U.S. patent application number 10/817546 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Henderson, Christopher Richard, Macleod, Euan Skinner, Richardson, Ross.
Application Number | 20050132530 10/817546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9956280 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050132530 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Macleod, Euan Skinner ; et
al. |
June 23, 2005 |
Vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner comprises a rigid dirt receptacle 14 having an
outlet at one end, through which the collected dirt and dust can be
emptied, a flap 16 for closing the outlet, and an actuator 58 for
moving the flap 16 between a closed position and an open position,
the actuator 58 being operable to control the position of the flap
16 between the open and closed positions. A location is provided at
a partially opened position of the flap 16, at which position fine
dirt and dust can be emptied through the restricted outlet in a
controlled manner. The restricted size of the outlet retains any
coarse and fibrous dirt inside the receptacle 14. Once the fine
dirt has been emptied, the flap 16 can be moved to its fully open
position to allow the coarse dirt and fibrous matter to be emptied
from the receptacle 14 separately from the fine dust.
Inventors: |
Macleod, Euan Skinner;
(Glasgow, GB) ; Richardson, Ross; (Auchterarder,
GB) ; Henderson, Christopher Richard; (Glasgow,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOK, ALEX, MCFARRON, MANZO, CUMMINGS & MEHLER LTD
SUITE 2850
200 WEST ADAMS STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
9956280 |
Appl. No.: |
10/817546 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/28 20130101; A47L
9/1683 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/352 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/10; A47L
009/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 5, 2003 |
GB |
0307928.2 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner, the receptacle
comprising: a rigid container having an outlet for the emptying of
collected dirt, a closure for closing the outlet, and actuator
means for moving the closure between a closed position and an open
position, said actuator means being operable to control the
position of the closure between said open and closed positions.
2. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the outlet is
provided at a position on the container which is located at the
bottom thereof when the container is in use.
3. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which means are
provided for retaining the closure in said open and/or closed
positions.
4. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the closure is
biassed into said open and/or closed positions.
5. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the container
comprises an open bottom forming the outlet.
6. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the closure
comprises a flap pivoted to the container.
7. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 6, in which the actuator
comprises a handle mounted directly to said flap.
8. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 7, in which the actuator
comprises a handle mounted directly to said flap adjacent the point
where the flap is pivoted to the container.
9. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 6, in which the flap is
also mounted to the container for translatory movement towards and
away from said outlet thereof.
10. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 9, in which means are
provided to guide the translatory movement of said flap towards and
away from said outlet.
11. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 10, in which said guide
means is arranged to only permit pivotal movement of the flap, when
the latter is in a partially opened position between said open and
closed positions.
12. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 11, in which the guide
means is further arranged to retain said flap in a fully opened
position.
13. A dirt receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the closure
is arrange to locate at a partially opened position.
14. A vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle, the dirt
receptacle comprising: a rigid container having an outlet for the
emptying of collected dirt, a closure for closing the outlet, and
actuator means for moving the closure between a closed position and
an open position, said actuator means being operable to control the
position of the closure between said open and closed positions.
15. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 14, in which the vacuum
cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator having a cylindrical-walled
separation chamber.
16. A method of emptying a dirt receptacle of a vacuum cleaner, the
receptacle comprising a rigid container having an outlet for the
emptying of collected dirt, a closure for closing the outlet, the
closure being moveable between a normally closed position and an
open position, the method comprising removing the dirt receptacle
from the vacuum cleaner, partially opening the closure and empting
fine dirt from the receptacle through the restricted outlet prior
to fully opening the closure and empting the remaining dirt from
the receptacle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.
[0003] 2. Related Background Art
[0004] Vacuum cleaners conventionally comprise a permeable dust
bag, which filters and retains the dirt and dust drawn into the
vacuum cleaner by the induced air flow. Nowadays, it has become
popular to provide vacuum cleaners, in which the separated dirt and
dust is collected in a rigid dirt receptacle that can be emptied
and re-used. Such so-called bagless cleaners alleviate the need to
purchase and replace the dust bags. However, a disadvantage of
re-usable dirt receptacles is that the receptacles are often dirty
to handle and clouds of dirt and dust can be emitted into the
atmosphere when the receptacles are emptied, with the obvious
health risks and resultant contamination of the vacuum cleaner and
the user's environment with a layer of dust.
