US3815333A

US3815333A - Dampening unit for an electric vacuum sweeper bag

Info

Publication number: US3815333A
Application number: US00366248A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Rhodes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-06-01
Filing date: 1973-06-01
Publication date: 1974-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-11

Abstract

A dampening unit to reduce dust emission from the sweeper bag for an electrically operated vacuum sweeper, said unit adapted for disposition around the sweeper bag, and comprising an external skeletal network of tubular members depending and connected to a water container located at the top of the sweeper bag, the first of such tubular members being a series of horizontally disposed tubular rings aligned parallel to one another in a succession of imaginary planes intersecting at spaced intervals the central longitudinal and vertical axis of the sweeper bag; the second set of such tubular members being vertically depending tubular connections each of which connect the water container with a respective horizontal tubular member; a third set of finely perforated members which depend vertically downwardly from the horizontal tubular members to carry and disperse water on the sweeper bag; through which tubular connections water placed in the water container can seep downwardly in a controlled manner into the horizontal tubular members and thence into the vertically disposed perforated tubular members to reach the fabric material of the sweeper bag in order to dampen it.

Description

1111 3,815,333 [4 June 11, 1974 [22] Filed:

[ DAMPENING UNIT FOR AN ELECTRIC VACUUM SWEEPER BAG [75] Inventor: Alice E. Rhodes, Toledo, Ohio [73] Assignees: George R. Royer; Gordon M.

Huffman, both of Toledo, Ohio part interest to each June 1, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 366,248

[52] U.S. Cl 55/233, 55/374, 55/378 [51] Int. Cl B0ld 47/00 [58] Field of Search 55/220, 233, 242, 302,

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,691,514 11/1928 Dollingcr 55/242 X 1,821,202 9/1931 Birkhol 55/378 X 1,944,976 1/1934 Hamilton 55/369 2,057,446 1 /1936 Rathbun 55/382 X 2,165,677 7/1939 Ricbel, .lr 55/375 X 2,751,041 6/1956 Cropley 55/375 x 3,535,855 10/1970 Howard et al. 55/371 X, 3,745,751 7/1973 Zey et al 423/522 X Primary Examiner-Dennis E. Talbert, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George R. Royer 5 7] ABSTRACT A dampening unit to reduce dust emission from the sweeper bag for an electrically operated vacuum sweeper, said unit adapted for disposition around the sweeper bag, and comprising an external skeletal network of tubular members depending and connected to a water container located at the top of the sweeper bag, the first of such tubular members being a series of horizontally disposed tubular rings aligned parallel to one another in a succession of imaginary planes intersecting at spaced intervals the central longitudinal and vertical axis of the sweeper bag; the second set of such tubular members being vertically depending tubular connections each of which connect the water container with a respective horizontal tubular member; a third set of finely perforated members which depend vertically downwardly from the horizontal tubular members to carry and disperse water on the sweeper bag; through which tubular connections water placed in'the water container can seepdow nwardly in a controlled manner into the horizontal tubular members .and thence into the vertically disposed perforated tubular members to reach the fabric material of the sweeper bag in order to dampen it.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrically operated vacuum sweepers are a common appliance in most households. Their usage and ability to pick up dirt has been an immense help to housewives. However, the efficiency of such vacuum sweepers is hampered by the fact that the sweeper bag is not capable of holding all air that enters the bag because of the very fabric material of which it is con structed. Of course, in the operation of electric vacuum sweepers it is imperative that some air pass through the fiber of the bag in order to obviate the bag bursting from a continuous input of air. As a consequence, of this material feature and resultant leakage, some dust laden air will escape from the sweeper bag during sweeping operations and contaminate the air in the room surrounding the sweeper. In many cases, this is not only'detracts from the efficiency of the sweeper, and in addition, causes. more dust to fall back onto the carpet or other area being swept. Under such latter described conditions, a problem of cleanliness as well as a health problem can result with inefficient sweeper usage. The exact amount of dust which infiltrates back into the air depends on the nature of the sweeper. Certain sweepers have been conceived which do not use a bag, using instead a water filter system. Such sweepers have proven to be efficient but cumbersome in opera tion. This invention is thusly conceived to be used around those machines which utilize the bag type structure. More particularly, this invention is conceived to provide a mechanical arrangement whereby dust is inhibited and blocked as the expelled air passes from the sweeper bag into the room while the electric vacuum sweeper is being operated.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved system for vacuum sweepers by which air is filtered more efficiently;

Still another object of this invention is to provide a humidifying system for cleaning the air emitted through the sweeper bag of an electric vacuum sweeper;

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved electric vacuum sweeper;

