US3812659A

US3812659A - Canister vacuum cleaner latching means

Info

Publication number: US3812659A
Application number: US00277326A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Westergren; D Koland; T Eggert
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Matsushita Floor Care Co; Whirlpool Floor Care Corp
Priority date: 1972-08-02
Filing date: 1972-08-02
Publication date: 1974-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-28
Also published as: CA988263A

Abstract

A canister vacuum cleaner having a base and a hood selectively closable on the base. A filter bag for receiving dirt laden air through a hose connected to a pickup wand is retained within the canister by an adapter. A locking member is secured to the base for releasably retaining the filter bag adapter in the canister and for locking a hose latch to the base. A hood latch is further mounted on the base and includes latching means for removably securing the same thereto. The canister and latching means may be formed of molded plastic and cooperatively define a low cost snap-in assembly eliminating the need for conventional fasteners.

Description

United States Patent [191 Westergren et al.

[ May 28, 1974 CANISTER VACUUM CLEANER LATCHING MEANS [75] Inventors: George A. Westergren, Whitebear Lake; David G. Koland, Sandstone; Thomas F. Eggert, Richfield, all of Minn.

[73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 277,326

[52] U.S. C1 55/375, 285/7, 285/319,

285/325, 292/17 [51] Int. Cl B0ld 46/02 [58] Field of Search 55/374-378,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,191,711 7/1916 Linstrom 292/17 2,946,612 7/1960 Ahlgren 292/17 3,524,212 8/1970 Spencer 15/327 R 3,588,944 6/1971 Fromknecht et al. 55/375 3,675,399 7/1972 Westergren...... 55/378 Primary Examiner-Bernard Nozick Attorney, Agent, or Firml-lofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57] ABSTRACT A canister vacuum cleaner having a base and a hood selectively closable on the base. A filter bag for receiving dirt laden air through a hose connected to a pickup wand is retained within the canister by an adapter. A locking member is secured to the base for releasably retaining the filter bag adapter in the canister and for looking a hose latch to the base. A hood latch is further mounted on the base and includes latching means for removably securing the same thereto. The canister and latching means may be formed of molded plastic and cooperatively define a low, cost snap-in assembly eliminating the need for conventional fasteners.

17 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures EATENTEDMAYZB 1914 3.812 659 SHEET 2 I]? 2 CANISTER VACUUM CLEANER LATCHING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and-in particular to latching means for use in canister vacuum cleaners.

2. Description of the Prior Art In a conventional canister type vacuum cleaner, a hood is movably associated with a base to define a chamber receiving the dust collecting bag. Dirt laden air is delivered to the bagwhich filters out the dirt and permits relatively clean air to be returned to the atmosphere. The air is delivered to the bag through a hose, and the distal end of the hose is provided a pickup wand adapted to be moved over the surface to be cleaned and permit the suction pressure to draw the air through the wand and hose into the bag. The hose is connected to the bag through a connecting means mounted on the canister vacuum cleaner base by releasable means permitting the hose to be disconnected when desired such as for storage purposes.

The hood is releasably locked to the base to maintain the canister in a closed condition during normal vacuum cleaner operation. However, at times, such as when it is desired to replace the filter bag, the hood is unlocked and raised from the base to provide access to the filter bag. The filter bag is removably secured to the base by a bag adapter which may be slidably'received in a suitable guide on the base to position the bag suit ably for receiving the dirt laden air from the hose end.

Thus, it is desirable in such canister type vacuum cleaners to provide means for latching the hood'selectively closed to the base, latching means for releasably maintaining the filter bag adapter to the base, and latching means for releasably holding the air hose end for delivery of the dirt laden air to the filter bag.

Examples of different latching devices utilized in vacuum cleaners are shown in the following United States Letters Patent Nos.:

1,957,566 White Suction Cleaner 2,522,075 Van Der Heem Locking Mechanism for the Hose Connecting Member for Suction Cleaners 3,149,362 Smithson Hose Connector or Coupling for Suction Cleaners 3,3 75,541 Fromknecht Vacuum Cleaners with Combined Hose Connectors and Housing Latches 3,480,987 Schaefer Cleaner Assembly lllustratively. in Fromknecht U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,541, a canister type vacuum cleaner is shown to include a combination housing latch and hose connector. Smithson U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,362 shows a hose connector in a canister type vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved latching means for use in a vacuum cleaner such as a canister type vacuum cleaner defined by a plurality of low cost snap-in elements which may be formed such as of molded plastic eliminating the need for the conventional fastening means utilized in such vacuum cleaner constructions.

