Emerson Electric Company

Mark J Tomasiak

Terrence L Stanek

Jason J Hill

Douglas C Schultz

Shane Glasgow

Alex J Wall

Stuart V Holsten

David R Hult

Kiyoshi Hoshino

Douglas K Ritterling

John F Moody

Matthew A Williams

Jeffrey L Young

John Wolford

Gregory F Dix

Steven L Rhea

Charles F Wiegand

Robert E Steiner

Michael F Martin

Gregory Wilsey

David Martele Goggans

Steve Rhea

Stephen L Rhea

Greg Wilsey

Katherine Hagerty

Jesse N Turner

Terrance L Stanek

Harness adjustment assemblies for user-worn electrical appliances and connection systems for the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a system includes an electrical appliance including a housing defining a recess, a track removably connected to the housing within the recess, a harness adjustment assembly connected to the housing by the track, and a harness assembly configured to be worn by a user of the electrical appliance to facilitate carrying the electrical appliance. The harness adjustment assembly includes an actuator assembly movable and selectively repositionable along the track. The harness assembly is connected to the actuator assembly such that the harness assembly is selectively repositionable relative to the electrical appliance housing upon actuation of the actuator assembly.

Harness adjustment assembly for a user-worn electrical appliance and connection system for same

Applicant has created vacuum apparatuses with improved stability and methods for improving the stability of a wet/dry vacuum. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a motor, a removable drum adapted to store debris collected by the apparatus, and a base that can be adapted to receive the removable drum. The motor can be adapted to be interposed between the removable drum and the base. The methods can include the step of providing a base, the step of providing a removable drum adapted to be coupled to the base, and the step of coupling a vacuum motor to the base such that the vacuum motor is adapted to be disposed beneath the removable drum when the drum is coupled to the base. By relocating the motor of vacuum apparatus beneath the drum, the vacuum's center of gravity can be lowered significantly and, thus, its propensity to tip over is minimized.

Vacuum apparatus including float and base-mounted motor

Vacuum apparatus including drum lock assembly

A motor cover includes a lattice structure defining a plurality of vent openings that provide ventilation of the motor cover. Each vent opening of the plurality of vent openings is defined by a first cross member, a second cross member, a first side member, and a second side member of the lattice structure. The second cross member is spaced vertically below the first cross member and the first side member is spaced horizontally forward from the second side member. Each of the first and second side members extend from the first cross member to the second cross member. The second cross member extends further outward from a central vertical axis of the motor cover than the first cross member, and the first side member extends further outward from the central longitudinal axis than the second side member.

Motor cover for wet/dry vacuum cleaner with vent openings

A connector assembly includes an electrical plug connectable to an electrical outlet, an inner collar, and an outer collar disposed radially outward from the inner collar. The inner collar includes a plurality of jaws disposed circumferentially about the electrical plug. Each jaw of the plurality of jaws includes threads defined along an outer surface of each jaw. The outer collar includes at least one thread defined along an inner surface of the outer collar. Rotation of the outer collar relative to the inner collar causes the at least one outer collar thread to rotatably engage the inner collar threads and the plurality of jaws to deflect inward such that the plurality of jaws engages and compresses the electrical outlet when the electrical outlet is connected to the electrical plug.

Connector assembly for electrical appliance and system and method including same

Vacuum apparatus with interchangeable drums

A vacuum cleaner includes a canister defining a debris chamber, a lid mounted to a top of the canister, a debris inlet defined by one of the canister and the lid, and a lid latch rotatably connected to the canister. The lid latch is rotatable between a first position, in which the lid latch is disengaged from the lid, and a second position, in which the lid latch engages the lid to secure the lid to the canister. A bottom of the lid latch is spaced from an exterior surface of the canister to define a handle opening that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening and grip the bottom of the lid latch.

Vacuum cleaner including combined handle and lid latch system and methods of assembling same

Vacuum apparatuses with improved stability and methods thereof

An attachment mechanism for connecting vacuum cleaner accessories includes a plurality of teeth arranged axially along an outer surface of an outer attachment tube of a first vacuum cleaner accessory, and a locking tab positioned on an outer surface of an inner attachment tube of a second vacuum cleaner accessory. The locking tab includes a pivot extension extending radially outward from the outer surface of the second vacuum cleaner accessory, and a latch pivotably connected to the pivot extension. The latch includes a finger engagement portion and a latching portion located on opposite sides of the pivot extension. The latching portion includes a latch tooth that extends from a bottom surface of the latching portion. The latch tooth is positioned to engage the teeth upon insertion of the inner attachment tube into the outer attachment tube to secure the first vacuum cleaner accessory to the second vacuum cleaner accessory.

Attachment mechanism for vacuum cleaner accessories

A vacuum cleaner assembly designed for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment such as those with at least one row of seats and a cargo area. The vacuum cleaner assembly preferably includes a power head, a collection drum or other container, and a hose. The powerhead of the present invention is powered by the vehicle's electrical system and is preferably mounted between exterior body panels and interior compartment panels of the vehicle. For example, the power head may be mounted between the exterior body panels and the interior compartment panels adjacent to, but not in the cargo area.

Transportation vacuum assembly

Wet/dry vacuum cleaner

Powerhead for wet/dry vacuum cleaner

Described are methods, apparatuses, and systems for securing a vacuum appliance to a vacuum device including a first locking adapter that includes a tab and a second locking adapter that includes a receiving slot. The first and second adapters form an airtight seal when the tab is received by the slot by rotating one adapter relative to the other. The receiving slot can include a slot terminus to restrict rotational movement of the first adapter relative to the second. The apparatus can further include a securing slot that can secure the tab within a slot terminus such that a portion of the second locking adapter adjacent to the receiving slot is adapted to flex. Through the described rotation, the first and second adapters tighten and become rigid thus minimizing both the slippage between these two elements and the leakage between the vacuum device and any attached appliances.

Apparatus, method, and systems for securing an accessory to a vacuum appliance

A vacuum accessory tool that includes a nozzle body having a first end and a second, spaced apart end and at least one light emitting element that emits light that will illuminate a surface to be cleaned by the accessory tool is described. The light emitting element is protected by a protective housing that protects the element when the tool is inserted into areas during cleaning, yet still allows the light to illuminate surfaces during operation.

Vacuum nozzle with integrated light

Growing community of inventors

St. Peters, MO, United States of America

Mark J Tomasiak