Other and further objects will become apparent from the description taken in conjunction with the following drawing:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The sole FIGURE is a perspective view of the skeletal apparatus in the preferred embodiment as it is shown fitted over a vacuum sweeper bag.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is a skeletal member adapted to be covered around a sweeper bag for an upright, electrically operated vacuum sweeper, being comprised basically of a network of hollow tubular members capable of carrying water from a cylindrically shaped water container located at the top of the sweeper bag. The first series of the tubular network members are vertically depending tubular members, the internal cavities of which communicate directly to the interior of the members in turn connects with one of a series of horizontally disposed tubular members; each of which lies parallel to another in a series of planes intersecting the central longitudinal and vertical axis of the sweeper bag. Depending downwardly and vertically from each horizontal tubular member are a plurality of tubular members which are perforated communicating with the internal passage of each horizontal tubular ring. These vertically depending tubular members are perforated with timely drawn holes so that water may seep in mi nutely measured quantities from the horizontal tubular members onto the sweeper bag itself thereby dampening the bag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment is shown, an upright electrically operated vacuum sweeper 10 is shown. Sweeper 10 has a vertically extending dust collection bag 12 of cloth or fiberglass material which is attached to a vertically upright handle 14. Sweeper bag 12 is aligned in a substantially parallel manner to the central and vertically extending axis of the handle shaft 16, as shown in FIG. 1. Inserted over sweeper bag 12 is a tubular skeletal member 18 comprised of a network of water-carrying tubular members and which skeletal member extends longitudinally over the entire length of the bag 12.

Skeletal member 18 is comprised of an enclosed water container 20 of the shape of a cylindrical spool. Container 20 has an opening 22 adapted for a screw cap 24 in its upper surface for pouring water into the inside of container 20. A centrally located hole 26 communicates from the upper to the lower surface of water container 20 and is of sufficient size to allow for the insertion therethrough of the upper neck portion 28 of sweeper bag 12 so that a hook 30 can be snapped to the top of the neck 28 as shown. By this arrangement the upper part of the sweeper bag 12 will rest against the lower surface of water container 20.

Container 22 has a series of vertically depending tubular members 34 which communicate with the interior of the water-container and release and carry water down wardly from container 20. These tubular mem bers are arranged in a circumferential manner around the periphery of the lower surface of the container 20. The first-such tubular member 34A leads to a horizontally disposed ring 36A, while the second such tubular member 34A leads to a second horizontally disposed tubular member 36B, which latter horizontally disposed ring 368 which is next and lower in height succession from'horizontal ring 36A. Each such horizontally tubular ring is thusly connected to a vertically disposed tubular member 34 communicating by its respective internal passages with the horizontal tubes. The respective horizontally disposed tubular members 36 are thusly arranged in a series of imaginary planes which intersect at spaced intervals relative to the vertically extending longitudinal axis of the sweeper bag 12.

From each horizontal ring 36 there are depending perforated tubes 38 which serve to spread water by fine perforations therein onto the sweeper bag dampening it to help collect dust. Water container 20 is released by an appropriate trigger valve operated by the person operating the sweeper and water will pass from this container into the respective tubes passing water to the bag and dampening the sweeper bag.

The foregoing description is not intended to limit the ery of the sweeper bag; scope of the following claims. 3. a series of horizontal circular tubular members What is claimed is: connected to the vertically extending tubular meml. A dampening unit for a sweeper for fitting over a bers by internal chambers which horizontal tubular vertically extending sweeper bag for an electrical vac- 5 members extend around the outer periphery of the uum sweeper bag comprising a: sweeper bag;

1. a water container affixed to the top of the sweeper 4. vertically depending perforated tubes extending bag; from the horizontal tubular members and venting 2. vertically depending tubes extending from the into the outer periphery of the sweeper bag.

water container and surrounding the outer periph- 0

Claims

1. A dampening unit for a sweeper for fitting over a vertically extending sweeper bag for an electrical vacuum sweeper bag comprising a: 1. a water container affixed to the top of the sweeper bag; 2. vertically depending tubes extending from the water container and surrounding the outer periphery of the sweeper bag; 3. a series of horizontal circular tubular members connected to the vertically extending tubular members by internal chambers which horizontal tubular members extend around the outer periphery of the sweeper bag; 4. vertically depending perforated tubes extending from the horizontal tubular members and venting into the outer periphery of the sweeper bag.

2. vertically depending tubes extending from the water container and surrounding the outer periphery of the sweeper bag;

3. a series of horizontal circular tubular members connected to the vertically extending tubular members by internal chambers which horizontal tubular members extend around the outer periphery of the sweeper bag;

4. vertically depending perforated tubes extending from the horizontal tubular members and venting into the outer periphery of the sweeper bag.