U.S. patent application number 13/350146 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for bag compartment for vacuum cleaner.
The applicant listed for this patent is Gerald M. Harrison, Eric J. Streciwilk. Invention is credited to Gerald M. Harrison, Eric J. Streciwilk.
Application Number | 20130180077 13/350146 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47757792 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130180077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harrison; Gerald M. ; et
al. |
July 18, 2013 |
BAG COMPARTMENT FOR VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly, a
handle assembly, a bag compartment and a suction generator
compartment. A suction generator is held in the suction generator
compartment. The bag compartment includes a wall and a plurality of
v-shaped ribs projecting from the wall into the bag
compartment.
Inventors: |
Harrison; Gerald M.;
(Lancaster, KY) ; Streciwilk; Eric J.; (Danville,
KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Harrison; Gerald M.
Streciwilk; Eric J. |
Lancaster
Danville |
KY
KY |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47757792 |
Appl. No.: |
13/350146 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/00 20130101; A47L
5/30 20130101; A47L 9/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/347 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/10 20060101
A47L009/10 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a body including a nozzle
assembly, a handle assembly, a bag compartment and a suction
generator compartment; and a suction generator held in said suction
generator compartment; said bag compartment including a wall and a
plurality of v-shaped ribs projecting from said wall into said bag
compartment.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein each rib of said
plurality of v-shaped ribs includes two opposing legs and an
apex.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein each rib of said
plurality of v-shaped ribs includes a groove.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said groove is provided
at said apex.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein said groove is centered
on said apex.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein each rib is continuous
and each said rib has a height H.sub.1 at said groove that is less
than a height H.sub.2 at a portion of said rib not including said
groove.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein a ratio of the height
H.sub.1 to the height H.sub.2 is between about 1:3 and about
1:6.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said bag compartment
includes an inlet at an inlet end and an outlet at an outlet end
and said plurality of v-shaped ribs are spaced along said wall
between said inlet end and said outlet end.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein said grooves in said
plurality of v-shaped ribs increase in size from said inlet end to
said outlet end.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein said grooves are
provided at said apexes of said plurality of v-shaped ribs.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further including two air flow
ribs extending along said wall across said plurality of v-shaped
ribs from said inlet end to said outlet end.
12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein said two air flow ribs
diverge from one another between said inlet end and said outlet
end.
13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein said apexes of said
plurality of v-shaped ribs are positioned between said two air flow
ribs.
14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein said grooves are
centered on said apexes.
15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein said wall includes an
access door and said plurality of v-shaped ribs are provided on
said access door.
16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein said wall further
includes a surface opposite said access door.
17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, further including longitudinal
air guides projecting from said surface into said bag compartment
and extending from said inlet end toward said outlet end.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, further including additional
airflow ribs extending from said longitudinal air guides toward
said access door'.
19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said inlet projects
through said surface and said outlet protects through a said end
wall.
20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, further including an angled
grate positioned between said surface and said end wall overlying
said outlet.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This document relates to the floor care appliance field and,
more particularly, to a bag compartment for a vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Upright and canister vacuum cleaners that utilize a filter
bag to collect dirt and debris are well known in the art. Such
vacuum cleaners include a suction generator that draws an air
stream entrained with dirt and debris through the filter bag. The
filter bag includes a porous wall that captures the dirt and debris
but allows the passage of the air stream. The relatively clean air
stream then passes over the suction generator to provide cooling to
the suction generator motor before being exhausted into the
environment.
[0003] In order to maintain optimum operating efficiency, the
filter bag must be maintained away from the walls of the bag
compartment so as to allow the free passage of the air stream
through the porous filter bag material. U.S. Pat. No. 7,752,707 to
Mayes, et al and assigned to the assignee of the present invention
illustrates a vacuum cleaner with a bag compartment and cooperating
bag cage specifically adapted to achieve this purpose.
[0004] The present vacuum cleaner includes a unique and novel
series of ribs on the wall of the bag compartment that allow for
enhance air flow through the porous material of the filter bag and
then more efficiently direct that air flow to the outlet leading
from the bag compartment to the suction generator. This results in
improved vacuum cleaner performance.
SUMMARY
[0005] A vacuum cleaner is provided having a body including a
nozzle assembly, a handle assembly, a bag compartment and a suction
generator compartment. A suction generator is held in the suction
generator compartment. Further the bag compartment includes a wall
and a plurality of v-shaped ribs projecting from the wall into the
bag compartment. Each rib of the plurality of v-shaped ribs
includes two opposing legs and an apex. Further, each rib includes
a groove. The groove is provided at the apex and may be centered on
the apex. Each rib is also continuous. Each rib has a height
H.sub.1 at the groove that is less than the height H.sub.2 at a
portion of the rib not including the groove. The ratio of the
height H.sub.1 to the height H.sub.2 is typically between about 1:3
and about 1:6.
[0006] The bag compartment also includes an inlet and an inlet end
and an outlet and an outlet end. The plurality of v-shaped ribs are
spaced along the wall between the inlet end and the outlet end with
the apexes pointing toward the outlet end. Further, the grooves in
the plurality of v-shaped ribs increase in size from the inlet end
to the outlet end. Thus each groove in the series has enhanced
capacity for allowing air flow.
[0007] In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes two air flow ribs
extending along the wall across the plurality of v-shaped ribs from
the inlet end to the outlet end. In one particularly useful
embodiment the two air flow ribs diverge from one another as they
extend from the inlet end to the outlet end. The apexes of the
plurality of the v-shaped ribs are positioned between the two
airflow ribs with the grooves centered on the apexes.
[0008] Still further describing the vacuum cleaner, the wall
includes an access door and the plurality of v-shaped ribs are
provided on the access door. In addition, the wall includes a
surface opposite the access door. Longitudinal air guides project
from that surface into the bag compartment and extend from the
inlet end toward the outlet end. V-shaped rib extensions extend
from the plurality of the v-shaped ribs to one of the longitudinal
air guides. Further, the inlet projects through the surface
opposite the access door and the outlet projects through the end
wall. An angled grate is positioned between the surface of the end
wall overlying that outlet.
[0009] In the following description there is shown and described
several different vacuum cleaner embodiments. As should be
realized, the vacuum cleaner is capable of still other different
embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in
various, obvious aspects. Accordingly, the drawings and
descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as
restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a
part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the vacuum
cleaner and together with the description serve to explain certain
principles of the vacuum cleaner. In the drawings:
[0011] FIGS. 1a-1d are respective front elevational, left side
elevational, rear elevational and bottom plan views of the current
vacuum cleaner;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
interior of the filter bag and suction generator compartments;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view illustrating air flow
through the vacuum cleaner;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a partially cross sectional view further
illustrating air flow into the suction generator in the suction
generator compartment;
[0015] FIGS. 5a-5c are respective rear elevational, right rear
perspective and left rear perspective views of the access door of
the bag compartment;
[0016] FIG. 5d is a detailed perspective view illustrating a groove
in one of the v-shaped ribs;
[0017] FIG. 6a is a front perspective view of the interior of the
bag compartment further illustrating air flow; and
[0018] FIGS. 6b and 6c are respective front perspective and front
elevational views with the grate removed to show the outlet port in
the bag compartment;
[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VACUUM CLEANER
[0020] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1a-1d illustrating an upright
vacuum cleaner 10. The vacuum cleaner 10 has a body 12 that
includes a nozzle assembly 14, a handle assembly 16, a bag
compartment 18 and a suction generator compartment 20. See also
FIGS. 2 and 3. In the illustrated embodiment, both the bag
compartment 18 and suction generator compartment 20 are part of the
handle assembly 16. It should be appreciated, however, that in
other embodiments either or both of these compartments 18, 20 could
be provided as part of the nozzle assembly 14.
