U.S. patent application number 13/040561 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-09 for hand-held vacuum cleaner with resilient rubber flap valve.
Invention is credited to James Todd Crouch, Shawn M. Smith.
Application Number | 20120030898 13/040561 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45554973 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120030898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crouch; James Todd ; et
al. |
February 9, 2012 |
HAND-HELD VACUUM CLEANER WITH RESILIENT RUBBER FLAP VALVE
Abstract
A hand-held vacuum cleaner has a housing that carries a suction
generator, a dirt collection vessel, a suction inlet and a first
connector. The first connector is adapted for securing the suction
inlet in fluid communication with a first cleaning attachment. The
housing includes a suction conduit extending from the dirt
collection vessel through the first connector. The dirt collection
vessel includes an inlet in fluid communication with one end of the
suction conduit. The inlet of the dirt collection vessel includes a
resilient flap valve that is normally closed to seal in and
maintain dirt and debris in the dirt collection vessel but swings
open when the suction generator is energized to allow dirt and
debris to be sucked into the dirt collection vessel.
Inventors: |
Crouch; James Todd;
(Danville, KY) ; Smith; Shawn M.; (Lancaster,
KY) |
Family ID: |
45554973 |
Appl. No.: |
13/040561 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61370897 |
Aug 5, 2010 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49716 20150115;
A47L 5/24 20130101; A47L 5/30 20130101; A47L 9/22 20130101; A47L
9/0054 20130101; A47L 9/246 20130101; A47L 5/225 20130101; A47L
5/36 20130101; A47L 9/2857 20130101; A47L 9/0018 20130101; A47L
9/2847 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/344 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/24 20060101
A47L005/24 |
Claims
1. A hand-held and conversion vacuum cleaner, comprising: a
housing; a suction generator carried on said housing; a dirt
collection vessel carried on said housing; a suction inlet carried
on said housing; a first connector carried on said housing; said
first connector adapted for securing said suction inlet in fluid
communication with a first cleaning attachment; said housing
including a suction conduit extending from said dirt collection
vessel through said first connector; said dirt collection vessel
including an inlet PORT in fluid communication with one end of said
suction conduit; and a resilient flap valve opening and closing
said inlet port.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said flap valve includes
in integrally molded mounting lug.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said mounting lug engages
said dirt cup and secures said flap valve over said inlet.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said mounting lug is
captured in a channel on said dirt cup, said channel including a
channel wall about which said flap valve bends when said inlet port
is opened.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein said flap valve is a
preloaded rubber door made from a rubber material having a
durometer of between about 70 and about 75 Shore A.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein said channel wall has a
rounded edge over which said flap valve is bent when open.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said channel wall is
arcuate.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein said arcuate channel wall
has a radius of curvature of between about 0.5 mm and about 1.5
mm.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further including a nose tool
connected to said first connector.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein said nose tool includes
a suction opening having a flared sidewall with a continuously
variable radius.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein said sidewall defines
said suction opening so that said suction opening transitions from
a substantially oval shape to a circular shape.
12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said vacuum cleaner
includes a centerline A, said suction generator being mounted in
said housing offset from said centerline A so as to provide better
weight distribution.
13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further including a control
handle connected to said housing on a first side of said centerline
A and a pair of support members connected to said housing on a
second, opposite side of said centerline A.
14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein said suction generator
is offset from said centerline A toward said support members.
15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a
three position electrical switch for (a) selectively energizing
said suction generator alone, (b) selectively energizing said
suction generator and any electrical component carried on said
first or second cleaning attachment and (c) selectively
de-energizing said suction generator and any electrical component
carried on said first or second cleaning attachment.
16. A flap valve for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a normally
planar resilient rubber valve body, an integral mounting lug and a
stepped bend line between said valve body and said mounting
lug.
17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein said flap valve is made
from a rubber material having a durometer of between about 70 and
about 75 Shore A.