The latching means includes a locking member which is slidable .into a vertical slot in the base of the canister and which includes a latching portion for releasably retaining the filter bag adapter in a suitable receiver carried on the base. The locking member further defines means'cooperating with a portion of the hose latch for retainingthe hose latch in association with the canister base. A hood latch is mounted on the base for cooperation with a catch on the hood for selectively retaining the hood in the closed position. The hood latch is adapted to be received in a slot on the base and cooperating shoulder means are provided thereon for releasably retaining the hood latch. Further, the filter bag adapter includes shoulder means which, when the adapteris retained in operative position on the base by the locking member, defines further means for preventing withdrawal of the hood latch from the base.

More specifically, the invention comprehends providing in a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a hood, an adapter removable mounting a filter bag to the base in the canister, and means carried by the base for releasably connecting a hose end thereto for conducting dirt laden air through the adapter to the filter bag within the canister, latching means including a locking member having a resilient latch portion and first and second locking shoulders, means on the base having a catch portion for engagement by the first locking shoulder for locking the locking member thereto, a hose latch having a latch portion resiliently biased to engage the hose end'and releasably lock the hose end to the hose connecting means, the hose latch further having a locking shoulder engageable with the second locking shoulder of the locking member to retain the hose latch secured to the canister base, and a locking shoulder associated with the filter bag adapter, the latch portion of the locking member being releasably engageable with the adapter locking shoulder to retain the adapter removably secured to the base.

Still further more specifically, the invention comprehends providing in such a vacuum cleaner latching means including a locking member having a resilient latch portion'and a locking shoulder, means on the base having a catchportion for engagement by the locking shoulder for locking the locking member thereto, a

, locking shoulder associated with the filter bag adapter,

the latch portion of the locking member being releasably engageable with the adapter locking shoulder to retain the adapter removably secured to the base, a hood latch mounted on the base and provided with a locking shoulder, a-catch mounted on the hood to be selectively retained by the hood latch for releasably holding the hood-in a closed condition on the base, and means on the bag adapter for engagement by the hood latch locking shoulder to retain the hood latch on the base.

Thus, the vacuum cleaner latching means of the present invention is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canistertype vacuum cleaner having latching means embodying the inventron;

FIG. 2 is an exploded'fragmentary perspective illustrating the several latching means of the invention;

F IG.- 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the latching means;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the locking member; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the hose latch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawing, a vacuum cleaner generally designated I0 is shown to comprise a canister-type vacuum cleaner havinga base 11 and a hood 12. The base is provided with suitable wheels 13-for mov'ably supporting the base on a subjacent surface. Base II and hood l2 cooperatively define an internal space 14 in which is received a dirt collecting filter bag 15 removably secured to abag adapter 16 for receiving dirt laden air delivered to the canister through a hose 17 to which may be attached a conventional pickup wand (not shown). Hose 17 includes an end portion 18 removably received in a connector portion 19 on the base 11 to project into the tubular portion 20 of the bag adapter I6, as shown in FIG. 6. Air is drawn through the hose l7 and into filter bag 15 by motor driven suction fan means (not shown) in the canister, which may be controlled by suitable high and low speed motor control switch 21 carried on the hood 12. An indication of the performance of the vacuum cleaner as sensed by a vacuum pressure operated switch (not shown) may be in} dicated by suitable lamp device 22 controlled by the pressure operated switch andalso carried on the hood.

Hood I2 is removably retained in the closed position of FIG. I by a cooperating hood latch 23 carried on base II and a hood catch 24 carried on the hood 12, as shown in F IG. 4. The filter bag adapter 16 is removably secured to base 11 in a mounting member 25 thereon by means of a latching portion 26 of a locking member 27 secured to base 11 in a receiver 28 defining a vertical slot 29.

