Filter assembly for vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner incorporating such assembly

• US 20050183406A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coburn, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,572,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/502
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/102 Dust separators cyclones A47L9/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/125 funnel-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A filter apparatus and a vacuum cleaner incorporating the filter apparatus are disclosed. The filter apparatus comprises a first, fine filter assembly and a second, coarse filter assembly. The fine filter assembly comprises a body defining a central aperture in which a pleated fine filter element is arranged. The periphery of aperture is surrounded by a resilient rubber sealing member. Apertures are arranged around body portion radially outwards of aperture and sealing member for mounting the fine filter assembly to pins on housing of the vacuum cleaner. The body is also provided with radially inwardly facing slots for engaging corresponding projections on coarse filter assembly for removably mounting the coarse filter assembly to the fine filter assembly. The removable coarse filter assembly gives the user a choice between two stage filtration (i.e. using the fine and course filter assemblies) or single stage filtration (i.e. using the fine filter assembly only).

Claims

1. A first filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner having a housing, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and suction means for causing air to flow from at least one said inlet to at least one said outlet, the filter assembly comprising:

a body portion having at least one first aperture therethrough and at least one filter element arranged in the or each said first aperture for substantially preventing passage of particles larger than a first predetermined particle size;

first mounting means on said body portion for enabling the body portion to be removably mounted to the housing of the vacuum cleaner;

second mounting means for enabling a second filter assembly to be removably mounted to said body portion; and

sealing means for preventing passage of air into the suction means of the vacuum cleaner without previously having passed through a said filter element.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting means comprises at least one aperture and/or protrusion on said body portion adapted to engage a respective protrusion and/or aperture on the housing.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein at least one said aperture comprises a first portion for enabling removal of the aperture from the corresponding said protrusion when engaged therewith, and a second portion, narrower than said first portion, for preventing removal of the aperture from the corresponding said protrusion when engaged therewith.

4. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sealing means surrounds the or each said aperture and/or protrusion of said first mounting means.

5. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first mounting means comprises a plurality of said apertures and/or protrusions circumferentially spaced around said body portion radially outwards of the or each said first aperture.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second mounting means comprises at least one aperture and/or projection on said body portion for engaging a respective projection and/or aperture on the second filter assembly.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein said second mounting means comprises at least one slot and/or protrusion on said body portion for engaging a respective said protrusion and/or slot on the second filter assembly.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means comprises at least one resilient member surrounding the or each said first aperture.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the sealing means comprises a single said resilient member surrounding the or each said first aperture.

10. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting means is shaped and/or sized and/or spaced around said body portion so as to prevent the second filter assembly from being mounted thereto.

11. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second mounting means is shaped and/or sized and/or spaced around said body portion so as to prevent the second filter assembly from being mounted directly to the housing of the vacuum cleaner.

12. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising third mounting means for enabling at least one third filter assembly to be removably mounted to said first filter assembly for preventing entry of air into the second filter assembly without previously having passed through the third filter assembly.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the third mounting means is shaped and/or sized and/or spaced around said body portion so as to prevent the third filter assembly from being mounted directly to the housing of the vacuum cleaner.

14. A first filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner having a housing, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and suction means for causing air to flow from at least one said inlet to at least one said outlet.

15. A second filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner having a housing, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and suction means for causing air to flow from at least one said inlet to at least one said outlet, the filter assembly comprising:

a body portion having a plurality of apertures for substantially preventing passage of particles larger than a second predetermined particle size; and

first mounting means provided on said body portion for enabling the body portion to be removably mounted to a first filter assembly adapted to be mounted to the housing of the vacuum cleaner such that air having passed through said second filter assembly is prevented from passing into said suction means without first passing through the first filter assembly.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first mounting means comprises a plurality of protrusions and/or apertures on said body portion adapted to engage respective apertures and/or protrusions on the first filter assembly.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein the second mounting means comprises at least one slot and/or protrusion on said body portion for engaging a respective said protrusion and/or slot on the first filter assembly.

18. An assembly according to claim 15, further comprising third mounting means for enabling at least one third filter assembly to be removably mounted to said second filter assembly for preventing entry of air into the second filter assembly without previously having passed through the third filter assembly.

19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein the third mounting means is shaped and/or sized and/or spaced around said body portion so as to prevent the third filter assembly from being mounted directly to the housing of the vacuum cleaner.

20. A filter apparatus for a vacuum cleaner having a housing, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and suction means for causing air to flow from at least one said inlet to at least one said outlet, the filter apparatus comprising:

a first filter assembly adapted to substantially prevent passage of particles larger than a first predetermined particle size; and

a second filter assembly adapted to substantially prevent passage of particles larger than a second predetermined particle size, larger than said first predetermined particle size, wherein said second filter assembly is adapted to be removably mounted to said first filter assembly.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising at least one third filter assembly adapted to be removably mounted to said first and/or said second filter assembly for preventing entry of air into the second filter assembly without previously having passed through the third filter assembly.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the third filter assembly comprises fourth mounting means for enabling said third filter assembly to be removably mounted to said first and/or second filter assembly.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the fourth mounting means is shaped and/or sized and/or spaced around said body portion so as to prevent the third filter assembly from being mounted directly to the housing of the vacuum cleaner.