US2337364A - Suction cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 21, 1943. J. H. ASHBAUGH SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fl 6- Q.

FIG, L

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR JoHu H- ASHBAUGH ATT NEY Dec. 21, 1943. J. H. ASHBAUGH SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1940 FIG. 4-

INVENTOR V JOHU H ASHBAUGH 4 BY ATTOIV Patented Dec. 21, 1943 SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS John H. Ashbaugh, Longmeadow,:Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December c, 1940, Serial No. 368,777

1 Claim.

This invention relates to suction cleaning apparatus, more particularly to a suction cleaner oi the type known as a tank cleaner," and it has for an object to provide improved apparatus oi this type.

A further object is to provide means whereby the attachment hose may be conveniently reeled about the body of the cleaner.

A further object is to provide means for supporting the cleaner body in a vertical position.

A further object is to provide means which prevent the cleaner from scarring furniture or other articles that it might contact while being moved about over the surface being cleaned.

A further object is to provide means whic serves as a. support for the cleaner, and which retains the attachment hose in reeled position.

These and other objects are eflected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the cleaner disposed in vertical position, showing one side of the cleaner;

Fig 2 is an elevational view of the cleaner in vertical position, showing the bottom of the cleaner;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view'of a second embodiment of the cleaner disposed in vertical position, showing one side of the cleaner; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the second embodiment of the cleaner in vertical position, showing the bottom of the cleaner.

In the drawings, I0 indicates a suction cleaner of the type to which this invention is applicable, and which is commonly referred to as the tank type. The suction cleaner includes generally a cylindrical body II provided with end caps I2 and I3, and a handle I4 for carrying the cleanerin a horizontal position. The body II and end caps I2 and I3 house the usual motor, suction-creating apparatus, and air filter.

The end cap I2 is provided with an air inlet opening which has a rigid tubular member l6 connected thereto. The tubular member I6 provides connecting means whereby the inlet of the cleaner may be connected to one end of a flexible hose II, to the other end of which various cleaning attachments or tools I8 may be attached. The hose II also provides means by which the cleaner may be pulled about by the operator. The end cap I3 is provided with an air outlet opening, not shown. An on-and-off switch IQ for controlling the cleaner motor is mounted .on

thecap I3. A core 20 for connecting the cleaner .motor to a suitable source oi? power passes through the cap I3 to the interiorof the cleaner.

The cleaner is provided with ;a support 2| :for supporting it in a horizontal position, which is the normal operating position of the cleaner. As seen from the drawings, the support comprises transverse saddle portions 22 which conform 'to the shape of the cleaner body I'I, longitudinal portions 23 which extend adjacent the body II,

along one side of the cleaner, the .next'portion 32 is placed between the portions 21 of the support and the end cap I3 of the cleaner body, the next portion 33 isextended diagonally along the opposite side of the cleaner, the next portion is bent over the end cap I2 on the left-hand side of collar 35 as it appears in Fig. 1, andv the attachsupport ;and the body II of the cleaner.

ment I8 is inserted between the portions 25 of the Only one loop of the hose about the body of the cleaner has been shown and described; however,-it will be understood that the hose may be looped about the body of the cleaner as many times as is required in order to reel the entire hose on the body of the cleaner.

It will be noted that the portion 21 of the support retains the hose I1 against the end cap I3 and prevents it from sliding down the side of the cleaner. The portion 2| of the support holds the attachment I8 against the body I I.

The tip portion of the cap I3 and the bends 26 in the support 2I provide a three point support whereby the cleaner may be conveniently supported in a vertical position. This feature enables the cleaner to be stored on a minimum amount of door space, which is advantageous, especially if the cleaner is to be stored in a small closet where floor space is at a premium.

In the embodiment shown in'Figs. 3 and 4, there is provided a member 40. This member serves several purposes, namely, it retains the hose l against the end. cap l2 once the hose has been properly reeled about the body of. the

cleaner, it provides a support-on which the cord may be conveniently reeled, it provides a handle for the cleaner, and serves as a bumper for the cleaner. The member 40 includes side arms ll which are attached to the body H by any suitable method, such as welding, and an end loop 42 connecting the arms 4!. As seen from Fig. 3, the end loop is spaced from the body H and tubular member l6. When the hose I! is reeled on the .body o'f the cleaner as previously described and positioned between the -end,loop

l2 and the tubular member IS, the end loop will I retain the hose in place and prevent it from sliding off the end cap l2. With this arrangement,

the hose will remain on the body of the cleaner even though it is very loosely reeled about the same. I l

The end loop 42 provides a handle whereby the cleaner may be carried from place to vplace in a vertical position.

The member 40 may also be utilized as a bumper to prevent the cleaner from scratching and scarring furniture or walls that it may contact as it is pulled about over. the surface being cleaned, and to prevent the cleaner body from being dented or scarred as a result of bumping into articles. To this end the member 40 is formed as best shown in Fig. 4, with portions I4 offset from the side of the body by bends 43 and with the end loop 42 extending beyond the end of the cleaner. With the member so formed, when the cleaner is pulled about by the hose H the ofiset portions 44 and the end loop 2 willcontact furniture or other articles before the body II. The entire member 40 may be covered with rubber'or some other satisfactory material that will not scar or scratch furniture.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings it will be seen that this invention has provided novel -means whereby the' attachment hose-may be very conveniently reeled on the body of the cleaner.. In addition, this'invention also providesimproved support- 2,ss7,se4.

ing means, and a novel bumper and handle for a suction cleaner of this type.

While I have shown my invention inseveral forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall Y be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

A suction cleaner including a horizontallyelongated body having an inletopening at one end thereof, a conduit connected to said inlet opening, said conduit including a relatively long, flexible portion and a relatively short rigid portion, supporting members extending longitudinally of said body and spaced therefrom sufficiently to permit said conduit to be inserted and retained between said members and said body, said members being connected to said body at a point or points adjacent but spaced from the otheror second end of the body and having end portions extending beyond said connection longitudinally of said body but spaced therefrom sufliciently to receive said flexible portion therebetween, the lengths of said flexible and rigid portions being such that said flexible portion is adapted to be reeled about said body for storage and, when so reeled, extends from said first end longitudinally of said cleaner body to the second end, transversely between said end portions and said cleaner body, longitudinally of said cleaner body to the first end, around the first end, and said rigid portion is inserted between said supporting members and said body,

and a handle attached'to said cleaner body adjacent the first-mentioned end on the side of the inlet opening remote from said supporting members and spaced from said inlet opening a distance suitable to accommodate a portion of the flexible hose between the same and the portion of'said conduit adjacent the inlet opening.

JOHN H. 'ASHBAUGH.

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