US2965916A - Combination of vacuum cleaner and cordwinder - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27 1960 A. H. BEEDE ETAL 2,965,916

COMBINATION OF VACUUM CLEANER AND CORDWINDER Filed March 29, 1957- 2 SheetS -Sheet 1 INVENTORS file/vow H 6550! 0445A! P. 00w;

THEIR ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1960 A. H. BEEDE ETAL 2,965,916

COMBINATION OF VACUUM CLEANER AND CORDWINDER Filed March 29. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QENQLD #55506 r9; LEN P CHWL 'kzwzm mam ATTORNEY United States Patent COMBINATION OF VACUUM CLEANER AND CORDWINDER Arnold H. Beede, Stamford, and Allen P. Cawl, Noroton Heights, Conn., assignors to Electrolux Corporation, Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 29, 1957, Ser. No. 649,444

Claims. (Cl. -323) Our invention relates to an improved combination of a vacuum cleaner and a detachable cordwinder.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement for attaching and detaching a cordwinder to a vacuum cleaner of the tank type, the cordwinder being attached in such a position that it will not interfere with the connection of a hose to the exhaust opening of the cleaner, and hence need not be detached when it is desired to use the cleaner for blowing purposes.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved arrangement whereby attaching the cordwinder to the cleaner automatically establishes electrical connections between the two.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and of which:

Fig. l is a side view, chiefly in cross-section, showing a preferred embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. l, but with the cordwinder removed;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, but with the cordwinder secured in place;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the cordwinder shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the cordwinder shown in Fig. 4

l and;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a locking member.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 16 designates generally an elongated housing provided with a pair of rear wheels 12 and a front caster wheel 14 for movably supporting it on a surface. A removable cover 16 serves to normally close the front end of the housing 10, and this cover is provided with an inlet opening 18 to which may be connected a flexible hose.

1 A motor-fan unit comprising an electric motor 20 and a centrifugal fan 22 is mounted in the rear part of the housing 10. A dust bag for separating dust from air is contained within the housing 10 between the inlet 18 and the fan 22.

The rear end of housing 10 is closed by a transverse wall 24 which is preferably formed with an annular outwardly extending portion 26. Casing 10 is formed with an outlet conduit 28 at the top, the end of which is preferably provided with a member 30 pivoted at 32 and formed with louvers so as to direct the air at an angle between the vertical and horizontal. This member 30 is pivoted in order that it may be swung inwardly when a hose is inserted in the outlet conduit 28.

A carrying handle 34 made of somewhat flexible material is secured to the top of housing 10 immediately forward of an electric switch 36 for controlling the operation of the motor 20. A flexible strap member 38 is formed integrally with the handle 34 and extends along either side of the housing surrounding switch 36 and around the exhaust conduit 28. 7

Reference character 40 designates generally a cord- "winder having a substantially cylindrical housing. The

ice

end 42 of the housing which faces the wall 24 of the vacuum cleaner when the two members are assembled is dished inwardly, as is shown at 44 in Figs. 1 and 3 so as to form a central depression. Mounted in the depression is a bracket member 46 having a pair of horizontally extending arms 48, each formed with a hooked end 50. Also mounted in the depressed portion of the end 42 of the cordwinder is an electric receptacle 52 having electric contacts recessed within the usual slots 54.

The transverse wall 24 is formed with a pair of slots 56 located within the annular portion 26 and spaced apart the same distance as the arms 48 of bracket 46 on the cordwinder. Slidably mounted on the inner side of the transverse wall 24 is a locking member designated generally by reference character 58, shown in perspective in Fig. 6. The upper end of member 58 extends through a narrow aperture formed in the top of housing 10 and is there provided with a manipulating portion 60. The lower end of member 58 is formed with an elongated slot 62 through which extends a bolt or the like 64 fixed in the wall 24, the bolt guiding the movement of the lower end of the member 58 and limiting the distance which it may be raised. Member 58 is provided with a pair of notches 66 extending in from one side thereof and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the slots 56 in the wall 24. The notches 66 are so located with respect to the elongated slot 62 that when the member 58 is in its uppermost position, the notches 66 are in alignment with the slots 56 in wall 24, as is shown in Fig. 2. Above each of the notches 66, the member 58 is formed with an inclined cam surface 68. V

The transverse wall 24 is formed with a recess 70 within which is mounted a pair of electric contact prongs 72. One of these prongs is connected by means of a conductor 74 directly to the motor 20, While the other is connected to the motor through a conductor 76 in which is interposed the switch 36. The prongs 72 are so located that when the arms 48 are in alignment with the slots 56, the slots 54 in the plug 52 will also be in alignment with the prongs 72.

in order to attach the cordwinder 40 to the vacuum cleaner, the strap 38 is lifted to at least the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the locking member 58 may be slid upwardly by means of the manipulating portion- 60. As previously stated, when member 58 is in its uppermost position, the notches 66 thereof are in alignment with the slots 56 in the wall 24 and consequently the arms 48 of the bracket 46 may be introduced through the aligned slots 56 and notches 66. At the same time,

the electric contact prongs 72will enter the slots 54in plug 52. Thereafter, the member 58 is slid downwardly. This causes the inclined surfaces 68 to engage the inner edges of the hooked ends 50 of the arms 48 and the resulting wedging action draws the wall 42 of the cordwinder into firm contact with the transverse wall 24 of the vacuum cleaner housing. If desired, cushioning means, such as buttons 78 of resilient material may be provided betweenthe cordwinder and the vacuum cleaner. After the locking member 58 has been moved downwardly, the resilient strap 38 may also be forced downwardly around the exhaust conduit 28, in which position it'contacts the upper end of the member 58 so as to resist upward movement of the latter.

The cordwinder 46 is provided with the usual mechanism for winding up an electric cord therein. This cord is provided with the usual plug 80 which may be inserted in a wall receptacle in order to provide a supply of elec tric current for the motor-'20. r 1 a It will be seen that the cordwinder 40 is removably attached to the vacuum, cleaner in such a manner as not to interfere with the connection of a hose to the exhaust opening 28 when it is desired to use the vacuum cleaner for blowing purposes. Consequently, it is not necessary to remove the cordwinder for this purpose.

While we have shown and described one more or less specific embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only and that the scope of our invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing adjacent to the inner side of said wall for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an arm extending from said casing, and a member slidably mounted on said housing and slidably in one direction to engage said arm for securing said casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage and slidable in the opposite direction to release said arm.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an arm extending from said casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall, and a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and engageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably securing said casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said wall, a motorfan unit in said housing for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an electric plug carried by said wall on the exterior thereof, an electric receptacle carried by said casing and engageable with said plug, an arm extending from said casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall, and a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and engageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably securing said casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said wall, said wall being formed with a recess open to the exterior of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an electric plug mounted in said recess, an electric receptacle carried by said casing and receivable in said recess to engage said plug, an arm extending from said casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall, and a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and engageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably securing said casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in saidhousing for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to'said motor, an arm extending from said "casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall, and a member slidably mounted on' the inner side of said wall and engageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably locking said casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage, said member having a manipulating portion extending outwardly through an opening in said housing, and means carried by said housing for engaging said manipulating portion to releasably retain said member in locking position.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, a handle of flexible material secured to the top of said housing for carrying said vacuum cleaner, a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an arm extending from said cordwinder and insertable through an aperture in said wall, a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and engageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably locking said cordwinder to said wall to one side of said outlet passage, said member having a manipulating portion extending outwardly through an op'ehing'in the top of said housing, and a strap of flexible material extending from said handle and engageable with said manipulating portion for retaining said member in locking position.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, :1 casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an arm extending from said casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall, and a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and having an inclined surface wedgingly engageable with the inserted end of said arm upon lengthwise movement of said member for releasably securing said casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to o'ne-side of said outlet? passage.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and having a slot alignable with an aperture in said wall, an arm extending from said casing and insertable inwardly through said slot and said aperture when said slot is aligned therewith, and an inclined surface on saidmember adjacent to said slot and wedgingly engageable with said arm upon lengthwise movement of said member for releasably securing said casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

9; In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing' having a substantially transverse wall portion atone end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge-of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producing flow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and having a slot alignable with an aperture in said wall, an arm extending from said casing and having a hooked end insertable inwardly through said aperture and slot when the two are in alignment, and an inclined surface on said member adjacent to said s.ot and wedgingly engageable with said hooked end upon lengthwise movement of said member for releasably securingsaid casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantially transverse wall at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to one edge of said wal1, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producing flow of .air therethrough and through said passage, a casingenclosing a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor,

an arm extending from said casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall, cushioning means between said casing and the exterior of said wall, and a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and having an inclined surface wedgingly engageable with the inserted end of said arm for camming said casing against said cushioning means for releasably securing said casing to said housing entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 500,956 Schrauder July 4, 1893 6 Smith Jan. 20, 1914 Benjamin Aug. 11, 1924 Engstrom Feb. 11, 1941 Dow et a1. May 16, 1944 Gross May 15, 1945 Burkoski Oct. 6, 1953 Silverman Mar. 30, 1954 Hultberg et a1. June 4, 1957 Meyerhoefer Mar. 4, 1958 Humphrey Mar. 11, 1958 Tamarin Aug. 26, 1958

Images