Dirt container for a surface cleaning apparatus and method of use

• US 20050115409A1
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Light Limited
• Original Assignee: Polar Light Limited
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 7,329,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/271
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/102 Dust separators cyclones A47L9/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1409 Rigid filtering receptacles dust collecting receptacles for cyclones A47L9/1683
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1463 specially adapted for rigid filtering receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/28 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A dirt container for a surface cleaning apparatus is constructed from an air impermeable material and exterior walls of sufficient rigidity to maintain the shape of the dirt container. The dirt container may be supplied in a disassembled condition and assembled by a consumer prior to use.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing; and

,

(b) a disposable dirt container constructed from an air impermeable material, the dirt container being removably receivable in the housing.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an airflow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a motor and fan blade assembly, the fan blade positioned in the air flow path, the dirt container having an air inlet and an air outlet and being positioned in the air flow path.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dirt container has rigid exterior walls.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the walls have a thickness up to 1 mm.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the walls have a thickness from 0.3 to 1 mm.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dirt container includes at least one cyclone.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dirt container includes a gravity settling chamber and at least one cyclone.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cyclone is downstream from the gravity-settling chamber.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the dirt container further includes a screen positioned upstream of the cyclone, the screen having openings therethrough sized to retain a portion of the particulate matter in the gravity settling chamber.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cleaning head having a brush, and the dirt container includes a chamber positioned to receive particulate matter swept up by the brush.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the dirt container further includes a cyclone.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the cyclone is downstream from the chamber.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the dirt container further includes a screen positioned upstream of the cyclone, the screen having openings therethrough sized to retain a portion of the particulate matter in the chamber.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dirt container has an inlet and a closure member movable between an open position in which the inlet is open and a closed position in which the inlet is closed.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further including an actuator drivingly connectable to the closure member.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the actuator is mounted on the housing.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the actuator includes a cam.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing has a recess and an access panel which is moveably mounted between a closed position in which the recess is closed and an open position, and the dirt container is removably receivable in the recess.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the dirt container is removably mounted to the access panel.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the access panel is detachable from the housing.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dirt container is configurable between an assembled configuration and a disassembled configuration.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein, when the dirt container is in the disassembled configuration, the dirt container is at least partially nestable in another dirt container.

23. A dirt container for a surface cleaning apparatus wherein the dirt container is configurable between an assembled configuration and a disassembled configuration, and, in the disassembled configuration, the dirt container is at least partially nestable in another dirt container.

24. The dirt container as claimed in claim 23 wherein the dirt container is disposable.

25. The dirt container as claimed in claim 23 wherein the dirt container has rigid exterior walls.

26. The dirt container as claimed in claim 25 wherein the walls have a thickness up to 1 mm.

27. The dirt container as claimed in claim 23 wherein the dirt container has exterior walls that have a thickness from 0.3 to 1 mm.

28. The dirt container as claimed in claim 23 wherein the dirt container includes at least one cyclone.

29. The dirt container as claimed in claim 23 wherein the dirt container includes a gravity settling chamber and at least one cyclone.

30. The dirt container as claimed in claim 29 wherein the cyclone is downstream from the gravity-settling chamber.

31. The dirt container as claimed in claim 30 wherein the dirt container further includes a screen positioned upstream of the cyclone, the screen having openings therethrough sized to retain a portion of the particulate matter in the gravity settling chamber.

32. The dirt container as claimed in claim 23 wherein the dirt container has an inlet and a closure member movable between an open position in which the inlet is open and a closed position in which the inlet is closed.

33. The dirt container as claimed in claim 23 wherein the dirt container has at least first and second portions which when assembled together result in a dirt contained in the assembled configuration.

34. The dirt container as claimed in claim 33 wherein at least one of the first and second portions is moveable mounted to another of the portions.

35. The dirt container as claimed in claim 33 further comprising a securing member to maintain the portions in the closed configuration.

36. The dirt container as claimed in claim 35 wherein the securing member comprises male and female engagement members.

37. The dirt container as claimed in claim 35 wherein the securing member comprises an adhesive.

38. The dirt container as claimed in claim 33 wherein one of the first and second portions has male engagement members and another of the portions has female engagement members.

39. A method of operating a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) passing a surface cleaning head over a surface and collecting particulate matter in a dirt container constructed from an air impermeable material;

(b) removing the dirt container from the surface cleaning apparatus; and

,

(c) disposing of the dirt container.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39 further comprising inserting a clean dirt container constructed from an air impermeable material in the surface cleaning apparatus.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40 further comprising assembling the clean dirt container prior to inserting the clean dirt container in the surface cleaning apparatus.

42. The method as claimed in claim 39 wherein the dirt container has an inlet and an associated closure member movable between an open position and a closed position and the method further comprises moving the closure member to the closed position as the dirt container is withdrawn from the surface cleaning apparatus.

43. The method as claimed in claim 39 wherein the dirt container has an inlet and an associated closure member movable between an open position and a closed position and the method further comprises moving the closure member to the closed position after the dirt container has been withdrawn from the surface cleaning apparatus.

44. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the clean dirt container has an inlet and an associated closure member movable between an open position and a closed position and the method further comprises moving the closure member to the open position as the clean dirt container is inserted into the surface cleaning apparatus.

45. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the clean dirt container has an inlet and an associated closure member movable between an open position and a closed position and the method further comprises moving the closure member to the open position after the clean dirt container has been inserted into the surface cleaning apparatus.

46. A method of preparing a surface cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning a surface comprising:

(a) providing at least one disposable dirt container in a disassembled configuration;

(b) assembling the disposable dirt container; and

,

(c) inserting the disposable dirt container in the surface cleaning apparatus.

47. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the dirt container comprises at least two portions that are configurable between a disassembled configuration and an assembled configuration and step (b) comprises placing the portions in the assembled configuration.

48. The method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the dirt container includes a securing member and the method further comprises using the securing member to retain the portions in the assembled configuration.

49. The method as claimed in claim 48 wherein the securing member comprises male and female engagement members and the method further comprises interengaging the male and female engagement members.

50. The method as claimed in claim 48 wherein the securing member comprises an adhesive and the method further comprises using the adhesive to secure the portions in the assembled configuration.

51. The method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the dirt container, when in the disassembled configuration, is nested in another dirt container that is also in the disassembled configuration and step (a) further comprises removing the dirt container from the other dirt container.

52. A method of preparing a surface cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning a surface comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of dirt containers in a nested, disassembled configuration;

(b) removing a dirt container from the other dirt containers;

(c) assembling the dirt container; and

,

(d) inserting the dirt container in a surface cleaning apparatus.

53. The method as claimed in claim 52 wherein the dirt container comprises at least two portions that are configurable between a disassembled configuration and an assembled configuration and step (c) comprises placing the portions in the assembled configuration.

54. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the dirt container includes a securing member and the method further comprises using the securing member to retain the portions in the assembled configuration.

55. The method as claimed in claim 54 wherein the securing member comprises male and female engagement members and the method further comprises interengaging the male and female engagement members.

56. The method as claimed in claim 54 wherein the securing member comprises an adhesive and the method further comprises using the adhesive to retain the portions in the assembled configuration.