U.S. patent application number 12/405108 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-12 for cordless hand-held rechargeable vacuum cleaner and charger unit therefore.
Invention is credited to David Matthew Collins, Jack W. Gee, II, David Khalil, Mike Mullins, Greg Pajak, Suzanne Ponikvar, Mark Reindle.
Application Number | 20090276974 12/405108 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41065585 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090276974 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Khalil; David ; et
al. |
November 12, 2009 |
Cordless Hand-Held Rechargeable Vacuum Cleaner and Charger Unit
Therefore
Abstract
A cordless hand-held rechargeable vacuum cleaner and a charging
base unit for the vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner
charging unit is configured to receive electrical power from a USB
port, such as a USB port located on a computer. The charging unit
can also be configured to receive power from an external power
supply that includes a USB port which allows the base unit to be
charged from a standard electrical outlet via the external power
supply. The vacuum cleaner is useful for cleaning around computers
and other electrical equipment, and can be easily gripped by a
person's hand.
Inventors: |
Khalil; David; (Highland
Heights, OH) ; Ponikvar; Suzanne; (South Euclid,
OH) ; Gee, II; Jack W.; (Willoughby, OH) ;
Collins; David Matthew; (Lyndhurst, OH) ; Mullins;
Mike; (Eastlake, OH) ; Pajak; Greg; (Lakewood,
OH) ; Reindle; Mark; (Sagamore Hills, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TTI Floorcare North America, Inc.
7005 Cochran Road
Glenwillow
OH
44139
US
|
Family ID: |
41065585 |
Appl. No.: |
12/405108 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61036732 |
Mar 14, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 50/209 20210101;
A47L 9/00 20130101; A47L 9/2884 20130101; H01M 50/20 20210101; Y02E
60/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/344 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/24 20060101
A47L005/24 |
Claims
1. A hand-held rechargeable cordless vacuum cleaner.
2. A charging unit for a hand-held rechargeable cordless vacuum
cleaner, wherein the charging unit includes a USB cable.
3. A cordless vacuum cleaner that can be also used as a blower.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 61/036,732 entitled CORDLESS HAND-HELD
RECHARGEABLE VACUUM CLEANER AND CHARGER UNIT THEREFOR filed Mar.
14, 2008 the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0002] This disclosure is related to the vacuum cleaner arts, and
more particularly to a cordless hand-held rechargeable vacuum
cleaner, hereinafter also referred to simply as a vacuum cleaner,
and a charging base unit for the vacuum cleaner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cordless hand-held
rechargeable vacuum cleaner received by a charging unit.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the vacuum cleaner
shown in FIG. 1 received in the charging unit.
[0005] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum cleaner
and the charging unit depicted in FIG. 1, along with an external
power supply for providing power to the charging unit.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the vacuum cleaner
shown in FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 5 is rear perspective view of the vacuum cleaner shown
in FIG. 4.
[0008] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner shown
in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 16.
[0009] FIG. 7 is an enlarged lower perspective view of a filter
assembly found in the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 4.
[0010] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the charging unit
shown in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 9 is an upper rear perspective view of the charging
unit shown in FIG. 8.
[0012] FIG. 10 is a reduced top plan view of the vacuum cleaner and
charging unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 11 is a reduced front end view of the vacuum cleaner
and charging unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 12 is a reduced cross-sectional view taken along lines
A-A in FIG. 10.
[0015] FIG. 13 is a reduced rear end elevation view of the vacuum
cleaner and charging unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 14 is a reduced side elevation view of the vacuum
cleaner and charging unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 15 is a reduced bottom plan view of the vacuum cleaner
and charging unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 16 is a reduced top plan view of the vacuum cleaner
shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
[0019] FIG. 17 is a reduced front end view of the vacuum cleaner
shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
[0020] FIG. 18 is a reduced rear end view of the vacuum cleaner
shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
[0021] FIG. 19 is a reduced side elevation view of the vacuum
cleaner shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
[0022] FIG. 20 is a reduced bottom plan view of the vacuum cleaner
shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
[0023] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6
depicting the suction path through the vacuum cleaner.
