CA2075424C - Vacuum cleaner headlight - Google Patents
Vacuum cleaner headlightInfo
- Publication number
- CA2075424C CA2075424C CA002075424A CA2075424A CA2075424C CA 2075424 C CA2075424 C CA 2075424C CA 002075424 A CA002075424 A CA 002075424A CA 2075424 A CA2075424 A CA 2075424A CA 2075424 C CA2075424 C CA 2075424C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- optical elements
- reflex optical
- light
- vacuum cleaner
- pipe
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2857—User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2836—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
- A47L9/2847—Surface treating elements
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/30—Arrangement of illuminating devices
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S385/00—Optical waveguides
- Y10S385/901—Illuminating or display apparatus
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner headlight system incorporating a light pipe is provided. The light pipe includes reflex optics to control the distribution of light across the width of the output edge of the light pipe, as well as to prevent light from escaping through the sides of the light pipe. A reflex optical reflector is also part of the system, for reflecting light from a light bulb into the light pipe without requiring a metallized mirror.
Description
~7~2~
VACUUM CLEANER HEADLIGHT
Baokqround of the Invention This invention relat~s to vacuum oleaner headlights. In particular, this invention relates to a vacuum cleaner h~adlight ~ss~- hly includin~ a light pipe.
It is well known to include a headlight at the front of a vacuum cl2an~:r to illuminate the surface to be cleaned. Such h~adlights ar~ particularly useful to illuminate corners of rooms where the ambient light is not that brigh~ and for cl~ g under ~urnitur~.
Headlight~ can be provided both on th~ base of an upright vacuum cleaner and on the motor~driven nozzle of a cani~ter vacuum cleaner. Hereaft~r, the term ''vacuum cleaner" will b~ used to re~er to b~th the base of an upri~ht Yacuum cleaner and th~ ~otor-driv~
nozzle o~ a canist~r vacuum cleaner, unl~ss otherw~e not~d.
~he simple~ and mo~t com~on ~or~ o~ vacuum cleaner headlight includ~ on~ or mor~ bulbs ~ounted b~hi~d a len-~ near ~he ~ron~ of the vacuu~ eleaner. In such a head}ight the bulb~ are usually mountad in a reflector~housing. To be most u~e~ul, the headlight ~ust illuminate the area i~m~diatQly in ~ront of the vacuum clean~r. To achieva that re~ult, the bulb and l~n~ are placad as ~a~ forward a~ po3~ibl~ to avoid ca~ting the shadow of th~ vacuum ~l~aner itself on the 2~7~
floor in front of the vacuum cleaner. However, the size of the bulb and reflector housing can add significantly to the height of the ~acuum cleaner, ~aking it more dif~icult for the vacuum cleaner to be used under furniture. For that reason, in some cases the bulb i5 moved further back, but that results in '.
shadows i~ the area immediat~ly in front of the vacuum cleaner, which is precisaly the area to be cleaned.
It is also known to use light pipes in vacuum cleaner headlights. In such a headlight system, the bulb can be placed within the body of the vacuum cleaner remote from the front face, and the light is conducted to the front face by a light pipe, which is an optical waveguide, usually rigid, form~d from glas~, quartz, or optical grade plastics such a~ methacrylate plastics.
However, in known vacuum cleaner light pipe headlight ~ystems, the light exiting the front face of the light pipe tended to be concentrated directly in front ~f the bulb, so that even if thc light pipe exit end wer~ wide, the light pattern would not co~er the full area in front of the vacuum cleaner. To provide a useful distribution of light, it has been known to use multiple bulbs and, in at least one case, multiple light pipes acros~ the width of the ~acuum cleaner.
It would be desirable to be able to provid~ a vacuum cleaner headlight which doe~ not exce~sively incr~a~e the h~ight of the front of a vacuu~ clea~er.
It would also be de irable to be a~le to provide a vacuum cleaner headlight which illuminates the area immediately in front of the vacuum cleaner.
It would fur~her be desirable to be able to provlde a vacuum cleaner h~adlight which has an even distribution of liyht acxoss the width o~ the vacuum cleaner.
It would still further be desirable to provide such a vacuum cleaner, incorporating a light pipe, which only required one light pipe and one light bulb or other light source.
Summarv of th~ I~vention It is an object of this invention to provide a vacuum cleaner headlight which does not excessively increase the height of the ~ront of a vacuum cleaner.
It is also an object of this invention t~
provide a vacuu~ cleaner headlight which illuminates the area imm~diately in front of the vacuum cleaner.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a vacuum cleaner headlight which has an even dis~ribution o~ light across the width of the vacuum cleaner.
It is a still further objec~ of this invention to provide such a vacuum cleaner, incorporating a light pipe, which only requir~s one light pipe and one light bu~b or other light source.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner a~sembly in~luding a housing having a front wall, a light: pipe ~h~ h~r within the housing communicating with a headlight aperture in the front wall, a light source within the housing remote 2S ~ro~ the headlight aperture~ and a substantially planax light pipe within the light pipe ch~ ~er. The light pipe has a fir t index of refraction, a rear face ad~acent the light ~ourre ~or raceiving lîght fro~ the light source, a front face disposed substantially in the hoadlight apertu~e through which light is e~itted, and an upper surfac~ and a lower surface. At lea~t one of the upper and lower sur~ac~s ha~ primary reflex opti~al elements thereon for distributing light 2 or~ ~ 2 ~
entering the rear face in a desired distribution to the front face.
A reflex optical reflector is also provided.
Brief Description of the ~rawinqs The above and oth~r objects and advantages of the inv~ntion will ba apparent upon consideration of th~ following detailed description~ tak~n in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner incorporating the headlight system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of lS the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, taken from line 2-2 o~
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a horizontal cro~s-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of FIGS. 1 and 2, taken from line 3-3 of FIG. lj FIG. 4 is a perspective view o~ a light pipe according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the light pipe of FIG. 4, ~aken from line 5-5 o~ FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a right -~ide elevational view of the light pipa of FIGS. 4 and 5, taken from line S-6 o~
FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view o~
the light pipe vf FIGS. 4~6, tak~n from line 7-7 o~
FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a left side elevatio~al view o~ the light pipe of FIGS. ~7, taken from line 8-8 of ~IG. 5;
FIG. ~ is a front elevational view o~ the light pipe o~ FIGS~ 4 8, taken ~rom line 9-9 o~ ~IG. 5;
2 ~ 2 ~
FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the light pipe of FIGS. 4-9, taken ~rom line ~.0-10 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view o~ the light pipe of FIGS. 4-10, taken from line 11-11 of ~I~. 4;
FIG. 12 is an explod~d perspectlve view of the light pipe of FIGS. 4-11;
FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of a reflex optical reflector according to the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a rear elevational view of a reflex optical reflector according to the present invention; and FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a reflex optical re~lector according to the present invention, taken from line 15-15 o~ FIG. 13.
D~tailed Descri~tion o~ the Invention The vacuum cleaner headlight system of the present invention provides substantially uniform illumination on the floor in front of a vacuum cleaner, as close as possible to the vacuum cleaner, by using a light pipe to horizantally distribut~ light ~rom a liqht source, ~uch ae a bulb, within the Yacuum cleaner and to project it from t~e ~ront of the vacuum cleaner onto the ~loorO
As discu sed in part above, a light pipe is a molded optical waveguide, usually rigid, formed ~rom any optical grade light transmissive material. Like optical waveguide fi~ers (~fiber op~ic~l~), light pipes can direct light because of the ph~nomenon of total internal refl~ction, which is a con~uence of Snell's Law o~ Re~raation.
~ ccording to Snell's Law~ light travelling from a fir~t medium having a first index of refraction ~ ~ ~ 3 ll2l~
to a second medium havin~ a second different index of refraction, and approaching the interface between those media at a non-zero angle relative to a line normal to the interface, will change directions at the interface because of refraction. If the second index of refraction is greater than the first, the angle between the refracted light rays and the normal line will be smaller in the s~cond medium than it was in the first medium. If the second index of refractlon is less than the first, th~ angle between th~ refracted light rays and the normal line will be ~reater in the second medium than it was in the f irst medium.
Snell's Law can be expressed mathematically as follows:
n1sin~1 = n2sinO2, where n1 and n2 are the indices of re~raction in the first and second media, resp~ectively, and ~l and ~2 are the angles between the normal and the incident and refracted light rays, respectively, otherwise known as 20 the "angle of incidence" and the "angle of refraction."
Total internal reflection occurs wh~n light is passing from a medium of higher index of refraction to one of lower index of refraction and the angl~ of refraction (~2) reaches, or just ~c~e~ 0~, at which point the light ray is refracted so far from the normal that it is effactively reflected back into the first medium. Because cin(90~) = 1, this occurs when:
nlsin~l ~ n2 ' ~o tha~ total internal r~lection o~ s, for two mQdia having indice~ of refraction nl and n2, when the angl~
of incidence just exceeds ~1 = sin~l (n2tnl) -This angle will obviously differ for each pair of media having different indices of refraction.
As an approximation to most of the optical grade materials that can be used in the present invention, glass has an index of refraction of approxi~ately l.S, while air has an index of re~raotion of approximately 1 (the index of refraction of a vacuum is exactly 1). Therefore, for light rays traveling in glass, total internal reflection occur~ when the angle of incidence exceeds = sin~~ .5) - sin~1~2/3) = 41.8~.
Thus for a light pipe of glass or an optical medium of similar index of refraction, only those light rays having angles of incidence of less than 41.8~
would e~cape through the sides of the waveguide. If the direction of the light rays that enter through th~
entrance end of the light pipe are sufficiently well-controlled, one can almost guarantee that no light rays will escape before reaching the exit end. Only those ligh~ ray~ that enter at random an~les (e.g~, light rays from a~bient sources) might be sufficiently close to heing perpendicular ~o ~he side walls o~ the light plpe to escape. If the dimension of the light pipe perpendicular ~o the direc~ion o~ desired transmission of light is small enough, only a small number of random light rays will escape near the entrance end of the light pipe.