[0005] Many bagless vacuum cleaners nowadays comprise a cyclonic
separator, which deposits the separated dirt and dust in a rigid
dirt receptacle. Cyclonic vacuum cleaners offer the advantage over
bag-type cleaners of maintaining a more constant level of suction
performance regardless of the quantity of dirt present in their
dirt receptacle.
[0006] One of the main disadvantages of known cyclonic vacuum
cleaners is that the procedure for emptying their dirt receptacles
is a potentially dirty and unhygienic process. Instead of simply
removing a closed paper bag full of dirt from the vacuum cleaner,
and dropping it into a dustbin, emptying a cyclonic cleaner usually
involves tipping a mass of loose dust and dirt out of its dirt
receptacle, following removal of the receptacle from the cleaner.
This emptying process can involve knocking and/or shaking the dirt
receptacle to dislodge agglomerated dust and any masses of fibrous
material, such as fluff and hairs that may be present.
[0007] This problem is exacerbated because fine dirt typically
collects at the base of the dirt receptacle, with coarse and
fibrous dirt lodging in the upper region of the receptacle. When
the dirt receptacle is inverted for emptying, the entire mass of
dirt falls in an uncontrolled manner into the vessel used for its
final disposal, typically a dustbin or refuse bag. This
uncontrolled discharge usually results in the lighter dirt
fractions being disturbed by the movement of the heavier fractions,
whereupon the clothing and anatomy of the vacuum cleaner user may
become contaminated with dust. The attendant escape of dust into
the user's home environment is equally undesirable.
[0008] Many popular cyclonic vacuum cleaners have a simple
cylindrical dirt receptacle, usually of transparent plastic
material, which is removed from the cleaner and inverted over the
dustbin for emptying. More recent cleaners have had a pivoted flap
at the bottom of their dirt receptacle, this being released by some
form of manually-operated latch to swing open for emptying under
gravity or, in some cases, being spring-loaded to aid opening. In
either case, dust and fibres suddenly fall out of the dirt
receptacle when the flap opens. This flap-type emptying system
exacerbates the problem of contamination, since the fine dust falls
out of the bottom of the receptacle closely followed by the coarse
and fibrous dirt, which falls through and/or lands on top of the
fine dust causing clouds of fine dust to become airborne and
contaminate the environment during the emptying process.
[0009] Thus, there is the need to provide a dirt receptacle for a
cyclonic vacuum cleaner which is clean to use and does not generate
clouds of dirt and dust when emptied.
[0010] EP 1 199 023 attempts to solve the above-mentioned problems
by providing a cyclonic separator for a vacuum cleaner in which the
lower region of the cylindrical dirt receptacle is separated from
the upper region by a perforated disc-shaped partition. In use, the
fine dust and dirt particles fall through the perforations in the
disc and are retained in the region below the disc. The coarser
particulate and fibrous material are retained above the disc.
During emptying, the lower region of the dirt receptacle can be
opened and carefully emptied into a suitable waste receptacle for
disposal. Having emptied the fine dust, the entire dirt receptacle
containing the coarse and fibrous material, may then be inverted
over the waste receptacle to complete the emptying process.
[0011] Although the dirt receptacle emptying arrangement disclosed
in EP 1 199 023 constitutes a considerable improvement over the
emptying arrangements of most commercially available cyclonic
cleaners, the receptacle is complicated and expensive in
construction and is difficult to use.
[0012] We have now devised a vacuum cleaner which alleviates the
above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In accordance with this invention, there is provided a dirt
receptacle for a vacuum cleaner, the receptacle comprising a rigid
container having an outlet for the emptying of collected dirt, a
closure for closing the outlet, and an actuator for moving the
closure between a closed position and an open position, said
actuator being operable to control the position of the closure
between said open and closed positions.
[0014] In use, the receptacle is emptied by initially moving the
closure to a partially opened position, in which fine dirt and dust
can be emptied through the restricted outlet in a controlled
manner. The restricted size of the outlet retains any coarser and
fibrous dirt inside the receptacle. Once the fine dirt has been
emptied, the closure can be moved to its fully open position to
allow the coarse dirt and fibrous matter to be emptied from the
receptacle.
[0015] The present invention thus provides a clean and hygienic way
of empting the receptacle by allowing the fine and coarse dirt to
be emptied in two distinct operating stages, thereby avoiding the
problem of dust contamination when all of the dirt is released in
an uncontrolled single stage.
[0016] The restricted size of the opening also allows a more
controlled release of the fine dirt and avoids the problem of dust
contamination caused by a sudden release of the dirt.
[0017] The receptacle is simple and inexpensive in construction and
is straightforward to use.
[0018] Preferably, the closure locates at said partially opened
position, in order to provide a tactile indication to the user that
the closure is in the correct position for the emptying of fine
dust.
[0019] Preferably, the outlet is provided at a position on the
container which is located at the bottom thereof when the container
is in use, such that the outlet is positioned directly adjacent the
fine dirt which collects at the bottom of the container.
[0020] Preferably means are provided for retaining the closure in
said open and/or closed positions.
[0021] Preferably the closure is biassed into said fully open
position.
[0022] Preferably, the container comprises an open bottom forming
the outlet.
[0023] Preferably, the closure comprises a flap pivoted to the
container.
[0024] Preferably the actuator comprises a handle mounted directly
to said flap, preferably adjacent the point where the flap is
pivoted to the container.
[0025] Preferably the flap is also mounted to the container for
translatory movement towards and away from said outlet thereof.
[0026] Preferably means are provided to guide the translatory
movement of said flap towards and away from said outlet.
[0027] Preferably said guide means is arranged to only permit
pivotal movement of the flap, when the latter is in a partially
opened position between said open and closed positions.
[0028] Preferably, the guide means is arranged to hold said flap in
its fully opened position.
[0029] Also, in accordance with this invention, there is provided a
vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle as hereinbefore
described.
[0030] Preferably the vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator
having a cylindrical-walled separation chamber.
[0031] Also, in accordance with this invention, there is provided a
method of emptying a dirt receptacle of a vacuum cleaner, the
receptacle comprising a rigid container having an outlet for the
emptying of collected dirt, a closure for closing the outlet, the
closure being moveable between a normally closed position and an
open position, the method comprising removing the dirt receptacle
from the vacuum cleaner, partially opening the closure and empting
fine dirt from the receptacle through the restricted outlet prior
to fully opening the closure and empting the remaining dirt from
the receptacle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way
of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vacuum cleaner in accordance
with this invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dirt collection bin of the
cleaner of FIG. 1, showing the discharge flap thereof in its closed
state;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a side view of the dirt collection bin of the
cleaner of FIG. 1, showing the discharge flap thereof in its closed
state;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dirt collection bin of the
cleaner of FIG. 1, showing the discharge flap thereof in its
partially opened state;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a side view of the dirt collection bin of the
cleaner of FIG. 1, showing the discharge flap thereof in its
partially opened state;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dirt collection bin of the
cleaner of FIG. 1, showing the discharge flap thereof in its fully
opened state;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a side view of the dirt collection bin of the
cleaner of FIG. 1, showing the discharge flap thereof in its fully
opened state;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a dirt collection bin of an
alternative embodiment of vacuum cleaner in accordance with this
invention, showing the discharge flap thereof in its closed
state;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dirt collection bin of
FIG. 8, showing the discharge flap thereof in its fully opened
state;
[0042] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a dirt
collection bin of a preferred embodiment of vacuum cleaner in
accordance with this invention, showing the discharge flap thereof
in its closed state;
[0043] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the dirt
collection bin of FIG. 10, showing the discharge flap thereof in
its partially opened state;
[0044] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the dirt
collection bin of FIG. 10, showing the discharge flap thereof in
its fully opened state; and
[0045] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion
of the dirt collection bin of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an
upright vacuum cleaner comprising a wheeled suction head 10, to
which a body portion 11 is pivoted for movement between an upright
position and an inclined operative position. A motor and fan are
mounted in a bottom portion 12 of the body 11 of the cleaner.
[0047] A separation unit 13 mounted in the body 11 of the cleaner
comprises a cyclone separator and a filter. In use, the fan induces
an airflow through the cleaner from the suction head 10 through the
separation unit 13, where dirt and dust separated from the airflow
by the cyclone is collected in a removable dirt collection bin 14
mounted directly below the separation unit 13. The cyclone
separator comprises a cylindrical wall and for practical purposes,
the side wall of the collection bin 14 is a downward extension of
the wall of the cyclone.
[0048] The cyclonic separation action causes the finer dirt
particles F to collect at the bottom of the collection bin 14 below
the coarser dirt particles and fibrous matter C.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the collection
bin 14 comprises a cylindrical side wall 15 having an open top
which communicates with the cyclone separator. The bottom of the
bin 14 is closed by a flap 16 which is pivoted by a shaft to the
side wall 15 of the bin 14 for rotation about an axis which extends
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bin. A torsion spring
17 biases the flap 16 downwardly into a position where the bottom
of the bin 14 is fully open.
[0050] The flap 16 comprises a pair of spaced-apart formations 18,
between which the above-mentioned shaft extends. Each formation 18
comprises an outwardly facing abutment surface which lies in a
plane that extends parallel to both the longitudinal axis of the
bin and rotational axis of the flap 16, when the later is in its
fully closed position.
[0051] An actuator 19 is slidably mounted to the outer surface of
the side wall 15 of the bin 14 for movement in a direction which
extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bin. The actuator
19 comprises a pair of arms having lower ends which abut the
respective flap formations 18.
[0052] A foldable handle 20 is attached to the arms of the actuator
19 for sliding the actuator 19 in the upward and downward
directions shown in the drawings. In its fully downward position,
the bottom ends of the arms of the actuator 19 bear against the
abutment surface of the flap formations 18, thereby holding the
flap in its closed position and preventing the collected dirt and
dust from falling out of the bottom of the bin 14 whilst the
cleaner is in use and whilst the bin 14 is being carried to a waste
receptacle for emptying. The handle 20 also serves as a handle for
supporting the bin 14 whilst it is being carried.
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, in order to
empty the bin 14, the user slides the actuator 19 upwardly using
the handle 20, thereby allowing the flap 16 to open under the
spring bias, until the bottom ends of the arms of the actuator 19
engage in respective detents 21 formed in the abutment surfaces of
the flap formations 18. In this position, the flap 16 is retained
in the partially open position and the fine dirt and dust F at the
bottom of the bin 14 can be emptied through the small opening at
the bottom of the bin 14. Any coarse dirt and fibrous matter C
cannot pass through the opening and is retained inside the bin
14.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, in order to
fully empty the bin 14, the user has to slide the actuator 19 more
upwardly using handle 20, thereby allowing the flap 16 to fully
open under the applied spring bias. In this position, all of the
remaining dirt and dust inside the bin 14 is free to fall through
the open bottom of the bin 14.
[0055] Following emptying of the bin 14, the actuator 19 is
returned to its lower position using the handle 20, thereby closing
the flap 16 against the spring bias. The body 11 of the cleaner is
preferably adapted such that the bin 14 cannot be mounted to the
cleaner until the actuator 19 has been returned to the lower
position, thereby avoiding the risk of the flap 16 opening whilst
the bin 14 is removed from the cleaner.
[0056] The upper surface of the flap 16 is contaminated with dirt
and dust. However, it will be appreciated that actuator 19 enables
the user to open and close the flap 16 without having to touch the
flap itself.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, there is shown
an alternative embodiment of a bin 14, which is similar to the
above-mentioned bin and like parts are given like reference
numerals. In this embodiment, a pair of pinions 42 are mounted to
the flap 16 for rotation about the rotational axis of the flap 16.
A handle 40 is pivotally mounted to the external surface of the
wall 15 of the bin 14 for rotation about an axis which extends
parallel to the axis of flap rotation. A second pair of pinions 41
are mounted to the handle 40 and are engaged with respective ones
of the flap pinions 42.
[0058] In order to open the flap 16, the handle 40 is rotated about
its rotational axis, causing the pinions 41 to correspondingly turn
the flap pinions 42. A detent (not shown) is provided to retain the
flap 16 in its partially opened position and to provide a tactile
indication to the user that the flap 16 is in the correct position
for the emptying of fine dirt.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 13 of the drawings, there is shown
a preferred embodiment of a bin 14, which is similar to the
above-mentioned bins and like parts are given like reference
numerals. The flap 16 is pivotally mounted between a pair of
parallel spaced apart flanges 52 provided on the lower end of the
rear of the side wall 15 of the bin 14. The flanges 52 extend
parallel to each other and axially of the bin. Each flange 52
comprises an upper slot 53 which extends axially of the bin and a
lower unshaped slot 54 having long and short arms 54a, 54b
extending axially of the bin.
[0060] The flap 16 comprises a portion 56 which extends between the
flanges 52. A pair of upper projections 55 extend outwardly from
opposite sides of the flap extension 56 into the respective upper
slots 53 of the flanges 52. A pair of lower projections 57 also
extend outwardly from opposite sides of the flap extension 56 into
the respective lower slots 54 of the flanges 52.
[0061] A handle 58 extends over the outer surface of the flap
extension 56. The lower edge of the handle 58 is spaced away from
the outer surface of the flap extension 56, so that a user can
grasp the handle 58 in the palm of their hand, with their fingers
extending around the lower edge of the handle. A concealed spring
59, connected between the flap extension 56 and the exterior of the
wall 15 of the bin 14, biasses the flap 16 upwardly. A seal 59
extends around the flap 16 to seal against the bottom edge of the
wall 15 of the bin 14.
[0062] In use, when the bin 14 is stowed on the body 11 of the
vacuum cleaner, the flap 16 is in the closed position of FIG. 10.
The spring 59 serves to retain the flap 16 in the closed position,
so that no dirt and dust can escape. The handle 58 is preferably
concealed behind the bin 14 when the latter is stowed on the body
11 of the vacuum cleaner.
[0063] In order to empty the bin 14, the user removes the bin 14
from the body 11 of the cleaner. The user then pushes the handle 58
downwardly, thereby allowing the flap 16 to open under the spring
bias, until the projections 55, 57 on the flap extension 56 reach
the lowermost point of their respective slots 53, 54. It will be
appreciated that the attitude of the flap 16 remains constant as
the handle is pushed downwardly as hereinbefore described.
[0064] In this position, as shown in FIG. 11, the flap 16 can be
retained in the partially open position by maintaining a downward
bias on the handle 58. Fine dirt and dust at the bottom of the bin
14 can be emptied through the small opening at the bottom of the
bin 14. Any coarse dirt and fibrous matter cannot pass through the
opening and is retained inside the bin 14.
[0065] In order to fully empty the bin 14, the user has to pull the
lower edge of the handle 58 away from the bin 14, causing the lower
projections 57 to slide along the bottom of their respective
unshaped slots 54, allowing the flap 16 to pivot further open about
an axis extending through the upper projections 55. The downwards
force on the handle 58 is then released, thereby causing the lower
projections 57 to move a short distance up the short arms 54b of
the lower slots 54. The spring 59 serves to retain the flap 16 in
this fully open position, as shown in FIG. 11, in which all of the
remaining dirt and dust inside the bin 14 is free to fall through
the open bottom of the bin 14.
[0066] Following emptying of the bin 14, the handle 58 is pushed
downwardly and then inwardly, thereby allowing the flap to close
under the applied spring bias. The body 11 of the cleaner is
preferably adapted such that the bin 14 cannot be mounted to the
cleaner until the flap 16 has been closed, thereby avoiding the
risk of dirt and dust escaping from the bin when in use.
[0067] A bin in accordance with the present invention is simple and
inexpensive in construction, yet allows a staged discharge of fine
and coarse dirt, thereby minimising the risks of dust contamination
during emptying.
[0068] Whilst an upright vacuum cleaner has been shown and
described in the drawings, it will be appreciated that the present
invention is equally applicable to a canister or other type of
vacuum cleaner.
[0069] Reference is made to our co-pending US applications claiming
priority from United Kingdom Patent Application Nos. 0307929.0 and
0307930.8 of 5 Apr. 2003, the disclosures of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
[0070] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that changes or modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *