U.S. patent application number 09/805856 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-20 for de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Anderson, Troy Gene, Vandenbelt, Rudy A..
Application Number | 20010052165 09/805856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41434752 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010052165 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anderson, Troy Gene ; et
al. |
December 20, 2001 |
De-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner
Abstract
Exhaust from a hand-held vacuum cleaner is directed rearwardly
away from its dust bowl nozzle end through rearwardly disposed
exhaust ports providing foreign matter pickup at its nozzle end in
a manner not disturbed by exhaust turbulence.
Inventors: |
Anderson, Troy Gene;
(Marblehead, MA) ; Vandenbelt, Rudy A.; (Ottawa,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Office A.P. Durigon
20 Eustis Street
Cambridge
MA
02140
US
|
Family ID: |
41434752 |
Appl. No.: |
09/805856 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09805856 |
Mar 14, 2001 |
|
|
|
09553139 |
Apr 19, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/344 ;
15/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/24 20130101; A47L
9/0081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/344 ;
15/412 |
International
Class: |
A47L 005/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner that does not
turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed, comprising: a
dust bowl adapted to mate with a powered unit terminating in a
nozzle end adapted to remove foreign matter; and a powered unit
including a battery and a vacuum impeller assembly mounted
therewithin that is adapted to mate with the dust bowl and is
cooperative therewith to draw air into the nozzle end of the dust
bowl through the vacuum impeller assembly and discharge the same
out of the powered unit as an exhaust stream that is so directed
that it does not turbulently move foreign matter at the nozzle end
of the dust bowl before it is removed thereby.
2. The de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner that does not
turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed of claim 1,
wherein said powered unit has a suction face at its front end in
fluid communication with an exhaust vent at its rear end adapted to
direct the exhaust stream longitudinally rearwardly of the powered
unit where it does not turbulently interfere with foreign matter
removal at the nozzle end.
3. The de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner that does not
turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed of claim 2,
wherein the powered unit includes a housing in which the vacuum
impeller assembly and battery are so mounted and arranged that the
housing and battery provide an open flow passageway connecting the
rear exhaust vent and vacuum impeller assembly in fluid
communication.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility
patent application Ser. No. 09/553,139, entitled Dual Filter
Wet/Dry Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaner, filed Apr. 19, 2000, incorporated
herein by reference, and is related to co-pending United States
utility patent application entitled Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaner with
Interchangeable Control Panel Module, filed on even date
herewith.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention is drawn to the field of vacuum cleaners, and
more particularly, to a novel de-turbulent hand-held vacuum
cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hand-held vacuum cleaners are commonly employed to pick up
dirt and/or liquid spillage.
[0004] The heretofore known wet and/or dry hand-held vacuum
cleaners typically include a powered unit having side exhausts, to
which a dust bowl terminating in a nozzle end is removably
attached. Foreign matter to be removed, usually dirt and/or
liquids, is drawn into their nozzle ends, and an exhaust stream,
from which the foreign matter has been separated, is typically
discharged out the side exhausts of their powered units.
[0005] However, the turbulence that is generated at the side
exhausts of the heretofore known wet and/or dry hand-held vacuum
cleaners has adversely impacted their cleaning efficiency. Some
components of the laterally discharged exhaust streams impact, and
undesirably move, the foreign matter to be removed. The heavier
parts of the foreign matter that remain on the surface to be
cleaned are moved away from the nozzle ends, necessitating
additional pick-up steps, while the lighter parts thereof are moved
into the surrounding air. Not only is such airborne dust, allergens
and the like uncomfortable to breathe, if not unhealthy, but it
also tends to be deposited over an area wider than the original
spillage area, as the airborne foreign matter disperses and finally
settles, which necessitates further laborious pick-up steps.
[0006] There is thus a need for a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum
cleaner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
disclose a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to disclose a
de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner that does not turbulently
move foreign matter before it is removed.
[0009] In accordance therewith, the disclosed de-turbulent
hand-held vacuum cleaner of the present invention that does not
turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed includes a
dust bowl terminating in a nozzle end; and a powered unit adapted
to mate with the dust bowl and cooperative therewith to draw air
thereinthrough and discharge the same out of the powered unit as an
exhaust stream that is so directed that it does not turbulently
move foreign matter at the nozzle end of the dust bowl before it is
removed thereby. In the presently preferred embodiment, the powered
unit has a suction face at its front end in fluid communication
with an exhaust vent at its rear end adapted to direct the exhaust
stream longitudinally rearwardly of the powered unit where it does
not turbulently interfere with foreign matter removal at the nozzle
end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other objects, inventive aspects and advantageous
features of the present invention will become apparent as the
invention becomes better understood by referring to the following
slowly exemplary detailed description of the presently preferred
embodiments, and to the drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1A is a pictorial diagram useful in explaining the
operation of an exemplary prior art hand-held vacuum cleaner;
[0012] FIG. 1B is a pictorial diagram useful in explaining the
principles of a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner in accord
with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the presently
preferred embodiment of a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner in
accord with the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 3 is a partially broken-away perspective view of the
powered unit of the presently preferred embodiment of a
de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner in accord with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1A, generally designated at 10 is a
pictorial diagram useful in explaining the operation of an
exemplary prior art hand-held vacuum cleaner.