Previously known light pipes did not control the lateral distribution o~ th~ light passing through the light pip~ That is, ~or a light pipe of high aspect xatio -~ ~uch wider in a first direction perpendicular to the direction o~ light travel than it 2 ~ 7 3~ 21~
is in a second direction perpendicular to the direction of light travel, previously known vacuum cleaner light pipes did nothing to control the distribution of light in the firs direction, or indeed to prevent the escape S of light out the side walls in that direction. As a result, there was some leakage out the side~ of previously known vacuum clean~r light pipes and, more importantly, light exiting the previously known light pipes tended to be concentrated at pcints along the width of the exit end that were directly opposite the points along the width of the entrance end at which ~he light sources were located.
The present invention addresses the~e difficulties of high-aspect ratio light pipes by providing reflex optical elements on surfaces of the light pipe, using total int~rnal reflection to increase control o~ light propagating through the light pipe.
Reflex optical elements are optical elements that reflect light.
In the present invention, the re~lex optical elements are triangular pri~,matic elements arranged along lines extending substantially radially from a single point behind the entrance end of the light pipe.
The light source of the vacuum cleaner is intended to be mounted at this virtual center point of the array of prismatic elements. The prismatic elements in th~
preferred ~ho~i -nt have cros~ section~ that are substantially i~o~c~les right triangles, although they need not be. The apex angle o~ the prismatic elements is chosan so that in addition to preventin~ light from escaping ~rom th~ light pipe, total internal reflection keeps ligh~ within the prismatic 21ements. The prismatic ~lements thereby ~ channels for collimating the light inko a desir~d distribution at the front ~ace of the light pipe. By shaping tha 2 ~ 2 ll entrance end so that light entars substantially uniformly across the entrance end, light can be directed to exit substantially uniformly across the exit end. In the sase of a vacuum cleaner headlight, this results i~ more uniforTn lighting.
A vacuum cleaner assembly 10 incorporating a light pipe 40 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3. As explained above, the present invention can be used in the motor-driven nozzle o~ a canister vacuum cleaner, or in the base o~ an upright vacuum cleaner; vacuum cleaner assembly 10 as shown in the drawings is a motor-driven nozzle.
Motor-driven nozzle 10 has a suction chamber 20 housing a rotating (wh~n operating) agitator brush 21. Brush 21 hel~s dislodge dirt from the surface to be cleaned, which is then sucked throu~h suction passage 22 into connector ll, which connects to the wand and suction hose (neither shown) of a canister vacuum unit. Wheels 23 (one shown) make it easier to move motor-driven nozzle 10 over the surface to b~
cleaned. Power cord 12 provides power to motor 30 which dri~es brush 21 via belt 31. Switch 32 can be provided to turn motor 30 on and off, depending on the nature of th~ sur~ace to be cleaned ~e~g., carpet~d or not carpeted), and possibly to change the speed of motor 30. Li~ht ~ulb 24 illuminates the surfac~ to be clean~d through light pipe 40 in accordance with the in~ention. A re~lector 25, which according to a preferred emho~i ?nt o~ ~he invention employs reflex optics, reflects light ~rom bulb 24 through light pipe 40. A h _ er strip 15 ext~nds around the perimeter o~ motor-driven nozzl~ lo to protect furniture and walls ~rom impacts with motor-driven nozzle 10.
It is desirable for the front 26 of motor-driven nozzle 10 (or of an upright vacuum cleaner base) to be as low as possibla to maximize the utility of the vacuum cleaner for cleaning under furniture and beds.
Suc~ion ch~h~r 20 con ributes a certain minimum height, and a traditional headlight would add too much height for motor-driven nozzle lQ to be truly u$eful if the headlight were at the ~ront edge 26. And if the headlight were not at the front edge 26! front edge 26 would cast a shadow in the surface to be cleaned tha~
would prevent illumination of the i ~diate area to be cleaned.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, light pipe 40, which is relatively thin, is provided to direct light out front edge 26, without light bulb 24 having to be over suction chamber 20.
Light pipe 40 is pre~era~ly ~ade of an optical grade plastic such as polymethyl mathacrylate, which has an index of refraction of about 1.489.
Entrance Qnd 33 of light pipa 40 is prQferably shaped to allow light rays from bulb 24 to enter easily into light pipe 40.
~ he upper and lower surfaces 60, 61 of light pipe 40 ~ar a pattern o~ primary reflex prismatic elements 50 and secondary reflex prismatic elements 51.
Primary prismatic elements 50 preferably extend along lin~s that radiate ~rom a point that is prs~erably centered on ~he ~ilament of bulb 24, and ar~ provided to collimat~ and channel light uniformly from bulb 24 30 to the front exit end 41 o~ light pip~ 40. That prevents a concentration of light directly in front of bulb 24, spre~in~ the light across th~ width of light pipQ 40.
The apex angle o~ pri~ary prismatic 3 5 elements 50 is chosell with regard to the index of ~7 3 ~ ~
refraction of the material of light pipe 40 and the desired channeling effect. If the apex angle is too small, the sides of elements 50 will be too steep and light may escape, but if the apex angle is too large, the sides o~ elements 50 may be too'shallow to provide the desired channeling. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the apex angle is between about 89.5~ and about 90.5~.
As primary elements 50 extend away from entrance end 33, because thay are extending radially from a point, they diverge. If this divergence were not compensated for, it would re~ult in gaps at exit end 41 between the ends of the various pri~matic el~ments 50. When the headlight was operating, such gaps would manifest themselves as dark~ or dim, spots between the bright spots formed by elements S0. To eliminate such a pattern of alternating bright and dim spots, secondary re~lex prismatic elements 51 are provid~d.
The cro 8 section of sec4ndary prismatic element 51 is preferably mathematically similar to that o~ primary prismat~ic elements 50, with the same particularly preferred apex angle o~ between about 89.5~ and about 90.5~. However, becaus~ secondary prismatic elements 51 are desiqned to fill the increa~ingly wid~ gaps between primary prismatic ele~ents 50, the cross section of each secondary - prismatic element 51 preferably be~in~ as substantially a point, and increases in size gradually, until it reach~s exit end 41. (Actually, the cross section of each of primary prismatic element~ 50 al~o starts subs~ankially a8 a point at its virtual origin, centered on th~ filament of bulb 24, and increa~e~ a~
it extend~ toward exit end 41. ) Secondary prismatic 35 element~ 51 pick up light rays that stray into the ..
~3i~2~
voids between primary prismatic elements 50 and direct them to exit end 41, resulting in a substantially uniformly bright illumination at exit end 41.
Exit end 41 of light pipe 40 is preferably formed at an incline, with the top further back than the bottom. This result~ in refraotion of exiting light rays downward, so that the surface to be cleaned can be illuminated immediately in front of motor~driYen nozzle 10. The angle of inclination in the preferred embodiment is ~bout 17~.
Light pipe 40 can be molded or otherwise formed as a single piece. However, especially when molding light pipe 40 from an optical grade plastic, it is advantageous to form light pipe 40 in two pieces, i.e~, an upper half-pipe 120 and a lowex half-pipe 121, as best seen in FIG. 12 and FXGS. 6-8. Molding light pipe 40 as two half-pipes 120, 121 allows faster cooling of light pipe 40, a~ it is well known that a given volume cools faster as smaller pieces than as a single larger volume. Moreover, tha two hal~-pipes 120, 121 function as independent waveguides, and as discussed above, the narrower the waveguide, the smaller ~he ~raction of entering light rays tha~ will escape through the ~ides.
The lower surface 122 o~ upper half-pipe 120 and the upper surface 123 o~ lower half-pipe 121 meet along parti~g plane 62. Pre~erably surfaces 122, 123 are perfectly smooth a~d ~lat and meet perfectly along plane 62. However, it is acceptabl~ if upper and lowsr 30 half-pipe~ 120, 121 meet perf~ctly only at front and rear edges 33, 41. If half-pipes 120, 121 ~ail to meet ak eith~r edg~ 33, 41, the direct qlare of bulb 24 ~ay be visible to the user when bulb 24 is illuminated. If hal~-pipes ~20, 121 fail to meet at front edge 41, 3 5 whether or not they meet at Xear edge 33, there will be 2 ~ '7 ~
an unsightly gap. It is of little consequence, however, whether or not surfaces 122, 123 meet along all of plane 62, because, as long as each surface 122, 123 is smooth and nearly flat, light will stay within the resp~ctive half-pipe 120, 121 even if surface~ 122, 123 are not perfectly flat.
~ s best seen in FIG. 5, the horizontal cross section of upper hal~-pipe ~20 is not identical to that of lower half-pipe 121. Upper half-pipe 120 has ind~ntation 52 at side ~3. Indentation 52 is provided solely to enable light pipe 40 to fit within the housing of motor-driven nozzle 10 without interfering with sloping surface 13. Fron~ face 41 of upper half-pip~ 120 is extended over indentation 52. In a motor-lS driven nozzle of different design, indentation S2 maynot be necessary.
Upper and lower half-pipes 120, 121 may be fastened together in any convenient way that does not interf~re with their optical function or with their proper ~it with one another. For example, an adhesive that is effective in a thin layer may be used, or mechanical clips may be applied around the outside edges of sides 53, 54. ~e~h~nical clips that extend into half-pipes 120, 121 may also be used, but may create baf~Ies or shadows in~ide light pipe 40 that decr~ase the uniroxmity of light distribu~ion. The mo t pr2ferred method of ~ast~nin~, however, is to provide posts on OnQ of the half-pipe~ and corresponding hole~ in the other hal~-pipe (not shown~.
The post~ are aligned to engag~ the holes in a press fit manner to hold the half pipes together. Even where adhesive or clips ar~ used, i~ may b~ advantageous to provide short posts and corres~on~ holes ~or alignment purposes.
--"' 2~7~2~
In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the FIGURES, lower half-pipQ 121 has depending flange 42. Flange 42 is provided solely ~or decorative purposes and in the illustrated embodiment is clear.
As a result, when the headlight system is operating, bottom edge 43 of flange 42 i~ illuminated. It is also possible to provide other d~corative treatments on flange 42, including ribs, grooves, matte stripes, etc.
