Multi-position cleaning device handgrip

Abstract

A handgrip for a floor cleaning device is provided. In a first aspect, the handgrip has a handle base, a yoke attached to the handle base, a carrier member pivotally mounted to the yoke, and a grip mounted to the carrier member. The grip has a grip axis oriented along the length of the grip. In a second aspect, the handgrip has a handle base, a first member attached to the handle base and adapted to be pivotable about a first axis, and a second member attached to the first member and adapted to be pivotable about a second axis. The first axis is fixed with respect to the handle base, and the second axis is fixed with respect to the first member. In other aspects, the handgrip is attached to a floor cleaning device having a vacuum inlet, a dirt collection device, an air flow path from the vacuum inlet to the dirt collection device, and a vacuum source adapted to generate a working air flow through the air flow path from the vacuum inlet to the dirt collection device.

1 . A handgrip for a floor cleaning device, the handgrip comprising: 
 a handle base;    a yoke attached to the handle base;    a carrier member pivotally mounted to the yoke; and    a grip mounted to the carrier member, the grip having a grip axis oriented along the length of the grip.    
   
   
       2 . The handgrip of  claim 1 , wherein the grip is pivotable about the grip axis.  
   
   
       3 . The handgrip of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier member has a ring shape, and the grip is mounted within the ring shape.  
   
   
       4 . The handgrip of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the carrier member comprises an outer ring and an inner ring;    the inner ring is adapted to co-planarly pivot within the outer ring; and    the grip is mounted to the inner ring.    
   
   
       5 . The handgrip of  claim 4 , wherein the grip is pivotable about the grip axis.  
   
   
       6 . The handgrip of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the inner ring fits into a circumferential track on the outer ring.  
   
   
       7 . The handgrip of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the outer ring comprises first and second ring halves, each of the first and second ring halves forming at least a portion of the circumferential track; and    the first and second ring halves capture the inner ring in place when the first and second ring halves are attached to one another.    
   
   
       8 . The handgrip of  claim 1 , wherein the handle base has a handle axis extending generally parallel therewith, and the handle base and/or the yoke is pivotable about the handle axis.  
   
   
       9 . A handgrip for a floor cleaning device, the handgrip comprising: 
 a handle base;    a first member attached to the handle base and adapted to be pivotable about a first axis, the first axis being fixed with respect to the handle base; and    a second member attached to the first member and adapted to be pivotable about a second axis, the second axis being fixed with respect to the first member.    
   
   
       10 . The handgrip of  claim 9 , wherein the first member comprises a ring.  
   
   
       11 . The handgrip of  claim 10 , wherein the second member comprises a grip located within the ring.  
   
   
       12 . The handgrip of  claim 11 , wherein the second axis is parallel with the length of the grip.  
   
   
       13 . The handgrip of  claim 10 , wherein the second member comprises a second ring that is disposed concentrically within the first ring and adapted to rotate co-planarly therein.  
   
   
       14 . The handgrip of  claim 9 , wherein the handle base comprises a yoke and the first member is attached to the yoke to pivot about the first axis.  
   
   
       15 . The handgrip of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one locking member adapted to prevent the first member and/or the second member from pivoting about its respective axis.  
   
   
       16 . The handgrip of  claim 9 , wherein the first member and/or the second member is freely pivotable about its respective axis during operation of the floor cleaning device.  
   
   
       17 . The handgrip of  claim 9 , further comprising a grip having a grip axis oriented along the length of the grip, the grip being attached to the second member.  
   
   
       18 . The handgrip of  claim 17 , wherein the grip is adapted to be pivotable about a grip axis, the grip axis being fixed with respect to the second member.  
   
   
       19 . The handgrip of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one locking member adapted to prevent at least one of the first member, the second member, or the grip from pivoting about its respective axis.  
   
   
       20 . The handgrip of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first member, the second member, or the grip is freely pivotable about its respective axis during operation of the floor cleaning device.  
   
   
       21 . A floor cleaning device comprising: 
 a vacuum inlet;    a dirt collection device;    an air flow path from the vacuum inlet to the dirt collection device;    a vacuum source adapted to generate a working air flow through the air flow path from the vacuum inlet to the dirt collection device;    a handgrip attached to the floor cleaning device and operable to control the movement of the vacuum inlet, the handgrip comprising 
 a handle base;  
 a first member attached to the handle base and adapted to be pivotable about a first axis, the first axis being fixed with respect to the handle base; and  
 a second member attached to the first member and adapted to be pivotable about a second axis, the second axis being fixed with respect to the first member.  
   
   
   
       22 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 21 , wherein the first member comprises a ring.  
   
   
       23 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 22 , wherein the second member comprises a grip located within the ring.  
   
   
       24 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 23 , wherein the second axis is parallel with the length of the grip.  
   
   
       25 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 22 , wherein the second member comprises a second ring that is disposed concentrically within the first ring and adapted to rotate co-planarly therein.  
   
   
       26 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 21 , wherein the handle base comprises a yoke and the first member is attached to the yoke to pivot about the first axis.  
   
   
       27 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 21 , further comprising a grip having a grip axis oriented along the length of the grip, the grip being attached to the second member.  
   
   
       28 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 27 , wherein the grip is adapted to be pivotable about a grip axis, the grip axis being fixed with respect to the second member.  
   
   
       29 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the floor cleaning device comprises a nozzle base holding the vacuum inlet, and an upright housing pivotally attached thereto; and    the handle base is attached to the upright housing.    
   
   
       30 . The floor cleaning device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the floor cleaning device comprises: 
 a nozzle base holding the vacuum inlet;  
 a canister housing separate from the nozzle base and adapted to hold the dirt collection device; and  
 a hose attaching the nozzle base to the canister housing and forming at least a portion of the airflow path, the hose comprising at least one flexible hose portion and at least one rigid hose portion; and  
   the handle base is attached to the rigid hose portion.