Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
59
This is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application
Serial No. ~16,430 filed November 25th, 1982, which in turn is
a divisional of application Serial No. 333,564 filed
Auqust 10th, 1979.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electric
powered vacuum cleaners, and more particularly, to a
hand-held, electric vacuum cleaner which is constructed
for convenient and easy emptying of dirt and avoidance
of spilling, which is lightweight and balanced for easy
handling, and which is simple in design and includes a
minimum of separate parts.
Vacuum cleaners include a variety of types
ranging from heavy duty shop-type vacuum cleaners used
in basements, work rooms, garages, etc., and cannisters
and uprights used for medium to heavy-duty cleaning of
floors and floor coverings, furniture, and draperies,
to the so-called stick-type vacuum cleaners which are
used for li~ht-duty dirt pick-up such as kitchen 100rs,
and some light carpet cleaning.
In addition, even smaller and lighter weight
vacuum cleaners, some of which are battery operated,
have also entered the market in recent years. These
vacuum cleaners are often used in the kitchen, for
example, for picking up dirt and crumbs on kitchen
counters and tables and on kitchen floors, and are also
used on stairs, shelves, workshops, or any hard-to-get-
to areas.
Many of these smaller units suEfer from being
3~ clumsy and difficult to handle as a result of poor
weight distribution. An even more important problem
with these vacuum cleaners is that the dirt collection
means is difficult to empty, and often results in
spillage when the unit is opened in attempting to empty
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the dirt. Also, these units often are poorly designed
with many separate parts, have inefficient air flow and
dirt pick-up characteristics, and have an objecionably
small dirt collection capacity which requires frequent
emptying.
Thus, even though a definite need exists for
a small, hand-held, light-duty vacuum cleaner of this
type, the many problems attendant with existing units
tends to discourage their use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention alleviates the problems
described above and generally satisfies the requisites
for a small, hand-held vacuum cleaner by providing two
separable units, one being a power unit, and the other
a bowl unit into which dirt is drawn and retained. The
bowl unit includes a hollow bowl and filter bag assembly
removably positioned wholly within the bowl which
confines the dirt and debris therein. The bowl is
preferably a one-piece molded part and preferably
includes an internal nozzle formed integral therewith
and terminating in an air inlet opening. The end of
the bowl remote from the air inle-t opening is constructed
for ready attachment to and detachment from the power
unit. When the bowl is detached from the power unit,
the filter bag assembly remains within the bowl and
prevents dirt spillage. The filter bag assembly is
then easily removed from the bowl and the dirt can then
be dumped.
The invention accordingly provides a hand-held
vacuum cleaner comprising power and bowl units de-
tachably secured together by releasable latch
means, said power unit including a housing formed
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with a handle and enclosing an electric motor and fan, an
inlet opening at the upstream side of the fan, and having a
switch for operating said motor, said bowl unit including
an air inlet and an open end secured by said releasable latch
means to said power unit and a filter bag assembly disposed
between said air inlet and fan including a supporting frame
adapted to releasably fit into said bowl unit open end, said
filter bag assembly including a filter bag mounted on said
supporting frame and disposed wholly within said bowl unit,
said releasable latch means interacting between said power
unit and said bowl unit and including a flexible latch member
on one of such units and a first engagement means engageable
by said flexible l.atch member on the other of such units, and
second engagement means on such units spaced from said first
engagement means and providing a releasable catch between the
bowl and power units, and wherein said supporting rame is
adapted to fit closely into said bowl unit at a location
spaced a selected distance from said open end and to remain
in said bowl unit when the latter is separated from said power
unit, and said first and second engagement means being located
in a region which is intermediate said location of said
supporting frame and said open end of the bowl unit.
The accompanying drawings which are incorporated
in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate
one embodiment of the invention and, together with the
description, serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION_OF THE DRAWIMGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view o a hand-held
electric vacuum cleaner which embodies and is constructed
in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the
vacuum cleaner shown in Fix. 1 taken along a line ex-
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tending substantially longitudinally thereof;
Fig. 3 is an exploded view of Fig. 2 andshowing the parts separated for emptying dirt;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 taken
along the line 4-4 thereof;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 taken
along the line 5-5 thereof and with parts broken away
for clarity;
Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a portion of
Fig. 2 taken along the line 6-6 thereof;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of Fig. 6 taken
along the line 7-7 thereof and showing one position of
parts during assembly and disassembly of the units;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of Fig.2
taken along the line 8-8 thereof;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view of Fig. 3 taken
along the line 9-9 thereof;
Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 and
showing the parts prior to assembly;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a part of
Fig. 10; and
Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of Fig.2
taken along the line 12-12 whereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREF_RRED_ EMB_DIMENT
ReferencP will now be made in detail to the
present preferred embodiment of the invention, an
example of which is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
The preferred embodiment, shown in Fig. 1, is
seen to include a hand-held, electric vacuum cleaner 21
comprising first and second separable units 23, 25 inter-
connected by a releasable latch means 27. As embodied
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herein, the first unit 23 is a power unit which includes
a clam shell housing 24 formed with a handle 26 and
enclosing an electric motor 29 and a fan 31 (see Fig.2).
