US2629126A - Suction nozzle with adjustable cleaning opening - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1953 c. BROWN, JR 2,629,126

SUCTION NOZZLE WITH ADJUSTABLE CLEANING OPENING Filed Oct. 12, 1948 [NVEN TOR.

CHARLES L. BROWN JD Patented Feb. 24, 1953 SUCTION NOZZLE WITH ADJUSTABLE CLEANING OPENING Charles L. Brown, Jr., Stamford, Cnn'., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application October 12, 1948, Serial No. 54,099

This invention relates to an improved cleaner nozzle and more particularly to a nozzle adapted for use with the conventional tank type of vacuum cleaner for cleaning curtains, drapery, short pile fabrics, upholstery and furniture coverings, slip covers and the like.

Although the cleaner nozzle of this invention is of an improved general purpose type, it is especially adapted for use in the cleaning of fabrics.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cleaner nozzle which is adaptable to remove surface dust and dirt and by a simple adjustment can be used to remove dust and dirt more deeply imbedded in the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning tool which has an adjustable cleaning opening which in one position of adjustment provides a nozzle having sufficient supporting area in the nature of lips to prevent the fabric being cleaned from being drawn deeply into the nozzle opening and sealing the latter, While in another position of adjustment is highly effective for deep dirt cleaning, particularly of pile fabrics.

Another object is to provide a nozzle which can be moved with great ease and rapidity over the surface of a thin or lightweight fabric, such as a curtain, and releasably engages the surface of the fabric while removing dust, dirt, light threads, hairs, and the like therefrom.

Still another object is to provide a nozzle having ridges formed in its cleaning edge and so arranged as to maintain a substantial amount of continuous suction at the leading edge of the nozzle.

A further object is to provide a cleaning tool which is efficient, quiet in operation, and easy to handle.

Another object is to provide a cleaning nozzle which can be conveniently inserted into restricted spaces and corners of upholstered furniture.

Still other and further objects of this invention and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a front plan view of the cleaning nozzle;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view showing the movable flap member in position within the suction opening;

Figure'3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3'3 of Fig. l; v

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, the nozzle being shown cleaningacurtamfabric;and r 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-402) Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view similar tothat of Fig. 4 but with the movable flap member in position outside the suction opening, the nozzle being shown cleaning a, pile fabric.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a cleaner nozzle 1 I is shown adapted for use with the conventional type of tank or upright suction or vacuum cleaner unit upon connection therewith by means of a wand l2 and a flexible hose, the wand serving as a rigid hollow handle for extending the operators reach and variously otherwise improving and adapting the utilization of the nozzle to the needs of the operator.

With such a nozzle, a strong suction current of cleaning air is obtained, and entrained foreign matter, such as dust, hair, lint, cotton and other threads, and similar materials are readily removed fr-om the surface and interstices of the cloth or fabric being cleaned, and then passed through the mouth I of nozzle H, to wand l2 and through the flexible hose connection, etc., to

the vacuum cleaner unit for subsequent disposal.

The nozzle ll comprises a hollow body portion l5 having a formed and preferably arcuate shaped contacting surface I8 including a pair of lip-like members, more specifically, a fixed front lip 20 and a pivotally mounted rear lip 22. The pivoted member 22 is provided with lip portions on opposite sides thereof which are selectively presentable for contact with the surface undergoing cleaning, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively.

The lips 2|! and 22 are so positioned in Fig. 2 as to define a suction opening M of fixed length but of variable cross-sectional area depending upon the position of pivoted member 25 which may be swung into or outside of the suction open- The swingable flap 25 is pivotally secured at the ends of lip 20 by means of pins 23 and when in closed position as shown in Fig. 2 abut at its ends against stops or ledges 26 formed on the interior surface of lip 20 at the ends thereof. Flap 25 in this closed position reduces the cross-sectional area of the inrushing air flow, reducing the suction opening to the "narrow passage H shown in Fig. 2. The flap is held in this position by spring actuated detent 21 which presses against a fiat surface 28 cut in the hinge portion of flap 25.

In closed position, the lip 22 of flap 25 displaces the fabric being cleaned a considerable distance from the suction opening M as shown in Fig. 4. This displacement together with the narrowing of the cross-sectional area of the nozzle opening serves to keep the fabric being cleaned from entering the mouth of the-cleaning tool.

When swung to its open position, as shown in Fig. 5, fiap 25 is removed entirely from the open or suction end of the cleaning nozzle, and .the hinge edge 36 of the flap 25 then serves as the rear lip of suction opening 3i. In this position the flap is held securely in position again by spring actuated 2! which this time presses against fiat surface 52 cut in another face of the hinge portion of fiap 25 in juxtaposition with detent 21. In'this open position the nozzle is admirably adapted for cleaning fabricwhich is held down and/or securely in place as in upholstery covering-slip covers and the like.

