US2243067A - Suction cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Q. BERG SUCTION CLEANER, Filed Feb. 15, 1959 `May 27, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 194i causar y sUc'rroNcmuNr-:a QnentinergHCan-ton, Ohio. assigner to The . Hoover Company, NorthCanton, Ohio, a corf' poration of Ohio Applicants February 1s, una sem Nc. 256,440

s cum. (ci. sue-r11) The present Vinvention relates to suction cleancontrol mechanism in suction cleaners.

It is an object ofthe invention to. provide a new and improved suction cleaner. Another ob ject to provide new and improved handle controlling means in a suction cleaner. It is another object to provide means which permit free movement ofthe handle in onedirection and lock the handle in any position upon movement in the reverse direction. A further object is to pro-- vide resilient friction means to lock the handle in any desiredposition. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon referring to the following specification and claims and the attached drawings; wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner in which my invention is embodied;

Figure 2 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the invention:

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure v2 taken at right angles thereto;

Figure 4 is a broken sectional view of another embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 5 'is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.

The invention disclosed herein is employed in a suction cleaner comprising a main casing Il having a nozzle I I communicating with an unshown fan chamber connected to an exhaust passageway I2 provided with a vertical flange Il towhich a dust bag Il is removably secured. T'he casing I0 supports a motor housingli enclosing anunshown motor for driving an unshown fan which creates suction to draw dirtladen air from the surface being cleaned through the nozzle II into the fan chamber and discharges the dirt-laden air through the exhaust eway I2 into the dirt bag Il. The cleaner is'supported on front and rear wheels .I8 and I1 respectively.

One embodimentof the handle control mechanism is disclosedin Figures 2 and 3, and comprises an elongated hollow handle 20 removably disposed in a split hollow handle socket 2| Vhaving side walls 22 and 23, a front wall 2l and a split rear wall 25. A bolt and nut connection 28 clamps the handle 20 in the split handle socket 2I. The handle socket 2l is pivotally mounted on the casing I0 by being journalled on a hollow to the rear end of the casing' I0 above the exf haust passageway I2. In order to prevent rotation ofthe handle pivot .21.0ne end 22 of the latter is rigidly secured toy one oi' the handle brackets 29. Apair of spacers Il are interposed vers and particularly to new and improved handle between thesocket side walls -and handle brackets to properly position the handle'on the pivot 21.

In vorder to lock't'he handle in any angular position between the storage position shown in Figure` 2 to a substantially horizontal position, a

. resilient spring 35 is woundhelically about the friction drum 21 which is of relatively large diameter. The normal contracted inside diamtimes urges the movable end l0 of the spring 35 eter of the helical spring 35 is slightly'less than the outside diameter o! the drum 21. Although I have shown the friction spring 35 as being cir- I cular In section. it may be of different cross section and the friction surface of the drum 21 may be hardened to resist wear.

and the spring 25 4is wrapped counter-clockwise about drum 21, as viewed in Figure 2. The opposite end l0 of the spring 25 is secured to arod '4I having a longitudinally ofi-set portion l2 A tension spring .I5 has one end securedv to the rod 4I and another end secured to a member 46 vwhich is removably mountedin the handle socket byscrews I1 and serves as a support for the male electrical plug u. The tension spring 45 at all in a direction to wrap the latter about the drum 21 and to urge the rod 4I upwardly in the handle through a bore 52 in a female electrical connector 53 and upwardly in the handle through a guide member 54 and has its upper end 55 vrigidly connected to a yoke 58 having a pair of spaced arms 51 which are joined together at their upper -ends as indicated at 58, for pivotal connection toa pin 55 mounted in a hand operated -lever 60. The lever I6 is pivotally mountedat 5I on the .handle4 20 adjacent the upper end of the hand grip 62 where the operator grasps the handle to manipulate the cleaner, and theghand'engaging portion 53 of the lever Slat all times projects beyond'the exterior of the hand grip 62. A lip lid i is formed on the hand lever 50 for engagement with the handle 20 to limit outward vpivotal movement oi the lever. A portion ofthe handle 20 is cut out` to facilitate assembling-the yoke 56 to the hand lever SII, and a rubberl or other insulating material 51 covers the upper end of a handle 20 to f orm an insulated hand grip.

One end 28 of thespring 35 is rigidly secured by a rivet 31 to an f extended portion 29 of the socket side wall 23 1 A switch case Il is mounted inthe handle 2l' and has an operating lever Il disposed beneath and adjacent to the hand operated handle control lever 80 for convenient manipulation of the latter. The switch casel is arranged between the spaced arms 51 of the yoke 1li, and insulation is interposed between the yoke It and the switch 68 to insulate the hand operated handle control lever til. Electrical conductors 1I ex- `tend downwardly through the hollow handle .2l to the connector Il, and conductors 12 extend from the male plug M and then between the front socket wall 24 and the handle -pivot 21 to the unshown motor.