Battery means including a plurality of rechargeable
batteries 33, 35 are positioned within the handle 26 and
are electrically connected to the motor 29. A pair of
electrical terminals 28 and 30 (Fig.12) are positioned
within the housing 24 and are connected to the batteries
33, 35. The terminals 28 and 30 are accessible from
outside the housing 24 through openings 38 and 40 for
connection to a plug (not shown) for recharging the
batteries 33, 35. Switch means for turning the motor 29
on and off includes a switch 37 within the housing 24
and a slidable switch operator 39 located outside the
housing 24 on or adjacent the handle 26.
The fan 31 is of the centrifugal type which
includes blades 32, and is fixed to a motor shaft 34.
When the motor 29 is energized, the fan 31 rotates and
causes air to be drawn axially through an inlet opening
36 and discharges it radially outwardly between blades
32.
An intermediate part is provided which comprises a
venturi 41 fixed to the housing 24 forwardly of the fan
31 by screws 42 (Fig. 5). The venturi 41 includes a
passageway 43 which converges toward and is communicated
with the inlet opening 36 of fan 31. The housing 24 in-
cludes diffuser means formed by equidistant radially
spaced louvers 44 which define air discharge openinys 45
adjacent the outer periphery of the fan 31 (see Fig. 8).
Thus, when the motor 29 is turned on, the rotating fan
31 causes air to be drawn through the venturi passage-
way 43 into the fan inlet opening 36. The air then
moves outwardly between the fan blades 32 and is
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discharged through openings 45.
The second unit 25 of the vacuum cleaner 21
is detachably connected to first or power unit 23. As
embodied herein, the second unit 25 is a bowl unit and
includes a bowl 47 constructed as a hollow, one-piece,
molded member having an open end connected to the first
or power unit 23. The bDwl 47 is constructed of a
suitable tough, impact resistant material such as
polypropylene.
As noted above, the power unit 23 and bowl unit
25 are connected by a releasable latch means 27. As
embodied herein, the latch means includes one or more
openings 49 wormed in the bottom of bowl 47 to receive
corresponding projections 53 wormed on the bottom of
venturi 41 (see Fig.6). The releasable latch means 27
also includes a flexible latch member 57 (Fig. 11)
carried by the venturi 41 and engagable in an opening 63
in bowl 47. The member 57 is formed with a pair of arms
56, 58 connected by a flexible web 59 so that arms 56,
58 can move toward and away prom one another. Arm 58 is
bifurcated and is fixed to the venturi 41 by snapping
into place in an opening 60 (see Figs. 9 and 10). Arm
56 includes a button 61 shaped with a camming surface
62 and a locking shoulder 64. Latch member 57 can be
constructed ox, or example, acetal.
To assemble the power and bowl units 23, 25,
they are positioned as shown in Fig. 7 with the bowl 47
and venturi 41 tilted slightly and the venturi l
extending partly into the bowl 47 with projections 53
aligned with openings 49. The projections 53 are then
inserted in openings 49 and the units 23, 25 are rocked
in the direction of the arrow toward the aligned and
so
assembled position shown in FigO 2. During this
movement, the camming surface 62 on latch button 61
engages the edge ox bowl 47. The flexible web 59 allows
the arm 56 of latch member 57 to move toward arm 56
until finally, the locking shoulder 64 snaps into
position in the opening 63 in bowl 47.
Conversely, when the power and bowl units 23,
25 are to be separated, such as when the dirt is to be
emptied from the bowl 47, as will be described, the
latch button 61 is depressed ar enough to release the
shoulder 64 from bowl opening 63. The units 23, 25 are
then tilted toward the position shown in Fig. 7 (opposite
the direction illustrated by the arrow) and are separated.
Full separation of units 23, 25 is illustrated in Fig.3.
As embodied herein, the bowl 47 is a one-piece
member which can be molded of a tough, impact resistant
material such as polypropylene. A nozzle 65 extends
inwardly from an air inlet opening 67. The nozzle 65 is
formed by a continuous skirt 68 which is molded integrally
with the bowl 47 and is wholly within and spaced from the
bowl itself except where it is joined to the bowl 47
adjacent the opening 67. The nozzle 65 is straight and
substantially aligned with venturi passage 43, and has a
generally constant cross sectional area throughout its
length for maximum air flow and efficiency in piekiny up
dirt.
By molding the nozzle 65 as one piece with the
bowl 47, the need for an extra part, i.e. a separate
nozzle, is eliminated. Further, by constructing the
nozzle skirt 68 whollly internally of the bowl 47 and
spaced therefrom except where joined adjacent the
opening 67, the size and shape of the nozzle has no ef~ec~
so
on the external contour of the bowl 47. This allows for
maximum design latitude in the bowl 47 and results in
the aesthetically pleasing appearance shown in Fig. 1.
A resilient flapper 71 is securely fastened in
place over the internal end of the nozzle skirt 68. The
flapper 71 is normally positioned as shown in full lines
in Fig. 2 so that it closes the nozæle 65 and inlet
opening 67. however, when the motor 29 is turned on,
air drawn by the fan 31 through the venturi 41 exerts
suction on the flapper 71 and causes it to lift away prom
the nozzle 65 as shown by dot-dash lines in Fig. 2. This
casues air flow through nozzle 65 and dirt to be drawn
through inlet opening 67. When the motor 29 is again
turned off, the flapper 71 returns to the full line
closed position and dirt trapped within the bowl 47
cannot escape through the inlet opening 67.
The bowl unit 25 includes a filter bag assembly
73 positioned wholly within the bowl 47 and which is
removable therefrom only after separation of the bowl 47
from the power unit 23. As embodied herein, the filter
bag assembly 73 includes a ring 75 and an integral frame-
work formed by a plurality of ribs 79. As air permeable
filter bag 77 is fitted over ribs 79 and is fixed to ring
75. The framework ribs 79 hold the hag 77 extended as
shown in Fig. 2 and ensure that a maximum area of the
filter bag 77 is exposed to air flow through the vacuum
cleaner.
The ring 75 can be formed of a suitable plastic
material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or PVC.
The bag 77 can be formed of a porous non-woven polyester
material having pores which are sufficiently small to
resist passage of dirt. The bag 77 and ring 75 are
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preferably permanently attached such as, for example, by
stitching, hot welding, or by using a suitable adhesive
material.
Means are provided to limit inward movement of
the filter bag assembly relative to the bowl 47. As here
embodied, the outer periphery of the ring 75 is shaped
generally complementary to the internal surface of the
bowl 47. Desirably, the upper surface of the bowl 47
and ring 75 are tapered so that when the jilter bag
assembly 73 is inserted into the bowl 47, the ring 75
wedges into engagement with the wall of the bowl 47. In
addition, the ring 25 has a feathered edge ~2 which can
cold flow into sealing engagement with the bowl ~7. When
so positioned, the filter bag assembly 73 and bowl 47
define a dirt-collecting chambex 80~ If desired, the bowl
47 can be formed with ribs 81, which define shoulders
83 to prevent the ring 75 from moving too far into the
bowl 47. Desirably, the ring 75 wedges into engagement
with the bowl 47 before engaging the shoulders 83. This
ensures that the ring 75 sealingly engages the bowl 47
and prevents dirt from passing the ring.
The bowl ~7 and filter ring assembly 73 are
constructed so that the assembly 73 remains within the
bowl 47 when the units 23, 25 are detached and separatecl.
As here embodied, the wedging engagement between .rincJ 75
and bowl 47 prevents the assembly 73 from inadvertently
falling out of bowl 47 or :Erom backing out when the power
unit is separated from bowl unit 23. Furthermore,
when the power unit 23 and bowl unit 25 are assembled
together, as shown in Fig. 2, the venturi l engages -the
ring 75 and presses it in-to snug wedging engagemen-t with
the bowl 47. As shown, the venturi has a radial
shoulder 85 which engages a radial shoulder 87 on the
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ring 75. However, after the power unit 23 is separated
from the bowl unit 25, the filter bag assembly 73 can
be manually withdrawn from the bowl 47 simply by reaching
into the bowl and grasping the ring 75. Since the
grasped portion of the ring 75 is downstream of the
dirt within bowl 47, the user's hands are not dirtied
in this action.
After removal of the dust bag assembly 73 from
the bowl 47, the dirt is emptied simply by turning the
bowl 47 upside down. Thereafter, the dust bag assembly
73 can be shaken or washed, and reinserted in the bowl
47. The power unit 23 and bowl unit 25 are then re-
assembled as described and the vacuum cleaner is again
ready for use. By providing that the filter bag
assembly 73 remains in position in the bowl ~7 when the
power and bowl units 23, 25 are detached and separated,
all of the dirt remains securely trapped in the dirt
collecting chamber 80 in bowl ~7 and cannot spill out
until the filter bag assembly 73 is thereafter removed.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that various additions, substitutions, modifications,
and omissions can be made to the present embodiment with-
out departing from the scope or spirit of the invention
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers
such provided that they come within the scope of the
appended claims and their equivalents.
