Vacuum cleaner nozzle assembly having edge-cleaning ducts
OwnerJames R. Altoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner nozzle assembly having at least one auxiliary suction opening along an edge thereof for picking up dirt and debris as the nozzle is moved along a wall or other obstruction. The auxiliary suction openings may be on both sides of the nozzle assembly, located proximate the ends of the primary intake opening. Auxiliary suction ducts connect the auxiliary intake openings to an internal plenum that also supplies vacuum to the main intake opening. The primary and secondary airflows merge in the plenum for withdrawal and collection. The nozzle assembly may be a power nozzle having a roller brush and a drive motor, or may be an unpowered carpet nozzle.
Claims20
A vacuum cleaner nozzle assembly, comprising:
- a housing;
- a primary intake opening on lower side of said housing;
- means for providing suction to said primary intake opening so as to create a primary airflow that draws dirt and debris into said primary intake opening;
- at least one auxiliary intake opening located on a side edge of said housing;
- and
- means for supplying suction to said auxiliary intake opening so as to create a secondary airflow that draws dirt and debris into said auxiliary intake opening as said side edge of said nozzle housing is moved along a wall or other obstruction.
A vacuum cleaner nozzle assembly, comprising:
- a nozzle housing having first and second side edges;
- a primary intake opening extending laterally across a lower side of said nozzle housing;
- an internal vacuum plenum within said housing in fluid communication with said primary intake opening;
- means for supplying suction to said internal vacuum plenum so as to create a primary airflow that draws dirt and debris into said primary intake opening;
- first and second auxiliary suction ducts mounted to said housing, each said auxiliary suction duct comprising:
- a generally vertically-extending end segment having an intake opening formed at a lower end thereof, said auxiliary intake opening being positioned proximate an end of said primary intake opening;
- and
- a generally horizontally-extending lateral segment having a first end mounted to said vertically-extending end segment and a second end that discharges into said vacuum plenum;
- so that said suction supplied to said vacuum plenum creates a secondary airflow that draws dirt and debris into said auxiliary intake opening as said side edge of said nozzle assembly is moved along a wall or other obstruction, and so that said generally vertically-extending end segment lifts said dirt and debris and said secondary airflow upwardly away from the floor and said generally horizontally-extending lateral segment conveys the dirt and debris in said secondary airflow to said vacuum plenum of said nozzle assembly;
- first and second end supports mounted to said housing between said ends of said primary intake opening and said first and second auxiliary intake openings;
- and
- first and second channels formed under said end supports so as to establish airflow paths between said primary intake opening and said first and second auxiliary intake openings.
The vacuum cleaner nozzle assembly of claim 20, wherein said second ends of said horizontally-extending segments of said first and second auxiliary suction ducts discharge into said internal vacuum plenum of said nozzle assembly at a common tee flue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.