U.S. patent application number 10/631231 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for bagless vacuum cleaner with removable dirt cup.
Invention is credited to Hafling, Danielle M., Hitzelberger, Joel E., Pullins, Alan T..
Application Number | 20040088818 10/631231 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32233580 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040088818 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hafling, Danielle M. ; et
al. |
May 13, 2004 |
Bagless vacuum cleaner with removable dirt cup
Abstract
A floor cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle assembly with an
intake opening, a canister assembly with a dirt cup receiver and a
filter receiver, a suction generator carried on either the nozzle
assembly or the canister assembly and a dirt cup held in the dirt
cup receiver.
Inventors: |
Hafling, Danielle M.;
(Lancaster, KY) ; Hitzelberger, Joel E.;
(Danville, KY) ; Pullins, Alan T.; (Lexington,
KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
32233580 |
Appl. No.: |
10/631231 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60424425 |
Nov 7, 2002 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1463 20130101;
A47L 9/1409 20130101; A47L 9/122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/347 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/20; A47L
009/10 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a nozzle assembly
including an intake opening; a canister assembly including a dirt
cup receiver and a filter receiver; a suction generator carried on
one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly; and a dirt
cup held in said dirt cup receiver.
2. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dirt cup
includes a top wall, a bottom wall and a sidewall defining a dirt
collection chamber.
3. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further including an
inlet and an outlet in said sidewall and in fluid communication
with said dirt collection chamber.
4. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein said dirt cup
includes a prefilter positioned across said outlet.
5. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein said prefilter
is a screen.
6. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further including a
filter in said filter receiver.
7. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein said filter
includes a support and a pleated filter media.
8. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 7, further including a
hinge connecting said bottom wall to said sidewall.
9. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 8, further including a
latch for securing said bottom wall in a closed position.
10. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 9, further including a
lock for securing said dirt cup in said dirt cup receiver.
11. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein said dirt cup
receiver is a cavity.
12. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein said filter
receiver is a series of walls defining a second cavity.
13. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12, wherein said walls of
said filter receiver include at least one guide notch and said
support includes at least one cooperating guide tab engaging in
said at least one guide notch.
14. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein said walls of
said filter receiver include at least one slot and said support
includes at least one latching lug engaging in said at least one
slot.
15. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 14, wherein said walls of
said filter receiver further include a pair of opposed filter
removal notches allowing an operator to engage said support of said
filter when said filter is held in said walls of said filter
receiver.
16. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter
receiver is positioned in said dirt cup receiver.
17. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 16, wherein said canister
assembly also includes a suction conduit between said filter
receiver and said suction generator.
18. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 17, wherein said suction
conduit, said filter receiver and said dirt cup are all aligned in
said canister assembly.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/424,425, filed Nov. 7, 2002.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the floor care
equipment field and, more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner
incorporating a novel dirt cup and filter arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Bagless vacuum cleaner technology has long been known in the
art. Japanese Patent Applications 56-136642 and 56-136650 both
published in 1981 disclose an upright vacuum cleaner with a dust
collection chamber that removably connects to an opening in the
main unit to facilitate user convenience during the emptying of the
cleaner. A removable filter fills an opening at the bottom of the
dust chamber and serves to separate dust from air drawn through the
vacuum cleaner by the fan and motor assembly.
[0004] The present invention relates to an improved bagless vacuum
cleaner incorporating a unique dirt cup and filter arrangement. The
invention may be utilized on upright, canister and/or hand-held
vacuum cleaners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, a floor cleaning apparatus is provided with a
novel dirt cup and filter arrangement. The floor cleaning apparatus
comprises a nozzle assembly including an intake opening and a
canister assembly including a dirt cup receiver and a filter
receiver. Additionally, the apparatus includes a suction generator
that is carried on either the nozzle assembly or the canister
assembly. Further, a dirt cup is held in the dirt cup receiver.
