A dual filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner. The dual filter comprises a coarse pre-filter having an array of pores formed therein of substantially uniform diameter and a fine primary filter which is located rearwardly of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow. The dual filter is releasably latched to a main housing portion of the vacuum cleaner housing. A nose cone is removably secured to the housing and circumscribes the dual filter assembly. The dual filter enables even more efficient filtering of contaminants from dust and dirt entrained air ingested by the vacuum cleaner. Attachment of the dual filter to the main housing portion provides the additional advantage of increasing the capacity of the nose cone and eliminating the need for the user to handle the dual filter assembly when emptying contaminants collected within the nose cone. A unique seal arrangement provides a substantially airtight seal between the dual filter system and the main housing to which it is secured.
|
0. 17. A hand held vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising:
a substantially cup-shaped pre-filter defining side surfaces and a bottom surface and having pores formed in all surfaces thereof; and
a second filter nestably disposed adjacent to the pre-filter and downstream of the pre-filter in the direction of airflow so that the second filter filters airflow drawn through all surfaces of the pre-filter;
wherein all of said airflow is filtered by said pre-filter.
0. 18. For use in a hand held vacuum cleaner having plural filters for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, the improvement comprising a fine filter including:
a frame having a planar surface with openings formed therein operable to locate the fine filter in the vacuum cleaner, and
a fine filter element mounted on said frame and extending upwardly from said planar surface and adapted to be received within a recess in a coarse pre-filter so as to be located rearwardly of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow when said fine filter is installed in the vacuum cleaner.
0. 22. A method of filtering particulates from an airflow drawn through a hand held vacuum cleaner by a vacuum source, comprising the steps of:
providing a fine filter having a rim, two side support frames, and filter material located between the two side support frames;
placing the fine filter downstream of a pre-filter within a recess in the pre-filter so that the particulates collected on the fine filter are less likely to conglomerate; and
jointly securing the fine filter and pre-filter to a housing surface of the hand held vacuum cleaner;
wherein said rim of said fine filter is provided with apertures for engaging pegs on the housing source to secure the fine filter thereto.
1. A hand held vacuum cleaner having a vacuum source and a dual filter system for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing drawn through the vacuum cleaner by the vacuum source, comprising:
a coarse pre-filter forming an open ended substantially box shape defining side surfaces and an end surface and having pores formed on all of said side and end surfaces;
a fine primary filter which is located downstream of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow; and
wherein the pre-filter has a recess for receipt of the primary filter is configured to be nestably received within the open end of the pre-filter so that the primary filter filters airflow drawn through all of the side and end surfaces of the pre-filter.
11. A hand held vacuum cleaner system comprising:
a housing;
an electric motor disposed within said housing;
a fan driven by said electric motor for generating a suction airflow of air-entrained dirt and debris;
a dual filter system including:
a pre-filter for filtering coarse particles of dirt and debris from the dirt and debris entrained air;
a primary filter for filtering fine particles of dirt and debris from the entrained air;
said pre-filter forming an open ended substantially box shape defining side surfaces and an end surface and having pores formed on all of said side and end surfaces and said primary filter being adapted to rest nestably within said pre-filter for filtering airflow drawn through all of the side and end surfaces of the pre-filter;
said primary filter further comprising a concertina shaped filtering material; and
said housing and at least one of said pre-filter and primary filter including cooperating latching structure for mechanically interengaging to releasably secure said pre-filter and said primary filter to said housing.
2. The vacuum cleaner of
3. The vacuum cleaner of
4. The vacuum cleaner of
5. The vacuum cleaner of
6. The vacuum cleaner of
7. The vacuum cleaner of
8. The vacuum cleaner of
10. The vacuum cleaner of
12. The vacuum cleaner of
13. The vacuum cleaner of
14. The vacuum cleaner of
0. 15. A hand held vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising:
a primary filter;
a pre-filter nestably housed adjacent to the primary filter; and
wherein, the primary filter is located downstream of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow.
0. 16. A hand held vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising:
a cup-shaped pre-filter; and
a concertina-shaped primary filter disposed adjacent to the pre-filter.
0. 19. The apparatus of
0. 20. The apparatus of
0. 21. The apparatus of
0. 23. The vacuum cleaner of
0. 24. The vacuum cleaner of
0. 25. The vacuum cleaner of
0. 26. The vacuum cleaner of
|
When a user has collected a pre-determined amount of dust and debris or has completed a cleaning task, the motor (10) will be switched off and the nose cone (4) removed from the main housing portion (2) by depressing the release lever (30). The dust and debris contained in the collecting chamber (46) can then be disposed of. Also, the dual filter system (34) can be removed as required by the operator from the main housing portion (2). Any dust or debris collected on or between the pre-filter (36) and the primary filter (38) can then be removed. The dual filter system (34) and nose cone (4) can then be re-fitted onto the main housing portion (2) and the vacuum cleaner (1) is ready for further use or can be stored away for subsequent use.
