Vacuum wand control device

Abstract

A device is disclosed for controlling the operation of a vacuum cleaning assembly, which assembly includes a vacuum-creating source, a vacuum hose attachable to the vacuum-creating source, a vacuum cleaning head, and a suction wand operatively connecting the vacuum hose to the cleaning head. The device includes a wand connection member having a housing with a first end attachable to the vacuum hose and a second end attachable to the suction wand. A valve element is disposed in the housing. The valve element is movable between a closed position to block the vacuum between the vacuum-creating source and the cleaning head, and an open position to provide full vacuum between the vacuum-creating source and the cleaning head. A transfer mechanism is secured to the housing for controlling the movement of the valve element between its closed and open positions. A control handle engages the transfer mechanism and is adapted to move between first and second operating positions while imparting this movement to the transfer mechanism. The control handle first operating position corresponds to the valve element closed position, while the second operating position corresponds to the valve element open position. A bias mechanism is provided for urging the control handle toward its first operating position. Finally, the control handle is sized and shaped to permit an operator of the device to maintain the handle in its second operating position with one hand while operating the suction wand and cleaning head.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A device for controlling the operation of a vacuum cleaning assembly, wherein the assembly includes a vacuum-creating source, a vacuum hose attachable to the vacuum-creating source, a vacuum cleaning head, and a suction wand operatively connecting the vacuum hose to the cleaning head, said device comprising: 
 a wand connection member, said connection member including a housing defining a first open end attachable to the vacuum hose and a second open end attachable to the suction wand;    a valve element disposed in said housing, said valve element being movable between a closed position to block the vacuum between the vacuum-creating source and the cleaning head, and an open position to provide full vacuum between the vacuum-creating source and the cleaning head;    a transfer mechanism secured to said housing for controlling the movement of said valve element between said closed and open positions;    a control handle engaging said transfer mechanism and adapted to move between first and second operating positions while imparting said movement to said transfer mechanism, said first operating position corresponding to said valve element closed position and said second operating position corresponding to said valve element open position, said control handle being sized and shaped to permit an operator of said device to maintain said handle in said second operating position with one hand while operating the suction wand and cleaning head; and    a bias mechanism for urging said control handle toward said first operating position.    
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said control handle projects outwardly from said connection member housing when in said first operating position and is substantially adjacent the exterior of said housing when in said second operating position.  
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a tubular passageway defining said first and second housing ends, said valve element being disposed within said passageway intermediate said housing ends to substantially seal said passageway when in said closed position.  
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said valve element comprises a flap member pivotally mounted within said housing to move between said closed position to substantially seal said housing, and said open position to permit substantially unobstructed flow through said housing.  
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said flap member comprises a butterfly valve having a center pivot pin attached to opposite interior surfaces of said housing, said valve pivoting between a substantially vertical orientation within said housing to define said closed position, and a substantially horizontal orientation within said housing to define said open position.  
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said transfer mechanism comprises a gear arrangement secured to move said valve element between said closed and open positions in response to movement of said control handle between said first and second operating positions, respectively.  
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said transfer mechanism comprises a first gear element attached to rotate with said valve element, and a second gear element attached to rotate with movement of said control handle, said first gear element being enmeshed with said second gear element to translate movement of said control handle into movement of said valve element.  
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said control handle includes a base portion and an arm portion extending therefrom, said base portion having a pair of ears overlapping said housing and pivotally mounted thereto to permit movement of said control handle between said first and second operating positions, said base portion having a gear element attached thereto for movement therewith and engaged with said transfer mechanism gear arrangement to move said valve element with corresponding movement of said control element arm and base portions.  
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said arm portion is shaped to conform to the exterior surface of said housing and the suction wand emanating therefrom when said control handle is in said second operating position.  
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bias mechanism comprises a resilient member attached to said handle and to said transfer mechanism exterior of said housing to urge said handle away from said housing and into said first operating position to close said valve element.  
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bias mechanism comprises a resilient member disposed within said housing and attached to said valve element and said transfer mechanism to normally urge said valve element into said closed vacuum position and said control handle into said first operating position.  
     
