Air flow modification in vacuum cleaners

• US 20030005546A1
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bone, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 6,785,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/334
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24

Abstract

The invention relates to a Vacuum Cleaner (1) having a removable dust collection bowl (5) through which the air flow passes so as to deposit dirt carried on the air flow. The dust bowl (5) contains a closure member (7) which is slidably displaceable relative the dust bowl (5) so as to simultaneously close a first air inlet (33) into the dust bowl (5) whilst opening a second air flow path (61) to the dust bowl (5) that is remote from the first air flow path (33), preferably to allow a hose connector to be inserted directly into the dust bowl. The closure member (7) comprises a slidable shuttle cassette.

Claims

1. A kit of parts comprising:

(a) a removable dust collection module for use in a vacuum cleaner, which in use forms part of the air flow path through the vacuum cleaner;

(b) a closure member arranged to be moved relative to the collection module so as simultaneously to close a first air flow path into the dust collection module and to open a second air flow path into the dust collection module that is remote from the first dust flow path, or vice versa.

2. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein the dust collection module comprises first and second air inlets, and movement of the closure means acts simultaneously to cover the first air inlet and to uncover the second air inlet or vice versa, thereby simultaneously closing the first air flow path into the dust collection module and opening the second air flow path into the dust collection module, or vice versa.

3. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, wherein the dust collection module comprises first and second air inlets that are on a common surface of the dust collection module.

4. A kit of parts according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the closure member is a shuttle member that can be slid relative to the dust collection module simultaneously to cover the first air inlet and uncover the second air inlet, or vice versa.

5. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim wherein the dust collection module comprises first and second air inlets and the closure member comprises a shuttle member that comprises an opening, and the closure member can be moved relative to the said air inlets so that in a first shuttle position the first, but not the second, air inlet of the dust collection module of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the shuttle opening, and in a second shuttle position the second, but not the first, air inlet of the dust collection module of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the or another shuttle opening.

6. A kit of parts according to claim 5, wherein the shuttle member comprises first and second openings and the closure member can be moved relative to the said air inlets so that in a first shuttle position the first air inlet of the dust collection module of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the first shuttle opening but the second air inlet of the dust collection module is not in register with any shuttle opening, and in a second shuttle position the second air inlet of the dust collection module of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the second shuttle opening, but the first air inlet of the dust collection module is not in register with any shuttle opening.

7. A kit of parts according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the or each shuttle opening comprises an aperture or a tubular inlet.

8. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure member is at least partly contained within the dust module.

9. A kit of parts according to claim 8, wherein the closure member has a surface that corresponds in shape to at least part of an inwardly facing surface of the dust collection module.

10. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, wherein the dust collection module comprises one or more air inlets, and the closure member is located adjacent an inlet-containing surface of the dust collection module.

11. A kit of parts according to claim 10, wherein the closure member is located adjacent an inwardly facing surface of the inlet-containing surface of the dust collection module.

12. A kit of parts according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the closure member is in contact with the inlet containing surface throughout its movement relative to the dust collection module.

13. A kit of parts according to claim any preceding claim, comprising a backing plate, positioned to locate the closure member between itself and the dust collection module.

14. A kit of parts according to claim 13 wherein the backing plate is positioned to provide a channel between itself and a surface of the dust collection module, in which channel the closure member can slide.

15. A kit of parts according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the closure member has a surface that corresponds in shape to at least part of the opposed surface of the backing plate.

17. A kit of parts according to claim 16, wherein the air inlets are in the same component part of the vacuum cleaner, preferably in a common surface of the same component part of the vacuum cleaner.

18. A kit of parts according to claim 17, wherein the air inlets are in adjacent component parts of the vacuum cleaner, spanned by the shuttle member.

19. A kit of parts according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the component part is a dust collection module, preferably a bagless, removable dust collection module.

20. A kit of parts according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the closure member comprises a shuttle member that comprises an opening, and the closure member can be moved relative to the said air inlets so that in a first shuttle position the first, but not the second, air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the shuttle opening, and in a second shuttle position the second, but not the first, air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the or another shuttle opening.

21. A kit of parts according to claim 20, wherein the shuttle member comprises first and second openings and the closure member can be moved relative to the said air inlets so that in a first shuttle position the first air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the first shuttle opening, but the second air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is not in register with any shuttle opening, and in a second shuttle position the second air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the second shuttle opening, but the first air inlet is not in register with any shuttle opening.

22. A kit of parts according to any of claims 20 or 21, wherein the or each shuttle opening comprises an aperture or a tubular inlet.

26. A kit of parts according to claim 25, wherein the closure member is located adjacent an inwardly facing surface of the said inlet containing surface.

27. A kit of parts according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the closure member is in contact with, and remains in contact with the inlet containing surface throughout its movement relative to the component part(s).

29. A kit of parts according to claim 28, wherein the backing plate is positioned to provide a channel between itself and a surface of the component part(s), in which channel the closure member can slide.

30. A kit of parts according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the closure member has a surface that corresponds in shape to at least part of the opposed surface of the backing plate.

46. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, also including a hose attachment part.

54. A kit of parts according to any of claims 48 to 53, wherein the component part is the closure member of any claims 1 to 39.

55. A vacuum cleaner including a kit of parts according to any preceding claim.

56. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 55 that is battery powered.

57. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 55 or 56, that is bagless.

16. A kit of parts comprising:

(a) one or more component part(s) of a vacuum cleaner which in use form part of the air flow path through the vacuum cleaner, the component part(s) comprising first and second air inlets; and

(b) a closure member in the form of a shuttle member that can be slid relative to the component part(s) simultaneously to cover the first air inlet and uncover the second air inlet, and vice versa, whereby the air flow path into the component part(s) can be changed.

23. A kit of parts according to any of claims 16 to 22, wherein the closure member is at least partly contained within the component part.

24. A kit of parts according to any of claims 16 to 23, wherein the closure member has a surface that corresponds in shape to at least part of an inwardly facing surface of the component part.

25. A kit of parts according to any of claims 16 to 24, wherein the closure member is located adjacent an inlet-containing-surface of the component part(s).

28. A kit of parts according to any of claims 16 to 27, comprising a backing plate, positioned to locate the closure member between itself and the component part.

31. A kit of parts comprising:

(a) one or more component part(s) of a vacuum cleaner which in use forms part of the air flow path through the vacuum cleaner, the component part(s) comprising first and second air inlets; and

(b) a shuttle member comprising one or more apertures, which shuttle member can be moved relative to the said air inlets so that in a first shuttle position the first, but not the second, air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the shuttle aperture, and in a second shuttle position the second, but not the first, air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the or another shuttle aperture.

32. A kit of parts according to claim 31, wherein the air inlets are in the same component part of the vacuum cleaner, preferably in a common surface of the same component part of the vacuum cleaner.

33. A kit of parts according to claim 31, wherein the air inlets are in adjacent component parts of the vacuum cleaner, spanned by the shuttle member.

34. A kit of parts according to any of claims 31 to 33, wherein the component part is a dust collection module, preferably a bagless removable dust collection module.

35. A kit of parts according to any of claims 31 to 34, wherein the closure member comprises a shuttle member that can be slid relative to the air inlets of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner.

36. A kit of parts according to any of claims 31 to 35, wherein the shuttle member comprises first and second openings and the closure member can be moved relative to the said air inlets so that in a first shuttle position the first air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the first shuttle opening but the second air inlet is not in register with any shuttle opening, and in a second shuttle position the second air inlet of the component part(s) of the vacuum cleaner is in register with the second shuttle opening, but the first air inlet is not in register with any shuttle opening.

37. A kit of parts according to any of claims 31 to 36, wherein the or each shuttle opening comprises an aperture or a tubular inlet.

38. A kit of parts according to any of claims 31 to 37, wherein the closure member is at least partly contained within the component part.

39. A kit of parts according to claim 38, wherein the closure member has a surface that corresponds in shape to at least part of an inwardly facing surface of the component part.

40. A kit of parts according to any of claims 31 to 39, wherein the closure member is located adjacent an inlet-containing-surface of the component part(s).

41. A kit of parts according to claim 40, wherein the closure member is located adjacent an inwardly facing surface of the inlet containing surface.

42. A kit of parts according to claim 40 or 41, wherein the closure member is and remains in contact with the inlet containing surface throughout its movement relative to the component part(s).

43. A kit of parts according to any of claims 31 to 42, comprising a backing plate, positioned to locate the closure member between itself and the component part(s).

44. A kit of parts according to claim 43, wherein the backing plate is positioned to provide a channel between itself and a surface of the component part(s), in which channel the closure member can slide.

45. A kit of parts according to claim 31 to 44, wherein the closure member has a surface that corresponds in shape to at least part of the opposed surface of the backing plate.

47. A kit of parts according to claim 46, wherein the closure member comprises a tubular air inlet and the hose attachment is a snap fit into the tubular inlet.

49. A kit of parts according to claim 48, wherein the hose connector is provided with one or more tines that are a snap fit within the component part.

50. A kit of parts according to claim 49, wherein the inlet of the component part is tublar, and the tine(s) are snap fit against an inner surface of the tubular inlet.

51. A kit of parts according to claim 50, wherein the tubular inlet is generally rectangular in cross-section and the tine(s) are a snap fit against a side surface of the inlet.

52. A kit of parts according to claim 51 wherein two tines are provided on opposite sides of the hose attachment, and the tines are a snap fit within and against opposite inner side surfaces of the rectangular tubular inlet.

48. A kit of parts comprising a hose connector and a component part of a vacuum cleaner with two air inlets, a second of the inlets of the component part being adapted to receive the hose connector in a detachable snap-fit.

53. A kit of parts according to any of claims 48 to 52 wherein the tine(s) are pivotal, and pivot about a point or line.

58. A kit of parts, or vacuum cleaner, substantially as hereinbefore defined with reference to the accompanying drawings.