One of the benefits of the arrangement utilizing a dual filter attached to the main housing portion (2) is that this design provides for relative ease of emptying and cleaning the vacuum cleaner. In particular, the user may hold the housing unit in one hand while removing the collecting chamber (26) (46) with an opposed hand, the dust and debris being primarily retained within the collecting chamber (46) and thus can be emptied at the operator's convenience. No additional step is required to remove the prefilter or primary filter from the main housing or from the nose cone (4). Any debris collected between the primary filter and the pre-filter can simply be removed by vibrating or shaking the housing unit with the filters attached thereto. This enables a continuous operation to empty the vacuum cleaner. It also eliminates the need for the user to handle the dual filter system (34) when emptying the nose cone (4), and the possibility of further contaminating the filter system during emptying of the nose cone.
Still another advantage of the vacuum cleaner (1) of the present invention is that by mounting the dual filter system (34) on the main housing portion (2), rather than within the nose cone (4), the capacity of the nose cone for containing dust and dirt debris is increased. In contrast, previously developed systems have incorporated the filter element within the removable nozzle or like element, which significantly reduces the capacity of the nozzle for holding contaminants. It will be appreciated, however, that the dual filter assembly could be mounted within the nozzle cone (4) with little modification to the nozzle cone.
The dual filter system (34) will now be described in more detail with reference to
The primary filter (38) is manufactured by folding a concertina of filter material (50) within and locating triangular sections of filter material (62) appropriately within a molding die and then injecting plastic material into the molding die to form the molded plastic frame comprising rim (52) and opposing support frames (54,56). The opposing support frames support the woven filter material (50, 62) securely in position. The folding of the filter material (50) in the concertina arrangement and the additional triangular sections of filter material (62) provides a primary filter (38) with a relatively large cross-sectional area.
The rim (52) of the primary filter (38) has formed within it on opposing sides keyhole shaped apertures (64,66). The keyhole apertures are used to releasably latch the primary filter (38) to co-operating pegs (40) provided on the front of the main housing portion (2) of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
As shown in
To aid in the injection molding of the pre-filter (36), the front face (66) of the pre-filter comprises a solid circular region (76) from which extend radially outwardly six solid arms (78). The solid circular region (76) and arms (78) assist in the flow of molten plastic material during the injection molding process, which flow would otherwise be impaired by narrow channels between the hole forming the arrays of holes (74). The solid circular region (76) also provides a region of the pre-filter (36) that can prominently display information such as trademarks.
It has been found in practice that the 1 mm diameter size of the holes in the pre-filter (36) is generally greater than the majority of the particles of dust and debris entering the nose cone (4) in use of the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 1. However, the pre-filter (36) still deflects the majority of particles of dust and debris, irrespective of their size, out of the airflow drawn through the pre-filter (36) by the fan (20). These deflected particles of dust and debris are collected in the collecting chamber (46) of the nose cone (4). Up to 90% of particles of debris and dust normally picked up during household vacuuming and entrained in the airflow in front of the pre-filter (36) can be removed from that airflow by the pre-filter (36). However, the amount of particulate removed from the airflow is dependent on the size of that particulate.
The 1 mm diameter circular hole size used in the pre-filter (36) would be expected not to deflect the generally much smaller sized particles of dust and debris entrained in an airflow through it. However, when the particles of dust and debris entrained within the airflow hit the front surface of the pre-filter (36), the momentum of the particles is reduced or eliminated. The airflow into the pre-filter (36) is often insufficient to then recapture such particles and these particles fall into the collecting chamber (46). This significantly reduces the volume of particles of dust and debris which reach the primary filter (38). Consequently, there is a significant reduction in the amount of blocking of the pores of the filter material used therein by conglomerations of such particles. Furthermore, as the particles that reach the primary filter (38) will have passed through the 1 mm diameter holes in the pre-filter (36), they will be of more uniform diameter than if the pre-filter was not used. It has been found that this increased level of uniformity of diameter of particles incident on the filter material (50, 62) of the primary filter (36) is more resistant to binding and thus tends to reduce further the blocking up of the pores in the primary filter by conglomerations of particles. This is because particles of similar diameter are less likely to bind together to form a conglomerated mass that could block the filter material than particles of dissimilar diameters. The more uniform diameter particles that have passed through the pre-filter (36) tend not to bind and instead fall away from the filter material (50, 62) into the space between the pre-filter (36) and the primary filter (38). This reduction of blocking of the pores of the primary filter improves the suction of the vacuum cleaner (1) during use as the airflow to the fan (20) is not impeded by a blocked primary filter (38).
