Oreck Holdings, LLC

Chris M Paterson

Javier Verdura

Shane P Cohen

Nheeda Enriquez

Shari Moore

Amy Ryan

Jirawat Jeamvigite

Paul A Moshenrose

Owen T Bourgeois

Jeffrey A Millard

Dennis T Lamb

Mel Teitzman

Steven Philip Irby

Bruce M Kiern

Terrance M Roberts

Melvin Teitzman

Sam Ponjican

J M Sewell, Jr

Michael R Amburgey

Air cleaner with a stand

Contoured intakes and fan housing assemblies for floor care machines are disclosed. In one embodiment, a contoured intake includes a contoured duct having a passage therethrough. The passage has a cross-sectional area progression that smoothly varies between a first cross-sectional area and a second cross-sectional area. Turbulence within the intake passage may be reduced or inhibited, and noise generated by the airstream within the intake passage may be reduced. In another embodiment, the contoured duct may include a bellmouth substantially surrounding the first open end that may inhibit the separation of the airstream within the intake passage. In a further embodiment, an airflow propulsion device for a floor care machine may include a motor having a drive shaft, a fan operatively coupled to the drive shaft, and a fan housing disposed about the fan and having a transition passage proximate the radially-outward ends of the vanes of the fan. The fan housing includes an internal cowling surface closely conforming to and closely spaced from the distal edges of the vanes of the fan. In another embodiment, the transition passage has a cross-sectional area progression that smoothly varies between a first cross-sectional area proximate one of the vanes and a second cross-sectional area proximate an exhaust opening. Turbulence within the fan housing may be reduced or inhibited, and noise generated by the airstream within the fan housing may be reduced.

Contoured intake ducts and fan housing assemblies for floor care machines

Containment member for floor care apparatus

A low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having improved functionality including a belt storage compartment located in the bottom cover of the housing. The belt storage compartment is shaped so as to allow for storage of the belt in its relaxed state.

Low-profile and highly maneuverable vacuum cleaner having a belt storage compartment

Vacuum cleaner head

A low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having improved functionality including, alone or in combination, a headlight, a sidelight, anti-ingestion bars, side brushes, a squeegee, and a scent cartridge for use in cleaning floors, floor coverings, carpets, upholstery, and other surfaces. One embodiment includes a tortuous air flow path created by baffles that divert air flow. The tortuous path creates quieter air flow through the vacuum housing. The tortuous air flow arrangement is for cooling the internal parts of a vacuum cleaner. Another embodiment includes an indicator light assembly for the vacuum cleaner visually providing the user with the vacuum's current operation status. In another embodiment, the rear wheels are recessed within the head housing and slightly offset rearwardly of the rear wall of the head housing to provide enhanced maneuverability.

Low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having at least one anti-ingestion bar

Low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having a headlight, a sidelight, anti-ingestion bars, side brushes, a squeegee, and a scent cartridge

Low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having side brushes

Low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having a headlight and a sidelight

Handle assemblies for floor care devices, and methods for using the same, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a handle apparatus includes a main member partially surrounding a cord retaining space that is adapted to receive a plurality of portions of a power cord of the floor care device. A retaining member is moveably attached to the main member, and includes a retaining surface that is positionable proximate the cord retaining space. In a first or &ldquo;retaining&rdquo; position, the retaining surface retains the plurality of power cord portions within the cord retaining space, and in a second or &ldquo;releasing&rdquo; position, the retaining surface releases the plurality of power cord portions from the cord retaining space. In alternate embodiments, the retaining member may be rotatably, pivotably, or slidably attached to the main member, pivotably attached to the main member. In another embodiment, a handle assembly includes a main member having a grip portion adapted to be held by an operator of the floor care device, and a base portion attached to the grip portion. The base portion includes an attachment portion adapted to attach to an attachment end of a handle support, and a receiving portion adapted to attach to a first end of a power cord. A support axis projects axially outwardly from the attachment end of the handle support into the attachment portion, and a first axis projects axially outwardly from the first end of the power cord into the receiving portion such that the first axis is approximately parallel to the support axis.

Handle assemblies for floor care devices and methods of using same

Vacuum devices having integrated cord storage and pivotable tool holders are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vacuum device includes a housing, an airflow propulsion device, and a power cord. The housing includes an outer surface having a recess disposed therein, the recess being sized to receive a plurality of loops of the power cord. First and second cord retainers are disposed within the recess and project outwardly from the housing, the first and second cord retainers being sized to retain the plurality of loops of the power cord. The outer surface may be a bottom surface of the apparatus. In another embodiment, the housing includes a cord mount disposed within the recess, the fixed end of the power cord being connected to the cord mount such that a localized portion of the power cord proximate the cord mount is directed approximately toward the first cord retainer. Alternately, the localized portion of the power cord may be inclined with respect to the base surface, or parallel with the base surface. In another embodiment, a vacuum apparatus includes a housing, an airflow propulsion device, and a tool holder pivotably attached to the housing proximate an outer surface thereof.

Vacuum devices having integrated cord storage and pivotable tool holders

An outer bag assembly for an upright vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The outer bag assembly comprises a flexible, air permeable enclosure having an internal volume adapted to contain a disposable inner bag. The outer bag assembly is further comprised of an upper end adapted to provide access to the internal volume through a closure device, and an opposite end attached to a handle assembly through a bag clip assembly. In one embodiment, the closure device includes a zipper disposed along an upper front peripheral edge of the outer bag assembly that allows a front panel of the bag assembly to be partially released. In another embodiment, the closure device includes a zipper disposed along an upper front peripheral edge, and a zipper disposed along an upper rear peripheral edge of the outer bag assembly that allows a top panel of the outer bag assembly to be partially released. In still another embodiment, the closure device includes a bag cap comprised of resilient thermoplastic sections hingeably connected to allow access to the internal volume of the bag assembly. In another embodiment, a bag clip assembly adapted to retain the opposite end of the bag is disclosed. In still other embodiments, abrasion-resistant outer panels that are affixed to the outer surfaces of the outer bag assembly are disclosed.

Bag assembly for a vacuum cleaner

Floor care devices having an elongated handle or body portion for control thereof are provided with mid-level handles for facilitating manipulation of the devices in certain conditions, for storing power cords, for hanging and storing the floor care device and the like. The mid-level handle may fold from a retracted position adjacent the elongated handle or body portion to an extended position. A retainer is provided to maintain the handle in its retracted and extended positions.

Mid-level handle for floor care device and method of using handle

Handle and exhaust duct coupling assemblies for floor care machines are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exhaust duct coupling assembly includes a first duct having an outer surface with an external thread disposed thereon and a locking tab projecting outwardly therefrom. A second duct is slideably engaged into the first duct, and a flexible seal is disposed about the second duct proximate an end of the first duct. A collar having a hole therethrough is disposed about the second duct and threadedly engaged with the end of the first duct. The collar presses the seal into an approximately sealing engagement against the second duct and the end of the first duct. The collar includes a locking surface frictionally engaged with the locking tab and inhibiting a disengaging movement of the collar. Alternately, the locking surface of the duct coupling assembly may be an annular surface disposed on an inner surface of the collar, or may be disposed on an end surface of the collar. In yet another embodiment, a handle coupling assembly includes a receiving member having an outer surface with an external thread disposed thereon and a plurality of bendable members projecting outwardly therefrom and at least partially surrounding a receiving space. A handle tube is disposed within the receiving space. A collar is disposed about the handle tube and threadedly engaged with the external thread. The collar bends the plurality of bendable members into engagement against the handle tube, thereby securing the handle tube into position.

Handle and exhaust duct coupling assemblies for floor care machines

Growing community of inventors

Long Beach, MS, United States of America

Chris M Paterson