Panasonic Corporation of North America

Shannon D Phegley

Eric J Streciwilk

Ryan T Dant

Michael L Fry

Kyle A Hawkins

Samuel A Marsh

Donald Eugene Proffitt

Alan T Pullins

Richard Eric Downey

Shawn M Smith

A nozzle assembly for a floor care appliance includes a one-piece body. The one-piece body has a first face and a second face that is opposed to the first face. The first face forms a first cavity while the second face forms a second cavity. A rotary agitator is received in the first cavity. A drive motor is received in the second cavity.

Nozzle assembly with one piece body

A floor care apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. Further, the nozzle assembly includes a cord reel.

Floor care apparatus with cord reel and nozzle assembly

A floor care apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. A cord reel is carried on the nozzle assembly in a cord reel compartment. A rotary agitator drive motor is carried on the nozzle assembly in an airflow pathway which directs cooling air toward the cord reel in the cord reel compartment.

Nozzle assembly including cord reel and agitator drive motor

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes an agitator cavity that receives a rotary agitator. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes an agitator lift assembly. The agitator lift assembly includes a sliding actuator and a fulcrum plate.

Upright vacuum cleaner with agitator lift feature

An upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly having a suction inlet and a rotary agitator. A canister assembly is pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. The vacuum cleaner also includes a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel. Still further, the vacuum cleaner includes a clutch assembly for controlling power transmission from the drive motor of the suction generator to the rotary agitator. The clutch assembly includes a pulley driven by the drive motor, a first clutch element connected to the pulley, a second clutch element connected to the rotary agitator and an actuator for displacing the second clutch element between a first, engaged position and a second, disengaged position.

Vacuum cleaner equipped with agitator and clutch assembly

A floor care apparatus includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction inlet is provided on the nozzle assembly. A dirt collection vessel, a suction generator and a wand receiver are carried on the housing. A first air flow pathway connects the suction inlet to the dirt collection vessel and the suction generator. An air flow control valve includes a valve body received in the first air flow pathway and an actuator having at least a portion thereof extending into the wand receiver. A cleaning wand assembly is displaceable between a first storage position wherein a first end of the cleaning wand assembly is held in the wand receiver engaging the actuator and opening the valve and a second position wherein the cleaning wand assembly is withdrawn from the wand receiver for cleaning with the cleaning wand assembly thereby disengaging the actuator and closing the valve. A second air flow pathway connects the cleaning wand assembly to the first air flow pathway between the valve body and the dirt collection vessel.

Growing community of inventors

Danville, KY, United States of America

Shannon D Phegley