[0024] FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the vacuum cleaner with an
upper housing half removed from a lower housing half to show
internal components of the vacuum cleaner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cordless hand-held
rechargeable vacuum cleaner 10, hereinafter referred to as a vacuum
cleaner, is shown received in a charging unit 12 (also referred to
as a charging base). The vacuum cleaner is useful for cleaning
around computers and other electrical equipment. Of course, the
vacuum cleaner 10 can be used in a variety of other environments as
well. The charging unit 12 is configured to receive electrical
power from a USB port, for example a USB port located on a
computer. The charging unit 12 is also configured to receive power
from an external power supply 14 (FIG. 3) that includes a USB port
which allows the base unit to be charged from a standard electrical
outlet via the external power supply.
[0026] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the vacuum cleaner 10
includes a contoured housing 20 that is shaped to be easily gripped
by a person's hand. Accordingly, the housing 20 can provide a
handle for the vacuum cleaner 10. The vacuum cleaner 10 includes a
suction inlet 22 at one end of the housing 20 and an exhaust 24 at
an opposite end. Having the exhaust 24 located adjacent an end of
the housing 20 allows an operator to use the vacuum cleaner as a
blower. When used as a blower, the vacuum cleaner can be used to
clean keyboards or other equipment that is typically cleaned using
a can of compressed air. In other words, by simply reversing the
orientation of the vacuum cleaner 10 as held in the hand of the
user, either the suction end or the exhaust end of the vacuum
cleaner can be employed for the desired purpose.
[0027] With reference back to FIG. 3, the housing 20 in the
depicted embodiment comprises an upper housing half 26 that fastens
to a lower housing half 28 using fasteners 32. Of course, the upper
housing half 26 and the lower housing half 28 can be attached to
one another in other conventional manners, e.g. sonic welding.
[0028] With continued reference to FIG. 3, a front inlet 34 is
trapped between the upper housing half 26 and the lower housing
half 28 (see also FIG. 6). The front inlet 34 includes an opening
36, which defines a portion of a suction path of the vacuum
cleaner. The suction path will be described in more detail below. A
dust cup 38 attaches to the front inlet 34 upstream (forward
towards the suction inlet 22) from the opening 36. With reference
to FIG. 6, the dust cup 38 includes at least one flange 42 that
cooperates with a flange 44 formed on the front inlet 34 to retain
the dust cup 38 to the front inlet. An operator of the vacuum
cleaner 10 can remove the dust cup 38 by rotating the dust cup so
that the flange 42 of the dust cup no longer contacts the flange 44
of the front inlet 34, which allows the dust cup to be removed from
the front inlet. The dust cup 38 defines the suction inlet 22 for
the vacuum cleaner 10.
[0029] A flapper or inlet valve 50 is received in the dust cup 38
and blocks the suction path just downstream from the suction inlet
22. With reference to FIG. 6, stakes 52 are provided in the dust
cup 38 and the flapper 50 includes openings 54 (FIG. 3) for
receiving the stakes 52 to attach the flapper inside the dust cup.
The flapper 50 is drawn in to the dust cup 38, unblocking the
suction path, in response to air being drawn into the dust cup 38.
When no suction is exerted on the dust cup, the flapper 50 will
revert back to its closed position. The dust cup 38 also includes a
ledge 56 against which the flapper 50 rests when air is not being
drawn into the dust cup 38.
[0030] A fan assembly is provided in the housing 20 of the vacuum
cleaner 10 to draw air through the suction path. As seen in FIG. 3,
the fan assembly includes a motor 60, a diffuser 62, an impeller
64, a fan top 66, and a fan cover 68. An output shaft 72 of the
motor 60 is inserted through a central opening 74 of the diffuser
62 to be received in a central opening 76 of the impeller 64 to
connect the motor to the impeller. The fan top 66 includes a
central opening 78 that defines a portion of the suction path. The
fan cover 68 includes a forwardly extending tubular projection 82
that bends (see FIG. 6) and defines a passage 84 through the fan
cover to further define the suction path.
[0031] As more clearly seen in FIG. 6, the diffuser 62 includes a
rearwardly extending bore 90 that is configured to receive the
motor 60. The diffuser 62 is trapped between the upper housing half
26 and the lower housing half 28. The diffuser 62 includes radial
vanes 94 (FIG. 3) that define passages 96 that define a portion of
the suction path to enable air drawn through the vacuum cleaner to
bypass the motor 60. The design of the suction path also provides a
means for cooling the motor and other electrical components in the
vacuum cleaner.
[0032] In the embodiment shown, the fan cover 68 engages the
diffuser 62 and is also trapped between the upper housing half 26
and the lower housing half 28. The fan top 66 is received in the
fan cover 68 to cover the impeller 64. Due to the contoured shape
of the housing 20, the tubular extension 82 of the fan cover 68 is
smoothly bent to direct air along the curved suction path through
the vacuum cleaner. The fan cover 82 engages the front inlet 34 and
is trapped between the upper housing half 26 and the lower housing
half 28. Accordingly, the motor 60, the fan diffuser 62, the fan
top 66, and the fan cover 68 are all fixed in the housing 20
between the upper housing half 26 and the lower housing half
28.
[0033] In the depicted embodiment, the motor 60 is electrically
driven. A battery housing 100 is received in the housing 20 between
the upper housing half 26 and the lower housing half 28. Electrical
contacts 102 and 104 are disposed at opposite ends of the battery
housing 100. A battery 106, which in the depicted embodiment is a
rechargeable lithium battery, is received in the battery housing
100 to provide electrical power to the motor 60. The battery
contacts 102 and 104 are electrically connected to a printed
circuit board (PCB) assembly 108, which is electrically connected
to vacuum cleaner charging contacts 112 and the electrical motor
60. The vacuum cleaner contacts 112 connect to a lower portion of
the fan cover 68 and extend through a notch 114 formed at a forward
edge of the lower housing half 28. A switch 116 (FIG. 6) is found
on the printed circuit board assembly 108 to control the delivery
of electrical energy from the battery 106 to the motor 60.
[0034] A button cover 118 including an integrally formed axle 122
and a protuberance 124 covers an opening 126 formed through the
lower housing half 28. The axle 122 is received by inwardly
extending catches 128 formed on an inner surface of the lower
housing half 28. The button cover 118 pivots about a rotational
axis of the axle 122. A spring 132 engages against a lower surface
of the battery housing 100 to urge the button cover 118 away from
the switch 116. An indicator light 134 is connected to the PCB
assembly 108. A fuse 136 is also in electrical communication with
the PCB assembly 108. The fuse 136 protects the motor 60 from power
surges.
[0035] With reference to FIG. 21, air is drawn through the suction
inlet 22 and out the exhaust 24. An operator grips the housing 20
(the housing being small enough so that a person's hand can
surround or nearly surround the housing) and presses the button
cover 118, which results in electrical power being delivered from
the battery 106 to the motor 60. This results in the impeller 64
turning drawing air through the suction inlet 22, which displaces
the flapper 50 so that it no longer blocks the suction path. Air is
drawn in to the dust cup 38 and through a filter assembly 140,
which includes a filter frame 142 and a filter 144 (depicted in
phantom in FIG. 7) which will be described in more detail below.
The air then passes through the passage 84 of the fan cover 68 and
the opening 78 (FIG. 3) of the fan top 66. As the impeller 64
rotates filtered air is pushed through the passages 96 between the
vanes 94 of the diffuser 62 and around the motor 60 traveling
through the housing 20 between the upper housing 26 and the lower
housing 28 towards and the exhaust 24. As mentioned above, the
vacuum cleaner 10 can also be used as a blower to remove dust
between crevices and other hard to reach places.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 7, the filter assembly 140 is shown
with the filter 144 attached to the filter frame 142. The filter
144 can be made from cellulosic materials like paper, and polymeric
materials like nylon, polypropylene and the like for a filter
material form of discontinuous fibers or continuous woven fibers.
The filter 144 can heat bonded or glued to the filter frame 142.