In a similar way to the primary filter (38), the rim (70) of the pre-filter (36) has formed within it on opposing sides keyhole shaped apertures (80, 82). These apertures (80, 82) are used to releasably latch the pre-filter (38) to co-operating pegs (40) provided on the front of the main housing portion (2) of the vacuum cleaner (1) of FIG. 1. When the primary filter (38) is received within the pre-filter (36), the keyhole shaped apertures (64, 80) and (66, 82) line up so that the dual filter system (34) comprising the pre-filter (36) and the primary filter (38) can be releasably latched to the main housing portion (2) as a single assembly.
To fit the dual filter system (34) to the main housing portion (2), the widened portions of the keyhole shaped apertures (64, 80) and (66, 82) are fitted over the enlarged head of a corresponding one of the pair of pegs (40). The dual filter system (34) is then rotated slightly to slide the stem of the pegs (40) into the narrow portion of the respective keyhole shaped apertures (64, 80) and (66, 82) in order to securely latch the dual filter system (34) to the main housing portion (2) over the inlet (84) to the fan (20). One of the pegs (40) comprising an enlarged head (86) and a stem (88) is shown clearly in dotted lines in FIG. 10.
The rim (70) has a stepped portion (90) which extends around its periphery and the resilient seal element (72) is molded over this stepped portion. The seal element (72) comprises a readily outwardly extending portion (92) which, as seen in
Thus, when the dual filter system (34) is assembled and fitted onto the main housing portion (2), the primary filter (38) is inserted into the pre-filter (38) such that the concertina of filter material (50) is received within the box-shaped cavity of the pre-filter, the keyhole shaped apertures (64, 80) and (66, 82) are aligned, the second axially extending portion (96) of the seal (72) abuts the rim (52) of the primary filter (38), and the first axially extending portion (94) of the seal (72) extends around the periphery of the rim (52) of the primary filter (38). The dual filter system (34) is then latched onto the pegs (40) provided on the main housing portion (2). This latching of the dual filter system (34) to the pegs (40) presses the rims (52, 70) of the filters together and so reinforces the seal between the pre-filter (36) and primary filter (38) provided by the portion (96) of the seal element (72). It also presses the rim (70) of the pre-filter (36) towards the front surface of the main housing portion (2) and thus reinforces the seal between the pre-filter and the main housing portion provided by the portion (94) of the seal element (72).
An alternative preferred embodiment of pre-filter (38) which provides an improved releasable latch connection between the dual filter system (34) and the main housing unit (2) of the vacuum cleaner of
With the improved arrangement shown in
Alternatively, or in conjunction with the use of the cam surfaces (102), internal ribs may be provided around the interior surface of the collecting chamber (46). As the collecting chamber (46) is moved into engagement with the main housing portion (2), these ribs engage with the rim (70) of the pre-filter system and operate to compress the axially extending portions (94, 96) of the sealed element (72) into respective engagement with the main housing portion (2) and primary filter (36) accordingly. The use of ribs in this manner will provide a uniformly distributed compression force about the entire periphery of the seal of the pre-filter.
Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.
Pears, Barry, Coburn, Eric, Bone, Danny
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10030403, | May 08 2015 | KOKIDO DEVELOPMENT LIMITED | Underwater cleaner |
10561290, | Sep 29 2016 | BISSELL INC | Vacuum cleaner |
11160427, | Mar 07 2018 | SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC | Cover for a fluff screen in a surface treatment apparatus |
11198085, | Aug 31 2017 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc | Filter apparatus for a surface cleaning apparatus |
11503970, | Sep 29 2016 | BISSELL Inc. | Vacuum cleaner |
8590103, | Oct 05 2011 | Shop Vac Corporation | Vacuum cleaner with removable battery pack |
9903133, | May 08 2015 | KOKIDO DEVELOPMENT LIMITED | Underwater cleaner |
RE43603, | Jul 17 1999 | Black & Decker Inc. | Dual filter vacuum cleaner apparatus |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
1719072, | |||
3009719, | |||
3443366, | |||
3537711, | |||
3621640, | |||
3894377, | |||
3909219, | |||
4011624, | Aug 25 1975 | The Black and Decker Manufacturing Company | Cordless vacuum cleaner |
4042999, | Jan 17 1975 | Miniaturized vacuum cleaner device | |
4073031, | Mar 26 1975 | Aktiebolaget Electrolux | Vacuum cleaner nozzle with retractable brush |
