Floor care appliance with interchangeable dirt collection modules
OwnerEric J. Streciwilk, Brian K. Ruben +1inventors
InventorsEric J. Streciwilk, Brian K. Ruben, Gerald Michael Harrison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An upright vacuum cleaner includes a base unit having a suction inlet, a suction generator and a locating element. The vacuum cleaner also includes first and second dirt collection modules. The first dirt collection module has a receiver that cooperates and engages with the locating element so that it may be properly secured to the base unit. An adapter allows the second dirt collection module to be properly secured to the base unit instead of the first dirt collection module.
Claims20
An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a base unit including a suction inlet, a suction generator carried on said vacuum cleaner and a locating element;
- a first dirt collection module having a receiver that cooperates and engages with said locating clement whereby said first dirt collection module may be properly secured to said base unit;
- a second dirt collection module;
- and
- an adapter whereby said second dirt collection module may be properly secured to said base unit instead of said first dirt collection module, said adapter being positioned between said locating element and said second dirt collection module.
The vacuum cleaner of claim I, wherein said base unit further includes a suction conduit and a dirt collection module mounting boss.
A method of reducing vacuum cleaner manufacturing costs, comprising:
- producing at least two base units of a single embodiment including a suction inlet;
- producing a first dirt collection module having a dirt cup;
- producing a second dirt collection module having a bag compartment and a filter bag;
- attaching said first dirt collection module to one of said at least two base units to make an upright vacuum cleaner with a dirt cup;
- and
- attaching said second dirt collection module to another of said at least two base units to make an upright vacuum cleaner with a filter bag;
- whereby only a single embodiment of a base unit is utilized to make two different types of upright vacuum cleaners thereby reducing parts and manufacturing costs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.