Jack S Stayer

US Patent:

7418764, Sep 2, 2008

Filed:

Apr 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/398317

Inventors:

Evan A. Gordon - Canton OH, US
Kenneth H. Cooper - Akron OH, US
Andrew C. Budd - Clinton OH, US
Jack S. Stayer - Greentown OH, US

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 5/34

US Classification:

15354, 15390, 15391

Abstract:

An upright vacuum cleaner is provided having a suction nozzle height adjustment arrangement controlled by a rotary mode control member located on the upper housing. The rotary mode control member controls a suction nozzle height adjustment motor and a rotary agitator drive disconnect arrangement. A wheel tensioner located on an idler arm is operatively connected to a cam on the suction nozzle height adjustment motor which tensions and de-tensions the agitator drive belt to control the rotary agitator. The rotary mode control member could have discrete settings for the various floor surfaces to be cleaned including bare floors and carpet of varying pile heights. Alternately, the rotary mode control member could be variable so that an infinite number of suction nozzle height settings can be selected.

US Patent:

20080271285, Nov 6, 2008

Filed:

May 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/799971

Inventors:

Edgar A. Maurer - Canton OH, US
Jack S. Stayer - Greentown OH, US
Evan A. Gordon - Canton OH, US

International Classification:

A47L 11/00

US Classification:

15389

Abstract:

A vacuum cleaner includes a floor engaging portion and a handle portion pivotally mounted to the floor engaging portion. The handle portion includes an input device. An agitator is rotatably mounted in the floor engaging portion to agitate a floor surface being cleaned. A first motor has an output shaft and an agitator belt selectively drivingly connecting the motor to the agitator. A tensioning arm pivotally mounts to the floor engaging portion for motion between an agitator-on position in which the tensioning arm engages the agitator belt, to place the agitator belt under tension whereby the agitator belt drives the agitator, and an agitator-off position in which the tensioning arm does not engage the agitator belt, to place the agitator belt in a slack condition whereby the agitator belt does not drive the agitator. A lifting assembly is mounted in the floor engaging portion and includes a second motor and an engaging member driven by the second motor, the engaging member being adapted to contact the tensioning arm to selectively place the tensioning arm in the agitator-off position.

US Patent:

6513190, Feb 4, 2003

Filed:

Apr 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/556850

Inventors:

David M. J. Allgeier - North Canton OH
Lynn A. Frederick - Brady Lake OH
Jack S. Stayer - Green OH

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 904

US Classification:

15387, 15383

Abstract:

A suction cleaner nozzle has a nozzle body enclosing an agitator chamber, which has an elongated suction inlet opening. An agitator is disposed in the agitator chamber such that the agitator extends partially through the suction inlet opening for agitating a surface to be cleaned. A duct is connected to the nozzle body and located adjacent the agitator chamber. The duct extends parallel to the rotative axis of the agitator. A turbine rotor is rotatably connected to the nozzle body and operatively connected to the agitator.