NZ720630B2 - A vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

vacuum cleaner (not shown) including a hollow body containing a motor and air pump. The body also includes a filter chamber (not shown) downstream of the air inlet and upstream of the pump. A filter element (21) is wholly housed within the filter chamber. The filter element (21) includes a filter portion (24) that surrounds a filter cavity (29), a sealing ring (25) to engage the body, and a solid base (27). The filter portion is self-supporting, that is it retains its shape and configuration when being handled and when subjected to an air flow due to operation of the vacuum cleaner. The filter portion (24) and solid base (27) are arranged to be removable as one piece for cleaning. The disclosed invention provides a filter system for a vacuum cleaner that is easier to empty and has greater capacity over traditional filter bag systems.

Description

A VACUUM CLEANER Technical Field The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly but not exclusively to vacuum cleaners employed by professional cleaners.

Background of the Invention Vacuum cleaners have traditionally included an electric motor that drives a pump (impeller) that takes air from an inlet and delivers the air to an exhaust. Located between the inlet and exhaust is a filtered chamber having a filter through which air passes so that material is removed from the air stream.

In some vacuum cleaners the filter element is a bag that is secured to the body of the vacuum cleaner and positioned so that air passes therethrough.

A disadvantage of the above discussed filter bag is that it requires frequent changing and can be difficult to remove and replace. A further disadvantage is that it is frequently messy to change the filter bag.

A further disadvantage of the above discussed filter bag is that frequently there is formed a cloth. The cloth becomes clogged with fine dust, with the result that air flow is restricted.

Fine dust can be allowed to exit the filter and engage the motor, the end result being a reduction in suction as well as possible motor failure.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate one of the above disadvantages. 11368138_1:hxa Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a vacuum cleaner including: a hollow body containing motor and air pump, the body having an air inlet and an exhaust between which air flows via the pump upon operation of the motor, the body also including a filter chamber downstream of the inlet and upstream of the pump and through which the air is to pass; a filter element in the chamber through which the air passes so that the element removes at least some solid material from the air passing through the filter element, the filter element including, a sealing ring to similarly engage the body, a filter portion extending from the ring so as to surround a filter cavity having an inlet communicating with the body inlet so as to receive the air therefrom with the air passing through the filter portion to be delivered to the pump; and wherein said filter portion is self-supporting.

Preferably the filter portion is generally rigid.

Preferably the filter portion has a longitudinal axis with the filter portion surrounding the axis.

Preferably the filter portion has a circular cross section when sectioned by a plane generally perpendicular to said axis.

Preferably the filter portion is pleated so as to have longitudinally extending ridges generally parallel to said axis.

Preferably the vacuum cleaner includes a filter element that includes the filter portion, with the filter portion being generally cylindrical in configuration, and with the filter element having a base, with the filter portion and base surrounding said cavity.

Preferably the filter portion is a filter body formed of filter material.

In an alternative preferred form, the filter portion includes a filter body formed of filter material, and a mesh reinforcing the body. 11368138_1:hxa Preferably the mesh is located on a radially outer peripheral surface of the filter body.

There is further disclosed herein a filter element including: a filter portion having a longitudinal axis and surrounding a filter cavity to which air is to be delivered for passage outwardly away from the axis through the filter portion, the filter portion having a generally circular transverse cross section when sectioned by a plane generally perpendicular to said axis; a sealing ring fixed to an end extremity of the filter portion to provide for sealingly connecting the filter element to a vacuum cleaner, the rim being formed of resilient material and being of an annular configuration surrounding said axis; a base at an end extremity of said filter portion spaced from said ring, the base with said filter portion generally enclosing said cavity apart; and wherein said filter portion is self-supporting.

Preferably said filter portion is generally cylindrical in configuration.

Preferably said filter portion is pleated so as to have longitudinally extending ridges and grooves, with the ridges and grooves extending generally parallel to said axis.

Preferably the filter portion is a filter body formed of filter material.

In an alternative preferred form, the filter portion is a filter body formed of filter material, and reinforcing mesh located on an outer peripheral surface of the filter body.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a vacuum cleaner; Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view of the top portion of the vacuum cleaner of Figure Figure 3 is a schematic isometric view of the top portion of a vacuum cleaner as shown in Figure 2 with the top lid removed; 11368138_1:hxa Figure 4 is a schematic isometric view of the top portion of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2 with the top lid and filter element removed; Figure 5 is a schematic isometric view of the filter element as shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a further isometric view of the filter element; and Figure 7 is a schematic isometric view of a modification of the filter element of Figure 6.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a vacuum cleaner 10.

Typically the vacuum cleaner 10 would be used by professional cleaning staff and is intended to be worn as a "back pack". In particular the vacuum cleaner 10 includes a back pack assembly 11 including back frame 12 supporting the vacuum cleaner body 13. Fixed to a lower portion of the body 13 is a lower back engaging portion, with straps 15 extending between the back frame 12 and portion 14 to provide for securing the vacuum cleaner 10 to the back of an operator. The frame 12 includes a socket 20 within which the vacuum cleaner 10 is supported.

