Upright vacuum cleaner with power switch pedal

Patent 5991970 Issued on November 30, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 21, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

2688671

3170184

3766594

Vacuum cleaner assembly
Patent #: 4748713
Issued on: 06/07/1988
Inventor: Sepke , et al.

Vacuum cleaner with improved assembly
Patent #: 5383252
Issued on: 01/24/1995
Inventor: Hampton, et al.

Vacuum cleaner with all components in floor traveling head Patent #: 5765258
Issued on: 06/16/1998
Inventor: Melito, et al.

Inventors

Application

No. 010314 filed on 01/21/1998

US Classes:

15/339, Combined, e.g., with signal or indicator15/351, Handle movable relative to floor tool air exhaust conduit15/412Motor features, e.g., housing or casing assemblies

Examiners

Primary: Moore, Chris K.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Rader, Fishman, Grauer & Mc Garry

International Class

A47L 009/28

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a housing, a motor mounted in the housing, and a switch coupled the motor for actuating the motor to an operative and an inoperative condition. The switch includes an actuator button for moving the switch between an opened and a closed position. A foot pedal is pivotally mounted to the housing and has a bottom surface in an abutting relationship with respect to the actuator button. The foot pedal can include an axle having a pair of flat surfaces which pivotally mount to a slotted circular retainer in the housing. The bottom surface of the foot pedal can include a depending flange which is in abutting relationship with the actuator button. Further, a spring can be disposed between the bottom surface of the foot pedal and the housing to bias the foot pedal away from the switch wherein the spring at least partially surrounds a portion of the foot pedal and at least partially surrounds the actuator button.