The filter frame 142 includes a circular peripheral ledge 146 that
extends outwardly from a cylindrical tubular section 148. With
reference to FIG. 6, the peripheral ledge 146 is trapped between an
internal shoulder 152 formed in the dust cup 38 and the front inlet
34 when the dust cup 38 is attached to the front inlet. A notch 154
is formed in the peripheral ledge 146 and cooperates with the
shoulder 152 formed in the dust cup 38 to properly align the filter
assembly 140 in the vacuum cleaner 10. An upper circular flared
edge 156 of an annular flange 158 that extends upwardly from the
ledge 146 also engages the dust cup 38 (see FIG. 6) to retain the
filter assembly 140 in the vacuum cleaner. The tubular section 148
defines a passage 160 that also defines a portion of the suction
path. An upper (downstream) edge 162 of the tubular section 146 is
flared outwardly to engage the front inlet 34. A U-shaped strut 164
extends upwardly (downstream) from the upper flared edge 162 of the
tubular section 148 and substantially bisects the suction path. The
filter 144 attaches to an external surface of an upstream section,
with respect to the ledge 148, of the tubular section 148. The
filter 144 folds over an upstream circular edge of the tubular
section 146 and extends into and through the passage 160. The
filter attaches to the U-shaped strut 164. Alternatively, the
filter 144 could be attached over the upper edge 162 of the tubular
section 148 and draped over the U-shaped 164 with the filter being
secured to both of them if so desired.
[0037] In this embodiment, the filter 144 is disposed downstream
from the dust cup 38 and resides in the curved passage 84 of the
fan cover 68. The filter assembly 140 is also removable from the
vacuum cleaner 10. When the dust cup 38 is detached from the front
inlet 34, the filter assembly 140 is removed with the dust cup. The
filter assembly 140 can then be detached from the dust cup (so that
the dust cup can be emptied) and cleaned as desired. Also, the
filter assembly 140 can be sold as a separate unit from the vacuum
cleaner 10 as a replacement part.
[0038] With reference back to FIG. 3, a crevice tool 170 and a
dusting brush assembly 172 can also be provided with the vacuum
cleaner 10. With reference to FIG. 6, the crevice tool 170 can be
received inside the dusting brush assembly 172 and the dusting
brush assembly can engage an upper flange 176 that depends
downwardly from the upper housing half 26 and a lower flange 178
that extends upwardly from the lower housing half 28. Accordingly,
the crevice tool 170 and the dusting brush assembly 172 can be
stored adjacent the exhaust 24 of the vacuum cleaner. The crevice
tool 170 and the dusting brush assembly 172 can be removed from the
housing 20 and each can be inserted into the inlet 22.
[0039] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the charging unit 12
includes a housing 200 that defines a receptacle 202 to receive the
dust cup end of the vacuum cleaner 10. When the dust cup end of the
vacuum cleaner 10 is received in the receptacle 202 (see FIGS. 1
and 2), the battery 106 can be recharged.
[0040] With reference back to FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the
charging unit housing 200 includes an upper housing half 210 that
attaches to a lower housing half 212 via conventional fasteners
214. Charging base feet 216 cover the fasteners 214. A charging
base inner housing 218 is trapped between the upper housing 210 and
a lower housing 212 and defines the receptacle 202 (FIG. 9).
[0041] Charging base contacts 218 are received in slots 222 defined
between upwardly extending flanges 224 formed in the lower base
unit housing 212. These contacts 218 are electrically connected to
a charging base printed circuit board assembly 226 that attaches to
the lower charging unit housing 212 using fasteners 228. A USB
cable 232 connects to the PCB assembly 226 and extends outwardly
from the housing 200 (FIG. 9) through aligned notches 234 and 236
formed in the upper charging unit housing 210 and the lower
charging unit housing 212, respectively. The USB cable 232 can be
inserted into a USB port found on a computer to charge the battery
106. Alternatively, the USB cable 232 can be received in the USB
port (not visible) found in the external power supply 14 so that
the vacuum cleaner can be charged directly from a standard wall
outlet.
[0042] A cordless hand-held rechargeable vacuum cleaner and a
charging unit have been described with particularity. Modifications
and alternations will occur to those upon reading and understanding
the preceding detailed description. The invention is not limited to
only those embodiments disclosed above. Instead, the invention is
defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *