Accessory tool for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner includes a body comprising a suction chamber, a crevice nozzle on the body, the crevice nozzle comprising a suction inlet into the suction chamber, and a swiper tool on a lower side of the body. The swiper tool has an exterior rubbing surface configured to be rubbed against the surface to be cleaned, and the tool is usable by swiping the swiper tool back and forth on a surface to be cleaned in a direction generally along a swiping axis and by sawing the swiper tool back and forth on a surface to be cleaned in a direction generally along a sawing axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body comprising a suction chamber;   an attachment tube extending from the body, the attachment tube being in fluid communication with the suction chamber;   a crevice nozzle on the body, the crevice nozzle comprising a first suction inlet into the suction chamber; and   a swiper tool on a lower side of the body, the swiper tool comprising a wall disposed below the crevice nozzle and the suction chamber, the wall comprising an exterior rubbing surface configured to be rubbed against a surface to be cleaned;   the swiper tool comprising a swiping axis defining a first direction of intended movement of the swiper tool and a sawing axis, the sawing axis being generally transverse to the swiping axis and defining a second direction of intended movement of the swiper tool;   wherein the wall is longer along the sawing axis than along the swiping axis.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory tool of  claim 1  wherein the wall comprises a bottom wall of the swiper tool, and the swiper tool comprises spaced first and second side walls, a front end wall, and a back end wall, with the bottom wall joining the first and second side walls and joining the front and back end walls. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory tool of  claim 2  wherein the bottom wall is rounded from at least one of front to back and side to side. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory tool of  claim 2  wherein the bottom wall defines a bottom exterior surface and first and second lateral side exterior surfaces that curve outwardly from the bottom exterior surface and join the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory tool of  claim 1  wherein the swiper tool comprises a cup-shaped cover on the body, the cup-shaped cover comprising a plurality of flexible walls. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory tool of  claim 1  wherein the swiper tool comprises a second suction inlet into the suction chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory tool of  claim 6  comprising at least one of a plurality of serrations and a plurality of nubs on the wall disposed adjacent to the second suction inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory tool of  claim 6  wherein a plurality of serrations are disposed outwardly of the second suction inlet and wherein a plurality of nubs are disposed outwardly of the plurality of serrations. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory tool of  claim 6  comprising at least one of a plurality of serrations and a plurality of nubs on the wall arranged on opposite sides of and spaced from the second suction inlet and extending outwardly of the wall. 
     
     
         10 . The accessory tool of  claim 9  wherein the at least one of the plurality of serrations and the plurality of nubs are arranged in a plurality of rows on opposite sides of and spaced from the second suction inlet, the plurality of rows including a first row on a first side of the second suction inlet and a second row on a second side of the second suction inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The accessory tool of  claim 1  comprising at least one of a plurality of serrations and a plurality of nubs on the wall, wherein the at least one of the plurality of serrations and the plurality of nubs are spaced from each other in a direction generally along the sawing axis. 
     
     
         12 . The accessory tool of  claim 1  comprising at least one blade extending from the wall, the blade elongated in the direction of the sawing axis and comprising a plurality of serrations. 
     
     
         13 . The accessory tool of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a frame on the lower side of the body to stiffen the swiper tool, wherein the frame comprises at least one cross-piece transverse to the sawing axis, the cross-piece having an outer surface in contact with an inner surface of the swiper tool. 
     
     
         14 . The accessory tool of  claim 1  comprising a grip on an upper side of the body, wherein the swiper tool is disposed below the grip, wherein the grip is elongated along the sawing axis. 
     
     
         15 . An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body comprising a suction chamber;   an attachment tube extending from the body, the attachment tube being in fluid communication with the suction chamber; and   a swiper tool on a lower side of the body, the swiper tool comprising:
 a wall disposed below the suction chamber, the wall comprising an exterior rubbing surface configured to be rubbed against a surface to be cleaned; 
 a suction inlet through the wall, the suction inlet in fluid communication with the suction chamber; 
 a plurality of serrations on the exterior rubbing surface adjacent to the suction inlet, the plurality of serrations extending outwardly of the wall; and 
 a plurality of nubs on the exterior rubbing surface adjacent to the suction inlet, the plurality of nubs extending outwardly of the wall; 
   the swiper tool comprising a swiping axis defining a first direction of intended movement of the swiper tool and a sawing axis, the sawing axis being generally transverse to the swiping axis and defining a second direction of intended movement of the swiper tool;   wherein the wall is longer along the sawing axis than along the swiping axis; and   wherein at least one of the plurality of serrations and the plurality of nubs are spaced from each other in a direction generally along the sawing axis.   
     
     
         16 . The accessory tool of  claim 15  wherein the wall comprises a bottom wall of the swiper tool, and the swiper tool comprises spaced first and second side walls, a front end wall, and a back end wall, with the bottom wall joining the first and second side walls and joining the front and back end walls. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory tool of  claim 16  wherein the bottom wall is rounded from at least one of front to back and side to side. 
     
     
         18 . The accessory tool of  claim 16  wherein the bottom wall defines a bottom exterior surface and first and second lateral side exterior surfaces that curve outwardly from the bottom exterior surface and join the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         19 . The accessory tool of  claim 15  wherein:
 the plurality of serrations comprises:
 a first set of serrations on a first side of the suction inlet; and 
 a second set of serrations on a second side of the suction inlet that is opposite the first side; and 
 
 the plurality of nubs comprises:
 a first set of nubs on the first side of the suction inlet; and 
 a second set of nubs on the second side of the suction inlet. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . The accessory tool of  claim 15  wherein at least some of the plurality of serrations are disposed outwardly of the suction inlet and wherein at least some of the plurality of nubs are disposed outwardly of the plurality of serrations.