Cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10980382-B2
Application number	US-201816139918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2018
Priority date	Nov 15, 2016
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a housing; a motor fan assembly mounted in the housing; a pivotable inlet nozzle in fluid communication with the motor fan assembly; and a dirt container coupled to the pivotable inlet nozzle and the housing. The pivotable inlet nozzle is pivotable a first operable position whereby the pivotable inlet nozzle is in fluid communication with a flexible hose mounted on the housing and a second operable position whereby the pivotable inlet nozzle projects from the housing and is remote from the flexible hose.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a housing;
a motor fan assembly mounted in the housing;
a dirt container connected to the housing;
a first inlet nozzle in fluid communication with the dirt container and pivotably connected to the housing;
a second inlet nozzle connected to a flexible hose;
wherein the vacuum cleaner has a second operational mode where the first inlet nozzle is not in fluid communication with the second inlet nozzle and the first inlet nozzle operates as the dirty air inlet, and a first operational mode where the first inlet nozzle is in fluid communication with the second inlet nozzle and the second inlet nozzle operates as the dirty air inlet.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a recess for receiving the flexible hose in the second operational mode.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein a first end of the flexible hose is in fluid communication with the motor fan assembly and a second end of the flexible hose comprises the second inlet and is detachable from the housing.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the first inlet nozzle is pivoted away from the housing in the second operational mode.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 , where the first inlet nozzle abuts the housing in the first operational mode.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the dirt container is pivotable with respect to the housing and pivots together with the first inlet nozzle.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes an opening for receiving the second inlet nozzle.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes a handle and the flexible hose is mounted on the handle.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the handle projects away from the dirt container and comprises a closed loop.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum cleaner is a handheld vacuum cleaner.

11. A hand-held vacuum cleaner capable of being carried by a user comprising:
a housing having a handle, a motor fan assembly mounted in the housing, and a dirt container connected to the housing;
a first inlet nozzle in fluid communication with the dirt container and pivotable connected to the housing, and a second inlet nozzle connected to a flexible hose; and
wherein the vacuum cleaner has a second operational mode where the first inlet nozzle operates as the dirty air inlet, and a first operational mode where the second inlet nozzle operates as the dirty air inlet; and
wherein the first inlet nozzle is pivotable through an angle of greater than 45 degrees.

12. The hand-held vacuum cleaner according to claim 11 , wherein in the first operational mode, the first inlet nozzle is in fluid communication with the second inlet nozzle.

13. The hand-held vacuum cleaner according to claim 11 , wherein in the first operational mode, a user grips the handle using a first hand and grips the second inlet nozzle using a second hand.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Walker Andrew

Classifications

• A47L9/0054

  Stands or the like for temporary interruption of work · CPC title

• A47L5/225

  Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L9/0036

  specially adapted for holding the suction hose · CPC title

• A47L9/0045

  specially adapted for holding the suction tube · CPC title

• A47L5/32

  with means for connecting a hose (hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24) · CPC title