Dust pan closure for a vacuum cleaner

Details Dust pan closure for a vacuum cleaner Dust pan closure for a vacuum cleaner

1999-12-15

2001-05-15

Moore, Chris K. (Department: 1744)

Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning

Machines

With air blast or suction

C015S327200, C015S339000, C015S352000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06230361

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to devices that allow large debris to enter a vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vacuum cleaners generally include a motor assembly, a tank or other receptacle, a hose inlet on the receptacle, and a hose that attaches to the hose inlet at one end and has a nozzle at the other end. The motor of the motor assembly drives an impeller that creates a low pressure area inside the receptacle. The pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the receptacle creates a suction effect at the hose inlet, which causes dust, debris, and liquids to enter the receptacle through the hose.
The capability of vacuum cleaners to pick up large debris has been limited to debris that is smaller than the diameter of the hose. Further, even debris that is smaller than the hose diameter may clog the hose when passing through a bend in the hose. A large diameter hose for accepting large debris may not be acceptable because it will reduce the air velocity in the hose inlet, thus reducing the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner. Hoses are often used with nozzles which may have an even smaller cross section, and further increase the likelihood of clogging. Additionally, a hose with limited bending capability to allow passage of large debris reduces the versatility of the vacuum cleaner by making it ineffective for accessing hard to reach areas. Therefore, in most instances, a vacuum cleaner operator must manually pick up large debris and dispose of it by other means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The dust pan closure for a vacuum cleaner of the present invention eliminates the drawbacks noted above in a simple and effective manner.
Particularly, a vacuum cleaner may include a receptacle with an interior and a motor assembly that draws air from the interior of the receptacle. The vacuum cleaner may further include an opening on the receptacle in air flow communication with the receptacle. The vacuum cleaner includes a dust pan, moveable between a first position closing the opening and a position in which the opening is not closed.
The dust pan may include a debris holding surface with a front edge, a back edge, and two side edges. The dust pan may further comprise a back wall, two side walls, and a handle. The back wall and the two side walls are attached to the back edge and the two side edges of the debris holding surface respectively. The handle is attached to the back wall. Additionally, the back wall may be curved and is larger in dimension than the largest cross section of the dust pan.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like structures.


REFERENCES:
patent: 442567 (1984-04-01), Pravettone
patent: 918896 (1909-04-01), Noe
patent: 1104882 (1914-07-01), Ferguson
patent: 1759242 (1930-05-01), Nielsen
patent: 2051728 (1936-08-01), Manning
patent: 2247549 (1941-07-01), Frederick
patent: 2475815 (1949-07-01), Burd
patent: 2539257 (1951-01-01), Limberg
patent: 2608709 (1952-09-01), Benjamin
patent: 2635277 (1953-04-01), Belknap
patent: 2657416 (1953-11-01), Smith
patent: 2659925 (1953-11-01), Wood
patent: 2714426 (1955-08-01), White
patent: 2824335 (1958-02-01), Moffat
patent: 3030650 (1962-04-01), Kiraly
patent: 3089178 (1963-05-01), Sherman, Jr.
patent: 3177635 (1965-04-01), Cawl et al.
patent: 4019218 (1977-04-01), Cyphert
patent: 4163650 (1979-08-01), Watson et al.
patent: 4310945 (1982-01-01), Tribolet
patent: 4360947 (1982-11-01), DeCosa et al.
patent: 4497308 (1985-02-01), Johnson
patent: 4563790 (1986-01-01), Clark
patent: 4571250 (1986-02-01), Irmscher
patent: 4704764 (1987-11-01), Metelko
patent: 4811450 (1989-03-01), Steadings
patent: 4953255 (1990-09-01), Jenkins
patent: 5455983 (1995-10-01), Crouser et al.
patent: 5560075 (1996-10-01), Jankowski
patent: 5819368 (1998-10-01), Wang et al.
patent: 196 07 959 (1997-09-01), None
patent: 0 643 905 (1995-03-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Dust pan closure for a vacuum cleaner does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Dust pan closure for a vacuum cleaner, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dust pan closure for a vacuum cleaner will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2567887