IP Library Granted Patent US 11,259,674
Granted Patent B2
US 11,259,674 · App. 15/695,730 · Granted Mar 1, 2022

Hose clip arrangement for use with cleaning device and/or other devices

Inventors: Lee M. Cottrell (Newton, MA); Mingshun Su (Suzhou, CN)
Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
A47L9/0036A47L5/225A47L5/32A47L9/242A47L9/248A47L9/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,259,674
App. No.
15/695,730
Granted
Mar 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hose clip for coupling at least a portion of a suction hose to a support structure of a vacuum cleaning apparatus may include a protrusion and a coupler. The coupler may include a coupler housing having an opening for receiving at least a portion of the protrusion. The opening may transition from an outer surface of the coupler housing into a coupler cavity defined by the coupler housing. The coupler cavity may include a plurality of jaws for engaging at least a portion of the protrusion.

Claims (17)

1. A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising: a support structure; a suction hose; and a hose clip for coupling at least a portion of the suction hose to the support structure, wherein the hose clip includes: a hose ring slidably coupled to and extending completely around at least a portion of the suction hose, wherein the hose ring includes a protrusion; and a coupler coupled to the support structure, the coupler including a coupler housing having an opening for receiving at least a portion of the protrusion, the opening transitioning from an outer surface of the coupler housing into a coupler cavity defined by the coupler housing, wherein the coupler cavity includes a plurality of jaws for engaging at least a portion of the protrusion, wherein the plurality of jaws are configured to be slidable linearly in a direction away from a central axis extending from the opening, and the plurality of jaws include a tapered region facing the protrusion.

2. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion includes a coupling.

3. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the coupling is spherical.

4. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 3 , wherein an engaging surface for at least one jaw includes a recess having a curvature that generally corresponds to at least a portion of a spherical surface of the coupling.

5. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coupling has an insertion end width, an intermediary width, and a protrusion end width, the intermediary width measuring greater than the insertion end width and the protrusion end width.

6. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, before the coupling is inserted into the coupler, a separation distance between the plurality of jaws measured at the tapered region is greater than or equal to the insertion end width.

7. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hose ring slideably engages the suction hose.

8. A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising: a support structure having a first end and a second end; a handle coupled to the first end of the support structure; a debris collector coupled to the support structure; a suction motor fluidly coupled to the debris collector; a suction hose fluidly coupled to the debris collector and the support structure; a surface cleaning head fluidly coupled to the second end of the support structure, wherein the suction motor causes debris to be drawn into a dirty air inlet of the surface cleaning head and be deposited in the debris collector; and a hose clip for coupling at least a portion of the suction hose to the support structure, wherein the hose clip includes: a hose ring slidably coupled to and extending completely around at least a portion of the suction hose, wherein the hose ring includes a protrusion having an at least partially spherical shaped coupling; and a coupler coupled to the support structure, the coupler including a coupler housing having an opening for receiving at least a portion of the coupling, the opening transitioning from an outer surface of the coupler housing into a coupler cavity defined by the coupler housing, wherein the coupler cavity includes a plurality of jaws for engaging at least a portion of the coupling, wherein the plurality of jaws are configured to be slidable linearly in a direction away from a central axis extending from the opening and each of the plurality of jaws are urged towards the central axis by a corresponding biasing member, and the plurality of jaws include a tapered region facing the protrusion.

9. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein an engaging surface for at least one jaw includes a recess having a curvature that generally corresponds to at least a portion of a spherical surface of the coupling.

10. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the coupling has an insertion end width, an intermediary width, and a protrusion end width, the intermediary width measuring greater than the insertion end width and the protrusion end width.

11. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein, before the coupling is inserted into the coupler, a separation distance between the plurality of jaws measured at the tapered region is greater than or equal to the insertion end width.

12. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the handle fluidly couples the suction hose to the support structure.

13. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the handle is detachable from the support structure.

14. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the support structure is detachable from the surface cleaning head.

15. A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising: a support structure; a debris collector coupled to the support structure; a suction motor fluidly coupled to the debris collector; a suction hose fluidly coupled to the debris collector; and a hose clip for coupling at least a portion of the suction hose to the support structure, wherein the hose clip includes: a hose ring slidably coupled to and extending completely around at least a portion of the suction hose, wherein the hose ring includes a protrusion; and a coupler, the coupler including a coupler housing having an opening for receiving at least a portion of the protrusion, the opening transitioning from an outer surface of the coupler housing into a coupler cavity defined by the coupler housing, wherein the coupler cavity includes a plurality of jaws for engaging at least a portion of the protrusion, wherein the plurality of jaws are configured to be slidable linearly in a direction away from a central axis extending from the opening and each of the plurality of jaws are urged towards the central axis, and the plurality of jaws include a tapered region facing the protrusion.

16. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the protrusion includes an at least partially spherical shaped coupling having a truncated end region.

17. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the coupler is coupled to the support structure.

Assignments (4)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 20, 2023
From: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064600/0098 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: GLOBAL APPLIANCE INC.; SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC; SHARKNINJA MANAGEMENT COMPANY; SHARKNINJA SALES COMPANY; EURO-PRO HOLDCO, LLC; GLOBAL APPLIANCE UK HOLDCO LIMITED; COMPASS CAYMAN SPV, LTD.; COMPASS CAYMAN SPV 2 LIMITED; EP MIDCO LLC
Reel/Frame 052311/0585 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2018
From: COTTRELL, LEE M.; SU, MINGSHUN
To: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
Reel/Frame 047179/0390 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2017
From: GLOBAL APPLIANCE INC.; SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC; SHARKNINJA MANAGEMENT COMPANY; SHARKNINJA SALES COMPANY; EURO-PRO HOLDCO, LLC; GLOBAL APPLIANCE UK HOLDCO LIMITED; COMPASS CAYMAN SPV, LTD.; COMPASS CAYMAN SPV 2 LIMITED; EP MIDCO LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 044321/0885 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62383075 · Sep 2, 2016
Related Publication 20180064301A1 · Mar 8, 2018