US3166777A - Vacuum cleaner with cord ring - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 26, 1965 c. G. FRANTZ 3,166,777

VACUUM CLEANER WITH CORD RING Filed April 1, 1965 INVENTOR.

'Aba/cf 6. CPA/V72 United States Patent O 3,166,777 VACUUM CLEANER WITH CORI) RING Clarence G. Frantz, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assigner to Frantz Electric Industries Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Florida Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,602 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-323) This invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners and more particularly lto a novel land improved canister type vacuum cleaner having a rim around which the electric cord can be stored and within which the cleaner tools may be stored.

Canister and tank type cleaners are normally provided with a variety of tools, each of which is designed to efflciently perform a particular type of cleaning operation. It is desirable to retain all of these tools with .the cleaner so that they are conveniently available for use at all times. It is also desirable to permit the convenient storage of the tools with the cleaner during periods of nonuse so that one or more of the tools will not become lost or misplaced.

Still further, it is desirable to arrange the cleaner with a convenient means for easily' and neatly storing the electric cord during periods of storage so that the cord will not become tangled or caught with other items also stored in the same location as the cleaner.

In a vacuum cleaner incorporating this invention, a circular ring or rim is mounted on the upper end of the n housmg wh1ch provides a reel for a cord storage `and also supplies a tray for the tool storage. Therefore, the tools are conveniently stored with the cleaner so that they will not become mislaid or lost and are always available when the cleaner is in use. These useful functions are achieved by a simple low-cost structure which also serves Ito enhance the appearance of the cleaner and protect it ,against damage. n

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel and improved combination cord reel and tool storage structure for vacuum cleaners and the like.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a novel and improved canister type cleaner having a rim portion at the upper end thereof for storing the electric cord of the cleaner and also the various cleaning tools.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a novel and improved vacuum cleaner of Ithe canister type having a decorative rim on the upper end thereof which enhances the appearance of the cleaner and serves the function of providing for storage of the electric cord and cleaning tools.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel and improved canister type vacuum cleaner having a flanged rim on the upper surface thereof and a centrally located handle wherein the flanged rim is arranged for storage of the electric cord and the area within the rim around the handle is for the storage of the cleaning tools.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a canister vacuum cleaner incorporating this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the cleaner with the electric cord wrapped for storage around the rim and cleaning tools supported on the cleaner; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating one preferred structure of the rim and its mounting upon the housing of the vacuum cleaner.

This invention is illustrated as incorporated in a typical canister type vacuum cleaner having a housing supported for rolling along the floor on casters 11. Lo-

3,166,777 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 be connected or mounted either directly on Ithehose 12 or the Wand. Each of thesetools 16, 17 and 18 is proportioned and constructed to efficiently perform a particular type of cleaning operation. Therefore, it is customary in the use of the vacuum cleaner to frequently change the tools and use that tool best suited for the particular operation being performed. It is, therefore, desirable to retain all of the tools with the cleaner at all times so that each tool will be conveniently available for use.

Anelectric cord 19 extend-s through agrommet 20 in the housing 10 to the electric motor and is provided with a normal household type plug at its end.

The housing 10 is formed with a generally, circular upper end wall or surface 21 joined to a side wall 22 by aconical portion 23 and aradius portion 24. Mounted on the upper end 21 of the housing 10 is amounting rim 26 formed with a cylindrical portion 27 and an inwardly extending lower end ilange 2S. Themounting rim 26 is also formed with spaced outwardly extendingradial flanges 29 and 31 at opposite ends of the cylindrical portion 27.Screws 32 fasten theflange 28 tothe end wall 21 of the housing 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting rim is formed of twopieces 33 and 34 each formed'as a stamping. Thepiece 34 has acylindrical section 36 spot-welded to the cylindrical portion 27 and provides the flange 31.

Aring 37 molded of plastic material such as vinyl plastic or any other suitable material is mounted on themounting ring 26. The'plasticring 37 is formed with a veritcally extendingportion 35 and integrally formed spaced outwardly extendingflanges 38 and 39 at opposite ends thereof. The inner Wall of thering 37 is recessed at 41 to ilt over thecylindrical section 36 of thepiece 34 and is formed with radially extendinggrooves 42 and 43 to receive theflanges 29 and 31, respectively. Theupper flange 38 of thering 37 is formed with a conicalupper surface 44 and a conicallower surface 46 which are proportioned to converge as they extend toward aradius 47 joining their ends. Thecentral portion 35 is formed with an increasing radius as it extends downward toward the flange 39 and is blended at both ends byradius portions 48 and 49 to the inner walls of theilanges 38 and 39. Abead 51 is formed at the outer extremity of the ilange 39 and is proportioned to engage theconical portion 23 of the housing 10. Preferably the cylindrical portion 27 of themounting ring 26 has a diameter greater than the upper end of theconical portion 23 to provide a recess between the lower lange 31 of the mounting ring and theconical portion 23. An inwardly extendingprojection 52 on thering 37 extends into this recess and provided stillness for the ring.

