Vacuum With Panel Filter

• US 20080115315A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sheddy, Gregg L., Maid, Spencer G., Wright, Stuart J., Kunz, Michael P., White, Paul S., Scheerer, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat

Abstract

A vacuum is provided with a removable filter tray that allows a user to access the filter without having to disassemble the vacuum. The filter can then be changed or cleaned and easily replaced without disassembly of the vacuum.

Claims

1. A vacuum, comprising:

a housing defining a suction inlet opening and a debris chamber in communication with said suction inlet opening;

a vacuum pressure source disposed in said housing for providing a vacuum pressure to said suction inlet opening;

a removable filter tray accessible from an exterior of said housing and disposed in an airflow path between said suction inlet opening and said vacuum pressure source, wherein said housing includes a base canister portion defining said debris chamber and a head portion removably secured to said base canister portion, said removable filter tray is inserted into an aperture in said head portion, said removable filter tray is received in said aperture in said head portion along an insertion direction that is angled relative to horizontal.

2. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said removable filter tray includes a tray frame having a handle accessible from said exterior of said housing.

3. The vacuum according to claim 1, further comprising a filter insert received in said removable filter tray.

4. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said insertion direction is angled between 10 degrees and 30 degrees relative to horizontal.

5. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said head portion includes a guide channel extending from said aperture for receiving said removable filter tray.

6. The vacuum according to claim 5, wherein said guide channel extends at an angle into said base canister portion.

7. The vacuum according to claim 6, wherein said guide channel includes a sloped surface for pressing said removable filter tray against an impeller inlet to provide a sealed connection between a filter insert in said removable filter tray and said impeller inlet.

8. The vacuum according to claim 7, wherein said vacuum pressure source includes an electric motor and an impeller driven by a drive shaft of said electric motor, said drive shaft being generally perpendicular to an insertion direction of said guide channel.

9. The vacuum according to claim 2, wherein said tray frame provides a sealed engagement with an aperture in said housing.

10. A vacuum, comprising:

a housing defining a suction inlet opening and a debris chamber in communication with said suction inlet opening;

an electric motor and an impeller driven by a drive shaft of said electric motor, said electric motor and said impeller being disposed in said housing for providing a vacuum pressure to said suction inlet opening, said drive shaft being rotatable about an axis angled between 10 and 30 degrees from vertical.

11. The vacuum according to claim 10, further comprising a removable filter disposed in an airflow path between said suction inlet opening and said vacuum pressure source.

12. The vacuum according to claim 11, wherein said filter includes an upper surface and a lower surface generally parallel to said upper surface, said upper and lower surfaces of said filter each being in a plane generally perpendicular to said axis of said drive shaft.

13. The vacuum according to claim 12, wherein said filter includes a tray frame having a handle accessible from an exterior of said housing.

14. A vacuum, comprising:

a housing defining a suction inlet opening and a debris chamber in communication with said suction inlet opening;

an electric motor and an impeller driven by a drive shaft of said electric motor, said electric motor and said impeller being disposed in said housing for providing a vacuum pressure to said suction inlet opening, said drive shaft being rotatable about an axis angled between 10 and 30 degrees from vertical; and

a removable filter disposed in an airflow path between said suction inlet opening and said vacuum pressure source.