Black Decker Inc.

Michael E Bitzel

Burton E Gerke, Jr

Charles Z Krasznai

Todd A Hagan

Robert Alan Berry

William R Lessig, Iii

John Louis McKibben

Allen K Brelsford

Robert E Kubicko

Stanley J Rodowsky, Jr

Donald E Elson

Bruce A Wilder

Jeffrey S Adams

David B Jalbert

Michael D Morrissey

Kenneth H Patrick

William D Ryckman

Edward M Kubicz

Arthur H Freeman

John L Mckibben

A collet assembly for a tool comprising a collet nut rotatably connectable to the tool; a collet operatively connectable to the collet nut; and a collet wrench movably connected with the tool and engageable with the collet nut for tightening and loosening the collet.

Tool-free collet tightener

An electric iron includes a storage base. The iron includes a switch for selectively connecting the iron to a source of electrical power. The iron is automatically disconnected from the source of electrical power when the iron is placed in the storage base.

Electric iron with storage base and method of storing the iron

The present invention is a vacuum cleaner recharging assembly. The assembly includes a vacuum cleaner having a motor, a housing enclosing the motor, a fan driven by the motor for producing a vacuum, and a canister for at least the reception of foreign matter and air drawn into the canister in response to the vacuum produced by the fan. The vacuum cleaner has a power source for powering the motor and electrical wiring interconnecting the motor and the power source. The assembly also includes a charging unit cooperable with the vacuum cleaner for charging the power source. The assembly further includes circuitry for disconnecting the flow of electrical power from the power source to the motor when the vacuum cleaner and the charging unit are operatively engaged to allow optimum charging of the power source.

Internal contact for a charging circuit

A hand-held vacuum cleaner includes provision for snap-on attachment of a power brush to a rigid dust bowl thereof. Cooperating electrical contacts in the power brush and the dust bowl connect a brush motor in the power brush for concerted operation with a vacuum cleaner motor in the cordless vacuum cleaner. Cooperating latch members in the dust bowl and the power brush enable snapping the two elements together and facilitate their separation. Clam-shell construction is utilized to accept parts of the latch members and a contact retainer supporting both electrical contacts for application of power from the cordless vacuum cleaner to the power brush. An integrated base provides means for retaining both the vacuum cleaner and the power brush attachment.

Hand-held vacuum cleaner with power brush

The present invention is a vacuum cleaner and accessory attachment assembly including a vacuum cleaner and an accessory attachment. The vacuum cleaner includes a motor, a housing enclosing the motor and a fan driven by the motor for producing a vacuum. The vacuum cleaner also includes a canister removably attached to the housing for reception of air and foreign matter into the canister in response to the vacuum produced by the fan. The vacuum cleaner further includes a power source and electrical wiring interconnecting the power source and the motor. The accessory attachment is removably mounted to the vacuum cleaner and includes a motor, and means for electrically connecting the motor to the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes means for allowing the speed of the motor of the vacuum cleaner to change while allowing the speed of the motor for the accessory attachment to remain constant.

Electrical power circuit for a vacuum cleaner

A cylindrical power brush for a vacuum cleaner includes two types of bristle tufts. One type of bristle tuft is short and stiff for contacting and agitating a carpeted surface. The other type of bristle tuft is longer and softer for contacting a hard surface. In addition to the differences in length and bristle stiffness, the tufts for the hard surface contain substantially fewer bristles, whereby catching and rolling of carpet edges is avoided. One embodiment alternates types of bristle tufts in a row of bristle tufts. Another embodiment employs multiple rows of bristle tufts arranged such that a point on a surface being cleaned is contacted alternately by the two types of bristle tuft. Winding up of thread and hair on the axle of the rotating brush is avoided by overlapping annular extensions on a support wheel and a brush spindle. The brush support wheel is locked in place in the floor tool by a resilient locking tab integrally formed with one of the halves of the floor tool.

Dual-purpose rotating brush for vacuum cleaner

A cordless vacuum cleaner includes provision for snap-on attachment of a power brush to a rigid dust bowl thereof. Cooperating electrical contacts in the power brush and the dust bowl connect a brush motor in the power brush for concerted operation with a vacuum cleaner motor in the cordless vacuum cleaner. Cooperating latch members in the dust bowl and the power brush enable snapping the two elements together and facilitate their separation. Clam-shell construction is utilized to accept parts of the latch members and a contact retainer suppporting both electrical contacts for application of power from the cordless vacuum cleaner to the power brush. An integrated base provides means for retaining both the cordless vacuum cleaner and the power brush attachment.

Cordless vacuum cleaner with power brush

A counterbalanced rotor is mounted on a rearward extension of the armature shaft of a portable electric tool. The rotor is nested within the annular portion of a ring member which is piloted on the rearward bridge portion of the motor field case. An end cap is secured to the field case and engages the annular portion of the ring, thereby retaining the ring against the bridge on the field case. The annular portion of the ring has an external boss with a notch formed therein substantially tangential to the annular portion. A printed circuit board is received in the notch and carries a semiconductor sensing device, such as a Hall-Effect generator, for cooperation with a magnet carried by the rotor. A spider member is retained in the bridge and has a bearing nested therein for journaling the commutator end of the armature shaft. The spider has a number of openings formed therein. The end cap has a plurality of ventilating openings formed therein, and a fan carried by the armature shaft draws cooling air in through the openings in the end cap. The cooling air is confined by the annular portion of the ring, is subjected to a turbulance by the rotor therein, and flows through the openings in the spider for purposes of cooling the bearing.

Growing community of inventors

Monroe, CT, United States of America

Michael E Bitzel