Vacuum accessory tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10130224-B2
Application number	US-201514972495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	May 5, 2005
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A vacuum accessory tool comprises a nozzle body defining an interior, with an opening formed in the nozzle body and a working air conduit provided on the nozzle body in fluid communication with the opening via the interior. A hair removal assembly is associated with the nozzle body, and can include nubs from a flexible polymeric material adapted to generate an electrostatic charge when the tool moves over and in contact with a carpet surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum accessory tool comprising:
a nozzle body defining an interior;
an opening formed at a forward end of the nozzle body and adapted to be connected to a suction source remote from the nozzle body for generating a working air flow through the interior of the nozzle body;
a working air conduit provided on the nozzle body in fluid communication with the opening via the interior, wherein the working air conduit is adapted to be connected to a flexible hose to connect the open to the suction source remote from the nozzle body;
a molded cup-like body secured to the nozzle body and enclosing the forward end of the nozzle body and comprising:
a base extending over the opening formed at a forward end of the nozzle body to close the opening and having an arcuate forwardmost portion that is arcuate in cross-section; and
a plurality of nubs extending from the base in different angular orientations; and

at least one suction nozzle opening formed through the cup-like body and in fluid communication with the working air conduit;
wherein at least the nubs are formed of a flexible polymeric material adapted to generate an electrostatic charge when the tool moves over and in contact with a carpet surface; and
wherein at least some of the plurality of nubs are formed on and extend from the arcuate forwardmost portion of the base in different angular orientations, and at least a portion of the at least one suction nozzle opening is formed through the arcuate forwardmost portion of the base.

2. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 1 , wherein the at least one suction nozzle opening comprises a plurality of suction nozzle openings formed through the base and separated from each other by at least some of the plurality of nubs.

3. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 1 and further comprising a reinforcement element provided within the interior of the nozzle body for strengthening the connection between the cup-like body and the nozzle body.

4. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 3 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises a forward wall which extends to a peripheral side wall that terminates in a peripheral rim.

5. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises an aperture in the forward wall in fluid communication with the at least one suction nozzle opening and the working air conduit.

6. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 1 , wherein the cup-like body comprises a plurality of holes formed at a rear end of the cup-like body, opposite the forwardmost portion of the base, and wherein the nozzle body comprises a plurality of protrusions received by the plurality of holes.

7. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 6 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are formed on an interior surface of the nozzle body, such that the protrusions and holes are not visible from the exterior of the tool when the cup-like body is secured to the nozzle body.

8. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of rubber, nitrile, urethane and thermoplastic elastomers.

9. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1 , wherein the entire cup-like body is molded from the polymeric material.

10. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 1 , wherein the nubs are generally conical, and comprise a larger end at the base and a smaller terminal end.

11. A vacuum accessory tool comprising:
a nozzle body defining an interior;
an opening formed in the nozzle body at a forward end thereof and adapted to be connected to a suction source remote from the nozzle body for generating a working air flow from through the interior of nozzle body;
a working air conduit provided on the nozzle body in fluid communication with the opening via the interior, wherein the working air conduit is adapted to be connected to a flexible hose to connect the open to the suction source remote from the nozzle body;
a nose secured to the forward end of the nozzle body and closing the opening formed at the forward end of the nozzle body and having an arcuate forwardmost tip with an arcuate cross-section;
a plurality of nubs extending from and around the arcuate forwardmost tip of the nose in different angular orientations; and
at least one suction nozzle opening formed through the arcuate forwardmost tip in fluid communication with the working air conduit;
wherein at least the nubs are formed of a flexible polymeric material adapted to generate an electrostatic charge when the tool moves over and in contact with a carpet surface.

12. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 11 , wherein the at least one suction nozzle opening comprises a plurality of suction nozzle openings formed through the arcuate forwardmost tip and separated from each other by at least some of the plurality of nubs.

13. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 11 and further comprising a reinforcement element provided within the interior of the nozzle body.

14. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 13 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises a forward wall which extends to a peripheral side wall that terminates in a peripheral rim.

15. The vacuum accessory tool from claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises an aperture in the forward wall in fluid communication with the at least one suction nozzle opening and the working air conduit.

16. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 11 , wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of rubber, nitrile, urethane and thermoplastic elastomers.

17. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 11 , wherein the nose is molded from the same polymeric material as the nubs.

18. The vacuum accessory tool according to claim 11 , wherein the nubs are generally conical, and comprise a larger end at the nose and a smaller terminal end.

Assignees

• Bissell Homecare Inc

Inventors

• Downey Kevin T
• Fester Joseph A

Classifications

• A47L9/06

  with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like · CPC title

• A47L13/40

  Cleaning implements actuated by electrostatic attraction; Devices for cleaning same; Magnetic cleaning implements · CPC title

• A47L9/0613

  with means specially adapted for picking up threads, hair or the like, e.g. brushes, combs, lint pickers or bristles pads · CPC title

• A47L9/0477

  Rolls · CPC title

• A47L9/02

  Nozzles (suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00) · CPC title