Even with the provision of prismatic elements 50, 51, some of the light entering at end 33 may tend to stray out sides 53, 54 of light pipe 40.
That is particularly so in th case of certain of elements 50, 51 that, ~eca~se they follow strictly radial lines ~rom bulb 24, terminate a~ side 53 or side 54, rather than at front edye 41. Accordingly, light pipe 40 is preferably provided with supplemental reflex prismatic elements 100 at sides 53, 54.
Supplemental reflex prismatic elements 100 arP designed to capture, by total internal reflection, any such ~tray or misdirected liqht r~ys, and channel them either b~ck into the body of light pipe 40 or along ~ides 53, 54 to ~ront exit edge 41. In the preferred ~ho~i ~nt having two half-pipes 120, 121, supplemental elements 100 are provided on the side edg2s of both hal~-pipes 120, 121. As in the case of primary and secondary prismatic elements 50, 51, the cros~ section of each supplemental prismatic elem~nt 100 i~ preferably an isosceles triangle whos~
ap~x angle is chQsen to assure the proper amount o~
internal re~lection while still allowing the desired chann~ling. In a particularly preferred Pmho~i -nt, the apex angl~ is batween about 89.5~ and about 90.5~.
Because light pip~ 40 does not extend across the fu}l width of motor~driven nozzle 10, it would not ordinarily illumin~te the entire surface immediat21y in ~ront of ~otor-driven n~zzle 10. In order to provide such illumination, exit edge 41 of light pipe 40 is formed with prismatic shifting elements 55, which are angled to refract exitin~ light rays, preferably by ~arying angular amounts, toward the area 14 of motor-driven nozzle 10 to which light pipe 40 does not extend. Prismatic shifting elements 5S prefera~ly are of progressively smaller angle as one proceeds from side S3 toward side 54. In the pre~erred emho~;r?nt, prismatic shifting elements SS are divid2d into nineteen groups. In that preferred ~--ho~ nt~
proceeding from group to group from side s3 toward side s4, the prism angle facing side ~4 increases ~rom about 14.65~ to about 75.0~, and proceeding ~rom side 54 to side 53, the pri~m angle faoing side 53 range~ ~rom about 15.0~ to about 90.0~. The angles are chosen to assure that area 14 is illuminated, as well as to assure that areas not direct:ly in front of nozzle 10 are not needlessly illuminat:ed. In addition, some of the groups near the center of exit end 41 ~re preferably inclined a~ a greater angle than the approxima~ely 17~ inclination o~ the remaining groups, to provide more effective illumination of the surface to be clean~d i ~~i~tely in front of nozzle 10.
2S The effects of shi~ting elements 55 are shown in FIG9 1, where area 16 represents the area that would be illuminated in the absence of shifting elements 55, while axea 17 represents the area illumina~ed when shifting elements 55 are provided.
In the preferred embodi~ent of light pipe 40 having upper and lower half-pipe~ 120, 121, shifting elements 55 are provided on ~oth half-pipes 120, 121.
Howev~r, it is possible to provide sh$~tin~ elements S5 on only one of hal~-pipes 120, 121.
As stated above, raflex o~tical re~lector 25 is provided to better utilize the light from bulb 24.
Reflector 25 is made reflective by providing a plurality of prismatic reflecting elements 140 on the S rear surface of reflector 25 (away from bulb 24), in place of the traditional ~etallization applied to such surfaces in conventional mirrors. This decr~ases the absorption caused by traditional metallization techniques such as vacuum metallization. All of the ~aterial of reflestor 25 is intrinsically transparent.
~owever, the apex angle of each of elements 14Q i5 prefer3bly chosen so that substantially all light rays entering face 150 o~ reflector 25 are reflected back toward bulb 24 and entrance edge 33 o~ light pipe 40.
Tabs 130 are provided for attaching reflector 25 to motor-driven nozzle 10.
The horizontal cross section of Pace 150 is preferably a circular arc, most preferably a semicircle, substantially centered on the filament o~
bulb 24 (i.e., substantially the same virtual center point ~rom which elements 50, 51 radiate3. Ideally, reflector 25 should be part-sph~rical; however, with the ~i -ncions involved in motor~driven noz~le lO, a part-cylindrical shape is a suf~icient approximation.
In this cas~, all light rays are impinging substantially normally on sur~ace 150 and cont~nuing back to elements 140. It is desired that no light ray impinge on a side of any element l~0 at less ~han 41.8~
fro~ the normal, or more than 48.2~ from the surface of that side. ~ence the preferred apex angle is no greater than 96.4~ (twice 48.2~). The particularly p~eferrsd ap~x angle is bstw~n about 89.5~ and about Reflector 25 incre~s~s the amount o~ light 35 entering light pip~ 40. The semicircular ~hape directs 2 '~
reflected light rays into light pipe 40 at substantially the same angle as direct light from bulb 24. Accordingly, the available light is increased while the number o~ stray rays that would ~ffect the uniformity of light distribution is minimized.
Thus it i~ seen that a vacuum cleaner headlight which does not excessively increase the hei~ht of the front of a ~acuum cleaner, which illuminates the area i -~iately in front o~ the vacuum cleaner, and which ha an effective distribu~ion of light across the width of the vacuum cleaner, a~ well as a vacuum cleaner, incorporating a li~ht pipe, which only requires one light pipe and one light bulb or other light source, are provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the presant invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which ~ollow.
VACUUM CLEANER HEADLIGHT
Baokqround of the Invention This invention relat~s to vacuum oleaner headlights. In particular, this invention relates to a vacuum cleaner h~adlight ~ss~- hly includin~ a light pipe.
It is well known to include a headlight at the front of a vacuum cl2an~:r to illuminate the surface to be cleaned. Such h~adlights ar~ particularly useful to illuminate corners of rooms where the ambient light is not that brigh~ and for cl~ g under ~urnitur~.
Headlight~ can be provided both on th~ base of an upright vacuum cleaner and on the motor~driven nozzle of a cani~ter vacuum cleaner. Hereaft~r, the term ''vacuum cleaner" will b~ used to re~er to b~th the base of an upri~ht Yacuum cleaner and th~ ~otor-driv~
nozzle o~ a canist~r vacuum cleaner, unl~ss otherw~e not~d.
~he simple~ and mo~t com~on ~or~ o~ vacuum cleaner headlight includ~ on~ or mor~ bulbs ~ounted b~hi~d a len-~ near ~he ~ron~ of the vacuu~ eleaner. In such a head}ight the bulb~ are usually mountad in a reflector~housing. To be most u~e~ul, the headlight ~ust illuminate the area i~m~diatQly in ~ront of the vacuum clean~r. To achieva that re~ult, the bulb and l~n~ are placad as ~a~ forward a~ po3~ibl~ to avoid ca~ting the shadow of th~ vacuum ~l~aner itself on the 2~7~
floor in front of the vacuum cleaner. However, the size of the bulb and reflector housing can add significantly to the height of the ~acuum cleaner, ~aking it more dif~icult for the vacuum cleaner to be used under furniture. For that reason, in some cases the bulb i5 moved further back, but that results in '.
shadows i~ the area immediat~ly in front of the vacuum cleaner, which is precisaly the area to be cleaned.
It is also known to use light pipes in vacuum cleaner headlights. In such a headlight system, the bulb can be placed within the body of the vacuum cleaner remote from the front face, and the light is conducted to the front face by a light pipe, which is an optical waveguide, usually rigid, form~d from glas~, quartz, or optical grade plastics such a~ methacrylate plastics.
However, in known vacuum cleaner light pipe headlight ~ystems, the light exiting the front face of the light pipe tended to be concentrated directly in front ~f the bulb, so that even if thc light pipe exit end wer~ wide, the light pattern would not co~er the full area in front of the vacuum cleaner. To provide a useful distribution of light, it has been known to use multiple bulbs and, in at least one case, multiple light pipes acros~ the width of the ~acuum cleaner.
It would be desirable to be able to provid~ a vacuum cleaner headlight which doe~ not exce~sively incr~a~e the h~ight of the front of a vacuu~ clea~er.
It would also be de irable to be a~le to provide a vacuum cleaner headlight which illuminates the area immediately in front of the vacuum cleaner.
It would fur~her be desirable to be able to provlde a vacuum cleaner h~adlight which has an even distribution of liyht acxoss the width o~ the vacuum cleaner.
It would still further be desirable to provide such a vacuum cleaner, incorporating a light pipe, which only required one light pipe and one light bulb or other light source.
Summarv of th~ I~vention It is an object of this invention to provide a vacuum cleaner headlight which does not excessively increase the height of the ~ront of a vacuum cleaner.
It is also an object of this invention t~
provide a vacuu~ cleaner headlight which illuminates the area imm~diately in front of the vacuum cleaner.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a vacuum cleaner headlight which has an even dis~ribution o~ light across the width of the vacuum cleaner.
It is a still further objec~ of this invention to provide such a vacuum cleaner, incorporating a light pipe, which only requir~s one light pipe and one light bu~b or other light source.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner a~sembly in~luding a housing having a front wall, a light: pipe ~h~ h~r within the housing communicating with a headlight aperture in the front wall, a light source within the housing remote 2S ~ro~ the headlight aperture~ and a substantially planax light pipe within the light pipe ch~ ~er. The light pipe has a fir t index of refraction, a rear face ad~acent the light ~ourre ~or raceiving lîght fro~ the light source, a front face disposed substantially in the hoadlight apertu~e through which light is e~itted, and an upper surfac~ and a lower surface. At lea~t one of the upper and lower sur~ac~s ha~ primary reflex opti~al elements thereon for distributing light 2 or~ ~ 2 ~
entering the rear face in a desired distribution to the front face.
A reflex optical reflector is also provided.