The body 13 is hollow so as to contain a motor and air pump assembly 16. Typically the air pump would be a rotor, such as an impeller or fan that upon operation of the motor causes air to pass through the vacuum cleaner 10.

Removably secured to an upper portion of the body 13 is a lid 17 providing an inlet 18.

Typically a vacuum cleaner hose would be attached to the inlet 18, with the hose manipulated by the operator of the vacuum cleaner 10.

Air enters the inlet 18 and passes through the body 13 to exit via outlets (exhaust) 19 in the socket 20.

The socket 20 provides a means 34 enabling the vacuum cleaner 10 to be connected to a power source.

The removal of the lid 17 exposes a filter element 21. 11368138_1:hxa The filter element 21 is located in a filter chamber 22 provided by the body 13. The body 13 and lid 17 enclose the chamber 22.

The filter element 21 has a longitudinal axis 23 that includes a filter portion 24 surrounding the axis 23. Preferably the filter portion 24 is circular in transverse cross section when sectioned by a plane generally perpendicular to the axis 23. Accordingly the filter portion 24 is either cylindrical or frusto-conical in configuration.

Fixed to an upper portion of the filter portion 24 is a sealing ring 25 that is of an annular configuration and is provided to sealingly connect the filter portion 24 to the upper rim portion 26 of the body 13. Preferably the sealing ring 25 is formed of resilient material such as plastics, rubber or synthetic rubber.

Fixed to the lower portion of the filter portion 24 is a base 27. The filter portion 24 and base 27 generally enclose a filter cavity 28, with the ring 25 providing an inlet 29 for air to enter the cavity 28. The base 27 is preferably moulded from plastics material and is of a frusto- conical configuration.

Preferably the filter portion 24 is pleated so as to have ridges and grooves 30 that extend longitudinally generally parallel to the axis 23. Preferably the filter portion 24 is formed of fibrous material such as paper.

In operation of the above described vacuum cleaner 10, upon operation of the motor and air pump assembly 16 air is drawn into the inlet 18 for delivery to the cavity 28. Air passes radially outward from the cavity 28 through the filter portion 24 to be delivered to the motor and pump assembly 16, wherefrom air is then delivered to the outlets 19.

To clean and/or to replace filter element 21, the lid 17 is removed by operation of cavity 2. Any collected material is then removed from the cavity 28 and the element 21 returned to the chamber 22, with the sealing ring 25 sealingly engaged with the rim 26. The lid 17 is then replaced back in position so as to close the chamber 22 and therefore the cavity 28. The vacuum cleaner is then ready for operation. 11368138_1:hxa The filter element 11 (filter portion 24) is self-supporting, that is it retains its shape and configuration when being handled and when subjected to an air flow due to operation of the rotor and pump assembly 16.

In the above embodiment the filter portion 24 includes a filter body 31 formed of filter material. However in the embodiment of Figure 7 the filter portion 24 includes the body 31 and a reinforcing mesh 33. The mesh 33 is on the radially outer surface 32 of the body 31 to aid the reinforcing body 31, and may be formed for plastics material or metal. 11368138_1:hxa

Claims (9)

CLAIMS :

1. A vacuum cleaner including: a hollow body containing a motor and air pump, the hollow body having an air inlet and an exhaust between which air flows via the air pump upon operation of the motor, the body also including a filter chamber downstream of the air inlet and upstream of the pump and through which the air is to pass; a filter element, wholly housed in the filter chamber through which the air passes so that the filter element removes at least some solid material from the air passing through the filter element, the filter element including, a sealing ring to similarly engage the body, a filter portion extending from the sealing ring so as to surround a filter cavity having an inlet communicating with the air inlet so as to receive the air therefrom with the air passing through the filter portion to be delivered to the pump; the filter portion including and extending into a solid base defining the base of the filter cavity; wherein said filter portion is self-supporting; and wherein said filter cavity, filter portion and solid base acting to retain solid material from the air flowing between the inlet and exhaust in use and are arranged to be removable as one piece for cleaning.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filter portion is generally rigid.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter portion has a longitudinal axis with the filter portion surrounding the longitudinal axis.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the filter portion has a circular cross section when sectioned by a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the filter portion is pleated so as to have longitudinally extending ridges generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

6. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 1 to 5, further including a filter element that includes the filter portion, with the filter portion being generally cylindrical in configuration, and with the filter element having a base, with the filter portion and base surrounding the filter cavity.

7. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the filter portion is a filter body formed of filter material.

8. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the filter portion includes a filter body formed of filter material, and a mesh reinforcing the filter body.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the mesh is located on a radially outer peripheral surface of the filter body. Electrical Home-Aids Pty Ltd By the Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON & FERGUSON