Domestic vacuum cleaner and an attachment therefor

Details Domestic vacuum cleaner and an attachment therefor Domestic vacuum cleaner and an attachment therefor

1999-07-12

2001-02-27

Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)

Gas separation: processes

Deflecting

Centrifugal force

C055S345000, C055S429000, C055SDIG002

Reexamination Certificate

active

06193787

ABSTRACT:

The invention relates to domestic vacuum cleaning apparatus. The invention also relates to an attachment therefor and to a method of disposing of particles separated from an airflow by such apparatus.
Vacuum cleaners generally consist of, inter alia, means for separating dirt or dust from an airflow and means for collecting separated dirt or dust inside the apparatus. The separating and collecting means can be integral, for example in the form of a filter bag, or can be effectively separate such as in a cyclonic vacuum cleaner. An example of a cyclonic vacuum cleaner is fully described in European Patent No. 0 134 654B. This document describes apparatus consisting of two concentric cyclones arranged in series, the upstream cyclone having a lower efficiency than the downstream cyclone. It is also possible to construct cyclonic vacuum cleaning apparatus including only a single cyclone. In cyclonic vacuum cleaners, the separated dirt and dust is usually collected in a chamber or bin which is removable for emptying purposes. In bag-type vacuum cleaners, the bag is removable for disposal or emptying.
A major problem relating to known vacuum cleaners is that, whenever the dirt collecting apparatus is removed for disposal or emptying, there is a certain amount of exposure of collected dirt and dust to the atmosphere. This can be problematic in some cases, particularly when the user of the vacuum cleaner is prone to allergies which are aggravated by the inhalation of dust particles. Some attempts have been made to reduce the amount of exposure of the collected dirt and dust particles to the user of the vacuum cleaner (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,653,190, 4,581,051, 5,090,976 and 5,145,499) but the problem remains acute in most vacuum cleaners, particularly to domestic vacuum cleaners where factors such as size, weight and maneuverability place restrictions on developments which can acceptably be made.
It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for separating particles from an airflow having means for reducing or eliminating the amount of collected dirt and dust released into the atmosphere during emptying. It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for separating particles from an airflow which is suitable for use by allergy sufferers.
The provision of sealing means in a removable base of the particle collecting means in a vacuum cleaner allows a user to seal the dirt and dust collected by the vacuum cleaner into a removable portion of the apparatus before the portion is removed. The amount of dirt and dust collected by the apparatus and subsequently re-released into the atmosphere is thereby minimised or eliminated. The preferred arrangement of a base having extendable walls allows the replaceable portion of the apparatus to be kept as small as possible in a first configuration so as to facilitate transport and storage. The arrangement of a flexible tubular sleeve forming the sealing means is simple and effective, thus keeping costs to a minimum and maximising ease of use.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4581050 (1986-04-01), Krantz
patent: 4826515 (1989-05-01), Dyson
patent: 4963172 (1990-10-01), DeMarco
patent: 5363535 (1994-11-01), Rench et al.
patent: 0 318 388 A1 (1989-05-01), None
patent: WO 80/02651 (1980-12-01), None

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