Brief Description of the ~rawinqs The above and oth~r objects and advantages of the inv~ntion will ba apparent upon consideration of th~ following detailed description~ tak~n in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner incorporating the headlight system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of lS the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, taken from line 2-2 o~
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a horizontal cro~s-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of FIGS. 1 and 2, taken from line 3-3 of FIG. lj FIG. 4 is a perspective view o~ a light pipe according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the light pipe of FIG. 4, ~aken from line 5-5 o~ FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a right -~ide elevational view of the light pipa of FIGS. 4 and 5, taken from line S-6 o~
FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view o~
the light pipe vf FIGS. 4~6, tak~n from line 7-7 o~
FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a left side elevatio~al view o~ the light pipe of FIGS. ~7, taken from line 8-8 of ~IG. 5;
FIG. ~ is a front elevational view o~ the light pipe o~ FIGS~ 4 8, taken ~rom line 9-9 o~ ~IG. 5;
2 ~ 2 ~
FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the light pipe of FIGS. 4-9, taken ~rom line ~.0-10 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view o~ the light pipe of FIGS. 4-10, taken from line 11-11 of ~I~. 4;
FIG. 12 is an explod~d perspectlve view of the light pipe of FIGS. 4-11;
FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of a reflex optical reflector according to the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a rear elevational view of a reflex optical reflector according to the present invention; and FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a reflex optical re~lector according to the present invention, taken from line 15-15 o~ FIG. 13.
D~tailed Descri~tion o~ the Invention The vacuum cleaner headlight system of the present invention provides substantially uniform illumination on the floor in front of a vacuum cleaner, as close as possible to the vacuum cleaner, by using a light pipe to horizantally distribut~ light ~rom a liqht source, ~uch ae a bulb, within the Yacuum cleaner and to project it from t~e ~ront of the vacuum cleaner onto the ~loorO
As discu sed in part above, a light pipe is a molded optical waveguide, usually rigid, formed ~rom any optical grade light transmissive material. Like optical waveguide fi~ers (~fiber op~ic~l~), light pipes can direct light because of the ph~nomenon of total internal refl~ction, which is a con~uence of Snell's Law o~ Re~raation.
~ ccording to Snell's Law~ light travelling from a fir~t medium having a first index of refraction ~ ~ ~ 3 ll2l~
to a second medium havin~ a second different index of refraction, and approaching the interface between those media at a non-zero angle relative to a line normal to the interface, will change directions at the interface because of refraction. If the second index of refraction is greater than the first, the angle between the refracted light rays and the normal line will be smaller in the s~cond medium than it was in the first medium. If the second index of refractlon is less than the first, th~ angle between th~ refracted light rays and the normal line will be ~reater in the second medium than it was in the f irst medium.
Snell's Law can be expressed mathematically as follows:
n1sin~1 = n2sinO2, where n1 and n2 are the indices of re~raction in the first and second media, resp~ectively, and ~l and ~2 are the angles between the normal and the incident and refracted light rays, respectively, otherwise known as 20 the "angle of incidence" and the "angle of refraction."
Total internal reflection occurs wh~n light is passing from a medium of higher index of refraction to one of lower index of refraction and the angl~ of refraction (~2) reaches, or just ~c~e~ 0~, at which point the light ray is refracted so far from the normal that it is effactively reflected back into the first medium. Because cin(90~) = 1, this occurs when:
nlsin~l ~ n2 ' ~o tha~ total internal r~lection o~ s, for two mQdia having indice~ of refraction nl and n2, when the angl~
of incidence just exceeds ~1 = sin~l (n2tnl) -This angle will obviously differ for each pair of media having different indices of refraction.
As an approximation to most of the optical grade materials that can be used in the present invention, glass has an index of refraction of approxi~ately l.S, while air has an index of re~raotion of approximately 1 (the index of refraction of a vacuum is exactly 1). Therefore, for light rays traveling in glass, total internal reflection occur~ when the angle of incidence exceeds = sin~~ .5) - sin~1~2/3) = 41.8~.
Thus for a light pipe of glass or an optical medium of similar index of refraction, only those light rays having angles of incidence of less than 41.8~
would e~cape through the sides of the waveguide. If the direction of the light rays that enter through th~
entrance end of the light pipe are sufficiently well-controlled, one can almost guarantee that no light rays will escape before reaching the exit end. Only those ligh~ ray~ that enter at random an~les (e.g~, light rays from a~bient sources) might be sufficiently close to heing perpendicular ~o ~he side walls o~ the light plpe to escape. If the dimension of the light pipe perpendicular ~o the direc~ion o~ desired transmission of light is small enough, only a small number of random light rays will escape near the entrance end of the light pipe.
Previously known light pipes did not control the lateral distribution o~ th~ light passing through the light pip~ That is, ~or a light pipe of high aspect xatio -~ ~uch wider in a first direction perpendicular to the direction o~ light travel than it 2 ~ 7 3~ 21~
is in a second direction perpendicular to the direction of light travel, previously known vacuum cleaner light pipes did nothing to control the distribution of light in the firs direction, or indeed to prevent the escape S of light out the side walls in that direction. As a result, there was some leakage out the side~ of previously known vacuum clean~r light pipes and, more importantly, light exiting the previously known light pipes tended to be concentrated at pcints along the width of the exit end that were directly opposite the points along the width of the entrance end at which ~he light sources were located.
The present invention addresses the~e difficulties of high-aspect ratio light pipes by providing reflex optical elements on surfaces of the light pipe, using total int~rnal reflection to increase control o~ light propagating through the light pipe.
Reflex optical elements are optical elements that reflect light.
In the present invention, the re~lex optical elements are triangular pri~,matic elements arranged along lines extending substantially radially from a single point behind the entrance end of the light pipe.
The light source of the vacuum cleaner is intended to be mounted at this virtual center point of the array of prismatic elements. The prismatic elements in th~
preferred ~ho~i -nt have cros~ section~ that are substantially i~o~c~les right triangles, although they need not be. The apex angle o~ the prismatic elements is chosan so that in addition to preventin~ light from escaping ~rom th~ light pipe, total internal reflection keeps ligh~ within the prismatic 21ements. The prismatic ~lements thereby ~ channels for collimating the light inko a desir~d distribution at the front ~ace of the light pipe. By shaping tha 2 ~ 2 ll entrance end so that light entars substantially uniformly across the entrance end, light can be directed to exit substantially uniformly across the exit end. In the sase of a vacuum cleaner headlight, this results i~ more uniforTn lighting.
A vacuum cleaner assembly 10 incorporating a light pipe 40 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3. As explained above, the present invention can be used in the motor-driven nozzle o~ a canister vacuum cleaner, or in the base o~ an upright vacuum cleaner; vacuum cleaner assembly 10 as shown in the drawings is a motor-driven nozzle.
Motor-driven nozzle 10 has a suction chamber 20 housing a rotating (wh~n operating) agitator brush 21. Brush 21 hel~s dislodge dirt from the surface to be cleaned, which is then sucked throu~h suction passage 22 into connector ll, which connects to the wand and suction hose (neither shown) of a canister vacuum unit. Wheels 23 (one shown) make it easier to move motor-driven nozzle 10 over the surface to b~
cleaned. Power cord 12 provides power to motor 30 which dri~es brush 21 via belt 31. Switch 32 can be provided to turn motor 30 on and off, depending on the nature of th~ sur~ace to be cleaned ~e~g., carpet~d or not carpeted), and possibly to change the speed of motor 30. Li~ht ~ulb 24 illuminates the surfac~ to be clean~d through light pipe 40 in accordance with the in~ention. A re~lector 25, which according to a preferred emho~i ?nt o~ ~he invention employs reflex optics, reflects light ~rom bulb 24 through light pipe 40. A h _ er strip 15 ext~nds around the perimeter o~ motor-driven nozzl~ lo to protect furniture and walls ~rom impacts with motor-driven nozzle 10.
It is desirable for the front 26 of motor-driven nozzle 10 (or of an upright vacuum cleaner base) to be as low as possibla to maximize the utility of the vacuum cleaner for cleaning under furniture and beds.
Suc~ion ch~h~r 20 con ributes a certain minimum height, and a traditional headlight would add too much height for motor-driven nozzle lQ to be truly u$eful if the headlight were at the ~ront edge 26. And if the headlight were not at the front edge 26! front edge 26 would cast a shadow in the surface to be cleaned tha~
would prevent illumination of the i ~diate area to be cleaned.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, light pipe 40, which is relatively thin, is provided to direct light out front edge 26, without light bulb 24 having to be over suction chamber 20.
Light pipe 40 is pre~era~ly ~ade of an optical grade plastic such as polymethyl mathacrylate, which has an index of refraction of about 1.489.
Entrance Qnd 33 of light pipa 40 is prQferably shaped to allow light rays from bulb 24 to enter easily into light pipe 40.
~ he upper and lower surfaces 60, 61 of light pipe 40 ~ar a pattern o~ primary reflex prismatic elements 50 and secondary reflex prismatic elements 51.
Primary prismatic elements 50 preferably extend along lin~s that radiate ~rom a point that is prs~erably centered on ~he ~ilament of bulb 24, and ar~ provided to collimat~ and channel light uniformly from bulb 24 30 to the front exit end 41 o~ light pip~ 40. That prevents a concentration of light directly in front of bulb 24, spre~in~ the light across th~ width of light pipQ 40.
The apex angle o~ pri~ary prismatic 3 5 elements 50 is chosell with regard to the index of ~7 3 ~ ~
refraction of the material of light pipe 40 and the desired channeling effect. If the apex angle is too small, the sides of elements 50 will be too steep and light may escape, but if the apex angle is too large, the sides o~ elements 50 may be too'shallow to provide the desired channeling. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the apex angle is between about 89.5~ and about 90.5~.
As primary elements 50 extend away from entrance end 33, because thay are extending radially from a point, they diverge. If this divergence were not compensated for, it would re~ult in gaps at exit end 41 between the ends of the various pri~matic el~ments 50. When the headlight was operating, such gaps would manifest themselves as dark~ or dim, spots between the bright spots formed by elements S0. To eliminate such a pattern of alternating bright and dim spots, secondary re~lex prismatic elements 51 are provid~d.
