Vacuum cleaner with operating condition indicator system
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner system condition indicator for use with a vacuum cleaner having an intake port, a dust collecting compartment, a dust bag in said compartment and a discharge port, comprisingfirst sensing means for sensing a first pressure differential between said intake port and said dust collecting compartment, said first sensing means providing a first sensing signal when said sensed first pressure differential is of at least a first magnitude,second sensing means for sensing a second pressure differential between said discharge port and said dust collecting compartment, said second sensing means providing a second sensing signal when said sensed second pressure differential is of a least a second magnitude, andindicator means associated with said first and second sensing means for providing sensorially perceptible indicating signals in response to said first and second sensing signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A canister type vacuum cleaner includes a floor cleaning unit and a canister unit interconnected by a wand and hose assembly. The canister unit has a dust collection bag mounted in a dust collecting compartment by a pivotally movable dust bag mount that pivots to an operative position. A suction fan evacuates the air within the dust collecting compartment causing dirt laden air to flow from the floor cleaning unit through the wand and hose assembly and into the dust bag through an intake port formed in the dust bag mount. The air is exhausted from the canister unit through a discharge port. An operating condition monitoring and indicating system provides information as to the status of the dust bag and the wand and hose assembly by means of a check bag light and a check hose light. A bag mount sensor senses the differential pressure between the intake port and the dust collecting compartment; and a discharge sensor senses the differential pressure between the discharge port and the dust collecting compartment. When the dust bag becomes too clogged, the bag mount sensor and, shortly thereafter, the discharge sensor are actuated. If a restriction occurs in the wand and hose assembly, the discharge sensor, but not the bag mount sensor, is actuated.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner system condition indicator for use with a vacuum cleaner having an intake port, a dust collecting compartment, a dust bag in said compartment and a discharge port, comprising
first sensing means for sensing a first pressure differential between said intake port and said dust collecting compartment, said first sensing means providing a first sensing signal when said sensed first pressure differential is of at least a first magnitude, second sensing means for sensing a second pressure differential between said discharge port and said dust collecting compartment, said second sensing means providing a second sensing signal when said sensed second pressure differential is of a least a second magnitude, and indicator means associated with said first and second sensing means for providing sensorially perceptible indicating signals in response to said first and second sensing signals.
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10. A vacuum cleaner dust bag mount for mounting a dust bag in a vacuum cleaner, said dust bag having a dust bag collar aperture through said collar to provide an air passage to said dust bag for the collection of debris in said dust bag, said bag mount comprising
a first passageway extending through said dust bag mount, said first passageway being adapted to be aligned with said collar aperture thereby to permit the passage of debris through said dust bag mount, pressure sensing means having an air passage extending through an elongated portion of said dust bag mount for sensing the pressure at said first passageway, and pivotal mean for pivotally mounting said bag mount on said vacuum cleaner such that said bag mount is pivotable between first and second positions.
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12. A pressure responsive monitoring system for a vacuum cleaner comprising
first mounting means for mounting a dust collection bag in said vacuum cleaner, said first mounting means being pivotally mounted to said vacuum cleaner and adapted to be selectively placed in an operative position, passageway means extending through said bag mount means for enabling debris to pass through said bag mount means and into said dust collection bag, air passage means having an inlet at said passageway means and an outlet, pressure responsive means for monitoring the pressure at said passageway means and second mounting means for mounting said pressure responsive means in said vacuum cleaner, said second mounting means including a second air passage in communication with said outlet when said first mounting means is in said operative position.
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16. A vacuum cleaner comprising
a canister unit having an air intake, a wand and hose assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end adapted to be received in said air intake, a floor cleaning unit adapted to receive said second end, a dust collecting compartment in said canister unit, a dust bag in said dust collecting compartment in pneumatic communication with said air intake, said canister unit including an air discharge and suction means, said suction means adapted to cause air to flow from said wand and hose assembly into said canister unit through said air intake, through said dust bag and out of said canister unit through said air discharge, and an operating condition indicating system including a first pressure actuated switch means responsive to the existence of a first pressure differential between said air intake and said dust collecting compartment of at least a first magnitude for providing a first sensing signal, a second pressure actuated switch means responsive to the existence of a second pressure differential between said air discharge and said dust collecting compartment of at least a second magnitude for providing a second sensing signal and signal response means for responding to said first and second sensing signals and for providing sensorially perceptible indicating signals to an operator of said vacuum cleaner.
Specification