[0006] The dirt cup includes a top wall, a bottom wall and a
sidewall defining a dirt collection chamber. Both an inlet and an
outlet are provided in the same sidewall. The inlet and outlet
provide fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber. A
hinge connects the bottom wall to the sidewall of the dirt cup. A
latch secures the bottom wall in a closed position. A lock secures
the dirt cup in the dirt cup receiver. A filter is provided in the
filter receiver. The filter includes a pleated filter media and a
structural support such as a surrounding frame.
[0007] Further describing the invention, the dirt cup receiver is a
cavity. The filter receiver is a series of walls defining a second
cavity that is positioned in the dirt cup receiver. The walls of
the filter receiver include at least one guide notch and the
support of the filter includes at least one cooperating guide tab
that engages in that guide notch. Further, the walls of the filter
receiver include at least one slot. Additionally, the filter
support includes at least one latching lug that engages in that
slot. Together, the cooperating guide notches, guide tabs, slots
and lugs ensure that the filter is properly oriented and securely
held in the filter receiver.
[0008] The filter receiver also includes a pair of opposed filter
removal notches. These allow an operator to engage the support of
the filter when the filter is held in the walls of the filter
receiver. Thus, these notches allow the filter to be easily and
conveniently removed from the filter receiver for purposes of
servicing the filter.
[0009] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, the canister assembly includes a suction conduit between
the filter receiver and the suction generator. The suction conduit,
the filter receiver and the dirt cup are all aligned in the
canister assembly. This allows unobstructed linear flow from the
dirt cup through the filter to the suction conduit.
[0010] In the following description there is shown and described a
preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of
illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the
invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of
other different embodiments and its several details are capable of
modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from
the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be
regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0011] The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification, illustrates several aspects of the present
invention, and together with the description serves to explain
certain principles of the invention. In the drawing:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner
incorporating the novel dirt cup of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a partially schematical, cross-sectional and
exploded view of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in FIG. 1 clearly
illustrating the mounting of the filter receiver in the canister
housing of the vacuum cleaner;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the dirt
cup;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the dirt
cup with the bottom wall open to allow emptying of the dirt
collection chamber;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the bottom wall latch
of the dirt cup; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a broken away perspective view showing the filter
receiver that is positioned on the canister assembly at the rear of
the dirt cup receiver.
[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating an
upright vacuum cleaner 10 of the present invention. As illustrated,
the upright vacuum cleaner 10 includes a main housing incorporating
a nozzle assembly 14 and a canister assembly 16. The canister
assembly 16 is pivotally mounted to the nozzle assembly 14. A foot
latch 19 locks the canister assembly 16 in the upright position
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Depressing the foot latch 19 releases
the canister assembly 16 so that it pivots freely relative to the
nozzle assembly 14 when the vacuum cleaner 10 is manipulated by an
operator to clean a floor.
[0020] The canister assembly 16 includes a pair of rear wheels 18
and the nozzle assembly 14 includes a pair of front wheels 20.
Together, the wheels 18, 20 allow the vacuum cleaner 10 to roll
smoothly over the surface of the floor being cleaned as it is being
manipulated by the operator. A height adjustment switch 22 allows
the operator to adjust the position of the front wheels 20 relative
to the body 24 of the nozzle assembly 14 so as to allow the
cleaning height of the vacuum cleaner 10 to be adjusted to provide
efficient and effective cleaning of substantially any foreseeable
type of floor surface. The nozzle assembly 14 also includes an
agitator cavity 26. The agitator cavity 26 receives a pair of
agitators 28 that are mounted so as to rotate relative to the
agitator body 26.
[0021] The canister assembly 16 includes a housing 30 having a dirt
cup receiver or cavity 32 for receiving the dirt cup 12 in a manner
that will be described in greater detail below. Additionally, the
canister housing 30 includes an internal compartment 34 for holding
a suction generator 36 which may, for example, take the form of a
fan and motor assembly. As is known in the art, the motor of the
suction generator 36 may be connected to the agitators 28 by means
of a power transmission (not shown) so that the agitators are
rotated relative to the nozzle body 24 to brush and beat dirt and
debris from the nap of an underlying carpet being cleaned.
[0022] The canister assembly 16 also includes a control handle 38
connected to the canister assembly 30. The control handle 38
carries a hand grip 40 and may also be equipped with an actuator
switch 42 for turning the vacuum cleaner on and off. An electrical
cord (not shown) connects the electrical system of the vacuum
cleaner with a wall outlet.
[0023] A filter receiver or cavity 72 is provided at the rear of
the dirt cup receiver 32 in the canister assembly 16. Thus, as
should be appreciated, when the dirt cup 12 is seated in the dirt
cup receiver 32 the filter holder 72 is downstream from both the
outlet 68 and the optional prefilter 70. As best illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 6, the filter receiver 72 includes a series of walls 74
that define a cavity 76. A filter 78 is received in the cavity 76.
As illustrated, the filter 78 may take the form of a filter
cartridge including a support or frame 80 and a pleated filter
media 82 of a type known in the art to be useful for the intended
purpose. Cooperating guide notches 84 and slots 86 on the walls 74
of the filter holder 72 match up with cooperating guide tabs 88 and
latching lugs 90 on the support 80 to ensure that the filter 78 is
properly seated in the cavity 76.
[0024] Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the dirt cup
12 in detail. As illustrated, the dirt cup 12 comprises a housing
50 including a top wall 52, four sidewalls 54, 56, 58, 60 and a
bottom wall 62 that define a dirt collection chamber 64. An inlet
66 and an outlet 68 are provided in the sidewall 54 of the housing
50 and provide fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber
64. The walls 69 surrounding the outlet 68 seat against the walls
74 of the filter receiver 72 when the dirt cup 12 is properly
seated and locked in the dirt cup receiver 32 of the canister
assembly 16. Thus, a substantially airtight seal is provided. Of
course, if desired to enhance the sealing between these components,
an O-ring seal or other gasket may be provided between the walls 69
and the walls 74. A prefilter 70, such as a screen, may be
optionally mounted in the dirt cup 12 to extend fully across the
outlet 68. The prefilter 70 may be made removable for easy
cleaning.
[0025] As further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom wall 62
of the dirt cup is connected by means of a hinge 92 to the sidewall
60 of the housing 50. Thus, the bottom wall 62 may be hinged open
from the sidewalls 54, 56, 58 to allow dirt and debris to be
emptied from the dirt collection chamber 64. A latch, generally
designated by reference numeral 94, is carried on the sidewall 58
and includes a spring loaded lever arm 96 that is pivotally mounted
to the dirt cup housing 50 (see FIG. 5). The lever arm 96 is
equipped with a shoulder to engage the notched edge 98 of the
bottom wall 62 to secure the bottom wall in the closed position,
sealing the bottom of the dirt collection chamber 64.
[0026] A second latching mechanism 100 is provided on the side wall
56 of the dirt cup housing 50. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the
latching mechanism 100 includes an actuator 102 mounted by pivot
pins 106 in apertures formed in the housing 50. The actuator 102
also includes a projecting latching element 108 having a latching
tab 110. A spring 112 has a first end carried on a guide 114 on the
housing 50 and a second end that engages in a cavity 116 on the
actuator 102. This spring 112 biases the actuator 102 and, more
particularly, the latching element 108 into the latching position.
In the latching position the latching tab 110 engages the shoulder
or edge 118 of the canister assembly 16 so that the dirt cup 12 is
positively held in the cavity 32 (note FIG. 2).
[0027] In operation, the vacuum cleaner operator manipulates the
actuator switch. 42 to energize the motor of the suction generator
36. As previously discussed, the motor of the suction generator 36
also drives the agitators 28 through a transmission such as a gear
drive, a belt drive or a combined belt and gear drive. As the
vacuum cleaner 10 is manipulated back and forth across the floor by
the operator, the rotating agitators 28 brush and beat dirt and
debris from the nap of an underlying carpet or rug being cleaned.
That dirt and debris becomes entrained in the suction airstream
drawn into the vacuum cleaner 10 by the suction generator 36. Thus,
air entrained with dirt and debris passes from the agitator cavity
26 through the intake port 120 and a hose and conduit system 122
into the inlet port 124 provided in the rear of the canister
housing 30 (note the hoses connecting the port 120 to the conduit
122 and that conduit to the inlet port 124 are not shown). The air
entrained with dirt and debris then passes into the dirt collection
chamber 64 of the dirt cup through the inlet 66. The prefilter 70
ensures that the larger particles of dirt and debris are collected
in the dirt collection chamber 64.