The cro 8 section of sec4ndary prismatic element 51 is preferably mathematically similar to that o~ primary prismat~ic elements 50, with the same particularly preferred apex angle o~ between about 89.5~ and about 90.5~. However, becaus~ secondary prismatic elements 51 are desiqned to fill the increa~ingly wid~ gaps between primary prismatic ele~ents 50, the cross section of each secondary - prismatic element 51 preferably be~in~ as substantially a point, and increases in size gradually, until it reach~s exit end 41. (Actually, the cross section of each of primary prismatic element~ 50 al~o starts subs~ankially a8 a point at its virtual origin, centered on th~ filament of bulb 24, and increa~e~ a~
it extend~ toward exit end 41. ) Secondary prismatic 35 element~ 51 pick up light rays that stray into the ..
~3i~2~
voids between primary prismatic elements 50 and direct them to exit end 41, resulting in a substantially uniformly bright illumination at exit end 41.
Exit end 41 of light pipe 40 is preferably formed at an incline, with the top further back than the bottom. This result~ in refraotion of exiting light rays downward, so that the surface to be cleaned can be illuminated immediately in front of motor~driYen nozzle 10. The angle of inclination in the preferred embodiment is ~bout 17~.
Light pipe 40 can be molded or otherwise formed as a single piece. However, especially when molding light pipe 40 from an optical grade plastic, it is advantageous to form light pipe 40 in two pieces, i.e~, an upper half-pipe 120 and a lowex half-pipe 121, as best seen in FIG. 12 and FXGS. 6-8. Molding light pipe 40 as two half-pipes 120, 121 allows faster cooling of light pipe 40, a~ it is well known that a given volume cools faster as smaller pieces than as a single larger volume. Moreover, tha two hal~-pipes 120, 121 function as independent waveguides, and as discussed above, the narrower the waveguide, the smaller ~he ~raction of entering light rays tha~ will escape through the ~ides.
The lower surface 122 o~ upper half-pipe 120 and the upper surface 123 o~ lower half-pipe 121 meet along parti~g plane 62. Pre~erably surfaces 122, 123 are perfectly smooth a~d ~lat and meet perfectly along plane 62. However, it is acceptabl~ if upper and lowsr 30 half-pipe~ 120, 121 meet perf~ctly only at front and rear edges 33, 41. If half-pipes 120, 121 ~ail to meet ak eith~r edg~ 33, 41, the direct qlare of bulb 24 ~ay be visible to the user when bulb 24 is illuminated. If hal~-pipes ~20, 121 fail to meet at front edge 41, 3 5 whether or not they meet at Xear edge 33, there will be 2 ~ '7 ~
an unsightly gap. It is of little consequence, however, whether or not surfaces 122, 123 meet along all of plane 62, because, as long as each surface 122, 123 is smooth and nearly flat, light will stay within the resp~ctive half-pipe 120, 121 even if surface~ 122, 123 are not perfectly flat.
~ s best seen in FIG. 5, the horizontal cross section of upper hal~-pipe ~20 is not identical to that of lower half-pipe 121. Upper half-pipe 120 has ind~ntation 52 at side ~3. Indentation 52 is provided solely to enable light pipe 40 to fit within the housing of motor-driven nozzle 10 without interfering with sloping surface 13. Fron~ face 41 of upper half-pip~ 120 is extended over indentation 52. In a motor-lS driven nozzle of different design, indentation S2 maynot be necessary.
Upper and lower half-pipes 120, 121 may be fastened together in any convenient way that does not interf~re with their optical function or with their proper ~it with one another. For example, an adhesive that is effective in a thin layer may be used, or mechanical clips may be applied around the outside edges of sides 53, 54. ~e~h~nical clips that extend into half-pipes 120, 121 may also be used, but may create baf~Ies or shadows in~ide light pipe 40 that decr~ase the uniroxmity of light distribu~ion. The mo t pr2ferred method of ~ast~nin~, however, is to provide posts on OnQ of the half-pipe~ and corresponding hole~ in the other hal~-pipe (not shown~.
The post~ are aligned to engag~ the holes in a press fit manner to hold the half pipes together. Even where adhesive or clips ar~ used, i~ may b~ advantageous to provide short posts and corres~on~ holes ~or alignment purposes.
--"' 2~7~2~
In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the FIGURES, lower half-pipQ 121 has depending flange 42. Flange 42 is provided solely ~or decorative purposes and in the illustrated embodiment is clear.
As a result, when the headlight system is operating, bottom edge 43 of flange 42 i~ illuminated. It is also possible to provide other d~corative treatments on flange 42, including ribs, grooves, matte stripes, etc.
Even with the provision of prismatic elements 50, 51, some of the light entering at end 33 may tend to stray out sides 53, 54 of light pipe 40.
That is particularly so in th case of certain of elements 50, 51 that, ~eca~se they follow strictly radial lines ~rom bulb 24, terminate a~ side 53 or side 54, rather than at front edye 41. Accordingly, light pipe 40 is preferably provided with supplemental reflex prismatic elements 100 at sides 53, 54.
Supplemental reflex prismatic elements 100 arP designed to capture, by total internal reflection, any such ~tray or misdirected liqht r~ys, and channel them either b~ck into the body of light pipe 40 or along ~ides 53, 54 to ~ront exit edge 41. In the preferred ~ho~i ~nt having two half-pipes 120, 121, supplemental elements 100 are provided on the side edg2s of both hal~-pipes 120, 121. As in the case of primary and secondary prismatic elements 50, 51, the cros~ section of each supplemental prismatic elem~nt 100 i~ preferably an isosceles triangle whos~
ap~x angle is chQsen to assure the proper amount o~
internal re~lection while still allowing the desired chann~ling. In a particularly preferred Pmho~i -nt, the apex angl~ is batween about 89.5~ and about 90.5~.
Because light pip~ 40 does not extend across the fu}l width of motor~driven nozzle 10, it would not ordinarily illumin~te the entire surface immediat21y in ~ront of ~otor-driven n~zzle 10. In order to provide such illumination, exit edge 41 of light pipe 40 is formed with prismatic shifting elements 55, which are angled to refract exitin~ light rays, preferably by ~arying angular amounts, toward the area 14 of motor-driven nozzle 10 to which light pipe 40 does not extend. Prismatic shifting elements 5S prefera~ly are of progressively smaller angle as one proceeds from side S3 toward side 54. In the pre~erred emho~;r?nt, prismatic shifting elements SS are divid2d into nineteen groups. In that preferred ~--ho~ nt~
proceeding from group to group from side s3 toward side s4, the prism angle facing side ~4 increases ~rom about 14.65~ to about 75.0~, and proceeding ~rom side 54 to side 53, the pri~m angle faoing side 53 range~ ~rom about 15.0~ to about 90.0~. The angles are chosen to assure that area 14 is illuminated, as well as to assure that areas not direct:ly in front of nozzle 10 are not needlessly illuminat:ed. In addition, some of the groups near the center of exit end 41 ~re preferably inclined a~ a greater angle than the approxima~ely 17~ inclination o~ the remaining groups, to provide more effective illumination of the surface to be clean~d i ~~i~tely in front of nozzle 10.
2S The effects of shi~ting elements 55 are shown in FIG9 1, where area 16 represents the area that would be illuminated in the absence of shifting elements 55, while axea 17 represents the area illumina~ed when shifting elements 55 are provided.
In the preferred embodi~ent of light pipe 40 having upper and lower half-pipe~ 120, 121, shifting elements 55 are provided on ~oth half-pipes 120, 121.
Howev~r, it is possible to provide sh$~tin~ elements S5 on only one of hal~-pipes 120, 121.
As stated above, raflex o~tical re~lector 25 is provided to better utilize the light from bulb 24.
Reflector 25 is made reflective by providing a plurality of prismatic reflecting elements 140 on the S rear surface of reflector 25 (away from bulb 24), in place of the traditional ~etallization applied to such surfaces in conventional mirrors. This decr~ases the absorption caused by traditional metallization techniques such as vacuum metallization. All of the ~aterial of reflestor 25 is intrinsically transparent.
~owever, the apex angle of each of elements 14Q i5 prefer3bly chosen so that substantially all light rays entering face 150 o~ reflector 25 are reflected back toward bulb 24 and entrance edge 33 o~ light pipe 40.
Tabs 130 are provided for attaching reflector 25 to motor-driven nozzle 10.
The horizontal cross section of Pace 150 is preferably a circular arc, most preferably a semicircle, substantially centered on the filament o~
bulb 24 (i.e., substantially the same virtual center point ~rom which elements 50, 51 radiate3. Ideally, reflector 25 should be part-sph~rical; however, with the ~i -ncions involved in motor~driven noz~le lO, a part-cylindrical shape is a suf~icient approximation.
In this cas~, all light rays are impinging substantially normally on sur~ace 150 and cont~nuing back to elements 140. It is desired that no light ray impinge on a side of any element l~0 at less ~han 41.8~
fro~ the normal, or more than 48.2~ from the surface of that side. ~ence the preferred apex angle is no greater than 96.4~ (twice 48.2~). The particularly p~eferrsd ap~x angle is bstw~n about 89.5~ and about Reflector 25 incre~s~s the amount o~ light 35 entering light pip~ 40. The semicircular ~hape directs 2 '~
reflected light rays into light pipe 40 at substantially the same angle as direct light from bulb 24. Accordingly, the available light is increased while the number o~ stray rays that would ~ffect the uniformity of light distribution is minimized.
Thus it i~ seen that a vacuum cleaner headlight which does not excessively increase the hei~ht of the front of a ~acuum cleaner, which illuminates the area i -~iately in front o~ the vacuum cleaner, and which ha an effective distribu~ion of light across the width of the vacuum cleaner, a~ well as a vacuum cleaner, incorporating a li~ht pipe, which only requires one light pipe and one light bulb or other light source, are provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the presant invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which ~ollow.
