Vacuum cleaning device with foldable wand to provide storage configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10966581-B2
Application number	US-201615333109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2016
Priority date	Oct 22, 2015
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

Vacuum cleaning devices include foldable wands to provide a storage configuration and/or facilitate use. A vacuum cleaning device includes a wand having a first end coupled to a vacuum unit and a second end coupled to a vacuum head or surface cleaning head. The wand defines an air passage allowing air to pass from the surface cleaning head to the vacuum unit and includes a flexible air passage along at least a portion of the wand. The wand also includes a plurality of segments pivotably connected together such that the wand is foldable about 180° in a forward direction until the vacuum unit is positioned proximate a top of the surface cleaning head, thereby providing a storage configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaning device comprising:
a wand having a first end configured to be coupled to a vacuum unit and a second end configured to be coupled to a surface cleaning head, the wand defining an air passage extending from the first end to the second end, said wand comprising:
a first and a second rigid wand segment defining a first and a second portion of said air passage and including a first and a second longitudinal axis, respectively;
a bendable wand joint comprising a first and a second hinge member and a hinge configured to pivotally connect said first and said second rigid wand segments together in multiple configurations, said multiple configurations comprising:
an extended position in which said first and said second rigid wand segments are aligned relative to each other during use; and
a bent configuration in which said first and said second rigid wand segments are angled relative to each other during use; and

a flexible air passage along at least a portion of the wand between said first and said second rigid wand segments defining a flexible air portion of said air passage and configured to flex when said first and said second hinge members pivot about said hinge; and

a locking mechanism including:
a locking cavity formed in said first hinge member; and
a release button and a locking arm pivotally coupled to said second hinge member, a distal end of said locking arm including a locking pawl or hook configured to latch with said locking cavity to lock said bendable wand joint in said extended position;

a locking arm guard extending from the second hinge member generally parallel to second longitudinal axis and around the distal end of the locking arm; and
a locking arm sidewall extending generally away from the first longitudinal axis and at least partially around the locking cavity, wherein the locking arm sidewall is configured to receive the distal end of the locking arm and at least a portion of the locking arm guard when in the extended position.

2. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising said vacuum unit.

3. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising said surface cleaning head.

4. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the bendable wand joint is configured to pivotally connect the first and the second rigid wand segments together such that the wand is foldable about 180° from the extended position to a storage configuration.

5. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the locking arm sidewall extends generally perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis.

6. A vacuum cleaning device comprising:
a wand having a first end configured to be coupled to a vacuum unit and a second end configured to be coupled to a surface cleaning head, the wand defining an air passage extending from the first end to the second end, the wand comprising:
a first and a second rigid wand segment defining a first and a second portion of said air passage;
a bendable wand joint comprising a first and a second hinge member and a hinge configured to pivotally connect said first and said second rigid wand segments together in multiple configurations, said multiple configurations comprising:
an extended position in which said first and said second wand rigid segments are aligned relative to each other during use; and
a back saver configuration in which said first and said second rigid wand segments are angled relative to each other during use; and

a flexible air passage along at least a portion of the wand between said first and said second rigid wand segments defining a flexible air portion of said air passage and configured to flex when said first and said second hinge members pivot about said hinge; and

a locking mechanism including:
a locking cavity formed in said first hinge member; and
a release button and a locking arm pivotally coupled to said second hinge member, a distal end of said locking arm including a locking pawl or hook configured to latch with said locking cavity to lock said bendable wand joint in said extended position;

a locking arm guard extending from the second hinge member and around the distal end of the locking arm; and
a locking arm sidewall extending outward from the first hinge member and at least partially around the locking cavity, wherein the locking arm sidewall is configured to receive at least a portion of the locking arm guard.

7. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 6 wherein the locking mechanism further includes a second locking arm to lock the first and second rigid wand segments in a storage configuration.

8. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 7 wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to simultaneously actuate both the locking arms.

9. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 7 wherein the second locking arm is pivotally coupled to the second hinge member.

10. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the second locking arm includes a second pawl or hook that latches with a second cavity formed in the first hinge member.

11. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 6 wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to lock the first and the second rigid wand segments in the upright configuration and in a storage configuration.

12. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 6 further comprising said vacuum unit.

13. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 6 further comprising said surface cleaning head.

14. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 6 , wherein the locking arm sidewall extends generally perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis.

15. A vacuum cleaning device comprising:
a wand having a first end configured to be coupled to a vacuum unit and a second end configured to be coupled to a surface cleaning head, the wand defining an air passage extending from the first end to the second end and including a flexible air passage along at least a portion of the wand, wherein the wand includes a first and a second wand segment configured to be positioned in an upright configuration and a folded position, the first and the second wand segments having a first and a second longitudinal axis, respectively;
a bendable wand joint comprising a hinge and a first and a second hinge member configured to pivotally connect the first and the second wand segments together;
a locking mechanism configured to lock the first and second wand segments in the upright configuration, the locking mechanism including:
a locking cavity formed in the first hinge member; and
a release button and a locking arm pivotally coupled to the second hinge member, a distal end of the locking arm including a locking pawl or hook configured to latch with the locking cavity to lock the bendable wand joint in the upright configuration;

a locking arm guard extending from the second hinge member generally parallel to second longitudinal axis and around the distal end of the locking arm; and
a generally U-shaped locking arm sidewall extending generally perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and at least partially around the locking cavity, wherein the locking arm sidewall is configured to receive the distal end of the locking arm and at least a portion of the locking arm guard when in the upright configuration.

16. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 15 , wherein the bendable wand joint is configured to pivotally connect the first and the second wand segments together such that the wand is foldable about 180° from the upright configuration to a storage configuration.

17. The vacuum cleaning device of claim 15 further comprising the vacuum unit.

18. The vacuu

Assignees

• Sharkninja Operating Llc

Inventors

• INNES Daniel John
• Thorne Jason
• Brown Andre David
• Palladino Gary
• Sutter Catriona C A
• Cottrell Lee
• Niedzwecki Scott
• Chei Junghwan

Classifications

• A47L9/248

  Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes (nozzles A47L9/02) · CPC title

• A47L5/24 Primary

  Hand-supported suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L9/244 Primary

  for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes · CPC title

• A47L9/00 Primary

  Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L9/24

  Hoses {or pipes}; Hose {or pipe} couplings (hoses or hose joints in general F16L) · CPC title