One of the walls 2. of the handle bracket is provided with an onset lug 1l for engagementv with an extending lip 1l on the side wall I3 of the handle socket to limit movement of the handle in its storage'position as shown in Figure l 35 will lock the handle in such position and prevent relative rotation between the handle and the casing II since the helical spring Il has'a natural tendency to wrap tightly in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, and

Another embodiment ofthe invention is shown in Figure 4 andis alike in all respects tothe previous embodiment with the exception of the iriction drum about which the handle locking,- spring is wound. In this embodiment a pivot ordrum Il is rigidlysupported in a pair of handle brackets 2l mounted on the cleaner casing It. The locking spring 35 has. one end 36 rigidly at 31 to the pivotally mounted handle socket 2i, and its movable end 40 is secured to the actuating rod 4| which abuts the rod 5l connected to the yoke I8 pivoted to the actuating l lever Il.

since the normal inside diameter of the helical spring is slightly less than the outside diameter of the friction drum 21. If the cleaner is lifted ofi the iioor the natural` tendency of the casing lll is to pivot counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, which causes the movable end 4l of the spring 3l to wrap more tightly about friction drum 21, and thus lock the handle with respect to the casing. 4

When itis desired to lower the handle the operator depresses the. hand lever .l which moves the actuating rods il and li downwardly in the handle 2l against the force of the spring kcausing the f ree end 4l of the locking spring ll to move clockwise as viewed in Figure 2, or in an imwrapping direction, which unwraps the locking spring l5 increasing the inside diameter of the latter to move it out of locking frictional engagement with the friction drum 21, wherebyl the-spring 35 bodily moves with the handle and the latter can be freely lowered to-any desired position. Thereafter, the operator releases the hand lever .l0 and the. tensionspring Il forces the actuating rods 4i and Il, upwardly in the handle to return the parts to normalpositlon. At the same time the free end 4l of, the locking spring I5 inherently contracts `and niv in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, to frictionally engage throughout its helical length the drum 21 and to thereby-lock the handle in the selected position. Additionally, the weight of the handle 2l causes the latter to tend to pivot' clockwise as viewed in Figure 2, whereby the end li of the helical spris ll tends to wrap more tightly about the drum 21 to lock the'handle in position. 4

' If it is desired to raisethe handle from a low position the operator merely pivots'the handle A lever Il is pivoted at I2 to a side wall of the handle socket 2l and has one end 83 pivotally connected to the actuating rod 4| and its opposite end is provided with a laterally projecting lug I4 which rides on a cam II provided on the drum and also rides on the arcuate surface Il of the latter.

In operation, when the handle is in storage I position the lever Il rests upon the drum surface Il as shown in Figure 4. When it is desired.

to lower the handle, the lever` 60 is depressed causing the actuating rod 4| to move downwardly in the handle against the force of the spring 46. Downward movement of the rod Il pivots the lever Il out of engagement with the drum surface It and also unwraps the spring l5 from locking frictional engagement with the drum 81|, whereby the handle 2l may be freely lowered to any position. r

If the handle has been moved to the normal working range, that is, plus or niinus with respect to the 45 degree anglenvand the actuating lever ll is released, the lever lfl will engage the cam.

and prevent the locking spring'ifrom wrapping tightly about the drum lll, wherebyv the handle may be freely raised and lowered throughthe actuating lever Il to normal locking position and the spring l! wraps, or contracts, tightly about the drum Ilk to frictionally engage the latter and lockthe handle in position.

A furthsr embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figure 5 and comprises a handle Ol. which is pivotally mounted to thev cleaner casing Il hereinbefore described. 'I'he rear wall ll of the handle is provided with an elongated opening l! for the reception of a switch mechanism.' The switch mechanism comprises a switch case Il mounted on an angula bracket- 94 by means of a' nut l threaded on a hollow bolt 98 forming part ofthe switch. and the bracket Il is secured to a cover plate I1 which is removably'mounted upwardly without manipulating the actuating lever Il. Thelocking spring Il permits` free upward movement of the handle since the latter when pivoted upwardly, moves in the same direc- *tionln' whicl the locking spring." is wound sbot the pivot 21, um is. m s counter-clockwise y ',dlrection as viewed' in Figure 2.

on the rear handle wall 8| by screws 98.' Electrical conductors l extend from the switch Il downwardly inthe handle to an unshown motor.

I'he switch lever Ill extends through the hollow boit I! and is disposed between a pair of spaced bars III secured in the side arms 51 of the yoke Il forming part of the hand operated mechanism for controlling the expansion and contraction of the spring Il to lock `the handle in diiIerent positions.

