Surface treating appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9326653-B2
Application number	US-90018710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2010
Priority date	Oct 15, 2009
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A surface treating appliance includes a surface treating head rotatably connected to a yoke, and a main body pivotably moveable relative to the yoke about a pivot axis between an upright position and a reclined position. A retaining mechanism is provided for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke when the main body is in the upright position. The retaining mechanism includes a locking member which is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke, and an actuator for urging the locking member towards its deployed position. To provide a compact appliance, the actuator moves with the main body about the pivot axis to urge the locking member towards its deployed position as the main body is moved to the upright position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A surface treating appliance comprising:
a surface treating head rotatably connected to a yoke;
a main body pivotably moveable relative to the yoke about a pivot axis between an upright position and a reclined position; and
a retaining mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke when the main body is in the upright position, the retaining mechanism comprising:
a locking member moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position to inhibit rotation of the head relative to the yoke; and
an actuator moveable with the main body about the pivot axis to urge the locking member towards the deployed position.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the yoke comprises an aperture through which the locking member is moveable between the stowed position and the deployed position.

3. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a casing housing a fan unit for creating a fluid flow through the appliance, and the actuator is moveable relative to the casing.

4. The appliance of claim 3 , wherein the retaining mechanism further comprises a biasing member for biasing the actuator away from the casing.

5. The appliance of claim 4 , wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient element located between the casing and the actuator.

6. The appliance of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is slidably moveable relative to the casing.

7. The appliance of claim 6 , wherein the casing comprises a pair of grooves each for receiving a rib formed on a respective side of the actuator.

8. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is slidably moveable relative to the yoke.

9. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a locking member housing connected to the yoke for retaining the locking member.

10. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein the main body comprises a casing housing a fan unit for creating a fluid flow through the appliance, and the locking member housing comprises a conduit for conveying a fluid flow between the head and the fan unit.

11. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein the locking member housing comprises a stop member for inhibiting movement of the main body relative to the yoke beyond the upright position.

12. The appliance of claim 11 , wherein the main body comprises a casing housing a fan unit for creating a fluid flow through the appliance, and the casing is configured to engage the stop member when the main body is in the upright position.

13. The appliance of claim 1 , comprising a biasing member for biasing the locking member towards its stowed position.

14. The appliance of claim 13 , wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient member located between the yoke and the locking member.

15. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a drive face for engaging a driven face of the locking member.

16. The appliance of claim 15 , wherein the drive face and the driven face are each angled relative to the direction in which the actuator moves between the stowed position and the deployed position.

17. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a pair of arms which are located within a recess formed in the head when the locking member is in the deployed position.

18. The appliance of claim 1 , comprising a pair of wheels rotatably connected to the yoke for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface, the motor casing and the actuator being located between the wheels.

19. The appliance of claim 18 , wherein each of the wheels comprises at least one rim, and the locking member is moveable between the rims of the wheels between the stowed position and the deployed position.

20. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a casing housing a fan unit for creating a fluid flow through the appliance, and the actuator is carried by the casing for urging the locking member towards its deployed position.

21. The appliance of claim 1 , comprising a pair of wheels rotatably connected to the yoke, and the locking member being moveable between the wheels from the stowed position to the deployed position for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke.

Assignees

• White James
• Smith Charles William Owen
• Reid Paul Barry
• Dyson Technology Ltd

Inventors

• White James
• Smith Charles William Owen
• Reid Paul Barry

Classifications

• A47L9/009

  Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles · CPC title

• A47L5/30 Primary

  with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes · CPC title

• A47L9/0054

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

• A47L5/28 Primary

  Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle (A47L5/24 takes precedence) · CPC title