Floor care apparatus equipped with brush assembly

Abstract

A floor care apparatus includes a vacuum cleaning unit having a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel. The floor care apparatus also includes a wand assembly having a wand element and a flexible hose. A brush member is carried on the wand element. The brush member is freely slidable along the wand element between a storage position and a use position. A lock ring is provided on the brush member. The lock ring is rotatable with respect to the brush member between a locking position and an unlocked position.

1 . A floor care apparatus, comprising:
 a body including a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly;   a suction inlet carried on said nozzle assembly;   a suction generator carried on said body;   a dirt collection vessel carried on said body;   a wand assembly carried on said body, said wand assembly including a wand element and a flexible hose;   a brush member carried on said wand element, said brush member being displaceable between a storage position and a use position;   a lock ring carried on said brush member, said lock ring being displaceable between a locking position and an unlocking position;   a first locking notch and a second locking notch provided on said wand element; and   a cooperating locking rib provided on said lock ring;   wherein (1) when said brush member is in said storage position and said lock ring is in said locking position, said locking rib engages said first locking notch to positively secure said brush member in said storage position; (2) when said brush member is in said use position and said lock ring is in said lock position, said locking rib engages said second locking notch to positively secure said brush member in said use position; and (3) when said lock ring is in said unlocking position said brush member is displaceable between said storage and use positions.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wand element includes a cylindrical surface section and a flat surface section and said first and second notches extend into both of said sections. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wand element includes a longitudinal axis and said brush member slides along said longitudinal axis between said storage position and said use position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lock ring is rotated on said brush member between said locking and unlocking positions. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including bristle tufts on said wand element. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said brush member includes a suction opening and said bristle tufts are provided around said suction opening. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wand element includes a cylindrical surface section and a flat surface section and said first and second notches extend into both of said sections;
 wherein said wand element includes a longitudinal axis and said brush member slides along said longitudinal axis between said storage position and said use position; and   said lock ring is rotated on said brush member between said locking and unlocking positions.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said nozzle assembly and canister assembly are pivotally connected together. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said brush member is concentrically received over said wand element and said lock ring is concentrically received over said brush member. 
     
     
         11 . A floor care apparatus, comprising:
 a vacuum cleaning unit including a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel;   a wand assembly including a wand element and a flexible hose;   a brush member carried on said wand element, said brush member being freely slidable along said wand element between a storage position and a use position; and   a lock ring on said brush member, said lock ring being rotatable with respect to said brush member between a locking position and un unlocking position.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further including bristle tufts on said wand element. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said wand element includes a first series of spaced flanges and a lock ring mounting groove and said lock ring includes a second series of spaced flanges received in said lock ring mounting groove behind said first series of spaced flanges. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said wand element further includes a stop that engages said brush member and retains said brush member on said wand element. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , Wherein said brush member includes a suction opening and said bristle tufts are provided around said suction opening. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said nozzle assembly and canister assembly are pivotally connected together. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said brush member is concentrically received over said wand element and said lock ring is concentrically received over said brush member.