In either position of flap 25, it is to be noted that no air space is provided for the entrance of an-air current by way of the rear lip of the cleaner nozzle. The forward lip 22, on the other hand, is provided with a serrated edge in the formbf a plurality of raised elements 2i between which fiows the necessary high speed air current for efficient removal of surface and imbeddeddirtfrorn the fabric being cleaned.

.If flap 25 is in either of the positions shown in Fig. 3 or 5 and the opposite position is desired, merely releasing the flap 25 by swinging it manually counter-clockwise or clockwise, respectively, enables the operator to release the detent 2! from its corresponding abutment against fiat portion 28 or 32 and reengage the detent with 32 or 28 upon completion of the corresponding swing. In the reduced cross-sectional area position, the extension of lip 22 below or anterior to the suction opening i l aids in keeping the fabric outof the open mouth of the cleaning nozzle. A greater air speed is thus obtained and'more eificient surface cleaning effected thereby. In this position the nozzle is better able to remove threads, hairs, and similar strongly adhering articles from the surface of the fabric 4!], Fig. 4. Furthermore, the serrated edge 2E on the front lip of the cleaning tool helps to maintain an uninterrupted flow of air through the opening M. In. any event, the materially reduced cross-sectional area results in a greatly concentrated suction of air and hence facilitates the removal of objects which adhere tenaciously to the fabric surface.

Forward nozzle lip it has raised portions. 2| thereon which also provide additional surface contacting means to prevent clogging of the suction opening by the fabric. lhe rearward nozzle lip 22, in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, below the raised portion 2i and although maintaining fiat closed contact with the fabric surface displaces the cloth surface still farther out of the suctionopening M.

However, when flap 25 is lifted out of the mouth of the suction nozzle H and swung to its open position, Fig. 5, where spring detent 2'! pressed outwardly by spring 29 locks or holds the hinged fiap 25 by contact against fiat facing 32, then the greatly enlarged cross-sectional suction opening thereby obtained enables the. curill tain or similar fabric 4| Fig. 5, to be drawn into the nozzle opening.

In its opened condition, the nozzle is better adapted to clean fine pile fabric such as plush, velvet and the like, since the short upright filaments comprising these materials are flared outwardly upon being taken internally of the opening SI and entrapped dust particles are shaken loose therefrom and entrained in the air suction stream.

In either mode of operation, the raised portions 2| on the serrated forward lip 20 serve to hold the cleaned .surface of the fabric distended and allow a swift current of air to fiow over the fabric. and removesurface dust and interstitial dust, as well as any hair, loose threads, and the like on the surface of the fabric being cleaned.

It is to be understood that although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, this is merely by way of illustration and that the scope of thisinvention is to be limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction nozzle, a hollow body having a pair of lips, one of which is serrated and fixed, said lips being adapted to contact the surface being cleaned and defining a suction, opening, and a member pivotally connected to said body and having contours forming a plurality of lips each being selectively positionable substantially generally parallel with said, fixed lip to define said suction opening, said member being swingable from a position in which one of its contours produces a suction opening of maximum cross-sectional. area to a position in which another of its contours produces a suction opening of minimum cross-sectional area but of length equivalent to the suction opening of saidfirst mentioned position, and adetent means for holding said member in each of said positions.

In a suction nozzle, a hollow body having a pair of lips, one of which is fixed, said lips being adapted to contact the surface being cleaned and defining a suction opening, the fixed lip of said pairof lips having an arcuate shape and being serrated over that ,portion thereof contacting the surface being cleaned, and a member pivotally connected to said body and having contours forming a plurality of lip portions each being selectivelypositionable substantially generally parallel with said fixed lip to define the other lip of said pair of lips, said member being swingable from a position in which one of its contours produces a suction opening of maximum cross-sectional area to a position in which another of its contours produces a suction opening of minimum cross-sectional area but of length equivalent to the suction opening of said firstv mentioned position, and a single springv pressed detent forv holding said member in each of said positions.

3. In a suction nozzle, a hollow body having a pair oflips, one of which is fixed, said lips being adapted to contact the surface beingv cleaned and defining a suction opening, the fixed lip of said pair of lips having an arcuate shape and being serrated over that portion thereof contacting thesurface being cleaned, and a member pivotally connected to said body and having contours forming a plurality of lip portions each being selectively positionable substantially generally parallel with said fixed lip to define the other lip of said pair of lips, said member being swingable from. a position in which one of its contours forms a straight, lip and produces .a

CHARLES L. BROWN, JR.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Becker Oct. 18, 1932 Kuhnel Mar. 21, 1933 Allen Mar. 13, 193% Riebel Nov. 13, 1934 Lofgren Mar. 24, 1936 Eriksson-Jons May 17, 1938 Forsberg Mar. 18, 1941

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