HANDHELD CLEANING APPLIANCE

• US 20090307863A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: White, William Robert James, Milne, William Frame
• Granted Patent: US 8,156,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/344
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/002 with external filters
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/08 Vortex chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/10 with perforated walls
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/103 Bodies or members, e.g. bulkheads, guides, in the vortex chamber cores B04C5/107
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/13 formed as a vortex finder and extending into the vortex chamber exits with bulkheads preventing reverse flow vortex B04C3/00; Discharge from vortex finder otherwise than at the top of the cyclone; Devices for controlling the overflow
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/185 Dust collectors
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/26 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A handheld cleaning appliance includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet. The separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator having at least one cyclone and a collector having a wall and a base member, the base member being held in a closed position by a catch and being pivotably connected to the wall. The appliance further includes a main body which incorporates an actuator for operating the catch. The actuator has a slidably mounted rod which is movable between an inoperative position and an actuating position in which the rod contacts part of the catch so as to allow the collector to be opened for emptying purposes. This arrangement allows the catch to be released without the user actually touching the collector.

Claims

1. A handheld cleaning appliance comprising a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet,

the separating apparatus comprising a cyclonic separator having at least one cyclone and a collector having a wall and a base member, the base member being held in a closed position by means of a catch and being pivotably connected to the wall, the appliance further comprising a main body comprising an actuator for operating the catch,

wherein the actuator comprises a slidably mounted rod which is movable between an inoperative position and an actuating position in which the rod contacts part of the catch so as to allow the collector to be opened for emptying purposes.

2. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the base is hinged to a first side of the wall.

3. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 2, wherein the catch is provided at a location which is diametrically opposed to the hinge.

4. The handheld appliance of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the rod is biased into the inoperative position.

5. The handheld appliance of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the rod comprises a projection which is manually movable with respect to the main body.

6. The handheld appliance of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the rod is located inside a part of the main body.

7. The handheld appliance of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a portion of the collector lies adjacent a portion of the main body.

9. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 4, wherein the rod comprises a projection which is manually movable with respect to the main body.

10. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 4, wherein the rod is located inside a part of the main body.

11. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 4, wherein a portion of the collector lies adjacent a portion of the main body.

8. (canceled)