Vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10702114-B2
Application number	US-201715703140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2017
Priority date	Sep 22, 2016
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly securable to a vacuum cleaner having a handle that can be pivoted from a storage position to an in-use position is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly has a housing with a first and second channel, a handle with a first and second leg for respectively connecting to the first and second channel of the housing, a first and second locking mechanism for preventing the handle from pivoting during use, and a first and second nest respectively disposed in a side of the first and second channel for holding the first and second locking mechanisms respectively. The first and second locking mechanisms are rotatable from an in-use position extending across the respective first and second channels above the respective first and second legs and a storage position wherein the first and second locking mechanisms are located within the first and second nest respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly comprising:
a handle for pushing a vacuum cleaner, the handle having a first leg and a second leg;
a mount housing for connecting the handle to the vacuum cleaner and on which the handle is disposed, the handle pivotable relative to the mount housing, and the mount housing having a first channel for connecting the mount housing to the handle, the first channel having two walls extending vertically from the mount housing and facing each other to form a first area in the mount housing, and a second channel disposed parallel to the first channel for connecting the mount housing to the handle, the second channel having two walls extending vertically from the mount housing and facing each other to form a second area in the mount housing,
wherein the first leg is pivotably secured in the first area by a first dowel pin connecting the first leg between the two walls of the first channel for making the handle pivotable relative to the mount housing and the second leg is pivotably secured in the second area by a second dowel pin connecting the second leg between the two walls of the second channel for making the handle pivotable relative to the mount housing;
a first pivoting lock for preventing the handle from pivoting during use; and
a first nest disposed in one of the two walls of the first channel for holding the first pivoting lock;
wherein the first pivoting lock is rotatable between an in-use position and a storage position, wherein the first pivoting lock is spaced apart a distance from the first dowel pin along a longitudinal axis of the first channel for preventing the handle from pivoting during use and wherein the first pivoting lock is located within the first nest in the storage position for permitting the handle to pivot for storage of the vacuum cleaner, the first pivoting lock rotatable along an axis of rotation different from an axis of rotation of the first leg and an second axis of rotation of the second leg.

2. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second pivoting lock for preventing the handle from pivoting during use; and
a second nest disposed in one of the two walls of the second channel for holding the second pivoting lock;
wherein the second pivoting lock is rotatable between an in-use position and a storage position, wherein the second pivoting lock extends across the second channel over the second leg in the in-use position to prevent the handle from pivoting during use and wherein the second pivoting lock is located within the second nest in the storage position for permitting the handle to pivot for storage of the vacuum cleaner.

3. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first finger indent adjacent to the first nest for allowing easier access for causing manual rotation of the first pivoting lock; and
a second finger indent adjacent to the second nest for allowing easier access for causing manual rotation of the second pivoting lock.

4. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first concave portion in a first side of the first pivoting lock for allowing easier access for causing manual rotation of the first pivoting lock;
a second concave portion in a second side of the first pivoting lock that is opposite the first side of the first pivoting lock for allowing easier access for causing manual rotation of the first pivoting lock;
a third concave portion in a first side of the second pivoting lock for allowing easier access for causing manual rotation of the first pivoting lock; and
a fourth concave portion in a second side of the second pivoting lock that is opposite the first side of the second pivoting lock for allowing easier access for causing manual rotation of the second pivoting lock.

5. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a metal tube shaped to form the first leg and the second leg.

6. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a handle cover secured to a lateral portion of the handle that connects the first leg to the second leg to facilitate gripping of the handle during use of the vacuum cleaner.

7. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 6 , wherein the handle cover comprises two pieces secured to one another by a connection mechanism that extends through the handle for keeping the handle cover in place on the handle during use.

8. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 6 , wherein the handle cover is an injection molded plastic for manufacturing of the handle cover.

9. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mount housing includes securement holes for connecting the vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly to the vacuum cleaner.

10. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
wherein the second pivoting lock is spaced apart a distance from the second dowel pin along axis of the second channel for preventing the handle from pivoting during use.

11. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first pivoting lock comprises a channel locking friction fit extension having an upper wall that engages a down-hanging wall of the first channel when the first pivoting lock is in the in-use position.

12. The vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a latch for connecting the vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly to a vacuum body housing.

13. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a vacuum body housing having an exterior side;
a vacuum pump to draw air into the interior side of the vacuum body housing;
a vacuum cleaner handle mount assembly securable to the vacuum body housing comprising:
a handle having a first leg and a second leg;
a mount housing for connecting the handle to the vacuum cleaner and on which the handle is disposed, the handle pivotable relative to the mount housing, and the mount housing having a first channel for connecting the mount housing to the handle, the first channel having two walls extending vertically from the mount housing and facing each other to form a first area in the mount housing, and a second channel disposed parallel to the first channel for connecting the mount housing to the handle, the second channel having two walls extending vertically from the mount housing and facing each other to form a second area in the mount housing,
wherein the first leg is pivotably secured in the first area by a dowel pin connecting the first leg between the two walls of the first channel for making the handle pivotable relative to the mount housing and the second leg is pivotably secured in the second area between the two walls of the second channel for making the handle pivotable relative to the mount housing;
a first pivoting lock for preventing the handle from pivoting during use; and
a first nest disposed in one of the two walls of the first channel for holding the first pivoting lock;
wherein the first pivoting lock is rotatable between an in-use position and a storage position, wherein the first pivoting lock is spaced apart a distance from the dowel pin along a longitudinal axis of the first channel for preventing the handle from pivoting during use and wherein the first pivoting lock is located within the first nest in the storage position for permitting the handle to pivot for storage of the vacuum cleaner, the first pivoting lock rotatable along an axis of rotation different from an axis of rotation of the first leg and an second axis of rotation of the second leg.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 , wherein

Assignees

• Shop Vac Corp

Inventors

• Seasholtz Craig A
• Gottschall Jason
• Griffin John

Classifications

• A47L5/365 Primary

  of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type · CPC title

• A47L9/325 Primary

  for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle · CPC title

• A47L9/327

  for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing · CPC title