Maneuverable Domestic Cleaning Appliance

Abstract

An upright floor vacuum cleaner comprising (a) a base having a vacuum nozzle disposed for cleaning the floor; (b) an upright handle having one end thereof connected to the base for pivotal movement thereon about a generally horizontal axis; (c) a suction source operative, upon energization, to create a vacuum in said nozzle; and, (d) a plurality of freely rotatable wheels mounted on said base each fully castered about a vertical axis and operative to permit free omni directional movement in translation and rotation of the base on the floor.

1 . A cleaning appliance comprising:
 (a) a base having a vacuum nozzle disposed for cleaning the floor;   (b) an upright handle having one end thereof connected to the base for pivotal movement thereon about a generally horizontal axis;   (c) a suction source operative, upon energization, to create a vacuum in said nozzle; and,   (d) a plurality of freely rotatable wheel assemblies or roller assemblies mounted on said base, each being fully rotatable about a vertical axis and operative to permit free omni directional movement in translation and rotation of the base on the floor.   
   
   
       2 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wheel assemblies each include wheels that are each mounted on an axle having a skewed orientation with respect to the floor. 
   
   
       3 . The appliance defined in  claim 2 , wherein said axle comprises three straight sections connected by two bent sections. 
   
   
       4 . The appliance defined in  claim 2 , wherein said axle is formed integrally from a one-piece member. 
   
   
       5 . The appliance defined in  claim 2 , wherein each wheel is mounted on its respective axle by a first bearing and the axle is mounted to said base by a second bearing. 
   
   
       6 . The appliance defined in  claim 5 , wherein said first bearing comprises a ball race bearing. 
   
   
       7 . The appliance defined in  claim 5 , wherein said second bearing comprises a needle race bearing. 
   
   
       8 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein said base includes a platform with said wheel assembly mounted thereto and said nozzle mounted thereon and a hood covering said platform and nozzle. 
   
   
       9 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein said wheel assemblies are countersunk in said platform. 
   
   
       10 . The appliance defined in  claim 5 , wherein said handle includes a removable dirt cup operative to receive dirt from said nozzle. 
   
   
       11 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , further comprising electrical contacts provided on said base for engaging an associated charger for re-energizing rechargeable batteries mounted to said handle. 
   
   
       12 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said wheel assemblies includes a wheel that is castered on a plate attached to said base. 
   
   
       13 . The appliance defined in  claim 12 , wherein said wheel assemblies are all enclosed by a cover of said base. 
   
   
       14 . A cleaning appliance comprising:
 (a) a base portion including a nozzle;   (b) an upright handle portion pivotally mounted to said base portion;   (c) a vacuum generator disposed in one of said handle portion and said base portion and communicating with the nozzle; and,   (d) a plurality of wheels or rollers mounted to the base portion for free rolling arrangement wherein an axis of each wheel or roller is mounted for full rotation about a generally vertical axis.   
   
   
       15 . The appliance defined in  claim 14 , wherein each wheel includes a first bearing. 
   
   
       16 . The appliance defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a second bearing for mounting each wheel for swiveling about the vertical axis. 
   
   
       17 . The appliance defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a one piece axle with contra curvature for mounting each wheel to said base portion. 
   
   
       18 . The appliance defined in  claim 14 , wherein each wheel is mounted to a plate in a freely swiveling manner and wherein each plate is attached to the base in a countersunk manner. 
   
   
       19 . A cleaning appliance comprising:
 (a) base portion including a suction nozzle for movement over a floor surface to be cleaned;   (b) an upright handle pivotally mounted to the base and including a suction generator operatively connected to the suction nozzle;   (c) a user removable dirt cup assembly including a filter disposed thereon associated with one of the upright handle and the base portion; and,   (d) a wiper for agitating the filter during removal for effecting a shaking of dirt from the filter into the dirt cup.   
   
   
       20 . The appliance defined in  claim 19 , wherein the filter is disposed over an open end of the cup. 
   
   
       21 . The appliance defined in  claim 19 , wherein the filter has a pleated configuration. 
   
   
       22 . The appliance defined in  claim 21 , wherein a plurality of spaced wipers are provided.