VACUUM CLEANER WITH A MOVEABLE DIVIDER PLATE

• US 20070209335A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,776,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/337
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• 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: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/12 by centrifugal forces centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a dirt inlet, a handle, a cyclone separator having an outer wall, a fluid inlet downstream from the dirt air inlet and a fluid outlet, a plate having a cyclone chamber surface and positioned to substantially divide the cyclone separator into a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the plate being removably mounted in the cyclone separator, a passage extending between the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber and a fluid flow motor.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a dirt inlet;

(b) a handle;

(c) a cyclone separator having an outer wall, a fluid inlet downstream from the dirt air inlet and a fluid outlet;

(d) a plate having a cyclone chamber surface and positioned to substantially divide the cyclone separator into a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the plate being removably mounted in the cyclone separator;

(e) a passage extending between the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber; and

,

(f) a fluid flow motor.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plate is retained in position in the cyclone separator by magnets.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plate is mechanically retained in position.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cyclone separator has a mechanical engagement member and the plate has a portion that is engageable with the mechanical engagement member.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plate has a hand grip portion.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the hand grip portion comprises a shaft extending away from the plate.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dirt collection chamber extends under the plate.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein a flow director having a flow directing surface that extends inwardly and downwardly into the cyclone chamber from the outer wall of the cyclone chamber to a position above the plate.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a vacuum cleaner, a sweeper and a carpet extractor.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dirt collection chamber has a bottom that is openable.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plate is removably subsequent to the bottom being opened.

12. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a dirt inlet;

(b) a handle;

(c) a cyclone separator having an outer wall, a fluid inlet downstream from the dirt air inlet, an openable bottom and a fluid outlet;

(d) a plate having a cyclone chamber surface and positioned to substantially divide the cyclone separator into a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the plate being movably mounted in the cyclone separator independent of the bottom;

(e) a passage extending between the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber; and

,

(f) a fluid flow motor.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plate is moveably mounted between an in use position wherein the plate substantially divides the cyclone separator into a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber and an emptying position wherein the plate is in a potion to permit dirt to in the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber to be removed concurrently.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plate is pivotally mounted to the outer wall of the cyclone separator.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plate has a hand grip portion.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the hand grip portion comprises a shaft extending away from the plate.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the dirt collection chamber extends under the plate.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein a flow director having a flow directing surface that extends inwardly and downwardly into the cyclone chamber from the outer wall of the cyclone chamber to a position above the plate.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a vacuum cleaner, a sweeper and a carpet extractor.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plate is moveable subsequent to the bottom being opened.