Surface treating appliance

Abstract

A surface treating appliance includes a surface treating head rotatably connected to a yoke, and a main body including a casing housing a fan unit for creating a fluid flow through the appliance. The main body is moveable relative to the yoke between an upright position and a reclined position. A retaining mechanism is provided for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke when the main body is in the upright position. The retaining mechanism includes a locking member which is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke, and an actuator for urging the locking member towards its deployed position. To provide a compact appliance, the actuator is carried by the casing so as to move therewith and urge the locking member towards its deployed position as the main body is moved to the upright position.

1 . A surface treating appliance comprising:
 a surface treating head rotatably connected to a yoke;   a main body, comprising a casing housing a fan unit for creating a fluid flow through the appliance, the main body being moveable relative to the yoke between an upright position and a reclined position; and   a retaining mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the surface treating head relative to the yoke when the main body is in the upright position, the retaining mechanism comprising:
 a locking member, moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke; and 
 an actuator, carried by the casing for urging the locking member towards its deployed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the yoke comprises an aperture through which the locking member is moveable between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is moveable relative to the casing. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a biasing member for biasing the actuator away from the casing. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient element located between the casing and the actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator is slidably moveable relative to the casing. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the casing comprises a pair of grooves each for receiving a rib formed on a respective side of the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is slidably moveable relative to the yoke. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a locking member housing connected to the yoke for retaining the locking member. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the locking member housing comprises a conduit for conveying a fluid flow between the head and the fan unit. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the locking member housing comprises a stop member for inhibiting movement of the main body relative to the yoke beyond the upright position. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the casing is configured to engage the stop member when the main body is in the upright position. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 1 , comprising a biasing member for biasing the locking member towards its stowed position. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient member located between the yoke and the locking member. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a drive face for engaging a driven face of the locking member. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the drive face and the driven face are each angled relative to the direction in which the actuator moves between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a pair of arms which are located within a recess formed in the head when the locking member is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of wheels rotatably connected to the yoke for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface, the motor casing and the actuator being located between the wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 4 , wherein each of the wheels comprises a rim, and the locking member is moveable between the rims of the wheels between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         20 . A surface treating appliance comprising:
 a surface treating head rotatably connected to a yoke;   a pair of wheels rotatably connected to the yoke;   a main body moveable relative to the yoke between an upright position and a reclined position; and   a retaining mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke when the main body is in the upright position, the retaining mechanism comprising:
 a locking member, moveable between the wheels from a stowed position to a deployed position, for inhibiting rotation of the head relative to the yoke; and 
 an actuator for urging the locking member towards its deployed position.