Claims (122)
1. A vacuum cleaner assembly, comprising:
a housing having a front wall;
a light pipe chamber within said housing communicating with a headlight aperture in said front wall;
a light source within said housing remote from said headlight aperture; and a substantially planar light pipe within said light pipe chamber, said light pipe having:
a first index of refraction;
a rear face adjacent said light source for receiving light from said light source, a front face disposed substantially in said headlight aperture through which light is emitted, and an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one of said upper and lower surfaces having primary reflex optical elements thereon for distributing light entering said rear face in a desired distribution to said front face.
a housing having a front wall;
a light pipe chamber within said housing communicating with a headlight aperture in said front wall;
a light source within said housing remote from said headlight aperture; and a substantially planar light pipe within said light pipe chamber, said light pipe having:
a first index of refraction;
a rear face adjacent said light source for receiving light from said light source, a front face disposed substantially in said headlight aperture through which light is emitted, and an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one of said upper and lower surfaces having primary reflex optical elements thereon for distributing light entering said rear face in a desired distribution to said front face.
2. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 1 wherein both of said upper and lower surfaces have said primary reflex optical elements thereon.
3. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 1 wherein said light pipe comprises a substantially planar upper hair pipe and a substantially planar lower half-pipe, each of said half-pipes having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface of said upper half-pipe and the upper surface of said lower half-pipe being complementary, and at least one of the upper surface of said upper half-pipe and the lower surface of said lower half-pipe having said primary reflex optical elements thereon.
4. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 3 wherein said lower surface of said upper half-pipe and said upper surface of said lower half-pipe are both substantially smooth.
5. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 3 wherein both said upper surface of said upper half-pipe and said lower surface of said lower half-pipe have said primary reflex optical elements thereon.
6. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 3 wherein both of said upper and lower half-pipes have lateral edges, at least one lateral edge of at least one of said upper and lower half-pipes having supplemental reflex optical elements for directing back into said half-pipe any light rays that would otherwise exit said lateral edge.
7. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 6 wherein both lateral edges of both said half-pipes have said supplemental reflex optical elements.
8. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 6 wherein said supplemental reflex optical elements are prismatic.
9. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 8 wherein each of said prismatic supplemental reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
10. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 9 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section has an apex angle chosen based on said first index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays attempting to exit said lateral edges.
11. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 10 wherein said apex angle is beteween about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
12. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 3 wherein said primary reflex optical elements extend substantially along lines diverging substantially radially from a point substantially centered on said light source.
13. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 12 wherein each of said primary reflex optical elements has a cross section that increases as said primary reflex optical element extends away from said point.
14. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 12 wherein said primary reflex optical elements are prismatic.
15. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 14 wherein each of said prismatic primary reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
16. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 15 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section of said primary reflex optical elements has an apex angle chosen based on said first index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays propagating through said primary reflex optical elements.
17. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 16 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
18. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 16 further comprising secondary reflex optical elements disposed in gaps formed as said primary reflex optical elements diverge.
19. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 18 wherein said secondary reflex optical elements are prismatic.
20. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 19 wherein each of said prismatic secondary reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
21. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 20 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section of said secondary reflex optical elements has an apex angle chosen based on said first index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays propagating through said secondary reflex optical elements.
22. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 21 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
23. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 21 wherein said apex angle of said isosceles-triangular cross section of said secondary reflex optical elements is substantially identical to said apex angle of said isosceles-triangular cross section of said primary reflex optical elements.
24. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 20 wherein the cross section of each of said secondary reflex optical elements increases with increasing distance from said point.
25. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 1 wherein said light pipe has lateral edges, at least one lateral edge of said light pipe having supplemental reflex optical elements for directing back into said light pipe any light rays that would otherwise exit said lateral edge.
26. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 25 wherein both lateral edges of said light pipe has said supplemental reflex optical elements.
27. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 25 wherein said supplemental reflex optical elements are prismatic.
28. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 27 wherein each of said prismatic supplemental reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
29. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 28 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section has an apex angle chosen based on said first index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays attempting to exit said lateral edges.
30. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 29 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
31. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 1 wherein said primary reflex optical elements extend substantially along lines diverging substantially radially from point substantially centered on said light source.
32. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 31 wherein each of said primary reflex optical elements has a cross section that increases as said primary reflex optical element extends away from said point.
33. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 31 wherein said primary reflex optical elements are prismatic.
34. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 33 wherein each of said prismatic primary reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
35. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 34 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section of said primary reflex optical elements has an apex angle chosen based on said first index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays propagating through said primary reflex optical elements.
36. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 35 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
37. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 35 further comprising secondary reflex optical elements disposed in gaps formed as said primary reflex optical elements diverge.
38. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 37 wherein said secondary reflex optical elements are prismatic.
39. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 38 wherein each of said prismatic secondary reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
40. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 39 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section of said secondary reflex optical elements has an apex angle chosen based on said first index of refraction to minimize total internal reflection of light rays propagating through aid secondary reflex optical elements.
41. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 40 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
42. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 40 wherein said apex angle of said isosceles-triangular cross section of said secondary reflex optical elements is substantially identical to said apex angle of said isosceles-triangular cross section of said primary reflex optical elements.
43. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 39 wherein the cross section of each of said secondary reflex optical elements increases with increasing distance from said point.
44. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 1 wherein said light pipe further comprises a plurality of prismatic shifting elements on said front face for changing direction of light rays transmitted through said front face.
45. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 44 wherein said prismatic shifting elements shift light rays laterally relative to said light pipe.
46. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 44 wherein said prismatic shifting elements vary in size across said front face.
47. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 44 wherein each of said prismatic shifting elements has an apex angle, said prismatic shifting elements varying in apex angle across said front face.
48. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 44 wherein the lateral extent of said front face is substantially completely occupied by said prismatic shifting elements.
49. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 44 wherein said light pipe comprises a substantially planar upper half-pipe and a substantially planar lower half-pipe, each of said half-pipes having a respective half-pipe front face, said prismatic shifting elements being disposed on at least one of said half-pipe front faces.
50. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 49 wherein said prismatic shifting elements are disposed on both of said half-pipe front faces.
51. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 1 wherein said front face of said light pipe is inclined, being further back adjacent said top surface than adjacent said bottom surface.
52. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 51 wherein said front face is inclined at an angle of about 17°.
53. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 51 wherein portions of said front face are inclined at a greater angle than other portions.
54. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing has an underside and a suction chamber communicating with a suction opening in said underside adjacent said front wall, said light pipe and said headlight aperture being situated above said suction chamber, whereby said light pipe allows said light source to be situated remote from said front wall, thereby imparting a low profile to said vacuum cleaner assembly at said front wall as compared to a vacuum cleaner assembly in which said light source is situated at said front wall above said suction chamber.
55. The vacuum cleaner system of claim 1 further comprising a reflex optical reflector spaced from said light source in a direction away from said front wall, for reflecting light toward said rear face of said light pipe, said reflex optical reflector comprising:
a substantially transparent part-cylindrical element having:
an axis substantially centered on said light source, a second index of refraction, a surface facing said light source, and a surface away from said light source;
and a plurality of reflex optical elements on said surface away from said light source, said reflex optical elements extending substantially parallel to said axis.
a substantially transparent part-cylindrical element having:
an axis substantially centered on said light source, a second index of refraction, a surface facing said light source, and a surface away from said light source;
and a plurality of reflex optical elements on said surface away from said light source, said reflex optical elements extending substantially parallel to said axis.
56. The vacuum cleaner system of claim 55 wherein said reflex optical elements of said reflex optical reflector are prismatic.
57. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 56 wherein each of said prismatic reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
58. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 57 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section has an apex angle chosen based on said second index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays attempting to exit said surface away from said light source.
59. The vacuum cleaner assembly at claim 58 wherein said apex angle is less than about 96.4°.
60. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 59 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
61. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 55 wherein said surface away from said light source is substantially completely occupied by said plurality of reflex optical elements.
62. For use in a vacuum cleaner assembly having a light source, a reflex optical reflector spaced from said light source in a first direction, for reflecting light in a second direction opposite said first direction, said reflex optical reflector comprising:
a substantially transparent part-cylindrical element having:
an axis substantially centered on said light source, an index of refraction, a surface facing said light source, and a surface away from said light source;
and a plurality of reflex optical elements on said surface away from said light source, said reflex optical elements extending substantially parallel to said axis.
a substantially transparent part-cylindrical element having:
an axis substantially centered on said light source, an index of refraction, a surface facing said light source, and a surface away from said light source;
and a plurality of reflex optical elements on said surface away from said light source, said reflex optical elements extending substantially parallel to said axis.
63. The reflex optical reflector of claim 62 wherein said reflex optical elements are prismatic.
64. The reflex optical reflector of claim 63 wherein each of said prismatic reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
65. The reflex optical reflector of claim 64 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section has an apex angle chosen based on said index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays attempting to exit said surface away from said light source.
66. The reflex optical reflector of claim 65 wherein said apex angle is less than about 96.4°.
67. The reflex optical reflector of claim 66 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
68. The reflex optical reflector of claim 62 wherein said surface away from said light source is substantially completely occupied by said plurality of reflex optical elements.
69. For use in a vacuum cleaner assembly including a housing having a front wall, a headlight aperture in said front wall, and a light source within said housing remote from said headlight aperture, for disposition between said light source and said headlight aperture for propagating light therebetween, a substantially planar light pipe, said light pipe comprising:
an index of refraction;
a rear face adjacent said light source for receiving light from said light source, a front face disposed substantially in said headlight aperture through which light is emitted, and an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one of said upper and lower surfaces having primary reflex optical elements thereon for distributing light entering said rear face in a desired distribution to said front face.
an index of refraction;
a rear face adjacent said light source for receiving light from said light source, a front face disposed substantially in said headlight aperture through which light is emitted, and an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one of said upper and lower surfaces having primary reflex optical elements thereon for distributing light entering said rear face in a desired distribution to said front face.
70. The light pipe of claim 69 wherein both of said upper and lower surfaces have said primary reflex optical elements thereon.
71. The light pipe of claim 69 wherein said light pipe comprises a substantially planar upper half-pipe and a substantially planar lower half-pipe, each of said half-pipes having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface of said upper half-pipe and the upper surface of said lower half-pipe being complementary, and at least one of the upper surface of said upper half-pipe and the lower surface of said lower half-pipe having said primary reflex optical elements thereon.
72. The light pipe of claim 71 wherein said lower surface of said upper half pipe and said upper surface of said lower half-pipe are both substantially smooth.
