SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20140237765A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest, Conrad, Nina, Petersen, Dave, Wajda, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 9,820,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 Means for monitoring filtering operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus is provided wherein at least one of an upstream air plenum that is positioned upstream of the pre-motor filter, and a downstream air plenum that is positioned downstream of the pre-motor filter comprises an end wall spaced from the pre-motor filter and comprises a first portion having an air flow port and a second portion proximate the outer perimeter of the pre-motor filter, wherein the first portion and the second portion meet at a first juncture that extends at an angle to the first portion and the second portion.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising

(a) a body housing a suction motor;

(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising at least one cyclone;

(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including the suction motor and a cyclone bin assembly;

(d) a pre-motor filter having an outer perimeter and positioned in the air flow path between the at least one cyclone and the suction motor; and

,

(e) at least one of an upstream air plenum that is positioned upstream of the pre-motor filter and a downstream air plenum that is positioned downstream of the pre-motor filter wherein at least one of the upstream and the downstream air plenum comprises an end wall spaced from the pre-motor filter and comprising a first portion having an air flow port and a second portion proximate the outer perimeter of the pre-motor filter, wherein the first portion and the second portion meet at a first juncture that extends at an angle to the first portion and the second portion.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first portion extends generally laterally and has an outer end and an inner end proximate the air flow port.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the portion between the inner and outer ends is generally straight.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the outer end is closer to the pre-motor filter then the inner end.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first juncture is rounded.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an air flow conduit connected to the air flow port, wherein and the air flow conduit and the end wall meet at a second juncture, wherein the second juncture extends at an angle to both the air flow conduit and the end wall.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second juncture is rounded.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first juncture is rounded.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first juncture has a radius that is proximate a radius of the second juncture.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises the upstream air plenum, the air flow port comprises an air inlet port that is aligned with a vortex finder of the at least one cyclone.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the air flow conduit comprises a portion of the vortex finder.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the vortex finder is trumpet shaped.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises the downstream air plenum, the air flow port comprises an air outlet port that is aligned with a suction motor inlet.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the air flow conduit comprises a suction motor inlet.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the suction motor inlet is trumpet shaped.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the suction motor has a fan blade having a direction of rotation and the downstream air plenum further comprises a plurality of vanes that are configured to induce a rotational flow of air in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the fan blade.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises the upstream air plenum and the downstream air plenum.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the end wall has an absence of discontinuities.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the end wall is flared in shape.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the end wall is continuously curved.