of'the obstructing relationship of the barrier 22 thereto. I

To provide the high nozzle adjustment the rear of the bracket I8 is provided with a downwardly facing shelf or shoulder 28 at its rearward end which is adapted to seat upon the angularly turned lower end of a cam latch 28 in a certain position of the latter. Cam latch 28 is pivoted centrally at 29 upon a stud 21 extended downwardly from the underside of casing l, and is adapted to have two positions as illustrated in Figures 1 and In each of these positionsit is resistingly held by means of a spring detent 3i engaging a notch 32 formed in the rear edge of the latch, each notch corresponding to one of the two positions of the latch.

When the hooked end 26 of the bracket I8 is in engagement with the latch 28, as illustrated in Figure 2, the wheel end of bracket i8 is held closer to the body than in the position illustrated in Figure 1. This results in the body being tilted rearwardly relative to the position shown in Figure 1 and produces the high nozzle operating position as illustrated in Figure 2. In this position, it is to be noted, the plane of the lower surfacecontacting edges of the nozzle is at a greater dis- .ance above the supporting surface. In this high nozzle position as in the low nozzle position, the barrier end of the bracket extends into the converter seat l8 thereby preventing the attachment of dusting tools.

The means which provide for the positioning of the cam latch 28 by the operator comprise a substantially horizontal lever 35 which is pivoted upon a pin 36 carried by a bracket 21 on the underside of the casing I. From a central portion of the lever 35 a foot-operated plunger 38 extends upwardly through an aperture 38 in the casing i. At the outer end of lever 35 a downwardly extending pawl 4| is pivotally secured by pin 42. This pawl is formed at its upper end as an elongated fiat surface adapted to abut the overlying flat wall of easing l, as is clearly illustrated in the drawings, and when so positioned the pawl is in its mid-position with its cam-contacting pin 43, positioned at the lower end thereof, substantially directly below it's pivotal axis, Pin 43 is adapted to seat in one of the two cam seats 38 formed in the upper end surface of cam 28. These seats are divided, as isclearly illustrated, by a narrow projection 33 which, in the two po- 5 sitions of the latch, extends upon opposite sides of the pawl pin 43 when the pawl is in its midposition.

The relationship is such that as the pawl is moved downwardly under a force exerted through the foot plunger 38 and lever 35, the pawl pin 63 seats in one of thetwo seats and effects a pivotal movement of the cam latch 28. Because of the position of the projection 33 the pawl pin is always diverted from its vertical position to seat in the cam seat which will cause the latch to pivot to its second position. Thereafter, upon the withdrawal of the operator-exerted force, the pawl moves upwardly under the actuation of the coil spring 44 acting on the lever at its 20 pivotal point 36. The pawl, at its upper flat surface, again contacts the underside of casing I and is realigned to its mid-position so that when again depressed it will b seated in the other cam seat and will cause the latch to move in the oppo- 5 site direction The cam 28 is shown in two positions in Figures 1 and 2, and in each it is seen to be retained resistingly by the spring-pressed detent 3| cooperating with its seats 32 in the latch.

The operation of the adjustment is quite simple. Regardless of whether the cleaner is positioned in the low or high nozzle position, as illustrated respectively in Figures 1 and 2, it can be adapted for oif-the-fioor use merely by depress- 35 ing the rear of the machine. This results in the relative movement of the rear wheel I6 against the action of coil springs 24, the pivoting of the bracket l8, and the movement of the converter barrier 22 downwardly from the position shown in full lines, either in Figure 1 or Figure 2, to a position in which it is positioned entirely below the converter seat 18. Thereafter, the converter element can be inserted and upon the release of the downward force upon the cleaner the barrier element moves up into contact with the converter, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. When so positioned the rear wheels I6 are closer to the body than in any other position, the machine is tilted rearwardly to a greater extent, and, as a result, the nozzle of the machine is raised to a higher position. In that position the agitator positioned within the nozzle is out of contact with the surface covering. The return to one-the-floor cleaning is accomplished merely by depressing the rear of the machine slightly, to permit of the manual withdrawal of the dusting tool element, whereupon under the actuation of the coil springs 24 the bracket again pivots into its original position, as illustrated in either Figure 1 or Figure 2.

Change from low nozzle position to high nozzle position is easily accomplished. Let it be assumed that the operator desires to change from the low nozzle position, illustrated in Figure 1, to the high nozzle position illustrated in Figure 2. He exerts a downward force upon the rear of the machine accompanied by a depressing force upon the foot plunger 38. These two forces can be one and the same, or they can be two individual forces. The effect of the force upon the rear of the machine is the compression of the coil springs 24 and the movement of the body downwardly at the rear, or relative thereto, of wheels l6 upwardly. The result of the force exerted through the foot plunger 38 is the downward -will be that illustrated in Figure 1.

movement of the pawl 4| into contact with the right hand cam latch seat 30, which effects a pivotal movement of the cam latch clockwise as viewed in Figure 1. The machine must be forced downwardly sufficiently to permit the lower offset end of the latch 28 to extend under the shoulder 26 whereupon the release of the force will result in the shoulder 26 hooking over the latch as illustrated in Figure 2. The machine is related as illustrated in Figure 2 and the nozzle is at its raised position. As illustrated, in both positions the converter barrier performs its obstructing function.

Adjustment of the nozzle height from the high nozzle position, as illustrated in Figure 2, to the low nozzle position, illustrated in Figure 1, is substantially like that just described. It is again necessary to exert a downward force upon the foot-operated plunger 38. If the force exerted on the plunger alone is sufflciently great the latch element 28 will be disengaged from the shoulder 26 and under the pivoting force exerted by coil springs 24 the bracket l9 will pivot downwardly until the barrier arm 22 contacts the underside of the fan chamber and the position Usually, however, the disengagement of the latch 28 with shoulder 26 can be accomplished more easily if, in addition to the downward force exerted upon the plunger 38, the rear of the machine is also forced downward slightly. This is the recommended procedure.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment of the invention is preferred but that the invention is adapted to be embodied in different forms.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, 9. body including a nozzle, front and rear supporting wheels for said body, a frame movably mounting said one wheel for movement toward and from said body, resilient means urging said wheel from said body, a converter barrier carried by said frame and positioned to contact said body to hold said wheel at one distance from said body, a movable latch adapted to contact said frame to hold said wheel at a second distance from said body, and means to position said latch comprising a, cam surface movable therewith, an operator-contactable plunger, and a pawl actuated by said plunger adapted to cooperate with said cam surface to move said latch.

2. In a suction cleaner, a body including a. converter seat and a nozzle, front and rear supporting wheels for said body, a frame pivotally mounting one of said wheels, resilient means urging one side of said frame and said one wheel from said body, a converter barrier carried by said frame upon the opposite side of its pivotal axis from said one wheel, said barrier extending into said seat and adapted to contact a converter seated therein or to contact said body with no converter seated therein to give two angular positions to said frame and two positions to said one wheel, said frame'and barrier being positionable by a downward force on said cleaner to overcome said resilient means, and means to position said frame at a third angular position and said one wheel at a third position and comprisinga body-carried latch adjustable between inoperative and frame-contacting positions, operatoroperable means to position said latch in either of its positions under a downward force. characterized in that the same downward force can selectively depress the cleaner body only to position said frame and barrier or can depress said cleaner and operate said operator-operable means.

3. In a suction cleaner, a body including a converter seat and a nozzle, front and rear supporting wheels for said body, a frame pivotally mounting one of said wheels, resilient means urg ing one side of said frame and said one wheel from said body, a converter barrier carried by said frame upon the opposite side of its pivotal axis from said one wheel, said barrier extending into said seat and adapted to contact a converter seated therein or to contact said body with no converter seated therein to give two angular positions to said frame and two positions to said onewheel, and means to position said frame at a third angular position and said one wheel at a third position and comprising a latch pivoted on said body for movement between a frame-holding and an inoperative position and including a cam surface, a cam-contacting pawl adapted to contact said surface in each position of the latch to force it to its remaining position, a pivoted lever arm mounting said pawl for movement toward and from said cam surface, spring means exerting a force to move said pawl from said surface, and an operator-contactable plunger carried by said lever and adapted to receive a pawl-actuating force.

4. In a suction cleaner, a body including a converter seat and a nozzle, front and rear supporting wheels for said body, a frame pivotally mounting said rear wheels, spring means supporting the rear of said body on said frame and urging said rear wheels downwardly, a converter barrier carried by said frame and movable from obstructing relationship relative to said converter seat upon the pivotal movement of said frame upon the exertion of a vertical force on said body above said frame, a latch movable into and from frame-holding position with the rear of the body depressed, and operator-operable means to move said latch into or from frame-holding position and including a reciprocable spring-pressed plunger and means adapted selectively to be actuated by said vertical force.

5. In a suction cleaner, 9. body including a converter seat and a nozzle, front and rear supporting wheels for said body, a frame pivotally mounting said rear wheels, spring means supporting the rear of said body on said frame and urging said rear wheels downwardly, a converter barrier carried by said frame and movable into and from obstructing relationship with said converter seat upon the pivotal movement of said frame, said barrier being adapted to contact said body or a converter element seated in said seat to provide an operative and an inoperative nozzle position respectively, a latch carried by said body movable into and from frame-holding position, adapted to secure said frame in a second operative position, and formed with a cam surface contoured to effect movement of said latch under a force, an actuating pawl adapted to contact said surface to exert said force, and means to convey a force to said pawl and including an operatoroperated element.

HARRY B. WHITE.

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