73. The light pipe of claim 71 wherein both said upper surface of said upper half-pipe and said lower surface of said lower half-pipe have said primary reflex optical elements thereon.
74. The light pipe of claim 71 wherein both of said upper and lower half-pipes have lateral edges, at least one lateral edge of at least one of said upper and lower half-pipes having supplemental reflex optical elements for directing back into said half-pipe any light rays that would otherwise exit said lateral edge.
75. The light pipe of claim 74 wherein both lateral edges of both said half-pipes have said supplemental reflex optical elements.
76. The light pipe of claim 74 wherein said supplemental reflex optical elements are prismatic.
77. The light pipe of claim 75 wherein each of said prismatic supplemental reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
78. The light pipe of claim 77 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section has an apex angle chosen based on said first index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays attempting to exit said lateral edges.
79. The light pipe of claim 78 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
80. The light pipe of claim 71 wherein said primary reflex optical elements extend substantially along lines diverging substantially radially from a point off said light pipe, divergence of said primary reflex optical elements increasing from said rear face toward said front face.
81. The light pipe of claim 80 wherein each of said primary reflex optical elements has a cross section that increases as said primary reflex optical element extends away from said point.
82. The light pipe of claim 81 wherein said primary reflex optical elements are prismatic.
83, The light pipe of claim 82 wherein each of said prismatic primary reflex optical elements has an isoscelas-triangular cross section.
84. The light pipe of claim 83 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section of said primary reflex optical elements has an apex angle chosen based on said index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays propagating through said primary reflex optical elements.
85. The light pipe of claim 84 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
86. The light pipe of claim 84 further comprising secondary reflex optical elements disposed in gaps formed as said primary reflex optical elements diverge.
87. The light pipe of claim 86 wherein said secondary reflex optical elements are prismatic.
88. The light pipe of claim 87 wherein each of said prismatic secondary reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
89. The light pipe of claim 88 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section of said secondary reflex optical elements has an apex angle chosen based on said index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays propagating through said secondary reflex optical elements.
90. The light pipe of claim 89 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
91. The light pipe of claim 89 wherein said apex angle of said isosceles-triangular cross section of said secondary reflex optical elements is substantially identical to said apex angle of said isosceles-triangular cross section of said primary reflex optical elements.
92. The light pipe of claim 88 wherein the cross section of each of said secondary reflex optical elements increases with increasing distance from rear face.
93. The light pipe of claim 69 wherein said light pipe has lateral edges, at least one lateral edge of said light pipe having supplemental reflex optical elements for directing back into said light pipe any light rays that would otherwise exit said lateral edge.
94. The light pipe of claim 93 wherein both lateral edges of said light pipe has said supplemental reflex optical elements.
95. The light pipe of claim 93 wherein said supplemental reflex optical elements are prismatic.
96. The light pipe of claim 95 wherein each of said prismatic supplemental reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
97. The light pipe of claim 96 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section has an apex angle chosen based on said first index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays attempting to exit said lateral edges.
98. The light pipe of claim 97 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
99. The light pipe of claim 69 wherein said primary reflex optical elements extend substantially along lines diverging substantially radially from a point off said light pipe, divergence of said primary reflex optical elements increasing from said rear face toward said front face.
100. The light pipe of claim 99 wherein each of said primary reflex optical elements has a cross section that increases as said primary reflex optical element extends away from said point.
101. The light pipe of claim 100 wherein said primary reflex optical elements are prismatic.
102. The light pipe of claim 101 wherein each of said prismatic primary reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
103. The light pipe of claim 102 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section of said primary reflex optical elements has an apex angle chosen based on said index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays propagating through said primary reflex optical elements.
104. The light pipe of claim 103 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
105. The light pipe of claim 103 further comprising secondary reflex optical elements disposed in gaps formed as said primary reflex optical elements diverge.
106. The light pipe of claim 105 wherein said secondary reflex optical elements are prismatic.
107. The light pipe of claim 106 wherein each of said prismatic secondary reflex optical elements has an isosceles-triangular cross section.
108. The light pipe of claim 107 wherein said isosceles-triangular cross section of said secondary reflex optical elements has an apex angle chosen based on said index of refraction to maximize total internal reflection of light rays propagating through said secondary reflex optical elements.
109. The light pipe of claim 108 wherein said apex angle is between about 89.5° and about 90.5°.
110. The light pipe of claim 108 wherein said apex angle of said isosceles-triangular cross section of said secondary reflex optical elements is substantially identical to said apex angle of said isosceles-triangular cross section of said primary reflex optical elements.
111. The light pipe of claim 107 wherein the cross section of each of said secondary reflex optical elements increases with increasing distance from said rear face.
112. The light pipe of claim 69 further comprising a plurality of prismatic shifting elements on said front face for changing direction of light rays transmitted through said front face.
113. The light pipe of claim 112 wherein said prismatic shifting elements shift light rays laterally relative to said light pipe.
114. The light pipe of claim 112 wherein said prismatic shifting elements vary in size across said front face.
115. The light pipe of claim 112 wherein each of said prismatic shifting elements has an apex angle, said prismatic shifting elements varying in apex angle across said front face.
116. The light pipe of claim 112 wherein the lateral extent of said front face is substantially completely occupied by said prismatic shifting elements.
117. The light pipe of claim 112 comprising a substantially planar upper half pipe and a substantially planar lower half-pipe, each of said half-pipes having a respective half-pipe front face, said prismatic shifting elements being disposed on at least one of said half-pipe front faces.
118. The vacuum cleaner assembly of claim 117 wherein said prismatic shifting elements are disposed on both of said half-pipe front faces.
119. The light pipe of claim 69 wherein said front face is inclined, being further back adjacent said top surface than adjacent said bottom surface.
120. The light pipe of claim 119 wherein said front face is inclined at an angle of about 17°.
121. The light pipe of claim 119 wherein portions of said front face are inclined at a greater angle than other portions.
122. The light pipe of claim 69 wherein:
when:
said light pipe is used in a housing having a front wall, an underside, a headlight aperture in said front wall, a light source for emitting light through said headlight aperture, and a suction chamber communicating with a suction opening in said underside adjacent said front wall, and said light pipe and said headlight aperture are situated above said suction chamber:
said light pipe allows said light source to be situated remote from said front wall, thereby imparting a low profile to said housing at said front wall as compared to a housing in which said light source is situated at said front wall above said suction chamber.
when:
said light pipe is used in a housing having a front wall, an underside, a headlight aperture in said front wall, a light source for emitting light through said headlight aperture, and a suction chamber communicating with a suction opening in said underside adjacent said front wall, and said light pipe and said headlight aperture are situated above said suction chamber:
said light pipe allows said light source to be situated remote from said front wall, thereby imparting a low profile to said housing at said front wall as compared to a housing in which said light source is situated at said front wall above said suction chamber.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/750,304 US5207498A (en) | 1991-08-27 | 1991-08-27 | Vacuum cleaner headlight |
| US750,304 | 1991-08-27 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2075424A1 CA2075424A1 (en) | 1993-02-28 |
| CA2075424C true CA2075424C (en) | 1997-09-30 |
Family
ID=25017307
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002075424A Expired - Lifetime CA2075424C (en) | 1991-08-27 | 1992-08-06 | Vacuum cleaner headlight |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5207498A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0530026B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0815476B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2087792A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2075424C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69205926T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2082380T3 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX9204938A (en) |
Families Citing this family (42)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA2108876C (en) * | 1993-01-25 | 1996-04-09 | Arnold L. Sepke | Vacuum cleaner with illuminated belt view |
| US5381508A (en) * | 1993-08-25 | 1995-01-10 | Krumenacher; Paul F. | Suction and light guide assembly |
| ITMO940022A1 (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1995-08-22 | Giancarlo Fini | GENERAL SURFACE CLEANING TOOL |
| US5481637A (en) * | 1994-11-02 | 1996-01-02 | The University Of British Columbia | Hollow light guide for diffuse light |