[0021] The nozzle assembly 14 includes an agitator cavity 22 that
receives a rotary agitator 24. The rotary agitator 24 includes
bristle tufts or other resilient projections 26 that function to
brush dirt and debris from the underlying nap of a carpet being
cleaned. The handle assembly 16 is pivotally connected to the
nozzle assembly 14 in the manner of upright vacuum cleaners known
in the art. Thus, the handle assembly 16 may be pivoted from the
upright storage position illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1c into an
inclined position whereby an operator may freely move the vacuum
cleaner 10 to and fro to clean an underlying floor or carpet. The
handle assembly 16 includes a lower housing 28 that defines the
suction generator compartment 20 and an upper housing 30 that
defines the bag compartment 18. The upper housing 30 includes a
front access door 32.
[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6a-6c, the bag compartment
18 includes an inlet 34 at an inlet end 36 of the bag compartment
and an outlet 38 in an outlet end 40 of the bag compartment. As
best illustrated in FIG. 2, an angled grate 42 is positioned
between the rear wall surface 44 and the outlet end wall 40
overlying the outlet 38. As should be appreciated, the grate 42 is
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6a. However, the grate 42 is removed in
FIGS. 6b and 6c so as to better illustrate the outlet 38.
[0023] During vacuum cleaner operation, the suction generator 46 in
the suction generator compartment 20 generates a negative pressure
that draws an air stream through the agitator cavity 22 around the
rotary agitator 24. Simultaneously, the agitator 24 is rotated at
high speeds so that the bristle tufts 26 beat dirt and debris from
the nap of an underlying carpet or rug being cleaned. This dirt and
debris is entrained in the air stream and travels from the agitator
cavity 22 through a conduit system 48 to the inlet 34 that extends
through the rear wall 44 of the bag compartment 18. A filter bag 50
is received over the end of the inlet 34 so that the air stream
with entrained dirt and debris is directed into the filter bag.
[0024] The filter bag 50 is made from a filter material that traps
dirt and debris while allowing the passage of relatively clean air.
Accordingly, dirt and debris is trapped in the filter bag 50 while
clean air passes through the filter bag 50 and travels through the
filter bag compartment 18 and the grate 42 to the outlet 38. An
optional filter element 52 may be provided behind the grate 42 and
over the outlet 38 (see particularly FIG. 3). The air stream is
then directed through the conduit 54 into the suction generator
compartment 20 (see particularly FIGS. 3 and 4). The air stream is
then drawn into the inlet end 56 of the suction generator 46. The
air stream then passes over the motor of the suction generator 46
to provide cooling before being exhausted from the suction
generator compartment 20 to the environment through the vent 58.
Here it should be noted that the suction generator 46 is mounted in
the suction generator compartment 20 so as to seal against the
partition 60 that separates the inlet portion 62 of the suction
generator compartment 18 from the outlet portion 64 of the suction
generator compartment.
[0025] In order to optimize the operating efficiency of the vacuum
cleaner 10, it should be appreciated that the wall 66 of the bag
compartment 18 includes a plurality of chevron or v-shaped ribs 68
that project from the wall into the bag compartment (see
particularly FIGS. 5a-5c). In the illustrated embodiment, these
v-shaped ribs 68 are provided on the inner wall surface 66 of the
access door 32. It should be appreciated, however, that the
v-shaped ribs 68 could be provided on any inner wall surface of the
bag compartment 18 if desired.
[0026] As illustrated, each v-shaped rib 68 includes two opposing
legs 70 and an apex 72. Each apex 72 points toward the outlet end
40 of the bag compartment 18. Further each v-shaped rib 68 includes
a groove 74 that is provided at and centered on each apex 72. See
also FIG. 5d. Each rib 68 is continuous and each rib has a height
H.sub.1 at the groove 74 that is less than the height H.sub.2 at
any portion of the rib not including the groove. In one
particularly useful embodiment the ratio of the height H.sub.1 to
the height H.sub.2 is between about 1:3 and about 1:6.
[0027] As should be appreciated from viewing FIGS. 3 and 5a-5c, the
plurality of v-shaped ribs 68 are spaced along the wall 66 between
the inlet end 36 and the outlet end 40 of the bag compartment 18.
Rib extensions 69 extend around the corners 71 of the access door
32 and along the sides 73 thereof (see FIGS. 5b and 5c). As should
further be appreciated from carefully reviewing FIGS. 5a-5d, the
grooves 74 in the plurality of v-shaped ribs 68 increase in size
from the inlet end 36 to the outlet end 40.
[0028] As further illustrated in FIGS. 5a-5d, two air flow ribs 76
extend along the wall 66 across the plurality of v-shaped ribs 68
from the inlet end 36 to the outlet end 40. The two air flow ribs
76 diverge from one another from the inlet end 36 toward the outlet
end 40. The apexes 72 and grooves 74 of the v-shaped ribs 68 are
positioned between the two air flow ribs 76 which define an express
airflow pathway 75 leading to the outlet end 40 of the bag
compartment 18. In the illustrated embodiment each groove 74 is
substantially as wide as the space between the diverging ribs 76
that is intersected by the rib 68 on which the groove is
formed.
[0029] During vacuum cleaner operation, the v-shaped ribs 68
function to maintain an airflow passage or gap 78 between the
filter bag 50, the ribs 68 and the wall 66 of the access door 32.
Accordingly, the air stream may freely flow from the interior of
the filter bag 50 through the wall of the filter bag into the air
flow passage 78. The air stream is then directed by the v-shaped
ribs 68 downwardly toward the apexes 72. The grooves 74 at each
succeeding apex 72 increase in size so as to accommodate additional
air flow which is directed through the grooves toward the outlet
end 40 where the airstream may flow freely through the angled grate
42 into the outlet 38.
[0030] The wall 44 at the rear of the bag compartment 18 opposite
the access door 32 includes a series of longitudinal air guides 82
that project from the surface into the bag compartment and extend
from the inlet end 36 toward the outlet end 40. Additional airflow
ribs 84 extend around the wall at the sides of the bag compartment
18 from the longitudinal air guides 82 to the removable access door
32. These extensions further direct the airflow along left and
right sides of the filter bag 50 toward the v-shaped ribs 68 so
that the air stream may pass through the grooves 74 along the
access door 32 and flow smoothly to the outlet 38. As should be
appreciated, air passing through the rear wall of the filter bag 50
flows cleanly and smoothly in the channels 86 formed between the
longitudinal air guides 82 toward the angled grate 42 and through
the optional filter element 56 into the outlet 38.
[0031] In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the
concepts of this vacuum cleaner 10. Specifically, the v-shaped ribs
68 and the cooperating rib extensions 84 function to maintain an
open airflow passage 78 between the filter bag 50, the ribs 68 and
the wall 66 of the bag compartment 18. The ribs 68, the extensions
84, the diverging air flow ribs 76 and the cooperating grooves 74
at the apexes 72 of the v-shaped ribs synergistically cooperate to
smoothly and efficiently guide the air stream through the airflow
passage 78, the angled grate 42, the optional filter element 52,
and the outlet 38 toward the suction generator 46. The longitudinal
air guides 82 along the rear wall 44 of the bag compartment 18
provide longitudinal, continuous channels 86 that function to also
enhance airflow through the rear of the filter bag 50 and the bag
compartment 18 toward the suction generator 46. In this way, the
vacuum cleaner 10 provides more efficient and effective
cleaning.
[0032] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the present vacuum cleaner have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the vacuum cleaner 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 current
vacuum cleaner and its practical application to thereby enable one
of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the vacuum cleaner 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 current vacuum cleaner 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.
* * * * *