Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Including use of vacuum – suction – or inert atmosphere
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2001-06-12
Moore, Chris K. (Department: 1744)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Including use of vacuum, suction, or inert atmosphere
C019S300000, C019S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06245159
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention generally relates to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner that utilizes exhaust air to agitate dirt and debris prior to being drawn into the vacuum cleaner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vacuum cleaners are common household appliances that are used for the maintenance and cleaning of carpets and other floor coverings. The vacuum cleaner will have a cleaning head that is drawn over the floor to be cleaned. Disposed within the cleaning head is a 6 to 12 amp electric motor that rotates a fan up to 35,000 rpm to thereby generate a low pressure air stream. The motor is coupled to an inlet disposed in the cleaning head through either a duct or a flexible hose and a dustbin. During operation of the vacuum cleaner, the motor rotates the fan thereby generating the low pressure air stream that draws dust and debris into the inlet, and it is deposited into the dustbin.
In order to facilitate removal of dirt from a carpet, the vacuum cleaner typically uses an agitator disposed next to the inlet. The agitator is typically a cylindrical roller mounted to the cleaning head next to the inlet. Attached along the longitudinal axis of the roller are a series of brushes. The agitator is coupled to the motor with a belt such that as the motor rotates, the agitator will thereby spin at a high rate of speed thereby brushing and agitating the carpet. Such agitation will dislodge dirt and debris contained within the floor covering, thereby facilitating the removal of such into the inlet. Typically, upright vacuum cleaners use a single motor for rotating both the fan and the agitator. As such, the motor typically generates a considerable amount of noise such that the vacuum cleaner can only be used at periods during the day that do not disturb other people. Additionally, the motor may be heavy, thereby causing the appliance to be unwieldy and difficult to draw over the surface to be cleaned.
Furthermore, the configuration of existing vacuum cleaners is such that removal of dirt and debris from the edges of walls and other obstacles such as furniture which rest directly on the floor covering is accomplished only through the use of an accessory hose and adapter piece which the inventor of the present invention has found to be inconvenient and adds to the cumbersome nature of prior art vacuum cleaners.
The present invention addresses the above-mentioned deficiencies in prior are vacuum cleaners by providing a system that uses the unused exhaust air to agitate the dirt and debris in the floor and along the edges of walls and obstacles to be cleaned. As such, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention may use a smaller motor than conventional vacuum cleaners and thereby be more efficient. Additionally the smaller motor will not generate as such noise, thereby permitting vacuuming at any time of the day.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner for cleaning dirt from a floor. The vacuum cleaner comprises a motor that has an intake and an exhaust port. The motor is operative to generate a low pressure input stream of air through the intake and a high pressure output stream of air through the exhaust port. The intake of the motor is in fluid communication with an inlet disposed adjacent to the floor and operative to draw dirt therefrom with the input stream. Additionally, the vacuum further includes an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust port. The outlet is disposed adjacent to the inlet and the floor is operative to direct the output stream onto the floor to thereby facilitate removal of dirt therefrom.
In order to filter the incoming dirt and debris, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention may further comprise a filter and dustbin positioned between the inlet and the intake of the motor. The filter and dustbin are configured to collect and filter the dirt and debris in the input stream of air before exiting through the outlet.
The outlet is configured to direct the output streams adjacent to and in relative communication with the inlet streams. Specifically, the outlet comprises a plurality of forward deflection channels that direct the output stream in front of the vacuum cleaner and a plurality of rear deflection channels that agitate the floor covering directly beneath the plurality of inlet channels. A selector directs the output stream through either the forward or rearward deflection channels as is desired.
It is further contemplated that the present invention may be incorporated into an air return attachment for an existing vacuum cleaner. As such, the air return attachment cleaner. The housing also includes an outlet disposed adjacent to the inlet and configured to direct the output stream onto the floor.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning dirt from a floor with a vacuum cleaner equipped with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The method includes the steps of first generating a low pressure input stream of air through an inlet of the vacuum with vacuum's motor. Next, dirt and debris is drawn into the inlet with the input stream and removed by a filter. Then the input stream is converted into a high pressure output stream by the motor and directed onto the floor with an outlet. The output stream facilitates cleaning of the floor by agitating dirt and debris therein. The output stream may be directed toward the inlet during normal operation, or may be directed toward the front of the vacuum cleaner in order to facilitate removal of dirt between the floor and the wall or the other obstacles which may be relatively perpendicular to the floor covering.
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Henricks Slavin & Holmes LLP
Moore Chris K.
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