     
         12 . A device for controlling the vacuum flow of a carpet cleaning wand comprising: 
 a tubular housing having a pair of end portions adapted for vacuum hose connection;    a vacuum flow valve disposed in said tubular housing and movable between a vacuum shutoff position and a vacuum flow position;    an actuating lever mounted to said housing and movable between first and second operating positions; and    a motion transfer mechanism for operatively coupling said actuating lever and said vacuum flow valve wherein said lever first operating position corresponds to said valve vacuum shutoff position, and said lever second operating position corresponds to said valve vacuum flow position.    
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said device further comprises a bias element positioned to urge said actuating lever toward said first operating position.  
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said actuating lever projects outwardly from said housing when in said first operating position and is substantially aligned with the exterior of said housing when in said second operating position.  
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said transfer mechanism comprises a first gear element attached to rotate with said flow valve, and a second gear element attached to rotate with movement of said actuating lever, said first gear element being enmeshed with said second gear element to translate movement of said actuating lever into movement of said flow valve, and wherein said actuating lever includes a base portion and an arm portion extending therefrom, said base portion having a pair of ears overlapping said housing and pivotally mounted thereto to permit movement of said lever between said first and second operating positions, said base portion having said second gear element attached thereto for movement therewith and engaged with said first gear element to move said flow valve with corresponding movement of said actuating lever arm and base portions.  
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said flow valve comprises a flap member pivotally mounted within said housing to move between said vacuum shutoff position to substantially seal said tubular housing, and said vacuum flow position to permit substantially unobstructed flow through said housing.  
     
     
         17 . The device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said flap member comprises a butterfly valve having a center pivot pin attached to opposite interior surfaces of said tubular housing, said valve pivoting between a substantially vertical orientation within said housing to define said vacuum shutoff position, and a substantially horizontal orientation within said housing to define said vacuum flow position.  
     
     
         18 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said motion transfer mechanism comprises a first gear element attached to rotate with said flow valve, and a second gear element attached to rotate with movement of said actuating lever, said first gear element being enmeshed with said second gear element to translate movement of said actuating lever into movement of said flow valve.  
     
     
         19 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said bias element comprises a resilient member attached to actuating lever.  
     
     
         20 . A carpet cleaning wand adapted for attachment to a hose coupled to a vacuum source, said wand comprising: 
 a removable cleaning head element adapted for selective vacuum contact with a carpeted surface;    a wand suction hose having one end adapted for coupling to said cleaning head element;    a wand control element having a housing with one end portion secured to said wand suction hose and a second end portion attachable to a vacuum source hose;    a liquid applicator tube for applying cleaning liquid to a carpet proximate said cleaning head element, said tube being attached to said control element housing and said cleaning head element;    a trigger mechanism mounted proximate said housing for one-handed operation of said applicator tube for the selective application of cleaning liquid to a carpet;    a vacuum flow control valve disposed in said wand control element housing and adapted for movement between a vacuum activation position wherein vacuum is delivered at said cleaning head element, and a vacuum cessation position wherein vacuum is terminated at said cleaning head element;    a vacuum actuating lever mounted to said housing and movable between first and second operating positions;    a transfer mechanism operatively coupling said actuating lever to said vacuum flow control valve wherein said actuating lever first operating position corresponds to said valve vacuum cessation position, and said actuating lever second operating position corresponds to said valve vacuum activation position; and    a mechanism positioned to apply a bias force against said actuating lever to urge it toward its first operating position to require a force in opposition to said bias force to move said lever to its second operating position and said valve to its vacuum activation position.    
     
     
         21 . The cleaning wand as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said trigger mechanism and said vacuum actuating lever are positioned on said housing to enable simultaneous one-handed operation of both said trigger mechanism and said vacuum actuating lever.  
     
     
         22 . The cleaning wand as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said lever projects outwardly from said control element housing when in said first operating position, and is aligned substantially adjacent the exterior of said housing when in said second operating position, said actuating lever including a base portion and an arm portion extending therefrom, said base portion having a pair of ears overlapping said housing and pivotally mounted thereto to permit movement of said lever between said first and second operating positions, said base portion having a gear element attached thereto for movement therewith and engaged with said transfer mechanism to move said control valve with corresponding movement of said lever arm and base portions.  
     