In operation, when the hand lever Il is de\ pressed to 4unwrap the locking spring l! and thus unlock the handle Il, theyoke It moves downwardly in thehandle and also moves the switch lever Ill to energize the motor as long as the operator depresses the lever Il. When the' op erator releases the lever Il4 the spring Il moves 75 'theme-,Il upwardly in the handle to cause the ally operated means.

lever it to move to normal position and the switch lever to be shifted to inoperative position to de-energize the motor, and at the same time the handle 90 is locked in the selected position.

It is to be understood that the protection 'herein applied for is not confined to the particular combinations of features or elements set out in the following claims. Protection is herein applied for, for'any one or more oi' the features or elements referred to in the following claims, or described in the foregoing specifications or shown in the accompanying drawings, either independently or in combination.

Iclaim: Y

1. In an ambulatory machine, comprising a body, a handle pivotally mounted on said body,v a friction member mounted on said body, locking said casing of its weight rotatingldownwardly and forwardly with respect to said handle whenmeans wrapped around and frictionally engag` Aing said friction member, said means having one 2. In an ambulatory machine' comprising a.

body; an electric motor, a handle pivotally mounted on said body, a switch mounted on said handle to control the current to said motor, a friction member, locking means wrappedaround and frictionallyengaging said friction member to lock said handle in position, hand operated means on` said handle for releasing said handle locking means from said friction member to permit free movement of said handle with respect to said body, and means connected to said hand operated means for operating said switch to energize said motor when said hand operated means are actuated to `unlock said handle, and operable to de-energize said motor when said hand operated means'are moved to handle locking position.

-3. In an ambulatory machine, comprising a body, a handle pivotally mounted on-said body, a friction member, locking means wrapped around and frictionally engaging said friction member to lock said handle inposition, means` for releasing said handle lockingmeans from said friction member to permit free movement of said handle with respect to said body, and means for -rendering said locking means ineiective for permitting free oscillating movement of said handle without manipulation oi said locking releasing means.

4. In an ambulatory machine, comprising a body, a handle piyotally mounted on said body, a

friction member, locking means wrapped aroimd and frictionally engaging said friction-member to lock said handlev in position, manually operated means for` releasing said handle locking means from said frictionmember to permit free movement of said handle with respect to said body. a handle pivoiauy mounted on said body toward the rear thereof, a friction member carried by said body, locking means adjacent said friction member and connected to said handle for free movement of thelatter with respect to said body, said locking means being actuated when said cleaner is lifted oi! its supporting surface' whereby said body' and vfriction member rotate with respect to said locking means to force the latter into frictional engagement with said 'friction member and hold the handle in position with respect to said machine body.

6. In a suction cleaner, a casing containin cleaner mechanism; a handle pivoted on said casing rearwardly of' the center of gravity thereof,

the cleaner islifted by said handle, a friction member mounted on said casing, 'locking means around said friction member and connected to H said handle, said locking means being wrapped into frictional engagement with said friction member by said downward tilting of said casing with respect to said handle upon said lifting of the cleaner to thereby lock said handle with respect to said casing. x l

7. In a suction cleaner, a casing containing cleaner mechanism, a handle pivoted on said casing rearwardly of the center of gravitythereof, said casing of its weight rotating downwardly andforwardly with respect to said handle when the cleaner is lifted by said handle, a friction fmember mounted on said casing, locking means cooperating with said frictionmember to .hold said handle in adjusteda positions relative to said casing, manually operated means for releasing said locking means to permit free movement of said handle, and means for rendering said locking means ineffective for permitting free oscillation of said handle without manipulation ofv said locking releasing means, `said locking means being wrapped into frictional engagement with said friction member by said downward'tilting of said cleaner upon said lifting of the latter to thereby rigidly lock said handle with respect to said casins.

8. In a manipulatable tool having a handle pivotally mounted thereon, means for positioning body, cam means, and'lever means `connected with said'cam means and manually operated means and operable upon engagement with' said cam means to render said locking means inenective for permitting free oscillating movement of.

said handle without manipulation of saidmanu- 5.In an.ambulatory machina-comprising a said handle -in a storage position or in aposition for use, said means including a one-way frictional clutch device providing for free Amovement of said handle toward said storage position but acting to arrest its movement in the reverse direction at any point in its path of movement except when constrained from such action, and means for constraining said one-way clutch from arresting movement of the handle in either direction. r

A9. Inv an ambulatory machine, comprising a' body, an electric motor, a handle pivotally mounted on'said body,'a switch mounted on the I upper end of said handle tovcontrol the current to said motor, handle locking means on ,said body and handle for locking the latter with respect to said body, hand operated means on said handle for releasing said handle locking means to permit movement of said handle with respect to said body, and means connected to said hand operatedvmeans for operating said switch to energize said motor when said hand operated means lare actuated to unlock'said handle, and operable to de-energize said motor when said hand operated means are moved-to handle locking position.

QUENTIN BERG. y

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