[0016] Hand-held vacuum cleaner generally designated 12 includes a
dust bowl 14 removably attached to a powered unit 16. The powered
unit 16 includes side exhausts 18 and a handle 20.
[0017] In operation, the hand-held vacuum cleaner 12 is grasped by
handle 20, and manipulated to bring its dust bowl 14 in position to
remove foreign matter 22. As it picks up the foreign matter 22, it
produces exhaust jets schematically illustrated by arrow 24
laterally directed out of the side exhausts 18.
[0018] The laterally directed side exhaust jets 24 have force
components schematically illustrated by arrow 26 that impact the
foreign matter 22. Heavier components of the material 22 to be
removed are moved thereby about the surface to be cleaned, as
schematically illustrated by crossed arrows generally designated
28, while any lighter components thereof are moved thereby into the
air, as schematically illustrated by curled arrow 30.
[0019] The turbulent displacement 28 of the foreign matter 22
requires additional, undesirable steps to pick it up from the
surface where it has been moved, which is likewise subject to
undesirable dispersal, while the turbulent displacement 30 of the
foreign matter into the air gives rise not only to airborne dust,
allergens and the like that are uncomfortable if not unhealthy to
breathe, but also the airborne material tends to be deposited over
an area wider than the original spillage area as the airborne
foreign matter disperses and finally settles, further necessitating
undesirable additional pick-up steps.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 1B, generally designated at 40 is a
pictorial diagram useful in explaining the principles of a
de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner in accordance with the
present invention. De-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner generally
designated 42 includes dust bowl 44 removably attached to powered
unit 46 having a handle 48, and an exhaust 50 adapted to discharge
an exhaust stream so directed that it does not turbulently move
foreign matter before it is removed.
[0021] In operation, the de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner 42
is grasped by handle 48 and manipulated to bring its dust bowl 44
in position to remove foreign matter 52. As it picks up the foreign
matter 52, it produces an exhaust stream schematically illustrated
by arrow 54 which in the presently preferred embodiment is directed
longitudinally rearwardly of the powered unit 46. The
longitudinally rearwardly directed exhaust stream 54 has no force
components sufficient to turbulently move the foreign matter 52
prior to its removal, allowing for efficient foreign matter pickup
without producing the undesirable airborne dirt and allergen
clouds, and the undesirable additional pickup steps, of the
heretofore known hand-held vacuum cleaners. Although the presently
preferred embodiment includes an exhaust vent located at the rear
of the powered unit 46 adapted to discharge an exhaust stream
directed longitudinally rearwardly of the powered unit, any exhaust
so located and/or arranged as to direct one or more exhaust streams
having no force components sufficient to turbulently move a
substantial amount of foreign matter before it is removed may be
employed without departing from the inventive concepts.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, generally designated at 60 is a
longitudinal section of a presently preferred embodiment of the
de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner of the present invention. The
de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner 60 includes a dust bowl 62
that is removably attached to a powered unit generally designated
64. The dust bowl 62 may be provided with a liquid separator to
allow for wet/dry operation, not shown. One or more filters, not
shown, may be provided intermediate the dust bowl and powered unit
to separate particulates received through the inlet nozzle of the
dust bowl. The principles of the present invention apply to a wide
range of de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaners, which may be wet
and/or dry and have one or more filters. Any such arrangements in a
hand-held vacuum cleaner to provide filtration and solid and/or
liquid pickup, which are not further described herein, are
contemplated.
[0023] The powered unit 64 includes a housing generally designated
66 that provides a handle 72. A vacuum impeller assembly 74 is
mounted in the housing 66 to provide suction. An interchangeable
control panel module generally designated 76 including a power
switch 78 is mounted in the housing 66 along its top, with the
power switch 78 in position to be manually actuated when the handle
72 is grasped. Although the power switch 78 is provided on the
interchangeable control panel module 76, it will be appreciated
that other means to mount the power switch, and/or other features,
to the housing could be employed.
[0024] A battery shown in dashed outline 80 is mounted in the
housing 66 that is operatively connected to the vacuum impeller
assembly 74 and interchangeable control panel module 76. An exhaust
vent 82 is provided at the rear of the housing 66 in fluid
communication with the vacuum impeller assembly 74. In the
preferred embodiment as best seen in FIG. 3, the housing 66 and
battery 80 are dimensioned and so arranged as to provide an open
flow passageway generally designated 100 between the distal end of
the vacuum impeller assembly 74 and exhaust vent 82, although any
other means to provide fluid communication therebetween could be
employed in accordance with the present invention.
[0025] In operation, the vacuum impeller assembly 74 draws air into
the dust bowl 62 as schematically illustrated by arrows 84 and
moves it through the housing 66 and out the exhaust vents 82 as
schematically illustrated by arrow marked 86. The thereby produced
longitudinally rearwardly directed exhaust jet schematically
illustrated by arrow marked 88, which has no force components
sufficient to impact foreign matter to be removed at its dust bowl
nozzle end, therewith allows foreign matter to be picked up in a
manner that is unaffected by exhaust jet turbulence.
[0026] Many modifications of the presently disclosed invention will
become apparent to those of skill in the art that fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *