CN220236790U - Housing for a hand-held vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A housing for a hand-held vacuum cleaner includes a suction opening, a cyclone chamber, and a spiral path. A suction opening is defined in the housing. The cyclone chamber is in fluid communication with the suction opening. The helical passageway includes a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall. The first end is in fluid communication with the suction opening. The second end is in fluid communication with the cyclone chamber. At least one sidewall extends between the first end and the second end. At least one sidewall separates the spiral passageway from the cyclone chamber.

Description

Housing for a hand-held vacuum cleaner

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/043,395, filed 24/6/2020, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/093,371, filed 10/2020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to vacuum cleaners. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Disclosure of Invention

A housing for a hand-held vacuum cleaner includes a suction opening, a cyclone chamber, and a spiral path. The suction opening is defined in the housing. The cyclone chamber is in fluid communication with the suction opening. The helical passageway includes a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall. The first end is in fluid communication with the suction opening. The second end is in fluid communication with the cyclone chamber. The at least one sidewall extends between the first end and the second end. The at least one sidewall separates the spiral passageway from the cyclone chamber.

A housing for a hand-held vacuum cleaner includes a suction opening, a dirt cup, and a rigid arcuate path. The suction opening is defined in the housing. The dirt cup includes a cyclone chamber defined therein. The rigid arcuate passageway fluidly communicates the suction opening with the cyclone chamber. The rigid arcuate path is separated from the cyclone chamber along a substantial portion of the length of the rigid arcuate path. The rigid arcuate passageway opens to the cyclone chamber at an end of the rigid arcuate passageway.

A hand-held vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup, a handle, an inlet portion, and a rigid passage. The dirt cup includes a cyclone chamber defined therein. The handle is coupled to the dirt cup with a plane bisecting the handle and the cyclone chamber. The inlet portion includes a suction opening in fluid communication with the cyclone chamber. The rigid passageway fluidly communicates the suction opening with the cyclone chamber. The rigid passage includes a first end, a second end, and a sidewall. The first end of the rigid passage is in fluid communication with the suction opening. The second end is downstream of the first end. The second end is in fluid communication with the cyclone chamber. The sidewall separates the rigid passageway from the cyclone chamber between the first end and the second end. A substantial portion of the rigid passage is disposed on one side of the plane.

Features and aspects of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand-held vacuum cleaner according to embodiments disclosed herein.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a right side elevation view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner with the handle and suction source housing removed.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional front perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional top plan view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional front perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1, the cross-section being taken along the same plane as in fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional bottom plan view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional bottom perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a motor and impeller in a cavity of a suction source housing of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 18 is a top rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring to fig. 1, an embodiment of a hand-held vacuum cleaner 100 is shown. The vacuum cleaner 100 includes a housing 102, an inlet portion 104, a dirt cup 106, a passageway 108 extending between the inlet portion 104 and the dirt cup 106, and a handle 110. In some embodiments, the housing 102 itself includes an inlet portion 104, a dirt cup 106, and a passageway 108. The vacuum cleaner 100 also includes a suction source (fig. 16 and 17), such as a suction motor 150 that rotates a fan or impeller 152 to create a suction airstream.

The inlet portion 104 may be integrally formed with the housing 102 as a single component or may be formed separately from the housing 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet portion 104 is a protrusion of the housing 102. The inlet portion 104 includes a suction opening 112 defined therein for receiving liquid, dirt and other debris that is sucked up from the surface being cleaned either only via the inlet portion 104 or via a wand or hose (not shown) attached to the inlet portion 104. The inlet portion 104 may be a male member configured to be inserted into a female portion of a corresponding wand or hose (not shown), or the inlet portion 104 may be a female member configured to receive a male portion of a corresponding wand or hose (not shown).

The illustrated embodiment further includes a dirt cup 106 as part of the housing 102. The dirt cup 106 is shown as generally cylindrical in shape, but other shapes are also contemplated herein. Some embodiments may include a dirt cup 106 having a bottom door 114 that is pivotally coupled to a dirt cup wall 116 to allow a user to quickly and easily empty the contents of the dirt cup 106 into, for example, a trash can. The pivotable bottom door 114 may be secured with a latch that is diametrically opposed to one or more hinge members. However, in some embodiments, the bottom of the dirt cup 106 may be integrally formed with the remainder of the dirt cup 106 such that the lid section 136 must be removed to access the cyclone chamber 118 to empty the dirt cup 106. As shown in FIG. 10, the dirt cup 106 includes a cyclone chamber 118 defined therein. The cyclone chamber 118 is in fluid communication with the suction opening 112 via the passageway 108, as described in more detail below. The cyclone chamber 118 is also in fluid communication with a suction source (fig. 16 and 17) of the vacuum cleaner 100 and receives debris that has been picked up by the vacuum cleaner 100, as described below.

Turning now to FIG. 13, the passageway 108 fluidly communicates the suction opening 112 of the inlet portion 104 with the cyclone chamber 118 of the dirt cup 106. Accordingly, the suction source (fig. 16 and 17) may be operable to draw dirt, liquid, and other debris through the inlet portion 104 and then into the dirt cup 106 via the passageway 108. The passage 108 may be integrally formed with the housing 102 as a single component or may be formed separately from the housing 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the passageway 108 is a rigid conduit integrally formed with and protruding or projecting from the housing 102. The passageway 108 is arcuate along a portion of the outer circumference of the cylindrical dirt cup 106. However, other embodiments may include passages 108 having different routes that may or may not be arcuate, or may not be positioned within the perimeter of the housing 102. The passageway 108 has a first end 120 and a second end 122. The first end 120 is in fluid communication with the suction opening 112 of the inlet portion 104. The second end 122 is downstream of the first end 120, and the second end 122 is in fluid communication with the cyclone chamber 118 of the dirt cup 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the passageway 108 is a helical passageway in which the first end 120 and the second end 122 are at different heights.

As shown in FIG. 10, the passageway 108 is separated from the cyclone chamber 118 of the dirt cup 106 by a sidewall 124 of the passageway 108. The sidewall 124 extends along at least a portion of the length of the passageway 108 between the first end 120 and the second end 122. More specifically, the side walls 124 inhibit direct communication between the suction opening 112 and the cyclone chamber 118, but rather force incoming debris and air to travel a relatively circuitous route through the passageway 108 to be expelled into the cyclone chamber 118. As described in more detail below, this configuration helps prevent liquid in the dirt cup 106 that is sucked up by the vacuum cleaner 100 from accidentally escaping from the dirt cup 106 via the suction opening 112 when the user tilts the vacuum cleaner 100 forward, for example, during a subsequent suction operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall 124 of the passageway 108 is a portion of the housing 102 and may be integrally formed as a unitary piece with the dirt cup wall 116. The passages 108 are shown as being circular in cross-section, but other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., triangular, rectangular, oval, etc.) are also contemplated herein. As such, the circular cross-section passage 108 is considered to have only one sidewall 124, but other cross-sectional shapes of passages may have more than one sidewall. In embodiments including a passageway 108 having, for example, a triangular cross-section, one of the three sidewalls may face the cyclone chamber 118, while the other two of the three sidewalls may protrude radially outward and may be exposed to the exterior of the housing 102.

Returning to fig. 13, any incoming air, debris and/or liquid that is drawn up by the vacuum cleaner enters the suction opening 112 of the inlet portion 104, travels through the straight section 126 of the inlet portion 104, travels through the bend 128, enters the first end 120 of the passageway 108, travels through the passageway 108, and then exits the passageway 108 via the second end 122 into the cyclone chamber 118 of the dirt cup 106. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area at the second end 122 of the passageway 108 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of other portions of the passageway 108 (such as the first end 120). This arrangement may increase the velocity of the operational airflow 200 as it enters the cyclone chamber 118.

Referring to fig. 11, the heavier liquid and heavier debris (as compared to, for example, air) exiting the second end 122 of the passageway 108 may move at least partially along the cyclonic path in the cyclone chamber 118 and may be forced outwardly against the wall 116 of the dirt cup 106 by centrifugal force, wherein the liquid and debris may then fall to the bottom of the dirt cup 106 while the air and lighter debris (such as fine dust) continue to move along the cyclonic path in the cyclone chamber 118 and are then pulled through the conventionally designed filter 154 (fig. 17). The suction source housing 130 is coupled to an upper portion of the housing 102 and extends centrally and downwardly into the cyclone chamber 118. As the name suggests, the suction source housing 130 includes a cavity 132 for housing a motor 150 and an impeller 152 (fig. 16 and 17) that moves working air through a vacuum. Suction source housing 130 further includes a downwardly facing filter attachment portion 134 for receiving a filter. The filter 154 depends from the filter attachment portion 134 and extends centrally and downwardly further into the cyclone chamber 118. In some embodiments, the filter 154 is removably coupled to the filter connection portion 134 with a twist-lock connection.

Referring to fig. 8 and 11, the vacuum cleaner 100 further includes a cover section 136. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover section 136 is removably coupled to the housing 102 with a plurality of fasteners. The cover section 136 may be removed for filter replacement, access to the motor 150 for cleaning or repair, etc. The cover section 136 is shown as a two-piece assembly of a clamshell design, but other configurations are also contemplated herein, including but not limited to a single integral component.

The cover section 136 includes one or more exhaust ports 138 defined therein. The exhaust 138 allows working air to exit the vacuum cleaner 100 after having traveled through the suction opening 112, the passageway 108, the cyclone chamber 118 and the impeller 152. The cover section 136 further includes a handle 110 indirectly coupled to the housing 102. However, in some embodiments, the handle 110 is directly coupled to, for example, the dirt cup wall 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 110 includes one or more controls 140 disposed thereon. The cover section 136 also includes a battery connection rail 142 that is coupled to an end of the handle 110, but some embodiments may include a battery connection rail 142 that is coupled to, for example, the dirt cup wall 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery connection rail 142 removably receives a rechargeable battery pack (not shown). In some embodiments, the rechargeable battery pack may also be configured to couple to and power other power tools (such as a drill).

As shown in fig. 2, the passageway 108 surrounded by the side wall 124 is disposed almost entirely on a single side of a plane passing through and bisecting both the handle 110 and the cyclone chamber 118. The benefit of this configuration is that the second end 122 of the passageway 108 is disposed almost centrally at the rear of the vacuum cleaner 100. As such, the user must tilt the vacuum cleaner 100 too far rearward relative to the normal operating position in order to allow liquid in the bottom of the cyclone chamber 118 to enter the second end 122 of the passageway 108. Even if liquid enters the second end 122 of the passageway 108, the user must then tilt the vacuum cleaner to the left and then forward in order for any liquid that has entered the passageway 108 to successfully escape through the suction opening 112. This orientation mode of the vacuum cleaner 100 is unconventional and rarely occurs. As such, the illustrated embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 100 is better able to contain liquid that has been picked up when compared to the non-circuitous path from the suction opening 112 to the cyclone chamber 118. However, other embodiments may include the passageway 108 extending around a majority of the periphery of the dirt cup wall 116 and/or extending more than once around the cyclone chamber 118. Referring to FIG. 12, the passageway 108 may also be referred to as extending circumferentially about the central cyclone axis of the cyclone chamber 118 by an angle A1. In some embodiments, this angle A1 is at least 90 degrees. In some embodiments, angle A1 is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees. In some embodiments, angle A1 is greater than 180 degrees, such as 270 degrees, 360 degrees, or even greater (e.g., to form a spiral having multiple loops).

Referring to fig. 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the passageway 108 is provided such that the sidewall 124 can be considered an outward bulge from the exterior of the vacuum cleaner 100 relative to the dirt cup wall 116 and the lid section 136. However, other embodiments may include the passageway 108 being disposed in a different location such that the sidewall 124 is flush with the surrounding housing 102 and/or cover section 136. Still further embodiments may include passages 108 having different cross-sectional shapes to minimize or eliminate outward bulge of the side walls 124.

As shown in fig. 16-18, motor 150 and impeller 152 are disposed in cavity 132 of suction source housing 130. The illustrated embodiment further includes a motor housing 156 disposed within the suction source housing 130. The motor 150 is disposed entirely within the motor housing 156, while the impeller 152 is disposed outside of the motor housing 156 but within the suction source housing 130. An end wall member 157 is coupled to the motor housing 156 between the motor 150 and the impeller 152 to separate the interior of the motor housing 156 from the remainder of the cavity 132. The motor housing 156 and the end wall member 157 cooperate to act as a barrier between the motor 150 and any liquid that may travel through the vacuum cleaner 100. As best shown in fig. 16, the motor housing 156 includes, for example, a lap or tongue and groove joint where the inner wall of the motor housing 156 meets the cover section 136 and the inner wall of the motor housing 156 meets the end wall member 157. Some embodiments may further include a sealing material at one or both of the joints. The arrangement shown in fig. 16-18 allows the fluid flow 200 to travel into the suction opening 112, through the passageway 108, into the cyclone chamber 118, through the filter 154, through the suction source housing 130, past the impeller 152, between the inner and outer walls of the motor housing 156, and then out the exhaust 138 in the cover section 136. This fluid flow 200 represents the operational airflow path through the vacuum cleaner 100, but also represents the flow path of any liquid that may enter the vacuum cleaner 100 and subsequently escape from the vacuum cleaner.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cover section 136 further includes a motor vent 158 defined therein. The cover section 136 may further include a wall and ceiling structure 160 disposed between the exhaust port 138 and the motor vent 158. Such a wall and roof structure 160 helps to prevent liquid from being introduced into the cavity 132 via the motor vent 158, and more particularly, into the motor housing 156 even when the vacuum cleaner 100 is tilted and liquid escapes through the vent 138. The motor vent 158 allows venting of the motor 150 to cool the motor. This cooling airflow 300 may be passively into and out of the motor housing 156 via the motor vent 158, or the cooling airflow may be forced airflow due to one or more fans. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 150 includes a cooling fan 162 that is rotated by a drive shaft 164 of the motor 150 inside the motor housing 156. The cooling fan 162 is located on the drive shaft 164 between the motor 150 and the impeller 152.

Various features of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A housing for a hand-held vacuum cleaner, characterized by:

a suction opening defined in the housing;

a dirt cup including a cyclone chamber defined therein; and

a rigid arcuate passageway fluidly connecting the suction opening with the cyclone chamber, the rigid arcuate passageway being separated from the cyclone chamber along a majority of a length of the rigid arcuate passageway, the rigid arcuate passageway opening to the cyclone chamber at an end of the rigid arcuate passageway.

2. The housing of claim 1 wherein the rigid arcuate passageway is formed as a single integral piece with the dirt cup.

3. The housing of claim 1, wherein the rigid arcuate path opens to the cyclone chamber only at an end of the rigid arcuate path.

4. The housing of claim 1 wherein the rigid arcuate path projects radially outwardly beyond the wall of the dirt cup.

5. The housing of claim 4 wherein a majority of the width of the rigid arcuate path protrudes radially outwardly beyond the wall of the dirt cup.