More specifically, locking member 27 includes a base portion 30 provided with an upstanding resilient arm 31 carrying at its distal end a turned portion defining the latch portion 26. Depending from base portion 30 is a locking portion 32 having a finger 33 defining at its upper end a locking shoulder 34. Locking portion 32 further defines a second, vertical locking shoulder 35 facing rearwardly toward the finger 33 (FIG. 9).

Canister base 11' includes an upstanding front wall 36. Receiver 28 extends rearwardly from wall 36. Wall 36 further defines a rectangular opening 37 opening to the slot 29 in alignment with shoulder 35 of the lockingmember 27. Receiver 28, as shown in FIG. 8, includes a locking portion 38, a catch portion 39 adapted to engage locking shoulder 34 of spring finger 33 when the locking portion 32 is urged downwardly into slot 29 to bring the finger shoulder 34 adjacent the catch shoulder 39. Thus, the locking member 27 is secured to base 11 by the simple insertion of the locking member into slot 29 without requiring the use of any separate fastening elements, solely by the snap-in action of the interlocking shoulder means.

When locking member 27 is thusly secured to base 11 in slot 29, as shown in FIG. 4, the latching portion 26 overlies an edge shoulder 40 of the front wall 41 of the filter bag adapter 16. Mounting member 25 defines vertical guide slots 42 receiving the side edges of the adapter wall 41, whereby the wall 41 is held in effectively sealed facial engagement with the rear surface 43 of an outer transverse wall 44 of the mounting member 25. Thus, the tubular portion 20 of the filter bag adapter is aligned with a through opening 45 of the hose connector 19 to conduct the dirt laden air into the filter bag 15 from the hose end 18, as shown in FIG. 6.

Hose end 18 is releasably secured to the connector 19 by the hose latch 46 having a locking portion 47 extending through opening 37 on the front wall 36 and provided at its rear end with a boss 48 defining a locking shoulder 49 (FIG. 10) adapted to engage the locking shoulder 35 of locking member 27 for securing the hose latch to the base 11 by the snap-in association therebetween. The hose latch includes a finger manipulating portiori'SO disposed forwardly of the wall 36 including a locking shoulder 51 adapted to engage a suitable annular shoulder 52 on the hose end 18 when the hose end is inserted into the connector 19, as shown in FIG. 6. The locking portion 47 is sufficiently resilient to permit transverse movement of the manipulating portion 50 in the direction of the arrow 53, as shown in FIG. 6, to release locking shoulder 51 from annular shoulder 52 when it is desired to withdraw the hose end 18 from connector 19.

Hood latch 23, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a slidein member defining an upper rectangular frame portion 54 and a pair of depending arms 55 defining locking shoulders 56 (FIG. 5). The frame is provided at its opposite sides with a pair of

elongated guides

57 and 58 received in inwardly facing horizontal slots 59 in the upper end of the receiver side walls. The receiver side walls 28 terminate short of the front wall 36, as shown in FIG. 3, to define outwardly facing locking shoulders 60 at the rear ends of the slots 59. Guide 57 includes at its rear end a spring biased locking shoulder 61 which engages outer shoulder 60 of receiver wall 28, as shown in FIG. 7, when the hood latch 23 is fully inserted into the slots 59 to deadlock the hood latch to the base. The opposite guide 58 is provided with a similar spring shoulder 62 but at the opposite end so that the hood latch 23 may be inserted into the insert grooves 59 reversely with either of the spring shoulders 61 or 62 engaging the locking shoulder 60 of the receiver side wall. Thus, in effect, hood latch member 23 through the provision of opposite catch means com prising spring shoulders 61 and 62 is reversely symmetrical about its longitudinal vertical center plane to permit facilitated installation of the hood latch on the carrier 28. Hood I2 is provided with a hood catch 24, as discussed above, which depends from the hood to extend between the arms 55 of the hood latch, as shown in FIG. 5, when the hood is in the closed position; The catch defines an enlarged distal end 63 which engages the locking shoulders 56 of arms 55 for releasably holding the hood closed to the canister base 11. Arms 55 include relatively thin connecting portions 64, as shown in FIG. 5, permitting the arms to spring apart sufficiently to pass the catch portion 63 in either direction when suitable force is applied to the hood.

