Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-29
2004-10-05
Warden, Sr., Robert J. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S325000, C015S415100, C015S359000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06799351
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to the art of air filter systems and, more particularly, to an improved vacuum cleaner employing a novel power nozzle. The invention is particularly applicable for a canister-type vacuum cleaner and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, the invention has much broader applications and may be used in other types of vacuum cleaners.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,343,344; 3,668,734; 3,783,474; 3,818,540; 4,023,234; 4,199,839; 4,507,819; 5,248,323; 5,515,573; 5,593,479; 5,603,741; 5,651,811; 5,658,362; 5,840,103; 6,010,550; 6,090,184; 6,197,096; and Des. No. 432,746, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/809,841 filed Mar. 19, 2001 are incorporated herein as background information regarding the type of vacuum cleaning systems to which the present invention is particularly applicable, and to preclude the necessity of repeating structural details relating to such cleaning systems. Several of these patents and the patent application illustrate canister-type vacuum cleaners having a low velocity receptacle or chamber into which is placed a filter sheet placed over a downwardly extending support structure for the purpose of removing particulate material from the air flowing through the vacuum cleaner. The structure or member holds the filter sheet in its configuration. Within the conical support member there is typically provided a filter sheet for further removal of particulate solids as the solids pass with the air from the canister through the filter and through the filter sheet to the outlet or exhaust of the vacuum cleaner.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,023,234; 4,199,839; and 4,507,819 are incorporated herein as background information regarding power nozzles to which the present invention is particularly applicable, and to preclude the necessity of repeating structural details relating to such power nozzles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As more people populate urban environments, there is an increasing need to provide a clean air environment at home and in the workplace. In urban areas, where pollution levels sometimes exceed maximum values set by the EPA, the need for a clean air environment becomes even more apparent. In view of the hazards these polluted environments pose, the public has demanded a means for removing pollutants from the environment to provide a healthy environment for both living and working. Furthermore, many particles in the air can act as irritants and/or increase or aggravate a person's allergies. Airborne pollutants can also contribute to respiratory infections and/or illnesses which can be discomforting and/or hazardous to individuals with respiratory problems. Particles in the air can also create problems such as burning eyes, nose and/or throat irritation; cause or contribute to headaches and dizziness; and/or cause and/or contribute to coughing and sneezing. Furthermore, these particles can include various types of spores, dust mites, microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, etc), allergens, and/or other types of harmful particles which may cause illness and/or infection to a person; and/or induce and/or aggravate respiratory ailments (asthma, RSV, lung cancer, etc.).
In an effort to reduce the number of particles in the air and/or other environments, many homes, offices, and buildings have incorporated a central filtering system to remove particles entrained in the air. Unfortunately, these systems are very expensive and/or do not remove many of the small particles which can be the most hazardous and/or irritable to persons (e.g., spores, allergens (e.g., pollen, smoke, etc.), micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses, etc.), dust mites, asbestos, metals, harmful and/or irritating chemicals, etc.). Typically, these filtering systems only remove about 300,000 particles out of about 20 million particles which flow into the filter medium. The small particles, which make up a majority of the particles in the air, freely pass through these conventional filter systems and are recirculated through the home and/or office.
In an effort to remove particles from a home and/or office environment, and reduce the amount of particles recirculated during the vacuuming of the home and/or office, two design strategies have been developed by Assignee, one relating to the design of the vacuum cleaner and the second relating to the design of the filters. Assignee has found that canister-type vacuum cleaners provide superior cleaning efficiencies as compared with standard upright vacuum cleaners. One particular canister-type vacuum cleaner is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,323, which is incorporated herein by reference. The canister-type vacuum cleaner includes a reduced or low velocity chamber with a high velocity air inlet. Air is drawn into the low velocity chamber by an electric motor which drives a rotary fan. The rotary fan creates a vacuum in the low velocity chamber to draw air laden with particulate material through the chamber and to blow the filtered air through an outlet in the motor housing as exhausted cleaned air. Canister-type vacuum cleaners normally include a cylindrical or a conical cellulose filter extending downwardly into the canister or low velocity chamber. The filter is typically formed of a porous mat to remove dirt and debris carried by the air drawing into the low velocity chamber. The high velocity air drawn into the chamber has entrained large solid particles. The large particles which are brought into the low velocity chamber are swirled or vortexed in a centrifuge configuration with convolutions so that the large particles are extracted by the vortex or cyclonic action of the air in the canister. Thereafter, the air is pulled through the filter toward an upper motor that drives a fan which creates a vacuum in the canister or low velocity chamber. The fan then expels the filtered air outwardly through an exhaust passage, or passages, above the canister. A filter, such as a thin filter disc, is typically provided between the conical filter and the fan to at least partially prevent large particulate material that is inadvertently passed through the cylindrical or conical filter from contacting the fan. The '323 patent discloses the use of an activated charcoal containing filter to efficiently remove gaseous impurities in the air, such as, but not limited to, paint fumes and other odor creating gases.
The canister-type vacuum cleaner, as so far described, though exhibiting improved cleaning efficiencies as compared with standard upright vacuum cleaners, only removed relatively large particles entrained in the air. Many of the air particles of a size less than 10 microns passed freely through the filter medium and were recirculated in the room. These small particles can act as irritants to an individual and the recirculation of such particles can increase such irritation to an individual. High density filters can be used to filter out these very small particles in the air; however, high density filters cause large pressure drops through the filter and thus cannot be cost effectively used in standard vacuum cleaners.
The filter system disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,479; 5,651,811; and 6,090,184 addressed the problem of filtering small particles. The filter was a specialized filter developed to remove many of the small particles in the air. Such filters are known as High Efficiency Particle Air Filters, or HEPA filters, which, by government standards, are filters with a minimum efficiency of 99.97%.
Recently, Assignee developed a new vacuum cleaner that effectively and efficiently removes particles entrained in the air. This new vacuum cleaner is disclosed in Assignee's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/809,841 filed Mar. 19, 2001. In the '841 patent application, a novel filter arrangement and vacuum cleaner design were disclosed which further improved the filtering efficiencies of the vacuum cleaner. In addition, the '841 patent application disclosed a unique vacuum cleaner design that facilitated in the removal and/or replacement of the filter from the vacuum
Cole Laura C
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee
HMI Industries Inc.
Warden, Sr. Robert J.
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