Manually adjustable housing portions for actuating an electrical appliance switch

This invention relates to an electrical appliance and a switch assembly therefor. The appliance in question is adapted to assume various orientations or modes, thus, the switch assembly must be readily accessible for manual manipulation when in any mode of operation.

There are a variety of electrical appliances which are capable of assuming various operational modes (e.g. acting alone or in combination with another unit). In such appliances the switch assembly connected to a source of power is oftentimes not readily accessible for manual manipulation when operating in the various modes. Such switch assemblies are normally of complex design and are awkward and difficult to install and servicing requires substantial disassembly of the appliance. The location of prior switch assemblies on such appliances is such that they are susceptible to being damaged or accidentally manipulated when the appliance is subjected to normal handling.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved electrical appliance and switch assembly therefor which effectively overcome the aforementioned shortcomings besetting the prior art.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved switch assembly which is of simple, inexpensive, yet durable construction and embodies a minimum number of components.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent from the description, and appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, an electrical appliance is provided which includes a housing formed of a pair of complemental, interfitting sections, an electrical motor, and a switch assembly therefor both being disposed within the housing. The switch assembly includes an adjustable switch disposed within an electrical circuit for the motor and a control means operatively connected to the switch and selectively adjusted manually between on and off positions., Adjustment of the switch is responsive to the manual manipulation of the control means. The control means includes angularly disposed first and second finger-engageable exposed surfaces. The first surface is readily accessible when the appliance is in a first operating mode and the second surface is readily accessible when the appliance is in a second operating mode. The switch is retained within the housing by the coaction of cooperating segments of the housing sections when the latter are in interfitting relation.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one embodiment of the improved electrical appliance operating with a container in a vacuum cleaner mode; the container is shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 1 functioning per se in a blower mode and showing the discharge side of the appliance;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged back side elevational view of the appliance of FIG. 2 with a portion of the housing thereof cut away to show the switch and in partial section the control means therefor;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one exposed surface of the control means shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the control means per se;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but showing a second exposed surface of the control means.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an interior portion of one housing section in which the switch is disposed.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 but of the other housing section.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the interior portion of the housing section of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10 but of the housing section of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the improved electrical appliance 10 is shown respectively in two modes: a vacuum cleaner mode I and a blower mode II. The appliance includes a housing 16 formed of interfitting complemental sections 18, 20, and a switch assembly 22, the latter having a control unit 23 which is adjustable to three distinct positions: off, low and high. The control unit allows an operator to selectively control the electrical power to the appliance. The adjusted position of the unit 23 may be observed through an opening 24 located on an exposed side of housing section 18 when the appliance is in mode I

While in mode I, the appliance 10 is horizontally secured in an overlying removable relation on the upper open end of a collecting container 26. A suction nozzle (not shown) is attached to a port (not shown) formed in the side of the container 26 to channel dirt and other debris into the container. In the blower mode II, however, the appliance 10 is detached from the container 26 and is designed to be hand held. A convenient handle 32 may be formed in the periphery of the housing 16. High velocity air is discharged through a tangentially disposed nozzle 34 formed in the periphery of the housing and spaced from the handle. When utilized in the vacuum cleaner mode I, the nozzle 34 is covered by a cap 36.

The housing may be provided with buttons, slots or rings 38 (as seen in FIG. 3) for attaching thereto a shoulder strap 40. A blower tube (not shown) may be attached to the blower nozzle 34 for greater directional control of the discharged air.

An electrical cord 43 connects the appliance 10 to an electrical power source. Cord 43 is provided with a conventional male plug. The improved switch assembly 22 is mounted on the housing in proximity to the handle 32. The assembly includes a switch 44 disposed within the housing and connected in series with an appliance motor M for selectively allowing the motor to be turned off or operated at two speed levels, low and high. The switch 44 may be a conventional three position type commercially available and includes a finger-like projection 46 adjustable between selected positions whereby there is no current, low current or high current flow through the switch.

The assembly 22 also includes the control unit 23, preferably of molded one piece construction, having an extension 48 at one end that is slidably disposed within the housing and snugly fits over the switch projection and effects adjustment thereof in response to the manual manipulation of the control unit 23. Extending from the opposite end of the unit is a plate-like extension 50 that is slidably disposed within the housing 16. The extensions 48 and 50 prevent the unit from becoming disassembled from the housing. Extensions 48 and 50 are interconnected to a center portion 52 by narrow neck segments 55. The center portion has an exposed finger-engageable first surface 54 and exposed second surface 56 angularly disposed with respect thereto. The neck segments 55 of unit 23, as seen in FIG. 7, are slidably disposed within an elongate guide slot 60 formed in the periphery of the housing when the sections thereof are in interfitting relation.

The control unit first surface 54 may be provided with an arrow 59 indicating the direction to move the control unit to one of the selected "on" positions. The unit 23 is contoured to conform substantially to the peripheral contour of the housing 16. Each exposed surface 54, 56 may include ridges or grooves 66 that provide a non-slip finger-engaging surface. The surface 56 may also be provided with a directional arrow 68.

The periphery of the housing in vicinity of the control unit 23 is recessed a small amount so that the exposed first and second surfaces of the unit are substantially flush with the adjacent exposed surfaces of the housing. The recessed peripheral portions 16a and 16b of the housing 16 are of greater length than the length of the unit central portion 52 thus, allowing selective longitudinal movement of the unit relative to the recessed portions 16a, 16b.

As seen in FIG. 7, the relative angular disposition of the first and second surfaces of unit 23 is clearly shown. The first surface 54 is positioned in overlying relation with the housing recessed portion 16a so that it can be easily reached by an operator when gripping the handle 32. The second surface 56 overlies the housing recessed portion 16b and is situated for easy access by an operator when the device is being used in the vacuum cleaner mode I.

As seen in FIGS. 8-11, each housing section 18, 20 is preferably of one piece construction molded from a suitable plastic material. The interior surface 18a of section 18 is provided with an inwardly facing pocket P, see FIG. 8, which is sized to slidably accommodate a side portion of the switch 44. The interior surface 20a of housing section 20, which is opposite the pocket P when the housing sections are in interfitting relation, is provided with an inwardly projecting stud S, which abuts an opposite side portion of the switch. The stud and pocket cooperate with one another to sandwich the switch 44 therebetween. Thus, no separate fasteners are required to secure the switch within the housing, thereby facilitating assembly and servicing of the appliance.

Suitable threaded openings 18b and 20b are symmetrically arranged about the housing sections 18 and 20 and are adapted to accommodate screw fasteners F and FF see FIG. 3. Fasteners F and some of the fasteners FF retain the housing sections 18 and 20 in interfitting relation. The remaining fasteners FF serve to secure the electric motor M to the interior of a center portion 18c of the housing section 18. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the center portion 18c of the housing section 18 is offset outwardly so as to accommodate the motor M disposed within the housing. The center portion 18c is provided with ventilating slots 18d. Housing section 20, in turn, has an outwardly offset, louvered center portion 20c in which may be disposed a filter, not shown.

While the appliance 10 has heretofore been described as functioning in either a vacuum cleaner mode or a blower mode, it is not intended to be limited thereto. The shape and size of the appliance may vary from that shown and will depend upon its intended purpose. In any case the improved appliance is of simple, compact, lightweight yet sturdy construction; has a minimum number of components which may be readily assembled; and incorporates a control unit which may be easily manipulated manually regardless of the mode in which the appliance is being operated.