Arms 55 preferably extend downwardly sufficiently to be disposed behind an upper panel portion 65 of the filter bag adapter 16 whereby the hood latch 23 is effectively prevented from withdrawal through slots 59 when the locking member 27 is retaining the adapter 16 in place in the mounting member 25. Thus, the locking member, through its coaction with the filter bag adapter, further serves to retain the hood latch in association with base 11 without the need for additional fasteners.

As best seen in FIG. 4, a foot pedal 66 may be provided for actuating a control switch 67 for controlling the operation of the vacuum cleaner adjacent the hose end 18.

The assembly of the latching means in the canister vacuum cleaner is extremely simple. As indicated above, locking member 27 is installed to base 11 by simply urging it longitudinally downwardly into the vertical slot 29 until locking shoulder 34 engages catch portion 39 on the receiver 28. Hose latch 46 is then simply installed by inserting the locking portion through opening 37 defining a first horizontal slot to engage locking

shoulders

49 and 35.

Latching portion 26 of the locking member 27 is automatically suitably disposed for retaining the filter bag adapter 16 in removable association with the mounting member 25 by engagement thereof with the locking shoulder 40. The hood latch 23 is installed to the base simply by sliding the

guides

57 and 58 into the slots 59 with the locking

shoulder

61 or 62 latching with locking shoulder 60 of the receiver wall 28 and with the hood latch being further retained to the receiver by the upstanding panel 65 of the filter bag adapter. Each of the latching means is associated with the canister by a snap-in fit arrangement facilitating the assembly and effectively minimizing the cost of the latching means. The canister base, hood and each of the latching means may be formed by a synthetic plastic molding operation for minimum cost while yet providing long maintenance-free life of the latching means.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

We claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and hood, an adapter for removably mounting a filter bag to said base in said canister, and means carried by the base for releasably connecting a hose end thereto for conducting dirt laden air through the adapter to the filter bag within said canister, the improvement comprising a latching means including: a locking member having a resilient latch portion and first and second locking shoulders; means on said base having a catch portion engaging said first locking shoulder for locking said locking member thereto; a hose latch having a latch portion resiliently biased to engage the hose end and releasably lock the hose end to said hose connecting means, said hose latch further having a locking shoulder engaging said second locking shoulder of said locking member to retain said hose latch secured to said canister base; and a locking shoulder associated with said filter bag adapter, said latch portion of said locking member releasably engaging said adapter locking shoulder to retain said adapter removably secured to said base.

2. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein a hood latch is removably mounted on said base and is provided with a locking shoulder, a catch is mounted on said hood to be selectively retained by said hood latch for releasably holding said hood in a closed condition on said base, and means are provided on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch locking shoulder to retain said hood latch on said base.

3. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said base defines an upright wall, said hose end connecting means defining an opening through said wall, said locking member being disposed inwardly of said wall adjacent said hose end connecting means, and said hose latch including a portion extending through said wall, with said latch portion of the hose latch being carried on an outer end thereof to be disposed outwardly of said wall, and said locking shoulder of the hose latch being carried on an inner end thereof to be disposed inwardly of said wall.

4. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said latch portion of the locking member includes a manipulatable portion adapted to be engaged by the users fingers to release said locking shoulder of the bag adapter and permit removal of the bag adapter and filter bag attached thereto from the canister.

5. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein a hood latch is removably mounted on said base and is provided with a first and second locking shoulders, a catch is mounted on said hood to be selectively retained by said hood latch for releasably holding said hood in a closed condition on said base, means are provided on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch first locking shoulder to retain said hood latch on said base, and a locking catch is provided on said base for engagement by said second locking shoulder of said hood latch for further releasably locking said hood latch to said base.

6. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim I wherein said locking member defines a rigid midportion, a resilient portion upstanding from said midportion and having an outer turned end defining said latch portion, and a depending portion provided with a spring finger defining said first locking shoulder.

7. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein a hood latch is removably mounted on said base and is provided with a locking shoulder, a catch is mounted on said hood to be selectively retained by said hood latch for releasably holding said hood in a closed condition on said base, and means are provided on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch locking shoulder to retain said hood latch on said base, said hood latch being reversably installable on said base and including opposite catch means for releasably engaging said base in either direction of installation to further lock the hood latch to the canister base.

8. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein each of said canister base, locking member, and hose latch is fomied of molded synthetic plastic.

9. They vacuum cleaner latching means of claim I wherein said base includes a first, vertical slot, and second and third, horizontal siots, said locking member being received in said first slot, said hose latch being received in said second slot, and a hood latch being received in said third slot for cooperation with a catch on said hood for selectively holding said hood closed on said canister base.

10. In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a hood, and an adapter vfor removably mounting a filter bag to said base in said canister, the

improvement comprising latching means including: a

locking member having a resilient latch portion and a locking shoulder; mounting means on said base having a catch portion engaging said locking shoulder for locking said locking member thereto; a locking shoulder associated with said filter bag adapter, said latch portion of said locking member releasably engaging said adapter locking shoulder to retain said adapter removably secured to said base; a portion of the base overlying said mounting means and defining slots; a hood latch mounted on said base portion and provided with first and second'locking shoulders and guides received in said slots; means on said base portion cooperating with said first locking shoulder of the hood latch to retain said hood latch mounted to said base portion over said locking member; and a catch mounted on said hood selectively retained by said hood latch second locking shoulder for releasably holding said hood in a closed position on said base.

11. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said hood latch is reversely installable on said a means for releasably engaging said base in either direction of installation to lock the hood latch to the canister base.

12. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 further including resilient means locked to said base by said locking member for releasably locking a hose end in air delivery association with said filter bag adapter.

13. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said base includes an elongated recess and said locking member is slid into said recess and secured therein by said catch portion of the base engaging said locking shoulder of the locking member.

14. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein means are provided effectively preventing disengagement of said locking shoulder of thelocking member from the catch without destroying the locking shoulder structure.

15. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said base defines a vertical slot and said locking member is slidable into said slot for engaging said locking shoulder thereof with said catch portion.

16. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said first locking shoulder of the hood latch is arranged to deadlock said hood latch to said base.

17. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 further including means on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch locking shoulder to retain I said hood latch on said base.

g g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- @Elii'llfi?CATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. v 659 Dated May 28 1974 Inventor(s) Thomas Egget It is certified that error appea and that said Letters Patent are hereb rs in the above-identified patent y corrected as shown below:

Claim 15, line 24 of Column 8, after "po'rtiofi" insert the words of the base-.

Signedjand sealed this 3rd day of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: McCOY M. GIBSON JR C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

4. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said latch portion of the locking member includes a manipulatable portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers to release said locking shoulder of the bag adapter and permit removal of the bag adapter and filter bag attached thereto from the canister.

6. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said locking member defines a rigid mid-portion, a resilient portion upstanding from said mid-portion and having an outer turned end defining said latch portion, and a depending portion provided with a spring finger defining said first locking shoulder.

8. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein each of said canister base, locking member, and hose latch is formed of molded synthetic plastic.

9. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 1 wherein said base includes a first, vertical slot, and second and third, horizontal slots, said locking member being received in said first slot, said hose latch being received in said second slot, and a hood latch being received in said third slot for cooperation with a catch on said hood for selectively holding said hood closed on said canister base.

10. In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a hood, and an adapter for removably mounting a filter bag to said base in said canister, the improvement comprising latching means including: a locking member having a resilient latch portion and a locking shoulder; mounting means on said base having a catch portion engaging said locking shoulder for locking said locking member thereto; a locking shoulder associated with said filter bag adapter, said latch portion of said locking member releasably engaging said adapter locking shoulder to retain said adapter removably secured to said base; a portion of the base overlying said mounting means and defining slots; a hood latch mounted on said base portion and provided with first and second locking shoulders and guides received in said slots; means on said base portion cooperating with said first locking shoulder of the hood latch to retain said hood latch mounted to said base portion over said locking member; and a catch mounted on said hood selectively retained by said hood latch second locking shoulder for releasably holding said hood in a closed position on said base.

11. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein said hood latch is reversely installable on said base and includes a third locking shoulder, said first and third locking shoulders defining opposite catch means for releasably engaging said base in either direction of installation to lock the hood latch to the canister base.

14. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 wherein means are provided effectively preventing disengagement of said locking shoulder of the locking member from the catch without destroying the locking shoulder structure.

17. The vacuum cleaner latching means of claim 10 further including means on said bag adapter for engagement by said hood latch locking shoulder to retain said hood latch on said base.