18. A hand-held and conversion vacuum cleaner, comprising: a
housing; a suction generator carried on said housing; a dirt
collection vessel carried on said housing; a suction inlet carried
on said housing; a first connector carried on said housing; said
first connector adapted for securing said suction inlet in fluid
communication with a first cleaning attachment; and a detachable
nose tool connected to said first connector.
19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said nose tool includes
a suction opening having a flared sidewall with a continuously
variable radius.
20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein said sidewall defines
said suction opening so that said suction opening transitions from
a substantially oval shape to a circular shape.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/370,897 filed on 5 Aug. 2010, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the cleaning
appliance field and more particularly to a hand-held and stick
conversion vacuum cleaner incorporating a lightweight, inexpensive
and reliable flap valve on a dirt collection vessel of the vacuum
cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hand-held vacuum cleaners are well known in the art.
Hand-held vacuum cleaners are generally compact and lightweight.
They are meant to be held in one hand and easily maneuvered to
complete simple quick cleanup of limited areas or for specialty
purposes such as when vacuuming an upholstered chair.
[0004] The present invention relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner
incorporating a flap valve over the inlet of the dirt collection
vessel of the vacuum cleaner. The flap valve is made of
lightweight, resilient material that is mounted to the vacuum
cleaner so as to have a bend to provide the necessary biasing to
maintain the valve in a normally closed position when the vacuum
cleaner is not in use thereby sealing the inlet and maintaining
dirt and debris in the dirt collection vessel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, a hand-held vacuum cleaner is provided including
a housing with a suction generator, a dirt collection vessel, a
suction inlet and a first connector all carried on that housing.
The first connector is adapted for securing the suction inlet in
fluid communication with a first cleaning attachment. In addition,
the housing includes a suction conduit extending from the dirt
collection vessel through the first connector. The dirt collection
vessel includes an inlet in fluid communication with one end of the
suction conduit and that inlet includes a resilient flap valve.
[0006] More specifically, the flap valve includes an integrally
molded mounting lug. The mounting lug engages the dirt cup and
secures the flap valve over the dirt cup inlet. More specifically,
the mounting lug is captured in a channel on the dirt cup so as to
form a bend in the flap valve of between about 40 and about 50
degrees. That bend provides the resilient flap valve with a biasing
force sufficient to maintain the flap valve in a normally closed
position but allows the flap valve to move to a normally open
position when the suction generator is energized to perform vacuum
cleaning. The flap valve is made from a resilient material having a
durometer of between about 70 to about 75 shore-A.
[0007] In accordance with an additional aspect of the present
invention, a flap valve is provided for a vacuum cleaner. The flap
valve comprises a resilient rubber body having an integral mounting
lug and including a bend adjacent that mounting lug to provide
biasing of the flap valve into a closed position.
[0008] In the following description there is shown and described
several different embodiments of the invention, simply by way of
illustration of some 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 DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a
part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the
present invention and together with the description serve to
explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the vacuum cleaner;
[0012] FIG. 2a is an exploded perspective view of the dirt
collection vessel of the vacuum cleaner;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the vacuum
cleaner;
[0014] FIG. 4a is a rear perspective view of the open dirt cup
illustrating the inlet port and flap valve with the flap valve in
an open position;
[0015] FIG. 4b is a detailed view of the flap valve in a closed
position;
[0016] FIGS. 5a and 5b are respective perspective and end
elevational views of the flap valve; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum cleaner
and a state-of-the-art wand and nozzle assembly equipped with a
female mechanical connector.
[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0019] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrating the
hand-held and conversion vacuum cleaner 10 of the present
invention. The vacuum cleaner 10 includes a housing 12 having a
body 14, an integral control handle 16 and two support members 18,
20. The main body 14 of the housing 12 defines a compartment 22
receiving a suction generator 24. As illustrated, the suction
generator 24 is positioned beneath the control handle 16 as well as
above and between the support members 18, 20. This is done for
balance and ease of operation as will be described in greater
detail below.
[0020] The vacuum cleaner 10 is powered from a standard electrical
wall outlet by means of an electric cord and plug (not shown).
Unlike battery powered hand held vacuum cleaners, the vacuum
cleaner 10 of the present invention provides high performance
cleaning suction that is sustainable indefinitely as required for
virtually any cleaning application. When not in use, the cord may
be wrapped around and conveniently stored on the support members
18, 20. Significantly, the feet 27, 29 of the support members 18,
20 not only provide a steady platform to support the vacuum cleaner
10 on a flat surface, they also provide stops that hold the wrapped
cord in place.
[0021] A dirt collection vessel, generally designated by reference
numeral 26, is received and carried on the housing 12 (see also
FIG. 2a). The dirt collection vessel 26 includes a dirt cup body 28
having an inlet port 30 and an opened end 32 which is closed by a
removable wall 34 having an outlet port 36. A seal 35 carried on
the wall 34 insures proper sealing between the wall and the dirt
cup body 28. A frustoconically shaped filter support 38 received
and releaseably held in the outlet port 36 supports a filter media
40 that maintains dirt and debris in the dirt collection vessel 26
but allows clean air to be drawn toward the suction generator
24.
[0022] As further illustrated in the drawing figures, the housing
12 includes a spine section 42 that receives and holds a first or
male mechanical connector 44. A substantially S-shaped suction
conduit 46 extends through the first connector 44 and the spine
section 42 from the suction inlet 48 to the side-discharge, suction
outlet 50.
[0023] The dirt collection vessel 26 includes a saddle portion 52
that is sized and shaped to be received over the spine section 42.
A channel 54 in the front wall of the dirt cup body 28 receives a
locating flange 56 on the spine section 42. A spring-loaded locking
lever 58 engages an intrically molded latch (not shown) provided on
the body 14 to lock the dirt collection vessel 26 on the housing 12
in the fully seated, operating position.
[0024] An actuator button 62 may be depressed to release the
locking lever 58 and allow the dirt collection vessel 26 to be
removed from the housing 12 for emptying. Specifically, spaced
projections 64 on the removable wall 34 at opposite sides of the
outlet port 36 are engaged by the fingers to remove the wall and
open the dirt cup body 28 for emptying of dirt and debris. After
emptying, the removable wall 34 is repositioned in the open end 32
of the dirt cup body 28 and the dirt collection vessel 26 is then
repositioned in the fully seated position on the spine section 42
of the housing 12. There, the dirt collection vessel 26 is once
again locked in position by the locking lever 58 for vacuum
cleaning.
[0025] It should be appreciated that when the dirt collection
vessel 26 is properly seated and locked in position on the housing
12, the suction outlet 50 of the suction conduit 46 is aligned with
the inlet port 30 of the dirt collection vessel 26. As illustrated
in FIGS. 4a and 4b, a resilient rubber flap valve 66 normally
closes the inlet port 30. For example, the flap valve 66 may be
made from, but not limited to, engineering polymers, natural
rubber, synthetic rubber and mixtures thereof. However, when the
suction generator is energized and air entrained with dirt and
debris is being drawn into the vacuum cleaner 10, the flap valve 66
is pulled open to allow passage of the air stream from the suction
conduit 46 into the dirt collection vessel 26 (see FIG. 4a).
[0026] As illustrated, the flap valve 66 includes a normally planar
resilient rubber valve body 67, an integrally molded mounting lug
68 and a stepped bend line 73 between the valve body and the
mounting lug (see also FIGS. 5a and 5b). The mounting lug 68 is
received and captured in a mounting channel 70 provided in the
interior wall of the dirt cup body 28 adjacent the inlet port 30.
In the normally closed position illustrated in FIG. 4b, the channel
70 holds the flap valve 66 so as to provide a bend at the bend line
73 of between about 40 and about 50 degrees (note bend line angle A
illustrated in FIG. 5b). The resulting bend 73 in the normally
planar flap valve 66 functions with the durometor of the resilient
flap valve material (between about 70 and about 75 Shore A) to
provide the necessary biasing force for the flap valve 66 to
partially close the inlet port 30 whenever the suction generator 24
is de-energized. In contrast, when the suction generator 24 is
energized, a partial vacuum is generated in the dirt collection
vessel 26 and the valve body 67 is bent over the rounded edge 69 of
the arcuate channel wall 71 thereby opening the inlet port 30 to
allow passage of an airstream with entrained dirt and debris.
Specifically, the arcuate channel wall 71 has a radius of curvature
adjacent the edge 69 of between about 0.5 mm and about 1.5 mm. In
one useful embodiment, the valve body 67 has a surface area of
between about 900 mm.sup.2 and about 1100 mm.sup.2, the flap valve
66 has a thickness of between about 1.2 mm and about 2.1 mm and the
fold line 73 has a length of between about 35 mm and about 37 mm.
The flap valve 66 insures that dirt and debris are maintained in
the dirt cup body 28 and prevented from entering the suction
conduit 46 when the suction generator 24 is not energized. Further,
dirt and debris are prevented from exiting the dirt cup body 28
through the inlet port 30 when the dirt collection vessel 26 is
removed from the housing 12 for emptying.
[0027] A nose tool 72 may be received over the first or male
mechanical connector 44. The nose tool 72 includes a suction
opening 74 having a flared sidewall 75 with a continuously variable
radius. More specifically, the sidewall 75 defines a suction
opening 74 that transitions smoothly from a substantially oval
shape to a circular shape. The nose tool 72 allows one to perform
various types of cleaning at different angles of attack while
minimizing the possibility of the suction opening 74 completely
sealing with the surface being cleaned.
[0028] The nose tool 72 may be easily installed onto the first or
male connector 44 by sliding it on over the connector until a
spring loaded detent 76 carried on the connector 44 is received in
a cooperating aperture 78 provided in the nose tool 72. Once
aligned, the detent 76 is biased into the aperture 78 to provide a
positive connection. The nose tool 72 also carries an actuator 80
that may be depressed to force the detent 76 from the aperture 78
and thereby unlock the nose tool 72 for removal from the first or
male connector 44 when desired. This is done, for example, when it
is desired to connect the vacuum cleaner 10 to a cleaning
attachment 100 such as a wand and nozzle assembly from a state of
the art canister vacuum cleaner.
[0029] As best illustrated in FIG. 6, such a state of the art wand
and nozzle assembly 100 includes a nozzle assembly 102 having an
agitator cavity 104 holding a rotary agitator 106 including bristle
tufts 108 or other cleaning projections. The rotary agitator 106 is
driven at high speeds during the cleaning operation in order to
beat dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet being
cleaned. Typically the rotary agitator 106 is driven by an agitator
drive motor 110 carried on the nozzle assembly 102. An elongated
extension wand 112 is pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly
102. The agitator cavity 104 is provided in fluid communication
with a suction inlet 114 in the nozzle assembly 102. The suction
inlet 114 is in turn connected in fluid communication with an
interior suction passageway 116 that extends through the length of
the wand 112. A combined mechanical and electrical connector 118
connects one end of the wand 112 to a cooperating mechanical and
electrical connector 120 carried by the nozzle assembly 102. A
second mechanical and electrical connector 122 is provided at the
end of the wand 112 opposite the nozzle assembly 102.
[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
FIG. 6, the connector 122 provides for female mechanical
connection. In this embodiment the vacuum cleaner 10 may be
connected directly to the connector 122 of the cleaning attachment
100. In order to do this, the nose tool 72 is removed and the male
mechanical connector 44 is plugged directly into the mechanical and
electrical connector 122. The male mechanical connector 44 also
includes an electric terminal 45 that is aligned with and engages
the electric terminal 124 of the connector 122. When the connectors
44, 122 and terminals 45, 124 are fully connected, the spring
loaded detent 76 engages in a cooperating locking aperture (not
shown) provided on the connector 122. Accordingly, the vacuum
cleaner 10 is securely locked to the cleaning attachment 100.
[0031] When the vacuum cleaner 10 is locked in this position, the
operator can use the control handle 16 to manipulate the cleaning
attachment 100. Further, the vacuum cleaner 10 provides complete
control of the rotary agitator 106 of the cleaning attachment 100.
More specifically, a three position switch 200 is provided on the
control handle 16 of the vacuum cleaner 10. In the first, off
position, all electrical systems are de-energized. In the second or
bare floor cleaning position, electrical power is provided only to
the suction generator 24. No electrical power is provided to the
rotary agitator drive motor 110. Accordingly, the rotary agitator
106 remains stationary to allow for enhanced bare-floor cleaning as
the operator uses the control handle 16 to manipulate the cleaning
attachment 100 back and forth across the floor being cleaned.
[0032] In the third position, the actuator switch 200 energizes
both the suction generator 24 of the vacuum cleaner 10 and the
agitator drive motor 110 of the cleaning attachment 100. Thus, in
this position the rotary agitator 106 is driven to beat dirt and
debris from the nap of an underlying carpet being cleaned. That
dirt and debris is then drawn into the vacuum cleaner 10 by the
negative pressure produced by the suction generator 24. More
specifically, an air stream is drawn through the agitator cavity
104 into the suction inlet 114 of the nozzle assembly 102. From
there, the air stream, with entrained dirt and debris, is drawn
through the suction passageway 116 in the extension wand 112 and
then through the suction conduit 46 of the vacuum cleaner 10. Next
the air moves through the inlet port 30 past the open flap valve 66
into the dirt cup body 28 of the dirt collection vessel 26. Dirt
and debris are trapped inside the dirt cup body 28 while relatively
clean air is drawn through the filter media 40 on the filter
support 38 mounted in the outlet port 36. The air stream then
passes through a secondary filter (not shown) before being drawn
into the suction generator 24. Next the airstream passes through
the compartment 22 before being exhausted into the environment
through the exhaust ports 204.
[0033] After completing the cleaning application, the vacuum
cleaner 10 may be detached from the cleaning attachment 100 by
depressing a release button 130 provided on the connector 122. More
specifically, the release button 130 forces the spring loaded
detent 76 from the locking aperture in order to allow
disconnection.
[0034] In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the
concepts of the present invention. The vacuum cleaner 10 functions
as a high-powered hand-held vacuum cleaner with strong suction
power between about 63.5 and about 74.5 inches of water. Since the
vacuum cleaner 10 is plugged into and runs on electrical power from
a standard wall outlet, the power is sustainable for extended
periods of operating time versus typical battery powered hand-held
units.
[0035] Not only is the vacuum cleaner 10 a stand alone unit but it
may be attached to various cleaning attachments including, but not
limited to, wand and nozzle assemblies 100, of state-of-the-art
canister vacuum cleaners. This includes vacuum cleaners currently
in production as well as many of those produced in the past. Thus,
the vacuum cleaner 10 may be retrofit to a wand and nozzle assembly
of a state-of-the-art canister vacuum cleaner in order to provide a
stick-type vacuum for various cleaning operations. Accordingly, the
vacuum cleaner 10 of the present invention provides tremendous
versatility and enhances the functionality of older, previously
purchased equipment.
[0036] The suction conduit 46, including the suction inlet 48 and
side-discharge outlet 50, and the suction generator 24 are not
mounted on a common centerline. The suction generator 24 is mounted
below the centerline A so as to be offset toward the support member
18, 20. Further, as noted above, the suction conduit 46 is
substantially S-shaped. This allows the vacuum cleaner 10 to be
made more compact. It also provides for better weight distribution
that effectively improves: (1) the stability of the vacuum cleaner
10 when supported on the support members 18, 20; (2) the balance of
the vacuum cleaner when it is manipulated during cleaning; and (3)
the stability of the combined vacuum cleaner and wand and nozzle
assembly 100 when the wand is in the upright or storage position.
Further, the flexible flap valve 66 provides a simple, lightweight
valve construction that provides reliable, carefree operation over
an extended service life.
[0037] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention have 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. The embodiments were 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
embodiments do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary
meaning of the claims in their fair and broad interpretation in any
way.
* * * * *