Whirlpool Corporation

General Electric Company

Wilbur C Bewley

Kurt Werner

Ennis L Tillman

Kendell S Lahndorff

Leo G Krieger

Dwight William Jacobus

Diane M Dehli

Bob D Merryman

Jeffrey M Nauman

Richard D Riesberg

A method of controlling a dispenser duct door, including positioning an upper side of the door, in a closed position, in a door-opening direction, and rotating a bottom end of the door to a partially open position vertically under the upper side of the door in response to an opening signal. The bottom end of the door is rotated further in the door-opening direction in response to ice hitting a rear of the door and is returned to the partially open position. After a predetermined delay, the bottom end of the door is returned to the closed position.

Ice dispenser duct door mechanism

A vacuum cleaner is provided that is alternatively operable as a stand alone, upright vacuum cleaner and as a canister vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly having a beater brush, a suction fan and a motor that drives both the beater brush and suction fan. A dirt tube assembly includes a first air flow passageway that directs dirt from the nozzle assembly to a dirt box and also includes a second air flow passageway that directs dirt from the nozzle assembly to a handle. The handle includes an air flow passageway that is coupled to the second air flow passageway in the dirt tube assembly. The handle is alternatively interconnectable with a cap for sealing the handle air flow passageway to operate the vacuum cleaner as a stand alone, upright vacuum cleaner wherein dirt is directed from the nozzle by the nozzle suction fan through the first air flow passageway to the dirt box. The handle is also interconnectable with a hose assembly coupled to a canister unit having a suction fan driven by a motor such that dirt is directed by canister suction fan from the nozzle assembly through the second air flow passageway to the hose assembly and a canister dirt receptacle to operate the vacuum cleaner as a canister vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner may also be operated in a clean out mode to automatically clean out the dirt box. Further, when operated as a canister vacuum cleaner, the nozzle suction fan and canister suction fan operate together to provide improved cleaning action.

Combination stand alone and canister vacuum cleaner

A belt tensioner for a vacuum cleaner includes a roller and a torsion spring to bias the roller against an endless, non-stretch, flat vacuum cleaner belt to exert an increasing force thereon as the belt lengthens with wear and the torsion spring unwinds, thereby maintaining the tension in the belt substantially constant as the belt lengthens with wear. The tensioner includes a pair of connecting arms each having a first end coupled to opposite ends of the roller and each having a second end pivotal about a pivot axis, the torsion spring being disposed adjacent to the second ends of the connecting arms. The spring rate of the torsion spring is relatively low so that the moment about a pivot axis through the center of the torsion spring of the force applied to the connecting arms by the free end of the torsion spring decreases only slightly as the belt lengthens with wear.

Vacuum cleaner belt tensioner

A vacuum cleaner has a disconnectable handle and dirt tube assembly mounted to a floor nozzle. The assembly includes a wire harness connector which mates to a corresponding connector in the floor nozzle to provide power to the floor nozzle components. The connectors are each securely mounted in their respective components, so that when the handle assembly is connected to the floor nozzle, the electrical connection is automatically made. Access to the floor nozzle components is had by removal of the floor nozzle cover. The handle assembly, when installed, is located in spaced relationship from the floor nozzle, overlying an arcuate portion of the floor nozzle top in all but a horizontal position of the handle assembly. When the handle assembly is in a horizontal position, a body edge of the handle assembly overlies projections on the nozzle cover. As a result, in any handle position, the nozzle top may not be removed until the handle assembly is removed from the floor nozzle, thereby disconnecting power to the floor nozzle.

Safety interlock device for a vacuum cleaner

A dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner includes a rigid body for collecting dirt. The body includes an aperture formed in an upper surface thereof through which dirt may flow. One or more apertures are further formed in the sidewall of the rigid body with a filter disposed in each of the apertures through which air may be exhausted from the dirt receptacle. The rigid body further includes one or more air inlet valves that allow air to enter the dirt receptacle for automatic clean out thereof.

Vacuum cleaner dirt receptacle

A self-adjusting wiper strip assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner includes a surface engaging wiper strip made of a relatively soft, compliant plastic material. The wiper strip includes a colored tip portion; when the colored tip portion wears off, an operator is alerted to the need to replace the wiper strip assembly. The wiper strip is connected to a relatively hard, plastic rigid component that provides rigidity to the wiper strip. The rigid component is connected by a relatively soft, flexible, web-like plastic hinge component to a relatively hard, plastic attachment component that removably, securely attaches the wiper strip assembly to the vacuum cleaner. The hinge component automatically enables the wiper strip to move vertically with respect to the attachment component so that the wiper strip automatically adjusts its vertical position depending on the type of surface being cleaned by the vacuum cleaner.

Self-adjusting wiper strip assembly for a vacuum cleaner

A floor cleaner that includes a rotatable brush having an elongate dowel is provided with an anti-cord swallowing system formed by a plurality of grooves formed about the periphery of the dowel and equally spaced along the length of the dowel. The anti-cord swallowing system also includes a plurality of equally spaced ribs extending from an under surface of a power head housing of the cleaner, each rib being aligned with and extending partially into one of the grooves. The clearance between each rib and its respective groove is such that free rotation of the brush is permitted while the possibility of even small diameter power cords being wrapped around the brush is minimized.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Wilbur C Bewley