[0028] The suction airstream, now devoid of the relatively large
particles of dirt and debris passes freely from the dirt collection
chamber 64 through the prefilter 70 and is then drawn through the
filter 78. The pleated filter media 82 of the filter 78 cleans the
remaining fine particles of dirt and debris from the airstream. The
now clean air is then drawn from the filter cavity 76 into the
suction conduit 126 formed in the canister housing 30 at the rear
of the dirt cup receiver 32. As should be appreciated the dirt cup
outlet 68, the filter receiver 72 and filter 78 and the suction
conduit 126 are all horizontally aligned to provide a high
efficiency linear air path. The air is then drawn through the
opening 128 into the internal compartment 34 housing the suction
generator 36. A supplemental filter may be provided across the
opening 128 if desired. The air then passes over the motor of the
suction generator 36 to provide cooling before being exhausted
through a final filter (not shown) and the exhaust port 132 into
the environment.
[0029] At some point, dirt and debris will fill the dirt collection
chamber 64 and it will become necessary to empty the dirt cup 12.
In order to achieve this end, the operator reaches one or more
fingers into the cavity 134 in the sidewall 56 and engages the
inner face 136 of the actuator 102. The operator then pivots the
actuator about the pivot pins 106 thereby freeing the latching tab
110 from the shoulder/edge 118 of the canister housing 30. The dirt
cup 12 is then easily removed from the cavity 32 of the canister
housing 30.
[0030] The dirt cup 12 may then be carried to a garbage can,
garbage bag or other garbage collection vessel where it may be
emptied. This is done by positioning the dirt cup 12 over the
vessel and manipulating the latch 94 so that the lever arm 96
swings free of the notched edge 98 of the bottom wall 62. The
bottom wall 62 then opens under the force of gravity swinging about
the hinge 92. Dirt and debris then fall from the dirt collection
chamber 64 into the garbage can, bag or vessel. Following emptying,
the bottom wall 62 is pivoted closed about the hinge 92 until the
lever arm 96 again engages the notched edge 98 thereof.
[0031] The dirt cup 12 is then repositioned in the cavity 32 in the
canister housing 30. When properly seated, the inlet 66 seats
against a seal to provide airtight fluid communication with the
inlet port 124 and the filter holder 72 seats against a seal to
provide airtight fluid communication with the suction conduit 126.
Simultaneously the latching tab 110 slips past the shoulder 118
through cooperation of the cam surfaces 138 and 140 and engages the
shoulder to secure the dirt cup 12 in the cavity 32.
[0032] In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the
concepts of the present invention. The dirt cup 12 is of relatively
simple construction and is inexpensive to produce. It also provides
excellent cleaning efficiency and is user friendly. The dirt cup 12
may be easily emptied by simply opening the hinged bottom wall 62.
Since there is no filter or any other structure in the dirt
collection chamber 64 of the dirt cup 12 to interfere with
emptying, dirt and debris flows freely from the dirt cup when the
bottom wall 62 is opened.
[0033] In addition, the filter 78 may be easily changed. Notches
142 are provided in the walls 74 of the filter receiver 72 so that
the support 80 may be easily gripped to slide the filter 78 from
the cavity 76. A new filter 78 may then be dropped into place by
aligning the guide tabs 88 with the guide notches 84 and engaging
the lugs 90 with the slots 86.
[0034] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of
this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above teachings. While the
dirt cup 12 and canister mounted filter receiver 72 are illustrated
in use on an upright vacuum cleaner, it should be appreciated that
the dirt cup and filter receiver may also be utilized on a
hand-held or a canister vacuum cleaner if desired. Further, while
the agitators 28 of the upright vacuum cleaner are described as
being driven by the motor of the suction generator 36, it should be
appreciated that a separate agitator drive motor could be provided
if desired. A single agitator or more than two agitators could also
be used.
[0035] The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best
illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical
application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and
equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiment do not
and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims
and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
* * * * *