4105420, | May 23 1977 | Bayfront Carpet and Vacuum, Inc. | Canister vacuum cleaner with transparent lid |
4209875, | Aug 11 1978 | Black & Decker, Inc. | Cordless vacuum cleaner bowl and filter system |
4213224, | Aug 21 1978 | FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA | By-pass type portable vacuum cleaner |
4421964, | Apr 02 1982 | HOOVER COMPANY, THE | Remote switch actuation |
4473316, | May 10 1982 | Modular Systems, Inc. | Fastener clip and joint structure |
4542557, | Mar 07 1984 | Black & Decker, Inc | Wet-dry vacuum cleaner |
4573234, | Jan 30 1984 | SCOTT FETZER COMPANY, THE, A CORP OF DE | Hand-held vacuum cleaner |
4573237, | Apr 10 1984 | SCOTT FETZER COMPANY, THE, A CORP OF DE | Hand vacuum with tilting intake |
4577365, | Sep 14 1983 | John Manufacturing Limited | Rechargeable vacuum cleaner |
4592764, | Jun 30 1983 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Vacuum cleaner |
4610048, | Aug 11 1983 | Hand held vacuum cleaner | |
4644605, | Mar 25 1985 | BISSELL, INC | Stick vacuum cleaner |
4665582, | Feb 22 1985 | WHITE CONSOLIDATED INDUSTRIES, INC , A CORP OF DE | Lightweight battery powered suction broom |
4670701, | Nov 19 1984 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Rechargeable cordless vacuum cleaner apparatus |
4682384, | Oct 05 1983 | SCOTT FETZER COMPANY, THE | Vacuum generating system for hand-held vacuum cleaner |
4704765, | Jun 11 1984 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Portable vacuum cleaner |
4745654, | Aug 08 1985 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Hand-held vacuum cleaner |
4800614, | Apr 30 1987 | Royal Appliance Mfg. Co. | Adaptor and bag insert |
4811453, | Jun 25 1987 | Vacuum cleaner with an airtight flexible bag | |
4821366, | May 03 1988 | Black & Decker, Inc | Wet-dry vacuum cleaner |
4831685, | Nov 27 1987 | HOOVER COMPANY, THE | Wet and dry vacuum cleaner |
4881844, | Jul 30 1987 | Clip device to attach a backsplash to a countertop | |
4894882, | Jan 13 1987 | Sanyo Electric Company, Ltd. | Portable vacuum cleaner |
4920608, | Aug 08 1988 | EMERSON ELECTRIC CO , A CORP OF MO | Portable hand held vacuum cleaner |
4928347, | Jan 09 1989 | BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION, THE | Vacuum cleaner dust bowl latch and release system |
4951348, | Jan 09 1989 | BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION, THE | Rotatable indexable accessory vacuum cleaner tool |
4961762, | Dec 09 1988 | Structurally reinforced, self-aligning panel filter apparatus with associated clamping, face sealing and backflushing structure | |
4967443, | Jan 09 1989 | Black & Decker Inc | Filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner |
5020187, | Mar 19 1990 | Black & Decker, Inc. | Filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner |
5025529, | Dec 21 1989 | Emerson Electric Co. | Portable hand held vacuum cleaner |
5056186, | Oct 02 1990 | USESTONE CO , LTD , A CORP OF TAIWAN, R O C | Cleaner |
5561885, | Jan 13 1995 | Royal Appliance Mfg. Co. | Portable hand-held vacuum cleaner |
5647093, | Jun 18 1996 | Tennant Company | Sweeper with dual seal filter |
5674302, | Jul 12 1994 | Nippondenso Co., Ltd. | Automobile filter element |
5679122, | Aug 14 1993 | Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company | Filter for the filtration of a fluid flow |
5720790, | Dec 26 1995 | Denso Corporation; Toyoda Boshoku Corporation | Filter element |
5820646, | Apr 26 1996 | Donaldson Company, Inc | Inline filter apparatus |
5976225, | Jun 07 1996 | N S TECHNOLOGIES, INC | Method of recovering paint booth filters |
6110248, | Aug 31 1998 | Shop Vac Corporation | Dual filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner |
6434785, | Apr 19 2000 | Headwaters Research & Development, INC | Dual filter wet/dry hand-held vacuum cleaner |
924334, | |||
D355482, | Nov 01 1993 | TEXTRON IPMP L P | Air filter for an internal combustion engine |
GB1262121, | |||
GB1504063, | |||
JP52104361, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Apr 15 2005 | Black & Decker Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Oct 15 2010 | M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Oct 21 2011 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Apr 21 2012 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Oct 21 2012 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Oct 21 2014 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Oct 21 2015 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Apr 21 2016 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Oct 21 2016 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Oct 21 2018 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Oct 21 2019 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Apr 21 2020 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Oct 21 2020 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Oct 21 2022 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |