Handle operated power drive link lockout

A method of actuating a transmission in a self-propelled vacuum cleaner having a floor engaging portion, a housing assembly pivotally attached to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion between a generally upright storage position and a pivotal inclined operating position, and a handle portion carried on said housing assembly at a position spaced from said floor engaging portion, said handle portion being adapted for limited reciprocal movement relative to the housing assembly, at least one floor engaging drive wheel mounted to and extending out a lower surface of said floor engaging portion, a transmission operatively connected to said drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to said transmission for selectively driving said drive wheel in forward and reverse, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a clutch engaging member pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion adjacent to said transmission for pivotal motion about a first pivot axis located generally at a forward portion of said clutch engaging member;
• providing a first linkage for selectively moving said clutch engaging member from a neutral position to a drive position, said first linkage being carried on said floor engaging portion;
• providing a second linkage for selectively engaging said first linkage, said second linkage being carried on said housing assembly and being operable in response to said reciprocal movement of said handle portion, said second linkage being operably positioned relative to said first linkage when said housing assembly is in said inclined operating position and being inoperably positioned relative to said first linkage when said housing assembly is in said upright storage position;
• inclining said housing assembly to operably position said second linkage;
• manipulating said handle portion to operate said second linkage and thereby selectively engage said first linkage;
• and,
• selectively moving said clutch engaging member with said first linkage from said neutral position to said drive position.

A linkage mechanism for actuating a transmission in a self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner having a floor engaging portion, a housing assembly pivotally attached to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion between a generally upright storage position and a pivotal inclined operating position, and a handle portion carried on said housing assembly at a position spaced from said floor engaging portion, said handle portion being adapted for limited reciprocal movement relative to said housing assembly, at least one floor engaging drive wheel mounted to and extending out a lower surface of said floor engaging portion, wherein said transmission is operatively connected to said drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to said transmission for selectively driving said drive wheel in forward and reverse, the linkage mechanism including:

• a clutch engaging member pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion adjacent to said transmission for pivotal motion about a first pivot axis located generally at a forward portion of said clutch engaging member;
• a transverse link member operably connected to said clutch engaging member at a location spaced from said first pivot axis and being adapted for reciprocal movement in first and second directions, respectively, from a neutral position to selectively move said clutch engaging member from said neutral position to said drive position;
• a bottom linking member pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion about a second pivot axis spaced from said transmission, said bottom linking member being operably connected at a first end thereof to said transverse linking member whereby pivotal motion of said bottom linking member causes said reciprocal movement of said transverse linking member, said bottom linking member comprising opposed walls defining an open-ended channel at a second end of the bottom linking member wherein said walls are modified V-shaped to provide a local constriction in said channel;
• and,
• a finger link member having a first end portion and an arm portion spaced from said first end portion, said finger link member being pivotally mounted to said housing assembly at a location spaced from said first end portion for pivotal motion about a third pivot axis wherein said first end portion is positioned at said local constriction when said housing assembly is in said inclined operating position whereby pivotal motion of said finger link member causes selective pivotal motion of said bottom link, and wherein said first end portion iss spaced from said local constriction when said housing assembly is in said upright storage position whereby pivotal motion of said finger link member does not cause pivotal motion of the bottom link, said arm portion being operably connected to said handle portion at a location spaced from said third pivot axis and being responsive to said reciprocal motion of said handle portion of pivot said finger link member about said third pivot axis.