The material of thering 37 is sufliciently elastic to permit thering 37 to be stretched over themounting ring 26 and snapped into position. Also the ring is molded so that thebead 51 presses tightly against theconical portion 23 of the housing 10 to prevent entry of dirt and the like.

A U-shapedhandle 53 is mounted with one leg thereof on the end 21 of the housing 10 and is located centrally of themounting ring 26. The opposite leg of the handle area??? provides a comfortable gripping 1portion used when the cleaner is carried.

The zone within themounting ring 26 provides suficient capacity for the storage of the tools and nozzles not being used at vany given time. Therefore, the tools are carried by the cleaner both during the use of the cleaner and during the storage thereof. The cord i9 is Wound around thering 37 between the ilanges 33 and 39, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, when the cleaner is not in use so that it is conveniently and easily stored and is not suojected to angling or the like` A vacuum cleaner incorporating this invention is attractive in appearance and utilitarian in lfunction since it provides a convenient storage for the tools not in use and a convenient cord drum to receive the electric cord when the vacuum kcleaner is not in use. Theplastic ring 37 serves to protect the cleaner and furniture since the plastic is resistant to chipping, denting and scratching. ln addition the plastic ring operates, by its engagement with and mounting on the housing to dampen vibration and reduce noise.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, it is to be understood that various modifications and rearrangements of `parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as deiined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l;V A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing, having a generally horizontal upper surface, a metallic rim mounted on said upper surface formed with an upstanding portion and radially extending spaced flanges at each end of said portion, and a ring of molded plastic fitting around said rim and formed with grooves into which said flanges extend, said ring having spaced radially extending llanges and an upwardly extending section therebetween, the inner portion of said ring above the upper one of said ilanges of said rim extending into substantial alignment with the inner surface of said Aupstanding lportion whereby the upper edge of said metallic rim is substantially covered by said plastic ring.

2. A canister vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having a circular horizontal upper end joined directly to a conical section, a rim mounted on said upper end having a lower flange extending laterally beyond said upper end, said rim including a vertically extending portion if joined to said lower ilange, a flexible molded ring mounted on said rim formed with an upper laterally extending ilange and a lower laterally extending flange spaced from said upper flange, the extremity of said lower flange of said ring tightly engaging said con-ical section, and a handle centrally located within said rim mounted on said upper end.

3. A canister vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having a circular horizontal upper end joined directly to a con-ical section, a rim mounted on said upper end having a lower llange extending laterally along said upper end, said rim including a vertically extending portion joined to said lower llange, a flexible molded ring mounted on said rim formed with an upper laterally extending llange and a lower laterally extending ilange spaced from said upper ange, a bead on the extremity of said lower lange of said ring tightly engaging said conical section, and a :handle centrally located within said rim mounted on said upper end.

4. A canister vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having a circular horizontal upper end joined directly to a conical section, a rim mounted on said upper end having a lower llange extending laterally beyond said upper end above and spaced from said conical section, said rim including a vertically extending portion joined to said lower ilange, a ilexible molded ring having a portion extending 'between said conical section and said lower flange of said rim, said rim formed with an upper laterally extend-ing flange `and a lower lateral-ly extending flange spaced from said upper flange, the extremity' of said lower ilange of said ring tightly engaging said conical section, an a hand-le centrally located within said rim mounted on said upper end.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,779,432 Meyerhoefer Jan. 29, 1957 2,918,692 Marti-nec Dec. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 41,554 Netherlands Sept. 15, 1937 57,630 Netherlands May l5, 1946

Claims (1)

1. A VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING A HOUSING, HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL UPPER SURFACE, A METALLIC RIM MOUNTED ON SAID UPPER SURFACE FORMED WITH AN UPSTANDING PORTION AND RADIALLY EXTENDING SPACED FLANGES AT EACH END OF SAID PORTION, AND A RING OF MOLDED PLASTIC FITTING AROUND SAID RIM AND FORMED WITH GROOVES INTO WHICH SAID FLANGES EXTEND, SAID RING HAVING SPACED RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGES AND AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING SECTION THEREBETWEEN, THE INNER PORTION OF SAID RING ABOVE THE UPPER ONE OF SAID FLANGES OF SAID RIM EXTENDING INTO SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID UPSTANDING PORTION WHEREBY THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID METALLIC RIM IS SUBSTANTIALLY COVERED BY SAID PLASTIC RING.

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