| KR100208128B1 (en) * | 1996-04-13 | 1999-07-15 | 최진호 | Vacuum cleaner |
| US6256833B1 (en) | 1999-01-20 | 2001-07-10 | Bissell Homecare, Inc. | Upright vacuum cleaner with handle-mounted lamp assembly and height adjustment |
| WO2002022280A1 (en) * | 2000-09-18 | 2002-03-21 | Ecolab Inc. | Portable radiation cure device |
| US6499183B1 (en) * | 2000-09-29 | 2002-12-31 | Oreck Holdings, Llc | Low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having a headlight, a sidelight, anti-ingestion bars, side brushes, a squeegee, and a scent cartridge |
| US6493903B1 (en) | 2001-05-18 | 2002-12-17 | Quest Industries, Inc. | Hand-held vacuum cleaner with headlamp |
| US7331083B2 (en) * | 2002-12-18 | 2008-02-19 | Panasonic Corporation Of North America | Lighted wand assembly with remote light source |
| WO2004056251A2 (en) * | 2002-12-18 | 2004-07-08 | Matsushita Electric Corporation Of America | Lighted wand assembly |
| DE10353456A1 (en) * | 2003-11-15 | 2005-06-16 | Düpro AG | Cleaning tool for floor surfaces with a work area lighting |
| US6856113B1 (en) | 2004-05-12 | 2005-02-15 | Cube Investments Limited | Central vacuum cleaning system motor control circuit mounting post, mounting configuration, and mounting methods |
| WO2006029535A1 (en) * | 2004-09-17 | 2006-03-23 | Cube Investments Limited | Cleaner handle and cleaner handle housing sections |
| US20060096057A1 (en) * | 2004-11-08 | 2006-05-11 | Chatfield Dean M | Illumination accessory assembly for vacuum cleaner |
| US20060215390A1 (en) * | 2005-03-24 | 2006-09-28 | Jones Terry G | Lighted cleaning implement |
| US7900315B2 (en) * | 2005-10-07 | 2011-03-08 | Cube Investments Limited | Integrated central vacuum cleaner suction device and control |
| US8732895B2 (en) * | 2005-10-07 | 2014-05-27 | Cube Investments Limited | Central vacuum cleaner multiple vacuum source control |
| US7690075B2 (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2010-04-06 | Cube Investments Limited | Central vacuum cleaner control, unit and system with contaminant sensor |
| US7958594B2 (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2011-06-14 | Cube Investments Limited | Central vacuum cleaner cross-controls |
| US7328479B2 (en) * | 2006-04-13 | 2008-02-12 | Electrolux Home Care Products Ltd. | Lighting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner |
| US20080127447A1 (en) * | 2006-11-30 | 2008-06-05 | Overaag Chad D | Floor care apparatus equipped with electroluminescent light source |
| US7627927B2 (en) | 2007-06-08 | 2009-12-08 | Tacony Corporation | Vacuum cleaner with sensing system |
| US8214966B2 (en) * | 2007-06-22 | 2012-07-10 | Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. | Vacuum cleaner nozzle height indicator |
| US20090059569A1 (en) * | 2007-08-29 | 2009-03-05 | Quattrini Jr Richard J | Hand pushed floor cleaning tool with an integrated illumination source |
| US20090059590A1 (en) * | 2007-08-29 | 2009-03-05 | Quattrini Jr Richard J | Portable surface skimming illumination device for locating small items on a planar surface |
| US7736008B2 (en) * | 2007-08-30 | 2010-06-15 | Quattrini Jr Richard J | Dustpan with an integrated illumination source |
| US8214968B2 (en) | 2008-01-17 | 2012-07-10 | Bissell Homecare, Inc. | Vacuum accessory tool |
| US8297819B2 (en) * | 2009-03-20 | 2012-10-30 | Sylvan R. Shemitz Designs Incorporated | Light pipe structure and luminaire with light pipe structure |
| JP2013220206A (en) * | 2012-04-17 | 2013-10-28 | Panasonic Corp | Suction tool for vacuum cleaner and the vacuum cleaner using the same |
| JP5899427B2 (en) * | 2012-04-17 | 2016-04-06 | パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 | Vacuum cleaner suction tool and vacuum cleaner using the same |
| FR3003744B1 (en) * | 2013-03-26 | 2015-09-04 | Seb Sa | VACUUM SQUEEGEE COMPRISING A LIGHT SOURCE |
| CN103479299A (en) * | 2013-09-17 | 2014-01-01 | 无锡莱吉特信息科技有限公司 | Dust collector sucker capable of lighting |
| JP6459424B2 (en) * | 2014-07-23 | 2019-01-30 | パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 | Vacuum cleaner and its suction tool |
| USD781514S1 (en) | 2014-07-29 | 2017-03-14 | Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. | Vacuum cleaner nozzle hood |
| USD778517S1 (en) | 2014-07-29 | 2017-02-07 | Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. | Vacuum cleaner nozzle hood |
| JP6689000B2 (en) * | 2014-11-10 | 2020-04-28 | パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 | Lighting device for vacuum cleaner |
| JP6358438B2 (en) * | 2015-01-20 | 2018-07-18 | パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 | Display illumination device and electric vacuum cleaner provided with the same |
| CN112804925A (en) * | 2018-10-02 | 2021-05-14 | 尚科宁家运营有限公司 | Surface cleaning apparatus lighting system |
| DE102019117761A1 (en) * | 2019-07-02 | 2019-10-17 | Miele & Cie. Kg | Floor nozzle and vacuum cleaner |
| US11617486B2 (en) | 2019-11-25 | 2023-04-04 | Bissell Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus with task lighting |
| CN212913072U (en) * | 2020-06-09 | 2021-04-09 | 天佑电器（苏州）有限公司 | Floor brush for dust collector and dust collector |
Family Cites Families (29)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1028721A (en) * | 1910-08-16 | 1912-06-04 | A H Heisey & Co Inc | Illuminator. |
| US2208523A (en) * | 1936-09-03 | 1940-07-16 | Lenslite Co Inc | Sighting means for suction cleaners |
| US2217174A (en) * | 1937-04-30 | 1940-10-08 | Singer Mfg Co | Vacuum cleaner |
| US2274971A (en) * | 1939-04-24 | 1942-03-03 | Hoover Co | Suction cleaner |
| US2471800A (en) * | 1943-07-19 | 1949-05-31 | Mulinen Egbert Von | Shadow image projection indicating apparatus |
| US2480178A (en) * | 1946-05-08 | 1949-08-30 | Ivan H Zinberg | Light conductor |
| US2475400A (en) * | 1947-04-23 | 1949-07-05 | Eureka Williams Corp | Hood for suction cleaners and the like |
| US2673288A (en) * | 1948-10-12 | 1954-03-23 | Westinghouse Brake & Signal | Reflector for the production of light beams |
| US2730750A (en) * | 1951-05-05 | 1956-01-17 | Hoover Co | Low height suction cleaner arrangement |
| US2737573A (en) * | 1953-10-28 | 1956-03-06 | Gen Electric | Lighting means for automatic clothes washers |
| US3278738A (en) * | 1964-01-02 | 1966-10-11 | Bausch & Lomb | Light deflector |
| US3546438A (en) * | 1967-05-25 | 1970-12-08 | Farrington Electronics Inc | Illumination system |
| US3619591A (en) * | 1970-02-19 | 1971-11-09 | Gen Dynamics Corp | Illuminated pushbuttons using piped light |
| US4282560A (en) * | 1979-01-15 | 1981-08-04 | A.C.A. Products, Inc. | Light distributor |
| US4322781A (en) * | 1980-07-03 | 1982-03-30 | The Singer Company | Uniformly lighted pattern display |
| JPS5768801A (en) * | 1980-10-17 | 1982-04-27 | Fuji Photo Optical Co Ltd | Linear lighting equipment |
| US4528617A (en) * | 1982-02-08 | 1985-07-09 | Sheltered Workshop For The Disabled, Inc. | Light distribution apparatus |
| EP0167721B1 (en) * | 1984-07-02 | 1989-10-11 | Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. | Light diffuser |
| JPS6134583A (en) * | 1984-07-26 | 1986-02-18 | シャープ株式会社 | Lighting apparatus |
| US4805984A (en) * | 1985-11-21 | 1989-02-21 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Totally internally reflecting light conduit |
| US4716507A (en) * | 1986-05-12 | 1987-12-29 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Optical collimator target illumination |
| US4834495A (en) * | 1987-05-08 | 1989-05-30 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Collapsible light pipe |
| US5107565A (en) * | 1987-05-22 | 1992-04-28 | Whirlpool Corporation | Light system for vacuum cleaner |
| US4791700A (en) * | 1987-12-29 | 1988-12-20 | The Scott Fetzer Company | Fresnel lens illuminator for vacuum cleaner |
| US4757574A (en) * | 1988-01-25 | 1988-07-19 | The Singer Company | Light plate for vacuum cleaner |
| US4991918A (en) * | 1988-03-03 | 1991-02-12 | Eastman Kodak Company | Light collector for stimulable phosphor imaging apparatus |
| US4996632A (en) * | 1988-10-07 | 1991-02-26 | Gulton Industries, Inc. | Multi-color illuminating system |
| US5005108A (en) * | 1989-02-10 | 1991-04-02 | Lumitex, Inc. | Thin panel illuminator |
| US5009475A (en) * | 1989-12-27 | 1991-04-23 | Advance Display Technologies, Inc. | Image transfer device and method of manufacture |
-
1991
- 1991-08-27 US US07/750,304 patent/US5207498A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-08-06 CA CA002075424A patent/CA2075424C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-08-07 AU AU20877/92A patent/AU2087792A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-08-27 JP JP4228362A patent/JPH0815476B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-08-27 ES ES92307826T patent/ES2082380T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-08-27 EP EP92307826A patent/EP0530026B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-08-27 MX MX9204938A patent/MX9204938A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-08-27 DE DE69205926T patent/DE69205926T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0530026B1 (en) | 1995-11-08 |
| DE69205926T2 (en) | 1996-07-04 |
| US5207498A (en) | 1993-05-04 |
| CA2075424A1 (en) | 1993-02-28 |
| MX9204938A (en) | 1993-04-01 |
| ES2082380T3 (en) | 1996-03-16 |
| EP0530026A1 (en) | 1993-03-03 |
| JPH0815476B2 (en) | 1996-02-21 |
| AU2087792A (en) | 1993-03-04 |
| JPH05192281A (en) | 1993-08-03 |
| DE69205926D1 (en) | 1995-12-14 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA2075424C (en) | Vacuum cleaner headlight | |
| US5499166A (en) | Lighting device for vehicle | |
| US5444606A (en) | Prismatic reflector and prismatic lens | |
| US5107565A (en) | Light system for vacuum cleaner | |
| CN1083079C (en) | Illumination system comprising microprisms with blocking means | |
| EP1113218A1 (en) | Lighting apparatus for a display | |
| US20120120666A1 (en) | Street lighting device | |
| US4510560A (en) | Device for controlling light images | |
| US20020163808A1 (en) | Lens and Lens Cap with Sawtooth Portion for Light Emitting Diode | |
| KR0184258B1 (en) | Muliple cavity light fixture | |
| CN105588036B (en) | Dust catcher lighting device | |
| JPH027123B2 (en) | ||
| US11668445B2 (en) | Multi-beam vehicle light | |
| EP1008801A3 (en) | A projection-type automobile light | |
| HU229147B1 (en) | Indoor lamp | |
| US4538216A (en) | Lighting apparatus | |
| JPH056704A (en) | Light distribution variable lighting device | |
| US20110176314A1 (en) | Shaped optical prism structure | |
| US11746989B1 (en) | Extreme cutoff beam control optics | |
| WO1990010823A1 (en) | Light diffuser | |
| US5791772A (en) | Lamp assembly with light pipe, light pipe and light pipe/lens assembly | |
| JPH0232320A (en) | Back lighting device | |
| US20240126072A1 (en) | Extreme cutoff beam control optics | |
| US11899202B2 (en) | Extreme cutoff beam control optics | |
| JP3423841B2 (en) | Reflection type photo interrupter |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |