Bumper for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A lightweight, flexible, impact-cushioning, scuff- and dent-shielding bumper is easily applied to and reversibly retained on peripheral and upward facing surfaces of an appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner, vacuum suction head, canister vacuum cleaner, or similar appliance. In the bumper, elasticity and stiffness cooperate to conform the bumper to the appliance exterior, facilitating efficient installation and allowing the position of the bumper to be easily adjusted in a manner that would purposefully envelop portions of the appliance prone to causing damage to surrounding surfaces and the appliance itself. Contact adhesive is employed in combination with the hook component of a hook-and-loop fastener interacting directly with the body material of the bumper, permitting repeated easy removal, washing and reinstallation of the bumper or transfer thereof to another appliance not necessarily of the same design make and model.

1 . A bumper for an appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner, vacuum suction head, canister vacuum cleaner or the like, comprising:
 a flexible body having size, shape and pliability to conform to a surface of the appliance;   a layer of said body having protective properties relative to impingement between the appliance and environmental objects; and   an appliance-facing surface of said body being capable of reversible attachment to the surface of the appliance.   
     
     
         2 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , adapted for efficient attachment to an appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner suction head, being elastically biased to assume a conformation facilitating installation on the appliance. 
     
     
         3 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 2 , comprising an elastic member cooperating with said body to bias said body in said conformation. 
     
     
         4 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said elastic member is located within said body and is so anchored to said body as to bias at least a portion of said body in an arcuate conformation. 
     
     
         5 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said elastic member is anchored to said body proximate a top edge of said body and biases said top edge in said arcuate conformation. 
     
     
         6 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said elastic member has a first end and a second end both stitched to said body. 
     
     
         7 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said body has in combination sufficient stiffness to retain a gentle curvature at a bottom edge of said body and sufficient flexibility nevertheless to be biased in said arcuate conformation at said top edge of said body. 
     
     
         8 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said body comprises a layer of foam bonded to a layer of woven textile. 
     
     
         9 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 2 , comprising at least one member having high elasticity and at least one member having low elasticity and moderate stiffness. 
     
     
         10 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said elastic member exerts sufficient tension upon said body to pucker and gather a portion of said body proximate said elastic member and said body has sufficient stiffness that portions thereof not proximate said elastic member form and maintain a smooth curve when said proximate portions are puckered and gathered to the fullest extent. 
     
     
         11 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , adapted for efficient attachment to an appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner suction head, comprising an end portion and further comprising a bottom edge tapering upward proximate said end portion. 
     
     
         12 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , adapted for efficient attachment to an appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner suction head, comprising an end portion and further comprising at least one reinforcement defining a discrete segment proximate said end portion, said reinforcement having sufficient integrity to prevent gaping, fraying and running proximal to said reinforcement if said body is severed distal thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said reinforcement comprises a stitch. 
     
     
         14 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , adapted for efficient attachment to an appliance such as a canister vacuum cleaner having a tapered front end, said body comprising a central portion intermediate two end portions, said body comprising a top edge tapering downward in said central portion. 
     
     
         15 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , adapted for efficient attachment to an appliance such as a canister vacuum cleaner having a tapered front end, said body comprising a central portion intermediate two end portions, said central portion comprising at least one centrally located reinforcement circumscribing a discrete area of said central portion, said reinforcement having sufficient structural integrity to prevent gaping, fraying and running outside said reinforcement if an opening is cut in said body within said discrete area. 
     
     
         16 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , adapted for efficient attachment to an appliance such as a canister vacuum cleaner having a tapered front end, said body comprising an end portion and further comprising at least one reinforcement defining a discrete segment proximate said end portion, said reinforcement having sufficient integrity to prevent gaping, fraying and running proximal to said reinforcement if said body is severed distal thereto. 
     
     
         17 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , adapted for efficient attachment to an appliance such as a canister vacuum cleaner having a tapered front end, said body comprising a layer of foam bonded to a layer of fabric. 
     
     
         18 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said reversible attachment to the surface of the appliance is mediated by a contact-adhesive-backed hook component of a hook-and-loop fastener system cooperating with a hook-engaging fabric layer of said body. 
     
     
         19 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a fabric layer having dust-trapping properties. 
     
     
         20 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises installation guide stitching visible to a user for locating and aligning the center of the bumper with the vacuum. 
     
     
         21 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said installation guide stitching comprises a horizontal equatorial stitch and a vertical centerline stitch. 
     
     
         22 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 2 , comprising a peripheral bead cooperating with said body to bias said body in said conformation. 
     
     
         23 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 3 , comprising a peripheral bead cooperating with said body and with said elastic member to bias said body in said conformation. 
     
     
         24 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a peripheral bead cooperating with said body to block debris from collecting on said contact-adhesive-backed hook component of a hook-and-loop fastener system. 
     
     
         25 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of VELTEX® Brand fabric and automotive headliner fabric. 
     
     
         26 . A bumper as set forth in  claim 3 , adapted for efficient attachment to an appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner suction head, being elastically biased to assume said arcuate conformation in engaging relationship to said appliance, said body being readily washable and dryable.