     
         23 . The cleaning wand as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said control valve comprises a butterfly valve having a center pivot pin attached to opposite interior surfaces of said control element housing, said valve pivoting between a substantially vertical orientation within said housing to define said vacuum cessation position, and a substantially horizontal orientation within said housing to define said vacuum activation position.  
     
     
         24 . The cleaning wand as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said transfer mechanism comprises a gear arrangement secured to move said flow control valve between said vacuum cessation position and said vacuum activation position in response to movement of said actuating lever between said first and second operating positions, respectively, the gear arrangement of said transfer mechanism comprising a first gear element attached to rotate with said flow control valve, and a second gear element attached to rotate with movement of said actuating lever, said first gear element being enmeshed with said second gear element to translate movement of said actuating lever into movement of said flow control valve.  
     
     
         25 . The cleaning wand as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said bias force application mechanism comprises a resilient member.  
     
     
         26 . The cleaning wand as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said resilient member comprises a spring element secured to said lever.  
     
     
         27 . A vacuum cleaning assembly comprising: 
 a unit for creating vacuum suction;    a vacuum hose attachable to said vacuum-creating unit;    a vacuum cleaning head;    a suction wand operatively connecting said vacuum hose to said cleaning head;    a wand control member having a housing with a first end attachable to said vacuum hose and a second end attachable to said suction wand;    a valve element disposed in said wand control member housing, said valve element being movable between a closed position to block the vacuum from said vacuum-creating unit to said cleaning head, and an open position to deliver full vacuum from said vacuum-creating unit to said cleaning head;    a control handle engaging said housing and adapted to move between first and second operating positions, said handle projecting outwardly from said connection member housing when in said first operating position while corresponding to said valve element closed position, and being aligned proximate the exterior surface of said housing when in said second operating position while corresponding to said valve element open position,    a motion transfer mechanism associated with said housing for moving said valve element between said closed and open positions in response to movement of said control handle between said first and second operating positions, respectively;    a resilient member for applying a bias force against said control handle to urge it toward said first operating position, said control handle being sized and shaped to permit one-handed operation of said wand connection member valve by maintaining said handle in said second operating position in opposition to the bias force of said resilient member;    a cleaning liquid discharge hose secured to said housing and adapted to selectively apply cleaning fluid to said vacuum cleaning head; and    a trigger member for selectively activating said cleaning liquid discharge hose and secured to said housing for one-handed operation thereof in combination with one-handed operation of said control handle.    
     
     
         28 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said trigger member and said control handle are positioned on said housing to enable simultaneous one-handed operation of both said trigger member and said control handle.  
     
     
         29 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said control handle projects outwardly from said housing when in said first operating position, and is substantially aligned with the exterior of said housing when in said second operating position, said control handle including a base portion and an arm lever extending therefrom, said base portion having a pair of ears overlapping said housing and pivotally mounted thereto to permit movement of said arm lever between said first and second operating positions, said base portion having a gear element attached thereto for movement therewith and engaged with said motion transfer mechanism to move said valve element with corresponding movement of said control handle arm lever and base portions.  
     
     
         30 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said valve element comprises a butterfly valve having a center pivot pin attached to opposite interior surfaces of said control member housing, said valve pivoting between a substantially vertical orientation within said housing to define said closed position, and a substantially horizontal orientation within said housing to define said open position.  
     
     
         31 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said motion transfer mechanism comprises a gear arrangement secured to move said butterfly valve between said closed and open positions in response to movement of said control handle between said first and second operating positions, respectively, the gear arrangement of said motion transfer mechanism comprising a first gear element attached to rotate with said butterfly valve, and a second gear element attached to rotate with movement of said control handle, said first gear element being enmeshed with said second gear element to translate movement of said control handle into movement of said valve element.  
     
     
         32 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said resilient member comprises a spring disposed exterior of said housing and attached to said control handle to urge said control handle away from said housing and into said first operating position to close said valve element.  
     
     
         33 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said resilient member comprises a spring disposed within said control housing and attached to said valve element and said transfer mechanism to urge said valve element into said closed position and said control handle into said first operating position.