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US 5,323,510 AGranted
Vacuum cleaner having improved steering features
OwnerGlenn K. Redding, Kristen G. Sprow-Byrd +5inventors
InventorsGlenn K. Redding, Kristen G. Sprow-Byrd, Michael D. Collins, James R. Hunter, Jr., Gary A. Miller, Christopher A. Robinette, Walter L. Webb
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Abstract
An upright steerable vacuum cleaner is provided, which includes the use of a pivotable cylindrical motor housing, as well as a universal joint which is attached to the motor housing, such that twisting at the upper body of the vacuum cleaner clockwise causes the base of the unit to turn right, twisting in the opposite direction causes if to turn left.
Claims7
A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a base;
- a motor housing pivotally attached to said base about a substantially horizontal first axis;
- a substantially upright elongate body portion including a handle portion;
- and
- a universal joint assembly defining an air channel capable of facilitating the flow of air from said base to said body portion, said joint assembly itself comprising;
- a) an upper universal joint portion rigidly attached to said body portion;
- b) a lower universal joint portion rigidly affixed to said motor housing;
- and
- c) link means for linking said upper universal joint member to said lower universal joint member such that said upper body member may be rotated along a second axis relative to said motor housing, such that twisting said upper body member clockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn right, and twisting said upper body member counterclockwise along said longitudinal axis while pushing said vacuum cleaner forward tends to cause said vacuum cleaner base to turn right.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.