Convertible vacuum-cleaner nozzle

Abstract

A vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly has a base nozzle forming a downwardly open suction mouth having a lower edge and of a predetermined horizontal width measured in a direction transverse to a working direction of the base nozzle. A first and second expansion fitting each form a respective downwardly open suction mouth of a predetermined horizontal width substantially greater than the width of the mouth of the base nozzle, the width of the second fitting being greater than that of the first fitting. Each expansion fitting has an upwardly open seat complementary to and fittable with the lower edge of the base nozzle and a suction port in the seat such that, when the base nozzlenestle is fitted to the seat, aspiration through the base nozzle draws air upward from the suction mouth of the respective expansion fitting.

Claims

1. A vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly comprising: a base nozzle forming a downwardly open suction mouth having a lower edge and of a predetermined horizontal width measured in a direction transverse to a working direction of the base nozzle, the nozzle having a suction connector for aspiration of air up through the mouth; a first expansion fitting forming a downwardly open suction mouth of a predetermined horizontal width substantially greater than the width of the mouth of the base nozzle, the expansion fitting having an upwardly open seat complementary to and fittable with the lower edge of the base nozzle and a suction port in the seat such that, when the base nozzle is fitted to the seat, aspiration through the base nozzle draws air upward from the suction mouth of the first expansion fitting; a second expansion fitting forming a downwardly open suction mouth of a predetermined horizontal width substantially greater than the width of the mouth of the first expansion fitting, the expansion fitting having an upwardly open seat fittable with the edge of the base nozzle and a suction port therein such that, when the base nozzle is fitted to the seat of the second expansion fitting, aspiration through the base nozzle draws air upward from the suction mouth of the first expansion fitting; and rollers on the second expansion fitting for supporting same on a floor.

2. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the base nozzle is wider in the transverse direction than in the working direction.

3. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the seat of the first expansion fitting and the seat of the second expansion fitting are identical.

4. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 3, wherein, each of the seats fits around the edge of the base nozzle in the transverse direction and in the working direction.

5. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 1, further comprising: means on each of the fittings for vertically locking the base nozzle in the respective seat.

6. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 5, wherein the means for vertically locking includes: at one narrow end of the respective fitting an overhang under which a narrow end of the base nozzle is fittable; and a latch on an opposite narrow end of the respective fitting movable between a position holding an opposite narrow end of the base nozzle and a position freeing the opposite narrow end of the base nozzle.

7. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 6, wherein the latch is operable by a foot of a user of the nozzle assembly.

8. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 1, further comprising: a transversely extending pile brush on the base nozzle at the edge of the mouth.

9. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 8, further comprising: another transversely extending pile brush on each of fittings along the edge of the mouth thereof.

10. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 1, further comprising: a seal ring extending peripherally around the seat of each of the fittings engageable with the edge of the base nozzle when fitted with the respective seat.

11. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the connector is a short tube extending rearward and upward from the body.

12. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 11, wherein the tube has a swivelable end.

13. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 1, further comprising: an alternative base nozzle connectable to the seat of the first and/or of the second expansion fitting.

14. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly defined in claim 13, wherein the alternative base nozzle has a body identical to the base nozzle and a different connector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top view of a base nozzle according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the nozzle assembly according to the invention in a second configuration;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the nozzle assembly in accordance with the invention in a third configuration;

(5) FIG. 4A is a bottom view of the base nozzle of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the third configuration of FIG. 3; and

(7) FIG. 5 is a variant of the second configuration of FIG. 2 with an alternative base nozzle.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4A, a vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly comprises a base nozzle 1 having a nozzle body 2 and a suction mouth 16 (FIG. 4a only) into which opens a suction port 17 and that is of a first working width a.sub.1 in a transverse direction x. A connector 3 connects to the body 2 rearward in the working direction y. The connector 3 is pivotal on the body 2 about a pivot axis extending parallel to the working direction y. The base nozzle 1 has a flat lower surface or edge at which opens a suction mouth 16 (FIG. 4A) into which in turn opens a suction port 17 from which an air stream is withdrawn through the connector 3. The front and rear edges of the nozzle 1 bounding the front and rear edges of the mouth 16 are provided with brushes or formations 18 adapted for contact with a flat surface. thus this nozzle 1 is usable by itself for cleaning a surface or floor where a small width is needed, for instance in cleaning an upholstered piece of furniture or a vehicle interior.

(9) There is also as shown in FIG. 2 a first expansion fitting 4 that has a first body 5 with a suction mouth 7 opening on the lower side thereof and into which opens a suction port 6 here formed to complementarily fit with the lower edge of the first nozzle body 2. The suction mouth 7 is of a working width a.sub.2 measured in the transverse direction x that is wider than the first working width a.sub.1 of the base nozzle 1. An seat 8 for connecting to the lower edge of the base nozzle 1 is provided on the top of the body 5 of the first expansion fitting 4 to ensure a tight fit between the suction port 6 and the nozzle body 2. The seat 8 is embodied such that the base nozzle 1 is held therein in a positive fit in the working direction y and in the transverse direction x. The base nozzle 1 is circumferentially enclosed by the seat 8 on three sides. When the base nozzle is inserted into the seat 8, the suction port 6 of the body 5 of the first expansion fitting 4 in effect opens into the suction mouth 16 of the base nozzle 1.

(10) For attaching the top side of the first expansion fitting 4 to the base nozzle 1, the narrow end of the seat 8 has an overhang 9 under which a narrow end of the nozzle body 2 can engage from behind. The opposite second narrow end of the seat 8 has a snap-fit latch element 10 that may be used to lock in place the opposite narrow end of the base nozzle 1 fitted in the seat 8. When connected, the snap-fit element 10 holds the base nozzle 1 positively in the seat 8. The snap-fit element 10 may be released a tab 11 operable by the user's foot.

(11) When clipped together as shown in FIG. 2 the base nozzle 1 and expansion fitting 4 for a robust assembly capable of cleaning a smooth floor or the like.

(12) According to the invention as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B, the vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly furthermore has a second expansion fitting 12 with a body 13 having a suction mouth 15 opening downward on the lower side thereof and connected to a suction port 14. The dimensions of the body 13 of the second expansion fitting 12 differ from those of the body 5 of the first expansion fitting 4 only in that the suction mouth 15 is of a third working width a.sub.3 that is larger than the second working width a.sub.2. The vacuum-cleaner nozzle assembly 1, the first expansion fitting 4, and the second expansion fitting 12 all have a greater dimension in the transverse direction x than in the working direction y.

(13) The top of the body 13 of the second expansion fitting 12 has an seat 8′ that is identical to the seat 8 of the first expansion fitting 4. The base nozzle is also fixed horizontally using a positive fit. Vertical fixation occurs using an overhang 9′ and a snap-fit element 10′ that may be unlocked using a latch element 11′.

(14) The wide configuration of FIG. 3 is suitable for cleaning a large for, to which end as shown in FIG. 4B th front and rear edges of the body 13 are provided with brush strips 20 and the ends of the fitting 13 have rollers facilitating travel on a planar surface to be cleaned such as a floor. The brush strip on the leading edge in the working direction has interruptions for the passage of larger particles.

(15) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment. Here the body 2′ is provided with a swivel connector 3′ for connection to the vacuum hose or wand.