Multipurpose vacuum cleaner nozzle

Claim 2

A multipurpose vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a. a hollow body having vertically disposed wall means which forms a downward extending first passageway and terminates in an opening defining a suction inlet, said body also having an air outlet socket adapted to be connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum and means providing a path of flow for air between the suction inlet and outlet socket, b. brush means disposed exteriorly of said wall means at the vicinity of said suction inlet, said brush means having vertically disposed bristles depending downward therefrom, c. first means for mounting said brush means to reciprocate on said body between upper and lower positions, d. second means defining a zone, e. third means for rendering said first mounting means operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body from its lower position to its upper position responsive to air in said zone at a first pressure which is a partial vacuum and operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its lower position responsive to air in said zone at a secOnd higher pressure, f. the tips of said bristles being at a level above that of said suction inlet when said brush means is in its upper position on said hollow body and at a level below that of said suction inlet when said brush means is in its lower position on said hollow body, g. fourth means providing a second passageway for air between said path and said zone, h. valve means in said second passageway which is movable between closed and open positions, i. control means operable to move said valve means from and toward its closed position responsive to the physical characteristics of the object adapted to be cleaned by the nozzle and over which said body is moved, and j. said second means defining said zone being so constructed and formed that, during normal operation of said nozzle when said outlet is connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum, the air in said zone will be at the first pressure, which is a partial vacuum when said valve means is open, and at the second higher pressure when said valve means is moved from its open toward its closed position.

Claim 3

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 1 in which said first means for mounting said brush means to reciprocate between its upper and lower positions includes flexible diaphragm means operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its upper position when said valve means is open and the air in said zone is at the first pressure which is a partial vacuum.

Claim 4

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 2 in which said hollow body includes structure providing a chamber which is outside said path of air flow and in communication with said zone and defined in part by said flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 5

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 3 in which said structure providing said chamber includes said wall means.

Claim 6

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 2 which includes a. resilient means functioning to bias said flexible diaphragm means and render the latter operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its lower position when said valve means is closed and the air in said zone is at the second higher pressure, b. the air in said zone at the first pressure, which is a partial vacuum when said valve means is open, functioning to overcome the biasing action of said flexible diaphragm means by said resilient means to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its upper position.

Claim 7

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 1 including means for supporting said hollow body for movement over the object adapted to be cleaned, said supporting means functioning to hold said body at one level with respect to the object when the latter is nonporous and hard like a floor, for example, and at a lower level with respect to the object when the latter is porous like a carpet, for example, said control means functioning to move said valve means from its closed toward its open position when said supporting means holds said body at the lower level with respect to the object and functioning to move said valve means from its open toward its closed position when said supporting means holds said body at the one level with respect to the object.

Claim 8

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 6 in which said valve means comprises structure providing a valve member and a seat therefor, said valve member being vertically movable downward toward its seat and upward therefrom, said control means including a part which is vertically movable and operatively connected at its upper end to said valve member, the lower end of said part being adapted to physically contact the object to be cleaned and be moved thereover, said part assuming one vertical position with respect to said valve seat when its lower end contacts a porous object like a carpet, for example, and a second higher vertical position with respect to said valve seat when its lower end contacts a nonporous object like a floor, for example.

Claim 9

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 7 in which said structure providing said valve member and seat therefor includes means for shifting the vertical position of said seat.

Claim 10

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 7 in which said hollow body includes a bottom wall having an opening, a cup-shaped element having an outward extending flange at its open end which is held on said bottom wall at the opening therein, said control means part including said cup-shaped element which serves at its lower end and a vertically disposed rod connected at its upper end to said valve member, and means for resiliently biasing said valve member toward its closed position.

Claim 11

A multipurpose vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a. a hollow body having vertically disposed wall means which forms a downward extending first passageway and terminates in an opening defining a suction inlet, said body also having an air outlet socket adapted to be connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum and means providing a path of flow for air between the suction inlet and outlet socket, b. brush means disposed exteriorly of said wall means at the vicinity of said suction inlet, said brush means having vertically disposed bristles depending downward therefrom, c. first means for mounting said brush means to reciprocate on said body between upper and lower positions, d. second means defining a zone, e. third means for rendering said first mounting means operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its upper position responsive to air in said zone at a first pressure which is a partial vacuum and operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its lower position responsive to air in said zone at a second higher pressure which is at or approaches atmospheric pressure, f. the tips of said bristles being at a level above that of said suction inlet when said brush means is in its upper position on said hollow body and at a level below that of said suction inlet when said brush means is in its lower position on said hollow body, g. fourth means providing a second passageway for air between said path and said zone, h. valve means in said second passageway which is movable toward and from its closed position, and i. control means operable to move said valve means either toward its closed or open position responsive to the physical characteristics of the object being cleaned by the nozzle and over which said body is being moved, j. said second means defining said zone being so constructed and formed that, during normal operation of said nozzle when said outlet is connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum, ambient air can flow into said zone and the air therein will be at the second higher pressure which is at or approaches atmospheric pressure when said valve means is moved toward its closed position and at the first pressure which is a partial vacuum when said valve means is moved toward its open position.

Claim 12

A multipurpose vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a. a hollow body having vertically disposed wall means which forms a downward extending first passageway and terminates in an opening defining a suction inlet, said body also having an air outlet socket adapted to be connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum and means providing a path of flow for air between the suction inlet and outlet socket, b. brush means disposed exteriorly of said wall means at the vicinity of said suction inlet, said brush means having vertically disposed bristles depending downward therefrom, c. first means for mounting said brush means to reciprocate on said body between upper and lower positions, d. second means defining a zone, e. third means for rendering said first mounting means operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its upper position responsive to air in said zone at a first pressure which is a partial vacuum and operable to move said brush means relative to said hollow body to its lower position responsive to air in said zone at a second higher pressure which is at or approaches atmospheric pressure, f. the tips of said bristles being at a level above that of said suction inlet when said brush means is in its upper position on said hollow body and at a level below that of said suction inlet when said brush means is in its lower position on said hollow body, g. fourth means providing a second passageway for air between said path and said zone, h. valve means in said second passageway which is movable toward and from its closed position, and i. control means operable to move said valve means either toward its closed or open position responsive to the physical characteristics of the object being cleaned by the nozzle and over which said body is being moved, j. said second means defining said zone being so constructed and formed that, during normal operation of said nozzle when said outlet is connected to a source of supply of air at a partial vacuum, ambient air can flow into said zone and the air therein will be at the second higher pressure which is at or approaches atmospheric pressure when said valve means is moved toward its closed position and at the first pressure which is a partial vacuum when said valve means is moved toward its open position.

Claim 13

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 10 in which said second means defining said zone includes wall structure having an opening for ambient air to flow into said zone.

Claim 14

A vacuum cleaner nozzle as set forth in claim 10 in which said valve means includes a valve member and a seat therefor, said valve member being vertically movable downward toward its seat and upward therefrom, said control means including an elongated part which is vertically movable and operatively connected at its upper end to said valve member, said hollow body including means providing an upright passageway through which said part extends and in which it is guided, said passageway serving as an opening for ambient air to flow into said zone, the lower end of said part being adapted to physically contact the object to be cleaned and be moved thereover, said part assuming one vertical position with respect to said valve seat when its lower end contacts a porous object like a carpet, for exaMple, and a second higher vertical position with respect to said valve seat when its lower end contacts a nonporous object like a floor, for example.