Air-floated apparatus

• US 5,392,492 A
• Filed: 10/21/1992
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthur L. Fassauer
• Original Assignee: Arthur L. Fassauer
• Inventors: Fassauer, Arthur L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/964,562
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 15/327.3, 15/340.1, 15/345, 15/346, 15/385, 180/116, 180/122, 180/125, 180/126, 180/129, 180/130
• US Class Current: 15/327.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/10 with driven dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/14 cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning

Abstract

The present invention describes an air-floated vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom and an inner wall, an impeller for pressurizing air within the housing to float the housing above a support surface, and a novel vacuum module/agitator located below the impeller. The vacuum module/agitator is rotatable with the impeller for agitating dust and debris on the support surface and for simultaneously suctioning the dust and debris upwards for lateral displacement against the inner wall. The dust and debris is then centrifuged to a duct communicating with the inner wall. The air-floated vacuum cleaner further includes a flotation plate module for entrapping and sealing within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller.

Claims

1. An air-floated vacuum cleaner for suctioning material from a support surface, comprising:

a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom, and an inner wall;

means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface;

vacuum means rotatable within the housing for creating a relative vacuum to suction the material upwards from the support surface and for moving the material laterally outwardly against the inner wall as the vacuum means is rotated; and

means communicating with the inner wall of the housing for collecting the material moved laterally thereagainst.

2. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 wherein the vacuum means comprises:

a base having a periphery;

at least one extension positioned on the periphery of said base; and

a member extending upwardly and angularly from the extension such that as the base is rotated within the housing, a relative vacuum or a suction is generated behind the member.

3. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 2 wherein the vacuum means further includes an agitator means comprising:

a snap-on module secured to the extension and including a plurality of tines or bristles each of which extends downwardly from the extension and contacts the support surface.

4. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 3 wherein each of the tines includes a first angled portion and a vertically-extending second portion biased against the support surface by the first angled portion.

5. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 wherein the means for pressurizing comprises a rotatable impeller, and the vacuum means comprises:

a substantially circular base having a periphery rotatable coaxially with the impeller;

a plurality of extensions radially positioned about the periphery of said base; and

a plurality of members, each member extending upwardly and angularly from one of the extensions such that as the impeller and the base are rotated, a relative vacuum is generated behind the members.

6. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 5 wherein the vacuum means further includes agitator means comprising:

a snap-on module secured to each extension and including a plurality of tines each of which extends downwardly from the extension and contacts the support surface.

7. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 6 wherein each of the tines includes a first angled portion and a vertically-extending second portion biased against the support surface by the first angled portion.

8. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 further including means for entrapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means.

9. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 8 wherein the entrapping means comprises:

support means having an upper channel and a lower channel, the upper channel for receiving a bottom edge of the housing;

a plate projecting from the lower channel into said housing for directing pressurized air inwardly; and

an air entrapment boss member supported for vertical movement within the lower channel and including a boss for trapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means.

10. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 9 wherein the air entrapment boss member is spring-biased for automatic adjustment of a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.

11. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 9 wherein the entrapping means further includes a pin for manually adjusting a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.

12. An air-floated vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom, and an inner wall;

impeller means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface; and

vacuum means located below the impeller means, the vacuum means being rotatable with the impeller means for agitating material on the support surface and for suctioning the material upwards for lateral displacement against the inner wall as the vacuum means is rotated, the vacuum means comprising;

a base having a periphery;

at least one extension positioned on the periphery of said base;

a member extending upwardly and angularly from the extension such that as the base is rotated with the impeller means a vacuum is generated behind the member; and

a snap-on module secured to the extension and including a plurality of tines each of which extends downwardly from the extension and contacts the support surface.

13. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 12 further including means for entrapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means.

14. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 13 wherein the entrapping means comprises:

support means having an upper channel and a lower channel, the upper channel for receiving a bottom edge of the housing;

a plate projecting from the lower channel into said housing for directing air inwardly; and

an air entrapment boss member supported for vertical movement within the lower channel and including a boss for trapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means.

15. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 14 wherein the air entrapment boss member is spring-biased for automatic adjustment of a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.

16. The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 14 wherein the entrapping means further includes a pin for manually adjusting a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.

17. An air-floated apparatus, comprising:

a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom and an inner wall;

impeller means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface; and

means for entrapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means, the means for entrapping comprises;

support means having an upper channel and a lower channel, the upper channel for receiving a bottom edge of the housing;

a plate projecting from the lower channel into said housing for directing air inwardly;

an air entrapment boss member supported for vertical movement within the lower channel and including a boss for trapping the pressurized air generated by the impeller means; and

means for adjusting a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.